Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

We’re proud to share the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Residency Match Rate for the Class of 2026 and feature a few of our graduates entering residencies! 💊✨💙

Member Spotlight 🌟 Noriac Dathis

🥼 Noriac is a rising P2 at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and a pharmacy intern at Hy-Vee Pharmacy. His background is in biology with undergraduate research experience in biology and pharmacy. Noriac is interested in pharmaceutical law and is exploring the PharmD/JD pathway.

💊 Personal experiences as well as his research background sparked Noraic’s interest in pharmacy. “Seeing the impact healthcare can have on patients and families motivated me to pursue a career,” he said.

🗳️ Noriac has been elected to serve as the International Vice President of APhA-ASP - American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists for the upcoming year. He is also involved with Phi Delta Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma and volunteers with Meals from the Heartland.

💙 At , Noriac was installed as Drake’s student pharmacist representative on the IPA Board of Trustees. When asked what he hopes to accomplish during his time on the Board, he said, “I hope to strengthen student engagement and ensure student pharmacists feel informed and connected to advocacy, professional development, and opportunities within organized pharmacy.”

Conference season continues! Several CPHS students and faculty attended the APDA Iowa Parkinson’s Conference earlier this month. P3 students Nick and Dorcas served as volunteers (pictured with Dr. Meyer) and Dr. Rognes gave a presentation!

We heard yesterday was so we invited the little dude himself to come try on his new white coat and see our new statue honoring him! Can you barely tell them apart or what?!? 🩺🐶🥼 Griff III, Drake University Live Mascot

This statue is extra special because it was hand painted by talented Chelsea Kumbera, the daughter of distinguished alumna Patty Kumbera, PH’88. It is currently situated at the front entry of Cline Hall, but has also been to several of our CPHS events. Have you snapped a pic with it yet?

Thanks to Dean Erik Maki for letting us show you around the pharmacy and share our plans for the future! We enjoy the partnership we have with Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences!

💊Fun Fact: Andrew graduated from Drake in 2017 and has been adjunct faculty with Drake University for almost 10 years; precepting nearly 40 students in that time. He also gives a lecture on campus each year about pharmacy ownership and the opportunities in independent pharmacy.

After three decades (!) of service in multiple roles within CPHS, Dr. John Rovers has announced his approaching retirement. Read more about the things he experienced and accomplished in his 33 years at Drake, as well as his plans for retirement and last pieces of advice for students.

Looking After a Community: John Rovers Set for Retirement After 33 Years at Drake University - Drake University Newsroom Dr. John Rovers, Professor of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Drake University, will soon retire after 33 years in pharmacy and public health.

IPA Annual Meeting 💙💊

Drake pharmacy students, faculty, and alumni had a great time at the Iowa Pharmacy Association Annual Meeting last week. Connections were made, presentations were given, and Iowa pharmacy was strengthened.

We’d like to congratulate the following Drake Bulldogs on being Award honorees:

🏆 P4 Stacy Johnson received the Jerry Karbeling Leadership Award

🏆 Dr. Wendy Mobley-Bukstein received the Thomas R. Temple Pharmacy Mentorship Award

🏆 Gregory Johansen, PH’76, received the Honorary President Recognition

🏆 Monica Nikseresht, PH’21, received the Excellence in Innovation Award

Class of 2026, Coating Ceremony ➡️ Commencement🥼🎓 Time flies!🥹

Summer has begun, which means our final year pharmacy students have embarked on their rotation adventures! ☀️🥼💊

P4 Stacy Johnson is completing her first APPE rotation at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines! She is most looking forward to being able to apply all that she has learned in the past 3 years to real-world clinical situations and help real patients manage their health.

Stacy recently got to join other Drake students completing IPPE experiences at MercyOne in a Surgical Olympics simulation, where they role played patients and family members to help the surgical residents with communication skills!