Step counters are such a popular “wearable technology.” And there are so many step-counting products, from the fancy step-counting watch that also tracks your heart rate and stores your music to the no-thrills basic step counter. Many of us Pharmacy Badgers track our steps every day.
Still, the week of May 4th, all I could count were steps… 10 steps… 12 steps… 9 steps… The step count itself was not huge, but these were not normal steps. These steps were transformative. And with each step, I witnessed dreams come true, barriers overcome, and a future of endless opportunity unfolding. This is the experience that we Pharmacy Badgers only witness at a graduation ceremony, here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy. I was at graduation this May, watching our students, one by one, step by step, cross the graduation stage. With each step, our students came closer to becoming one of our over 9,000 esteemed Pharmacy Badger alumni making a difference in the world.
I love living through the successes of our students at graduation, sharing in their joy, and reflecting with them on their accomplishments. I also think back to how I felt when I was in their shoes taking steps across the graduation stage in 2014. Graduation is a unique time in our lives where the exciting unexplored journey ahead awaits. At the same time, we reflect deeply on our schooling, and what it means for our most formative years of training to end. We, like our graduates this May, all cross the graduation stage armed with immense skills and talents, experiences, life-long men–tors, and friends. We meet a world that in the decades to come is made all the better from our innovations as clinicians, scientists, and leaders.
The guidance that our newest alumni received this May was incredible and got me reflecting a great deal on just how extraordinary the opportunity ahead is for us as pharmacy badgers. As an alumnus myself, I found the guidance that our graduates received just as meaningful today 12 years after I walked the stage.
BADGERS! An acronym to remember
Steve Rough (BS ’91, MS ‘94), a double-badger alumnus and chairman at Visante, served as the PharmD alumnus commencement speaker at the 2026 PharmD Hooding Ceremony. Steve’s most meaningful title, however, is without a doubt “Dad.” Steve’s daughter, Taylor, walked the stage with her PharmD from UW–Madison this May. Steve’s message to our graduates, including to Taylor, was truly inspiring and can be viewed on the School’s YouTube. A warning to you — my summary below does not do Steve’s speech near the justice it deserves (you will have to watch his full keynote speech!), but I could not resist including the BADGERS acronym.
- B – Belonging: Success is built through meaningful relationships—actively connect, seek mentorship, and engage with others because you already belong. Show up, introduce yourself, and get involved so you can build your pharmacy community and support system.
- A – Attitude: A positive, solution-focused mindset—especially in adversity—fuels resilience, inspires others, and shapes your success. Choose optimism every day and bring energy that focuses on possibilities rather than obstacles.
- D – Daring Greatly: Growth and impact come from stepping outside your comfort zone, taking meaningful risks, and embracing challenges with courage. Step into opportunities that stretch you, even when they feel uncomfortable, and take action.
- G – Grit: Long-term passion and perseverance—not just talent—determine success, especially when facing setbacks and adversity. Stay committed, push through difficulties, and refuse to quit when progress gets hard.
- E – Effort: Consistent hard work and initiative multiply your abilities into real results, setting you apart and opening opportunities. Work hard and consistently go above and beyond with focus and discipline.
- R – Relationships: Strong, trust-based connections built on respect, listening, and genuine care are essential for long-term personal and professional success. Invest in others by listening, showing kindness, and building trust in every interaction.
- S – Serving Others: True fulfillment comes from contributing beyond yourself—giving your time, energy, and compassion to positively impact others. Look for ways to serve, give, and uplift others so you can make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Reflecting on Steve’s message, we truly are all BADGERS! Reem Salah (PharmD ’26) and Carsyn Snagg (MS ’26) drove home the BADGERS acronym by describing the incredible growth and strong connections their class has formed. Audrey Tharp (MS ’26) reflected on the importance of carrying their field forward with curiosity, collaboration, and compassion. Sura AlMahasis (PhD ’26) described the opportunity for her class to inform practice, shape policy, and turn knowledge into real change by understanding the needs of communities.
Samantha Tabone Rector (MS ’23) continued to exemplify the BADGER spirit as the Class of 2026 MS/PhD Hooding Ceremony commencement speaker. Samantha graduated from the UW–Madison Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation MS Program in 2023 and has since been involved in more than 30 investment deals spanning psychedelic drug discovery, neurotechnology, AI-enabled drug discovery, and more. Samantha challenged the Class of 2026 to be brave, resilient, and work hard to solve problems that matter. You can see more of Samantha’s outstanding keynote speech on YouTube.
Graduation season is a key time of transition and self-reflection for us all regardless of when we walk across the graduation stage on campus. Our third-year PharmD students, with one more year until their graduation in 2027, are now on their first-ever Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience rotation. This past May, these students received a UW–Madison School of Pharmacy pin at their Pinning Ceremony to recognize this transition to now serving patients full-time during clerkship rotations. Grayson Cooley (PharmD ’24), our alumni keynote at their pinning ceremony, told students, “Today’s pin on your coat is not a period. It’s a comma — a pause between who you’ve been and who you are becoming. So take a breath, look around at the people beside you, and then go out there and turn on as many lights as you can.”
As Grayson stated so well, whether we are stepping into a new professional role, taking on a new project, providing mentorship, or starting a new hobby, we are always moving forward and tracking our steps along the way. Like our newest graduates, we are all continually crossing stages of our own, guided by our Belonging as alumni, can-do Attitude, desire to Dare greatly. We put forward the Grit and Effort to make a difference for our patients, and we leverage our close connections and Relationships to collaborate and problem-solve. These qualities, and our sense of Service to the public, are some of the many attributes that make us all BADGERS! Each step we take has the power to shape the future of our profession and the communities we serve.
Thank you for making our network of alumni stronger than ever. Thank you for helping our graduates cross the stage ready to change the world for the better. Thank you for being a BADGER!
Ed Portillo (PharmD ’14)
Associate Dean for Advancement
Associate Professor