ASHP Pharmacy Champion Award

The award, which is conferred at the discretion of the ASHP Board of Directors, may be presented annually at the ASHP national meeting or other appropriate function. There is no limit to the number of awards that may be conferred each year.

2026 Recipient

Alaska Pharmacy Association (AKPhA), Idaho State University/University of Alaska Anchorage (ISU/UAA) Doctor of Pharmacy Program, and the Alaska Board of Pharmacy (AK BOP)
Anchorage, AK

The formidable cross-sector partnership between the AKPhA, ISU/UAA, and AK BOP mobilized pharmacy professionals, student pharmacists, and regulators to achieve significant legislative victories aligned with ASHP’s strategic priorities. These efforts directly advanced medication safety, expanded patient access to care, and transformed care delivery systems to keep healthcare closer to home, particularly in rural and underserved regions. Their collaborative, high-impact grassroots advocacy model serves as a proven framework for other states seeking sustained policy change, enhanced medication safety, expanded access to care, and a robust pharmacy leadership pipeline.

Criteria and Eligibility

ASHP members are invited, annually, to suggest nominees in writing with substantiating evidence. The award is intended to recognize an elected government official, public servant, or an organization whose involvement in public policy and advocacy supports the improvement of medication safety and health outcomes and the advancement of pharmacy practice. Support can be demonstrated either through a recent singular, significant achievement or for career-long contributions and accomplishments at the local, state, or national level. Examples include but are not limited to outstanding contributions to the visibility, value, and advancement of pharmacy practice and health policy through political and legislative activity, patient advocacy, civic leadership, and/or environmental stewardship with regard to ASHP’s strategic priorities and key advocacy issues.

Nominees may be pharmacists or non-pharmacists, regardless of practice area or ASHP membership status. Current ASHP Board members and ASHP staff are not eligible.

Nominating Instructions

Nominations are accepted year-round and are to be transmitted electronically during this period using the Award Nominations Form. Please see the Call for Award Nominations to reference the criteria for the award as well as the nomination instructions. 

Nominations received by October 1 will be reviewed by the Awards Committee, and selections will be made the following February. In some years, selections are not made for all awards.

If you have any questions about the Awards Program, please contact the Office of Member Relations at awards@ashp.org.

Past Recipients