Congratulations to Dr. Devin Lavender, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Residency Program, who was named the 2025 PharmD Teacher of the Year at the College of Pharmacy. Known for his compassionate approach, open-door policy, and engaging teaching style, Dr. Lavender has quickly become a fan favorite among PharmD students since joining the faculty in July 2020. His dedication to student success—both in and out of the classroom—has not gone unnoticed.
“Perhaps what impresses me most about Devin is his complete dedication to the students,” said Beth Phillips, Assistant Department Head for Residency Programs, who works closely with Dr. Lavender. “His friendly demeanor and caring attitude really come through when he works with them. They feel comfortable coming to Devin about challenges they are facing and how it relates to their ability to perform in the curriculum. He has a way with the students that makes them feel like everything will turn out okay. As a colleague, it is fun to see how the students light up when they come talk to him.”
In this Q&A, Dr. Lavender reflects on what the award means to him, how he found his path in pharmacy education, and the lessons he hopes to pass on to the next generation of healthcare professionals.
What does receiving the Teacher of the Year award mean to you?
When I accepted the job at UGA, one of my main goals was to show students that I genuinely care about them as a person and their success as a student and future pharmacist. Receiving the Teacher of the Year award shows me that I am on the right track. There is still work to do, but I know that I am heading in the right direction.
What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy education?
I remember sitting in a skills lab taught by one of the faculty members and a PGY2 Ambulatory Care resident when I was a second-year pharmacy student. I thought to myself, “…that job would be cool!” I didn’t think much of it until I was researching PGY2 Ambulatory Care programs that I would apply to. I gravitated to programs with a large emphasis on teaching, and this experience ultimately led me back to UGA as a PGY2 resident. My PGY2 residency at UGA gave me so many amazing opportunities to interact with students inside and outside of the classroom, which really solidified my passion for educating pharmacy students. When I completed my residency program and accepted a position with the Asheville VA Medical Center, I was ecstatic! I was going to continue my career at the VA working with some fantastic people. As my first year wore on, I felt like something was missing. I missed being with students on a regular basis. I missed seeing them have their “lightbulb” moments. When the position came open at UGA, I felt like I had to take a chance, and the rest is history.
What’s your favorite part about working with our students?
We have some amazing students which makes my job easy. I have an open-door policy, and I really enjoy when students stop by to talk. It can be anything from asking questions about my recent pharmacotherapy or IPC lecture, advice on career opportunities, or UGA sports. I am always willing to chat!
What’s one lesson you hope your students carry with them into their careers?
One lesson or piece of advice that I would like our students to remember is to keep an open mind and never rule out any opportunities. I started pharmacy school being interested in independent pharmacy and did not even think about a residency. I ended up completing two years of residency and being a faculty member. You never know where you may end up.
Describe your ideal student. What makes a student a success?
My ideal student has several characteristics:
- Curious: realize that it is about more than memorizing facts to pass an exam, it is about taking the best care of a patient when you graduate.
- Reliable: they show-up, follow through, and don’t cut corners, because it is always about taking care of patients.
- Adaptable: drug information is always changing, guidelines are always evolving, and patients are rarely ever textbook. Think critically when presented with complex situations and ask for help when needed.
- Strong communicator: pharmacists need to be able to educate patients and healthcare professionals alike. This is probably one of the most underrated skills that a successful pharmacy student should have.
- Self-aware: know your strengths but also understand your opportunities for growth. Take feedback seriously and have a plan to get better instead of just going through the motions.
- Patient-centered: the best students remember that everything they learn is about helping patients have the best outcomes possible from their medications. Keeping this in mind will help ground you, especially in times of high stress
Who were/are teaching mentors for you and why?
Beth Phillips has been a big influence in my pharmacy journey. Throughout pharmacy school, residency, and my early faculty career, she has been extremely influential on how I approach students, teaching, and practice.
Robin Southwood also has been a big influence on me as a faculty member. He is always willing to give advice on how to approach my teaching materials or discussions in class. He is great to talk with about ways to innovate and better educate our students, which has led to some great projects in the classroom.
Rusty May has been an influence on the way I approach teaching. A key component of his lectures is storytelling. His stories make the content come to life and help students make connections to the real world and pharmacy practice. I try to incorporate stories into my lectures because this helped me a lot as a student.
