The Houston Program (THP) — the concurrent two-year master's degree and pharmacy residency program collaborative between the University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP) and seven fellow Texas Medical Center institutions — honored THP alumnus Joshua A. Blackwell, Pharm.D., M.S. ('17), MBA, FASHP, FTSHP, BCSCP, R.Ph., at the 8th Annual Roger W. Anderson (RWA) Leadership Celebration June 18 at the Majestic Metro in Houston.
Blackwell serves as clinical pharmacy manager of ambulatory services and residency program coordinator for the PGY1/PGY2/M.S. Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He earned his Pharm.D. from Ohio Northern University, his M.S. in Pharmacy Leadership and Administration from the UHCOP, and his MBA in Organizational Development and Leadership from the University of Texas at Tyler. He also holds board certification as a sterile compounding pharmacist.
A nationally recognized pharmacy leader, Blackwell has dedicated his career to advancing ambulatory care, pharmacy leadership development, practice innovation and advocacy. He was named a Fellow of the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP) in 2025 and a Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) this year. He also was recognized as recipient of the TSHP Cuellar Star Award earlier this year for his contributions to the organization.
Blackwell has held numerous leadership roles within state and national pharmacy organizations, including serving as chair of the TSHP Public Affairs and Advocacy Council and as a state ASHP delegate for both Texas and Maryland. He currently serves as vice chair of the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Practice Leadership Education Steering Committee. His previous ASHP appointments include chair of the Council on Education and Workforce Development, chair of the Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders Advisory Group on Frontline Leaders, and member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force.
As co-founder of Pharmacist Initiative Leaders (PILs) Enterprises, Blackwell coaches aspiring and established pharmacy leaders across the country, helping them obtain residency and fellowship positions and supporting them throughout their professional journeys. His work focuses on expanding patient access to care, strengthening health-system pharmacy practice and elevating the role of pharmacists across healthcare.
Blackwell was recognized with the 2026 RWA Leadership Award for his leadership, service to the profession, and commitment to developing future generations of pharmacy leaders. In his acceptance speech, Blackwell thanked his many family members — biological, marital and professional — for their love, support and faith in him. He then outlined his "LIGHT" framework: "Lead authentically and listen to your heart; Illuminate your ecosystem and circle of influence; Go now and take action; Honor up and walk in humility; and Trust and turn to your community."
"This community has supported me, challenged me, stretched me and believed in me even in the moments when I did not believe in myself," Blackwell said. "I accept this award not as a finish line, but as a reminder. The work continues. The light must keep burning. We as pharmacists and healthcare leaders must stay the course. The lives yet to be impacted are counting on us to stay in the game."
Among those in attendance were previous Anderson Award recipients Rodney Cox, M.S. ('11), R.Ph.; Diane B. Ginsburg, Ph.D., M.S. ('90), R.Ph., FASHP; Linda Haines, Pharm.D., M.S. ('11), R.Ph.; Ryan K. Roux, Pharm.D. ('99), M.S., FTSHP, FASHP, R.Ph.; Joyce Tipton, B.S. ('79), MBA, FASHP; Alex C. Varkey, Pharm.D. ('05), M.S., FAPhA, R.Ph., and Divya A. Varkey, Pharm.D., M.S., R.Ph.
The recognition for Blackwell was especially meaningful for Varkey, who serves as UHCOP graduate program director for THP's academic component: Blackwell was her final resident from her prior residency program director post at THP partner Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center as well as being a member of her first M.S. graduating class when she joined UHCOP.
"To know Josh is to be mentored by Josh," Varkey said. "He embodies the fact that mentorship truly is a two-way street. He continues to hold me accountable to what we often say — 'sit in it' — while also showing me how to do exactly that when life becomes difficult. The road is never perfectly smooth; lots of bumps along the way. Yet, regardless of the circumstances, Josh knows 'the only way out is through.'"
The celebration also recognized the recent M.S. graduates of the program: Meg Bareis, Pharm.D., MBA, M.S. ('26), R.Ph.; Sadika Eslaminejad, Pharm.D., M.S. ('26), R.Ph.; Kristin Etuk, Pharm.D., M.S. ('26), R.Ph.; Kailey Ngoc To, Pharm.D., M.S. ('26), R.Ph.; Adam Siddique, Pharm.D. ('24), M.S. ('26), Ph.D.; and Jamison Wilburn, Pharm.D., M.S. ('26), R.Ph.
The 2027 cohort was congratulated on progressing to PGY2: Anna Peel, Pharm.D., MBA, R.Ph.; Cassandra Myers, Pharm.D., R.Ph.; Donald E. Williams II, Pharm.D., R.Ph.; McKenzie Erwin, Pharm.D., R.Ph.; Oscar Corona, Pharm.D., R.Ph.; Priscilla Liu, Pharm.D., R.Ph.; and Whitney Dike, Pharm.D. ('25), BSN, RN, R.Ph..
Additionally, members of the incoming 2028 cohort were introduced: Maci Godbey, Pharm.D.; Payam Hesari, Pharm.D., R.Ph.; Thang Nguyen, Pharm.D.; Paola Pina, Pharm.D.; Travis Schubert, Pharm.D., R.Ph.; and Alison Tse, Pharm.D., R.Ph.
Co-sponsors of the 2026 event were Eagle, PCCA and Wilcrest Pharma.
The award was first presented in 2019 to honor the contributions of nationally recognized pharmacy leader Roger W. Anderson, Dr.P.H., M.S., FASHP, whose career included more than 20 years of leadership at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Anderson is credited with advancing the pharmacy practice model, authoring/coauthoring more than 60 publications, serving as president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), and earning the ASHP Harvey A.K. Whitney Lecture Award. He also has been a staunch supporter and adviser to THP, which is home to an endowed scholarship for current residents/students in Anderson's name.
"You've probably heard the saying, 'Never meet your heroes,'" Varkey said of Anderson. "Too often, and especially in today’s world, the image we create of someone fails to match the reality. But that could not be further from the truth when it comes to Roger. He is who you hope he will be. His character, humility and leadership are true to his reputation. He is a model for all of us."
For more photos from the 2026 Roger W. Anderson Leadership Celebration, visit the Flickr album.