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The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Graduate School has presented the 2020-21 Paul Simon Outstanding Teacher-Scholar Award to Therese (Terri) Poirier, PharmD, MPH, FASHP, FCCP, Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Senior Scholar in the School of Pharmacy (SOP).

The award annually recognizes an SIUE faculty member who has shown significant contributions to original research or creative activities, and has successfully integrated those contributions into their teaching practices.

“I am humbled to receive this recognition for my achievements in what I am passionate about and love,” Poirier said. “I am thankful for all the students and colleagues who have worked with me to contribute to advance teaching and learning.”

Poirier came to SIUE in 2004 as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Pharmacy Practice. Since 2014, Poirier has held the esteemed titles of Professor and Senior Scholar. Her research focuses on advancing interprofessional education, the development of students as educators via the SOP’s education specialization, the development of health humanities pre-professional coursework, and other innovative teaching and learning.

“My scholarship work in advancing innovative teaching strategies to enhance student learning has increased knowledge and understanding in the area of Pharmacy Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL),” noted Poirier. “All of my SOTL research is integrated into my teaching and used to enhance student learning.”

Among Poirier’s national recognitions are the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s 2019 Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award and its 2017 Assessment Award for “A Programmatic Model for Student and Faculty Assessment of Interprofessional Education Simulation Training.” Additionally, she’s been honored with the Association of Interprofessional Health Care Collaborative’s 2017 Scholars Award.

Poirier was recognized as a Fellow both by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy for demonstrating exceptional performance in clinical pharmacy practice, education and research, and by the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists for excelling in pharmacy practice and service.

“As the inaugural Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the SIUE School of Pharmacy for over a decade, Dr. Poirier spearheaded the development of a progressive curriculum and assessment plan to meet pharmacy’s accreditation standards,” said SOP Dean Mark Luer, PharmD. “With these in place, the School was recognized with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Award for Outstanding Institutional Practices in Student Learning Outcomes in 2011. The SIUE School of Pharmacy was the first and to date remains the only pharmacy program in the world to receive this award. This recognition resulted in large part from the plan conceptualized by Dr. Poirier.”

“Her efforts are not just that of a forward-thinking educator but her contributions continue to address contemporary issues consistent with the changing profession,” he added.

During the nomination process, colleagues and students underscored their respect for Poirier.

“Dr. Poirier is a respected thought leader and maintains a stellar national reputation in pharmacy education, research and scholarship, specifically in the assessment of learning outcomes with creative instructional strategies, and has been a prolific contributor to the pharmacy education literature during her career,” noted a colleague.

“Dr. Poirier’s enthusiasm and focus on innovative ways to approach education fueled my own desire to teach,” wrote a former student in a letter of support. “I am just one example among the many students that Dr. Poirier mentored during pharmacy school who are now teaching or advising future healthcare professionals.”

“I directly benefitted from Dr. Poirier’s research by not only being taught by her as a student, but also being capable of successfully employing active learning techniques and undertaking high-level academic projects during my young career as a clinical faculty member at a college of pharmacy,” added another former student. “Interactions I’ve had with Dr. Poirier in all settings have continually focused on enhancing others’ learning through her constant utilization of techniques she has research, critically analyzed and disseminated.”

Photo: SIUE School of Pharmacy Professor and Senior Scholar Terri Poirier, PharmD, is the Graduate School’s 2020-21 Paul Simon Outstanding Teacher-Scholar.