Three Pharmacists Honored as AACP Preceptors of the Year

William Hess, Mark Hindman, and Jennifer Szwak named Preceptors of the Year by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

By Pam Carder
January 27, 2025

(Pictured left to right: William Hess, Mark Hindman, and Jennifer Szwak)

Three University of Maryland School of Pharmacy preceptors received 2024 Preceptor of the Year Awards from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

The 2024 honorees include William Hess, CAPT (ret.), pharmacist with the United States Public Health Service (USPHS); Mark Hindman, PharmD ‘17, MBA, independent pharmacist at Professional Pharmacy; and Jennifer Szwak, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, clinical pharmacy specialist and residency program coordinator at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

“Our preceptors are the heart and soul of experiential learning at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy,” says Modjeh Heavner, PharmD, BCCCP, FCCM, FCCP, associate professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research and assistant dean for experiential learning. “Their dedication to teaching and mentoring the next generation of pharmacists is unparalleled, and their impact on our students is immeasurable.”

During their rotations, student pharmacists acquire practical, real-world experience under the mentorship of their preceptors—practicing pharmacists and other health care professionals—who guide them through both introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences. Preceptors are integral to the School of Pharmacy’s experiential learning program (ELP), which accounts for more than 30 percent of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum.

Currently in its fifth year, the Preceptor of the Year awards honor dedicated preceptors, nominated by their institutions, for making significant contributions to the development of student pharmacists. In addition to their national awards, Hess, Hindman, and Szwak will receive a two-year complimentary AACP individual affiliate membership, which provides programming, resources, and tools that will enhance the professional development of adjunct/affiliate preceptors who are key members of the educational and patient care team.

William Hess, CAPT (ret.), USPHS

Hess brings more than four decades of experience in hospital, retail, and regulatory pharmacy, and has served as a clinical preceptor for hundreds of pharmacy students. He retired with the rank of Captain (O-6) from the U.S. Public Health Service after nearly 33 years of active duty, during which he led national emergency medical teams in disaster and terrorism response efforts. Throughout his career, he has received numerous honors, including the Health and Human Services Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award and two Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medals. Currently, Hess serves in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of Data, Analytics, and Research, where he focuses on standardizing and harmonizing medical, pharmaceutical, and chemical terminology to support global electronic labeling, clinical decision support systems, pharmacovigilance, and ePrescribing initiatives.

“I am deeply grateful to the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy for nominating me for AACP’s 2024 Preceptor of the Year Award,” says Hess. “Reflecting on my journey, I have had the privilege of precepting more than 80 students from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and more than 270 pharmacy students overall. It has been an incredibly rewarding experience.”

Mark Hindman, PharmD ‘17, MBA

As an independent pharmacist at Professional Pharmacy in Baltimore, Hindman has assumed leadership roles in key initiatives, including the development of the pharmacy’s long-term care program, vaccination efforts, and the implementation of medical billing for clinical services. He currently serves as president-elect of the Maryland Pharmacists Association (MPhA) and is a board member of the MPhA Foundation. He is a 2017 graduate of the School of Pharmacy.

“It is a great privilege to have the opportunity to precept the next generation of pharmacists from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy,” says Hindman. “As a former student pharmacist, I gained invaluable knowledge during my own rotations, and it is deeply rewarding to now share my experiences with the new generation of professionals.”

Jennifer Szwak, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP

Szwak has precepted more than 100 pharmacy residents and students during their internal medicine rotations and serves as a research mentor. She is a clinical pharmacy specialist in internal medicine and residency program coordinator at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Throughout her career, she has earned numerous prestigious honors, including the Pharmacist of the Year and Preceptor of the Year Awards from the University of Chicago Medicine Residency, as well as the ACCP Adult Medicine PRN Clinical Practice Award.

“I love to see the growth of learners over the course of a rotation and residency year,” says Szwak. “One of the most fulfilling aspects of precepting is seeing all the amazing things our learners accomplish as pharmacists after graduation.”

Hess precepts students during rotations at the FDA, where they gain experience in systems management, administration, population-based services, and government affairs. Hindman precepts for the community pharmacy rotation, which includes collecting and assessing patient-specific information and developing and monitoring care plans. Szwak precepts for the acute care general medicine rotation, providing students with experience in an interprofessional team-based acute care environment.

“We were proud to nominate these three exceptional preceptors for the AACP Preceptor of the Year Award, recognizing their outstanding contributions to our community,” says Heavner. “Their passion, expertise, and commitment to excellence inspire us all.”

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