We are pleased to announce that Ashley Daffron, Pharm.D., has rejoined Chapman University as an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice. Daffron, who served as an Assistant Professor and founding faculty member at CUSP from 2017 to 2018, brings additional years of experience from her time at the University of Colorado. After departing Chapman in 2018,
After nearly 35 years of service in academia, Mary Gutierrez will retire in December 2025, concluding a career marked by expertise and a commitment to advancing pharmacy. A nationally recognized authority in psychiatric pharmacy, Gutierrez has long been board-certified by the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties and has contributed to the evolving practices of mental health
Kathleen Hill Besinque, Chapman University School of Pharmacy Professor, has been awarded the 2025 Pharmacist of the Year Award by the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists. This award honors one professional per year in California and is the highest honor given by CSHP. Before joining Chapman University, Hill Besinque had already mentored thousands of pharmacists
At Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, one of California’s largest safety-net hospitals, patients navigate medical complexities while also facing difficult realities like unstable housing, limited income, low health literacy, and living with chronic conditions that often go untreated for years. These challenges ask healthcare providers to think creatively and compassionately about how to provide specialized care, including
Three CUSP PharmD candidates attended the 2025 Pacific Coast Patient Safety Conference, where they heard from national leaders and advocates in shaping the future of safety in healthcare delivery and policy to combat preventable harm. Jasmine Cho ’25, Bonnie Chen ’26, and Camille Olegario ’26 , synthesized their takeaways in a presentation to faculty and
Chapman University hosted the fourth annual Southern California Pharmacy Mixer, a student-driven initiative of regional collaboration for dozens of professional organizations, companies, and pharmacy schools together to connect. This year’s event was a collaborative effort led by PharmD candidates across pharmacy schools and saw nearly double attendance compared to the 2024 mixer. The theme, “Beyond the
At CUSP, PharmD students gain hands-on experiences by participating in Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) rotations off campus. These rotations are designed to balance future pharmacist’s learning opportunities with didactic and experiential learning. Laying Foundations IPPEs provide students with practical experience in community, independent, and hospital pharmacy settings during
Tinarena Awaradia, a PharmD candidate (C’o 2025), was honored with a CA AMCP Scholarship to attend the 2024 Nexus conference in Las Vegas. This scholarship recognized her dedication and potential in the field of managed care pharmacy, which is a reflection of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s (AMCP) aim to strengthen managed care pharmacy
During the School of Pharmacy’s White Coat Ceremony, Chapman University honored Dr. Wafa Samara with the Gavin Herbert Award. The award is presented annually to an individual that has greatly impacted both CUSP and the pharmaceutical industry through leadership, professionalism, and compassion- The foundational pillars of CUSP. As the keynote speaker, Dr. Samara encouraged incoming
