Eighty-four University of Iowa (UI) Doctor of Pharmacy students 
were hooded May 15 at the Class of 2025 commencement. On the day prior, 
a special celebration honored graduates and recognized their achievements. 

Academic Excellence awards went to Sarah Hou, Courtney Schenkelberg, Cole Ludolph, and Kaley Wolff. Meghan Schick earned a United States Public Health Service Award nomination, while Samantha Ritter was a Hancher Finkbine Award nominee. As the 2024-25 national American Pharmacists Association (APhA)-Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) Speaker of the House, Stephen Presti also was spotlighted. 

Additional Notable Achievements

Students Receiving a Combined Doctor of Pharmacy/Master's of Health Informatics Degree: 1
Students Receiving a Combined Doctor of Pharmacy/Master’s of Public Health Degree: 2
Students Receiving a Leadership Certificate: 1
Students Receiving a Certificate in Palliative Care: 7
Percentile of Students Graduating with Highest Distinction: 11%
Students Receiving ExCEL Cords (Excellence in Community Engagement, Leaders, and Service): 40
Students Participating in Health Care Business Leadership: 20
Students Graduating as First-Generation Students: 27
Students Matching with a PGY1 Residency Program: 43
ASHP Residency Match Rate: 96%

Where Graduates are Heading

Varied Paths

The college spoke with six graduates – two each who chose employment, fellowship, or residency, to learn why they selected pharmacy and their career path, what was challenging and memorable about their PharmD education, and how their time at Iowa prepared them for postgraduation plans.

Employment
 

Porter Hummel will begin his PharmD career working as a community pharmacist with Booth Pharmacy in Hawarden, Iowa, and part owner of Kingsley Drug in Kingsley, Iowa. Hummel was given the opportunity to purchase a pharmacy with good friend Connor Clark, ’24 PharmD, and another pharmacist from his hometown.

“I always knew I wanted to go directly into the job market and work alongside my dad, who has owned and operated a pharmacy for 40 years. Dad worked with and learned from his father,” said Hummel. “The time I spend with him and learning from him will be invaluable and I couldn’t be more excited.” 

Serving community patients is why Hummel continued the pharmacy legacy, having cared for them since age 16. “There is no greater feeling in my eyes than knowing your patient trusts you to give them the best care they can possibly receive and that you are accessible to them,” he said.

During pharmacy school, Hummel’s biggest obstacle was the pace. “(There was) a lot of beneficial and necessary material to take in and gain mastery-level knowledge of so I can take care of my patients,” he said. “Learning to balance the demands of school, such as therapeutics courses with exams every week, while keeping up with life in general was (hard).” Studying all night at the college for 8:00 a.m. exams is something he’ll always hold in his mind, said Hummel, adding that in the end, it was all worth it. 

“The experiences and opportunities we were given, as well as the environment in which we learned, set me up for career success,” he said. “It is truly a family atmosphere at the UI College of Pharmacy, and everyone is willing to help each other be the best they can be. My friends and I also had plenty of fun together and played trivia every Tuesday night at Quinton’s in Iowa City.”

Grady Orwig is beginning a pharmacy staff position at Hy-Vee in Ottumwa, Iowa. He said he wants to establish himself as a good pharmacist and has always wanted to help people. “I did well in chemistry in high school and wanted to go into the medical field. I toured the UI College of Pharmacy and decided to go into pharmacy.”

Orwig noted that he picked immediate employment in community pharmacy because he knew it was the job he wanted. “Residency did not appeal to me from a financial or location standpoint,” he said. “I also wanted to return to my hometown with my family and my fiancée.”

According to Orwig, because high school and most undergraduate schoolwork came easily to him, he developed terrible study habits. “That did not help me when I was challenged in pharmacy school. I had to fix it.”

He recounted among his best memories arriving at the college early before tests with his friends for last-minute review sessions. “We would quickly go over our notes and quiz each other as well as try and guess what would be on the tests,” he said.

All the effort paid off, giving him knowledge necessary to be a pharmacist, Orwig reflected. “But more importantly it has given me the skills needed to keep improving and serving my patients.”

Fellowship
 

Anthony Medina is heading to a Pharmacy Informatics and Supply Chain Leadership PGY2 fellowship at Vizient Inc. in Chicago. Medina first became interested in pharmacy through weightlifting. He was fascinated by how supplements, like creatine, branched-chain amino acids, and pre-workout, interact with the body. That interest eventually evolved from gym supplements to pharmaceuticals and the broader impact they can have on health.

Medina decided to pursue an industry fellowship because of the opportunities for long-term professional growth and the ability to make a broader impact on health care. Securing it gave him clarity and purpose during the most challenging part of pharmacy school, his final year.

“Frequently switching (Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences) rotations made it difficult to maintain momentum or feel a sense of continuity,” Medina said. “From the point I received the fellowship forward, I began viewing each rotation as a valuable opportunity to gain experience and develop skills that would support my future goals.” 

