The Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) presented awards to two Drake University alums, a faculty member and a current student at its 2026 Annual Meeting, which took place on June 11 and 12 in Coralville, Iowa. These prestigious awards recognize exceptional service to the profession of pharmacy.
Wendy Mobley-Bukstein, Professor of Pharmacy Practice, received the Thomas R. Temple Mentorship Award. This award recognizes an individual who “has mentored, supported and sponsored pharmacists in a transformative way,” according to the IPA.
Mobley-Bukstein graduated from Drake’s Doctor of Pharmacy program in 1999 and returned as a faculty member. She currently teaches courses in medication management, diabetes care, and intermediate pharmacy skills in addition to being a diabetes care and education specialist, ambulatory care pharmacist, health and wellness coach, and personal trainer.
Mobley-Bukstein was nominated for her dedication to mentorship throughout her career. She is active as a chapter advisor for the American Pharmacists Association’s Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), introducing students to professional organizations and encouraging them to get involved. She also maintains a clinical practice at Primary Health Care East Side Clinic, where she precepts student pharmacists. In 2025, she was named CPHS Mentor of the Year.
Stacy Johnson, a fourth-year Drake Pharmacy student, won the Jerry Karbeling Leadership Award. This honor is presented each year to a Drake student and a University of Iowa student who participate actively in professional organizations and the political process.
Johnson has served as a Student Pharmacist representative on the IPA Board of Trustees for the past year. She has developed a deep appreciation for the power of advocacy, explored her interest in policy, and ensured that students have had a voice in the pharmacy profession in the state of Iowa.
Greg Johansen, PH ‘76, was named Honorary President of the Iowa Pharmacy Association. This award recognizes a pharmacist who has demonstrated “lengthy and sustained commitment” to the pharmacy profession in Iowa.
The IPA praised Johansen for his extensive contributions to their association, Drake, and the pharmacy profession. He spent four decades in community pharmacy and franchise operations as the founder and former president of GRX Holdings, LLC; and in several senior leadership roles with Medicap Pharmacies and Medicine Shoppe International. He has won several awards for his achievements, including the 2018 Weaver Medal of Honor.
Monica Nikseresht, PharmD ‘21, received the Excellence in Innovation Award. This award recognizes a pharmacist who has demonstrated “significant innovation in their career.”
As the Clinical Manager of her family’s Glenwood Medicap Pharmacy, Monica has been at the forefront of standard of care implementation in Iowa. She created the Mediclinic at Medicap with the goal of creating a community wellness destination, offering a range of critical clinical services to fill gaps in rural Iowa.