Leadership development is an important part of preparing the next generation of pharmacists. Two University of Iowa (UI) College of Pharmacy students, Pia Patel and Wiley Goff, recently completed prestigious national leadership and professional development programs through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), gaining valuable experiences that will help shape their future contributions to the profession.

Last fall, we celebrated Pia's selection to the Aspiring Academics Program and Wiley's selection to the Community Pharmacy Student Scholars Program—two highly competitive programs that recognize students with exceptional promise and a passion for advancing the profession. Over the past year, they have built on that recognition through mentorship, networking, leadership development, and collaboration with peers and faculty from colleges of pharmacy across the country.

Discovering Opportunities in Pharmacy Academia

Patel’s completion of the Aspiring Academics Program highlights the importance of preparing the next generation of pharmacy educators and scholars. Through strong faculty mentorship and national leadership opportunities, students gain a deeper understanding of academic pharmacy and begin to envision careers that extend beyond patient care to include educating future pharmacists, advancing research, and shaping the profession.

For Patel, the program provided valuable insight into the role of faculty members and the impact educators have on the future of pharmacy.

“AACP gave me a front-row seat to the enthusiasm, rigor, and intentionality that faculty across the country bring to preparing future pharmacists,” Patel said. “The program also connected me with student pharmacists and professors from institutions nationwide. Through those conversations, I came to appreciate how respected the UI College of Pharmacy’s education is, and that recognition made me even prouder to call it my college.”

As Patel’s mentor through the Aspiring Academics Program, Associate Professor of Instruction Kate Smith, saw firsthand the qualities that make Patel a promising future educator. Smith describes Patel as reflective, curious, and deeply committed to becoming both a clinician and a pharmacy educator.

“Pia’s questions reflected curiosity about curriculum, faculty development, and how academic institutions function,” Smith said. “She routinely seeks out individualized feedback—not simply to improve her performance, but to deepen her understanding.”

Throughout the year, Patel balanced a demanding academic schedule with significant service commitments. Smith noted that Patel grew in her ability to navigate those responsibilities while maintaining her academic success and commitment to serving others. 

Mentoring Patel also gave Smith an opportunity to reflect on her own role as a faculty member and leader. Patel’s enthusiasm and curiosity about academic pharmacy reminded Smith of the purpose behind her work and the impact faculty have on shaping future pharmacists.

“Pia’s ability to consider how potential actions might impact others—patients, classmates, or colleagues—is one of her greatest strengths,” Smith said. 

Looking ahead, Smith hopes Patel carries forward the confidence to continue asking questions and challenging traditional approaches.

“The PharmD curriculum has given Pia the knowledge and practice experience she needs to be a great pharmacist,” Smith said. “Her community engagement has helped her stay connected to the patients she will serve. Even though it can be challenging or lonely to be a disrupter, pharmacy education needs people like Pia who are willing to ask hard questions and challenge norms for the benefit of the students and patients we serve.”

The experience reinforced Patel’s desire to pursue a career in pharmacy education and become the kind of mentor who positively influences future generations of pharmacists.

“This experience confirmed and deepened my desire to make teaching a central part of my career,” Patel said. “Dr. Smith’s honesty and authenticity had a lasting impact on this experience. Her generosity reflects the kind of mentor—and person—I hope to become for my own students one day.”

Community Pharmacy Student Scholars: Preparing Future Leaders in Patient Care

Wiley Goff’s participation in the Community Pharmacy Student Scholars Program provided a unique opportunity to explore the evolving role of community pharmacy and gain a deeper understanding of how pharmacists are transforming patient care. Through the program, Wiley connected with community pharmacy practitioners, faculty, and student pharmacists from across the country while building his knowledge of innovative practice models and strengthening his leadership skills.

“The most valuable lesson I gained from my time with AACP is that building connections does not only create more opportunities for my future career, but also fosters relationships with other students, practitioners, and leaders who share similar interests,” Goff said. “Although I am a firm believer that pharmacy is a small world, this program introduced me to a diverse set of voices and ideas that I likely would not have encountered otherwise.”

Through national programming and conversations with leaders across the profession, Goff gained a broader perspective on the many ways pharmacists can make an impact.

“This experience reinforced just how many great opportunities there are for pharmacists and student pharmacists to make a meaningful impact on patient care,” Goff said. “I heard from a variety of leaders in the community pharmacy space who showed me the many different roles pharmacists can have—from clinical pharmacist to pharmacy manager to professional affairs positions within pharmacy organizations. I am now more inspired to innovate and dedicated to advancing our profession through community pharmacy practice.”

Goff’s growth was supported by the guidance and mentorship of Clinical Associate Professor Stevie Veach, who served as his faculty mentor throughout the program. Veach helped Wiley connect program concepts to real-world practice and encouraged him to explore opportunities to advance innovative pharmacy services. 

“Dr. Veach was very influential in the post-module discussions held after the large group meetings every other month,” Goff said. “She offered real-world applications of program material and helped me understand how I can build upon these teachings to promote innovative pharmacy services.”

Through Veach’s mentorship, Goff also gained opportunities to expand his professional network and engage in research focused on the future of community pharmacy practice. Veach connected him with CPESN leader Lindsey Ludwig to support a research project titled, “Strengthening Community Pharmacy Sustainability Through Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network (CPESN) Chronic Care Contracts.”

Tracy Tran, ’24 PharmD, also played an important role in Goff’s development as a mentor and collaborator. Tran participated in the post-module discussions and helped Goff build upon his understanding of CPESN contracts through his IPPE Community experience with Tran at Main at Locust in Davenport, Iowa.

“My knowledge of CPESN contracts from my IPPE Community experience last summer with Dr. Tran allowed me to better understand our research topic,” Goff said.

Veach said the program not only expanded Wiley’s knowledge of community pharmacy but also strengthened his confidence as a leader and future pharmacist.

The mentorship and experiences gained through programs like Community Pharmacy Student Scholars highlight a defining strength of the UI College of Pharmacy: faculty members who are invested in helping students discover their passions, develop professionally, and pursue ambitious goals.

Across the country, innovative pharmacists are creating new practice models, expanding access to care, and redefining what is possible in community pharmacy. Opportunities like this allow students to learn from those leaders while envisioning their own future contributions to the profession.

The accomplishments of both Goff and Patel demonstrate the impact of pairing talented students with dedicated mentors and providing opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. Their journeys highlight the future of pharmacy—driven by curiosity, mentorship, innovation, and a commitment to improving the profession.