Congratulating Coogs

Students, Preceptors, Sites and Faculty Members Honored for Excellence at Graduation Awards Reception

May 12 – Two dozen University of Houston College of Pharmacy students were recognized for demonstrating excellence across various aspects of academic, clinical, service and leadership activities at the Class of 2025 Graduation Awards & Reception May 7 at the Hilton UH Hotel. In addition, UHCOP faculty members, pharmacy practitioners and experiential sites were honored for leadership or outstanding preceptorship.

The awards and graduating student recipients were:

• The Viatris Pharmaceutical Excellence in Pharmacy Award – Bethany Bluitt
• Merck Manual Award – Paige Smith, Brooke Landreneau and Valerie Nguyen
• Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication Sponsored by Facts & Comparisons® and Lexicomp® brands of Wolters Kluwer Health – Ashlyn Pulliam
• ASHP Health System Pharmacy Award – Kevin Huynh
• APhA-ASP Service Recognition Award – Tyler Trinh
• UHCOP Phi Lambda Sigma Student Leadership Award – Hunter Adam
• UHCOP Special Recognition Award for Excellence in Clinical Skills – Hunter Adam and Julia Wheat
• UHCOP RX Cougar Leadership Award – Whitney Dike and Emmanuel Iruru
• UHCOP Legislative and Policy Award – Tyler Trinh
• UHCOP Most Spirited Volunteer and Leadership Award – Tammie Lam, Madison Pereida and Josiah Willingham
• UHCOP Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research Excellence Award – Yongqi Xiao and Anahita Haghparast
• UHCOP Communication and Counseling Award – Hunter Adam
• UHCOP Award of Excellence in Non-Prescription Medications and Self Care – Sally Pena
• UHCOP Hospital Pharmacy Internship Award – Serena Draper
• UHCOP Institutional Patient Care Award – Kotoko Ai and Ashlyn Pulliam
• UHCOP Pharmacy Ambulatory Care Award – Renata Sanchez
• UHCOP James McCarty Community Pharmacy Internship Award – Trisha Otwell
• UHCOP Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy (PHOP) Graduate Student Excellence Award – Olajumoke Olateju
• U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award – Mattie Sullivan

In addition, third-year Pharm.D. student Qamar Dhafer received the Albertsons Community Pharmacy Scholarship Award for a second consecutive year.

Several preceptors and pharmacy sites were honored for excellence in preceptorship:

• UHCOP Health Systems Pharmacy of the Year Award – Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital
• UHCOP Outpatient Pharmacy of the Year Award – H-E-B Pharmacy
• UHCOP Hospital Pharmacy Preceptor of the Year Award – Michelle Yazdchi, Pharm.D., MBA, BCPS, BCSCP, CPHQ, CPPS, HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake
• UHCOP Institutional Patient Care Preceptor of the Year Award – Eileen Sullivan, Pharm.D., Houston Methodist Hospital
• UHCOP Ambulatory Care Preceptor of the Year Award – Jocelyn Thomas, Pharm.D., Harris Health System-Gulfgate Health Center
• UHCOP Community Preceptor Award – Amy Frankum, B.Pharm, H-E-B Pharmacy #713

Additionally, two UHCOP faculty members were recognized:

• UHCOP Faculty Preceptor of the Year Award – Jeff Sherer, Pharm.D., MPH, BCPS, CGP
• UHCOP Phi Lambda Sigma Faculty Leadership Award – Divya Varkey, Pharm.D., M.S.