URI pharmacy clinical professor named Educator of the Year by national pharmaceutical organization

November 17, 2025
College of Pharmacy Clinical Professor Eric Estus has received two prestigious awards from the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, including Educator of the Year.
College of Pharmacy Clinical Professor Eric Estus has received two prestigious awards from the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, including Educator of the Year.

Erica Estus also received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists

University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Clinical Professor Eric Estus has received two prestigious awards from a national pharmaceutical organization for her outstanding contributions to pharmacy education and senior care.

The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists awarded Estus with the Educator of the Year Award and the Outstanding Faculty Award during its 2025 Annual Meeting & Exhibition in San Diego last month. The awards celebrate pharmacy educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching, mentorship, and commitment to improving care for older adults.

Reflecting strong peer and student support for Estus, the ASCP Educator of the Year Award is voted on by members across the country and represents the highest recognition in senior care pharmacy education and leadership. The Outstanding Faculty Award recognizes exceptional contributions in teaching and mentoring.

A Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center faculty member in addition to teaching in the College of Pharmacy, Estus has spent more than two decades advancing geriatric pharmacotherapy education at URI, shaping thousands of future pharmacists through clinical training, experiential learning, and student-centered mentorship.

“Supporting students as they build confidence and discover their passion for caring for older adults is the most rewarding part of my work,” Estus said. “I am grateful to ASCP for this recognition and proud to represent URI among such dedicated colleagues.”

Along with teaching, Estus focuses her research on geriatric pharmacotherapy, long-term care, health literacy, and improving communication between students and older adults through various intergenerational activities. She also maintains a clinical practice at Brookdale South Bay, a senior living community in South Kingstown.

“Dr. Estus exemplifies everything we value as a college,” URI College of Pharmacy Dean Kerry LaPlante said. “She is a leader, an innovator, and a fierce advocate for high-quality care for older adults.”