UW’s Blakely Receives Public Health Best Publication Award

An assistant professor of social and administrative pharmacy with the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy is the co-author of a published manuscript selected as the recipient of the 2023-24 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Public Health Special Interest Group (SIG) Best Publication Award.

Michelle Blakely, along with four other contributors representing Florida A&M University, the University of South Carolina, Indiana University School of Medicine and Purdue University, had their manuscript, “Exploratory Analysis of Medication Adherence and Social Determinants of Health Among Older Adults with Diabetes,” published in Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy in November. Subsequently, it was selected for the AACP Public Health SIG Best Publication Award, which recognizes the most significant research contributions in the field of public health.

“This is an incredible honor, and I am thrilled to have our research recognized by this important professional organization,” Blakely says. “I’m excited to bring this nationwide recognition to the university and the School of Pharmacy’s efforts to have a positive impact on public health and patient outcomes.”  

Selection criteria for the AACP Public Health SIG Best Publication Award considered articles that provide new or original information in an innovative perspective; are significant and useful to the field of public health; align with the AACP strategic plan and the Public Health SIG focus; and advance understanding in the field of public health.

Blakely’s contributions to the research team included her expertise in provider/patient relationships, medication adherence and health outcomes. The manuscript focused on diabetes, a chronic medical condition, and a number of factors that influence patients’ behaviors and affect medication adherence.

With diabetes the fifth-leading cause of death in the U.S., affecting 15.9 million adults 65 years or older, Blakely and her collaborators examined social determinants of health that are associated with nonadherence to long-term diabetes medication treatment plans.

“Our research identified and prioritized social determinants of health associated with medication nonadherence among a nationally representative sample of older adults with diabetes,” Blakely says. “Patients with a disability, those who could not afford a balanced meal and/or those who spoke English were associated with a higher likelihood of being nonadherent to their diabetes medications in comparison to individuals not in these groups. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying and developing social determinants of health-centered medication adherence strategies for pharmacists and other health care providers to implement with older patients with diabetes.”

Sreejayan “Sree” Nair, a professor of pharmacology and director of UW’s Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. Program, agrees with Blakely’s assessment of this research and the importance of it being recognized by AACP.

“Dr. Blakely’s area of research is at the interphase of social and behavioral sciences, communications, health policy and patient health outcomes,” Nair says. “Her award-winning publication explores medication adherence and social determinants of health among subjects with diabetes, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Studying behavioral dynamics that influence medication adherence is invaluable in offering insights crucial for designing effective behavioral interventions and improving patient outcomes. Through her work, Dr. Blakely expands our understanding of health care relationships and pioneers efforts toward patient-centered health care practices.”

“Dr. Blakely’s research provides insights into ways to help people use medicine to improve their health and well-being,” adds Kem Krueger, dean of the UW School of Pharmacy. “These insights benefit patients and also may lead to lower health care costs.” 

As a result of Blakely and her collaborators’ manuscript receiving the AACP Public Health SIG Best Publication Award, all contributors have been recognized nationally. 

About UW’s College of Health Sciences

UW’s College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.

With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.