To me, one of the most telltale signs that December has arrived are the bitterly cold winds off of Lake Mendota during a morning’s walk to Rennebohm Hall. They are so unforgiving, yet such a ritual expectation each season. But lately, the thoughts evoked as I quickly rush to the door are not those of the ice, snow, and frigid temperatures of winter in Wisconsin. Rather, I’ve been thinking about a summertime sight: fireworks.
When I watch fireworks, my kids and I get excited. We love watching the red, white, and blue colors jump across the sky, hearing the loud “boom,” and spending time together. Fireworks to me are synonymous with celebration, community, and connection.
Spending time together at our events brings me the same feeling of celebration, community, and connection as I experience at the very best fireworks show. Our incredible Pharmacy Badger community, and our connection as School of Pharmacy alumni, is front of mind as I reflect on 2025. Nothing beats having the opportunity at our alumni events to celebrate together, learn from your successes, and share (hilarious) stories from when we were students. If you don’t believe me, just ask a member of the Class of 1975 about paper airplanes, and get ready for a great story!
And so, as the year 2025 ends and we look toward new opportunities in 2026, I want to say thank you. Thank you for making 2025 a meaningful year defined by joy, excitement, and collaboration as a Badger community. Thank you for making an impact on our students’ success through your mentorship. The difference we Badgers make on the lives of our students cannot be overstated.
There are three key themes that I am thinking of when reflecting on 2025, and they are (1) the spark, (2) the essential ingredients, and (3) the dazzling spectacle.
The spark
I had the opportunity to meet five pharmacy badgers this fall whose impact on patients cannot be overstated. Jeff (BS ’76) and Patti Langer (BS ’78), John Hill, Eugene McNally (MS, PhD ’89), and Harry Sharata (MS ’85, PhD ‘86) received the school’s highest honor, the Citation of Merit.
When I spoke with each recipient, the topic of mentorship was front and center. Each recipient described the impact that mentors at our school have had, and continue to have, on their lives. Mentors were mentioned by name, and many, including Dean Emeritus George Zografi and Professor Ron Burnette, were present at the ceremony to support their mentees. I could see that a spark lit years ago during each recipient’s schooling led to remarkable achievements throughout a career.
Then, one day later, I was at the White Coat Ceremony for our newest Doctor of Pharmacy students. These students were beginning their fourth week of classes in their pharmacy training. As students were coated and we all cheered, I began to wonder, decades into the future, what these students would describe as their “spark.” What preceptors and mentors will lead them to achieve great things? What experience will lead them to improve the lives of patients in new, innovative ways? The next four years for these students are critical, formative years. I am grateful that we, as alumni, can mentor them on their journey. After hearing Mike Raschka, our 2025 Young Alumnus of the Year, speak at the ceremony, I have no doubt our students are in great hands!
The essential ingredients
I know very little about fireworks, but I have learned that there are four main ingredients that make the magic happen. These ingredients are (1) fuel, the material that burns, (2) an oxidizer that keeps the fuel burning, (3) a colorant that makes the pretty red, white, and blues we see in the sky, and (4) a binder that holds everything together. When these ingredients come together, then we have a fireworks show to remember.
I discussed these ingredients with students at our Scholarship Brunch this Fall.
The scholarship brunch celebrates the successes of our student scholarship recipients, and what I call the “firework effect.” I asked students the following questions to reflect on at the brunch:
- Who in your life fuels you to achieve?
- Who are your oxidizers, those that keep your fuel burning during a long week of exams?
- Who are your colorants, those that help you see and process what you are experiencing?
- Who are your binders, the people who help you stay strong and hold everything together?
After all, we can’t do it alone, right? I know for certain that I can’t. I reflect on these same four questions, and the answer for me is community. I think of my family. I think of our badger community of alumni and friends. I think of our students, who inspire me every day by their relentless curiosity, purposeful action, empathy, achievements, and humility.
Thanks to the generosity of our Badger community, a total of 123 students received scholarship support this year from donors. These scholarships literally open doors for our students that will impact the rest of their careers. By significantly reducing financial barriers, these scholarships allow students to fulfill their aspirations of becoming Badgers at the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy.
The dazzling spectacle
Since our school’s doors opened in 1883, the spectacular fireworks have just gotten bigger, better, and more exciting. After all, we now have 8,500+ living alumni from our school innovating as clinicians, leaders, researchers, and beyond. We, as alumni, all continue to harness and grow our spark. We work to gather our essential ingredients to make an impact. And the outcome of our work on patient health and well-being is remarkable.
Our Innovators Events prove it. This year at our Madison Innovators Event, we heard from Jason Bergsbaken (PharmD ’12), Kelly Thomas (BS ’20, PharmD ’23), and School of Pharmacy Associate Professor Jay Ford. Each took the stage to share how they’re leading change in their communities, from combating opioid overdoses to transforming heart failure care and advancing cutting-edge cancer therapies.
At our Milwaukee Innovators Event, we heard from Dean Bowen (BS ’16, PharmD ’20), Jessica (PharmD ’06) and Jesse (PharmD ’06) Schaetzel, and Jason Jenders (PharmD ’10). Each shared their innovations, from harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, to leveraging healthcare data within interactive dashboards, to better serving vulnerable populations.
The deep impact made by these individuals, combined with the widespread effect of our entire community of over 8,500+, is a humbling reminder of our influence on the lives of others. If one thing is clear, we have one heck of a fireworks display, and our impact keeps growing.
Happy holidays
As we move into 2026, I want to again say thank you. The holiday season provides so many opportunities to reflect, and I am thankful to have spent time together over the past year. At our Alumni and Friends Tailgate this year, over 170 of us gathered. We celebrated being together. We honored the Class of 1975 at their 50th class reunion. We shared stories. We had fun. We celebrated with our community. That’s what it’s all about.
It may not be the 4th of July yet, but our nation’s 250th birthday will be here before we know it. The shared legacy we inherit from our school’s 142-year history is nothing short of exceptional. I hope to see you in the new year at one of our virtual or in-person events. Let’s keep the fireworks flying in 2026!
Happy Holidays, and On Wisconsin!
Ed Portillo (PharmD ’14)
Associate Dean for Advancement
Associate Professor