The Kappa Epsilon Fraternity is proud to announce that Donna Heffner has been selected as the 2016 recipient of the Career Achievement Award. The Career Achievement Award was created in 1965 to honor a Kappa Epsilon Member for their professional accomplishments.

Donna earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in Pennsylvania. She graduated Valedictorian from the University of Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, and with distinction from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Business Administration. Her blend of education as a licensed pharmacist and business major gave Donna the foundation to expand her work and influence throughout the pharmaceutical industry. Over the last 25 years at Merck & Company, Donna has held numerous roles of increasing responsibility in quality control, technology, procurement, marketing, regulatory, supply chain management, and business development. She currently leads a Center of Excellence within Supply Chain Management. Her significant accomplishments have included leading global cross-functional teams in the development of a new product, global launch and supply of a new vaccine, the development and execution of the strategy to return medically necessary vaccines to the market after significant outages, the CMC filing for a new product, the development of Merck’s global serialization strategy, and the negotiation of a key deal in the emerging markets to expand public access to one of Merck’s critical products.

In addition to her work and official roles at Merck & Company, Donna has participated in multiple mentoring and recruiting efforts. Donna has been recognized at Merck with numerous awards and recognition, including being selected for Merck’s Women’s Leadership Program at Simmons College. She is also a member of the Healthcare Business Women’s Association

Donna has been a dedicated member of the Kappa Epsilon Fraternity (KE) for 28 years, inducted into the Omicron Chapter on campus at the University of Sciences. Her service to KE includes Vice President of Recruitment and Collegiate Development, Co-chair of KE’s National Convention in Philadelphia, Board Member of the Kappa Epsilon Foundation for three biennia and, currently, Chair of the Alumni Interest Committee, since 2013. She is the recipient of three prestigious KE Awards including the 2015 Linda Rodgers Memorial Award, 1997 Unicorn Award, and the Zada M. Cooper Scholarship as a collegiate. The Linda T. Rodgers Memorial Award was established in 1985 to honor a Kappa Epsilon member who best exemplifies Linda`s characteristics of leadership, dedication, diplomacy, friendship, and inspiration to others to attain higher goals and achievements. The Unicorn Award was established in 1985 to recognize alumni members serving as the leaders, workers, contributors and creators who make Kappa Epsilon a better organization. The Zada M. Cooper Scholarship was established in 1955 in honor of Kappa Epsilon’s founder, Zada M. Cooper, to recognize superior achievement.

Together, we celebrate the many achievements and dedication to the field of pharmacy personified by Donna Heffner.