The Plein Center at the UW School of Pharmacy has named six new Plein Scholars for the 2026–2027 cohort. The $5,000 scholarship supports PharmD students pursuing mentored research that advances the care of older adults.
Hailey Dang, working with Dr. Trang Le on Reducing Hospital Readmission by Pharmacist Intervention Through Medication Reconciliation, a study examining whether pharmacist-led medication reconciliation can lower 30-day readmission rates among older adults.
Mariam Elsayed, working with Dr. Shelly Gray on Medications and Dementia Risk, a review of the evidence linking commonly used medications to cognitive decline, paired with plain-language educational materials for patients and families.
Kevin Le, working with Dr. Laura Hart on Medication Use Quality and Safety in Older Adults, a structured review of the latest geriatric pharmacotherapy research, prepared for publication.
Lori Morris, working with Dr. Melissa Barker-Haliski on Intersection Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Epilepsy, a laboratory investigation into how seizures reshape the molecular targets that govern brain excitability in Alzheimer’s disease.
Ivy Reed, working with Dr. Shelly Gray on Exploring Ageism and the 4Ms in an Academic Setting: From the Faculty Viewpoint, a national survey of how schools of pharmacy teach age-friendly care and address ageism.
Jasneet Singh, working with Dr. Clayton English on Drivers of Early Antidepressant Discontinuation in Older Adults and Opportunities for Pharmacist-Led Interventions, a scoping review aimed at strengthening antidepressant adherence in later life.
Though their projects span the bench, the clinic and the classroom, the scholars share a commitment to improving care for older adults. Their work ranges from molecular studies of seizure susceptibility to hospital transitions of care, medication safety, mental health and the education of future pharmacists — reflecting the breadth of challenges geriatric pharmacy must address as the older adult population grows.
For many, that commitment was shaped by internships, long-term care pharmacies, family medicine clinics and caring for aging family members. Several are also pursuing the Plein Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy, deepening their training in patient-centered care for older adults.
As they begin their projects, the 2026–2027 Plein Scholars will build the evidence, tools and understanding needed to support healthy aging