Lydia Benitez Receives MICHR Clinical and Translational Research Faculty Peer Mentor Award

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[Ann Arbor, Michigan] – The University of Michigan College of Pharmacy is pleased to announce that Lydia L. Benitez, PharmD’14, BCOP, has been awarded the Clinical and Translational Research Faculty Peer Mentor Award from the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR). The awards recognize individuals who go beyond the expectations of their roles to consistently foster the intellectual, creative, scholarly, and professional development of their peers, guiding them to reach their highest potential.

Dr. Benitez is a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy and a hematology/oncology pharmacy specialist at Michigan Medicine. According to a nominator, “Dr. Benitez skillfully guides mentees through research design, data collection, and statistical analysis, and has led medical residents through complex multicenter trials, demonstrating her commitment to advancing research and nurturing future pharmacists.”

A pharmacy specialist in Michigan Medicine’s adult leukemia clinic, Dr. Benitez pursues research on the use of new medications in leukemia, the treatment of infections in immunocompromised patients, and building a framework for oncology stewardship.  She has also received Preceptor of the Year and Making a Difference awards in recent years.

Vicki Ellingrod, Dean of the College of Pharmacy and MICHR Associate Director, who serves as the faculty lead for MICHR education and mentoring, said, “Dr. Benitez is the embodiment of what it means to receive this award and what it means to be a peer mentor. I am excited that a member of the College is being recognized with this honor!”

Sarah Vordenberg, Associate Chair of Clinical Pharmacy at the College of Pharmacy, remarked on how much Dr. Benitez cares about her mentees’ success. “She builds genuine relationships with her mentees while advancing hematology and oncology research to improve patient outcomes.”

“I am thrilled to be recognized and am grateful to MICHR and those who nominated me,” Dr. Benitez said.  “But this honor is really about my peers and mentees. Mentorship is a two-way street. I appreciate any opportunity to collaborate and am honored for any role that I have played in their research contributions. So thank you!”

MICHR established its Distinguished Clinical and Translational Research Mentor Awards in 2012 to honor the exceptional dedication and commitment of outstanding faculty and staff members at the University of Michigan who serve as mentors in the field. Mentorship is fundamental in developing and maintaining a skilled and talented research workforce. Effective mentors not only impart valuable knowledge and skills but also inspire, support, and advocate for the next generation of researchers.  

Dr. Benitez was among two clinicians who received the Faculty Peer Mentor Award. MICHR recognized a total of eight for outstanding mentorship in 2025.

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 at the bench to the bedside, in boardrooms and communities, government agencies, and within healthcare companies.