University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy

03/24/2026

Impaired drivers are involved in more than 7,000 crashes in Wisconsin each year. If these drivers don't understand how impaired they are because of their impairment, how can we get them to make better choices?

Associate Professor Heather Barkholtz is working to answer that question. Using driving simulators and clinical research, she's studying how THC and alcohol impair drivers' ability to even recognize that they're impaired — a critical gap in our understanding of road safety.

Her research, conducted in collaboration with the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene and colleagues across campus, could shape public health messaging and save lives.

Learn how: https://bit.ly/3PrDi6w

03/23/2026

More students pharmacists than ever before are choosing to personalize their PharmD with the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy's specialized tracks, ranging from rural health to operations and technology management.

“[These] programs act as a ‘force multiplier’ for the School of Pharmacy, creating a distinct brand of graduates that residency directors and employers actively seek," says Professor Mel de Villiers, vice dean and associate dean of academic affairs.

Learn how the tracks work and hear from students on why they're getting a head start on specialization:
https://bit.ly/4rTtyzg

Record numbers of pharmacy students are pursuing specialized tracks at the School of Pharmacy and gaining a competitive edge.

03/20/2026

What does the future of pharmacy look like? The Spring 2026 issue of the School of Pharmacy's DiscoveRx alumni magazine digs in, with field-specific insights on AI, a first-of-its-kind professorship, behind-the-scenes lab access, alumni making national headlines, and much more!

Find the full issue here: https://bit.ly/4siyEGg

03/18/2026

Congratulations to the newest inductees of Phi Lambda Sigma at the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy!

PLS, aka the Pharmacy Leadership Society, promotes professionalism, pharmacy advocacy, and involvement in professional organizations — and these students are already showing they have what it takes to lead.

These future Badger pharmacists are poised to make a big impact!

03/17/2026

The Pharmacy Alumni Association's annual pickleball event brought together some pretty big dills to help raise funds for student scholarships! Thank you to everyone who came out to play, cheer, and show support — and a special shoutout to Jenny Tempelis (PharmD '03) for her dedication as a pickleball mascot and cheerleader!

03/16/2026

Getting cancer drugs to a tumor without harming healthy cells is one of oncology's biggest challenges.

This Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we're highlighting research from Associate Professor Quanyin Hu, whose lab developed an innovative two-step delivery system that uses the body's own clotting process to guide anti-cancer drugs directly to tumor sites.

In models, the approach dramatically improved drug delivery to colorectal tumors while sparing normal tissue, pointing toward a future with safer, more effective treatments! https://bit.ly/4uwOyhQ

03/12/2026

Tryptyr, Calyrex, Rayquaza, and Lerochol — can you tell which are Pokémon and which are medication?

That was just one of the tricky questions from the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy's 2026 Virtual Trivia Night this week. Since launching seven years ago, the annual event has raised more than $11,500 for student scholarships, including nearly $2,000 this week!

Congratulations to our winning team, Term-Limited but Unlimited Knowledge, led by Nick Olson (PharmD '03)!

(P.S. Leave your answer in the comments!)

03/11/2026

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and UW–Madison School of Pharmacy researchers are working to change how it's treated!

Assistant Professor Ting Fu and her lab have identified a promising new target for treating inflammatory bowel disease and the colorectal cancers it can cause. Their research found that a protein called FXR plays a key role in regulating gut inflammation and that existing drugs activating FXR significantly reduced tumor growth and doubled survival time in animal models.

This foundational discovery could lead to better treatments for the millions of people living with IBD worldwide! https://bit.ly/4ro3EDu

03/10/2026

The School of Pharmacy's Phi Delta Chi student organization hit the Ronald McDonald House Madison to cook up a meal for families who needed it most, organized by community service co-chairs Megan Johnson and Jillian Lynts.

Our students are showing how !

03/09/2026

Congratulations to Professor Lingjun Li on receiving the 2026 Catherine Costello Award for Exemplary Achievements in Proteomics from the US Human Proteome Organization!

This honor recognizes her highly productive research program — integrating advanced chemical tagging, ion mobility mass spectrometry, and spatial omics to tackle complex biomedical challenges — which has led to the discovery of more than 500 novel neuropeptides, more than 450 peer-reviewed articles, and the training of more than 100 graduate students and fellows.

We're proud to celebrate her remarkable career and impact! https://us-hupo.org/Exemplary-Achievements

03/06/2026

The School of Pharmacy's PharmD students just expanded their understanding of how to meet patients where they are.

Each year, our PharmD students go through a Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS), experiencing firsthand the complex realities of living in poverty and how it impacts the access to health care, juggling childcare, transportation, mortgage payments, medical appointments, and more, on a poverty-level budget.

We're proud of these future health care leaders and the compassion they bring to their education and their future patients!

03/05/2026

Student pharmacists and practitioners from around the state came together for the annual Conference on Conferences, organized by the School of Pharmacy's Wisconsin Society of Pharmacy Students (WSPS)!

This student-led event — recognized with a 2023 Innovative Programming Award from the APhA-ASP - American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists — is designed to help student pharmacists build the confidence and skills to get the most out of state and national pharmacy meetings, from navigating roundtable discussions to making meaningful connections.

Pharmacists from across Wisconsin volunteered their time to serve as roundtable facilitators, and we were thrilled to feature alum Nick Olson (PharmD '03) as the keynote speaker.

Our thanks to the student organizers and pharmacist attendees who are strengthening our future Badger pharmacists' skills!