Professor Olayinka Shiyanbola Awarded with Prestigious APhA Fellowship Award

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Dr. Olayinka Shiyanbola, Charles Walgreens Jr, Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, has been awarded the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Fellow Award. This is awarded to APhA members for exemplary professional achievements in pharmacy practice and outstanding service to the profession. 

Dr. Shiyanbola joined APhA in 2005 when she began her PhD in Pharmaceutical Socioeconomics at the University of Iowa and has remained a dedicated member since. 

“This award is special because it recognizes the culmination of pharmacy and health equity work I have been able to do over the course of my career so far. The type of research I do takes time and engagement in the community, but it is always worth it,” said Shiyanbola. 

After serving in faculty roles at South Dakota State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Schools of Pharmacy, Dr. Shiyanbola joined the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy in August 2024 where she continues her career-long research on health disparities and health equity issues. Her current research is focused on diabetes management in underrepresented groups; She works with a team of interdisciplinary researchers on developing interventions to improve medication use.

Dr. Shiyanbola is the author of more than 85 publications and more than 220 scientific presentations including invited talks, symposiums and seminars. 

Outside of Dr. Shiyanbola’s role as Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, she serves as Co-Faculty lead of the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) Building Up Mentored Program working to remove roadblocks in the translational research pipeline. 

Humble about the award, Dr. Shiyanbola thanks the communities of people who make her research possible.

“It’s nice to get an award, but this is more about the work we do in this research. We would not be able to do what we do to improve health inequities if these historically marginalized communities didn’t open themselves up to us to do the work, and for that, I am appreciative,” said Shiyanbola.  

The College of Pharmacy congratulates Dr. Shiyanbola on this well-deserved distinction!