Lucinda Maine: A Leading Advocate for High Quality Pharmacy Education
Lucinda Maine is a 1985 graduate of the College of Pharmacy’s Kellogg Pharmaceutical Clinical Scientist Ph.D. program.
She credits her time in the graduate program and in her subsequent faculty position at the college for introducing her to some of the best thinkers in the profession.
“My first officemate was Linda Strand, who went on to bring pharmaceutical care to the profession throughout the world,” she said. “I became close friends with Lowell Anderson, a renowned pharmacy leader on a local, national and international level. Dean Larry Weaver was such a source of support and inspiration. And the Kellogg program was amazing in terms of those in and associated with the program and the avenues to which it exposed us all.”
Since 2002, Maine has been executive vice president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, which is the organization that provides leadership in advancing and enhancing the quality of education and training in its 140-plus member institutions.
Under her leadership, AACP has helped elevate the level and utility of the pharmacist degree to new highs, which has benefitted the College of Pharmacy and all patients through advancing the practice of pharmacy.
To recognize her national service to pharmacy education and practice, as well as her contributions to the college, Maine received the University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award in 2017.
“There is no greater honor than to be recognized for giving back to your alma mater,” she said. Maine says that much of her career success was shaped by her time at the University of Minnesota and by the people affiliated with the College of Pharmacy.
“There is no greater honor than to be recognized for giving back to your alma mater”
“During my tenure as AACP CEO, I’ve been fortunate to have significant leadership from the University at our table,” she said. “Former Dean Marilyn Speedie and former faculty member Rod Carter have both served AACP in multiple leadership roles, including serving as President. In 2019, Professor Todd Sorensen will become AACP President. So my personal and professional connections to Minnesota remain strong.”
Prior to her leadership role at AACP, Maine held several senior executive positions over a 10 year period at the American Pharmacists Association, the national organization for all pharmacists. She also served as associate dean and director of professional relations at Samford University School of Pharmacy.
Maine’s advice for today’s students is to be comfortable with the magnitude of change that is occurring in health care and pharmacy. She says, “Embrace change, or better yet, stimulate it at every opportunity. Pharmacy today is so markedly different in many ways than when I was in school, and the pace of change is accelerating. This will open many new doors where pharmacists can make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Some doors may close in the process but that is ok.”
“Embrace change, or better yet, stimulate it at every opportunity."
She also pointed out that medication use is central to quality patient outcomes, and that pharmacists are uniquely educated and trained to be the team expert on the appropriate use of medications.
“Plan to put that knowledge to work in every conceivable setting where teams work collaboratively to create healthier individuals and populations,” she said. “After all, pharmacists help people live healthier, better lives!”