2024 Impact Report
Where Excellence Meets Impact
A decade of impact
Eshelman Innovation was established in 2014 with a $100 million gift from alumnus Fred Eshelman, BSPhar ’72, PharmD. A decade later, the institute has grown into a health care innovation engine that bridges the inspiration of academia and the spirit of entrepreneurship to turn groundbreaking ideas into real-world impact.
eshelmaninnovation.org
Over the past decade, the Global Pharmacy Scholars Program has given 290 PharmD students the opportunity to travel to 12 international sites. Students are exposed to different cultures and health care systems around the world. They return transformed and inspired to improve health locally and globally.
$10 million gift establishes the Blouin Scholars Program
Vaughn Bryson, BSPhar ’60, former CEO of Eli Lilly, and Nancy Bryson, BSPhar ’60, have committed $10 million to build a best-in-class pharmacy scholarship program that pairs financial support with leadership development. The program will be named for Bob Blouin, PharmD, who led the School as dean from 2003-2017 and served as UNC-Chapel Hill provost from 2017-2022. This year, 33 students in the Blouin Scholars Program received half- to full-tuition renewable scholarships and benefited from value-add enrichment focused on growth mindset, moral courage, and advocacy.
Empowering Student Success
Across all of our educational programs, we are preparing leaders and innovators to solve the world’s most pressing health care challenges.
PharmD
We launched a Business of Health Care Certificate designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and contribute to an increasingly complex and interconnected health care environment.
PhD
As our PhD program has grown to its largest size, we are leading a MyPhD initiative funded by the NSF to modernize PhD training by seamlessly integrating individualized competencies, career exploration, and professional skills.
Postdoc Fellows
A new Eshelman Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship program attracted 90 highly-qualified applicants and supported the recruitment of three exceptional fellows across three divisions.
Health-System Pharmacy Administration & Leadership
93% first-time NAPLEX pass rate and 92% MPJE pass rate
92% residency match rate (PGY1) and 98% residency match rate (PGY2)
#1 ASHP residency match rate among pharmacy schools with 75 or more students
Our online and residential MS program has expanded to 20 hospital practice sites across 10 states, with 100% of graduates placed in health care leadership roles.
MPS in Regulatory Science
Launched in 2023, the MPS in Regulatory Science program graduated its first alum in December. Christine Kwon, MPS ’24, pursued the program after experiencing a health crisis that revealed gaps in patient-provider communication.
Undergrad
The Minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences enrolled 14 students in the program’s second year to increase total enrollment to 27 students, building a pipeline for advanced health degree programs and emerging careers.
UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Molecules to Market program bridges the gap between academia and industry
In partnership with Deerfield Management, we launched a new Molecules to Market certificate program to help learners navigate the complex journey from scientific discovery to market-ready biotherapeutics.
SNPhA leaders champion underserved communities
Fourth-year PharmD students Tazche Turner and Ashley Addison were elected national president and vice president of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association. (SNPhA).
“I have a strong passion for expanding access to affordable medications based on growing up in a rural town and watching the negative impact preventable diseases had on my family. I’m excited to work on a national level to make largescale change in our communities.”
Tazche Turner, PharmD Candidate ‘26 SNPhA President
“Our goal with this program is to provide a comprehensive foundation in biotechnology that will be valuable for aspiring entrepreneurs and industry professionals alike. With real-world insights from experienced professionals, this program will guide participants through every phase of biotherapeutic development, from preclinical research to commercialization.”
Mike Jarstfer, PhD
Assistant
Dean for Graduate Education
Evidence-based policy addresses mental health crisis
As a PhD candidate, Phil Hughes served as an expert witness in three states providing testimony on the impact psychologists have on prescription privileges. His evidence-based research led to 35 publications and supported bills in at least six states.
“Nearly 60% of mental health prescribing is being done through primary care physicians, but that’s not their expertise. I was interested in prescriptive authority for psychologists as a way to bridge the gap between people who are primarily trained in prescribing and people who are trained in mental health.”
Phil Hughes, PhD ‘24
Advancing Medicine for Life
With 115 faculty across five divisions, we innovate and collaborate with an eye toward the future on issues ranging from cancer and cardiovascular disease to neurological disorders and medication optimization.
$92 million in research grants
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES OF PHARMACY GUIDELINES 6 new patents
Doubling our research enterprise
For the first time, the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is #1 in the nation in total research funding according to rankings from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
111 PhD students fueling our research engine
Impact spanning the drug development cycle
Drug Discovery
Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry
Xiaodong Wang, PhD, received a $2.5 million NIH grant to develop a new cancer treatment targeting tumor growth and boosting immune response.
Drug Delivery
Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics
Julianne Nguyen, PhD, received a $2.7 million grant from the NIH to develop a Zippersome technology that delivers treatment to the heart without surgery.
Drug Optimization
Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics
Mackenzie Cottrell, PharmD, received a $2.5 million NIAID grant to create an HIV pharmacology data repository to accelerate HIV treatment development.
