Trailblazers in Community Pharmacy Advancement

ACT Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence have demonstrated significant commitment to pharmacy advancement in the following areas: teaching, service, scholarship, leadership, and partnerships.

The ACT Pharmacy Collaborative Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence Report: A Blueprint for Community Pharmacy Excellence in Academia
 

Download Report

The ACT Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence have each created a unique approach to excel in areas of teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership. We have also uncovered some notable commonalities and patterns indicating how each of these Centers have excelled in advancing community pharmacy practice and education. The report, made possible by support from the Community Pharmacy Foundation, highlights ways that the Academy can learn alongside these Centers of Excellence to strengthen their efforts and support of community pharmacy. Some highlights include:

• Team Effort: 
  • Support from leadership and administration within the college/school is critical. This may come in the form of specific funds dedicated for community-based efforts, inclusion of community-based practice advancement within the strategic plan, and development of dedicated workgroups and taskforces.
  • A core group of dedicated community-based faculty at the school creates the vision and foundational work (partnerships, research, and teaching) to build upon.
• It Takes Continued Time and Focus:
  • Success may not be seen overnight – and that is OKAY!
  • Many of the current Centers of Excellence have been on their journeys for many years and are still striving to grow, but there is an opportunity for colleges/schools to learn from each other.
• Key Approaches for Impact: 
  • Colleges and schools of pharmacy looking to enhance their impact should focus on the seven universal approaches utilized by all 17 Centers of Excellence. Some examples of these include:
    • Community practice partnerships (faculty practice sites, research partners, organizational partners to grow service)
    • Integration with state and national groups/initiatives to support community pharmacy
• Maximize Impact Across Key Areas: 
  • Pharmacy colleges/schools should also consider prioritizing activities that enhance their efforts across all or most areas of interest: teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership. Some examples of these include:
    • Post-Graduate Training (Community-based Pharmacy Residency Programs and/or Fellowships)
    • Faculty involvement in community pharmacy practices (committed core of multiple faculty)

Inaugural ACT Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence:

• Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy
• The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
• Purdue University College of Pharmacy
• University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS) College of Pharmacy
• University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
• University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy
• University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
• University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy
• University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy
• University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy
• University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
• University of South Carolina School of Pharmacy
• University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
• University of Washington School of Pharmacy
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy
• Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy
• Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy 

The Centers of Excellence will serve as ambassadors for pharmacy academia through convenings with leaders in pharmacy and healthcare, uniting to mobilize and amplify community pharmacy practice transformation efforts. These trailblazers will inspire and inform community pharmacy advancement across the pharmacy academy.

 

Community Pharmacy Centers of Excellence Program Overview

Information about applications reopening will be shared here when available

For questions/support, please email aacpcenter@aacp.org.

The Academia-Community Transformation (ACT) Pharmacy Collaborative will recognize schools and colleges of pharmacy who are committed to advancing community pharmacy practice. Schools and colleges will be invited to submit an application to be recognized as a Center of Excellence based on commitment to community pharmacy advancement in the following areas: teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership/partnership support. Centers of Excellence will be recognized at the AACP Annual Meeting, and the designation will remain for a total of 5 years once achieved. After this time, schools/colleges will be invited to resubmit to maintain the designation.

Eligibility

ACPE-accredited schools and colleges of pharmacy. 

Application Instructions

Additional details coming soon.

Key Application Areas

• Teaching
  • Didactic, Experiential, Post-graduate
• Service
• Scholarship
• Leadership Support
• Partnerships

Application Review

Eligibility Review

• AACP staff will confirm that accredited schools completed the entire application, and the application will be moved through a peer review evaluation process.

Evaluation Criteria

• Reviewers will look for evidence that the school/college is committed to advancing community pharmacy practice through teaching, service, scholarship and leadership support. The strength of evidence provided will determine if the program is designated as a Center of Excellence or an Emerging Center of Excellence. 

 

Special Thanks

This program would not have been possible without the dedicated workgroup members listed below and the support of the Community Pharmacy Foundation. 

William (Bill) Doucette (Lead), Stefanie Ferreri (Lead), Jenny Bacci, Kim Coley, Bianca Daisy-Bell, Cody Clifton, Chris Daly, Kenneth Hohmeier, Nicholas Leon, Sarah Oprinovich, Sarah Ray, Jessica Robinson, Kate Rotzenberg, Kayce Shealy

AACP invites you to join us on October 29- 31, 2025 for an impactful virtual institute held in honor of American Pharmacists Month, a time not just to celebrate but to elevate the voice and value of pharmacy in today’s changing healthcare landscape. This institute is your space to reconnect with purpose, reimagine possibilities and rise to the moment together. With engaging sessions, small group discussions, and real-time collaboration. We’ll spotlight how community pharmacy is evolving, how patient care continues to expand, and how advocacy can drive meaningful change.

