Faculty, staff, and students from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy left a remarkable footprint on the pharmacy profession at the university, state, and national levels in 2025. In this year-end review, we highlight accomplishments that made top headlines, as well as those that were hidden gems.
JYOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
College of Pharmacy Receives $1M+ Grant to Combat Opioid Epidemic
A team of faculty members—led by Dr. Jordan Khail, Lecturer in Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy (CAP) and including Drs. Henry Young, CAP Department Head, and Smita Rawal, CAP Assistant Professor—received an almost $1.2 million grant from the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust to address the opioid epidemic in rural Georgia. The two-year pilot program will equip pharmacists in smaller communities with the tools, training, and support needed to provide life-saving resources, reduce stigma, and establish essential support networks for individuals at risk for overdose.
Collaboration, Variety Define College of Pharmacy Faculty Member
Dr. Tim Brown, Director of Interprofessional Education, was featured as a UGA Faculty Spotlight. The article on Brown, accessible on UGA Today, discusses the evolution of his career, how his role will adapt once the new UGA School of Medicine opens its doors, and what keeps him busy outside of his professional endeavors.
B R U A R Y
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
UGA PharmD Class of 2024 Achieves Top Results on MPJE and NAPLEX Exams
The PharmD Class of 2024 achieved remarkable results on MPJE and NAPLEX exams, demonstrating why our College remains a premiere pharmacy school in the state and a nationally renowned location for academic excellence.
Our 2024 graduates who took the Georgia MPJE—a jurisprudence examination assessing understanding of state and federal pharmacy law—achieved a 90% firsttime pass rate, more than 11% higher than the national average. This also represents the highest first-time pass rate in the state, exceeding the next highest by 10.9%.
On the NAPLEX, which assesses foundational and clinical pharmacy practice knowledge, the Class of 2024 achieved an 87.8% first-time pass rate, surpassing the national average by 10.3%, and is highest in the state by 16.8%.
PharmDawgs Honored at Bulldog 100 Celebration
Eight businesses led by College of Pharmacy graduates were honored at the 2025 Bulldog 100 Celebration on February 21. This prestigious list recognizes the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA alumni.
#47 Clark Drug Company - Starr Clark '87, Ben Ross '08, Mary Nagel ‘16
#55 Golden Isles Pharmacy - Matthew Donato ‘14
#56 Coastal Drug Company - Ben Ross, Mary Nagel
#78 Ross Drug - Ben Ross
M A R C H
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
APhA's CEO, Dr. Michael Hogue, Visits UGA
The College welcomed Dr. Michael Hogue, the 15th Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Pharmacists Association, to the UGA College of Pharmacy. He spent the day meeting with students, faculty, and staff, sharing insights on leadership, the evolving landscape of pharmacy, and how everyone must stay engaged in shaping the future of the profession.
Daniel Shin and William Helton Named National Finalists, Win $2,500 in Prescription for Service Competition
P2 students Daniel Shin and William Helton were named one of five national finalist teams in the prestigious Walmart x SNPhA Prescription for Service Competition. Their project, TranslAitable, aims to bridge the language gap for limited-English proficient Hispanic populations in Lawrenceville, GA by creating an AI-powered translation system in collaboration with students from Georgia Tech. With the support of a $2,500 grant, the team will implement their solution to improve service delivery and community outreach. The project was presented at the NPhA conference in August.
A P R I L
Faculty and Students Celebrated During UGA
Honors Week 2025
UGA celebrated Honors Week 2025 with a series of events that highlighted the excellence of the university’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Congratulations to the following award recipients from the College of Pharmacy.
Dr. Anthony Hawkins, CAP Associate Professor:
UGA Creative Teaching Award
Dr. Devin Lavender, CAP Assistant Professor:
PharmD Teacher of the Year
Joshua Robinson, 2025 Graduate of BSPBS:
Presidential Award of Excellence
Dr. Jarvis Hill, 2024 PhD Graduate: Graduate Award -
Excellence in Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Doctoral Research Award
CoP Leads Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, & Hepatitis C Screenings at Normaltown Health Fair
UGA hosted the first Normaltown Community Health Fair on April 9th to connect with neighbors of the Health Sciences Campus and highlight health and wellness resources available at the university. Led by Dr. Brian Seagraves, CAP Academic Professional, the College of Pharmacy partnered with the Athens Wellness Clinic and more than a dozen student volunteers to provide free blood pressure and glucose checks, Hepatitis C screenings, and info on careers in pharmacy to citizens in the community.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Drs. Duc Do, Andrew Darley Promoted Dr. Duc Do, PhD, CSAEd, was named Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, and Dr. Andrew Darley ’12, PharmD, MEd, BCPS, is the new Assistant Dean for Professional Education at UGA’s College of Pharmacy.
