We are honored to announce Mr. L. Ray Nunley, RPh ('62), of Ruidoso, NM as the 2015 UNM College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumnus. The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor the College of Pharmacy bestows.

Mr. Nunley has led a distinguished career as a pharmacist and as a public servant. His professional career in community pharmacy has included operating his own pharmacy in Ruidoso, NM. He operated Nunley Drug from 1966-1982, and the majority of the remainder of Mr. Nunley's career was spent serving Ruidoso as a pharmacist at Walmart. He was named Walmart's Regional Pharmacist of the Year in 1994, 1998, and 2003 respectively. Mr. Nunley retired from Walmart at the end of 2014.

Mr Nunley's professional career was intertwined with his public service. He served as the Lincoln County Commissioner for ten years and the Lincoln County Commission Chairman from 1994-1995. In 1990, New Mexico Governor Bruce King appointed Mr. Nunley to serve as a public member on the Board of Nursing where he eventually became the vice-chairman. He was held in high esteem for his pharmaceutical knowledge. 

Mr. Nunley's next appointment was by Governor Gary Johnson to the New Mexico State Agency on Aging, as he has always been known for his compassion for the elderly. In 1998, he tried to withdraw from the Village Council race to focus on implementing a prescription drug/health program for senior citizens, but was convinced to re-enter the race by senior citizens who were afraid their interests would not be represented as well without him.He was then appointed by Governor Bill Richardson to the NM Aging and Long Term Care Department in 2002 and re-appointed in 2004.

In 2002, Mr. Nunley was elected to the Ruidoso Village Council, and in 2006, he was elected Mayor of Ruidoso Village. In 2010, Governor Susanna Martinez, appointed Mr. Nunley to serve as a professional member of the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy where he served until 2013.  

The College of Pharmacy is deeply honored and proud to welcome L. Ray Nunley to our most prestigious group of honorees, the Distinguished Alumni.  The College will be celebrating Mr. Nunley's award and many accomplishments with a variety of events this Spring, beginning with a reception for Distinguished Alumni on the evening of Friday, April 17, 2015 as well as a number of events during Convocation weekend, May 7-9, 2015.

On February 25th, New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center (NMPDIC) staff, including Director, Dr. Susan Smolinske; Medical Director, Dr. Steven Seifert; Associate Director, Dr. Stephanie Harvey; and Health Educator, Jacqueline Kakos traveled to Dallas to defend the NMPDIC's accreditation renewal application to the American Association of Poison Control Centers' (AAPCC). Here, NMPDIC staff members were asked questions regarding performance and, according to Dr. Smolinske, the group gave "perfect answers which made it an easy decision for the AAPCC committee."

On March 3, 2015 the NMPDIC received the good news that they had been accredited without any conditions for the next seven years. Not all poison centers are accredited, making this a truly notable accomplishment. Congratulations to all of the staff at the NMPDIC for their efforts in what the AAPCC committee called, "the most well written application" they had seen. 

Congratulations are due to Dr. Susan Smolinske, who was awarded the 2015 Wayne County Pharmacist Association's John Webster award on January 9, 2015. This award recognizes individuals for their exemplary contributions to the profession of pharmacy. The Wayne County Pharmacists Association is the local affiliation of the Michigan Pharmacists Association, representing pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmaceutical industry and students.