MCW Pharmacy Student Wins National Professional Development Project Award
The MCW School of Pharmacy is one of 17 programs nationwide to receive the Outstanding Professional Development Award from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
MCW's ASHP student chapter developed a residency preparation program, an initiative designed to support pharmacy students in navigating the residency application process. The program delivers comprehensive training in key areas, including:
- developing effective CVs and cover letters
- strategies for securing strong letters of recommendation
- guidance on the residency match process, including timelines and best practices for success
This initiative was established to address critical gaps in residency application preparedness and to promote student success.
The 2024-2025 president of MCW’s ASHP student chapter, Maura Keenan, led the project, compiling professional development resources and creating an organized timeline that listed progress checkpoints leading up to residency application and interview season in January and February.
“I did lots of research about recommendations ASHP provided during my second year of pharmacy school. Then, in my third year, I was able to make improvements to the timeline based on what was helpful when I was going through the residency application process myself,” explained Keenan.
Keenan, a 2026 PharmD candidate, was a point person to answer questions her peers had about the application and interview process. She held meetings to check in and support her classmates throughout the process and ensured those were recorded and made available online for anyone who could not attend.
After casting a wide net, applying to 11 different residency programs, Keenan found out in March 2026 that she matched at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin’s PGY1 in ambulatory care. She became interested in becoming an ambulatory care pharmacist after interacting with them in her previous job as a clinical research coordinator at the MCW Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office.
“I saw an area of pharmacy that I didn’t know existed with direct, patient-facing encounters. What drew me to pharmacy, and what continues to interest me, is being able to share the skill set you have and help patients be their own advocates in their healthcare,” said Keenan.
Keenan presented the residency preparation program outcomes at ASHP’s Midyear Clinical Meeting, with the goal of providing valuable insights to other institutions seeking to strengthen their residency preparation efforts.
“When Maura was the ASHP president, I was impressed with her devotion to help her fellow classmates be successful in landing the residencies. She sets a high standard for the classes that follow, but is very open to guide and mentor whoever wants a little more help,” said Rachel Kavanaugh, PharmD, BCACP, associate professor and director of professional labs – year 2.
Being recognized at the national level, Keenan said, was a pleasant surprise.
“Before MCW, I didn’t necessarily see myself as one of those strong, outgoing leaders,” recalled Keenan. “But the different opportunities I’ve taken on at MCW, like serving as ASHP student chapter president, allowed me expand my leadership skills and motivated me to possibly want to serve in a leadership role in the future and continue to expand opportunities for students and practitioners.”
In the spring of 2025, Keenan was one of 12 students nationwide to receive the ASHP Student Leadership Award. It celebrates the contributions of students “who represent the very best attributes and accomplishments of ASHP student members.”