URI College of Pharmacy names inaugural recipient of Thomas J. Kalista Scholarship

September 18, 2025
Doctor of Pharmacy student Cailin McCaffrey accepts the inaugural Thomas J. Kalista Scholarship in front of a video board showing photos of the late professor for whom the scholarship is named.
Doctor of Pharmacy student Cailin McCaffrey accepts the inaugural Thomas J. Kalista Scholarship in front of a video board showing photos of the late professor for whom the scholarship is named.

Pharm.D. student Cailin McCaffrey chosen for scholarship that honors the late, beloved pharmacy professor

Third-year Doctor of Pharmacy student Cailin McCaffrey is the inaugural recipient of the Thomas J. Kalista Scholarship, the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy announced during a ceremony in Avedisian Hall Sept. 17.

Named for the late, beloved professor who died in May 2024 at just 34, the scholarship honors Kalista’s passion for educating the next generation of pharmaceutical professionals, his dedication to the profession, and, above all, his steadfast commitment to the key job description of a pharmacist or any health care professional: “5 words: Take care of the patient.”

The scholarship committee—made up of friends and colleagues from the college as well as his wife, Hannah Kalista, of East Greenwich, R.I., and other family members—raised more than $100,000 to establish the endowed scholarship that will benefit URI pharmacy students long into the future, “a testament to how deeply Tom was loved and continues to be loved, talked about and cherished,” said Clinical Professor Virginia Lemay. “He was passionate about community pharmacy. His remarkable contributions will continue with the college through his research, his teaching, and now this wonderful scholarship program. This will live on to support many more students in the future.”

McCaffrey’s commitment to patient care and the profession, especially in her role as local student president of the National Community Pharmacist’s Association, make her a perfect inaugural recipient, Lemay said. “Cailin was unanimously selected based on her commitment to community practice, her commitment to leadership through NCPA, and also her passion for direct patient care. We couldn’t be more proud to have Cailin be the first recipient, and we know Tom would be very pleased as well.”

McCaffrey, a native of Warwick, R.I., said Kalista made an immediate impact on her when he conducted her admission interview with the college. She later worked directly with him when he served as faculty advisor for the NCPA chapter at URI.

“For me, this scholarship is particularly meaningful, because oftentimes when you receive a scholarship, you don’t get to meet the person the scholarship is honoring. In my case, Dr. Kalista was one of the first people I met at the College of Pharmacy, so this is really special to me,” McCaffrey said. “As my classmates and I continue on in our pharmacy journey, we’ll carry with us what he was known for emphasizing in his courses—and something that remains strong in our curriculum today—and that’s to take care of the patient.”

Hannah Kalista, wife of the late Professor Thomas Kalista, presents the inaugural Thomas J. Kalista Scholarship during a ceremony Sept. 17 in Avedisian Hall.

McCaffrey is just the type of student Kalista would want to support to carry on his dedication to community pharmacy, and commitment to always put the patient first, according to Hannah Kalista.

“I’m just so honored, Cailin, that you are going to receive the scholarship and be able to carry on that legacy,” said Hannah Kalista, noting that helping support students was a long-term dream of the couple that the scholarship helps fulfill. “I’m so sorry that you weren’t able to receive your full education with him as your professor, but I really hope that this outpouring of love for someone who was so deeply respected by his friends and family will carry you on through the rest of your schooling and your career as a pharmacist and someone who is going to take care of patients. Tom had such enthusiasm for this university, and I can’t think of a better way to carry on that legacy by paying it forward to students like Cailin.”