Pharmacy Practice & Education
Practice Advancement and Clinical Education
Mollie Scott, PharmD, is partnering with the NC DHHS for pharmacists to increase access to hormonal contraception in all 100 counties across the state.
Patient Outcomes & Policy
Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy
Jennifer Elston Lafata, PhD, is leading a $3.3 million ARPA-H grant to build a network of oncology learning health systems for cancer surveillance and precision health equity.
Rawls-Palmer Progress in Medicine Award
Kim Brouwer, PharmD, PhD, received the prestigious Rawls-Palmer Progress in Medicine Award from the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics in recognition of her pioneering work on hepatic drug disposition models and advancing drug safety and efficacy.
Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation
The Triangle Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (Triangle CERSI) accelerates access to emerging scientific approaches, ensuring the FDA remains at the forefront of regulatory decision-making. Led by UNC in partnership with Duke, NC Central and NC State, the Triangle CERSI received an additional $5.1 million in 2024, bringing its total funding to $11.4 million over two years. Five projects tackle the opioid epidemic, four focus on novel analysis of real-world data to improve cancer treatments, and two projects involve patient-led input on treatments and outcomes.
Catalyzing Innovation for a Healthier World
Now in its 10th year, Eshelman Innovation has provided $35 million in seed funding generating $132 million in follow-on funding and turned groundbreaking ideas into real products and services.
Therapeutics Accelerator
Eshelman Innovation’s Therapeutics
Accelerator provides strategic funding, project management, and translational support for innovations with commercial potential to meet industry-relevant milestones.
Medicines to prevent another global crisis
Eshelman Innovation supported the launch of the Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) as a global leader in developing safe and effective antiviral drugs for future pandemics. READDI is now the core implementation partner in the 100 Days Mission, a three-pronged pandemic preparedness effort launched by the G7 and led by the International Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat.
Digital Health Venture Studio
Eshelman Innovation’s Digital Health Venture Studio works in partnership with High Alpha Innovation and Amazon Web Services to create new digital health startup ideas and then launch, capitalize, and support the companies.
6 STARTUP COMPANIES
A digital solution transforming opioid crisis response
Goldie Health is a startup conceived through the Eshelman Innovation Digital Health Venture Studio that empowers response teams to save and support those in acute opioid crisis. The overdose prevention platform helps agencies maximize detection of at-risk individuals and provide them with a low-friction plan of care tailored specifically for them. This year Goldie Health hired a CEO, launched its first pilot, and received seed funding to support new hires and rapid expansion. Conceived (vetted from 143 ideas) addressing issues including substance use disorder and health equity
Collaborating to Shape the Future of Pharmacy
With a focus on patients, we are partnering across health professions and sectors to move forward new models of pharmacy practice and support collaborative policy engagement. Practice
ACT Community Pharmacy Center of Excellence
Our School was recognized by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy as an inaugural ACT Community Pharmacy Center of Excellence based on our demonstrated leadership in community pharmacy practice transformation.
Working across the aisle to improve health care
North Carolina legislators Sen. Gale Adcock and Rep. Wayne Sasser, BSPhar ‘73, spoke to pharmacy and nursing students about bipartisan efforts to expand health care access. They urged future pharmacists and nurses to advocate for policy changes, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with lawmakers and using their education to improve health care access and outcomes statewide.
More Than a Script pilots community pharmacy enhanced services model
In partnership with independent community pharmacies across North Carolina, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has launched More Than a Script, a program that incentivizes pharmacists to provide personalized, enhanced care for patients with diabetes and hypertension. The idea for the program was conceived at our Catalyst event series, where we convened pharmacists, providers, health systems, and payers to identify opportunities to collaboratively address health gaps.
Advocating at the NC General Assembly
A group of 35 faculty, students, and staff met with state leaders to discuss the challenges facing the profession of pharmacy.
As a student, it was rewarding to be able to share concerns around key issues such as PBM reform but also bring an awareness of the integral role that independent pharmacies play in communities. Growing up, it was always fascinating to watch as my dad would learn the stories of people in the community and function as both a medical expert and friend.
PHARMD CANDIDATE ‘26
CHANDLER KEITH
By and for the People of North Carolina
For more than 125 years, we have served as North Carolina’s only public pharmacy school. We remain committed to impacting the health and economics of our state.
AT ANY GIVEN TIME
225 PharmD students are training and providing care statewide
70% of alumni live in NC and serve in all 100 counties
9 Early Assurance Partnerships with UNC-system schools
School unites in hurricane relief efforts
Our community came together in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene to host donation drives, distribute medication, and work with relief agencies and clinics.
Faculty, staff, and student organizations collected supplies for those on the Asheville campus and inhalers, EpiPens, and other items needed by first responders.
Alumni and friends donated more than $150,000 to a student emergency fund to ensure access to water, food, and transportation and to help cover hotel stays and other needs.
Faculty volunteered at the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry Medical Clinic to provide an alternative to crowded emergency rooms with long wait times.
Alumni in Western NC and across the state filled prescriptions quickly for patients whose pharmacies flooded or were without power, sourced medications, and counseled patients.
