UH College of Pharmacy has climbed to third place in the nation for awarding professional pharmacy degrees to Hispanic students, according to the 2009 Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine report. Based on U.S. Department of Education data from June 2007 to June 2008, the college jumped five spots over last year's ranking. Overall, the university secured a spot among the top 20 higher education institutions awarding degrees to Hispanic students. For more on this story, click here. 

UH College of Pharmacy honored six of its Golden Cougars - members of the Class of 1959 - at the May 16, 2009, commencement ceremony for 116 Pharm.D. and two Ph.D. graduates at the E. Cullen Building. Once again wearing the graduate's traditional cap and gown, the Golden Cougars were recognized with certificates commemorating the 50th anniversary of their graduation. The honorees were Robert Boudreaux, Guadalupe “Wally” Casas, David Mizell, Robert Nelson, Hollis Scarborough and Irma Villarreal. Other dignitaries at the event were KTRK-TV (ABC) Medical Reporter Christi Myers, who served as Commencement Speaker; UH System Regent Dennis D. Golden, O.D. ('77); and UHS Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance and UH Executive Vice President for Administration & Finance Carl P. Carlucci, Ph.D. Click photo for larger image.

Several alumni, preceptors, faculty members and graduating students were honored for their leadership, mentorship, service and academic accomplishments at UH College of Pharmacy's Class of 2009 Graduation Banquet in Houston on May 15. Among the honorees were: Ann Marie Prazak - Distinguished Student Award; LaTosha Mitchell, Pharm.D. ('03) - Outstanding Young Alumna; Renee Prescott, Pharm.D. ('02) - Volunteer of the Year; Harris County Hospital District - Health Systems Site of the Year; DeeDee Hu, Pharm.D. - Clinical Preceptor of the Year; and John Yoo, Pharm.D. ('03) - Roche Preceptor of the Year. Click here to view a photo gallery of the awards.

Although the final proceeds are still being tallied, the UH College of Pharmacy would like to thank its many sponsors, alumni and friends for their support of the 30th Annual UH Pharmacy Alumni & Friends Scholarship Golf Tournament at Augusta Pines Golf Club in Spring, Texas, on June 1. Sponsors for this year's tournament were: Silver - Marco Carranza, Pharm.D. ('03), and McClaugherty Consulting Services; Red & White - Medicine Chest Institutional Pharmacy, Donald Lackey, R.Ph. (BS '81), and Randall's Pharmacy; and Cougar - Consulting Matters Inc., Fred Emmite, R.Ph. (BS '77), Amy Fawcett, Pharm.D. ('03), W.C. Grier, Chuck Kneip, R.Ph. (BS '92), Jim Rutan, R.Ph. (BS '92), Systems Healthcorp Inc., and Porter Everts & Shara Zatopek, R.Ph. (BS '74). The top two teams were Lance Campbell, Pharm.D. ('01), Ben Schoene, Derek Steele and Toby Holt, who took First Place Low Gross Score; and Brian Parrish, Larry Jones, Arnold Jones and Joe Murillo, who took First Place Low Net Score. Click photo for larger image.

Alumnus Kenneth R. Korthauer, R.Ph., and his wife, Patty Korthauer, have established the Kenneth and Patty Korthauer Endowed Scholarship at the college to allow future pharmacy students to share in his success of more than 40 years in the profession.  Owner of independent Norman's Pharmacy, Norman's Pharmacy LTC and Sole Support Restorative Footwear in Brenham, Texas, Kenneth Korthauer entered UH College of Pharmacy in 1963 and graduated in 1966. He began his professional career at K/G Drugs, where he met his future wife, Patty. The couple has two sons - an ordained Lutheran minister and a police officer and firefighter - and three grandchildren, and recently became members of the college's Mading Society of benefactors. Korthauer also is a lifetime member of The University of Houston Alumni Association, a member of Cougar Pride, and a member of the Cougar Executives Organization, which is a group of business owners and executives who annually give to UH. Click photo for larger image.

UHCOP Clinical Associate Professor Kimberly Birtcher, M.S., Pharm.D., BCPS, CDE, CLS, recently was awarded Fellow status with the National Lipid Association (NLA), a nonprofit, multidisciplinary medical society with more than 3,500 members dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality from dyslipidemia and strengthening cardiovascular disease prevention. Birtcher joins more than 150 physicians and allied heath-care professionals from across the nation who have achieved this important credential. The NLA awards Fellow status to those physicians and allied heath-care professionals who have distinguished themselves amongst their colleagues and who have satisfied the requirements established by the NLA for such recognition.