2025 Hall of Distinguished Preceptors Announced
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 25, 2025) — The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) is proud to announce the induction of seven outstanding preceptors into the prestigious Hall of Distinguished Preceptors. The honorees will be recognized during the annual awards ceremony in the spring of 2026, which will be livestreamed on the College’s official YouTube channel.
The Hall of Distinguished Preceptors honors voluntary or adjunct faculty who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to mentoring student pharmacists through experiential learning. This year’s recipients represent six categories: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE), Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE), Commonwealth Experience Rotation, Louisville Clinical Education Center, New Preceptor of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement.
“With nearly 700 active preceptors in our program, it is a great honor to acknowledge this group for their exceptional mentorship and leadership qualities,” said Holly Divine, PharmD, assistant dean of external studies. “Our preceptors are the backbone of pharmacy education, shaping the future of our profession one student at a time. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and sincere gratitude to this year's Hall of Distinguished Preceptors awardees. Your dedication to fostering the next generation of pharmacists is the cornerstone of our experiential education program."
APPE Preceptor of the Year: Carl Edward Gordon, PharmD, BCPS
Carl Edward Gordon, PharmD, BCPS, was raised in Frankfort, Kentucky, and graduated from Franklin County High School. He began his pre-pharmacy studies at Murray State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 1979. He later completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1996.
Following graduation, Gordon briefly worked in a community pharmacy setting before joining Frankfort Regional Medical Center as a staff pharmacist in 1979, where he continues to serve. Over the years, he has held various leadership roles, including Assistant Director of Pharmacy and Clinical Manager. He earned Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy in 2014.
Gordon has been an active preceptor for students from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy and oversaw residency training at Frankfort Regional Medical Center from 2012 to 2023. He values his long-standing relationship with the College and credits his success to the teamwork of his dedicated colleagues
IPPE Preceptor of the Year: Tiffany Fritz, PharmD
Tiffany Fritz, PharmD, was raised in Sandy Hook, Kentucky, where the close-knit community instilled in her a strong sense of service. Her early volunteer experiences inspired her pursuit of a career in pharmacy.
Fritz earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Morehead State University and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 2011. During her PGY1 residency at St. Joseph Main Hospital, she informally precepted UKCOP interns—an experience that sparked her passion for mentoring.
A lifelong learner, Fritz brings creativity to her precepting by incorporating engaging activities like hospital-wide board games during Antibiotic Awareness Week. She emphasizes the importance of collaborative care and teaches students to value every healthcare professional on the team. Her philosophy reflects the words of Aristotle: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
IPPE Preceptor of the Year: Jordan M. Potter, PharmD
Jordan M. Potter, PharmD, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 2019. During his time at UK, he served two terms as Graduate Senator-at-Large and founded MINDS of Healthcare, an award-winning interprofessional wellness organization.
After completing a PGY1 residency at Corewell Health in Michigan, Potter published a commentary on addressing burnout in pharmacy residency programs. He currently works as a clinical pharmacist at Option Care Health in Lexington, Kentucky, managing acute home infusion therapy and total parenteral nutrition referrals.
Since establishing experiential learning opportunities at Option Care Health in 2023, Potter has embraced a student-centered precepting philosophy. His teaching mantra—“Be the preceptor THIS student needs”—guides his adaptive, empathetic approach to mentorship.
Commonwealth Experience Preceptor of the Year: Melissa Fain, PharmD
Melissa Fain, PharmD, is a committed pharmacist and preceptor whose career has been rooted in service to rural communities. A University of Kentucky alumna, she earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the College in 2003.
After two years in retail pharmacy, Fain joined Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center in 2005, where she currently serves as Director of Pharmacy. Her areas of expertise include antibiotic stewardship, medication management, and patient education. She holds certifications in pediatric pharmacy, oncology pharmacy, and well-being.
Fain has been a dedicated preceptor since 2019, mentoring both IPPE and APPE students. She takes pride in introducing learners to the broad scope of pharmacy practice in small hospitals, where pharmacists serve as versatile subject matter experts.
Louisville Clinical Education Center Preceptor of the Year: Megan Webb, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP
Megan Webb, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP, earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in 2012. She completed PGY1 and PGY2 residencies in critical care at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC), later serving as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for Surgery, Orthopedics, and Trauma at UCMC.
Webb returned to Kentucky in 2016 to join Baptist Health Louisville as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine. She became board-certified in emergency medicine pharmacy in 2023 and serves as vice-chair of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties Emergency Medicine Specialty Council.
An active preceptor for students and residents, Webb delivers a hands-on, structured emergency medicine rotation that fosters student independence and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her enthusiasm for mentorship is rooted in the meaningful guidance she received from her own preceptors.
New Preceptor of the Year: Nicole Miracle, PharmD, MPH, CSP
Nicole Miracle, PharmD, MPH, CSP, serves as Pharmacy Education and Competency Coordinator at UK Specialty Pharmacy and Infusion Services (UKSPIS). In this role, she leads educational initiatives for staff and students and coordinates experiential education rotations.
Miracle precepts student pharmacists and residents across multiple programs, including APPE electives and PGY1/2 specialty pharmacy residencies. She has broadened access to the profession through high school shadowing and technician training programs.
A frequent lecturer at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Miracle presents nationally on learner engagement, precepting, and intern development. Her leadership roles in professional organizations underscore her deep commitment to shaping the next generation of pharmacy professionals.
Lifetime Achievement in Precepting: Michael Anderson, PharmD, MBA
Michael Anderson, PharmD, MBA, earned his B.S. in Pharmacy in 1982, PharmD in 1990, and MBA in 2001. He retired in 2024 as Director of Pharmacy at Baptist Health Lexington, having also held leadership positions at Meadowview Regional Medical Center and Baptist Health Lexington.
Anderson was a long-time advocate for pharmacy education, precepting students from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy from 1989 through his retirement. He received numerous honors, including Preceptor of the Year in 1996 and Northeast AHEC Preceptor of the Year in 2005.
His professional service includes leadership roles in the Kentucky Society of Health-System Pharmacists, where he served as president and was named a KSHP Fellow. Anderson’s community involvement spans several boards and organizations. He and his wife, Mary Lou—also a 1982 UKCOP graduate—are the proud parents of two sons and grandparents to five grandsons.