Dr. Sarah Vordenberg Wins 2026 Teaching Excellence Award

Media Contact: Lindsay Groth, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, [email protected]

[Ann Arbor, Michigan] — The College of Pharmacy is pleased to announce that Sarah Vordenberg, PharmD, MPH, Clinical Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, has been named the recipient of the College’s 2026 Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Vordenberg is a two-time winner of this award, previously receiving the recognition in 2020. 

“I am honored to receive this recognition from the College of Pharmacy,” Vordenberg reflected. “The greatest joy in teaching for me is building relationships with students, supporting their goals and growth, and helping them connect what we do in class to providing patient-centered care in their future careers.”

Dr. Vordenberg plays a central role in shaping the educational experience of student pharmacists, particularly in their first year. She introduces foundational skills such as outpatient medication dispensing, the safe and effective use of over-the-counter medications and strategies for supporting patients and caregivers in making informed medication decisions.

In addition to her teaching, Dr. Vordenberg serves as Chair of the PharmD Curriculum and Assessment Committee, where she collaborates with faculty to continuously enhance the curriculum and ensure student pharmacists are well-prepared to enter practice. She is also a co-developer of the MyDispense USA Community, a national forum where faculty share best practices for using simulated medication dispensing to prepare learners for real-world pharmacy practice.

Dr. Vordenberg’s research reflects her commitment to patient-centered care and education. She actively engages learners in her work, which focuses on how older adults make decisions about continuing or discontinuing chronic medications, as well as the factors that contribute to the overprescribing of potentially unsafe medications for patients with dementia.

Her dedication to teaching and mentorship has made a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike. “Dr. Vordenberg exemplifies excellence in teaching through her innovation, leadership and unwavering commitment to student success and patient care,” said Dean Vicki Ellingrod.

Throughout her career, Dr. Vordenberg has earned a number of awards, including the College’s Student Appreciation Award and Faculty Appreciation Award. She is also a 3-time Journal of the American Pharmacists Association Outstanding Reviewer.

Dr. Vordenberg will be recognized for this achievement at this year’s College of Pharmacy Commencement Ceremony on May 3, 2026. 

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About the College

The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy has been leading at pharmacy’s edge for 150 years. The first and oldest pharmacy school at a state university, the College — currently ranked #2 in the nation — has and continues to shape education in the field. Its faculty are internationally recognized and are innovators in drug discovery, development and delivery, precision pharmacotherapy, outcomes research, and clinical practice. More than 5,000 alumni are enhancing patient care and outcomes from the bench to the bedside, in boardrooms and communities, government agencies, and within healthcare companies.