SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 150 Years of Pharmacy Excellence

Previous Position: Pharmacist, Walmart (currently retired)

"I am very proud to be a graduate of UKCOP. The reputation is outstanding, and whenever I meet new people in the pharmacy profession, they almost always know about how wonderful UKCOP is. I like to think that being a graduate of UKCOP is almost like being a UK basketball player in terms of reputation. People know that you really know your stuff."

Current Position: Chief Practice Officer, Associate Professor, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy

"As Chief Practice Officer of UKCOP, I’m excited about the opportunity to take the College to the next level. We are producing highly qualified clinical pharmacists, and this position will allow us really reach the communities that need pharmacists the most."

Current Position: Retail and Clinical Pharmacist, Pavilion A, Albert B. Chandler Hospital

"The most meaningful interaction I have had in my career as a pharmacist is patient interaction and forming meaningful patient relationships. There have been multiple patients I have helped through cancer and heart disease. Unfortunately, some of those patients died, but their spouses came in and told me about how much it meant to them that I talked to them about their medication and asked them how they were doing. As a pharmacist, you are not just checking the refill on the script. What you do does matter. You are making a difference. Also, the fact that I was a black pharmacy manager during a time when there were not many black men or women in this role was meaningful as well. I got to be an example for kids who don’t have a black doctor and allowed them to see someone like me in a prominent position."

Current Position: Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Anticoagulation Clinic, UK HealthCare Gill Heart and Vascular Institute

"One piece of advice that I have is directed towards students having trouble determining the path they want to take in practicing pharmacy. There are so many options and fields within pharmacy to specialize in, which can be daunting. My advice is to get as many different experiences as you can now, even ones you may not be sure about. You never know what you may enjoy or what passions you may find if you take the opportunity to seek them out."

Current Position: Associate Chief of Clinical Pharmacy Services, Indianapolis VA Medical Center

Award: Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence Award Recipient (2021)

"At UKCOP, I really appreciated the exposure to all clinical practices, especially during my 4th-year rotations. I also thought my professors and preceptors did a great job of teaching me how to approach a problem and look for a solution. The instruction at UKCOP was top-notch and the facility was wonderful. I made many lifelong friendships and the relationships I formed with friends and faculty are valuable beyond measure. The value of getting my PharmD and MBA at the same time was also huge as well."

Previous Position: Registered Pharmacist, CVS

David mostly worked with UKCOP graduates throughout his career. He appreciated that UKCOP emphasized and encouraged involvement and participation in professional organizations, which really became a big part of his career. He saw that as a way for all pharmacists to lead. David's best advice for future pharmacists was to get involved and stay involved with professional pharmacy associations. He said it was the best way to contribute to the future of your community. David was happily retired from 2015 until his passing in 2021.

Current Position: Distinguished Professor, Division Chair, Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Award: Hall of Distinguished Alumni - Lifetime Achievement Award (2014)

"The most beneficial aspect of getting my degree at UKCOP was the lifetime of opportunities that opened up for me. Many of these opportunities I didn't even think were possible for me to achieve. Growing up in Buffalo, New York, I’d see pictures of the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China and wonder if I'd ever go there some day. Who would have thought I would actually be there? The only reason I got to see these places was because of pharmaceutical sciences. I have seen all of these because of my connection to pharmacy. UK has enjoyed a great reputation in the pharmaceutical world and being a UKCOP graduate just opens doors for you. The College of Pharmacy is a shining star. It’s helped create a network of people I know throughout the country and the world."

Previous Position: Editor, Journal of Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin; Owner, President, CKD Insights, LLC.

Award: Paul F. Parker Award Recipient (1994)

During Dr. Curtis Johnson's time at UKCOP, he was assistant professor of pharmacy from 1975-1978. After leaving UKCOP, Dr. Johnson worked as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 26 years as a professor in the School of Pharmacy and Department of Medicine from 1978-2004. In 1993, Dr. Johnson was promoted to the position of associate dean for professional and student affairs, which he held until 1996. From 2004-2010, he held the position of associate director of the School of Pharmacy's Office of Global Health. Dr. Johnson was also an editor for the Journal of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, and before he passed away, he happily owned his own business, CKD Insights.

Current Position: Executive Director, Western Kentucky Heart and Lung Research Foundation

"I would say that the most beneficial part of receiving my degree from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy is the relationships that I formed. You have the friends that you make in pharmacy school that are your friends for life. You have relationships with the faculty, which is always good, because I can't tell you how many times during my career that I would call one of the faculty to ask questions or find out what was happening at UK. Even during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would still continue to call each other. Also, UK's reputation as a prestigious school is great. You receive a lot of respect when you tell someone you're a pharmacist who graduated from Kentucky."

Previous Position: Professor, Department Chair, University of Michigan College of Pharmacy (currently retired)

Award: Hall of Distinguished Alumni - Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient (2016); Paul F. Parker Award Recipient (2012)

"I really appreciate the strong reputation of UKCOP in the pharmacy world. Just having that credential and being able to say I graduated from UKCOP differentiated me in the job market. Although it never guaranteed a spot and I had to prove myself for every position I had, having a UKCOP degree helped open many doors for me thanks to the College of Pharmacy's wonderful reputation."

Previous Position: Ambulatory Pharmacy Care, University of Michigan (currently retired)

"I would advise future pharmacists to keep their eyes and ears open. Stay up-to-date with the profession and health care in general. Look for roles where you can help, talk to people and think outside the box. Be involved and go to professional meetings. Do not be afraid to try something new."

Current Position: Professor Emeritus, Kitasato University School of Pharmacy; Vice President, Japanese Woman's Pharmaceutical Association

Award: Hall of Distinguished Alumni - Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient (2017)

"Lifelong continuing study is necessary to work as a pharmacist. With this, you will be able to help many people, such as patients, physicians, nurses and your family by using your advanced knowledge and skills. Enjoy your career development. A pharmacist is a health professional who works day and night for someone else, not for oneself."

Current Position: Principal, Koontz Oncology Consulting LLC

"I have benefited from the instant recognition of the UK College of Pharmacy and its programs. The College, along with its residencies, have a storied history and enjoy an elevated national reputation. You don’t have to explain to people the outstanding pharmacy curriculum, the quality of the experiential training rotations or the rigor of the residency programs. They already know. The clinical and research experiences offered by UK speak for themselves."

Previous Position: Retail and Clinical Pharmacist (currently retired)

"I think the prestige and recognition of UKCOP was the biggest benefit of going there. Plus you could follow UK basketball easily that way! UKCOP is always top rated in the United States and having a degree from there is a great association. I am most proud of supporting UKCOP so that others can have an experience like mine."

Current Position: Professor, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy; Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist, Kentucky Children's Hospital

Award: Paul F. Parker Award Recipient (2017)

"My favorite part of working at UKCOP is that, in general, everyone at UK works well together. The College of Pharmacy and UK HealthCare are so interconnected. With the strength of people working at the hospitals and clinics and in the pharmacy building, the strength of the faculty and the strength of the students, it's just an environment that allows people to grow and do things well. Everyone is collaborative, even the other colleges on UK's campus. I haven't heard that about some other pharmacy schools."