JCPP today announced the release of the 2025 Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (PPCP), an update to the 2014 PPCP that is intended to reflect pharmacists’ contemporary practice and evolving trends in the health care system. 

AACP's 2026 Spring Virtual Pharmacy School Fair 

Join us as an exhibitor at AACP's 2026 Spring Virtual Pharmacy School Fair, taking place April 14–15, 2026. Held as part of AACP's national Pharmacy Is Right For Me campaign, this annual event is designed to raise awareness of the vast opportunities available within the profession of pharmacy and to connect your program with prospective pharmacy students from across the country. Day 1 will feature live virtual exhibit halls, where schools will showcase their programs in real time, alongside a series of interactive 30-minute workshops on topics relevant to pharmacy education and career preparation. Day 2 focuses on employers and resource providers presenting exciting career opportunities and showcasing student-focused tools.

Event Details

• Day 1: Explore Pharmacy Schools
  • Tuesday, April 14th from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET  
    • 1pm - 5pm EST: Workshops presented by pharmacy schools on a variety of topics
    • 5pm – 7pm EST: Pharmacy schools can chat or talk face-to-face with prospective students during the Expo hours
• Day 2: Connect with Employers & Resources
  • Wednesday, April 15th from 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM ET
    • 1pm - 5pm EST: Info sessions presented by employers and resource providers about the opportunities and tools they offer
    • 5pm – 7pm EST: Employers & Resources can chat or talk face-to-face with prospective students during the Expo hours

Two days, two focuses: Day 1 for pharmacy schools, Day 2 for employers & resources. All exhibitors score the full registrant list from BOTH days!

Pharmacy School Exhibitor Information

Why Exhibit?

• Connect live with prospective students through video, chat, and downloadable materials
• Register as a single organization and bring up to 10 representatives
• Receive the full student registrant list from BOTH days after the event for follow-up and recruitment
• Gain national exposure in a low-cost, high-impact format

Registration & Rates:

• Registration Rate: $250
• Registration Closes: April 1, 2026
• Each exhibitor may bring up to 10 representatives to staff their virtual booth (and we encourage you to consider bringing current students!). However, only one person should complete the registration form on behalf of the institution and share the access link with other team members.

Exhibitor Registration

Exhibitor Resources

• Please review this folder, which includes a collection of helpful resources (booth setup instructions, best practices and tips for success) as well as all previous email communications sent to exhibitors

Attendee Registration

The Virtual Pharmacy School Fair is an excellent opportunity for prospective students to explore pharmacy programs, learn about admissions requirements, and connect directly with representatives from schools across the country.

• Cost: Free to attend
• Registration: Please register using the link below.
• Confirmation: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom along with reminder emails leading up to the event.

Attendee Registration

 

Sponsorship Details

If you are an employer or student resource provider interested in increasing your visibility to prospective pharmacy students, we invite you to review the Virtual Fair Sponsorship Opportunities below. Please note: a limited number of six 30-minute presentation slots are available for Presenting Sponsors.

Sponsorship Opportunities

To learn more or secure your spot, please email AACP's Senior Director of Development Elissa Brooks at ebrooks@aacp.org.

Questions?

For questions, reach out to Danielle Stubbs Kirkland, Director of Student Recruitment and Belonging, at pharm4me@aacp.org.

AACP enlisted the Argus Commission to conduct an environmental scan to forecast future trends that may affect the pharmacy Academy. The 2025 Forecast focuses on five themes critical to the Academy: Financing Pharmacy Education, Research and Graduate Education, Education, Practice, and Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy Education, Practice, and Research.

Table of Contents

Search AACP’s Cumulative Policies by keyword search to learn more about AACP’s policies on issues such as Accreditation, Conflict of Interest, Curriculum, Experiential Education and Training, Faculty and Administration, Graduate Education and Research, Impairment, Postgraduate Education and Training, Professional Affairs, Professional Education, Pharmacy Technicians and Social Justice. 

To search by keyword use Ctrl+F to open a search bar. Then type the keyword you would like to search and press Enter.

Recipients of the ACT Community Pharmacy Practice Transformation Educators' Badge proved their commitment to and competencies in community pharmacy practice transformation through knowledge, training, engagement/implementation, and dissemination activities. These educators are prepared to teach and support community pharmacy practice transformation. Please see the full list of recipients below.

AACP provides a collection of resources to assist members with student recruitment, admissions, student affairs, and student success. 

• Admissions and CAS Resources
• Professionalism
• Student Recruitment and Pharm4Me
• Wellness and Resilience