Drake CPHS Celebrates 100 Professional Program Graduates at 2026 Commencement
Wednesday, May 27th, 2026
The Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (CPHS) held its annual Professional Hooding and Commencement Ceremony for professional program students on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The CPHS Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences undergraduate students participated in the University Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony held the following day on Sunday, May 17.
Receiving their degrees and doctoral hoods during the CPHS Hooding and Commencement Ceremony were:
- 47 Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students
- 19 Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) students
- 12 Master of Athletic Training (MAT) graduates
- 13 Master of Health Informatics and Analytics (MSHIA) graduates
- 9 Master of Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) graduates
The ceremony included reflections from five of the graduating student government representatives. Victoria Miller and Sybbie Steim (PharmD), Lauren Osborn and Ashley Tupy (OTD), and Madi Adams (MAT) congratulated their peers and wished them luck in the next chapter of their careers.
“Regardless of your grad school story, it is certain you have touched the lives of many throughout your studies, and that impact will continue,” Osborn said. “Your potential to make a difference in the lives of others with the degree you have pursued and earned today is endless.”
These students also led their classes through the Oath of a Pharmacist, the Oath of an Occupational Therapist, and the Oath of an Athletic Trainer.
Drake University Provost Sue Mattison, who will soon retire following over a decade of service, conferred the degrees. Sanela Bilic, PharmD/MBA’03, welcomed the graduates into the Drake CPHS alumni network.
“Being a great alum is not only about how much success you achieve,” Bilic said. “It is about remembering where you came from and helping those who come after you. It is as simple as mentoring students, offering encouragement, sharing your experiences, or simply showing up for this community that once showed up for you.”
Quick facts about the PharmD Class of 2026:
- 45% will be completing residencies.
- 32% had secured employment prior to graduation.
- 9% will be completing fellowships.
- They will be spread across 12 different states, including Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, North Carolina, Delaware, Missouri, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Tennessee.
- They will practice in a variety of settings, including ambulatory care, acute care, population health and practice, drug development, publications, managed care, and retail pharmacy.
Quick facts about the OTD Class of 2026:
- 42% had secured employment prior to graduation.
- 1 student will be completing a fellowship.
- Graduates will be spread across 4 different states, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Texas.
- They will pursue multiple specialties in occupational therapy, including travel OT, pediatrics, hand therapy, assisted living and dementia care, school-based OT, sports orthopedics, and outpatient OT.
Quick facts about the MAT Class of 2026:
- 33% had secured employment prior to graduation.
- Graduates will be spread across the state of Iowa as well as in Missouri, Wisconsin, and the Southern U.S. One seeks to continue their career as an athlete in Europe.
- Graduates will work as certified athletic trainers in settings such as high school athletics, collegiate athletics, surgical technology, and physical therapy.
Our Master’s students in the Health Informatics & Analytics as well as the Clinical Psychopharmacology programs are pursuing diverse careers such as orthodontic sales and healthcare data science, and one is attending law school.
Pharmacy graduate awards were announced at a P4 Life After Graduation event held a couple of days prior, including the following award recipients:
- Bella Smith – Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award
- Seth Simonson – Russell Johnson Outstanding Community Practice Graduate Award
- Madelynn Aeilts – Jerry L. Karbeling Memorial Leadership Award
