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CEO for the Day

The APhA Foundation's CEO for the Day program supports rising pharmacy leaders who are committed to APhA, their state pharmacy association and their communities, and who desire exposure to leadership experiences. The day-long program brings the participant to APhA Headquarters in Washington, DC, to serve as "CEO for the Day" and interact with executive leadership in one-on-one meetings and group meetings that provide insights on association governance, legislative and advocacy activities, and other areas related to organizational leadership.

I had a wonderful time as CEO for the Day! I left the day full of even more inspiration and excitement for our profession. I gained new perspectives and insights through my legislator visits on Capitol Hill and my one-on-one meetings with APhA and APhA Foundation leaders. - Amanda Applegate, 2023 CEO for the Day Recipient

Eligibility & How to Apply

Applicants should have:

  • Active APhA membership.

  • Completed their Doctor of Pharmacy degree at least five years prior to applying.

  • Demonstrated involvement in their state pharmacy association.

  • Demonstrated public service to their community.

  • Demonstrated interest in leadership.

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Applications are currently closed - check back in August of 2025.

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The recipient will be notified in August and the CEO for the Day program will be held in September. 

About the Boyle-Love Rising Leaders Fund

"Not everyone has the opportunity to complete a residency or fellowship, but as they progress in their careers and develop their leadership and advocacy in their states and communities, they may be looking for expanded connections and experiences. ...We hope others will join us to support this and other programs which advance our Rising Leaders."

- Cynthia Boyle and Ray Love

The Boyle-Love Rising Leaders Fund was established in 2022 by Cynthia J. Boyle and Raymond C. Love to support the APhA Foundation's CEO for the Day experience.

​Cynthia Boyle, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FASCP is a professor emeritus in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

Raymond Love, PharmD, BCPP, FASHP is a professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and holds a secondary appointment as a professor at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine. He also serves as Director of the School of Pharmacy’s Mental Health Program and Vice Chair, Collaborative Initiatives, Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research.

CEO for the Day Recipients

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2024 - Ashley Pugh

Ashley Pugh, PharmD, BCACP is Assistant Dean for Experiential Education and Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Union University College of Pharmacy. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2014 from Union University College of Pharmacy and later joined its faculty in 2015 after completion of a community-based pharmacy residency. Ashley has practice experience in chain community and clinic-based ambulatory care pharmacy. Her practice interests include immunizations and management of chronic disease states such as diabetes, COPD, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Previous American Pharmacists Association (APhA) leadership experience includes new practitioner advisory committee and academy leadership. Within APhA-APPM, Ashley currently serves on its Executive Committee as a Member at Large and member of the Education Standing Committee. She previously served as Coordinator of the Immunizing Pharmacists SIG and has chaired or served on multiple committees within the Immunizing Pharmacists, Medication Management, and Preceptor SIGs. Within the New Practitioner Network (NPN), Ashley served on the New Practitioner Advisory Committee (NPAC) as a Member at Large and served on various committees within the NPN. As a student pharmacist, she was president of her APhA-ASP chapter at Union University College of Pharmacy. Ashley has served as an APhA-APPM delegate for multiple years in the House of Delegates. In addition to APhA, Ashley is actively involved in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Tennessee Pharmacists Association, and West Tennessee Pharmacists Association.

“APhA involvement has been one of the most significant contributors to my professional development since my time in pharmacy school. I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to participate in the APhA Foundation's CEO for the Day program to further expand my knowledge of the profession and see organizational leaders in action.”

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Past Recipients

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