At VCU’s 43rd Annual Faculty Convocation on Aug. 20, the university presented Krista Donohoe, Pharm.D., a professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science in the School of Pharmacy, with the Distinguished Teaching Award. The award honors an outstanding teacher who demonstrates one or more of the following: is an inspiration to students; uses stimulating methods or develops curricula designed to promote learning; or serves in a teaching capacity outside the classroom and university.

A full-time term professor, Donohoe earned her Pharm.D. from VCU in 2010 and began teaching in the School of Pharmacy the following year. She devotes 80% of her time to instruction, and she has served as coordinator or co-coordinator of the Foundations of Pharmacy Practice skills laboratory courses. She currently serves as skills laboratory director and longtime coordinator of the Dermatology module.

“Dr. Donohoe blends creativity with real-world training to prepare pharmacy students for critical challenges,” said K.C. Ogbonna, Pharm.D., M.S.H.A., dean, professor and Archie O. McCalley chair at the VCU School of Pharmacy, in introducing Donohoe. “As both teacher and mentor, she inspires students and colleagues alike.”

As an instructor, Donohoe emphasizes autonomy, competence and relatedness –  as reflected by her co-development of an active-learning laboratory on pharmacists’ role in opioid overdose management.

“Whenever there’s something that’s going on, we try to make sure our students know how to handle things in real life,” she said.

Accepting the award, Donohoe reflected on the steps she took to get to this point. Donohoe started her career teaching eighth grade, where, she shared on-stage with a laugh, simply getting students to remain in their seats was a feat. Her first day teaching pharmacy students, she was floored that students were not only in their seats but ready to learn. She expressed gratitude for the excellent students at VCU, the educators who served as her mentors, and her peers in education, whether in higher ed or K-12.

“I want you to think about a teacher – because teachers are magic: they create, they inspire, they bring things to life in the classroom – and think about that one teacher who meant that to you,” Donohoe said. “If you can today, send them a thank-you note, text them, maybe just in your head thank them, because they are really important.”

Dr. Donohoe reminded the audience why gratitude is so important, because when we pause to give thanks, we honor the people who have shaped us.

Donohoe is the fifth School of Pharmacy faculty awardee in four years to earn a universitywide recognition at VCU Faculty Convocation. She joins fellow School of Pharmacy faculty award winners: Evan Sisson, Pharm.D., who earned the 2023 Outstanding Term Faculty Award, and awardees Yan Zhang, Ph.D. (2024), Martin Safo, Ph.D. (2023), and Benjamin Van Tassell, Pharm.D. (2022), all three of whom were recognized with the university’s Distinguished Scholarship Award.

In addressing the faculty awardees and the audience at the Singleton Center for the Arts, President Michael Rao, Ph.D., noted that the faculty’s embrace of interdisciplinary inquiry and cross-departmental solutions creates an environment that supports their work as researchers, practitioners  – and especially as educators.

“VCU continues to be one of the very best models of a public research university that could exist because of our faculty,” Rao said.

A portion of this piece first appeared in a VCU News article by Amelia Heymann. Read the full article.