University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP) students secured the trophy in the Texas Student Pharmacist Self-Care Competition and five scholarships, while a college alumna was honored for her pharmacy consultant work at the Texas Pharmacy Association 2026 Conference & Expo July 24-26 in The Woodlands.
The team of Gabriela Gaytán, Christine Nguyen, Emily Nguyen and Andrea Pabón secured a nail-biting win in the Jeopardy/quiz bowl-style competition in which four-person teams from each school of pharmacy answer questions about over-the-counter medications. With a narrow lead of $200 going into the final question, the UHCOP team claimed the trophy after betting its entire bank and correctly identified the recommended dose for a smoking cessation product based on a patient's typical nicotine intake.
Alumna Abigail Wright, Pharm.D. ('20), M.S., BCPS, BCGP, CDP, FASCP, founder and owner of Wright Geriatric Consulting, was honored with as 2026 TPA Robert L. Hays Outstanding Consultant Pharmacist. Launched in January 2025, Wright Consulting serves nearly 40 long-term care and independent living facilities, as well as numerous individual older adults, caregivers and healthcare providers. Wright also will begin precepting students this fall.
Wright is a certified dementia practitioner and board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and geriatric pharmacist. She is an active member of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), which recognized her both as a fellow and the recipient of the Gen-Rx Award in 2025. In addition, she is recognized as an ASCP "Age-Friendly Champion" and serves as co-chair on the organization's Psychotropic Use Committee. Wright will begin precepting students this fall.
Five UHCOP Pharm.D. students also were presented with Texas Pharmacy Foundation (TPF) scholarships at the meeting. The recipients and their scholarships were: Jose Ayala and Kaitlin Ridgell — Professional Recovery Network Scholarship; Gabriela Gaytán — Abeldt Family Scholarship; Michael Crichlow — Larry "Neal" McClaugherty Scholarship; and Qamar Dhafer — TPF General Scholarship.
The meeting also includes continuing education sessions by alumni, including "The Golden Years: Pharmacy's Guide to Age-Friendly Care" by Wright; "Beyond the Symptom: Pharmacy's Functional Medicine Revolution" by Renee Prescott, Pharm.D. ('02), functional medicine specialist and senior director of education at PCCA; and Dominic Vu, Pharm.D. ('11), senior vice president, pharmaceutical strategies, at USI Insurance Services.
