Honoring 125 Years of Pharmacy Innovation


Thank you all for joining us in celebrating and commemorating 125 years of innovation this past year. With your support this year, we awarded over $1.4 M directly to our PharmD and Graduate students, who are receiving an education at one of the top pharmacy schools in the nation.

During Alumni Week, community members came together to contribute over $15,000 to create the first ever PAA Endowed Student Fund. We are proud that our alumni and friends are dedicated to future husky pharmacists.

We hope that you’ll join us in looking back on this year of celebration fondly and continuing the future of innovation at the UW School of Pharmacy.

 Thank you to our Gold Sponsor, Albertsons/Safeway/Haggen Pharmacies!

Alumni Awardees


Ryan Oftebro, ’03
Distinguished Alumni Award in Pharmacy Practice

Cheryl Zimmerman, ’83
Distinguished Alumni Award in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Dana Hurley, ’97, ’00, ’04
Alumni Impact Award

William Canestaro, ’17
Early Career Achievement Award

Distinguished Alumni Award
In 1973, the UW School of Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) began giving the Distinguished Alumnus/a in Pharmacy Practice Award annually to individuals who demonstrate outstanding service to the School, the profession of pharmacy and to the community.

In 1995, the Distinguished Alumnus/a in Pharmaceutical Science and Research Award was also established to honor alumni from the School’s graduate programs who have excelled in their scientific careers.

The following individuals are the recipients of this prestigious annual PAA award. Their accomplishments and the impact they have had in their respective fields cannot be overstated.

Alumni Impact Award
Established in 2019, this award recognizes School alumni who have made substantial contributions to the School community or their profession and created impact in the local, national, or global community, and whose accomplishments, affiliations, and professional career honor the School’s mission. This award could be given on an annual basis or ad hoc based on the nominees each year.
Early Career Achievement Award
Established in 2019, this award recognizes School alumni who, within 10 years of receiving their last School of Pharmacy degree, are doing innovative work in their early career, demonstrating influence within their field and making a notable impact on the profession in one or more of the areas of research, administration, direct practice, policy, advocacy and/or community and public service. This award could be given on an annual basis or ad hoc based on the nominees each year.

Alumni Legends

 

Over our 125-year history, our alumni have consistently charted new territories spanning science, research and patient care – often pioneering new roles for the pharmacist in an evolving healthcare system. To celebrate our 125th anniversary, we are highlighting 125 alumni legends who made significant contributions, amongst the thousands who continue to enhance the profession in new and profound ways.

Thank you to each of the alumni for leading the profession and creating one of the most influential alumni communities in the country.

See the Alumni Legends

  • Mitchell Higashi, Ph.D. CHOICE, 2001

    Mitchell Higashi

    Ph.D. CHOICE, 2001

  • Alice Ball, Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1912
B.S. Pharmacy, 1914

    Alice Ball

    Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1912 B.S. Pharmacy, 1914

  • Kate Atienza, PharmD, 2005

    Kate Atienza

    PharmD, 2005

  • Nathan Hall, B.S. Pharmacy, 1939
Ph.D. Pharmacy, 1948

    Nathan Hall

    B.S. Pharmacy, 1939 Ph.D. Pharmacy, 1948

    Nathan Hall

#Unlock12.5k

Scholarships at the UW School of Pharmacy support 72% of current students. With over 4,900 alumni across the globe, the UW School of Pharmacy alumni community remains committed to supporting student scholarships.

In honor of the 125th Anniversary of the School, the Pharmacy Alumni Association Board will establish an endowed student fund, providing financial support to students for years to come. Through your collective participation and giving, you can unlock an additional $12,500 from the PAA Board!

Together, we can continue the legacy of innovative Pharmacy education through the PAA Endowed Student Fund. With your help, students will continue to accept positions at competitive internships, travel to pharmacy conferences, present their research and manage the demands of one of the top educational institutions in the nation. Join your fellow alumni in supporting support future Husky Pharmacy Leaders and #Unlock12.5k!

*$12,500 gift will unlock when collective, personal contributions amount to $12,500

Support Students

2020 Alumni Week

Welcome to Alumni Week

June 22nd – 25th

With modest beginnings on the crest of Denny’s Knoll in downtown Seattle all the way to the 2019 launch of Kidney on a Chip to outer space, the UW School of Pharmacy’s robust tradition of innovation improves the health and well-being of the communities we serve. We improve patient access to care, for Seattle residents, underrepresented and rural populations across Washington state and the U.S.–even for astronauts headed to Mars. Our faculty, students, and alumni are why we are the global leader in pharmacy education, research and practice.

Join us each day as we explore alumni legends from each of the School of Pharmacy departments. Catch up with your fellow alumni and post words of encouragement or favorite photos to share with the SOP Community.

