Workforce Trends
Pharmacy From Home
The pandemic pushed many industries to support remote employees. But what about pharmacy? Data from the National Pharmacist Workforce Study, led by Professor Dave Mott (BS ’88, MS ’92, PhD ’95) and colleagues, finds a significant increase in the hours pharmacists are working from home since 2019. The careers of these five alumni bear out the trend and illuminate where and how pharmacy work is done remotely.
Alumni of the Year
Leadership and Service
For four decades, Bruce Scott (BS '79) has served the profession of pharmacy at national and local levels, earning him the PAA's Alum of the Year award. Learn about his broad impact on pharmacy.
PharmTox Physician
One of the first graduates of the PharmTox program, Patrick Dowling (BS '87) used the degree as a launchpad for an illustrious career as a pulmonary and critical care physician. Learn why he's the PharmTox Alum of the Year.
Community Connections
It’s not easy to buy a pharmacy during a global pandemic, but that’s exactly what Matt McGowan (PharmD ‘10) did. For his impact on the community, he's honored as PAA's Young Alum of the Year.
Educational Excellence
Record Match Rate
With 79 PharmD students matched with a PGY1 residency, the School of Pharmacy’s ASHP match rate hit 99 percent for 2023 graduates, making UW–Madison one of the top pharmacy schools for residency placement and marking a new record in its residency match rate in recent years. Learn about the innovative education supporting this success.
New Statewide Path to a PharmD
“This program will open up more opportunities to students like me, who want to stay at home for undergrad. I’m really excited to have a head start on my career path with a spot in the UW–Madison PharmD program." Learn how the School's new Early Assurance program helps Wisconsinites access a top pharmacy education.
National Leaders
Four Badger Pharmacy Fellows
For their broad impact on practice, Jordan Dow (PharmD ‘08, MS ‘10), David Hager (PharmD ‘05), Neil MacKinnon (MS ‘95), and Kate Schaafsma (MS ‘09) are honored by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists as 2023 fellows. See what they’re doing to shape the profession and patient care.
Wiederholt Recognition
Nationally recognized pharmacy workforce research by alumni and faculty receives the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association’s Best Published Paper Award: the cherished Wiederholt Prize. Learn about their award-winning findings.
Path to Leadership
A month into her residency, all of Debra Fluno's (BS '87) preceptors left, leaving her to step up in a big way. That experience helped her forge the path that led her to where she is today, guiding national pharmacy operations for a major healthcare service provider.
From Advancement
Dave’s Corner
Alumni have an immeasurable impact on the School of Pharmacy and its students through generously sharing their time, talent, and treasure. As another semester begins, Associate Dean for Advancement Dave Mott (BS ’88, MS ’92, PhD ’95) shares some of the ways your support is making a difference.
Read his message >
Alumni Gatherings
Gallery: PAA/WSPS Golf Outing
Each year, the Pharmacy Alumni Association hosts a golf outing that brings alumni, faculty, and students together for a day on the green, all to benefit student scholarships.
Gallery: 2023 PAA Luncheon
During the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin's annual meeting, the Pharmacy Alumni Association hosted a luncheon to bring Wisconsin alums together to reconnect and celebrate 2023 honorees.
Fighting Infectious Disease
Testing Antimicrobial Susceptibility
A School of Pharmacy team led by Associate Professor Warren Rose is testing a novel platform that could give doctors a better way to fight hard-to-treat infections.
Resistance by Neighborhood
New maps from postdoctoral fellow Laurel Legenza (PharmD '13) show that the effectiveness of common antibiotics could depend on the neighborhood.
Expanding Disease Expertise
New Assistant Professor Cecilia Volk (PharmD '20) brings a focus on infectious disease and immune response. Learn what she's researching.
Congrats, Grads!
Gallery: PharmD Awards
Before the Hooding Ceremony, 2023 PharmD Graduation Award recipients gathered to receive their honors and celebrate with family.
Gallery: Hooding Ceremony
Our 2023 Hooding Ceremony celebrated more than 100 graduates from the School's PharmD, Health Services Research in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Health System Pharmacy Administration programs.
Gallery: PharmTox Brunch
To commemorate all they have achieved, our 2023 Pharmacology and Toxicology graduates gathered for a breakfast and award ceremony.
Leading Research
Detecting Drugs of Abuse
“I call it forensic tox whack-a-mole,” says Assistant Professor Heather Barkholtz. “As soon as a certain substance is made illegal, something new pops up, so we’re always chasing those novel psychoactive substances."
Clotting to Target Cancer
To better target cancer therapeutics, Assistant Professor Quanyin Hu leverages a mechanism that results in a very specific biological chain reaction — the cellular signals that trigger blood to clot.
New Antiviral for Deadly Encephalitis
Associate Professor Jennifer Golden has found a brain-penetrating drug candidate that is effective against two deadly encephalitis viruses, for which there are currently no approved prophylactic or therapeutic treatment options.
