Alumni Awards

Jeffrey Firlik was raised in New York’s Adirondack region, the sixth of 13 children. He was the first in his family to attain a college degree. Jeff graduated from ACPHS with a Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree in 1974. In 1994, he earned a Master of Science in Administration degree from Saint Michael’s College. In 2006, he completed the University of Florida College of Pharmacy’s External PharmD Foundations course and earned a certificate in leadership from Cornell University. He also completed several health care software certifications from Epic Systems and Eclipsys (now Allscripts).

He started his 45-year pharmacy career at Albany Medical Center as a pharmacy intern then Staff Pharmacist. He then served as Director of Pharmacy at Saranac Lake General Hospital, Pharmacy Manager for Grand Union Pharmacy in Ticonderoga, NY, and South Burlington VT from 1975 to 1988. He then joined what is now UVM Medical Center. He directed and expanded Outpatient Pharmacy operations until 2002, when he was promoted to Director of Pharmacy Services for the Medical Center. In 2002, he received a Community Service Award from the local VNA for his work to establish a home infusion pharmacy and a medication management system for hospice patients.

In 2005, he joined Computer Sciences Corporation’s Health Care IT Consulting group to assist hospitals across the U.S. implement patient care computer technology, enhance 340B compliance and improve hospital pharmacy business practices.

He retired from CSC in 2014 to serve for a year on the faculty of ACPHS’s Colchester Campus as a Pharmacy Practice instructor. Following Retirement, he served as interim pharmacy director at 2 northern Vermont community hospitals and helped to recruit permanent directors.

Jeff served on several state and federal health care committees and was appointed by Vermont’s Governor to the Vermont Board of Pharmacy for two 5-year terms. He was Pharmacy Board Chair in 2013 and 2014 and represented Vermont at the FDA on a task force that resulted in the creation of Sterile Compounding regulations 503a and 503b.

From 2018 to 2024, he served on the Board of Mater Christi School in Burlington and was Board Chair from 2019 to 2022 and again in 2024. In 2022, he received the “Bowl of Hygeia” awarded by the Vermont Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association in recognition of his community service as a pharmacist. He became a Mercy Associate in 2019 to support the mission of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.

Jeff married his wife, Luanne, in 1973, prior to his fifth year at ACPHS. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Jeff loves spending time with his family around the pool in summer and on the ski slopes in Winter. He loves to travel with Luanne in their RV and has taken several trips to Europe. He also loves woodworking. He built many pieces of fine furniture and other items for his family and friends including cribs and beds for each of his grandchildren. He also built items for local Catholic churches and charity auctions. He currently volunteers with Age Well Vermont to install and sometimes build items to enhance safety in the homes of elderly and disabled Vermonters.

For over 40 years Jeff provided music, playing guitar and singing, for religious services in Catholic churches in New York and Vermont. During the COVID-19 quarantine, Jeff posted over 250 folk songs and hymns on YouTube and currently has over 700 subscribers.

Dr. Briscoe-Dwyer is a Senior Vice President, Pharmacy Services for CPS Solutions, LLC, based in Dublin Ohio.  She recently completed her term as President of the American Society of Health-system pharmacists, the largest association of pharmacy professionals in the United States, and will continue her service to ASHP this year as Immediate Past President.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from St. John’s University. She began her career as a clinical specialist in HIV and infectious disease at SUNY Stony Brook and has worked in various areas of pharmacy practice, including the pharmaceutical industry, with the majority of the last 25 years spent in pharmacy leadership roles in New York, Chicago and Michigan.

A passionate advocate for pharmacists, Leigh is a past president of the Long Island Society of Health-system Pharmacists and the New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists. She served as a Trustee for Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and chaired the Academic Affairs Committee. In addition, she served on the New York State Board of Pharmacy for ten years in several capacities, including as its Chair.

She has received numerous recognitions for her contributions to pharmacy, including the Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Practitioner Awards from St. John’s University, the New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists Board of Directors Award, the NYSCHP Research and Education Foundation Bernard Mehl Leadership Award, and a Doctor of Humane Letters from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Stephanie Hughes is a board-certified infectious diseases pharmacist dedicated to advancing precision medicine and antimicrobial stewardship. After earning her PharmD from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, she completed her PGY-1 residency at the VA Boston Health Care. She then subsequently pursued a two-year fellowship in antimicrobial outcomes research at the Providence VA in collaboration with the University of Rhode Island, where she established remote pharmacy services for Veterans in community living centers and published research on emerging resistance trends.

Stephanie now serves as Senior Clinical Applications Specialist at InsightRX, where she helps health systems across the country and internationally adopt a model-informed precision dosing Bayesian software. This technology has been shown to reduce vancomycin-induced kidney toxicity and improve outcomes for patients undergoing conditioning prior to allogeneic bone marrow transplant, CAR-T, and gene therapy. To date, she has supported implementation in more than 120 health systems and 500 hospitals across the U.S.

