Faculty, students, and alumni from the UI College of Pharmacy gathered at the APhA 2026 Annual Meeting & Exposition last week to reconnect and celebrate accomplishments. Congratulations to everyone who presented talks, shared posters, or received awards! The list below reflects known awards and presentations only.
A special congratulations to Randy McDonough, '87 BSPh, '97 MS, '00 PharmD, who completed his term as APhA President, becoming the sixth UI alumnus to serve in this distinguished role.
Of special note, this year marked the inaugural Zada Cooper Leadership Award, presented at the Women in Pharmacy Leadership Development Forum. Metta Lou Henderson received the award and delivered the Domer Lecture. Her remarks, titled “What Would Zada Do?”, highlighted Zada Cooper’s many accomplishments, addressed challenges facing the profession today, and reflected on how Cooper might respond.
We also extend our appreciation to Judith Domer of Asheville, North Carolina, for generously sponsoring the Domer Lecture.
Presentations and Awards
| Eilan Alhersh | Graduate Student | -Presenter: "Original Cut: Day of Science Contributed Papers Podium Session 2" -Received a Best Presentation Award for her project titled “Medication Adherence and Quality of Life Among Adults Living in Pharmacy Deserts" |
| Kelly Brock | '02 PharmD | Inducted as an APhA Fellow at a distinguished awards ceremony |
| Keaton Higgins | '23 PharmD | Presenter: "Rated R for Regulation: Annual Legal and Regulatory Update" |
| Yifei Liu | '04 MS, '07 PhD | -Presenter: "Bridging Practice and Research: A Collaborative Conversation" -Inducted as an APhA Fellow at a distinguished awards ceremony |
| Laura Knockel | Clinical Associate Professor | -Presenter: "Stick with Confidence: Sharpening Immunization Skills" -Inducted as an APhA Fellow at a distinguished awards ceremony |
| Susan Winckler | '92 BSPh, JD | Presenter: "Day of Science Keynote: Real-World Evidence in Pharmacy: Using Research to Impact Policy" |
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Posters
- "Effect of the Medicare Part D DIR Fee Policy Change on Medicare Point-of-Sale Brand-Name Prescription Reimbursement in an Independent Community Pharmacy Setting," Rahmeh Qandil, graduate student, Julie Urmie, associate professor, Stevie Veach, clinical associate professor
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"Evaluation of a Community Pharmacist Provided Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Consultation Service," Fabiola Gallardo Penchi, PGY1, Stevie Veach, clinical associate professor, Tammy Bullock, ’98 PharmD, ’99 R, Matthew Witry, associate professor
- "Expanding Clinical Services: Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Led Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring Service in Community Pharmacy," Allison Eikenberry, PGY1, Stevie Veach, clinical associate professor, Kaitlyn Yeates, '21 PharmD, ’22 R, Matthew Witry, associate professor
- "Implementation of a Community Pharmacist-Provided Travel Health Clinic in an Independent Pharmacy," Noemy Penafiel, PGY1, Robert Nichols, ’17 PharmD, ’18 R, Stevie Veach clinical associate professor, Matthew Witry, associate professor
- "Medication Adherence and Quality of Life Among Adults Living in Pharmacy Deserts," Eilan Alhersh, graduate student and William Doucette, Veale professor
- "Understanding Patient Challenges in Pharmacy Deserts: Characteristics and Barriers to Medication and Pharmacy Access," Eilan Alhersh, graduate student, William Doucette, Veale professor, Linnea Polgreen, professor, Korey Kennelty, Keefe professor