UC Pharmacy Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Robert J. DeSalvo Distinguished Alumni Award

Stanley Weber is a passionate forward-thinking leader who positively influenced the pharmacy discipline. After completing his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Washington State University and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Cincinnati, he began a robust career in the psychiatric pharmacy field. He started psychiatric pharmacy programs in Rhode Island and Washington State, training several residents and fellows in psychiatric practice. Prior to joining the University of Washington in 1996, he held academic appointments at the University of New Mexico, the University of Rhode Island, and Washington State University. Dr. Weber served as a member of the Psychiatry Editorial Advisory Board of The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, served on several committees of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, was a Consulting Contributor to Evaluations of Drug Interactions, and has served as an educational leader for foreign study tours. He has been an active member of several state and national organizations, made numerous national presentations, and has contributed several publications to pharmacy literature. In 1996, he was made a Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and became Board Certified as a Psychiatric Pharmacy Specialist in 1997. He is a Founding Member of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists and completed the executive cycle of the presidency of CPNP. In 2009, Dr. Weber was awarded the Judith J. Saklad Memorial Lecture Award from the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. Prior to retiring in 2019, Dr. Weber had become interested in the delivery of pharmacy education and was responsible for both curricular assessment management and experiential education for the school. 

Arthur C. Glasser Distinguished Alumni Award

Mike Espel is a dedicated leader whose robust career in underserved pharmacy care had a profound impact on others as well as his own spiritual and professional life. While in college, Mike interned at St. Francis Hospital and after licensure practiced there for a short time before joining the Cincinnati Health Department as Clinical Pharmacist and then Director of its Pharmacies. In 2006, he became founder and Director of the St. Vincent DePaul Charitable Pharmacy growing the program to great heights. Its success is measured by the ability to fill more than 600,000 prescriptions at no charge and 90% of those prescriptions coming from donated medication. Mike received recognition on a local, state, and national basis over the years. Locally by the Cincinnati Business Courier Health Care Heroes Community Outreach in 2017. Statewide by the Healthpath Community Connector award in 2017 and State CHN Pharmacist of the year in 2021. Nationally by the Health Equity Award in 2016 from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. In addition to his practice, Mike served as an Adjunct Faculty Member and Preceptor for the University of Cincinnati where he mentored hundreds of pharmacy students emphasizing the worth of all patients they encountered. He encouraged students to follow their passion because doing what you like to do will lead to the most success in all aspects. His leadership and advice helped equip the future generations of pharmacists to practice and serve with excellence.

The G.O.L.D (Graduate of The Last Decade) Distinguished Alumni Award

Tyler Vest is a hardworking leader committed to moving the pharmacy profession forward. After earning his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, Tyler went on to complete his Master of Science Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a Specialization in Health-System Pharmacy Administration at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Dr. Vest now works as the Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer of Inpatient Pharmacy Services at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. In his position, he oversees the automation, medication delivery and distribution, controlled substances, unit dose dispensing, carousels, automated dispensing cabinets, and sterile compounding for the department of Pharmacy. He is also an Associate Professor of Clinical Education at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Dr. Vest is actively involved in the profession on both the state and national levels. He is a part of the North Carolina Association of Pharmacists, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Vizient University Health-System Consortium Pharmacy Network Practice Advancement Committee. Dr. Vest is board certified in two specialty areas, Pharmacotherapy and Sterile Compounding, and has won state and national awards such as the student award for the Ohio Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the ASHP student leadership award. His current interest areas are Acute Care Operations, Leadership Development, Oncology, Practice and Pharmacy Technician Advancement, Pharmacy Practice and Distribution Models, Productivity and Monitoring, and the Medication Use Process.