Medina noted that the while the UI College of Pharmacy gave him a “strong clinical foundation,” it was his involvement in the Industry Pharmacists Organization and the Healthcare Business Leadership Program that helped shape his career path. “The experiences introduced key topics in industry and leadership, allowing me to explore areas beyond traditional pharmacy practice,” he said.

Medina continued, “While clinical care focuses on individual patients, this path allows me to contribute at a systems level – improving processes, driving innovation, and shaping the future of pharmacy practice on a larger scale. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the root causes behind many of today’s health-care challenges and explore potential solutions.” He added he is also looking forward to expanding his knowledge in areas such as 340B drug pricing, contract negotiations, and data analytics.

Looking back on his past four years of school, Medina noted his favorite memories are the relationships he made. “Whether it was a golf outing, or early morning study sessions before exams, I appreciated having a few solid people to share the experience with and connections that will carry on after graduation,” he said.
 

Emily Weyenberg is moving to Washington, D.C., to be an APhA Board of Pharmacy Specialties fellow. “I have always been passionate about the nontraditional side of pharmacy. Through involvement in various pharmacy organizations, I saw the powerful impact they have on students and the profession,” Weyenberg said. “I hope to build the skills needed to address challenges in pharmacy while effectively communicating and advocating for legislative advancements. I want to help drive broad-scale change, advance pharmacy practice, and ensure pharmacists are empowered to provide the highest level of patient care.”

In fact, it was pharmacy’s influence on patient care that attracted Weyenberg to the field. “Pharmacists play a crucial role in health care, impacting patients in many ways,” she said, adding that the networking opportunities available through the UI College of Pharmacy, alongside her pharmacy organizations involvement, helped prepare her for the association career route.

Weyenberg noted balancing her dedication to and leadership in those organizations with coursework was difficult. “With only so many hours in the day, strong time-management skills were needed to stay on top of all commitments,” she said. “I quickly learned the importance of prioritizing tasks, maintaining open communication, and staying organized. Asking for help when needed was also key to managing responsibilities effectively.”

When reminiscing about her four-year PharmD education, a happy memory is serving in regional and national roles with APhA-ASP. “My experience at Iowa made those opportunities possible and helped shape the direction of my pharmacy career,” Weyenberg said. “Through these roles, I met inspiring student pharmacists from across the country and significantly grew skills that will continue to guide my future.”

Residency

Jason Lin will soon be a PGY1 general resident with AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in a Kansas City suburb. “I pursued a residency because it aligns with my career goals and commitment to patient-centered care. I want to work in an environment where patients are truly seen as individuals,” said Lin. “I hope to gain valuable clinical and professional skills and strengthen my time-management, clinical, and decision-making skills – key components of effective care.”

Lin selected the pharmacy profession after growing up translating medical visits for his parents, helping them navigate hospitals and pharmacies. “I saw how hard it was for them to understand and access care, and I want to be that bridge – someone who helps people like them feel informed, safe, and supported in their health-care journey,” he said.

According to Lin, the UI College of Pharmacy’s fast-paced, detailed curriculum prepared him well for the boards and his career. “The rigorous academics, combined with supportive, highly qualified faculty, made the experience both challenging and enjoyable,” he said. 

Balancing rigorous APPE rotations while applying for postgraduate opportunities was the most difficult part of Lin’s PharmD education. “I overcame it by setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and integrating them into my schedule,” he said. “Staying organized made a huge difference and taught me the value of structure and time management, which continues to help me succeed.”

As he transitions from student to pharmacist, Lin takes with him fond recollections of his time at Iowa. “Meeting new people and making new friends (was memorable). I (also) really enjoyed my time at events, such as the pharmacy ball and PDC events, and I even had some time to travel internationally to different places in Asia.”
 

Lucy Sundrup has accepted a PGY1 general residency at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center–Bergan Mercy out of Omaha, Nebraska. Sundrup explained that pursuing pharmacy combined her love of science with patient care. “I wanted a role where I could make a direct impact on health outcomes, advocate for patients, and be a lifelong learner in an ever-evolving field,” she said.

She added her PharmD schooling readied her for a residency by “providing strong clinical training, interprofessional experiences, and leadership opportunities that built my confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills.” During her education, Sundrup found it tough to balance multiple responsibilities. “I overcame it by prioritizing tasks, setting realistic goals, and seeking support from peers and mentors when needed.”

Sundrup selected the residency path to further bolster her clinical assuredness, manage complex cases, and prepare for a PGY2 residency in oncology. “Residency offers the structure and support to grow as an independent and confident clinical pharmacist,” she said.

Attending the APhA Annual Meeting is something Sundrup especially liked about pharmacy school. “It helped me build connections with peers and professionals while expanding my knowledge of the pharmacy field,” she said.