Rick Couldry

2025 Distinguished Service Award Winner

Rick Couldry is the vice president of pharmacy and health professions at the University of Kansas Health System and received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. After his pharmacy residency at KU, he served as residency program director at the University of Kansas Hospital and then helped transform the hospital to The University of Kansas Health System, where he has served as assistant director of pharmacy, director of pharmacy, executive director of pharmacy services and his current role as vice president of pharmacy and health professions.

Couldry earned his Master of Science in Hospital Pharmacy Administration from the KU School of Pharmacy in 1996 while completing a two-year residency in pharmacy practice and leadership at KU Medical Center. He oversees departments such as pathology and laboratory science, respiratory therapy, rehabilitation services, clinical nutrition, pulmonary function, sleep center and biomedical engineering, which collectively employ about 1,900 staff members.

While he’s responsible for a vibrant pharmacy enterprise, he’s perhaps most proud of his role as a mentor and his time directing pharmacy residency programs. 

Couldry is an active member and recognized Fellow of ASHP. He has served as director-at-large and chair for the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Practice Management and has been a member of ASHP for over 20 years. He has also served three terms on ASHP’s Pharmacists in C-Suites Advisory Panel as a co-chair.

Earlier this year, Couldry was awarded the School of Pharmacy Distinguished Graduate Award. He credits his KU education and many colleagues for helping him to succeed in his leadership journey. His studies included classes in the school of business, the school of medicine (public health) and the school of pharmacy’s department of pharmacy practice.