Her research has been focused on building new pharmacokinetic models, developing strategies to optimize therapeutic drug monitoring, and evaluating how Bayesian-based dosing improves target attainment and clinical outcomes. An emerging expert in the field, Stephanie has authored several peer-reviewed publications and presented at national conferences such as IDWeek and ASHP Midyear. She is passionate about translating research into practice, empowering pharmacists and clinicians to individualize therapy and improve patient outcomes. A proud alumna of ACPHS, she especially enjoys reconnecting with fellow graduates through all her professional work.

Packy began his career at ACPHS in 1989 and held multiple leadership positions over his 34 years of employment at the College, including assistant dean of Student Affairs, director of Student Affairs, director of Athletics, director of Residence Life, men’s basketball coach, men’s golf coach and admissions counselor. Packy retired from ACPHS in 2023 as vice president for Administrative Operations.

Packy spearheaded and managed numerous campuswide improvement projects including renovations of the gymnasium, athletic complex, campus green, Panther’s Den, bookstore, interactive classrooms, and all teaching labs on campus. He also led the Campus Master Plan development and implementation.

Over the years, Packy provided exceptional leadership and strategic input through his service on numerous institutional committees. In 1994, Packy founded and directed the Dean’s Cup Golf Tournament which raised over $1 million in academic scholarships for ACPHS students. Packy was selected by the Student Government Association as the Administrator of the Year in 2009 and 2014, and was inducted into the ACPHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. On September 30,2023 in recognition of Packy’s impact on the College, a dedication ceremony was held in which the Campus Green was formally named the Packy McGraw Campus Green.

Dr. Thomas Lombardi is the Systems Director of Pharmacy for St. Peter’s Health Partners, a fully integrated health system, comprised of five acute care hospital sites and over 125 other sites in the upstate New York region. The Department of Pharmacy has 7 pharmacies, 3 Infusion Pharmacies, 2 Ambulatory Clinic Pharmacies and 3 Anticoagulation Clinics and employs over 275 pharmacists, pharmacy interns, technicians/support personnel and 4 PGY1 pharmacy residents.

St. Peter’s Health Partners is part of Trinity Health, a diverse health care corporation serving over 30 million people in 26 U.S. states. Dr. Lombardi is actively involved with Trinity Health as a leader in the Regional Pharmacy Executive Council, Pharmacy Clinical Leadership Group, the Integrated Clinical Services Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and various other leadership groups. Additionally, he is a TogetherCare Accountable Pharmacy Leader serving to guide Regional Health Ministries in their Epic go-live and a mentor in the Emerge Guided Mentorship Program.

Dr. Lombardi is Adjunct Faculty at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and has held adjunct faculty positions at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Sage Graduate School.

Dr. Lombardi chairs the Trinity Health New York Institutional Review Board, oversees the St. Peter’s Health Partners Pharmacy & Therapeutics and Medication Safety Committees and is an active member of the Patient Safety/Quality Improvement Council and many others at St. Peter’s Health Partners. He has administrative responsibility for the 340B Drug program at SPHP hospitals and affiliated clinics and programs. Additionally, he is a New York State Certified Pharmacist Immunizer and is trained as an Emergency Management Incident Commander.
Dr. Lombardi received a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Connecticut and Doctor of Pharmacy from the University at Buffalo. He completed an ASHP accredited Hospital Pharmacy Residency at the Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, NY and a Fellowship in Pediatric Pharmacotherapy at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT.

In addition to his service to St. Peter’s Health Partners and Trinity Health, Dr. Lombardi serves on the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and is an active member of the Health Trust Purchasing Group.

Dr. Lombardi is a past president of the New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists (NYSCHP) and currently serves as the organization’s Parliamentarian, guiding the NYSCHP on rules, regulations and policies.

Dr. Lombardi is the recipient of the NYSCHP Board of Directors Award, NYSCHP Research and Education Foundation Bernard Mehl Leadership Award, NYSCHP Pharmacist of the Year Award, University at Buffalo Orville C. Baxter Professional Practice Award, 1990 ACPHS Preceptor of the Year Award and many others.

Dr. Lombardi is a Fellow of the American Society of Health-system Pharmacists (ASHP) and has served as an ASHP media spokesperson on medication errors and on the ASHP Council on Legal and Public Affairs. He is a mentor in the ASHP Guided Mentoring Program.

Dr. Lombardi has provided services to Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences in the classroom in subject areas of Pediatric and Neonatal pharmacotherapy, pulmonary disease, immunizations, pharmacy administration, jurisprudence, pharmacy residencies and many others. He has coordinated and served as a primary preceptor in areas of pediatrics and neonatology, drug information and pharmacy administration and has coordinated students in IPPE and APPE learning experiences over the past 39 years.

