Message from the Dean

As we reflect on this season of gratitude, we are especially thankful for you – our remarkable SOP community. Your dedication and contributions continue to shape the future of our school and the lives of countless students. Because of your commitment, we are able to provide transformative opportunities that inspire growth, innovation and success.

 Here are just a few of the remarkable achievements by our SOP community: 

• Recognized as an AACP-ACT Community Pharmacy Center of Excellence.
• Launched the online M.S. in Dietary Supplements and Cannabis program, including an online certificate program.
• Graduated our first dual degree student, Abby Fischer, with a PharmD/MBA.
• Represented on the national stage as our AAPS, Kappa Psi, SNAPhA, Rho Chi and ISPOR student chapters won national honors. Three pharmacy students also served in national positions with APhA-ASP.
• Celebrated faculty and preceptor accomplishments, including: Sujith Ramachandran as a Robert Woods Johnson Health Policy Fellow; Stuart Haines as editor of JACCP; Phil Ayers as AACP Preceptor of the Year; and Dean Emeritus Barbara Wells for her AACP Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Increased our extramural research funding, with additional funding for the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education, and numerous faculty receiving competitive NIH and other federal funding.
• Led community engagement efforts to improve public health through immunizations, health care screenings, water and air quality efforts, medication access services and Narcan trainings.
• Advanced graduate education by securing the university’s first G-RISE T32 grant to support underrepresented students in biomedical research.
• Welcomed new members of the 1908 Society and secured more annual giving support for the SOP.
• Awarded our first staff excellence award to Peggy Duke and Don Stanford, our first graduate student mentoring award to Marie Barnard and our first community engagement award to Meagan Brown.

We are proud of the positive impact our faculty, scientists, staff, students, preceptors, alumni and friends have made and look forward to all we will accomplish together in the years ahead. 

This Thanksgiving, we extend our sincere thanks to you and wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season.