Washington, D.C. – The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) is proud to announce the 2025 BPS Awards recipients. The recipients will formally accept their award at a venue of their choosing in 2025.
- The 2025 Rising Star Award: Lauren Pamulapati, PharmD, BCACP
- The 2025 Weaver/Penna Award: Charles Edwin “Ed” Webb, BPharm, PharmD, MPH, FCCP
- The 2025 Beacon Award: Mayo Clinic
“Following the successful launch of the Rising Star Award and the Beacon Award in 2024, these honors—alongside the longstanding Warren E. Weaver/Richard P. Penna Award—celebrate individuals and organizations who distinguish themselves in our profession. Collectively, they showcase a commitment to board certification, exemplary patient care, and the enhancement of pharmacy practice,” said Gary C. Yee, PharmD, FCCP, FAPhA, BPS Board of Directors Chair.
The Rising Star Award celebrates emerging leaders in the profession of pharmacy, recognizing significant early-career achievements in BPS Board Certification. The Warren E. Weaver/Richard P. Penna Award honors pharmacists who have made exceptional voluntary contributions to advancing board certification. The Beacon Award highlights patient care organizations that demonstrate outstanding support for BPS Board Certification, raising the bar for pharmacy practice and patient care.
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties extends heartfelt congratulations to the deserving recipients of the 2025 awards. To learn more about the awards, visit this page.
2025 Rising Star Award Recipient: Lauren Pamulapati, PharmD, BCACP
Dr. Lauren Pamulapati is an Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy and a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Ambulatory Care at the Hayes E. Willis Health Center. Since earning her board certification in Ambulatory Care Pharmacy in 2018, she has been involved with the BPS as a subject matter expert and now in her second term as Chair of the Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Specialty Council.
A dedicated mentor and educator, Dr. Pamulapati has pioneered several impactful resources for her students, such as detailed guides and resident-student mentor matches for the Fellowship and Residency Advising Program and creation of a post-graduate practice preparatory elective. Under her guidance, VCU achieved a 100% match rate for residency applicants, highlighting her ability to prepare students for competitive programs and instill a commitment to excellence in clinical practice. “Dr. Pamulapati is a passionate advocate for BPS and a tremendous resource for her colleagues here at VCU and beyond,” shares nominator, Dr. Dave Dixon, Chair of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science and Professor at VCU.
Dr. Pamulapati’s BPS Seed Grant-funded research explored job satisfaction factors among board-certified pharmacists, providing valuable insights to help employers better attract and retain highly trained professionals. Her commitment to professional growth extends to her clinical practice, where she developed Prospective Care Plans to ensure continuous, high-quality patient care, demonstrating the full impact a dedicated, board-certified pharmacist can make.
2025 Weaver/Penna Award Recipient: Charles Edwin “Ed” Webb, BPharm, PharmD, MPH, FCCP
Dr. C. Edwin “Ed” Webb is a distinguished leader in pharmacy, known for his influential role in advancing board certification and setting standards for clinical pharmacy practice. With over 30 years of policy and advocacy experience, Dr. Webb has significantly influenced the recognition and development of clinical specialties in pharmacy practice.
Dr. Webb’s involvement with BPS began at the American Pharmacists Association, where he supported early recognition of pharmacotherapy and nutrition support as specialties. His most impactful work, however, came during his tenure at the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) as Director of Government and Professional Affairs and later as Associate Executive Director. “Ed, working in concert with ACCP Executive Director Mike Maddox, was a principal force behind ACCP’s policies and position statements on the importance of BPS board certification (or eligibility) in defining a clinical pharmacist,” shares nominator, Dr. Curtis Haas, ACCP Past President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at University of Rochester Medical Center.
Dr. Webb’s expertise was crucial in advancing six petitions for specialty recognition, including ambulatory care and critical care. “It would be very hard to find anyone outside of BPS itself who has been involved with the development of this number of specialties,” observes nominator, Dr. John Murphy, ACCP and ASHP Past President and Professor Emeritus at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona.
A strong advocate for Comprehensive Medication Management and interprofessional practice, Dr. Webb has championed specialized pharmacy care within team-based models through his work with the Get the Medications Right Institute and the National Academy of Medicine, enhancing patient outcomes and advancing the profession.
2025 Beacon Award Recipient: Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic Department of Pharmacy sets a national standard in pharmacy practice, education, and research, with a deep commitment to board certification. Employing over 600 pharmacists, including more than 250 board-certified specialists, Mayo Clinic exemplifies how integrated and specialized pharmacy services enhance patient care. “By fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development, they have empowered their pharmacists to achieve and maintain BPS Board Certification, ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care,” says nominator, Dr. Rob Wermers, MD, Chair of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
This commitment to board certification supports interprofessional collaboration across Mayo Clinic’s health system. Through programs like the Career Investment Program, which reimburses certification exam fees for successful candidates, Mayo Clinic prioritizes professional growth and excellence. “This emphasis on board certification has enabled our practice in Eau Claire to integrate pharmacy services into our growing hospital service, fully embracing the interprofessional team approach,” adds nominator, Dr. Jason Beckermann, MD, Mayo Clinic Regional Chair of Education.
As a leader in healthcare innovation, Mayo Clinic’s Department of Pharmacy continually sets benchmarks for other health systems nationwide. With robust support for pharmacists in clinical practice, education, and research, Mayo Clinic’s Department of Pharmacy embodies the mission to put patients first, advancing pharmacy care and strengthening the profession through a strong interprofessional foundation.
BPS Award recipients will receive a plaque from BPS during a ceremony held at a meeting or venue deemed appropriate by the BPS Board of Directors and the award recipient. The plaque will include the BPS logo and will be inscribed with the recipient’s name. In addition, the BPS office will display a perpetual plaque recognizing all award recipients.
About the Board of Pharmacy Specialties
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) was established in 1976 as an autonomous division of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). The mission of BPS is to improve patient care by positioning BPS Board-Certified Pharmacist Specialists as integral members of interprofessional healthcare teams, through recognition and promotion of specialized training, knowledge, and skills for pharmacists in the United States and internationally. Board certification is a recognized credential for determining which pharmacists are qualified to contribute at advanced practice levels given the rigorous standards mandated by BPS board certification and recertification. BPS currently recognizes more than 62,250 active pharmacist certifications across 15 specialties.
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