UConn Health

November 12, 2024 | Chris DeFrancesco '94 (CLAS) - UConn Health

UConn Health’s Gillian Kuszewski Named ‘Pharmacist of the Year’

Presented by the Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Award presentation with three people

UConn Health's Gillian Kuszewski (right) accepts the Pharmacist of the Year Award from the Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists and President Jason Zybert (left) and immediate past President Sam Abdelghany. (Photo by Eileen Mydosh)

Gillian Kuszewski ’03 (PHARM), ’05 Pharm.D., university director of UConn Health’s pharmacy residency programs, is the Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2024 Pharmacist of the Year.

The society, whose nearly 300 members include pharmacists, educators and pharmacists in training, goes back to 1948. It awards Pharmacist of the Year honors annually to a member who best exemplifies the pharmacy profession through collaboration and service, to both the profession and the community.

I really love being a pharmacist and I love working with pharmacists, so this recognition is really special.
— Gillian Kuszewski

Kuszewski, who also co-chairs UConn Health’s antimicrobial stewardship program, joined UConn Health in 2014 as a pharmacy clinical coordinator.

Gillian Kuszewski portrait white coat
Gillian Kuszewski is university director of pharmacy residency programs at UConn Health. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health)

“I could not do what I do without Dr. Gillian Kuszewski,” says Kevin Chamberlin, associate vice president and chief pharmacy officer. “Her professional integrity, attention to detail, and patient-first mindset puts her out in front of so many as the obvious choice for pharmacist of the year. A pharmacist first, Gillian has embraced all aspects of pharmacy since entering the profession. She has emerged as a self-developed clinical expert, researcher, and mentor. She has impacted and shaped the lives of countless trainees over her career so far, and so many more to come in the future.”

Kuszewski accepted the award at the Connecticut Society of Health-System Pharmacists annual meeting Nov. 6 in Bristol.

“I am extremely grateful to my colleagues for the nomination and to CSHP for the recognition of Pharmacist of the Year,” Kuszewski says. “It is humbling to be recognized by an organization like CSHP, comprised of amazing pharmacists throughout Connecticut. The work of CSHP supports pharmacists to do more for their patients and more for their multidisciplinary care teammates. I am fortunate to work at UConn Health, a supportive environment that enables me to contribute to the organization in many ways. I am very lucky to be a part of a hardworking and effective pharmacy team that genuinely wants to do the best thing and the right thing, always. I really love being a pharmacist and I love working with pharmacists, so this recognition is really special.”

Jason Zybert, incoming 2025 CSHP President, says, “CSHP is proud to recognize the significant contributions of Gillian Kuszewski to improve and grow the pharmacy services at UConn Health.”