Support Student Scholarships

Scholarships at the UW School of Pharmacy support 72% of current students. With over 150 students requesting emergency aid this quarter because of the impact of the pandemic, we know that scholarship support is critical. During Alumni Week, the PAA Board invites you to contribute to the PAA Endowed Student Fund, ensuring future husky pharmacy leaders continue to serve on the front lines of our health care system. Every gift, regardless of amount, will be matched 1:1 by the PAA Board up to $12,500.

Support Students Today

Welcome to Alumni Week

Department of Pharmaceutics | June 23rd, 2020

Welcome Department of Pharmaceutics alumni and community members!

Today we celebrate the visionary work and research that takes place in the Department of Pharmaceutics every day. The department’s focus on drug metabolism, transport, distribution and absorption to deliver the right medicine to the right patient at the right time is its north star, but the dedicated faculty, staff, students and alumni are what make this department uniquely PCEUT.

Watch today’s video for a special welcome from alum Donavon McConn and learn about your pharmaceutics Alumni Legends.

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the retirement of Dr. Danny Shen

Give to the Danny Shen Travel Award Fund

Support the Department of Pharmaceutics

The Department of Pharmaceutics is a place where an unwavering commitment to excellence in research, instruction and service is demonstrated through the extraordinary productivity and success of our faculty, staff and students. Our program focuses on Physiologically-Based Approaches to Drug Delivery and Disposition. We offer a training environment that includes cutting edge laboratory instrumentation and technologies, award-winning faculty, devoted and experienced teachers, and knowledgeable staff.

Give Today

Department of Pharmaceutics Alumni Legends

See All The Legends

  • Ping Zhao, Ph.D. Pharmaceutics, 2002

    Ping Zhao

    Ph.D. Pharmaceutics, 2002

  • Katrina Claw, PostDoc Pharmaceutics, 2019

    Katrina Claw

    PostDoc Pharmaceutics, 2019

  • Ken Thummel, Ph.D. Pharmaceutics, 1987

    Ken Thummel

    Ph.D. Pharmaceutics, 1987

  • Catherine Lockhart, Ph.D. Pharmaceutics, 2016

    Catherine Lockhart

    Ph.D. Pharmaceutics, 2016

Department of Medicinal Chemistry | June 24th, 2020

Welcome Department of Medicinal Chemistry alumni and community members!

Today we celebrate the highly collaborative research and discovery that takes place in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry every day. The department’s focus on the mechanics of drug metabolism, toxicology, and bioanalytical chemistry is what sets it apart from other institutions, but the dedicated faculty, staff, students and alumni are what make this department a cutting-edge research institution.

Watch the video below for a special welcome from alumnae Leslie Dickmann and Klarissa Jackson and learn about your medicinal chemistry Alumni Legends.

Support the Department of Medicinal Chemistry

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry is part of the highly collaborative, interdisciplinary School of Pharmacy. Medicinal Chemistry is a discipline with a traditional focus on organic synthetic chemistry with the broad goals of drug discovery and optimization. The Department of Medicinal Chemistry has always departed somewhat from this tradition given the focus of many of its faculty on the research areas of mechanistic drug metabolism, toxicology, and bioanalytical chemistry.

Give Today

Department of Medicinal Chemistry Alumni Legends

See All The Legends

  • Hope Barnes, Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1991

    Hope Barnes

    Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1991

  • Forest Goodrich, Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1927

    Forest Goodrich

    Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1927

  • Luke Lightning, Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1998

    Luke Lightning

    Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1998

  • Muriel Vincent, Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1955

    Muriel Vincent

    Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry, 1955

Department of Pharmacy | June 25th, 2020

Welcome Department of Pharmacy alumni and community members!

Today we celebrate the Department of Pharmacy, the amazing alumni that have trained at the UW and the remarkable faculty and staff who are responsible for inspiring the next generation of pharmacy leaders.

Watch today’s video welcome from alumni and learn about the Department of Pharmacy, Plein Center for Geriatric Pharmacy Research, Education and Outreach and The CHOICE Institute Alumni Legends.

Community Board

Support the Department of Pharmacy

The Department of Pharmacy is responsible for training future husky pharmacy leaders in clinical practice, research, health economics outcomes, and specialized patient care.

Support the Department of Pharmacy Support The CHOICE Institute Support the Plein Center

Department of Pharmacy Alumni Legends

See All The Legends

  • Maria Orosa, B.S. Pharmacy, 1920

    Maria Orosa

    B.S. Pharmacy, 1920

  • Juan Cantu, B.S. Pharmacy, 1979

    Juan Cantu

    B.S. Pharmacy, 1979

  • Don Kusler, B.S. Pharmacy, 1951

    Don Kusler

    B.S. Pharmacy, 1951

  • Marianne Ivey, PharmD Pharmacy, 1987

    Marianne Ivey

    PharmD Pharmacy, 1987