Palmetto Experiential Education Partnership Honors Outstanding Preceptors with 2025 PEEP Awards

The Palmetto Experiential Education Partnership is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 PEEP Preceptor of the Year Awards, recognizing exceptional preceptors for their dedication and excellence in pharmacy education.

PEEP is an ongoing collaborative experiential education program between the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy and the Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy. The partnership leverages the network of preceptors from across South Carolina, providing valuable experiential learning opportunities for student pharmacists.

The program is designed to create structured environments where students can develop professional judgment, technical abilities, and practical skills essential for modern pharmacy practice. Preceptors play a crucial role in fostering critical thinking, expanding students' knowledge bases, and preparing them to deliver excellence in patient care. Experiential education comprises one-third of the pharmacy curriculum.

Jennifer Baker, director of experiential programs for the USC College of Pharmacy, added that preceptors often help students discover career paths they might never have considered.

“They bring classroom concepts to life, offering the real-world perspective that turns theory into meaningful, hands-on experience,” she notes.

Elizabeth Weed, director of experiential education at MUSC College of Pharmacy, highlights the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of healthcare that preceptors skillfully navigate while imparting their knowledge. “Our preceptors unwavering commitment guarantees that our graduates are equipped to deliver exceptional patient care in today's multifaceted healthcare environment, Weed asserts."

PEEP Preceptor of the Year Award recipients are chosen based on student nominations and criteria aligned with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) 2016 Standards. Preceptors were nominated based on their role-modeling behaviors, professional attitudes, facilitation skills, and teaching abilities across both Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) in diverse practice settings.

This year’s recipients are:

APPE Preceptor of the Year

Acute/General Medicine

Sara Lucas, Pharm.D, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center     

Sommer Farmer, Pharm.D., Aiken Regional Medical Center    

APPE Hospital/Health

Holly Lucas Mardell, Pharm.D., Veterans’ Victory House

Garett Uhlorn, Pharm.D., Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital

APPE Ambulatory Care

Stephanie E. Kirk, Pharm.D., MUSC Health – Charleston           

LJ Bean, Pharm.D., Prisma Health Family Medicine

APPE Elective

Laceye Parker, Pharm.D., CVS Health – District Leader

Christopher S. Wisniewski, Pharm.D., MUSC Health – Charleston

 

IPPE Preceptor of the Year

Community

Cheryl Lynch, RPh, Tidewater Pharmacy

Kristian Jensen, Pharm.D., Walgreens Pharmacy         

Victoria (Tori) Lown Atkins, Pharm.D., Iva Drug Store

Hospital/Health

Amy Keitt, Pharm.D., MUSC Health - Orangeburg