Hey, Pharmacy Badgers! It has been a while since I contributed a Dave’s Corner to DiscoveRx. I want to use this space to update you about our alumni engagement activities during the first six months of 2025 and share our plans for future alumni engagement.

Alumni activities

Not surprisingly, it has been a busy first six months of 2025. In February, the Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) hosted another successful virtual Trivia Event to raise funds for PAA Scholarships. A new team, Team Cephaloscoring (Eric Friestrom (PharmD ’19, MS ’21), Josh Nachreiner (BS ’17, PharmD ’19), John Simonet (BS ’84), Macy McConnell (PharmD ’19), Ryan Simonet (PharmD ’19), Sydney Bringgold (BS ’17, PharmD ’19)) won the event this year and the event raised $1,610 this year and has raised $9,700 over six years for student scholarships. The trivia event is a lot of fun and we look forward to working with the PAA for next year’s event.

Once again, the School of Pharmacy participated in the Day of the Badger in April to raise funds for our Student Success and Support Fund. The Day of the Badger is part of our spring campaign which runs until June 30 each year. The money raised for the Student Success and Support Fund (SSSF) is used to build community, provide professional development opportunities, and support milestone celebrations (e.g., White Coat Ceremony) for students in all of our programs at the School of Pharmacy. Our goal is to obtain 142 gifts, in honor of the number of years of pharmacy at UW, to the SSSF by the end of June and we are just about there. If you contributed to the SSSF, thank you very much. If not, please consider making a contribution to the SSSF and help us meet our goal!   

In April, we held our Milwaukee Innovators School of Pharmacy Alumni event, which was co-hosted by alumni Rocky LaDien (BS ’77) and Tyler Schultz (PharmD ’16). Once again, we had a packed house for the event! The program speakers — Dean Bowen (BS ’16, PharmD ’20), Jessica Schaetzel (PharmD ’06), Jesse Schaetzel (PharmD ’06), and Jason Jenders (PharmD ’10) — shared highlights about their careers and informed the attendees about the innovative aspects of their respective practice roles. Dean works in the pharmaceutical industry, Jessica and Jesse started their own digital health data company and Jason is directing the pharmacy department at a federally qualified health clinic in Milwaukee. The impact that our alumni have in the many different areas of pharmacy practice is truly inspiring. We look forward to hosting more alumni events in Milwaukee. 

I would be remiss if I did not mention the PharmD and Health System Pharmacy Administration MS Class of 2025 Hooding Ceremony that took place in early May. Of note was the keynote speech provided by David Zilz (BS ’62, MS ’64) who was the first graduate of the joint administrative residency and master’s degree program at UW Hospital. His message for the students was based on lessons learned from the many leadership opportunities with which he was presented and assumed during his impactful career. It is no surprise Dave remains an active alumni mentor for many former graduates of the MS/residency program at UW.    

In May, our Madison Innovators School of Pharmacy Alumni event was co-hosted by alumni Sue Kleppin (BS ’85) and Julie Bartell (PharmD ’06). Luckily, there were no tornado warnings this year! The speakers at the event included Associate Professor Jay Ford, Kelly Thomas (PharmD ’23), and Jason Bergsbaken (PharmD ’12). Jay, as a co-director of the Wisconsin Opioid Overdose Response Center, shared the impact that the center is making in expanding the role of our state’s community pharmacies in combatting the opioid epidemic. Kelly, who is completing her PGY2 residency at Monroe Clinic, talked about the development and the successes of a pharmacist-led heart failure ambulatory care clinic practice at the Monroe Clinic. Jason, a leader in oncology pharmacy, provided an update about new advances in chemotherapy and the significant role pharmacists play in selecting and managing therapy for patients. I was particularly inspired by the innovativeness, accomplishments and leadership demonstrated by each of the speakers. Both the Milwaukee and Madison Innovators alumni events demonstrated that our Pharmacy Badger community is strong!

The last event I want to highlight was a pickleball tournament hosted by the PAA in late May. This is a new event to raise funds for PAA scholarships which I think has a lot of potential to bring our community together to connect, fund raise, and engage in a very fun activity. Five teams played in the tournament, no one was injured, and the team of Greg Higby (MS ’80, PhD ’84) and Ryan Simonet (PharmD ’19) took the title. When you see either of them, please check to see if they are wearing the pair of very cool Pharmacy Badger socks they won as champs — congrats, Greg and Ryan!

Thank you to all of you who attended our alumni events this past winter and spring. Also, please look for emails from our advancement team about upcoming events this summer and fall.  

Passing the torch

It’s hard to believe this is my final column, the last Dave’s Corner, as I am stepping down as Advancement Dean at the School of Pharmacy at the end of June. When Dean Swanson approached me in the fall of 2018 to be the advancement dean, I jumped at the opportunity. He trusted me to do the job, and I want to thank him for giving me this opportunity. Over almost seven years, we have built a strong advancement team, improved our connections with our alumni, and strengthened our fundraising efforts and stewardship. The decision to step down is mine alone, as I want to spend more time in teaching, program development, and my research.

I suggested to Dean Swanson that Associate Professor Ed Portillo (PharmD ’14) succeed me as advancement dean, and Dean Swanson agreed. Ed is an accomplished teacher, researcher, and leader. Most importantly, Ed is a School of Pharmacy alumnus and has a true passion for the school and for connecting with our alumni and friends. I am 100% confident Ed will do a fantastic job as the advancement dean and will improve and expand upon what our team has developed thus far.

Being a graduate of the School of Pharmacy and serving as advancement dean for the past seven years has reinforced three things for me:

First, I am associated with a truly great School of Pharmacy. I am so proud to be affiliated with the students, alumni, staff, and faculty at the School of Pharmacy.

Second, I am part of an amazing alumni community! We are supportive people who are doing innovative and impactful things; have tremendous affinity for the School of Pharmacy; are willing to give our time, talent, and treasure to the School of Pharmacy; and are a lot of fun! We are the legacy of the School of Pharmacy and are a vital part of why the School is so successful!

Third, I work with truly amazing people and I appreciate all of them very much. In particular, I want to recognize and thank Alissa Karnaky, Julie Jensen, Katie Gerhards, and Alyson Kim. Alissa and Julie are true professionals who are knowledgeable, creative, fun to work with, and from whom I have learned so much. I appreciate everything you do for the School of Pharmacy. Katie and Alyson are in our communications area and create our school’s digital quarterly alumni magazine DiscoveRx. I appreciate our meetings to develop ideas for the publication and I appreciate Katie and the other writers who communicate what our alumni are doing and what is happening at the School of Pharmacy, all in an effort to keep our Pharmacy Badger community aware of happenings and opportunities. Thank you all!

I look forward to seeing you at future alumni events and receptions. If you have never come to an alumni event or haven’t been to an event lately, I encourage you to do so. Our Pharmacy Badger community is incredibly inspiring, warm, supportive and fun! If you do come to an event, please find me and tell me what you are doing. I love learning about my fellow Pharmacy Badgers.

On, Wisconsin!

Dave Mott (BS ‘88, MS ‘92, PhD ’95)
Associate Dean for Advancement