In announcing these promotions, Dean Kelly Smith remarked, “We are extremely pleased to elevate these two outstanding leaders at our College. Their depth of experiences and involvement within the College of Pharmacy as well in external pharmacy organizations make them uniquely positioned to accelerate our programs to new heights. Working together, they will advance our academic program beyond excellence. We congratulate them on these new and well-deserved career opportunities.”
BSPBS Class of 2025 Graduates Marupudi, Griffin, and Robinson Recognized
The College of Pharmacy recognized 28 undergraduates in the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences program during spring convocation.
Valedictorian Neharika Marupudi addressed the class, and the keynote speaker was Dr. Kari L. Franson, PharmD, PhD, BCPP, who is the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy in California.
Read the college’s coverage of three BSPBS graduates:
BSPS Senior Logan Griffin Receives Award from Honors College
Honoring Neharika Marupudi as the BSPBS Valedictorian Joshua Robinson Receives Presidential Award for Excellence
J U N E
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
PharmDawgs Represent at GPhA Convention
Members of the PharmDawg community traveled to Amelia Island for the 2025 Georgia Pharmacy Association (GPhA) Convention, where outgoing GPhA President Ben Ross, PharmD ’08, passed the gavel to incoming President Robert Murry, PharmD ’09. Faculty, alumni, and students engaged in continuing education, professional development, and networking throughout the event.
Several PharmDawgs were recognized with top honors:
Madison Marquess, P4: Jim Bartling Student
Pharmacist of the Year and Jeff Lurey Independent
Community Pharmacy Student Scholarship
Rep. Buddy Carter, BSPH ’80: Larry L. Braden
Meritorious Service Award
Dean Stone, RPh ’93: Bowl of Hygeia Award
Tyler Young, PharmD ’18: Pharmacists Mutual
Distinguished Young Pharmacist
Dr. Niying Li Featured in UGA Today and on 11Alive News
Dr. Niying Li, CAP Assistant Professor, was recognized for her impactful research on Alzheimer’s disease care in rural Georgia. Her work was spotlighted in UGA Today, in which she discussed the significant barriers rural Georgians face in accessing diagnosis and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. In the article, Dr. Li highlights the urgent need for better provider education, community outreach, and resources in underserved regions of the state. Read the UGA Today article.
Dr. Li also was featured in a live televised interview on 11Alive News, when she shared further insights about the gaps in care and what can be done to improve health equity for patients and families affected by Alzheimer’s. Watch the 11Alive segment.
J U L Y
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Dr. Trisha Branan Selected for AACP Leadership Fellows
Dr. Trisha Branan, Clinical Professor and Assistant Department Head for Professional Education, was selected as one of 36 aspiring leaders nationwide for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP).
Designed to develop future leaders in academic pharmacy and higher education, this prestigious year-long program provides Fellows with opportunities for leadership skill development, mentorship, and collaboration with peers across the country. CoP ALFP alumni include Dean Kelly Smith, and Drs. Lori Duke, Andrew Darley, and Susan Smith. Learn more about the program here.
Empowering Communities Through Care and Education
A dedicated team of healthcare professionals and students —led by Dr. Henry Young, CAP Department Head, and Dr. Brian Seagraves, Academic Professional in the CAP department—traveled to Hawkinsville, GA to participate in the city’s annual Juneteenth celebration.
During the celebration, the team provided free health screenings and personalized health education to members of the community. Services included blood pressure checks, glucose monitoring, and wellness consultations designed to raise awareness about preventable chronic conditions. Through these efforts, the team identified a range of health concerns among attendees, enabling timely referrals and immediate, on-site interventions in some cases.
A U G U S T
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
White Coat Ceremony Honors 147 P1 Students
The CoP welcomed 147 new Doctor of Pharmacy students at its annual White Coat Ceremony held August 9th at the UGA Performing Arts Center. Sponsored by Kroger Pharmacy, the ceremony was highlighted with members of the Class of 2029 donning white coats, which they will wear in various capacities throughout their four-year tenure at the college.
“These 147 individuals will make a mark on the College of Pharmacy, their chosen profession, and the communities they will one day serve,” said Dean Kelly Smith. “They will spend the next four years working diligently to prepare for the provision of patient care in such settings as community pharmacies, hospitals and health care facilities, government organizations and agencies, and more. We are proud they have joined our college and look forward to their accomplishments and service to others.”
PharmDawgs Capture Awards at GSHP
CoP faculty members, along with a star student leader, took center stage at the Georgia Society of Health-System Pharmacists annual meeting held in Amelia Island.
