Jeffrey Fish, PharmD, BCCCP, BCPS, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy preceptor, is among seven individuals recognized as a master preceptor by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). The distinction is bestowed for their dedication and commitment to excellence in experiential education and professional practice.

Fish obtained his BS in pharmacy in 1991 from UW-Madison and his PharmD in 1993 from the University of Minnesota. He is currently a clinical pharmacist at UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison, Wis. and has served as a preceptor for 22 years. “Precepting students has been one of the highlights of my career,” said Fish. Adding, “Continually challenging myself, so I can answer the questions they pose, makes me a better pharmacist. Being selected a Master Preceptor shows that all the years I have been teaching has made a difference with my students.”

Preceptors supervise student pharmacist-interns in a clinical setting, and play a critical role in shaping a student’s future career through teaching and mentoring. The School of Pharmacy currently has approximately 1300 preceptors located primarily in Wisconsin, but additional participation sites from other states and international locations.

 “Our pharmacy preceptors represent an exceptionally dedicated and talented sector of the profession. It is a privilege to annually identify the best of the best in the 2017 Master Preceptor Recognition Program (MPRP),” said Dr. Lucinda L. Maine, executive vice president and CEO of AACP. “If our aim is to truly prepare team-ready clinicians upon graduation then we need to learn from these exemplars and share their approaches to patient care and teaching with all those involved in experiential learning.”

The MPRP seeks to recognize preceptors who are not full-time employees of a pharmacy school, but who are critical in creating practice-ready pharmacists. Fish will receive an honorarium to attend additional preceptor training or a pharmacy professional meeting to continue preceptor development, a certificate of recognition, complimentary AACP membership, and national acknowledgment from AACP and other pharmacy associations.