Pharmacy honors faculty and staff at annual awards ceremony
The University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy celebrated its faculty and staff for their hard work and dedication during the annual State of the College event in December.
The awards, given for dedication, service and research contributions, were presented to faculty and staff who were nominated by colleagues and selected by a committee.
Rick Schnellmann, PhD, dean of the Coit College of Pharmacy and the Howard J. Schaeffer Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences, recognized the importance faculty and staff play in the success of students and the college as a whole.
"These awards underscore the vital role each member of our PharmCAT family plays and reflect our gratitude for their contributions," Schnellman said.
Below each photo is an excerpt from the award recipient’s nomination material.
A. Jay Gandolfi New Investigator Award
Abhijit Date, PhD
Assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences
Dean Rick Schnellmann presents an award to assistant professor Date.
Date joined the college in February 2022 and in a relatively short time has significantly advanced the repurposing and delivery of drugs for treating viral and fungal infections with limited therapeutic options. This progress has resulted in impactful publications and the filing of two provisional U.S. patent applications.
Dr. James R. Halpert Faculty Research Award
Hongmin Li, PhD
Professor of pharmacology and toxicology, R. Ken and Donna Coit Endowed Chair in Drug Discovery
(From left) Dean Schnellmann presents an award to professor Li with the award's namesake, James R. Halpert, PhD.
Li has been widely recognized for his transformational discoveries impacting the pharmaceutical sciences. His primary research focuses on the development of therapeutics against cancers and human pathogens such as the dengue virus, Zika virus, SARS-CoV-2, Cryptococcal fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This research is supported by four National Institutes of Health R01 grants. In addition, he has also demonstrated leadership as the R. Ken and Donna Coit Endowed Chair in Drug Discovery.
Schnellmann Family Faculty Award
Caitlin Cameron, PharmD
Assistant clinical professor and director of curriculum for the Phoenix campus
Dean Schnellmann and his wife (right), Jennifer Schnellmann, PhD, present an award to assistant professor Cameron.
Cameron has demonstrated leadership in various areas, including the planning and coordinating of the Phoenix-based PharmD program. She plays a vital role in the curricular planning and communication with campus partners to ensure adequate learning space and other arrangements are in place for students. She was also the co-recipient of a Provost Investment Fund grant to build the new compounding lab in Phoenix.
College Faculty Service & Outreach Award
Maryam Fazel, PharmD
Assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences
Dean Schnellmann presents an award to associate professor Fazel.
In her role at the college, Fazel provides didactic education, experiential training, ambulatory clinical services and diabetes education. She is the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency Program director and holds a dual appointment in the Department of Medicine at the College of Medicine – Tucson. Her service to patients and the interprofessional team speaks to her dedication and high expectations of herself. She consistently says “yes” when called upon to contribute. At the state and national level, Fazel has contributed to the profession through her service activities. She has published papers and presented posters on topics focused on diabetes care, quality improvement of care and career mentorship. Fazel is the founder of the Endocrine/Diabetes Ambulatory Pharmacy Service at the Banner – University Medical Center South Campus Endocrinology Clinic.
Dean's Outstanding Service Award
Stacy Lauver, CPA, MS
Assistant dean of finance and administration
Dean Schnellmann presents an award to assistant dean Lauver.
Since joining the college in 2017, Lauver has managed and consulted on programs with college-wide impact, including staff compensation, annual raises, space assignment calculations, faculty incentives, financial and grant surveys, university budget models, applicant tracking systems and hiring procedures, the Zoom phone project, continuity of operations plans, copy machine leases, and so much more. She oversees all financial, human resources and building operations for the college, and she is a crucial member of the PharmCAT family.
Staff Award for Excellence
Sonya Basurto
Administrative services coordinator
Dean Schnellmann presents an award to Basurto.
Basurto demonstrates a clear commitment to students, dedicating her time, energy and focus to ensure they have the resources they need to succeed.
Rosie Huerta
Senior business manager
Dean Schnellmann presents Huerta an award.
Huerta has dedicated 38 years of service to the college and is often the first point of contact for all newly hired faculty and staff. She handles the hiring process with grace and is always willing to help.
Stephanie Schaller
Administrative services coordinator
Stephanie Schaller
Schaller serves as the primary point of contact for the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, where she understands and respects the roles of various team members and supports the whole department.