Dr. Lombardi’s areas of practice interest include the provision of a safe medication environment, application of laws and regulations in healthcare, the use of immunizations in disease prevention and mentoring young practitioners, residents and students. He has over 75 professional publications and 300 professional presentations. Dr. Lombardi speaks on medication safety and provision of a safe medication environment and legislative and regulatory topics on a local, regional and national level.

Dr. Czechowski is a 2009 ACPHS PharmD graduate of the Albany campus. She has had tenures in Community, Inpatient and Managed Care Pharmacy. In her current position at Prime Therapeutics, Dr. Czechowski consults directly with State Medicaid programs to administer their drug benefit. She has worked in the Medicaid space for almost 10 years.

Dr. Czechowski also holds numerous committee and board roles with the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy where she serves as the Diplomat for ACPHS, as well as the Student Co-Chair for the Northeast affiliate, actively providing opportunities for engagement with the next generation of managed care pharmacists. She and her co-chair are currently launching a mentorship program that brings together managed care professionals and pharmacy students in the Northeast.

Outside of her 9-to-5ish, Dr. Czechowski also makes regular trips working with international missions programs to provide rural pharmacy services in South and Central America, as well as English Language education in Senegal, West Africa.

When she’s not stamping her International passport, she and her husband and daughter are usually found stamping their National Park Service passports traveling across the country in their solar-powered RV.

Brian Spoelhof is the Manager of Medication Utilization Strategy at the University of Virginia Health, where he serves as the secretary of the Enterprise Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, leads drug shortage management, and directs pharmacy department policy. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and a Master’s Degree in Bioethics from Harvard Medical School. Brian completed his PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Indiana University Health and his PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency at Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center. He is dual board-certified in Pharmacotherapy and Critical Care Pharmacy.

Brian began his career as a Neurocritical Care and Stroke Pharmacist and has since transitioned into various pharmacy administration roles. He has served with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) House of Delegates, representing the Commonwealth of Virginia, where he has actively engaged in policy review and management. Is a member of the ASHP Council on Public Policy. Additionally, he serves as the President of Region 1 for the Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists (VSHP).

His professional interests include the ethical dimensions of pharmacy practice, particularly the application of normative ethics through a pharmacy lens. He is also deeply engaged in exploring the ethics of drug shortage management and its implications for distributive justice and health equity.

Courtney C. Tackes, PharmD, MBA is a dedicated pharmacy leader and educator with a passion for advancing pharmacy practice and experiential education. A proud alumna of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS), Dr. Tackes earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2014 and later completed her MBA with a concentration in Health Care Administration from Marist College.

Dr. Tackes currently serves as Supervisor of Medication Reconciliation Services and PGY1 Residency Program Director at St. Peter’s Health Partners, where she leads initiatives to optimize transitions of care. She previously held several leadership roles at ACPHS including Interim Dean of Pharmacy, Assistant Dean for Experiential Education, and Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice. Her work has shaped experiential learning programs, enhanced learner engagement, and fostered strong partnerships with preceptors and health care professionals.

She is a past president of the Northeastern Chapter of the New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists (NYSCHP) and remains actively involved in professional service at both the state and national levels. Her scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed publications, national presentations, and leadership in continuing professional development initiatives. Her work has been recognized with multiple honors, including the AACP CPD Section Innovations in Continuing Professional Development Award and the ACPHS Student Government Association President’s Award.

Outside of her professional life, Dr. Tackes is an avid reader who enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, embracing the balance between career, family, and lifelong learning.

Era Lika’s journey into pharmacy began with a deeply personal fight. At 11 years old, she faced a diagnosis of blood cancer, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in Albania, which forced her to leave her home and seek treatment in Italy. That battle for survival—made possible by the generosity of donors, volunteers, and a global community—instilled in her a lifelong commitment to science, compassion, and service.

After a long process of recovery and related complications, Era was inspired to return to Italy for pharmacy studies, later seizing an opportunity to complete her Doctor of Pharmacy program in the states at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Now working at Regeneron as a Senior Specialist in CMC Regulatory Affairs, Era channeled her experience into a mission, landing a role working on cancer drug approvals and supporting research teams, thanks in many ways to the reputation and credibility of the education at ACPHS.

To further contribute to the blood cancer fight, she raised $50,000 this year for Blood Cancer United, formerly LLS / Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Her 10 week fundraising campaign involved grassroots donations as well as events, including a benefit concert and charity fashion/car show with her fiancée Joel DiPersio. They also advocated on local TV news, radio and social media.

Era was also tremendously supported throughout her academics, career and philanthropy by her amazing parents Edmond and Pranvera Lika, extended family, and friends.

