OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Maine Pharmacy Association has selected Steve Maki, pharmacist and owner of Spruce Mountain Pharmacy in Jay, as the recipient of the 2013 Excellence in Innovation Award for outstanding advancement of pharmacy practice.

Maki was presented the award at an awards banquet Sept. 7. The award is coordinated by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations and sponsored by Upsher-Smith Laboratories Inc.

Spruce Mountain Pharmacy provides pharmacy services, including compounding and immunizations, to several communities in rural Franklin, Oxford and Somerset counties.

In 2010, Maki began providing pharmacist immunization services to underserved communities in rural western Maine. Furthermore, he provides free delivery and mail services for prescription medications to rural communities such as Livermore, Livermore Falls, Fayette, Rangeley and Wilton. These communities do not have access to a local pharmacy and, in the case of Rangeley, the nearest pharmacy is more than 50 miles away.

The NASPA Excellence in Innovation Award is presented annually by participating state pharmacist associations, including those in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.