Overland Park, Kansas – The Kappa Epsilon Foundation with the support of and in association with Merck are proud to announce that Dr. Celeste R. Caulder has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the KE/Merck Vanguard Leadership Award. This award honors an exemplary pharmacist for multiple achievements within the discipline.

The KE/Merck Vanguard Leadership Award was created to recognize leadership abilities and accomplishments among Kappa Epsilon Alumni members. The award provides a forum were members are recognized for their accomplishments and as leaders, encourages professional achievement among members and provides visibility as successful role models for young practitioners.

Dr. Caulder serves as an Assistant Professor for the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences for the South Carolina College of Pharmacy located at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. In 2004, she received her Doctor of Pharmacy with the highest of honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon graduation, she completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, VA and an Infectious Diseases Specialty Residency at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. She has served as course coordinator and instructor for more than seven years. Dr. Caulder also served as visiting professor for the Misr International University College of Pharmacy in Cairo, Egypt. In addition to serving as an instructor, she has actively served the work of the South Carolina College of Pharmacy as a member of several committees. Her involvement by serving on various committees has benefitted faculty searches, student policy and curriculum development and recognition of honors, awards and scholarships.

Dr. Caulder has also served as a promotional speaker for Pfizer, Inc. She has been the recipient of various grants for her shared work in infectious diseases and the evaluation of linezolid and vancomycin in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Cystic Fibrosis patients. In addition, Dr. Caulder has contributed to the writing of several publications, has given numerous scientific presentations, participated in research projects and has many editorial activities to her credit. Dr. Caulder is co-author of a recently published textbook, Roadmap to Postgraduate Training in Pharmacy Education.

She has been recipient of several scholarships and a noted member among honor societies. Dr. Caulder mirrors the mission of Kappa Epsilon, as she represents the interest of the members to health-care professionals and the community at large. Her community service has benefitted the AIDS Benefit Foundation of South Carolina, the HIV Planning Council, American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Walk, Relay for Life, and National Poison Prevention Week Education, among other noteworthy organizations.

To her credit, Dr. Caulder is revered among the collegiate members whom she serves as Chapter Advisor for the Alpha Lambda Chapter of the Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Her motivation and successful balance of work and home life has inspired students to work hard, pursue higher education and maintain personal relationships.

Dr. Celeste Caulder is an Alumni Member of the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Kappa Epsilon at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. Together, we celebrate the many achievements and dedication to the field of pharmacy—exemplified by Dr. Celeste Caulder.