PharmDawg award recipients included:
Outstanding Preceptor Award – Dr. Andrew Darley, Assistant Dean for Professional Education
Outstanding Community Volunteer Service AwardDr. Susan Smith, Associate Professor
Outstanding Pharmaceutical Publication - CAP faculty members Drs. Chris Bland, Trisha Branan, Anthony Hawkins, Susan Smith, and Andrea Sikora (adjunct)
Outstanding Pharmacy Student Award - Jill Foster, P4
For a more in-depth look at the awards, see here.
SYOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
UGA NCPA Is Top Dawg in National Competition
After years of being in the top three but never ascending to the top spot, the UGA College of Pharmacy’s student chapter of the National Community Pharmacy Association was named Chapter of the Year by the NCPA Foundation. The UGA group competed against more than 100 other student chapters from colleges across the nation for the coveted spot. The award and $2000 prize was presented during the organization’s Annual Convention on October 18-21 in New Orleans. To read the full story of NCPA’s ascent to the top spot, see here.
Dr. Caballero is UGA's Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Josh Caballero, Associate Professor in CAP, was selected for a Faculty Spotlight for the University of Georgia. Titled “Empowering Through Passion,” the spotlight provided a powerful introspective of Dr. Caballero, highlighting his personal and professional passions. To read Dr. Caballero’s complete spotlight, see here.
C T O B E R
OYOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Gordon Thomas Promoted to Senior Director of
Development
Gordon Thomas, who served as Major Gifts Officer at the College of Pharmacy for more than five years, was promoted to Senior Director of Development.
“Gordon’s promotion to a leadership role is well deserved,” said Dean Kelly Smith. “Since joining our College, he has greatly exceeded our expectations. He is a natural at engaging with our alumni; many of these relationships have been lucrative for our college and beneficial for our students. As he moves into this new leadership role, I am confident he will continue his success trajectory.”
Dr. Chu, Singh Receive Patent
Dr. Uma Singh, PBS Lecturer and Assistant Research Scientist, and Dr. David Chu, Distinguished Research Professor, Emeritus, were granted a U.S. patent for the development of small-molecule therapeutics targeting shingles, as well as oral and genital herpes. Issued on October 28, 2025, the patent is titled “Prodrugs of LBHDU and Methods of Treating Viral Infections.”
NYOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
SOAP Named International Chapter of the Year
The College of Pharmacy’s Student Oncological Advocates in Pharmacy (SOAP) chapter was named “International Student Chapter of the Year” by the Network for Collaborative Oncology Development & Advancement (NCODA), a global, medically-integrated non-profit organization dedicated to improving patient-centered care in cancer treatment. UGA’s SOAP competed against 70+ other student chapters in the world for the recognition. To read the complete story about SOAP’s award, see here.
Minor in Cancer Therapeutics Approved for CoP
UGA’s Office of Instruction has approved a Minor in Cancer Therapeutics for the College of Pharmacy, which is targeted to undergraduate students interested in a focused course of study in the field of oncology.
The Minor in Cancer Therapeutics aims to provide undergraduate students with a core understanding of cancer biology, treatment modalities, and emerging therapeutic strategies, including personalized or precision medicine. Designed to enhance students' understanding of cancer research, clinical trials, and drug development, the Minor in Cancer Therapeutics provides the knowledge and skills relevant to careers in biomedical research, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sciences. Click here to learn more about the new minor!
DYOU MAY HAVE HEARD YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Hunter Johnson Wins Richard B. Russell Award
Hunter Johnson, P4, was the winner of the Richard B. Russell Student Leadership Award, presented each year to two Blue Key members who have demonstrated leadership ability and potential. Hunter’s award was one of six student honors presented at the Blue Key Banquet in late November. Award recipients were chosen from the 70 UGA students who were inducted into Blue Key this past spring. Among Hunter’s numerous leadership accomplishments, he served as President of DSAC last year.
Jill Foster Featured on DASON Digest Podcast
Jill Foster, P4, was featured on the latest DASON Digest podcast episode titled, “Words Matter: Tackling Fluconazole Overuse.” Jill, along with Dr. Bruce Jones, Adjunct Professor, authored an IDWeek poster titled “Impact of Removing ‘Budding Yeast’ From Urinalysis Reports on Fluconazole Use,” which caught the attention of several DASON liaisons.
In this episode, DASON liaison Jeannette Bouchard sits down with Jill and Dr. Jones to discuss their project and how a simple reporting change led to a meaningful reduction in fluconazole use at their institution. Click here to listen to the episode!
