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ORLANDO, Fla. – The National Community Pharmacists Association and Upsher-Smith Laboratories, announced that Theresa Tolle, BSPharm, FAPhA, owner of Bay Street Pharmacy in Sebastian, Fla., is the winner of the 2023 NCPA Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year award. Tolle was honored with the award today at NCPA’s Annual Convention in Orlando.
The annual award is given to a pharmacist who exhibits exemplary professional leadership, service to community, and commitment to independent pharmacy. This year marks Upsher-Smith’s 15th year of sponsoring the prestigious award in conjunction with NCPA. The award is named in honor of Willard B. Simmons, a former executive secretary of NCPA (then known as the National Association of Retail Druggists) and a longtime trustee of the NCPA Foundation.
Tolle, a second-generation owner and pharmacist, has led Bay Street Pharmacy alongside her husband, Joe, since 1999 offering a wide range of patient services immunizations and testing, diabetes education, compounding, medication therapy management, and pharmacogenomics. The pharmacy also serves as a postgraduate year one (PGY1) community-based residency program site affiliated with the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.
Beyond her pharmacy, Tolle’s professional impact extends across local, state, and national pharmacy associations. She has held leadership roles in the Florida Pharmacy Association, the American Pharmacists Association, and the Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN) Florida. Tolle actively participates in NCPA committees and plays a pivotal role in the development of clinically integrated networks for independent pharmacies, serving as the Lead Luminary of CPESN Florida. She actively contributes to numerous committees within CPESN USA, furthering the reach of independent pharmacy care.
In her community, Tolle chairs the Board of Trustees for her local hospital, Sebastian River Medical Center, and also contributes to Substance Abuse Free Indian River. She previously served as a board member for the Sebastian Chamber for more than 14 years.
Tolle’s illustrious career has earned her several distinguished professional awards including the 2023 Kappa Epsilon Fraternity KE/Merck Vanguard Leadership Award, 2019 UF College of Pharmacy Outstanding Alumnus recognition, and the 2018 NCPA Preceptor of the Year, among others.
“Upsher-Smith is honored to partner with NCPA in recognizing the invaluable contributions of independent pharmacists and extends our warmest congratulations to Theresa Tolle whose dedication to her profession, community, and, most importantly, her patients, serves as an inspiring example for pharmacists nationwide, said Rich Fisher, President and COO, Upsher-Smith.
NCPA President Hugh Chancy added, “Theresa’s remarkable achievements exemplify the essence of independent pharmacy where pharmacists like Theresa make a profound difference in the lives of their patients and communities. Theresa’s commitment to patient care and professional excellence is a source of inspiration for pharmacists and makes her a deserving recipient of this year’s Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year Award. We congratulate Theresa on this well-deserved honor and thank Upsher-Smith for its continued support in highlighting the outstanding work of community pharmacists.”
