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 Spring 2026 issue.
- Submit your class note for the Fall 2026 issue.
Awards and Accomplishments
Rachel Schomberg (PharmD ’11) is being honored by the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin with the 2026 Bowl of Hygeia Award.
Cathy Ackeret (PharmD ’03) is being honored by the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin with the 2026 Curtis S. Johnson Award.
Rocky LaDien (BS ’77): is being honored by the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin with the 2026 Distinguished Service Award.
New Jobs/Positions
Grace Klubertanz (PharmD ’26) started a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Ill.
Heather Marz (PharmD ’26) started a PGY-1 Ambulatory Care Residency at the William S. Middleton VA in Madison, Wis.
Amber Schinneller (PharmD ’26) started a PGY-1 Acute Care Residency at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wis.
Laura Meyer (PharmD ’26) started a general PGY-1 residency at Bozeman Health in Bozeman, Mont.
Lily Brabazon (PharmD ’26) started a PGY-1 Acute Care Residency at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wis.
Tiffany Parham (PharmD ’26) started a PGY1 Acute Care Residency at the University of Louisville.
Allison Hofacker (PharmD ’26) started a role as a pharmacist at Neenah Hometown Pharmacy.
Quinlan Chesak (PharmD ’26) started a Global Medical Writing Fellowship at BeOne Medicines.
Anthony Rende (PharmD ’26) started a combined PGY1/PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (HSPAL) Residency with a master’s degree at UW Health.
Samantha Dawiedczyk (PharmD ’26) started a role as a pharmacist at Group Health Cooperative.
Lauren Dempsey (BS ’26) will begin the PharmD program at UW–Madison in the fall.
Jessa Mielke (PharmD ’26) started a PGY-1 residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Emma Hoedel (PharmD ’26) started a PGY1 Acute Care Residency at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Sophia Castillo (PharmD ’26) started a Novartis/Rutgers US Market Access Fellowship.
Dylan Erdelt (PharmD ’26) started a PGY1 residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Emily Phillips (PharmD ’26) started a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Kali Ramirez (PharmD ’26) started a PGY-1 acute care residency at UnityPoint Health-Meriter.
Anna Riemer (PharmD ’26) started a PGY1 Community-Based Specialty Pharmacy Residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Casey Coldren (PharmD ’26) started a PGY1 Acute Care Residency at University of Michigan Health.
Ellie Maday (PharmD ’26) started a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Froedtert Hospital.
Jacob Whitbeck (PharmD ’26) started a PGY1/2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency at The University of Kansas Health System.
Joey Jimenez (PharmD ’26) started a PGY-1 Specialty Pharmacy Residency at the Cleveland Clinic.
Jiayi Ke (BS ’26) will start a PhD program at UC Irvine.
Jordan Kennedy (PharmD ’13) started a new role as a clinical decision support pharmacist at Optum, focusing on clinical content management, medication alert optimization, and decision tool configuration.
Sarah Sorum (PharmD ’05) has been inducted as the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations president.
Personal Updates and Check-Ins
Ed Portillo (PharmD ’14): “My wife Emily and I are excited to welcome our daughter, Mia Olivia Portillo, into our family of future Badgers! Mia was born in March of this year. Her two brothers, Milo (5) and Micah (3) totally adore her. Emily and I are both enjoying not sleeping and spending extra time with Mia after being woken up at 2AM and beyond!”
Mark Putzi (PharmD ’10) is embarking on a joint venture with a hybrid publisher to get his novel into print by fall of 2028.
Retirements
Christina Walker-Goodwin (BS ’83): “I have retired after a long career in multiple roles and with multiple companies — Walgreens, Rush Prudential HMO, US Navy Federal Officer, Bureau of Prisons, University of Illinois Hospital Pharmacy assistant manager. Also, I received my PharmD from Midwestern University along the way. I loved my career and I’m so thankful to the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy.
I do continue to volunteer at a City of Chicago Senior Center monthly to counsel them on their medications and conditions. Also, I’m an active member of the Chicago and Illinois Pharmacists Associations.”
Lance Blanchette (BS ’80): “I retired in January 2026 after 43 years of service at Desert Regional Medical Center Pharmacy in Palm Springs, California. I live in Palm Springs with my wife and spend time between here and San Diego.”
Rocky LaDien (BS ’77): “I retired from Walgreens after 40 years in April 2026. Of those 40 years, 31 were spent as a supervisor, including being an eight-year member on the Pharmacy Examining Board from 2012-20. I’m also a very proud past Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) President (2005), UW–Madison School of Pharmacy Citation of Merit Awardee (2017), and PAA Alumnus of the Year (2018). It’s time to enjoy our four grandchildren more!”
Michael Flom (MS ’65): “I earned my MS and began a PhD program at UW, but, due to differences with my research mentor, I ended up leaving in 1965 to complete my PhD at Ohio State. I became an entrepreneur in 1985 and had been working since then. I sell to companies worldwide. I am 86 years old and in perfect health and kept working to put my youngest 32-year-old son through undergraduate and medical school. He is now an MD psychiatrist in practice.”
In Memoriam
Lawrence Lernor (BS ’79) passed away in June 2026.
Van Knutson (BS ’79) passed away in April 2026.
David Meyers (BS ’71) passed away in April 2026.
William Devine (BS ’67) passed away in April 2026.