2026 Research & Scholarship Forum Showcases the Expanding Role of Pharmacists in Interprofessional Research
The MCW School of Pharmacy’s 2026 Research & Scholarship Forum exhibited the work of students, residents, fellows, preceptors, faculty and affiliated partners. The poster showcase featured the findings of 59 projects, which aimed to improve patient care and medication outcomes.
“This year’s forum highlights the interdisciplinary scope of research in which pharmacists play a vital role – from collaborating with bench scientists to evaluate the impact of albumin on salicylate toxicity, to partnering with clinical teams to identify patient-level risk factors for inpatient opioid toxicity,” said Kristin Busse, PharmD, BCPS, RAC-Drugs, research committee chair, assistant professor in the MCW School of Pharmacy and research oversight program director in the Office of Research. “Collectively, these projects underscore the diverse and meaningful contributions pharmacists make across a wide range of research and practice settings.”
The MCW School of Pharmacy's Research & Scholarship Forum is the largest gathering in southeastern Wisconsin for pharmacy students and residents.
"This signature program continues to showcase our collective impact on the region, highlighting pharmacy's contributions to research, education and training the next generation," said founding dean George E. MacKinnon III, PhD, DMSc (Hon.), MS, RPh.
Of the 59 projects on display, 27 included student collaborators, 30 included resident collaborators, and two were presented by faculty. The research involves partnerships across the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, including Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center.
The Research Forum Committee awarded two 2027 PharmD candidates honorable mentions: Cheyenne Michelsen and Zinzi Sitshebo. They selected three award winners for platform presentations, based on quality of the study design, novelty and significance or innovation of the project, clarity of the project goal, and conclusions drawn.
For Best Student Project, Kori Kruegel, 2027 PharmD candidate, presented the project “Investigating Tolerance and Withdrawal Mechanisms of Antipsychotics and Antidepressants at the 5-HT2A Receptor.” Her mentor and co-author for the project was John D. McCorvy, PhD, associate professor in the MCW Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy.
“The takeaway from my presentation is that even if drugs are in the same class and look similar chemically, they all work differently. That’s especially important in the brain, where small differences in receptor signaling can lead to vastly different downstream effects,” Krugel explained. “Understanding receptor activity and appreciating those nuances is what’s going to help us design better medications and, ultimately, improve patient care.”
For Best Resident Project, lead author Kathleen Soter, PharmD, resident pharmacist at Froedtert Hospital presented the project “Multivariable Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Naloxone Administration for Opioid Reversal in Hospitalized Patients.” Her mentor and co-author was William Peppard, PharmD, BCPS, FCCM, pain stewardship coordinator and chair of pharmacy research at Froedtert Hospital and associate professor in the MCW Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.
"I hope attendees learn from my presentation that opioid toxicity following facility administered opioids is something that needs further investigation, as there is not robust data out there to help guide practice,” said Dr. Soter. “It is also important to recognize the extent to which opioids are administered in the inpatient setting and how we can make strides towards proactively adjusting prescribing practices and keeping patients safe.”
For Best Overall Clinical Impact, Kyle Rehrauer, PharmD, resident pharmacist at Froedtert Hospital, presented the project “Adenosine versus Metoprolol versus Diltiazem for the Treatment of Supraventricular Tachycardia.” His mentor and co-author was Ryan Feldman, PharmD, BCPS, DABAT, emergency medicine pharmacist at F&MCW and clinical associate professor at the MCW School of Pharmacy.
“We found that diltiazem was associated with a better first-dose conversion rate with minimal differences in clinically relevant adverse effects compared to adenosine, challenging the rhetoric that adenosine should be the go-to drug for treating supraventricular tachycardia,” explained Dr. Rehrauer.
The inaugural Excellence in Research Mentorship Award was presented to Kajua Lor, PharmD, BCACP, professor and founding chair of the MCW School of Pharmacy’s Department of Clinical Sciences.
“Dr. Lor has taught me how to navigate research design, think critically and apply culturally responsive approaches,” wrote Mai Vang, 2027 PharmD candidate, in her nomination statement.
The Research & Scholarship Forum is the culmination of various programs:
- student pharmacists completing an academic concentration in research, population health, specialized pharmacy practice or entrepreneurship & leadership
- student pharmacists completing a Longitudinal Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (LAPPE)
- resident pharmacists completing the Research Certificate Program, which is organized by the MCW School of Pharmacy in collaboration with the Froedtert & MCW Pharmacy Department
The event also included an End of Year Celebration, where the School of Pharmacy expressed gratitude for the contributions to the Doctor of Pharmacy program by faculty, staff, preceptors and guest instructors.
Outstanding Guest Instructors
Didactic
- Kathleen Koth, DO, DFAACAP: Children’s Wisconsin, MCW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
- Kelly Gagnon, PhD: MCW Center for Community Health and Intervention Research
- Katinka Hooyer, PhD, MS: MCW Family and Community Medicine, Qualitative Research Consulting Service
- Allison Gibble, PharmD, BCIDP: Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
Patient Care Lab
- Matthew Busalacchi, PharmD: Advocate Aurora Health
- Sara Hubbard, PharmD: Froedtert Hospital