Michael Katz receives award from University of Kentucky
Michael Katz, PharmD, a clinical professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, received the 2024 Paul Parker Award from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy.
The award honors individuals with a Kentucky pharmacy residency background or a strong connection to the program. Awardees demonstrate exceptional dedication to the pharmacy profession through practice, research and education.
Katz received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and completed his residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in 1979.
Michael Katz, PharmD
Photo by Amy Lombardo, New Orleans Event Photography
“Being recognized by my peers from one of the best residency programs in the world is an incredible honor and truly humbling,” said Katz, who is also the director of residency programs and international programs at the Coit College of Pharmacy. “I have never been the kind of person who seeks self-promotion; rather, I let my actions speak for me. So, it is gratifying to be recognized for my work over the past 45 years since I completed my residency.”
He said Kentucky’s program and residency prepared him for the future.
“After completing three years of residency, working with world-class preceptors and bright, highly motivated fellow residents, I was prepared to take on virtually any clinical role and to embark on an academic career,” he said.
Katz was nominated for the award by fellow pharmacy classmate and the current dean of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Donald E. Letendre, PharmD.
In his nomination letter, Letendre wrote, “Dr. Katz epitomizes the type of practitioner the early University of Kentucky program aspired to produce. He has devoted his life to inspiring and training the next generation of pharmacy leaders while upholding the highest standards of clinical care. His leadership, selfless dedication and international impact embody the vision of Paul F. Parker.”
Katz joined the U of A in 1979. He is the residency program director for the postgraduate Year 2 internal medicine program at the U of A College of Pharmacy/Banner – University Medical Center Tucson.
With a career spanning more than four decades, Katz said he has a lot of people to thank.
“I have been fortunate to have the support of many mentors along the way and my previous deans, who have helped my career at the U of A,” Katz said. “I have been fortunate to work with the best colleagues in the world, including the faculty here at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy and the many with whom I have worked all over the world. I am also grateful for the many students and residents I have worked with over the past 45 years who have challenged me and made me a better educator, clinician and person.”
The award is named after Paul F. Parker, DSc, who was the force behind establishing and developing the University of Kentucky’s pharmacy residency program and served as its residency program director until his retirement in 1984. He established the first hospital-wide unit dose drug distribution system and drug information center, and was pioneer in the development of clinical pharmacy practice and education.