The UI College of Pharmacy recognizes outstanding faculty in each Doctor of Pharmacy class with the Teacher of the Year award. The Teacher of the Year is a student-nominated award. We are pleased to announce the following recipients for the 2017-2018 academic year. Recipients will be formally recognized at the Dean’s Appreciation Dinner in November.
Laura Knockel, Class of 2021 Teacher of the Year
Laura Knockel, ′05 PharmD, ′06 R, BCACP, is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science and a clinical pharmacist with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the UI College of Pharmacy and completed a PGY1 Community Pharmacy Practice Residency with the college at Hy-Vee Pharmacy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Knockel is board certified in ambulatory care.
Prior to joining the college’s faculty, Knockel practiced at Hy-Vee Pharmacy in Iowa City for ten years, where she helped implement an AADE-accredited diabetes self-management education program. Knockel is an active member of many pharmacy associations, including the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Pharmacists Association, and the Iowa Pharmacy Association, where she recently completed a two-year term on the Board of Trustees. Knockel’s research focuses on the scholarship of teaching and learning, and innovative teaching methods. She is also interested in immunizations, self-care, medication therapy management, and advancing community pharmacy practice.
The majority of her teaching is in the Foundations of Pharmacy Practice and Applications of Pharmacy Practice course series. A student who nominated Knockel for the award commented that she “…is an excellent educator. She teaches us exactly what we need to know…and provides ample practice so we can solidify what we learn in lecture. Most importantly, she listens to our feedback…” Other students commented that she is very approachable, helpful, and makes times for her students to ensure their success.
Jim Hoehns, Class of 2020 Teacher of the Year
Jim Hoehns, ′92 BSPh, ′94 PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, is a division head and clinical associate professor in Applied Clinical Sciences in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science. He is also a clinical pharmacy faculty member of the Northeast Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program since 1995.
Specifically, Hoehns is the program director for the PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program at the Northeast Iowa Medical Education Foundation (NEIMEF) and has been the Research Director at NEIMEF since 2004.
He earned his BSPh and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the UI College of Pharmacy in 1992 and 1994, respectively. He then completed a specialty pharmacy residency in Family Medicine in 1995 at the University of Iowa Family Practice Center.
Hoehns is involved in teaching Family Medicine residents, pharmacy students, and pharmacy residents about drug therapy. His research interests include cardiovascular therapeutics and diabetes.
“He was very attentive to our concerns, very fair and easy to approach,” said a student who nominated Hoehns. Another student commented that Hoehns “…was by far the best Integrated Pharmacotherapy Course (IPC) coordinator we’ve had so far,” due to his organization, flexibility, prompt response to concerns, and focus on safety.
Kate Gaspar, Class of 2019 Teacher of the Year
Kate Gaspar, ′13 PharmD, BCOP, is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Practice and a clinical pharmacy specialist in Oncology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Gaspar received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 2009 and her Doctor of Pharmacy from the UI College of Pharmacy in 2013. She completed a Pharmacy Practice (PGY1) and Specialty Residency (PGY2) in Oncology at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics from 2013-2015. Her practice interests include oncologic emergencies, acute myeloid leukemia, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
A student who nominated Gaspar commented that “Her lectures were organized and helped me learn key information related to material and to apply in pharmacy practice.” Another student said “She understands the purpose of our therapeutic courses, and I appreciate that she ensured we were getting the most out of our education.”