Contagious Connections

Garey Earns Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists Outstanding Mentor Award

Nov. 5 — With a teaching career spanning over two decades and steeped in mentoring explorers of infectious diseases, University of Houston College of Pharmacy Professor Kevin Garey, Pharm.D., M.S., FASHP, FIDSA, FCCP, BCIDP, received the 2025 Outstanding Mentor Award by the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) at IDWeek 2025 in Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 19-22.

Garey's mentorship journey kicked off with the development of UHCOP's Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Fellowship in conjunction with CHI St. Luke's Health-Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. Modeled after his own fellowship experience, the new program aimed to cultivate independent thinkers and problem solvers who would become leaders in infectious diseases pharmacy. Co-developed with UHCOP Professor Vincent Tam, Pharm.D., FIDSA, FIDP, BCIDP, and their Baylor St. Luke's colleagues, this program has expanded to include trainees from all over the world. Over 50 infectious diseases pharmacists practicing worldwide have graduated from these programs.

Garey also has welcomed several visiting scholars into his lab as well as mentored countless Doctor of Pharmacy students during infectious diseases experiential rotations in his lab and experiential site. Additionally, Garey has expanded his training and mentoring efforts to recruit students in the UHCOP Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. program.

"My approach to mentoring is to foster skill development, confidence, and networking opportunities to guide mentees into the profession and encourage independence," Garey said.

His "secret sauce," as he describes it, is "upfront attention to excellence and then standing back to watch amazing results."

Travis J. Carlson, Pharm.D., BCIDP, clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin and alumnus of the infectious diseases fellowship, said he experienced first-hand the fruits of an effective mentor.

"Dr. Garey has received countless invitations to write review articles on the topic of C. difficile infection; however, as someone dedicated to my career development and sustained success as an assistant professor, he has invited me to co-author seven of those review articles, the most recent of which was in 2023—four years after I finished my fellowship," Carlson said.

Additionally, Garey makes himself—and his connections in the field—available to his mentees.

"Despite having numerous professional and social obligations during national infectious diseases conferences, he has always made time to meet up with me and often advocates for my invitation to events that provide incredible networking opportunities that I would otherwise not have access to," Carlson added.

Even beyond formal training programs, mentorship continues to shape Garey’s professional life. He regularly advises colleagues across academia and industry on everything from research collaborations to career advancement.

"By far, my most common question is how to get promoted in academia," Garey said. "For these conversations, I offer advice and offer to be an external peer reviewer for their promotion dossier if I don’t have a conflict of interest."

Reflecting on an intimate SIDP gathering where nearly everyone in the room had benefited from his mentorship in some way, Garey said, "It affirmed in me the importance and joy of mentorship—and that it remains one of the greatest rewards of my professional career."

— Kristin Marie Mitchener