Randy McDonough, ’87 BSPh, ’97 MS, ’00 PharmD, will soon take office as the 170th president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). His term begins March 24 during APhA’s Annual Meeting.

McDonough’s presidential campaign slogan, “Challenge, Disrupt, and Inspire,” reflects his passion and dedication to transforming community pharmacy, expanding clinical services, and reshaping the business model to support patient care. He is also co-owner of Towncrest Pharmacies, which includes six locations, Towncrest LTC, and Towncrest Wellness Apothecary.

Widely recognized for his expertise in developing and implementing patient-care services, McDonough has authored numerous publications and presentations on pharmaceutical care and medication therapy management (MTM) in community pharmacy. He also has co-authored a book on pharmaceutical care and contributed chapters to several other texts.

McDonough has served various roles in APhA, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA). He has been recognized nationally for his work, and received the APhA Daniel B. Smith Award; NCPA Independent Pharmacist of the Year; IPA Innovative Pharmacist of the Year; and Parata’s Lifetime Achievement, Entrepreneurial, and Patient Care Pharmacist of the Year awards.    

Leadership Legacy

The College of Pharmacy proudly celebrates McDonough as the sixth University of Iowa (UI) alumnus to serve as APhA president. Below are previous distinguished leaders and their calls to action.  

Max Eggleston, ’47 BSP
1968-1969

Max Eggleston served as a Waverly, Iowa, community pharmacist from 1948 to 1984, and was owner of the Pharmacy Sales and Management Company from 1984 to 1997. In addition to serving as president of APhA in 1968, he held leadership roles in the Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA), the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, and the UI College of Pharmacy. Eggleston was a founding director of the IPA Foundation and Pharmacy Network of Iowa. He was a volunteer leader in Waverly – his hometown.

Robert Osterhaus, ’52 BSPh, ’12 DSC
1992-1993

Bob Osterhaus' work as a member – and then president – of APhA successfully advanced his earlier vision of optimal drug therapy management. Recognizing the need for pharmacists to assume responsibility for drug therapy outcomes and to reduce costs resulting from inappropriate drug use, Osterhaus used his pulpit to push for further reforms. He currently lives in Maquoketa, Iowa, where he founded Osterhaus Pharmacy.

Jenelle Sobotka, ’87 BSPh, ’89 PharmD
2012-2013

“As pharmacy transforms into a patient-care model, everyone must do what is needed to make a difference," Jenelle Sobotka said after being sworn in for her presidency. “I wish for APhA members to understand that your elected leadership is working year-round to advance the profession of pharmacy and achieve recognition of pharmacists as health professionals responsible for providing patient care that ensures optimal medication therapy outcomes.” Sobotka challenged the association to LEAD pharmacy’s transformation through Leadership, Engagement, Action, and Determination. She now serves as professor and director of Online Graduate Programs in Pharmacy Leaders at the University of Cincinnati. 

Matthew Osterhaus, ’80 BSPh
2014-2015

Matt Osterhaus’ presidential address, “The Power of the Pharmacy Family,” was inspired by APhA’s Annual Meeting theme, “The Power and Promise of Pharmacy.” Osterhaus encouraged the audience to reaffirm their commitment to pharmacy’s potential while exploring new innovations and resources for future progress. He urged members to clearly communicate the value they bring to patient care and confidently establish their role in the team-based care setting. Osterhaus concluded with a call to advance together to fulfill the meeting’s charge. Presently, he is the president of CPESN Iowa and national luminary of CPESN USA (Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network).

Nancy Alvarez, ’22 Honorary Alumnus
2017-2018

At her installation, Nancy Alvarez urged APhA members and all pharmacists to "treat the patient, not the numbers" in a call to care. She emphasized the importance of pharmacists taking pride in their roles and the positive impact they have on patients, communities, and the profession. “I challenge you to demonstrate how much you care, so that one day, patients will no longer have to ask themselves, ‘Does my pharmacist care about me?’ Let’s eliminate any uncertainty.” Today, Alvarez is associate dean, Academic and Professional Affairs, at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy.

Icons of Impact

The college’s APhA leadership prowess extends to other alumni, students, and faculty who have received APhA accolades or held national positions. Awards and honors to be bestowed to UI College of Pharmacy affiliates at this year’s APhA meeting are:

• Assistant Professor Tze Ning Hiew – APhA-APRS Ebert Prize 
• Clinical Associate Professor Stevie Veach – APhA Community Pharmacy Residency Excellence In Precepting Award
• Olayinka Shiyanbola (’09 PhD) & Elizabeth Unni (’08 PhD) – 2025 APhA-APRS fellow

Last year, Sobotka garnered the Gloria Niemeyer Francke Leadership Mentor Award; Kaitlyn Pegump (’21 PharmD, 22 R) was named a 2024 APhA Immunization Champion Award Honorable Mention - Individual Practitioner category; and Nicholas Lehman (’03 PharmD) became an APhA-APPM fellow.

Additional leadership roles in recent years are:

• Farah Towfic, (’11 PharmD, R, MBA) – Selected chairperson of the APhA Women in Pharmacy Committee
• Mark Nagel (PharmD ’24) and Stephen Presti (Class of 2025) – APhA-ASP Speaker of the House consecutive years (Nagel 2023-24 and Presti 2024-25)

McDonough is the UI College of Pharmacy’s sixth APhA president, but he undoubtedly will not be the last as it continues the tradition of impactful icons.