The 2025 Preceptors of the Year
Preceptors play a critical role in pharmacy, serving as mentors and providing practical experience to pharmacy students.
In recognition of the invaluable work that preceptors do to facilitate the transition from classroom learning to professional practice, the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy honors individual preceptors for demonstrating excellence in teaching and serving as role models.
The awards given this 2024-2025 academic year are the Kevin and Cindy Boesen Preceptor of the Year, the Faculty Preceptor of the Year, and the Carl and Kathryn Labbe Rookie Preceptor of the Year. Nominations for the awards are submitted by current PharmD students and reviewed by the Experiential Education Team.
Preceptor of the Year
The Kevin and Cindy Boesen Preceptor of the Year is Michael Campbell, PharmD. Campbell serves as an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist at the Mayo Clinic and is also an alumnus of the Coit College of Pharmacy, and has been a preceptor for eleven years.
“Aside from the oath we take as pharmacists to impact the next generation of student pharmacists in a positive manner I find it easy to stay engaged with the profession, partnering with students and residents on rotations.”
An excerpt from Campbell’s nomination materials reads: “To know Dr. Campbell is to know his passion for not just clinical education, but in teaching resilience, wellness, and professional identity. I am incredibly grateful to have learned about both themes from him over the course of six weeks and am sure his other students feel the same.
Dr. Campbell challenged everything I knew about caring for patients in a clinic setting and gave me the opportunity to synthesize a new practice style. While I could never personally enter patient encounters without a thorough review, he taught me to genuinely listen, to let the patient lead the visit, to be an effective patient advocate, and to engage with patients in a balanced act of compassion, open-mindedness, and clinical knowledge.”
Faculty Preceptor of the Year
The Faculty Preceptor of the Year is Tho Pham, PharmD, BCIDP. Pham is the antimicrobial resistance/antimicrobial stewardship lead at the Arizona Department of Health Services and a faculty member of the Coit College of Pharmacy since 2023.
“Preceptorship and mentorship are privileges that I have deeply cherished since the beginning of my pharmacy career. Throughout my education and post-graduate training, I was blessed with exemplary mentors who guided me toward becoming a better version of myself, both professionally and personally. It is often said that behind every great person, there is a mentor, or many, who stand in the background, believe in them, and push them out of their comfort zone to grow. Taking small bits of wisdom from those who taught, trained, and guided me, I value fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of background and identity feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. I participated in the program because I want to be that mentor and coach for my mentees to believe in themselves and encourage them to be their better version of themselves.”
An excerpt from Pham’s nomination materials reads: “Dr. Pham exemplifies excellence in teaching and mentorship. She consistently goes above and beyond for her students, demonstrating a genuine interest in their growth and success not only during APPEs but also in supporting our professional development post-APPE. Dr. Pham fosters an environment of support, kindness, and compassion, ensuring her students feel both challenged and encouraged. She takes the time to understand each student’s goals and tailors her guidance to help them achieve their aspirations.”
Rookie Preceptor of the Year
The Carl and Kathryn Labbe Rookie Preceptor of the Year is Beth Stalker, PharmD. Stalker is a pharmacy operations manager at Northern Arizona Healthcare and a 2021 Coit College of Pharmacy graduate.
“Participating in the preceptor program is one of the more rewarding aspects of my career. It’s a privilege to help guide future pharmacists as they transition from the classroom to clinical practice. I believe that real-world mentorship not only strengthens their skills but also reinforces the core values of our profession—compassion, integrity, and continuous improvement.”
Giving back is important for Stalker, and now, as a preceptor, she is providing the same valuable experience for the next generation of pharmacists. She is deeply committed to fostering professional growth through hands-on learning and real-world application. An excerpt from Stalker’s nomination materials reads:
“When I was practicing at Flagstaff Medical Center, there was a patient diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, which was a rare disease that I had never heard of before. Dr. Stalker encouraged me to do a project about it and gave me opportunities to track information in the system to follow up on the patient's therapy and improvement.”
Our preceptors serve as mentors, provide practical experience to pharmacy students and ensure a strong future for the pharmacy field. Interested in becoming a preceptor? Visit our webpage to learn more about the process and connect with our Experiential Education Team.