Amy Ives, PharmD, associate professor in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research (P-SHOR), and Lisa Lebovitz, JD, MS, assistant dean for academic affairs and assessment at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), received the 2026 Rufus A. Lyman Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), one of the highest honors in pharmacy education.

The Lyman award was presented during the AACP Annual Meeting in Texas in July and recognizes the best paper published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (AJPE) during the previous year. Named for AJPE’s founding editor, the Rufus A. Lyman Award honors scholarship that makes a significant contribution to pharmacy education and advances the profession nationally.

In addition to the Lyman Award, Lebovitz received the 2026 Best Collaborative Publication Award from AACP’s Assessment Special Interest Group (SIG), recognizing excellence in collaborative scholarship that advances assessment practices in pharmacy education. The honor marked a second national recognition for Lebovitz during the annual meeting and further highlights her leadership in educational assessment and continuous quality improvement.

Ives and Lebovitz earned the Lyman Award as co-authors of the article, “Examining the Alignment of Pharmacists’ Daily Tasks, Employer-Advertised Skills, and the Entrustable Professional Activities,” published in the January 2025 issue of AJPE. Their co-authors were Diana M. Sobieraj, PharmD, of the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, and Michael J. Rudolph, PhD, now of A.T. Still University of Health Sciences.

Their research examined how pharmacists’ day-to-day responsibilities and the skills sought by employers align with the profession’s Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), which define the core responsibilities that new pharmacy graduates should be able to perform independently upon entering practice. By exploring the relationship between pharmacy education, workforce expectations, and professional practice, the study provides valuable insights for educators seeking to ensure graduates are prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients, employers, and the health care system from their first day on the job and long into their future careers.

Their research examined how pharmacists’ day-to-day responsibilities and the skills sought by employers align with the profession’s Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), which define the core responsibilities that new pharmacy graduates should be able to perform independently upon entering practice. By exploring the relationship between pharmacy education, workforce expectations, and professional practice, the study provides valuable insights for educators seeking to ensure graduates are prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients, employers, and the health care system.

“This recognition reflects the importance of collaborative, cross-institutional scholarship that informs how we prepare the next generation of pharmacists,” says Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD, dean of UMSOP and professor of pharmaceutical sciences (PSC). “Dr. Ives and Ms. Lebovitz’s publication strengthens the national conversation around pharmacy education and reinforces the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s reputation as a leader in preparing pharmacy students for today’s jobs and the future of the profession.”

The award also marks a historic milestone for Lebovitz, who has now received the Rufus A. Lyman Award for the third consecutive year, an extraordinary achievement that reflects her sustained leadership and influence in pharmacy education scholarship.

“To earn this recognition once is a significant honor; to receive it three years in a row speaks to Ms. Lebovitz’s longstanding commitment to advancing educational assessment, curriculum innovation, and evidence-based approaches that strengthen pharmacy education nationwide,” says Michel.

For Ives, the award recognizes her contributions to research that bridges academic preparation with the realities of contemporary pharmacy practice. Her work focuses on preparing future pharmacists to thrive in a rapidly evolving health care environment by ensuring educational outcomes reflect the competencies employers value most.

Together, Ives and Lebovitz’s award-winning publication reinforces UMSOP’s reputation as a national leader in educational innovation and scholarship. By examining how pharmacy curricula align with workplace expectations and professional competencies, their research offers practical guidance for colleges and schools of pharmacy as they prepare graduates for the future of patient care.

“Through research that informs both curriculum design and assessment practices, UMSOP faculty continue to shape how pharmacy programs prepare graduates and evaluate educational excellence across the country,” says Michel.

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy represents pharmacy education nationwide, supporting member institutions through advocacy, scholarship, and professional development. The Rufus A. Lyman Award remains one of the association’s most prestigious honors, recognizing research that has a lasting impact on pharmacy education and the profession.

Other School of Pharmacy faculty and staff were recognized at the annual meeting through presentations, panels, posters, and awards.

• Administrative Services Section Best Poster Award: Shannon Tucker, PhD, MS, assistant dean for instructional design and technology, Chad Johnson, PhD, assistant professor of PSC and director of the Graduate Studies in Medical Cannabis program, and Andrew Coop, PhD, professor of PSC and associate dean for graduate students
• Chair of the Special Interest Group Cabinet Administration Board – Andrew Coop, PhD
• Teacher of the Year – Berhanu Kibret, PhD, instructor of PSC
• Academic Leadership Fellows Program Graduate – Charmaine Rochester, PharmD, professor of P-SHOR