Graduating Students, Preceptors and Faculty Honored at Graduation Awards Reception

Academic, Service and Leadership Excellence Showcased at Annual Pre-Commencement Event

Graduating students in the Class of 2024 were recognized for academic, service and leadership excellence, while individual practitioners and pharmacy sites were honored for outstanding preceptorship, at the Graduation Awards & Reception May 8 at the Hilton University of Houston Hotel.

The awards and graduating student recipients were:

  • The Viatris Pharmaceutical Excellence in Pharmacy Award – Petar Jordanov
  • Merck Manual Award – Rima Azkoul, Hanh Do and Adriana Ibarra
  • Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication Sponsored by Facts & Comparisons® and Lexicomp® brands of Wolters Kluwer Health – Camille Johnson
  • United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice Award – Maryam Neshastehriz
  • ASHP Health System Pharmacy Award – Amy Shum
  • APhA-ASP Service Recognition Award – Camille Johnson
  • Phi Lambda Sigma Student Leadership Award – Sarah Garcia Plouch
  • Special Recognition Award for Excellence in Clinical Skills – Kevin Le and Chris Nguyen
  • RX Cougar Leadership Award – Sarah Garcia Plouch and Adam Siddique
  • Legislative and Policy Award – Haley Brusen
  • Most Spirited Volunteer and Leadership Award – Phuong (Teresa) Dang, Noelle Nguyen, London Umejaku
  • Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research Excellence Award – Anne Adigwe, Halimat Ajenifuju Aroyehun
  • Communication and Counseling Award – Haley Brusen
  • Award of Excellence in Non-Prescription Medications and Self Care – Kayla Valigura
  • Hospital Pharmacy Internship Award – Anna Tam
  • Ambulatory Care Internship Award – Alan Pho
  • Graduate Student Excellence Award – Jieni Li
  • Institutional Patient Care Award – Anisha Panakezham
  • James McCarty Community Pharmacy Internship Award – Raheleh Rahimzad
  • Walgreens Multilingual Scholarship Award – Raheleh Rahimzad
  • Albertsons Community Pharmacy Scholarship Award – Ivy Dung Truong

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

  • Health Systems Pharmacy of the Year Award – University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
  • Outpatient Pharmacy of the Year Award – Revive RX Pharmacy
  • Hospital Pharmacy Preceptor of the Year Award – Mohammed Fahimuddin, Pharm.D.
  • Institutional Patient Care Preceptor of the Year Award – Kayta Kobayashi, Pharm.D.
  • Ambulatory Care Preceptor of the Year Award – Thanh Nguyen, Pharm.D. ('11)
  • Community Preceptor Award – Brandon Casarez, Pharm.D. ('17)

In addition, two UHCOP faculty members were recognized:

  • Faculty Preceptor of the Year Award – Amelia Sofjan, Pharm.D.
  • Lambda Sigma Faculty Leadership Award – MaríVi Tejada-Simon, Ph.D., M.Ed.

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