UMSOP Faculty Members Honored by Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacy

The awards celebrate Megan Ehret’s impactful leadership in mental health pharmacy and advocacy, and Kimberly Claeys’ pioneering role in diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship.

By Pam Carder
September 17, 2025

Image: Kimberly Claeys and Megan Ehret

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Two faculty members from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) have been recognized by the Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacy (MSHP) for their leadership, innovation, and service to the profession.

Megan Ehret, PharmD, MS, BCPP, professor of practice, science, and health outcomes research (P-SHOR), and co-director of UMSOP’s mental health program, received the 2025 W. Arthur Purdum Award, one of the most prestigious pharmacy honors in Maryland. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions or demonstrated influential leadership in advancing health-system pharmacy in the state.

Kimberly Claeys, PharmD, PhD, BCPS, associate professor of P-SHOR, received the MSHP Excellence Award, honoring her interdisciplinary work in diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship and her ongoing efforts to improve patient care through interprofessional collaboration.

Both awards were presented at a ceremony in Baltimore on Sept. 16.

A Legacy of Leadership and Access: Megan Ehret

For Ehret, the Purdum Award is a deeply meaningful recognition of a career spent expanding access to care, shaping mental health pharmacy, and mentoring future leaders.

“I never in my wildest dreams thought I would even be considered for the Purdum Award,” said Ehret. “This honor has prompted me to reflect on the work I’ve done and what kind of impact that work might have had.”

Ehret is widely known for increasing access to long-acting injectable (LAI) medications, which are treatments used for mental health conditions, HIV, and other chronic diseases. Through Ehret’s advocacy and leadership, Maryland has recently expanded the authority of community pharmacists to administer LAIs. UMSOP remains the only pharmacy school in the state where all student pharmacists graduate with LAI administration training.

Under Ehret’s leadership, LAI training has extended beyond Maryland, reaching health care providers nationwide. Her efforts have not only expanded access for patients but also elevated the pharmacist’s role in care delivery.

“Dr. Ehret exemplifies what it means to be a leader, mentor, and advocate,” said Jill A. Morgan, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, professor and chair of P-SHOR. “Her work has helped transform mental health pharmacy in Maryland and beyond, and she continues to inspire others to lead with purpose.”

Ehret also played a pivotal role in the FDA’s recent removal of the REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) for clozapine, a schizophrenia medication long burdened by restrictive regulations. As a voting member of the expert panel that recommended the removal, she contributed to a historic change that improves access for thousands of patients.

Throughout her academic and clinical career, Ehret has shown a deep commitment to advancing pharmacy education and shaping the profession’s future.

“I think back to my mentor, Dr. Raymond Love, and how he opened doors for me,” Ehret reflected. “Now I try to do the same – create opportunities and then get out of the way so others can grow.”

Ehret remains focused on equipping future pharmacists with the tools and skills needed to thrive in an evolving health care landscape. “We’re not just teaching content anymore – we’re preparing students to demonstrate skills in real-world settings,” she said. “The way students learn is changing, and we need to meet them where they are.”

Excellence in Innovation: Kimberly Claeys

Also being honored by MSHP was Kimberly Claeys, PharmD, PhD, BCPS, whose research is helping redefine how pharmacists contribute to diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship.

Since joining UMSOP in 2016, Claeys has built a career at the intersection of pharmacy, infectious disease, and public health. While grounded in antimicrobial stewardship, her most groundbreaking work has focused on diagnostic stewardship, an emerging field where pharmacists collaborate with physicians and microbiologists to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment decisions.

“A lot of my work focuses on better integrating pharmacists into the diagnostic process – not to replace anyone, but to supplement and improve it,” said Claeys.

Her research has focused particularly on urinary tract infections and improving diagnosis for vulnerable populations, including Veterans Affairs patients and nursing home residents. In 2023, she became the first and only pharmacist selected for the National Academy of Medicine’s Scholar of Diagnostic Excellence Program, a testament to her national leadership in this space.

“Dr. Claeys’ work represents the cutting edge of what pharmacy can be,” said Morgan. “She’s redefining the role of pharmacists in clinical decision-making and showing how our profession can lead innovations in patient care.”

In addition to her research and clinical practice, Claeys earned a PhD in Epidemiology and is actively involved in interdisciplinary training. She collaborates closely with infectious disease fellows, clinical microbiologists, and physicians, and co-coordinates the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Clinical Microbiology Fellowship.

“Improving diagnosis is inherently an interdisciplinary process,” she noted. “It’s not about one profession. It’s about many working together, with the patient at the center.”

“Both Dr. Ehret and Dr. Claeys are incredible examples of what it means to lead with purpose,” said Morgan. “They are advancing our profession, improving care across Maryland and beyond, and inspiring the next generation of pharmacy professionals. We couldn’t be prouder to celebrate them.”

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