Pharmacy professor earns national award as emerging teaching scholar

By Mary Kate Brogan
School of Pharmacy

Cait Gibson, Pharm.D., an associate professor and interim director of international programs at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, was recognized by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy for excellence in scholarly teaching.

At the AACP Pharmacy Education conference in Boston in July, Gibson earned the 2024 Emerging Teaching Scholar Award, one of four pharmacy educators in the country to receive the award this year.

The award is given to educators who are engaged in or support scholarly teaching. These educators often excel in teaching, conduct research on teaching and learning, and use research and evidence to inform their practices as educators.

According to the award committee's notes, Gibson's recognition stems from her incorporation of active learning techniques, her publications and presentations and the other recognitions she has received, both at VCU and beyond, including a national American College of Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Research Networks Teaching and Mentoring Award in 2023.

"It is an honor to be recognized by the academy alongside my peers for my scholarly teaching efforts, which focus on classroom-based innovations, cultural sensitivity and soft skill development," Gibson said. "I am honored and humbled by the immense support provided by my colleagues and students in compiling my nomination packet. This award affirms my efforts doing what I love most in my role - ensuring that my students receive the engaging, high-quality, transformative education that they deserve while attending VCU School of Pharmacy."

Gibson becomes the third VCU School of Pharmacy educator to earn the award, joining colleagues Lauren Caldas, Pharm.D., and Krista Donohoe, Pharm.D., as recipients. With three winners since the award began in 2017, VCU School of Pharmacy ties the national record for most educators from a given school to receive the award - only the University of Florida and University of California, San Francisco, have as many.

"Cait has been an innovator in education since joining our faculty ranks, and she is paving the way for bringing evidence-based practices into the classroom that will improve how we educate future pharmacists nationwide," said K.C. Ogbonna, Pharm.D., dean and Archie O. McCalley Chair of the VCU School of Pharmacy. "The fact that three of our educators have earned this award speaks volumes about the uncommon caliber of faculty we have at our school and their dedication to educating our students to be the best they can be."

A version of this story was first published on the VCU School of Pharmacy's website.

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