Published on June 17, 2026 by Alison Ingle  
female professor podium benner inauguration ashp

Kim Benner, PharmD ’96, professor of pharmacy practice at Samford University's McWhorter School of Pharmacy, was inaugurated as president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) during the Pharmacy Futures meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.  Faculty members, alumni and student pharmacists from McWhorter attended the meeting to support Benner and celebrate this significant professional achievement. 

As the nation's largest association of pharmacy professionals, ASHP represents more than 60,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across all patient care settings. 

"I am honored to represent health-system pharmacists across the country," Benner said. "ASHP has played a significant role in my professional growth through its education, advocacy and networking opportunities. I look forward to serving the profession in this new capacity." 

 For nearly three decades, Benner has educated and mentored student pharmacists at Samford while serving as a pediatric clinical specialist at Children's of Alabama. During more than 20 years of service to ASHP, she has held numerous leadership positions, including service on the ASHP Board of Directors, section advisory groups and ASHP Foundation committees. She is a past chair of the Committee on Nominations, Council on Therapeutics and Section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists. She has also served as a clinical skills competition coordinator and judge, curriculum vitae reviewer and mentor in the ASHP Guided Mentorship Program. In addition, she represented Alabama in the ASHP House of Delegates and served as president and council director of the Alabama Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 

"Kim's inauguration is a proud moment for McWhorter School of Pharmacy," said interim dean Mike Kendrach. "Her leadership and commitment to the profession continue to make a lasting impact on our students, our school and pharmacy practice nationwide." 

Earlier this year, McWhorter School of Pharmacy established the Kim W. Benner Endowed Scholarship to support student pharmacists involved in ASHP.  

 
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.