The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes graduates of the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy who have made distinguished contributions to the practice of pharmacy or demonstrated major accomplishments in a professional pharmacy practice or significant contributions in pharmaceutical research and development.
The Horizon Alumni Award recognizes recent graduates within the last 10 years of the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy who have made outstanding contributions to the practice of pharmacy or demonstrated potential for major accomplishments in a professional pharmacy practice or significant contributions in pharmaceutical research and development.
The Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes graduates of the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy who have made significant contributions to the advancement and practice of pharmacy and/or pharmaceutical sciences over the whole of their career.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Boris Tabakoff, PhD '70 & BS Pharmacy '66
Dr. Boris Tabakoff is a nationally recognized researcher. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree from the CU School of Pharmacy in 1966, Tabakoff returned to the School to pursue a PhD in Pharmacology.
He completed his doctorate in 1970, while discovering the first members of what is now called the aldose reductase family of enzymes. His work with these enzymes completed the metabolic map for the biogenic amine neurotransmitter substances, characterizing the production of reduced metabolites. These metabolites are still commonly used to monitor physiological activity of noradrenergic and serotonergic systems in humans and other animals.
Tabakoff is currently a faculty member of CU Pharmacy as a tenured professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Horizon Alumni
Award
Lucas Smith, PharmD '14
Distinguished Alumni Award
Debra Devereaux, BS '76
Horizon Alumni
Award
Kevin Kerr, PharmD '11
Dr. Kevin Kerr is the Director of Clinical Development at Aerie Pharmaceuticals where he leads early- and late-stage clinical programs to develop novel treatments for ophthalmic diseases with unmet medical need. Prior to his tenure at Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Kerr spent nine years at Allergan working on clinical-stage programs. He also served as the USC-Allergan Fellowship Program Coordinator and a fellowship mentor. He was Allergan’s first post-doctoral fellow from CU. He has authored and co-authored approximately two dozen scientific publications and is a co-inventor in 3 patents.
Kerr has remained active with the CU community as an APPE preceptor, providing oversight for more than 30 pharmacy students (many from CU) on advanced experience rotations.
He eared four degrees in the University of Colorado system and remains committed to his alma mater as an annual guest lecturer for the Introduction to the Pharmaceutical Industry Elective course as well as a speaker in the Dean’s Leadership Convocation series.