Honoring a Legacy of Innovation, Leadership and Compassion: Remembering Dr. Hae Mi Choe

The legacy of Dr. Hae Mi Choe continues to shape the future of pharmacy, through the lives she touched, the systems she transformed and the enduring recognition of her extraordinary contributions.

Dr. Choe, who passed away on July 12, 2025, following a courageous battle with leukemia, was a visionary leader, mentor and innovator whose influence extended far beyond the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. As Associate Dean for Pharmacy Innovations and Partnerships, Chief Population Health Officer at Michigan Medicine and Executive Director of the Michigan Institute for Care Management & Transformation with Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan (BCBSM), she dedicated her career to advancing team-based care and elevating the role of pharmacists in improving patient outcomes.

In the months following her passing, Dr. Choe’s impact has been honored at the highest levels of the profession.

In July 2025, she was named a recipient of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Board of Directors Distinguished Leadership Award. This national recognition celebrates her pioneering work integrating pharmacists into clinical care teams and developing innovative models that transformed care delivery across Michigan and the nation. From establishing scalable pharmacist-led care models across 14 health centers to advancing reimbursement pathways and spearheading a nationally recognized hypertension program later adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Choe’s work redefined what is possible in pharmacy practice.

Her legacy of service and professional excellence was further recognized in March 2026, when she was awarded the American Pharmacists Association’s Hugo H. Schaefer Award. One of the profession’s highest honors, the award recognizes sustained contributions to both pharmacy and society, an embodiment of Dr. Choe’s lifelong commitment to advancing care, mentoring future leaders and serving communities.

Closer to home, Dr. Choe was also named the 2026 Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) Pharmacist of the Year. This lifetime achievement award recognizes a member whose career reflects sustained professional excellence, exemplary service and a deep commitment to advancing both the profession and public health. Dr. Choe’s career — defined by innovation, mentorship and a relentless focus on expanding the role of pharmacists in care delivery — exemplifies the spirit of this award and reflects the profound and lasting impact she has had on pharmacy in Michigan and beyond.

In a lasting tribute to her innovative spirit, the Michigan Pharmacists Association has renamed its Excellence in Innovation Award to the Hae Mi Choe Excellence in Innovation Award. A two-time recipient of the award herself, Dr. Choe exemplified the creativity, leadership and forward-thinking vision it represents. The award will continue to honor individuals and teams who pioneer new approaches to patient care, improve pharmacy systems and advance the profession, ensuring that her influence continues to inspire innovation for generations to come.

While these recognitions reflect the breadth of her professional achievements, those who knew Dr. Choe remember her most for her unwavering commitment to others.

She was a dedicated mentor who saw potential in every student and colleague, challenging them to think bigger, lead with purpose and never lose sight of the human side of healthcare. Her ability to bring people together, listen deeply and inspire action left a lasting imprint on countless individuals across the profession.

To honor that legacy and continue her lifelong investment in students, the College of Pharmacy is proud to announce the establishment of the Dr. Hae Mi Choe Memorial Scholarship. Created through the generosity of her family, colleagues and friends — including Yong Choe, Dean Vicki Ellingrod, Dean Karen Farris and Dr. Amy Thompson — the fund will provide scholarship support to future student pharmacists, with the first awards to be distributed in Fall 2026.

“This scholarship is established in loving memory of Dr. Hae Mi Choe, whose life’s work embodied leadership, integrity, innovation and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of pharmacy education,” shared Yong Choe. “She believed deeply in the power of knowledge to transform lives and inspired those around her to lead with purpose.”

Dr. Choe’s colleagues echoed that sentiment, remembering not only her professional accomplishments but the person behind them.

“Hae Mi was a visionary leader, a trailblazer, a beloved mentor, and above all, a remarkable human being whose impact transformed pharmacy practice,” shared Dean Vicki Ellingrod, Dean Karen Farris and Professor Amy Thompson. “Her legacy lives not only in the programs she built, but in the countless lives she uplifted and inspired.”

The scholarship will support students who reflect Dr. Choe’s passion for pharmacy, commitment to lifelong learning and dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, ensuring that her spirit of innovation and compassion continues to guide the next generation.

Though her absence is deeply felt, Dr. Choe’s legacy endures — in the care models she pioneered, the profession she helped transform and the seat she encouraged pharmacists to take at the proverbial table. 

Those who wish to honor Dr. Choe’s memory and support future pharmacists may contribute to the Hae Mi Choe Memorial Fund here.

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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 #3 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.