CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Pharmaceutical recently came together to celebrate the cornerstone of what is at the heart of pharmacy education: mentorship. This year’s 2026 Annual Preceptor Awards ceremony brought faculty, students and staff together to recognize and celebrate our outstanding preceptors whose dedication, guidance and passion continue to leave a lasting impact on the students who work with them.
Preceptors play an essential role in moving classroom learning into real-world patient practice, offering students hands-on experiences across a wide range of pharmacy settings. This year’s ceremony honored individuals who exemplify excellence in teaching, professional leadership and student support.
Newly appointed CU Anschutz Pharmacy Dean Brian Tsuji, PharmD, opened the celebration with welcoming remarks that highlighted his vision for the school, while recognizing the gratitude, dedication and daily commitment each honoree brings to educating the future generations of pharmacists.
Dana Hammer, PhD, Co-Curriculum Faculty Lead, introduced the Co-Curriculum Awards; a set of service learning, professional activities and experiences designed to complement the PharmD program.
- Co-Curricular Mentoring: Bryan Killam, PharmD
- Community Partnership: Tonna Farinha, PharmD; Selena Gordon, PharmD; and Tony Saiz, RPh: Safeway/Albertsons - Mountain West Division
- Co-Curricular Precepting: Lauren Kelly, PharmD; Medicine Shoppe
This year's Preceptor awards recognized excellence across several categories, presented by Assistant Dean for Experiential Programs, Kimberly Stultz, PharmD:
- Ambulatory Care Pharmacy: Jennifer Aoto, PharmD; UCHealth
- Collaborative Care Excellence in MTM: MTM Rx Review Team, Preceptors: Julia Rawlings, PharmD and Ben Hill, PharmD. PharmD Candidates: Melina Harris, Diane Lee, Nicole DeLeon, Courtney Seele
- Colorado Commitment: Valley-Wide Health Systems - San Luis Valley, Brandon Fritz, PharmD; Justin Hanel, PharmD; Joline Lobato, PharmD; Jordan Ricard, PharmD
- Community Pharmacy: Riley Holmes, PharmD; WB Drug
- Faculty Preceptor: Kristin Potthast, PharmD and Kelly Koon, PharmD, CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Health System Pharmacy: Shelby Pons, PharmD; UCHealth
- Global Preceptor: Brittany Turner, PharmD; TriHealth Bethesda North Hospital
- Office of Experiential Programs Partnership: Marian Guerrero Langa; Studies in Spain
- Outstanding Preceptor of the Year: Joanna Pavlik, PharmD; Kaiser Permanente
CU Pharmacy remains deeply grateful for its state and nationwide networks of preceptors, whose passion and drive make experiential education possible. With more than 1000 rotation sites worldwide, preceptors serve as teachers, role models and advocates for pharmacy students.
We proudly congratulate all of the 2026 Preceptor Award recipients and extend our appreciation to every preceptor who continues to support and inspire CU Pharmacy students.
Explore the moments from the evening in the full photo album.
