Seven individuals have been selected by the College’s Awards Committee to receive ACCP’s prestigious 2025 awards recognizing excellence in clinical pharmacy. Marie Chisholm-Burns, Amy Dzierba, Lea Eiland, William Jusko, Robert MacLaren, Mary Beth O’Connell, and Lisa Potter will be honored with the Excellence in Advancement of Diversity, Health Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Award; the Clinical Practice Award; the Education Award; the Therapeutic Frontiers Lecture Award; the Russell R. Miller Award; the Robert M. Elenbaas Service Award; and the C. Edwin Webb Professional Advocacy Award, respectively. They will be recognized Sunday morning, October 19, during the Awards Ceremony at the 2025 ACCP Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Excellence in Advancement of DEIA Award recognizes outstanding leadership in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in pharmacy education, practice, research, or advocacy. Marie A. Chisholm-Burns, Pharm.D., PhD, MBA, FCCP, FASHP, FAST, FNAP, FACHE, serves as executive vice president and provost at Oregon Health & Science University, where she also holds the J.S. Reinschmidt Endowed Professorship. She leads the university’s academic mission, overseeing more than 3000 faculty and 5000 students and trainees. During her tenure, student body diversity has grown from 22% to 35%, supported by initiatives such as the Wy’east program for American Indian and Alaska Native learners and On Track OHSU! for diverse K-16 students.

In recommending Chisholm-Burns for the 2025 Excellence in Advancement of DEIA Award to the ACCP Board of Regents, the Awards Committee wrote:

She has demonstrated leadership in DEIA efforts in education, practice, service, and advocacy initiatives. In leadership and service, one letter of submission shared, “Perhaps her most significant achievement is being the Founder and Director of the Medication Access Program (MAP), a statewide program and model of care which improves medication adherence, health outcomes, and health equity among solid-organ transplant patients. Under her leadership, MAP has helped its enrolled solid-organ transplant recipients, the majority of whom are underserved minority and rural patients, receive millions of dollars in life-saving medications free of charge since 1999.”

Chisholm-Burns served as guest editor for the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education special themed issue “Moving from Injustice to Equity: A Time for the Pharmacy Profession to Take Action.” She is also a founding member of the ACCP DEIA Committee. She has been recognized with awards such as the Inspiring Women in STEM Award, the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, and ACCP Fellow recognition in 2001.

The ACCP Clinical Practice Award honors substantial and sustained contributions to innovative clinical pharmacy practice and patient care. Amy L. Dzierba, Pharm.D., FCCP, FCCM, FASHP, BCCCP, serves as director of pharmacology research for the Acute Respiratory Failure & Sepsis Precision Interventions to Raise Health Equity (ASPIRE) Clinical Trials Program at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine, where she also holds a position as clinical assistant professor of medicine. Before her current position, she worked as an assistant clinical professor of pharmacy sciences at Columbia School of Nursing and clinical pharmacy manager of adult critical care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

In its report to the ACCP Board of Regents, the Awards Committee commented:

Dzierba was instrumental in the creation of three new clinical pharmacist positions across the New York-Presbyterian Hospital enterprise. Her research showing the reduction of sedative requirements, hospital and ICU lengths of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation with implementation of a sedation guideline in combination with early mobilization in the MICU led to new positions within the surgical ICU, MICU, and mixed ICU. Her accomplishments were a clear demonstration to hospital and pharmacy leadership of the importance and impact of pharmacists on patient care.

Dzierba is an internationally recognized leader in critical care medicine. Her scholarly contributions include 12 book chapters, 62 peer-reviewed publications, and more than 40 abstracts, with an h-index of 20. She has received honors such as the ACCP Critical Care PRN Research Award, multiple Presidential Citations from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, and recognition as an ACCP Fellow in 2017.

The ACCP Education Award recognizes excellence and lasting impact in clinical pharmacy education at the professional or postgraduate level. Lea S. Eiland, Pharm.D., FASHP, FPPA, BCPPS, BCPS, is associate department head for pharmacy practice and an endowed professor of clinical pharmacy at Auburn University’s Harrison College of Pharmacy, where she also serves as interim director of professional programs. She holds a secondary appointment in the Division of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine.

In recommending Eiland for the 2025 ACCP Education Award, the Awards Committee wrote:

Dr Eiland’s sustained excellence in both classroom and clinical training sites is evidenced by her receipt of numerous local and national peer-reviewed teaching awards, including the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Educators Distinguished Service Award, AACP Pediatric Pharmacy Excellence in Teaching Award, and Pediatric Pharmacy Association Scholarship of Teaching Award. As related to pharmacy teaching and learning, Dr Eiland’s successes in scholarship and research include 82 peer-reviewed publications (h-index of 23), 19 book chapters, 8 textbook editorships, and 96 national or international presentations (at 86 unique conferences), [and] at least 23 publications and 43 poster/platform presentations are directly related to the development or successes of various innovative strategies in curricular design and assessment.

