Two UMSOP Faculty Named International Fellows by FIP

Recognized for their leadership and service, Drs. Amy Howard and Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner have played key roles in elevating pharmacy practice and education throughout the world.

By Pam Carder
September 25, 2025

In a prestigious recognition of global impact and leadership, two faculty members from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), Amy Howard, PharmD, MS, and Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, MS, FAPhA, FNAP, have been named Fellows of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). The award was announced at the FIP World Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark in September.

Up to 12 pharmacists worldwide are selected annually for this honor, which recognizes significant contributions to international pharmacy education, science, and practice, as well as exemplary service to FIP. The selection of two fellows from the same institution is a rare occurrence and a testament to UMSOP’s ongoing leadership in the global pharmacy landscape.

FIP: Advancing Global Pharmacy for Better Health

FIP is a global organization representing pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and pharmaceutical education. Its mission is to ensure access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines and care by empowering pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists worldwide. FIP’s strategic plan focuses on expanding access to care, strengthening pharmaceutical education and the workforce, supporting health systems and supply chains, and aligning all efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through global collaboration, FIP works to improve health outcomes and promote pharmacy as an essential pillar of public health.

A Decade of Global Engagement: Amy Howard

Amy Howard, PharmD, MS, a pediatric clinical pharmacist and assistant professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research (P-SHOR) at UMSOP, has spent more than a decade working in international pharmacy, first as a student, and now focusing on health literacy and global pharmacy education. As a student pharmacist at UMSOP, she was elected to the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) Executive Committee, which led to her involvement in FIP itself.

“I went to my first FIP World Congress in my second year of pharmacy school — this year marked my tenth,” Howard shared. “I knew early on that I wanted to be involved in shaping the global pharmacy conversation.”

Howard has served in multiple leadership roles within FIP, including as the representative of the Americas in the Health and Medicines Information Section, and now as member-at-large. Her work has focused on health literacy, workforce development, and facilitating global collaboration to improve patient education and access to pharmacy services. She has organized international training events and spearheaded grant-funded projects to assess the intersection of health literacy and pharmacy practice worldwide.

As a global educator and advocate, she has shared UMSOP’s innovative education models, such as layered learning and pharmacy teaching rotations, with peers across the world. “What we do here, like incorporating teaching into clinical rotations, is still new and aspirational in many countries,” said Howard.

A Lifetime Commitment to Global Pharmacy Practice and Service: Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner

Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, MS, FAPhA, FNAP, associate dean for clinical services and practice transformation and professor of P-SHOR, has dedicated much of her career to advancing pharmacy practice and education across the Americas and beyond. For more than two decades, she has worked with FIP and its affiliated organizations to help improve health outcomes through pharmacist-led care.

She currently serves as president of the Pharmaceutical Forum of the Americas, where she leads efforts to strengthen pharmacy education, practice, and infrastructure in countries across North, Central, and South America. Under her leadership, the Forum was fully integrated into FIP — a milestone that further solidified the Americas’ role in shaping global pharmacy initiatives.

“My work with FIP has always been about building relationships and sharing knowledge,” said Rodriguez de Bittner. “Pharmacists around the world face many of the same challenges, and when we collaborate, we can find solutions. It is incredibly rewarding to support colleagues in other countries and to see how small exchanges of ideas can help transform practice worldwide.”

She emphasized that being part of FIP allows her to both learn from and mentor global peers. “Whether it’s offering guidance to a team developing a new pharmacy service or contributing to a publication on best practices, it’s about helping others move forward and that benefits patients everywhere. It allows me to disseminate the pharmapreneurial ideas we have implemented at UMSOP to improve care and education globally.”

“This recognition not only honors Dr. Howard and Dr. Rodriguez de Bittner individually but also reflects the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s enduring impact on the international pharmacy stage,” said Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD, dean and professor of pharmaceutical sciences. “Their work exemplifies our mission: To globally engage and lead education, pharmacy practice, scientific research, and pharmapreneurial initiatives to collaboratively and equitably improve the health of society.”

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