Joshua Brown, Pharm.D., Ph.D., M.S., an assistant professor of pharmaceutical outcomes and policy, has been selected as a TEDMED 2017 Research Scholar. Representing corporate, academic and nonprofit organizations, among others, the scholars will help identify the topics, themes and speakers who will appear at the annual TEDMED event, Nov. 1-3, 2017, in Palm Springs, California. The Research Scholars vet nominations and select TEDMED speakers who represent high quality and scientifically credible ideas in health and medicine.

Lindsey Childs-Kean, Pharm.D., M.P.H., BCPS, a clinical assistant professor of pharmacotherapy and translational research, was appointed to an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, or ASHP, Advisory Group. Childs-Kean will serve on the Preceptor Skills Development Section Advisory Group for the Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists. The group will advise ASHP regarding opportunities to enhance student and residency preceptor skills development, as well as identify and develop tools, programs and resources to support such efforts.

Rhonda Cooper-DeHoff, Pharm.D., M.S., an associate professor of pharmacotherapy and transla-tional research and cardiovascular medicine and the associate director of the Center for Pharmacogenomics, was presented with the Russell R. Miller Award on Oct. 23 at the American College of Clinical Pharmacy’s, or ACCP, Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Florida. The award is given in recognition of her substantial contributions to the literature of clinical pharmacy, thereby advancing both clinical pharmacy practice and rational pharmacotherapy. Miller was the founding editor of the ACCP journal, Pharmacotherapy.

Hartmut Derendorf, Ph.D., a distinguished professor of pharmaceutics and the V. Ravi Chandran Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences, has been invited to serve on an Expert Review Panel at NASA. The panel will review the Pharmaceutical Research Plan developed by the NASA Human Research Program’s Exploration Medical Capabilities Element Pharmacy Team. The plan details a research pathway designed to identify and develop a safe and effective medication formulary for future long-duration exploration spaceflight missions. Joining Derendorf on the panel are five prominent researchers in the field of pharmaceutical science and medicine who will review the research plan and offer suggestions for achieving successful research outcomes.

Julie Johnson, Pharm.D., dean of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, was honored in 2016 with the top research award presented by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, or AACP. The Volwiler Research Achievement Award recognizes Johnson for her contributions to the field of pharmacogenomics, the study of how genes affect a person’s response to drugs. Johnson, also a distinguished professor in the UF College of Pharmacy and the UF College of Medicine, received the honor during the AACP annual meeting in Anaheim, California.

Hendrik Luesch, Ph.D., a professor and chair of medicinal chemistry and the Debbie and Sylvia DeSantis Chair in Natural Products Drug Discovery and Development, received the Golden Medal Award for his presentation at the 2nd International Conference on Herbal and Traditional Medicine. Luesch’s presentation titled, “Marine Biodiversity as a Starting Point for Drug Discovery and Development,” secured the best presentation award by highlighting his research in the biodiverse landscape of the world’s oceans in search of the next promising drug discovery. Hosted by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Khon Kaen University, the conference was held Jan. 25-27 in Bangkok, Thailand, and attracted researchers from around the world that are contributing to the discovery of natural products from natural sources.

Folakemi T. Odedina, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacotherapy and translational research, was honored with an INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine 2016 Inspiring Women in STEM Award. The award honors women who work to make a difference in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. Odedina was featured, along with 65 other recipients, in the September 2016 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.

Stephan Schmidt, Ph.D., an assistant professor of pharmaceutics and associate director of the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology in Lake Nona, was awarded the 2016 Tanabe Young Investigator Award by the American College of Clinical Pharmacology, or ACCP. The award recognizes Schmidt’s significant contributions as a researcher in the field of clinical pharmacology and the promising career ahead of him based on his outstanding achievements at an early stage. Schmidt’s research focuses on the application of quantitative systems pharmacology to address clinically relevant questions in the areas of antimicrobial chemotherapy, pediatrics, diabetes, cardiovascular safety and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Thomas Schmittgen, Ph.D., a professor of pharmaceutics, was elected by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, or AAPS, as one of its 2016 Fellows. Each year, AAPS elevates a few members to fellowship status in recognition of their professional excellence in fields relevant to AAPS’s mission: to advance the capacity of pharmaceutical scientists to develop products and therapies that improve global health. Each fellow has demonstrated a sustained level of superior and distinguished professional achievement and contributions in fields related to this mission. Schmittgen was one of nine new fellows that were honored Nov. 13 at the Opening Session of the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition in Denver.

Stacy Voils, Pharm.D., M.S., a clinical associate professor of pharmacotherapy and translational research, was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, or ACCP. Fellowship in the college recognizes and rewards the highest levels of excellence in the practice and science of clinical pharmacy, and it is the highest honor that ACCP can bestow on a member. Voils was officially inducted as a Fellow on Oct. 23 at the ACCP Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Florida.

Kristin Weitzel, Pharm.D., has been appointed director of Continuing Pharmacy Education at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. In this role, she will support the college’s continuing education programs and expand collaboration with the college’s online educational programs to offer clinical professionals new opportunities for professional education. She is expected to work with UF’s College of Medicine and College of Nursing to increase interdisciplinary continuing education offerings, while also developing training programs for pharmacists and staff at UF Health Shands Hospital and the UF Medication Management Center.

Almut Winterstein, Ph.D., a professor and the Dr. Robert and Barbara Crisafi Chair in Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, was awarded a 2016-17 Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentoring Award by The Graduate School at the University of Florida. She was one of five UF graduate faculty across the university to be honored for their efforts to promote excellence in doctoral studies and mentor students in their pursuit of a graduate education. For more than 15 years, Winterstein has helped doctoral students find their passion for science and develop their roles in a larger scientific community. She has chaired 19 Ph.D. committees and served as a member on 14 committees in her department and other departments on campus.