UMSOP Announces Recipients of Two Prestigious Scholarships

The Gyi and Wagner Scholarships support student pharmacists interested in pharmapreneurship.

By Pam Carder
July 9, 2025

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) has awarded two of its most prestigious scholarships – the Felix A. Khin-Maung-Gyi Memorial Scholarship for Pharmapreneurship and the Wagner Family Scholarships in Pharmapreneurship – to 10 students from its Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. The scholarships were created in support of the School’s trademarked Pharmapreneurship® initiative, which was formalized in 2017.

Felix A. Khin-Maung-Gyi Memorial Scholarship for Pharmapreneurship

2025-2026 Recipient: Sana Bedair

The Gyi Memorial Scholarship was established in 2019 with a $750,000 gift from Rebecca Gyi- Hovis, MD, and her family in honor of her late father, Felix A. Khin-Maung- Gyi, BSP ’83, PharmD, MBA, chair and founder of Chesapeake Research Review who passed away in 2014. It is the School’s largest scholarship, providing a full year of tuition for a student pharmacist who has demonstrated a commitment to pharmapreneurship.

Wagner Family Scholarships in Pharmapreneurship

2025-2026 Recipients: Rabia Asjid, Oanh Hoang, Sierra Larson, Milka Lenarz, Gabriele Miksa (not pictured), Vijay Modi, Jiwon Oh, Shiv Patel, and Maci Wong (not pictured).

The Wagner Family Scholarships were established by Daniel E. Wagner, JD, in 2020 to honor his family’s legacy at UMSOP, which includes an impressive nine graduates. He has ensured that the collection of Wagner Family Scholarships in Pharmapreneurship will be funded and awarded each year to as many as nine PharmD students enrolled in the School’s Pharmapreneurship Pathway, continuing into perpetuity. This generous support gives students a platform to explore business ideas and ventures.

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“I am so inspired by the exceptional achievements, experiences, and innovative spirit of our scholarship recipients,” said Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, BCPS, CDE, FAPhA, professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research, associate dean for clinical services and practice transformation, executive director of the Center for Innovative Pharmacy Solutions, and coordinator of the Pharmapreneurship Pathway in UMSOP’s Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. “These scholarships are a vital investment in the next generation of pharmacy leaders, empowering our students to take on today’s health care challenges with creativity and purpose. We are incredibly grateful to the Gyi and Wagner families for their ongoing support—this would not be possible without their generosity.”

“Pharmapreneurship is the art of turning science and ideas into real, lasting health care solutions,” said Joga Gobburu, PhD, MBA, the Felix Gyi Endowed Memorial Professor in Pharmapreneurship, director of the Center for Translational Medicine at UMSOP, and professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research. “As we look ahead, our goal is to empower students, faculty, and collaborators across institutions to think boldly and act purposefully. We are building a community where ideas grow into ventures, and ventures into impact—driven by purpose, growth, and value.”

According to Gobburu, Pharmapreneurship’s next chapter builds on the strong foundation laid since the program’s inception in 2017, while expanding its scope. “With new programs, cross-disciplinary challenges, and a renewed focus on real-world relevance, UMSOP will continue to collaborate in reimagining what it means to educate, innovate, and make a difference in health care.”

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