Mental Health Matters

UHCOP Earns National Recognition for Mental Health Programs

August 11 — The University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP) has been named a recipient of the Insight Into Academia magazine’s 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, a national recognition of colleges and universities that demonstrate extraordinary commitment to campus-wide mental health. 

The college’s selection was driven by the efforts of its Student Wellness Advisory Council (SWAC) and several faculty members and administrators, including Austin De La Cruz, Pharm.D., BCPP, clinical associate professor and SWAC chair; Kimberly A. Nguyen, Pharm.D. ('02), clinical associate professor and assistant dean of student and professional affairs; David Wallace, Pharm.D. ('98), clinical associate professor and director of co-curriculum; and MariVi. Tejada-Simón, Ph.D., M.Ed., associate professor and director of faculty development.

This year, 70 institutions nationwide—including only two colleges of pharmacy—were selected for the award, which will be featured in the magazine’s September 2025 issue. This recognition reflects the college’s sustained investment in emotional well-being, student advocacy, faculty engagement, and institutional change—priorities that have been consistently championed by UHCOP over the past decade.

"At the college, we've made mental health a core part of our curriculum, operations and culture," De La Cruz said. "Our efforts have been shared at national conferences and adopted by other colleges, reflecting our commitment to setting a national standard in student and faculty well-being. This award recognizes the work of our entire college community and reinforces the importance of making mental health a priority in academic environments."

College Culture Built Around Mental Health

As chair of the college's Student Wellness Advisory Council established in 2019, De La Cruz has guided the development of mental health programming that is grounded in student feedback and supported by continuous data collection.

Since 2018, the college has conducted annual mental health screenings to identify student concerns ranging from sleep disruption to substance use. In response, UHCOP implemented regular on-site wellness activities including meditation, yoga, and Pilates sessions—designed to create space for mindfulness within the student schedule. Recognizing the importance of accessibility, De La Cruz helped lead the integration of a digital wellness platform offering guided modules on self-regulation. 

Under the leadership of Nguyen, each Fall during Welcome Orientation, the incoming class participates in Mental Health First Aid training where they learn how to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges in a way that is compassionate, nonjudgmental, and evidence based. The training is designed to prepare students to support patients, peers, and themselves in a professional setting like pharmacy practice.

Each fall and spring semester as part of UHCOP’s co-curriculum, Wallace facilitates a Wellness Convocation for students which covers topics such as keeping a growth mindset and building a support network. Addressing students’ financial stress—a commonly cited factor in academic distress—has also been prioritized by strengthening the college’s advising structure. A dedicated pharmacy financial aid officer offers open-door support and financial literacy sessions throughout the year.

Extending Support to Faculty, Driving Institutional Change

The college has extended its mental health priorities to include faculty, fostering a workplace culture of well-being, flexibility, and community. Faculty development efforts led by Tejada-Simón include mental health first aid and suicide prevention training, equipping instructors to recognize and respond to students in crisis. 

UHCOP’s impact extends far beyond the walls of the college. Mental health strategies have been adopted by other UH colleges, and multiple UHCOP faculty have been appointed to university-wide mental health task forces. 

“UH College of Pharmacy is thankful for Insight into Academia’s recognition of the outstanding work being done by our students, faculty and staff to ensure that our college community is provided with the resources and tools to manage and reduce stress, develop healthy relationships and habits, and cultivate a supportive environment for success in the curriculum and in life,” said UHCOP Dean and Humana Endowed Chair in Pharmacy F. Lamar Pritchard, Ph.D., R.Ph.

— Naqiyah Kantawala