About the Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually to individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the theory and practice of pharmacy or have demonstrated major accomplishments in a professional pharmacy practice, or in pharmaceutical research and development.
Awardees have managed or directed organizations that have made noteworthy national or international contributions to the pharmacy profession. They have contributed truly exceptional service to their community, the College, the profession, or the public. The individual must be a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.
2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
John Daniel II
John Daniel II, ’59 BSPh, grew up in Fort Dodge, Iowa, returned there after college, and served in the Air National Guard. In 1963, he opened Daniel Pharmacy with his father, became sole owner in 1973, and now co-owns it with his son. Daniel has guided the business through expansions, including vaccinations, and it remains the only independent pharmacy in the city. Among its accolades are the Fort Dodge Messenger’s Readers’ Choice Award for Best Pharmacy several years in a row and Best Home Healthcare.
Daniel was a charter member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association and has held memberships with the National Community Pharmacists Association and the American Pharmacists Association. He and his wife Margo support students through the Daniel Pharmacy Scholarship Fund, which assists graduates from Fort Dodge Senior High and St. Edmond High School pursuing a pharmacy career. In 2011, the UI recognized the pair as longtime supporters, establishing the John and Margo Daniel Scholarship. It is awarded annually to a Doctor of Pharmacy student from the Fort Dodge area and has supported nine students with 13 scholarships.
Steve Firman
Since graduating from Iowa, Steve Firman, ’76 BSPh, MBA, has had a varied professional career. He served as hospital pharmacy director, staff member, and legislative liaison for the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA); was a community pharmacy owner; and now serves as chief executive officer for a national marketing company managing relationships between state pharmacy associations and national pharmacy specialty companies. Firman is past president of IPA and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management; chair of the APhA Political Action Committee; and received the IPA Robert G. Gibbs Distinguished Pharmacist Award. Firman also represents the College of Pharmacy on the UI Center for Advancement’s national Alumni Leadership Council. One of his professional passions is encouraging and mentoring student pharmacists and new graduates as they pursue leadership opportunities.
Firman is an active community volunteer at local and state levels and received the IPA Bowl of Hygeia award for his dedication to community service. His roles include Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area board of trustees chair; and administrator of the Cedar Valley Coalition that leads federal government outreach activities.
Jan Hansen
Jan Hansen, ’83 BSPh, PhD, is vice president of the Evidence for Access team within Genentech’s Public Affairs organization, where she oversees an area uniquely positioned and skilled to address the value, quality, and policy drivers associated with access to health care in the U.S. Her ultimate passion is building organizations and fostering young, innovative-thinking – yet applied, researchers.
A seasoned executive with more than 30 years of experience in the health-care, life-sciences, and pharmaceutical industries, Hansen is a sought-after speaker and guest lecturer on topics related to her expertise in pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes. Her professional accomplishments have resulted in numerous appointments to boards and committees, including the National Pharmaceutical Council and the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. Hansen’s knowledge of pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes has been acquired and applied throughout her career across areas such as patient-based research, health-care consulting, sales strategy and execution, strategic planning, organizational design and development, and outcomes research (global and United States roles). Her resume features positions of increasing leadership responsibility at well-regarded companies, including PCS-Pharmaceutical Data Services (now CVS-Caremark), Glaxo Wellcome (now GlaxoSmithkline), and Allergan (now part of AbbVie).
Past Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients*
2022 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Stephen Baird, '86BSPh, JD
Rick Gates, '95 BSPh
Linda Griffey, '72 BSPh, JD
Shaoling Li, '94 PhD
2021 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Jenelle Sobotka, ’87 BSPh, '89 PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP
Todd Semla, ’81 BSPh, '83 MS, '85 PharmD
2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Ronald Betts, ’73 MS, PhD
Ann and Timothy Lehan, ’76 BSPh
2018 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Elizabeth A. Chrischilles, '79 BSPh, '81 MS, '86 PhD
Marilyn and Matthew Osterhaus, both '80 BSPh
2017 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Sue Purcell, ’74 BSPh
William Stagner, ’73 BSPh, ’77 MS, ’79 PhD
2016 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Michael Akers, BA, ’72 PhD, MBA
Christopher Decker, '88 BSPh
2015 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Terry Dahl, '83 PhD
Miekeleen Hart, '79 BSPh
2014 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Dennis Erb, ’84 PhD
Stephen Mullenix, '74 BSPh
*No ceremony was held in 2020.