Throughout her pharmacy career, Eiland has demonstrated exceptional dedication to trainee professional development and continuing education programs, including the development of a Foundations of Pediatrics APPE elective in 2021. Eiland’s remarkable contributions to pharmacy education exemplify the mission of the ACCP Education Award and highlight her lasting impact on the training and development of future clinical pharmacists.

The ACCP Therapeutic Frontiers Lecture Award is presented to an individual at the forefront of pharmacotherapeutics whose groundbreaking work has advanced therapeutic research. William J. Jusko, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he has served on the faculty for over 50 years. Jusko is a nationally and internationally renowned scientist in the field of biopharmaceutics and theoretical and applied pharmacometrics.

In its report to the Board of Regents, the Awards Committee shared:

Since 1979, Dr Jusko’s research program has been continuously funded, with over $45 million in total extramural support, primarily from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). To date, he has published nearly 700 peer-reviewed papers, most of which are original works. His work has garnered nearly 25,000 citations, and he has an h-index of 77. His research and contributions to the field have been widely recognized by eight scientific organizations and societies, as well as several universities and government agencies, both nationally and internationally. In the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences January 2024 issue, which was devoted to highlighting Jusko’s contributions to the field, it was stated [that] “Some of the most significant advances in theoretical and applied pharmacometrics over the past 40 years can be traced to [Dr Jusko’s] seminal contributions that have provided a framework for studying and understanding drug exposure-response relationships.” In addition to his own work, Dr Jusko has made a generational impact to the field by training and mentoring nearly 100 students and trainees, as well as 70 post-doctoral trainees, many of whom have become highly successful clinicians and scientists.

Jusko has been described by peers as one of the “true giants” in pharmaceutical sciences. He has received numerous awards over his distinguished career, including the AAPS Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Award, the ASCPT Oscar B. Hunter Career Award in Therapeutics, the ISI Most Highly Cited List in Pharmacology, and the ACCP Russell R. Miller Award. He will deliver his Therapeutic Frontiers Lecture, “Moving from Basic Towards Systems PK/PD,” during the ACCP Awards Ceremony in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 19.

The Russell R. Miller Award, named for the founding editor of Pharmacotherapy, honors significant contributions to the clinical pharmacy literature that advance practice and rational pharmacotherapy. Robert MacLaren, BSc, Pharm.D., MPH, FCCP, MCCM, is a tenure-eligible professor at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus. At the time of his nomination, MacLaren had written more than 85 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 35 review articles, 25 guidelines or consensus publications, and 20 book chapters and delivered over 190 presentations worldwide, resulting in an h-index of 43.

In recommending MacLaren for the 2025 Russell R. Miller Award, the Awards Committee wrote:

Dr MacLaren has made sustained and significant contributions to pharmacy and critical care literature during his distinguished career. He also has made extensive contributions to textbooks including Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, Pharmacotherapy Casebook, and Critical Care Pharmacotherapy. His success as a researcher has led to 29 funded grant awards totaling more than $1.5 million, including a past grant for the ACCP Frontiers Career Development Research Award. Dr MacLaren’s contributions in the field of critical care research have largely focused on stress ulcer prophylaxis, nutrition, gastric absorption and motility, sedation for the mechanically ventilated patient, alcohol withdrawal, coagulation treatments, and workforce trends for critical care pharmacists. Most recently, he was lead author on the joint SCCM/ASHP Stress Ulcer Guidelines, marking a significant milestone in the field.

MacLaren is an active member of ACCP and the ACCP Critical Care PRN. He has been recognized with multiple honors, including Presidential Citations from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the ACCP Critical Care PRN Research Award, the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Colorado Doctor of Pharmacy Class, and election as an ACCP Fellow in 2006.

Robert M. Elenbaas served as ACCP’s founding executive director from 1986 through 2003. During his 17-year tenure, he exemplified the characteristics of a servant-leader committed to the advancement of clinical pharmacy and ACCP. The Elenbaas Service Award is given only when a particularly noteworthy candidate is identified in recognition of outstanding contributions to the vitality of ACCP or to the advancement of its goals that are well above the usual devotion of time, energy, or material goods. Mary Beth O’Connell, Pharm.D., FCCP, FASHP, FNAP, AGSF, BCPS, is a tenured professor of pharmacy practice at Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and faculty associate at the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University.

