Community pharmacy residency pioneer Rudenko dies at 38

Abstract

Friends, family, and colleagues were shocked on May 25 when Rudenko, Associate Professor of Pharmacy at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy, died suddenly of complications of breast cancer that had been diagnosed only a few days before. As noted in a memorial article on the VCU website, tributes to this leader in one of the nation’s most prominent community pharmacy residency programs soon filled her Facebook page: “I remember her as a student, and she went on to do great things for our profession.” “She was an amazing person with such excitement for life.” “She was such a good professor. Always happy and cheerful.” “Such a wonderful person who touched the lives of so many.” “She was awesome.” “[Amy] was a conscientious student, and the faculty respected and liked her due to her genuine interest in every facet of the pharmacy curriculum and her positive personality traits,” recalled Tom Reinders, Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services at VCU. “She was a great student, a great professor and, above all, a great pharmacist. Most remarkable was her unwavering commitment to community pharmacy practice.” A native of Richmond, Amy Whitaker received her PharmD degree from VCU in 1998 and completed the community pharmacy residency there after graduation. Following a stint at the University of North Carolina, Whitaker returned to Richmond and VCU in 2001 and was involved in student and resident life, serving as faculty advisor to the VCU chapter of the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists and as an expert in medication therapy management in big-box settings. Married less than 4 years before her untimely death, Rudenko is survived by her husband Mike Jr., daughters Olivia Lynn, 2, and Abigail Iryna, then 3 months, parents Barry and Linda Whitaker, and brother Barry Whitaker.