Williams Named 2023 Champion of Pharmacy
October 11, 2023
Dr. Karl Williams, professor in the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher University, was named the 2023 Rochester Champion of Pharmacy by the Pharmacy Society of Rochester and Rochester Society of Health System Pharmacists.
Williams is the third individual from the School of Pharmacy to be named a pharmacy champion, joining founding dean Dr. Scott Swigart and current dean Dr. Christine Birnie on the Champions Wall of Fame. He was formally recognized during the Rochester Pharmacy Gala, held on Saturday, Oct. 7.
“I’ve been advised that this honor is a great capstone to my career,” said Williams. “But there is so much work to be done, and I love teaching.”
Williams has been a member of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy faculty since 2007. He teaches courses in pharmacy law, ethics, and counseling. His continuing professional mission is to improve public health through direct patient education; enabling patients to identify therapeutic effect, recognize and manage side effects, and achieve success in pharmacotherapy.
Prior to joining Fisher, Williams served on the faculty at the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy and St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health. In addition, he has maintained clinical and administrative practice for over 30 years at Myers Community Hospital, Moses Ludington Hospital, Mckesson Medication Management, and Little Falls Hospital.
Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the State University of New York at Buffalo. In addition, he has earned a master’s degree from the University of Rochester Toxicology Training Program, a law degree from the University of Kentucky, and an MBA from St. John Fisher University in 2019. He is licensed to practice pharmacy in New York, Kentucky, the New England states, and Virginia, and is admitted to the practice of law in New York and Kentucky.
He has authored over 300 scholarly works with interests relating to patient safety, risk minimization, professional practice, civil rights, labor, criminal law, ethical corporate management, and education. He is a contributing member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Pharmacy Practice.
In addition to serving as general counsel to the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education, Williams is active in numerous professional organizations including as past president of the Pharmacy Society of Rochester and the Rochester-area Society of Health System Pharmacists. He is a 27-year member of the Pharmacy Society of the State of New York (PSSNY), an association whose goal is to empower the profession through advocacy, education, networking, and interprofessional collaboration. He has served as a board member for PSSNY’s local chapter and at the state level, he has served as a regional representative, member of the Board of Directors, legislative committee chair, president, and chair of the board. Williams also serves as a pro bono trial officer on the Surrogate Decision-Making Committee for the New York State Justice Center.
School of Pharmacy students have honored Williams with the Teacher of the Year award in 2009, 2011, and 2022.
At the gala, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners gathered to celebrate the profession. Rafal Decker, a third-year student in the online pathway, was also acknowledged as the recipient of the Rochester Pharmacy Society student scholarship.
