Inaugural Alumni & Friends Award winners announced

The University of Florida College of Pharmacy established the Alumni & Friends Awards to recognize individuals who have significantly impacted the college and the pharmacy profession. Carl Allison, ’76, was named the College of Pharmacy Impact Award winner, while Mitchel C. Rothholz, ’84, was selected for the Distinguished Service to Pharmacy Profession Award. Both will be honored at the college’s Evening of Excellence celebration on Nov. 15.

College of Pharmacy Impact Award (Carl Allison)

Lake City pharmacy owner Carl Allison and his wife, Joan, have been loyal supporters of the UF College of Pharmacy for more than four decades. A 1976 graduate of the college, Allison worked for 10 years as a pharmacist at Revco Drug before opening Baya Pharmacy in 1986. His pharmacy has become a staple of the Lake City community, serving patients and customers with the same care and dedication as family.

As his business grew and thrived, Allison supported various programs within the UF College of Pharmacy, including scholarships, endowments, building funds, and entrepreneurial initiatives. The Allisons established the Jared C. Allison Memorial Fund for student scholarships in memory of their son, who passed away six years after earning his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UF. A recent gift allowed the college to construct a state-of-the-art conference room in Malachowsky Hall for Data Science & Information Technology — a new building in the heart of UF’s campus dedicated to fostering collaboration among data scientists in pharmacy, engineering, and medicine.

Beyond financial support, Allison has been UF’s voice in the community and a champion for encouraging pharmacy students to explore independent pharmacy ownership. He has employed UF graduates and mentored pharmacy students and residents who have rotated through his pharmacy. Since 1995, he has served the college in several volunteer roles, including the Dean’s Leadership Council, National Advisory Board, Campaign Council, and Development Advisory Board.

Through his time, talents, ideas, and giving, Allison has played a significant role in shaping the future of the UF College of Pharmacy and the careers of countless pharmacists impacting health care today.

About the College of Pharmacy Impact Award

This special recognition is intended for an individual whose record of service and dedication to the UF College of Pharmacy is outstanding. It is open to both alumni and non-alumni.


Distinguished Service to Pharmacy Profession Award (Mitchel C. Rothholz, R.Ph., M.B.A., FAPhA)

Mitchel C. Rothholz, R.Ph., M.B.A., FAPhA, is a nationally recognized expert on pharmacy-based immunization delivery with more than four decades of organization, advocacy, and practice management experience. Much of his distinguished career was spent with the American Pharmacists Association, or APhA, where he served as chief of staff and chief strategy officer, as well executive director of the APhA Foundation. He has strongly advocated for expanding pharmacists’ scope of practice and strengthening their presence in health care teams.

Mitchel C. Rothholz

Rothholz is credited with globally introducing the concept of “immunization neighborhoods,” a patient-centered approach that emphasizes collaboration, coordination, and communication among stakeholders to meet the needs of both individuals and communities. His contributions include developing curricula, helping practitioners and communities address public health needs, delivering presentations on the role of pharmacists and pharmacy teams in immunization advocacy, and publishing research on the topic.

In addition to his APhA roles, Rothholz has been involved with several influential boards, committees, and task forces related to immunization and pharmacy. He has served more than 17 years as secretary for the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners and serves on the U.S. Health and Human Services National Vaccine Advisory Committee, the Leadership Steering Committee of the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit, and leadership of the Immunization Action Coalition and Unity Coalition, among others. His education at UF, and early work with the Florida and Alabama pharmacy associations, helped shape his leadership path in the profession.

A 1984 graduate of the UF College of Pharmacy, Rothholz later earned a master’s in business administration in health care management from Regis University in 2005. His career has spanned a variety of settings, including community pharmacy, nursing homes, hospitals, and managed care. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Rothholz was awarded the Daniel B. Smith Pharmacy Practice Excellence Award in 2023 and became an APhA fellow in 2024.

About the Distinguished Service to Pharmacy Profession Award

This special recognition is intended for an individual whose record of service and dedication to the profession, or the community-at-large, is outstanding. It is open to both alumni and non-alumni.