Honoring a Legacy of Service and Philanthropy: Yankellow Honored with UMB Catalyst for Excellence Award

Distinguished alumna’s longstanding commitment to education, philanthropy, and community engagement earns her one of UMB’s highest honors.

By Pam Carder
May 19, 2025

Ellen H. Yankellow, PharmD ’96, BSP ’73, president and chief executive officer of Correct Rx Pharmacy Services, was honored on April 22 by the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) with a Catalyst for Excellence Award, recognizing her powerful advocacy for success, achievement, and philanthropy for the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

Yankellow is a national leader in the advancement of clinical pharmacy for institutions and one of the leading women pharmacists in the United States.

Her tremendous industry success is matched by her commitment to and passion for community activism and philanthropy. She has served on the UMB Foundation Board of Trustees since 2014 and is the board’s vice chair.

“Dr. Yankellow’s phenomenal business success is matched by her enduring commitment to community activism and philanthropy,” said Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy and professor of pharmaceutical sciences. “Her passion for making a difference is evident in everything she does, and we are deeply grateful for her steadfast support of UMB and the greater Baltimore community.”

Since graduating, Yankellow has remained deeply engaged with the School of Pharmacy, where her leadership and philanthropy have left a lasting legacy.

In 2013, Yankellow made a landmark investment to establish student scholarships and a two-year fellowship in data analytics, further strengthening the School’s academic and research excellence. That same year, the Ellen H. Yankellow Grand Atrium in Pharmacy Hall was dedicated in her honor, serving as a lasting symbol of her extraordinary contributions to the School and its mission.

In 2023, Yankellow announced a $500,000 gift to the School in honor of Dean Emerita Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP. The gift supports strategic initiatives across the School and the University, including the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging, as well as academic programs and other high-impact initiatives that advance education, research, and patient care.

Beyond her philanthropic support of the School of Pharmacy, Yankellow has held numerous influential roles, including president of the School’s Alumni Association and longtime chair of the School’s Board of Visitors, on which she continues to serve as a member. A dedicated advocate for education, she is also a member of the School’s Center for Women in Pharmapreneurism and was named a School of Pharmacy Founding Pharmapreneur in 2017 in recognition of her innovative spirit and commitment to advancing the profession.

At the April 22 event, Yankellow was recognized with seven other honorees from UMB’s Schools of Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Social Work, and the School of Graduate Studies as 2025 Catalyst for Excellence Awardees.

“Dr. Yankellow has had a tremendous impact on every aspect of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy,” said Michel. “Her generosity, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to philanthropy have been pivotal in advancing our mission in education, research, practice, pharmapreneurship, and community engagement.”

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