Published on October 29, 2025 by Alison Ingle  
dean distinguished lecture 2025

Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy held its annual Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series on Friday, Oct. 17, in Reid Chapel.

The series brings national thought leaders to campus to discuss contemporary issues in pharmacy and health care. Pharmacy students, faculty and staff attended this year’s event featuring Jeff Bates, PharmD, dean of Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy.

Bates shared lessons from Barnabas, encouraging students to reflect on the power of encouragement, humility and faithfulness in their personal and professional lives. The Bible portrays Barnabas as a “son of encouragement,” known for his generosity, faith and support of others. Bates emphasized that his example offers a model for pharmacists to lead with humility, strengthen those around them and remain steadfast in purpose.

The lecture reflected McWhorter School of Pharmacy’s ongoing commitment to connecting students with thought leaders who inspire innovation and excellence in patient care.

The Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series has welcomed nationally recognized leaders in pharmacy, including:

  • Pamela Schweitzer, former assistant U.S. surgeon general
  • Thomas Menighan, former executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Pharmacists Association
  • Paul Abramowitz, chief executive officer of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
  • Michael Maddux, executive director of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy
  • Kelley Smith, past president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
  • David Allen, past president of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
  • Valerie Prince, PharmD ’94, McWhorter School of Pharmacy faculty member and 168th president of the American Pharmacists Association
  • Michael Hogue, PharmD ’96, chief executive officer and executive vice president of the American Pharmacists Association

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Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second-highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.