Advancing Practice
Putting Provider Status into Practice
Practice is evolving as more pharmacists across the country gain provider status, and UW–Madison School of Pharmacy alumni are helping to pave the way forward. Learn how these three Pharmacy Badgers are enhancing patient care and empowering pharmacists to practice at the top of their license.
Specialized Patient Care
Three School of Pharmacy alumni are building pharmacist-led clinics that bridge gaps in care and strengthen patient outcomes, from heart failure to pulmonary health.
Rethinking Rural COPD Care
In a perfect world, what would a COPD service look like? That's what graduate student Sara Hernandez is asking Wisconsin pharmacists to help build a framework to help rural COPD patients.
Student Excellence
Photo Gallery: White Coat Ceremony
The School's PharmD Class of 2029 reached their first major milestone in their pharmacy school journey: their White Coat Ceremony. See the celebration and the alumni who helped welcome them into the profession.
Industry Interns
Pharmaceutical sciences graduate students are gaining real-world experience through internships and co-ops at top companies like Merck, Regeneron, and Genentech. See how they're putting their training into practice and jump-starting their careers.
Innovative Undergrads
From Alzheimer's disease to cancer, two of the School's Pharmacology and Toxicology students are researching new ways to understand and treat disease with the help of prestigious campus fellowships.
Award-Winning Alumni
Citations of Merit Honor Five Industry, Academia, and Practice Leaders
“From groundbreaking research in biophysics and dermatology to leadership in veterinary and pharmaceutical practice, this year’s awardees have advanced the profession and inspired those around them,” says Steve Swanson, dean of the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy. Meet the 2025 honorees and learn about their contributions.
Alum of the Year
“I don’t know if anyone would have expected me, the fun-loving pharmacy student, to get this award," says Terry Maves (BS '69). Learn how this fun-loving student went on to impact care across Wisconsin.
Service and Impact
Dave Zgarrick (BS '88) has led a four-decade career centered on service to the profession. This year, he's being honored with a prestigious national award recognizing his lasting impact and leadership.
Young Alum of the Year
Collaboration and curiosity define the career of pediatric pharmacy leader Mike Raschka (PharmD '12). Learn why the Pharmacy Alumni Association is honoring his contributions.
Alumni Gatherings
Photo Gallery: 2025 PAA Luncheon
This year's Pharmacy Alumni Association Luncheon brought Pharmacy Badgers together to celebrate the Alumni of the Year, preceptor excellence, and more.
Photo Gallery: Alumni Tailgate
The School of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Alumni Association’s largest annual event brought together generations of Pharmacy Badgers for a day of connection and celebration before the Badgers vs. Terrapins game.
From the Dean
Dean’s Column
As pharmacy schools across the country grapple with declining enrollment, Dean Steve Swanson reveals how the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy is bucking the trend, with standout student outcomes and an alumni-powered plan to sustain success.
Learn more >
Devoted Preceptors
Longest-Serving Alums
Meet some of the School of Pharmacy's longest-serving alumni preceptors and find their reflections on how the profession — and student pharmacists — have evolved over their more than 30 years of service.
Celebrating Outstanding Preceptors
The School of Pharmacy honors three exceptional preceptors for their impact on student learning. Learn what sets Daniel Ricci (MS '18), Nick Zetes (PharmD '10), and Jeremy Barnes apart.
Acclaimed Research
Protecting the Brain
Through a new grant supporting "high-risk, high-impact, and transformative" research, Professor Weiping Tang is exploring how to degrade the protein aggregates linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
Kellet Award Fuels Innovation
Professor Lingjun Li is the first School of Pharmacy faculty honored with a prestigious UW–Madison award, which will support her innovative research in single-cell analysis and imaging mass spectrometry to push scientific boundaries.
Exceptional Education
Alumni-Powered Course Brings Managed Care to Life
“Managed care will affect their careers no matter what area of pharmacy they go into. Our goal is to pull aside the curtain and show them what goes on and why,” says Patrick Cory (BS ’92, PharmD ’95). A new course at the School of Pharmacy draws from the expertise of alumni to teach future pharmacists the complex ecosystem of managed care.
Bridging Science and Care
A newly redesigned course series at the School brings pharmacology and pharmacotherapy together, connecting how drugs work at the molecular level to how they’re used in clinical practice.
Welcoming New Experts
Learn how the School's three new faculty members — Lisa Holle (BS '93, PharmD '95), Paula Voorheis, and Nick Kalogriopoulos — will expand the School’s expertise in oncology, therapeutics, and health system innovation.
Stronger Together
By integrating two divisions, UW–Madison School of Pharmacy faculty aim to strengthen collaboration, research, and training for the next generation of pharmacists.
Empathy in Action
Inspired to Heal
A heart transplant, a cancer battle, an organ transplant — these alumni and students were motivated to pursue careers in health care by their own personal health battles, and it’s made them more empathetic practitioners. Read their stories.
Bucky Approved
A Warm Welcome
This summer, Associate Professor Ed Portillo (PharmD ’14) stepped in as associate dean for advancement. As he kicks off his first semester in the role, he reflects on what sets Badgers apart and why he’s excited to work more closely alumni.
Read his note >
Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders
Legendary Pharmacy Mentor
“If you don’t have a mentor, get one. What I really mean is — you need a Dave Zilz in your life.” For more than 60 years, alum Dave Zilz (BS ’62, MS ’64) has shaped pharmacy practice and inspired generations of leaders through visionary innovation and steadfast mentorship. Learn how his legacy continues to transform the profession.
Cultivating Future Pharmacists
In a rural community pharmacy that dates back to 1938, alum Jim Olson (BS '71) has created a small-town staple and training ground for future pharmacists.
College for Kids
Grandparents University brought dozens of Badgers, like Gary Schroeder (BS '78), and their grandchildren into Rennebohm Hall to get hands-on with pharmacy.
Mark Your Calendar
Scholarship Brunch
Join donors and scholarship recipients for a free brunch to hear about the true impact of giving.
November 16, 11:30 am
ASHP Midyear Wisconsin Reception
Gather with your Wisconsin pharmacy colleagues during the ASHP Midyear Conference in a reception hosted by the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, UW Health, and Wisconsin pharmacy schools.
December 7, 6 pm >
Virtual Alumni and Friends Trivia Night
Come test your Badgers, Pharmacy, and general trivia knowledge in this annual fundraiser for student scholarships.
March 10, 6 pm
PAA Corner
PAA Corner
From connecting with students over Babcock ice cream to hosting the annual Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) Luncheon, the PAA is bringing Pharmacy Badgers together in meaningful ways.
Read what’s planned >
Making Headlines
Class Notes
Fall 2025 Class Notes
Pharmacy Badgers are making waves, from advancing careers and receiving honors to stepping into the spotlight, growing their families, and embracing retirement. Stay connected and share your updates in class notes.
Read what’s new >
Submit your class note >
Stay Connected
DISCOVERX Staff
Editor-in-Chief | Katie Gerhards
Contributing Photographers | Paulius Musteikis, Sharon Vanorny, Andy Manis, Sirtaj Grewal, Paul L Newby II, Keith Weller, Taylor Hamerski, Zach Jindra, Lucy Hawthorne, Sally Griffith-Oh
Contributing Writers | Katie Ginder-Vogel, Nicole Etter, Archer Parquette, Darcy Lewis, Susan Smith
Editorial Interns | Logan Underwood
Editorial Advisors | Alyson Kim, Ed Portillo
DiscoveRx magazine is a quarterly digital publication by the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy.
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