— BIOS AND MEMORIES — IN TRIBUTE
BRUCE C. FIELD Bruce C. Field, longtime member of the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, April 1, 2021. Field was born on Sept. 5, 1943, to the late LaMott and Ingrid (Nelson) Field in Owosso. He was a graduate of Laingsburg High School and in 1967, graduated from Ferris State University, the same year he married Ruth Poffinbarger. Field was the owner and pharmacist of Field Pharmacy for 46 years, teaching first aid and EMT classes and volunteering on the Laingsburg Ambulance Service for 36 years. He was an active supporter of the Laingsburg Band Boosters and the Boy Scouts of America. An MPA member since 1967, Field served as MPA treasurer from 1976-1988. Also active as a member of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), Field served as APhA-APPM President/APhA Trustee from 2001-2002 and earned the APhA Fellow Award. He was an adjunct professor of pharmacy at Ferris State University and was inducted into the Golden Eagle Society for 50 years of service in 2017. Locally, he was a member of the Capital Area Pharmacists Association, the Laingsburg Lions Club and a past member of the Laingsburg Business Association. He was a charter member of the University Reformed Church of East Lansing and served as a former deacon, usher and sound technician there. Field was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of 53 years; his children, Mary Sieben, Pamela (Thomas) Danckaert and Kevin Field; and his grandchildren, Tyler Sieben, Audrey Sieben, Isabella Danckaert, and Anneliese Danckaert.
NEW STAFF BIOS ALIVIA BOWERS, STUDENT PHARMACIST Alivia Bowers is a Michigan native currently finishing her last year at South University School of Pharmacy in Savannah, Georgia. While on her five-week rotation at the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA), Alivia hopes to learn more about career paths available to pharmacists outside of clinical and retail pharmacy environments. She hopes that the knowledge, experience and training she gains during her rotation with MPA will enable her to begin her career as a pharmacist with a broadened perspective and skill set. After graduation, Alivia plans to return to her hometown of Alpena, which is a medically underserved but close-knit community, to serve her patients and further strengthen her relationship with the community.
CHELSY VITANZA, STUDENT PHARMACIST Chelsy Vitanza is a fourthyear pharmacy student at Creighton University with 11 years of community pharmacy experience. She looks forward to earning her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May 2022 and is excited to begin her career as a pharmacist. She is originally from Pittsburgh, Pa., where she worked in a Transitions of Care Program at a psychiatric hospital for the past three years. She will be joining the MPA from Oct. 25 to Nov. 24 for an experiential rotation in leadership. Through this experience, she hopes to further develop her leadership skills to be able to advocate more for the poor and vulnerable. Chelsy aims to pursue a career in leadership with a Master of Business in Healthcare Administration in an effort to be the voice of pharmacy someday.
AARON WITTBRODT, MEETINGS AND EDUCATION MANAGER Aaron Wittbrodt joins MPA as the meetings and education manager, with more than two years of experience as a meetings professional. He graduated from Central Michigan University with his bachelor’s degree in integrative public relations with a minor in event management and public affairs. Prior to MPA, Aaron was an event planner at the Michigan Public Health Institute where he planned state-wide conferences for healthcare clients. When not engaged in planning, Aaron enjoys spending time reading and writing, performing or spending time with family and friends. He is very excited to interact with and get to know the members of MPA and looks forward to assisting them in having successful meetings, trainings and networking events. 2021 Oct./Nov./Dec. | Vol. 59, Issue 4
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