10
September
Alumni Updates
University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy alumni are leading dynamic lives, gaining recognition, getting new jobs, or investing in their personal lives through family, friends, and hobbies. Stay in touch with your fellow UW–Madison School of Pharmacy alumni across the country by checking (and sharing) Class Notes in each DiscoveRx digital magazine issue.
- See our previous edition of Class Notes from the Summer 2024 issue.
- Submit your class note for the Winter 2024 issue.
New Jobs/Positions
Maya Boguslawski (PharmD ’23) started a new position as ambulatory care pharmacist at Southwest Health in Platteville, Wisconsin.
Cierra Brewer (PharmD ’21): “Hey everyone! Since completing my PGY2 at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, I have relocated to New York City and started as the infectious disease clinical pharmacy supervisor at Flushing Medical Center in Queens, New York. This is one of the oldest hospitals in NYC and I’m excited to practice ID in such a large and diverse city.”
Tom Dilworth (PharmD ’10) was promoted to assistant vice president of pharmacy clinical services at Advocate Health.
Matt McGowan (PharmD ’10) has been selected as the new Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin director-at-large.
Nicholas Olson (PharmD ’03) started a new role as senior medical scientist in HIV treatment and prevention with Gilead Sciences.
George MacKinnon III (BS ’88, MS ’90) was installed as chair of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Council of Deans during the annual AACP Pharmacy Education Conference in July 2024. He will serve concurrently on the Council and the AACP Board of Directors through 2026. A native of Marshfield, Wisconsin, he is the founding dean of the Medical College of Wisconsin Pharmacy School in Milwaukee.
Accomplishments and Awards
Holly Altenberger (PharmD ’12) and the O’Connell Pharmacy in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, received a 2024 Innovation Award from the Wisconsin Pharmacy Quality Collaborative.
Zoua Yang (PharmD ’09) is being honored with a 2024 Immunization Champion Award by the Association of Immunization Managers and a 2024 Innovation Award from the Wisconsin Pharmacy Quality Collaborative.
Dan Persells (PharmD ’07) received the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s 2024 Excellence in Innovation Award.
Matthew Mabie (BS ’98) received the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s 2024 Bowl of Hygeia Award.
Michael Ochowski (BS ’96) received the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s 2024 Curtis A. Johnson Award.
Jessica Dreier Huntington (BS ’92) and Timothy Dreier (BS ’89) and their Dreier Pharmacy and Gift Shoppe, founded by Don Dreier (BS ’52) in 1967, was named the 2024 HealthMart Pharmacy of the Year out of 5,000 HealthMart pharmacies nationwide.
Retirements
John Gloss (BS ’74) retired in 2020 from BJC Healthcare as a hospital president, from Shriners Hospital for Children in 2018 as the St. Louis Hospital administrator, and from the Enterprise Bank and Trust in 2023 as a board of directors member. He remains active with the SIUE School of Pharmacy Advisory Board, of which he is the founding chairman.
Jeffrey Swanson (BS ’74): “Happily retired after graduating a long time ago in 1974!”
Duane Wisner (BS ’68): “I kept my Wisconsin license current and finished all required continuing education while serving the church as an ELCA pastor for 31 yrs. After my last call, I faced a steep learning curve and returned to practicing pharmacy with Aurora Pharmacy. I finally retired as a pharmacist.”
Personal Updates and Check-Ins
John Georgis (BS ’59): “I have done very well as a pharmacist, and I have owned my own pharmacy in Joliet, Illinois. I have also published two books: ‘New and Effective Method for Solving General Chemistry Problems’ and ‘The ONLY True Outline of Physiology.'”
In Memoriam
Glidden Libby (MS ’62, PhD ’75) passed away in August 2024. He served for 23 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a lieutenant colonel, then starting a new 20-year career with the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. He later co-founded Libby and Libby consulting with his wife of 62 years, Ruth.
Eugene Kostecki (BS ’58) passed away in June 2024. He earned his pharmacy degree after serving in the U.S. Navy in Korea for three years. He opened his own pharmacy in Cross Plains, Wisconsin, in 1972, serving the community there as a pharmacist until 2006. He loved to travel with his wife, Rena, play golf, bowl, and spend time with family.
Joan Goethel (BS ’56) passed away in August 2024. After a long and fulfilling pharmacy career in Grafton, Wisconsin, she enjoyed cards, reading, watching Wisconsin football games, and family time.
James Jendusa (BS ’56) passed away in June 2024.His passion for pharmacy started before he was 14 years old, and he opened in first pharmacy in Waukesha, Wisconsin, with the goal of bridging gaps in care. He greatly enjoyed pharmacy, hunting, fishing, golfing, grilling, and playing cards.
Richard Rohrer (BS ’56) passed away in June 2024. After graduating from the School of Pharmacy, he as commissioned into the Army Medical Service Corp as a first lieutenant in San Antonio, Texas. After his service, he and his family returned to Wisconsin, owning and operating Rohrer’s Pharmacy in Manitowoc for many years.