Pharm Tour
Photo Gallery:
Chancellor Tours the School
New UW Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin visits Rennebohm Hall to be introduced to the breadth and depth of pharmacy education and research taking place right here on campus.
See her visit and what she learned from the state’s top producer of pharmacists >
Preeminent Preceptors
IPPE Instructor Excellence
Alum Amy Kulig (PharmD '03) is honored by the School of Pharmacy for her quality, customized clinical instruction to student pharmacists. Learn about her rotations.
National Master Preceptor
The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy honors alumna and UW preceptor Melissa Ha (PharmD '12) as among the nation's best. See what sets her apart.
Larry Boh Awardee
An internal medicine clinical pharmacy specialist, Jeremy Barnes provides exceptional APPE experiences to the School's students, earning him the School's Larry Boh award. Learn why.
Student Innovators
National Programming Award
For their Conference on Conferences, the School's Wisconsin Society of Pharmacy Students earns a national award from the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists.
3 PharmTox Fellows
Three PharmTox students receive competitive UW–Madison research fellowships to explore issues from repairing traumatic brain injuries to using oncolytic viruses as treatment.
Entrepreneurial Pitch
In front of a panel of School of Pharmacy alumni judges, PharmD students pitched entrepreneurial ideas for new medication-focused apps and devices.
National Student Leader
Even before pharmacy school, PharmD student Michael Nome helped found a school in his hometown in Nigeria. His leadership qualities have only grown stronger, and now he's one of 12 pharmacy students nationwide to receive this ASHP award.
Faculty Honors
Psychedelics Pioneer
For his trailblazing research and education in the field of psychoactive therapeutics, Assistant Professor Cody Wenthur receives one of UW–Madison's top honors.
Metagenomics Innovator
A national organization is honoring Associate Professor Jason Kwan for his contributions to natural products research, including developing a platform to accelerate genomic sequencing.
Gifts from alumni and friends fuel the School of Pharmacy’s exceptional outcomes in teaching, research and service.
Making Headlines
Class Notes
Fall 2023 Class Notes
See what our Pharmacy Badgers have been up to all spring and summer, including numerous professional achievements, new roles, and updates on how life has been. Keep in touch with your School of Pharmacy alumni peers through class notes.
Read what’s new >
Submit your class note >
Upcoming Events
Alumni & Friends Tailgate
Join alumni and friends of the School as they get ready to cheer on the Badgers as they face the Iowa Hawkeyes. At the tailgate, find a buffet, games, a buffet, and cash bar. Stick around after kickoff for a viewing party.
October 14, 2023, 12:30 pm >
Webinar: Pharmacy’s Role in Population Health
Christopher Barron (BS ’97), Tyler Prickette (PharmD ’17), and Tony Knutson (PharmD ’20) share how Fort HealthCare applies principles of population health, including its key initiatives, pharmacy’s role, and best practices that promote population health initiatives.
Register for this free Pharmacy Experts webinar here >
From the PAA
PAA Corner
This fall, Heather Spatchek (PharmD ’18) is sworn in as the new president of the Pharmacy Alumni Association for the 2023-24 term. In her first update, learn how much was raised for scholarships during the annual PAA/WSPS Golf Outing and see what’s planned for fall.
Read her update >
Professional Development
UW–Madison Psychedelic Symposium
Nov. 2 – 3, 2023 | BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute, Fitchburg, Wis.
Hosted by the UW Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances and the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development, this third-annual symposium is intended for researchers and clinicians in the areas of clinical psychology, psychiatry, pharmacy, nursing, and social work.
The symposium will highlight community engagement approaches and scientific and clinical work on campus, as well as roundtable discussions on models of care for ketamine and psilocybin therapies, barriers to access for underserved communities, best practices, and more.
Find more information >
CMC Project Team Leadership Course
October 16 – 19, 2023 | Pyle Center, Madison
This course provides project management and leadership training for aspiring or current project team leaders, covering effective leadership skills, team dynamics, project management, and decision-making skills. The course also covers regulatory compliance and quality assurance to plan candidate advancement to Phase I and beyond.
Learn more and register >
Pharmacy Innovations Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy Conference
Nov. 3, 2023 | Virtual
Learn more and register >
Connect With Us
DISCOVERX Staff
Editor-in-Chief | Katie Gerhards
Photographer | Sally Griffith-Oh
Contributing Photographers | Todd Brown, Andy Manis, Samantha Casper, Kristen Koenig
Contributing Writers | Katie Ginder-Vogel, Nicole Etter
Editorial Interns | Aarti Gupta, Olivia Bouchard
Editorial Advisors | Alyson Kim, David Mott
DiscoveRx magazine is a quarterly digital publication by the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy.
Have an alumni update or story idea?
Get in touch with us to share your class notes, thoughts, or story ideas.