University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy

01/15/2026

Nearly 100 years ago, the Apinis family arrived in Madison from Latvia, seeking a new home in the midst of World War II. Since then, this family has been fervently supporting pharmacy and research.

Their newest initiative, the Anna Apinis Professorship in Pharmaceutical Sciences, has been awarded for the first time, supporting Professor Jiaoyang Jiang's exploration of the molecular mechanisms and biological functions of protein post-translational modifications, with implications ranging from cancer and fibrosis to neurodegenerative diseases.

“This support will help advance our research in meaningful ways, and I am delighted to be connected with the Apinis family,” says Jiang.

Learn more about the Apinis family's history and Professor Jiang’s research: https://bit.ly/3NnRagX

01/14/2026

Congratulations to alum Sara King (BS '99) on joining Ethica Pharmacy Advisors as a pharmacy solutions consultant!

Find more updates from School of Pharmacy alumni here: https://bit.ly/4q6c2rq

01/13/2026

There’s often a more than 15-year gap between the identification of best clinical practices and their implementation at the bedside.

Alum Tom Dilworth, associate vice president of pharmacy clinical services at Advocate Health, is co-leading a $2.5 million project to close that gap and accelerate the adoption of best practices for pediatric antibiotic prescribing.

“Our project is about how we actually connect with 262 sites of care and do the right thing," he says.

Learn more about the project, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute - PCORI, and how it's helping patients: https://bit.ly/3Lb7Nfe

01/13/2026

Who remembers Rennie's? Take a look back at this former Madison institution!

01/12/2026

PharmD students know that a scholarship is far more than its face value. Scholarships offer the opportunity and freedom to become the pharmacists of the future.

Over its first two years, the School's Pharmacy Forward campaign has contributed to a $250,000 increase in annual scholarship support. PharmD students feel this investment in their future, allowing them to focus on pharmacy school.

“You need confidence and support to try something new and do something different,” says Mark Rogge (BS ’82, MS ’84), a donor to the Pharmacy Forward campaign. “They’re the ones who will be given the responsibility to make healthcare better in the future.”

Discover how for some students – like fourth year PharmD student Quinlan Chesak – a scholarship can make all the difference: https://bit.ly/3NF9hPq

01/09/2026

The very young are often excluded from clinical trials, leaving clinicians to rely on limited evidence and professional judgement for drug dosing.

Assistant Professor Sin Yin Lim is using pharmacokinetic modeling and collaborative clinical research to fill that knowledge gap and improve the safety of dosing for newborns.

“My interest has always been trying to put out more information in the literature to show, if we use this drug in children, this is what their pharmacokinetics are like,” he says. “Based on that information, we can then try to identify optimal dosing to balance the benefits and risks from the medication.”

Learn how about his work and how it's also benefiting medication safety for older adults: https://bit.ly/4borFG6

01/08/2026

Congratulations to alumna Paria Sanaty Zadeh (PharmD ’17)! She has recently been appointed to the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) Healthcare Safety, Quality & Nomenclature (HSQN) Expert Committee for the 2025–2030 cycle, where she will help develop and approve USP public standards.

Looking for more updates on School of Pharmacy alumni? Visit the latest edition of Class Notes: https://bit.ly/4q6c2rq

01/07/2026

The School's PharmD students are connecting with older adults to help combat isolation, building meaningful friendships and real-world skills.

“This is a story I really wanted to share because working with these seniors is really meaningful to me as a person,” says PharmD student Jessica Liu, who helps coordinate the program. I think a lot of times we try to switch between being a professional and being a person, but they blend more than we imagine.”

Students are paired with seniors for regular phone calls, sharing stories, hobbies, and life lessons. These simple conversations not only brighten a senior’s day but also help students learn how to communicate and connect with the older adults they’ll serve as future healthcare providers.

See how a short phone call can make a big difference, for students and seniors alike: https://bit.ly/3NgHK6M

01/06/2026

What did pharmacy school look like half a century ago? The School of Pharmacy's Class of 1975 shares their reflections and cherished photos from their time at UW–Madison to celebrate 50 years since graduation.

Take a tour through their history (and hear about the famous paper airplane incident): https://bit.ly/49qgt9m

01/06/2026

After 18 years at the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy, Professor Arash Bashirullah's reputation for mentorship, research, and leadership has positioned him to take the helm of the University of Houston College of Pharmacy!

“Arash has been an extraordinary member of the School for nearly 20 years,” says Steve Swanson, dean of the School of Pharmacy. “His curiosity, creativity, and commitment to mentoring have elevated every part of our mission. We are immensely proud of all he has accomplished here, and we’re excited to see the impact he’ll make as a dean.”

Learn about Dr. Bashirullah's tremendous accomplishments right here at the School: https://bit.ly/3LgLnsW

12/30/2025

Our third-year PharmD students showcased their research skills by sharing their medication safety projects, from improving prescription verification to reducing vaccine errors.

Great work, future Badger pharmacists!

12/29/2025

With federal funding extended for another year, the Wisconsin Opioid Overdose Response Center (WOORC) is continuing its life-saving work across the state.

Housed in the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy, WOORC is empowering community pharmacies to reduce opioid overdoses, from expanding access to naloxone and fentanyl testing supplies to training pharmacists on long-acting injectable treatments and advancing anti-opioid vaccine research.

Here’s to another year of impact, innovation, and pharmacist-led care!
https://bit.ly/49xtnDO

Wisconsin Opioid Overdose Response Center Receives a grant extension to expand pharmacy-based solutions to the overdose crisis.