The 2026 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 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 a role model.
The awards given this 2025-2026 academic year are the Kevin and Cindy Boesen Preceptor of the Year, the Carl and Kathryn Labbe Rookie Preceptor of the Year, and the Faculty 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 Colleen O'Connell, PharmD. O'Connell serves as a maternal child clinical pharmacy specialist at Tucson Medical Center.
“I often remember the passionate, kind, and caring preceptors I had as a pharmacy student and wanted to give back to the profession when I was a pharmacist. Being a preceptor through the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy has been so valuable as this provided me an opportunity to give back to the pharmacy profession and the next generation of pharmacists, share my knowledge and experience regarding a unique population, and meet bright, dedicated, and compassionate future pharmacists.”
O'Connell has been a preceptor for ten years and currently focuses on pediatric, neonatal, or maternal pharmacy need. Over the years, she has also staffed and precepted pharmacy students and residents in antimicrobial stewardship/infectious disease, adult medicine, adult surgery, and adult neurology.
An excerpt from O'Connell’s nomination materials reads: “My preceptor not only handles all the patients on the peds floor, she also does the PICU, NICU, and women's care. She is in charge of reviewing every patient and making sure their medications are appropriate in every aspect. Along with that, she answers all questions from the physicians and nurses regarding dosing, administration, and IV compatibility etc. Not only does she answer their questions to the best of her ability, but she would go above and beyond to make sure that she found the correct answer whether that was researching available literature online or using her resources. What I admire most, though, is that she does all of this every shift with a smile and an eagerness to help however she can. That's exactly how I want to be as a future pediatric pharmacist. With all of the work she has on her plate, she still manages to keep me involved and to teach me when she can.”
Rookie Preceptor of the Year
The Carl and Kathryn Labbe Rookie Preceptor of the Year is Amanda Urban-Tovar, PharmD. Urban-Tovar is a director of pharmacy at Sonora Behavioral Health Hospital where she focuses on psychiatric pharmacy, student mentorship, and interdisciplinary patient care. She is also a 2021 alumna of the Coit College of Pharmacy.
“Precepting has quickly become one of the most rewarding parts of my career. I love helping students connect classroom knowledge to real patient care while building confidence in themselves as future pharmacists. Watching students grow throughout their rotations and develop their clinical skills is incredibly fulfilling.”
Urban-Tovar enjoys helping future pharmacists build confidence in clinical decision-making and patient-centered care. She is especially passionate about creating a supportive learning environment that encourages curiosity, growth, and professionalism. An excerpt from Urban-Tovar’s nomination materials reads:
“Amanda truly shines as a teacher through the way she creates a supportive and engaging learning environment. Each week, she led thoughtful discussions on different mental health conditions, making complex topics feel approachable and relevant. She cultivated an environment in which we were encouraged to learn through presentations and individual research projects which not only built our knowledge but also our confidence. Her passion for teaching and genuine investment in our growth made a lasting impact on all of us.”
Faculty Preceptor of the Year
The Faculty Preceptor of the Year is Christopher Edwards, PharmD, BCPS, BCEMP, FASHP. Edwards is a clinical associate professor with the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, and director of emergency clinical pharmacotherapy with the College of Medicine. He maintains a clinical practice in the emergency department of Banner University Medical Center Tucson and has been an emergency medicine pharmacy specialist for over 15 years.
“Serving as a preceptor is one of my favorite parts of being a pharmacist. It is such a joy to directly help the next generation of students develop and refine the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities required to be outstanding pharmacists and educators. Seeing their growth and celebrating their success is the best part of this job.”
Edwards has been a faculty member at the Coit College of Pharmacy since 2018 and first began as a preceptor in 2008 when he was paired with a student during his residency. An excerpt from Edwards' nomination materials reads:
“Dr. Edwards was an excellent teacher in every setting I experienced during my rotation. One of my most memorable moments was when he ensured that I was able to see a thoracotomy. He made sure I was able to see the procedure take place and assist with resuscitation efforts for the patient by preparing epinephrine and rapid sequence intubation medications. We discussed the pathophysiology, place of medication, and considerations in this very rare experience. Although this experience is not observed often in emergency departments, this commitment to teaching and facilitating learning was consistent among all experiences with Dr. Edwards in the emergency department. He helped not only teach me clinical knowledge, but also how to go about finding evidence-based solutions when the answer is within the "gray" area. He taught me how to fish.”
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.