Published on May 19, 2026 by Alison Ingle  
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A new endowed scholarship in Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy, established in honor of Kim W. Benner, PharmD ’96, will support students who are actively involved in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Benner serves as professor of pharmacy practice at Samford and as a pediatric clinical specialist at Children’s of Alabama. For more than 25 years, she has poured into Samford student pharmacists as a teacher and mentor while maintaining an active pediatric clinical practice that brings real-world perspective and purpose to her instruction.

At Samford, Benner teaches across all four years of the pharmacy curriculum and helps direct the summer Bulldog Pharmacy Camp, introducing prospective students to the field. Her research focuses on pediatrics, particularly cystic fibrosis and pulmonary medicine, as well as pharmacy education. As an extension of her professional work, she has also led pharmacy mission trips for Samford students to Peru, Ecuador, Italy and beyond, broadening their clinical and service experiences globally.

After more than 20 years of service to ASHP, Benner was elected president and will be installed in June 2026. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to advancing pharmacy practice and the profession at a national level.

Known for her warmth, integrity and genuine care for others, Benner is widely respected within both the pharmacy profession and the Samford community, making a lasting impact on students, colleagues and patients.

The Kim W. Benner Endowed Scholarship was established through institutional support recognizing Benner’s national leadership service with ASHP, as well as additional gifts from Benner and her husband, Jamie Trimble. Students will be selected by the dean in collaboration with Samford’s Division of Enrollment Management, with preference given to those actively involved in the school’s ASHP student chapter, the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The scholarship remains open for additional support from alumni, colleagues and friends who wish to honor Benner’s lasting impact on pharmacy education and patient care.

GIVE: Donate to the Kim W. Benner Endowed Scholarship Fund

 
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. Ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s 35 Most Beautiful College Campuses, Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.