Era is thrilled to earn this award as a proud ACPHS alum, grateful to all of her former professors and peers, and honored to be a part of this vibrant alumni community!

Brian Fox (Class of 2012) and Nathan Rogers (Class of 2011), graduates of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, are accomplished pharmacists and co-founders of Active Ingredient Brewing Company, which they opened in Malta, NY, in 2021. Together, they have built a thriving brewery that serves as a welcoming hub for ACPHS alumni, new graduates, local sports teams, and academic clubs from schools in Saratoga County, hosting numerous events that strengthen professional, social, and community ties.

Committed to giving back, Brian and Nathan have led Active Ingredient to donate over $3,000 to Ronald McDonald House, more than $6,000 to local firehouses, and additional funds to support local sports teams and academic clubs, while actively championing other small businesses and community initiatives in the region.

Balancing their entrepreneurial venture with part-time roles in community pharmacy, Brian and Nathan embody dedication and leadership. In recognition of their joint efforts, they are proud co-recipients of the Collaboration and Community Award, celebrating their shared commitment to fostering stronger, healthier communities through innovation and partnership.

Nathan Rogers graduated ACPHS with his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2011. Since then, he has worked in the retail setting for Walmart Pharmacy both in Amsterdam as a staff pharmacist and as a part-time hourly floater in the Capital Region. More recently, Nathan started his own business with another fellow Alumnus, Brian Fox (Class of 2012). Together they opened Active Ingredient Brewing Company in May of 2021 in Malta, NY. With their slogan of “Science By The Pint”, they craft beers using their scientific know-how to create a clean and pure product that is true to style. They have won 4 medals from the official NYS Craft Brewers Competition to date.

The brewery has partnered with the college for many alumni and student events including alumni meet up events in the taproom, hosting P4 students for their “Senior Week” events, and coming to ACPHS for alumni reunion weekend, serving their beer in Ralph’s Lounge.

Nathan resides in Halfmoon, NY with his wife Lexie and Labradoodle Griffin. They are expecting a baby girl, their first child, in late September 2025.

Dr. Briceland received her B.S. in Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy in 1983, and in 1986 her Pharm.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. In 1987, she completed a fellowship at Hartford Hospital, Connecticut, in Antimicrobial Management, as one of the first antimicrobial stewardship trainees in the country. Following, she assumed a faculty position at Albany College of Pharmacy in 1987, where she is currently Professor of Pharmacy Practice, beginning her 39th academic year of service. Through 2002, she practiced as Clinical Specialist in Infectious Diseases, training pharmacy students, residents, and fellows. From 1990 through 2019, she served in Experiential Education roles of Director, Assistant Dean, and Associate Dean. In those roles, she is credited with developing policy, procedures and initiatives dealing with preceptor development; IPPEs and APPE development, including international opportunities; experiential honors; co-curriculum portfolio; admissions interviewing processes; progression standards; and academic success plans. Throughout her career, she has served the college broadly, through ACPHS service as Committee Chair of Curriculum; Faculty Affairs; Promotion & Tenure; Admissions & Academic Standards; Honors & Awards; Search Committees, and Accreditation Standards; and has served the profession broadly through continuing service to professional organizations and journals in committee membership and peer-review capacities. More recently, Dr. Briceland has developed expertise in online learning, the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and Continuing Professional Development, and currently teaches Foundations of Pharmacy and an online elective in Pharmacy Professional Development. She has presented and published widely in pharmacy practice, continuing professional development, experiential education, student professionalization, and antimicrobial pharmacotherapy and management. Dr. Briceland is a recipient of two American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Research and Education Foundation Awards, one for Achievement in Professional Practice of Hospital Pharmacy, and the second for Sustained Contributions to the Literature of Pharmacy Practice in Health Systems. She was elected to fellowship in both ASHP and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and is the 2023, 2024 and 2025 recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Continuing Professional Development Award.

Dr. Neil Mandalaywala is a proud graduate of the BS Pharmaceutical Sciences program in 2009. He used his Panther training to launch his career in medicine. Dr. Mandalaywala received his MD from Albany Medical College before pursuing residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at NYU School of Medicine and fellowship in Comprehensive Pain Management at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Now, his career has taken him to Central California where he practices comprehensive pain management. Dr. Mandalaywala is currently the chief of pain management services at Kaiser Permanente Kern County. He will be ending his position with the group and embarking on a new journey as an interventional pain management physician with the Southern California Orthopedics Institute, part of UCLA Health.

Dr. Mandalaywala still remains connected with the college through close contact with Dr. Richard Dearborn and serves as a mentor to students who are seeking a career medicine. He has also given back to the college through scholarship grants to help students who have a passion for research and education. In his free time Dr. Mandalaywala enjoys spending time with his wife and his wonderful twin baby girls.