Teaching healthy habits at Conetoe Family Life Center
Student, faculty, staff, and alumni volunteered to teach health education to rural youth at Conetoe Family Life Center Summer Camp. Students taught from a curriculum they designed on topics ranging from mental health to healthy eating.
Paying tribute to our Indigenous communities
As part of an American Indian Heritage Celebration, we unveiled a land acknowledgment and Guardian of Medicine art feature in the lobby of Kerr Hall.
Building the rural workforce our state needs
Carolina Across 100 awarded the Rural Pharmacy Health Initiative a $200,000 grant to extend its reach establishing a hub in northeastern NC. The initiative now reaches 18 counties with a goal of improving access to care while creating new, sustainable models for rural health care.
A passion for serving rural patients
Growing up in Whitsett, a small town in Guilford County, Cassidy White saw firsthand how rural residents often lack access to high quality health care or affordable healthy foods. Now, as a secondyear PharmD student, White is learning how health care disparities like these lead to a prevalence of conditions like diabetes, HIV, and obesity in rural areas. She participated in the early assurance program at UNC Wilmington and is currently in the Rural Pharmacy Health Certificate Program. “It fuels a fire in me to be a voice for this population and to be able to advocate for these patients,” said White.
Global Partnering Globally to Lead Locally
We aspire to be the global leader in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences— to improve health for people here at home and around the world.
Collaborating to improve global health
PharmAlliance is a strategic partnership between UNC, Monash University, and University College London to improve global health through pharmacy education, professional practice, research, and student collaboration. This year, we hosted 35 international colleagues in Chapel Hill for the annual PharmAlliance conference to share talent, tools, and techniques on emerging issues ranging from artificial intelligence to social impact.
Inspiring future health care leaders from around the world
Through our Innovations and Transformations in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, more than 50 students from around the world participated in a three-week summer learning experience about the discovery, delivery, and clinical use of drugs and vaccines.
Global Guarantee
The Global Pharmacy Scholars Program (GPS) celebrated a 10-year milestone of fourth-year students completing a one-month international rotation. This year, 42 students traveled to six countries across four continents, and the University of Toronto was added as a new site. As GPS enters its second decade, it will evolve to include a longitudinal distinction program to further deliver upon our Global Guarantee—the promise that a global education is available to every student pharmacist. Students in the distinction program will develop a global perspective, cultural sensitivity, and social responsibility across all four years of their PharmD training.
Japan
Malawi
Moldova
Australia
England
Ethiopia
Graduated, Yet Still Connected
Commencement keynote highlights power of connection
Neal Fowler, BSPhar ’84, MBA, delivered a memorable commencement address that included a special performance by UNC’s renowned a cappella group, the Clef Hangers, of which Fowler was a member as a student. To spark the spirit of paying it forward, Fowler announced a donation: $100 for each of the 157 graduates to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Foundation.
8,725 alumni serve their communities across 28 countries, 50 states, and all 100 counties of North Carolina.
Former CEO of Eli Lilly gives Kohn Distinguished Alumni Lecture
More than 250 students, faculty, and staff came together to hear Vaughn Bryson, BSPhar ’60, give the Harold & Carol Kohn Distinguished alumni lecture. Bryson inspired as he spoke about his experience leading one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and his involvement in the development of the blockbuster GLP-1 drugs.
School sponsors 100 years of Rameses celebration
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Rameses as the mascot for Carolina, the School hosted a Ram Pen fan zone at each home football game as part of our outreach to NC youth, and participated in an on-field recognition at Homecoming.
Alum supports student success in business plan competition
Greg Vassie, PharmD ’03, MBA, mentored a team of students named second runner-up for the Good Neighbor Pharmacy National Community Pharmacists Association Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition. The team proposed a community pharmacy model that delivers in-home services, including long-term care, remote patient monitoring, and immunizations.
Carolina Alumni recognizes Dean Kashuba
Dean Angela Kashuba received the prestigious Carolina Alumni Faculty Service Award, which honors those who have performed outstanding service for the University or alumni association. She was recognized for her groundbreaking HIV research and servant leadership.
BEYOND Excellence
Our BEYOND strategic plan (2021-2024) guided our work to redefine excellence in education, pharmacy practice, and research. This year we engaged our community in a process to refresh our strategic plan to pave our path toward 2030. Strategic Plan
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2021-2024 Strategic Plan Highlights
Create the most engaging culture
Accelerate innovation and transformational change in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
• Increased overall engagement measured by Culture Amp survey from 72% to 78%, exceeding industry standards
• Improvement in well-being scores across our community
• Doubled our research enterprise
• Improved scores in 56% of graduating student survey categories
• Launched Rural Pharmacy Health Initiative
Improve operating efficiency to invest in strategic areas
• Achieved budget neutrality
• Completed largest fundraising campaign of any US pharmacy school
2025-2030 BEYOND Strategic Plan Priorities
• INSPIRE an engaged and inclusive community
• INNOVATE in education, practice, and research
• IMPACT human health