UK College of Pharmacy celebrates three leaders with Hall of Distinguished Alumni honors
LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a forthcoming celebration of excellence and achievement, the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) will induct three graduates into its Hall of Distinguished Alumni. The ceremony will honor their lasting impact on pharmacy education, leadership and patient care and will recognize careers defined by service, innovation and dedication to the profession.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are James "Jim" Drennen, Ph.D. (’91) and Cindy Stowe, PharmD (’91), whose decades of leadership have shaped pharmacy education and accreditation at the national level. Lucas “Luke” Orth, PharmD (’15), will receive the Young Alumni Award, recognizing exceptional early-career accomplishments and emerging leadership within ten years of graduation.
“Their careers reflect the very best of what a UK graduate can be — bold leaders, compassionate professionals and tireless advocates for advancing patient care and pharmacy education,” said Craig Martin, PharmD, MBA, interim dean. “We are incredibly proud to welcome them into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni and celebrate the example they set for our students and alumni community.”
James Drennen, Ph.D.
Drennen has devoted more than three decades to advancing pharmaceutical sciences, research innovation and academic leadership. Since 1991, he has served Duquesne University in roles spanning faculty member, department chair, associate dean and now dean of both the School of Pharmacy and the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
A recognized expert in pharmaceutical technology and quality systems, Drennen founded the Duquesne University Center for Pharmaceutical Technology and is a partner in Strategic Process Control Technologies, LLC, where he works with pharmaceutical manufacturers to improve product quality and process efficiency. His pioneering work in process analytical technology and quality-by-design has helped reshape modern pharmaceutical manufacturing, translating academic discoveries into real-world improvements in drug quality and safety. He also served for fourteen years as the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation and has authored or co-authored more than 100 publications, chapters, patents and scholarly works.
A registered pharmacist and dedicated educator, Drennen has taught professional and graduate students for over 30 years. Currently, he serves as chair of the board of directors for the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education (NIPTE), helping guide collaborative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing the pharmaceutical sciences.
Drennen earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Kentucky in 1991. As one nominator shared, “He has carried the torch of excellence lit at the University of Kentucky and used it to illuminate the path for future generations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists.”
Cindy D. Stowe, PharmD
Stowe is a nationally respected leader in pharmacy education, accreditation and academic administration. She currently serves as dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy, where she leads strategic planning, program development and faculty and student success initiatives.
Over the course of her career, Stowe has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as dean and associate provost at Sullivan University and as associate dean at UAMS. Known for steady, student-centered leadership, she has guided colleges through accreditation, strategic planning and curriculum innovation while strengthening faculty development and student outcomes. Her scholarship includes extensive contributions to pharmacy education research and national policy discussions.
Stowe’s influence extends across the profession through significant service with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), where she serves on the board of directors, helping shape standards for pharmacy education nationwide. She is also an active leader within the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and numerous professional organizations.
A proud two-time graduate, Stowe earned both her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (1990) and Doctor of Pharmacy (1991) degrees from the University of Kentucky. In addition, she completed a pharmacy residency at the UK Chandler Medical Center as R201.
Lucas Orth, PharmD
Orth has quickly established himself as a leader in pediatric clinical pharmacy practice, education and research. As an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy, Orth’s work centers on optimizing medication use for children with complex medical needs.
He maintains an embedded clinical practice within the Special Care Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado, which serves more than 6,000 children with medical complexity. In this role, Orth provides direct medication management, caregiver education, and consultation, reaching most patients each year while supporting an interdisciplinary team of primary and specialty providers.
Orth also leads federally funded research focused on improving medication management and expanding pharmacy services for pediatric patients experiencing polypharmacy, helping secure more than $3 million in project funding to date. His excellence in teaching, practice and scholarship has earned numerous honors, including the Colorado Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award, University of Colorado Preceptor of the Year Award, the Chancellor’s Teaching Award, and a fellowship in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. As one colleague noted, “You would be hard-pressed to find an individual more deserving of the award at this early stage of their work.”
Orth received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky in 2015.
The induction ceremony, which will also acknowledge the Hall of Distinguished Preceptors awardees from 2025 and 2026, will take place in Lexington, Ky., on April 17, 2026.