Janelle Caruano, PharmD, didn't expect to be named Pharmacist of the Year by the Delaware Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists.

After all, this clinical pharmacist at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital went to the professional organization's annual dinner to support her friend and co-worker, Dottie Collision, an automation tech in the hospital's pharmacy.

"I was completely surprised," said Caruano, a Camden resident who has worked at Bayhealth for the five years since her graduation from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.

Collison received the pharmacist technician award during the same ceremonies at Deerfield Country Club near Newark, Del.

Caruano, a 2002 graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School, found her career niche as a teen.

"When I was 16 years old, I found a job in a retail pharmacy, and I loved it. I found my avenue in my first job," she said.

As a clinical pharmacist, she works many leadership and research opportunities into her responsibility of daily clinical rotations through different areas of the hospital.

Her specialty, though, is infectious diseases; she serves on the antimicrobial stewardship committee and the infection prevention committee. She is working on a specialty partnership with Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, in Baltimore.

Collison, a Harrington resident, earned her degree at Delaware Technical Community College.

Like Caruano, she too is very involved in the Bayhealth culture in addition to her daily responsibilities.

She is a member of the Planetree Advisory Council and the social committee, where she chairs the employee holiday extravaganza set for December.

The hospital's pharmacy is a busy place.

"It's always evolving," said Caruano, noting that the reward is helping both the patients and the physicians.

"Seeing a positive impact for patients, especially in relation to anti-microbial stewardship," she said. "We are a second set of eyes for the physician, making recommendations for drug therapy."

Both also received accolades from their supervisor, Bayhealth Pharmacy Director Alex Zarow, RPh, MBA.

"They are the best," he said.