Spotlight on Excellence: 2025 PHSR Graduate Student Award Winners Honored

Awards celebrate the dedication, innovation, and impact of outstanding graduate students in pharmaceutical health services research.

By Pam Carder
May 1, 2025

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Pictured left to right: Udim Damachi, Yueh-Yi Chiang, Susan dosReis, Phuong Tran, and Nneka Okeke-Morgan

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On April 16, the Pharmaceutical Health Services Research (PHSR) Graduate Student Awards Ceremony brought together faculty, students, mentors, and guests to celebrate the exceptional achievements of graduate students in the PhD program. The event recognized students whose research, service, and leadership are shaping the future of pharmaceutical health services.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the generous support our program and students receive from our donors, alumni, faculty, and staff,” said Julia Slejko, PhD, associate professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research (P-SHOR), co-director of the Patient-Driven Values in Healthcare Evaluation (PAVE) Center, and director of the PHSR Graduate Program. “The awards ceremony is a special moment to highlight our students’ hard work and research, and to recognize the donors who make it all possible.”

During the ceremony, Slejko addressed the honorees. “Each of you being recognized today has made a meaningful impact—not only through your research, but through the diverse experiences and perspectives you bring to our program,” she said. “Your passion, dedication, and contributions are what we celebrate here today. You are helping to shape the future of pharmaceutical health services research, and it is a joy to support and recognize your efforts.”

The graduate program honored winners of several awards, including the Donald O. Fedder Memorial Fellowship, Harris Zuckerman Scholarship Award, Arthur Schwartz Memorial Scholarship, and the Pharmaceutical Health Services Research Student Travel Scholarship. Students gave presentations to their peers and faculty about their academic pursuits and their personal journeys that led them to graduate training in PHSR.

Arthur Schwartz Memorial Scholarship

As the first student admitted to the PhD in PHSR program, Arthur (Artie) Schwartz demonstrated great interest in drug use and pharmaceutical marketing issues. Following his death at an early age, his wife Karen Schwartz established the Arthur Schwartz Memorial Scholarship to provide funding for future students in the program based on academic standing and financial need.

Recipient: Phuong Tran, BSPharm, MPH

“Receiving the Schwartz Scholarship is such an honor,” said Phuong Tran, whose research currently focuses on therapeutic dosing of antidepressants among youth with depression. “It reminds me why I started this journey—to explore the real-world impact of pharmaceuticals and make a difference in people’s lives.

“I can’t say enough positive things about the supportive environment I have encountered at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy,” she added. “My friends, advisors, family, husband—they’ve made my journey not only meaningful, but so joyful.”

Harris Zuckerman Scholarship Award

The Harris Zuckerman Scholarship Award was endowed by Ilene Harris, PharmD ’83, PhD, professor emeritus at UMSOP, to assist students interested in jointly pursuing Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and PhD degrees. Named in honor of her parents – Daniel Harris, MD, and Ann Harris – the scholarship provides support for the training, development, and advancement of graduate students in the PhD in PHSR program at the School.

Recipient: John Rizk, BSPharm, MSc, Dual degree PhD/MSc candidate

“In this program, I have been able to merge my passion for research and my desire to create meaningful change,” said Rizk, whose interests include pharmacoepidemiology and health policy.

“I’m incredibly grateful for this support,” he continued. “This award helps me attend conferences where I can connect with researchers from around the country and bring new ideas back to my own work.”

Harris reflected on the legacy of the award, “If you ever have the opportunity to pay it forward as you grow in your careers, do it. It will have a lot of meaning for you, and for others.”

Donald O. Fedder Memorial Fellowship

Established by Michaeline Fedder in honor of her husband Donald O. Fedder, DrPH, MPH, BSP, FAPhA, a public health pharmacist and long-time faculty member at the School of Pharmacy who passed away in 2010, the Donald O. Fedder Memorial Fellowship supports the training and development of a graduate student whose work focuses on social justice, pharmacy advocacy, or public health. Dr. Fedder’s son, Ira Fedder, PharmD ’79, MD, attended the ceremony.

Recipients:

• Yueh-Yi Chiang, BSPharm
• Udim Damachi, BPharm, MS
• Yu-Hua Fu, PharmD, MS
• Chia-Yun Hsu, BPharm, MS
• Hyung-Seok (John) Kim, MHS, BS
• Seyedeh Taraneh Mousavi, PharmD
• Nneka Okeke-Morgan, MHS

“To be named a Fedder Fellow is deeply meaningful,” said Damachi. “My work is rooted in health equity, and this recognition encourages me to keep pushing for patient-centered solutions in underserved communities.”

“Every patient encounter has shaped my path as a pharmacist and researcher,” said Mousavi. “Being healthy, and staying healthy, is a basic human right. It is our responsibility to advocate for our patients. One of my biggest dreams is starting to take shape.”

“Receiving this award means the world to me,” said Okeke-Morgan. “I have come a long way — from working as a hotel cleaner, to being a data analyst, to deciding to further my education. This award validates my journey and fuels my passion to keep advocating for those whose voices are often overlooked.”

During his remarks, Fedder encouraged the honorees to stay curious and committed. “This is the beginning of your journey. You have no idea what your journey will ultimately look like. You have to keep going; you have to keep learning; you must keep turning the page.”

PHSR Student Travel Scholarship

Recipients:

• Jennifer “Jenny” Contreras, MPH
• Uzma Pathan, Bpharm, Mpharm, MS
• Hoang Tien Tran, PharmD, MPH

Funded through generous contributions from PHSR faculty, alumni, and students, this scholarship enables graduate students to share their research at national and international conferences.

“Attending a national conference was a dream for me,” said Contreras. “The travel scholarship made that possible—and being able to share my research on a larger stage was incredibly motivating.”

“I carry with me the values of collaboration and curiosity,” added Tran. “I am confident that we can make the health care system smarter, fairer, and more responsive to the patient.”

“We are proud of what our students have accomplished,” said C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, professor of P-SHOR and executive director of the PATIENTS Program at UMSOP. “And we look forward to all they will continue to achieve.”

See the full photo album on Flickr.

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