In his nomination letter, Dr Richard H. Parrish II shared:

Dr O’Connell’s tireless efforts in community building have left an indelible mark on ACCP. She has consistently fostered a sense of belonging and collaboration among members, creating a supportive environment that encourages professional growth and innovation. Her leadership and mentorship have inspired countless colleagues and emerging leaders in the field, ensuring a legacy of excellence and community spirit.

Dr Sheila Wilhelm, clinical professor of pharmacy practice at Wayne State University, shared how O’Connell’s “visionary leadership, pioneering contributions, and steadfast commitment to ACCP and the profession of clinical pharmacy make her an exemplary candidate for this prestigious honor,” explaining:

Dr O’Connell was one of the first ACCP leaders to initiate fundraising campaigns for the Research Institute and co-founded both the Geriatrics PRN and the Women’s Health PRN. Her contributions to these PRNs reflect her dedication to expanding clinical pharmacy’s reach and addressing the needs of underserved populations. In the realm of global engagement, she served on the organizing committees for ACCP’s first international meetings, reinforcing the College’s commitment to global collaboration.

O’Connell has a long history of active involvement with ACCP as both a past ACCP president and a member, having served on numerous committees, including the Awards Committee, Clinical Affairs Committee, and Credentials Committee, and as chair of the Public and Professional Relations Committee. She currently serves on 3 editorial boards—the Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy; Junior Reviewer Peer Mentor; and Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (National Osteoporosis Foundation) Osteoporosis Clinical Updates—and reviews for several other journals. O’Connell has received many awards, including the Hall of Honor Award from the Michigan Pharmacists Association; the ACCP Education Award; the Distinguished Scholar Fellow Award from the National Academies of Practice; and ACCP Fellowship recognition in 1992.

The C. Edwin Webb Professional Advocacy Award is given only when a particularly noteworthy candidate is identified who has made outstanding contributions to the visibility and value of clinical pharmacy in national policy, intraprofessional, and interprofessional arenas; has assembled a record of mentoring others who have gone on to assume a health professions and health policy leadership role; and is recognized as an ambassador for clinical pharmacy both within and outside the profession. Lisa Potter, Pharm.D., FCCP, FAST, BCTXP, BCPS, is program director for the Solid Organ Transplant PGY2 Pharmacy Residency and clinical coordinator of transplant pharmacy services at the University of Chicago Medicine. She also serves as adjunct clinical faculty at Chicago State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Roosevelt University.

Dr Elizabeth Cohen, manager of transplant quality, compliance, and outreach at Yale New Haven Hospital, shared in her letter of support that Potter is “a strong advocate for her patients and profession; an educator at both the graduate and postgraduate level; a skillful researcher and writer; a volunteer to many pharmacy and transplant organizations; and most importantly a stellar transplant clinician.”

She continued:

Dr Potter has pushed the role of pharmacy within her transplant community. One of her key accomplishments internally to the profession was her advocacy to add solid organ transplantation as a specialty to the Board of Pharmacy Specialties Program. She was the second pharmacist to be elected to the Board of Directors of the American Society of Transplantation, where she served as a member of their public policy committee from 2019 to 2022.

Dr Nicole Alvey, associate professor of clinical sciences at Rush University, shared in her letter of support about Potter’s “visionary contributions [which] have elevated the visibility and value of clinical pharmacy in national and international arenas”:

Potter’s development of a comprehensive clinical service line has set a national benchmark for transplant pharmacists. Her visionary approach as a solid organ transplant clinical specialist [has] integrated clinical pharmacy services seamlessly into multidisciplinary transplant care, demonstrating the profound impact that pharmacists can have on patient outcomes and health system efficiency. She has transformed the role of transplant pharmacists by integrating their expertise into patient care teams and health policy discussions.

Outside her clinical practice, Potter serves as an editor and faculty for the ACCP/ASHP Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy Review Course. She is also a peer reviewer for many journals including the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, American Journal of Transplantation, and Transplantation. Potter has received many awards including the Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice Award from the US Public Health Service, the Making a Difference Every Day Award from the University of Chicago Medicine, and ACCP Fellow recognition in 2011.

Members of the 2025 Awards Committee were Nancy Shapiro (chair), Melanie Claborn (vice chair), Scott Bolesta, Allison Chung, Amy Fabian, Bethany Ford, Stormi Gale, Carrie Griffiths, Christine Groth, Paul Gubbins, Zhe Han, Erin Hennessey, Miranda Howland, Kazuhiko Kido, Dustin Linn, Cynthia Nguyen, Tanvi Patil, Jennifer Phillips, Sara Richter, Kevin Rynn, Angela Shogbon Nwaesei, and Harminder Sikand.