PAECES is an award is given annually to faculty who demonstrate significant individual contributions to the local community, state, nation, or world through distinguished University community engaged scholarship, and who work collaboratively to address important community issues.

Much of Dr. Rickles’ research focuses on the roles of community pharmacists to help improve medication adherence and safety in such vulnerable populations as older adults and those with mental illness and emphasized enhancing pharmacist-patient communication.

In her announcement about his selection as a PAECES Award recipient, Provost Anne D’Alleva said that it is given to Dr. Rickles in recognition of his “exemplary lifetime and career commitment to community engaged instruction, enhancing scholarship, addressing of critical issues, and contributing to the improvement of our society.”

Dean Phil Hritcko noted that “Dr. Rickles is a hardworking and deeply caring person. This is evident in how he approaches students who are struggling academically, as well as students in his Patient Communications class where he works to ensure they truly understand disease burden and how to compassionately deal with patients.

“Dr. Rickles has worked very hard to create a scholarly portfolio that is fundable, impactful, and deeply rooted in the community. His willingness to partner with State Agencies that provide health information or services to the public has magnified his impact and raised the visibility of UConn and the School of Pharmacy in the State of Connecticut as well as nationally.”

Dr. Rickles will be formally recognized during a reception in the fall semester and his name will be added to the plaque of PAECES awardees located at Gulley Hall.