In a rare, if not historic, alignment of the stars, the University of Houston College of Pharmacy is represented in both the professional and student leadership of the largest pharmacy organization in the U.S. at the same time.
At the 2026 American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Annual Meeting & Exposition March 27-30 in Los Angeles, Pharm.D. student Emily Nguyen was elected and installed as 2026-27 president-elect of the APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists and fellow Cougar Brandi Hamilton, Pharm.D., M.S. ('16), BCPS, FAPhA, installed as 2026-27 APhA president-elect. This year's meeting also marked the conclusion of the immediate past president term of alumnus Alex C. Varkey, Pharm.D. (‘05), M.S., FAPhA.
Reflecting on her win, Nguyen said she was humbled by her peers’ confidence in her and was eager to get to work.
"My greatest hope is to give student pharmacists the voice and opportunity to truly believe that they can make a difference in our profession," Nguyen said. "I will carry out this honor with gratitude and intentional leadership as I serve my term."
Extending its reach beyond the national stage, the UHCOP APhA-ASP's International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) received the national Outstanding IPSF Activity Award for 2024-25. APhA-ASP is a member organization of IPSF, the global advocacy organization for pharmacy and pharmaceutical science students and recent graduates.
Pharm.D. students Gabriela Gaytán and Rebeca Pelayo Carvajal received two of 28 national scholarships from the APhA Foundation, the research and philanthropic arm of APhA. Gaytán received the Col. Jerry W. Ross Scholarship, while Pelayo Carvajal earned the Sam Kalman Scholarship.
Bernadette Asias-Dinh, Pharm.D. ('11), BCPS, BCACP, CDCES, clinical associate professor, was appointed to a three-year term on the editorial advisory board of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.
Presentations were delivered by multiple faculty members and a Pharm.D. student, while a Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research (PREMIER) Center trainee was selected as one of 10 featured researchers on a "Walking Poster Tour." UHCOP presenters/co-presenters were:
- Bernadette Asias-Dinh, Pharm.D. ('11), BCPS, BCACP, CDCES, clinical associate professor, "Fresh Cases of Bel-air: Complex Diabetes Cases"
- Lyn Yuen Choo, Pharm.D., Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in The PREMIER Center, "Improving Access to Buprenorphine: A Pilot Multi-Component Pharmacy Intervention"
- Arshia Ghaneian, Pharm.D. student, "Analyzing Cabotegravir Prior Authorization Denials: A Retrospective Review of Payor and Denial Reasons in 2024 – 2025"
- Douglas Thornton, Pharm.D., Ph.D., BCPS, and Matthew Wanat, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCCP, FCCM, "Grant Goals: Building Research-Practice Collaborations Through Effective Grant Writing"
- Divya Varkey, Pharm.D., M.S., clinical professor, "APhA-ASP Career Opportunities Session: Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residencies."
