UCSF Pharmacy Alum Daniel Robinson Named 2025 California Pharmacist of the Year

Daniel Robinson, PharmD ’76, FASHP, has been named California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) 2025 Pharmacist of the Year, recognizing his five-decade career in pharmacy education, leadership and legislative advocacy. 

Robinson, who is dean and professor emeritus at Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy, has long been a champion for expanding pharmacists’ roles in patient care. He played an instrumental role in advancing California Senate Bill 493, which granted pharmacists provider status and expanded prescribing authority –– a milestone in pharmacy legislation. His leadership has empowered pharmacists to practice at the top of their licensure, improving patient access to care. 

“Daniel’s impact on pharmacy education and policy is profound,” said Kathy Giacomini, PhD, BSPharm, dean of the UCSF School of Pharmacy. “His leadership and advocacy have not only advanced the profession in California but have influenced pharmacy practice on a national and international scale. He exemplifies the values of UCSF — innovation, mentorship and dedication to improving patient care.” 

Lifelong commitment to learning and leadership 

Robinson earned his PharmD and completed a clinical residency at the UCSF School of Pharmacy. His time at UCSF ignited his passion for education, and he quickly realized that teaching was a lifelong pursuit. 

“I found that when you’re teaching, you have to learn things at a different level,” Robinson said in 2022, when he was named the UCSF Pharmacy Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alum of the Year. “It’s not just superficial — you have to be able to answer questions and explain concepts in ways that others will understand. That, I found, was very exciting.” 

Following his residency, Robinson became an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska, where he practiced as a surgical and medical ICU pharmacist, immersing himself in team-based health care. The experience reinforced his belief in the critical role of pharmacists on medical teams. 

Robinson spent 19 years at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, including 13 years as chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice. In addition to mentoring students and faculty, he also helped raise international standards for pharmacy education programs in Argentina, China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. 

From 2001 to 2006, he served as dean at Northeastern University School of Pharmacy in Boston before returning to California to lead WesternU’s pharmacy program. In 2018, Robinson was inducted into the CPhA Hall of Fame, one of only four deans to receive the honor, and in 2019, he chaired the statewide working group that drafted legislation ensuring pharmacists can fully operate as health care providers. 

Robinson will be honored at CPhA’s Western Pharmacy Exchange, April 4-6 in San Diego. 

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Learning and leadership in pharmacy: 2022 Distinguished Alum Daniel Robinson