For immediate release
Contact: Maureen Thielemans, 703-408-6140
Arlington, Va. — The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy today announced the recipients of its top awards for 2026, which recognize outstanding individual and institutional contributions made to pharmacy education, research, patient outcomes, community service and academic publishing.
2026 Recipients:
- Jeffrey J. Cain, Ed.D., M.S., of the University of Kentucky, will receive the Robert K. Chalmers Distinguished Pharmacy Educator Award recognizing his outstanding achievements as an educator and mentor, his innovations in the classroom, and his overall impact on pharmacy education and the profession.
- Sonak D. Pastakia, Pharm.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., FCCP, of Purdue University, will receive the Paul R. Dawson Award for Excellence in Patient Care Research recognizing the global impact of his work and research to improve the quality of and access to care.
- Jill M. Kolesar, Pharm.D., M.S., FCCP, of the University of Iowa, will receive the Volwiler Research Achievement Award for her exemplary work that has transformed precision oncology practice, advanced the roles of pharmacists in cancer care, and expanded therapeutic options for patients with cancer.
- Gayle A. Brazeau, Ph.D., M.S., of Marshall University, will receive the Distinguished Service Award recognizing more than two decades of meaningful contributions to scholarship in education as she has systematically and consistently influenced the advancement of the Academy.
- Johnnie L. Early II, Ph.D., R.Ph., of Florida A&M University, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award honoring his passion and commitment to advancing the profession through exceptional leadership, excellence in pharmacy educational delivery, pedagogy, and meaningful service contributions at the local, national and global levels.
- Authors of “Examining the Alignment of Pharmacists’ Daily Tasks, Employer-Advertised Skills, and the Entrustable Professional Activities” will receive the Rufus A. Lyman Award, which recognizes the best paper published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education during the previous year. The authors are:
- Diana M. Sobieraj, Pharm.D., University of Connecticut
- Amy L. Ives, Pharm.D., University of Maryland
- Michael J. Rudolph, Ph.D., Lincoln Memorial University
- Lisa Lebovitz, J.D., M.S., University of Maryland
- The paper, “NAPLEX Practice Analysis and Determining the Knowledge and Skills Expected of an Entry-Level Pharmacist” will receive a Rufus A. Lyman Award Honorable Mention. The authors are:
- Karen S. Fiano, Pharm.D., Nova Southeastern University
- Lynn Kassel, Pharm.D., Drake University
- Mary Barna Bridgeman, Pharm.D., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
- Angela Maria McBride, Pharm.D., Walmart, Inc.
- Katherine Lampman, Pharm.D., OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center
- Rachel Antypas, Pharm.D., Rush University Medical Center
- Winter J. Smith, Pharm.D., University of Texas at Tyler
- Elizabeth Ferro, Pharm.D., National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
- Jason S. Sprouse, Pharm.D., Walmart, Inc.
- Brianna Lewis, Pharm.D., Walgreens
- Robert C. Brucia, Ph.D., National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy will receive the Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award for its commitment to addressing unmet community needs through education, practice and research.
Aleda M. H. Chen, Pharm.D., of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Denise H. Rhoney, Pharm.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Jenny A. Van Amburgh, Pharm.D., R.Ph., of Northeastern University have been named the 2026 Distinguished Teaching Scholars, recognizing their excellence in scholarly teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
“We are honored to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of this year’s award recipients,” said AACP CEO and Executive Vice President Lee Vermeulen, B.S.Pharm., M.S., FCCP, FFIP. “Their work reflects the very best of our organization’s mission: advancing discovery, educating the next generation of pharmacists, extending compassionate care to local communities, and so much more. Their achievements not only elevate our organization and the profession, but also help shape the future of healthcare.”
Recipients will be honored at AACP’s Annual Meeting, Pharmacy Education 2026, July 18-21, in Grapevine, Texas.