Five Texas Pharmacy Association (TPA) presidents in a row have one thing in common: they all earned their Pharm.D. from The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy.
The milestone is remarkable, but the conversations behind it tell an even richer story. Each alumnus described leadership not as something they pursued for recognition, but as something shaped through mentorship, strengthened through service and carried forward by a responsibility to leave the profession better than they found it.
Founded in 1879, TPA is the state's largest professional association representing pharmacists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Through advocacy, professional development and continuing education, the organization works to advance pharmacy practice and improve patient care across Texas. Serving as president is both a significant professional honor and an opportunity to help shape the future of pharmacy across the state.
Beginning with Carter High (Pharm.D. '04) in 2022, Texas Pharmacy alumni have served as TPA president for five consecutive years, including Jay Bueche (B.S. '95) in 2023, Jobby John (Pharm.D. '13) in 2024, Jason Davis (B.S. '95) in 2025 and current 2026 president Rannon Ching (Pharm.D. '14). While each brought a unique perspective to the role, their reflections reveal a shared foundation that began long before they assumed statewide leadership positions.
"The UT Austin College of Pharmacy is proud to see our commitment to developing the next generation of pharmacy leaders reflected in the impact our alumni are making across the state," said Dean Sam Poloyac, Pharm.D., Ph.D. "Their dedication to serving and advancing the profession through the Texas Pharmacy Association is an inspiration to our alumni, students, faculty and staff."
But serving as TPA president wasn't part of the plan for any of the alumni interviewed.
"As a student, serving as TPA president was never something I envisioned," said Jay Bueche. Carter High shared a similar perspective, explaining that he never imagined serving in the role as a student. Looking back, however, he now sees that the college was preparing him for leadership, even if he didn't recognize it at the time. Jobby John's focus was simpler. As a student, he was intent on finding his place and making the most of every opportunity in front of him. Jason Davis also never imagined himself in the role as a student and described ultimately serving as TPA president as an unexpected honor. "Serving as president of the Texas Pharmacy Association has been the greatest honor of my professional career," Jason said. "To have had the opportunity to lead the pharmacists of Texas is something I will never take for granted, and I can only hope that I served them well."
Although their paths looked different, each described leadership in remarkably similar ways. Carter believes "true leadership begins with purpose," while Jay sees leadership as something built on "trust, hard work and a genuine commitment to the profession." Jobby offered another perspective, describing leadership as "bringing people together around a problem that none of us can solve alone."
When asked what prepared them for those responsibilities, none of the alumni credited a single class, organization or defining moment. Instead, they described a college community that encouraged them to get involved, build relationships and think beyond their own careers.
For Carter, those lessons became clear only after graduation. "Looking back… I can clearly see how the college was preparing me for it, even if I didn’t recognize it at the time." Jobby captured that sentiment in a reflection that echoed throughout each conversation: "UT gave us far more than a clinical education. It taught us that our responsibility extends beyond our individual practices. We have an obligation to serve the profession, develop the next generation and leave pharmacy stronger than we found it."
Jay agreed, reflecting on the college's long tradition of developing leaders and describing it as "truly humbling to be counted among the UT Austin College of Pharmacy alumni who have had the privilege of serving as TPA president."
That legacy continues with Rannon Ching, the newest president of TPA. Like the leaders before him, Rannon credits those who encouraged him early in his career for shaping his own approach to leadership.
"What inspired me to serve was watching the pharmacists who came before me treat this role as more than protecting their own practice," he said. "They saw it as a responsibility to the profession, to the pharmacists and technicians doing this work every day and to the patients we all serve."
As he begins his term, Rannon hopes to build on that example by investing in the next generation of pharmacy leaders. "My goal is to be a good steward of the profession and leave it better than I found it," he said. That commitment was reflected in the advice each alumnus shared with students and young pharmacists.
Jay encouraged future leaders to get involved early and build relationships within the profession. Carter urged students to begin by understanding why they want to serve. Jobby challenged them not to chase titles, but instead to "chase the problems that frustrate you—they're often the problems worth solving." Jason offered similarly straightforward advice:
"Get involved. Do not wait for someone else to solve the problems that face our profession. It truly makes a difference."
For Rannon, leadership also means creating opportunities for those who come next. "It's not enough to hope people get involved on their own. We have to walk alongside them, invite them personally and show them what’s possible."
Five consecutive TPA presidents may share the same alma mater, but their reflections point to something much larger than a remarkable milestone. Together, they describe a Texas Pharmacy community where leadership is cultivated through mentorship, strengthened through service and sustained by each generation's commitment to preparing the next.
That Longhorn connection extends to TPA's executive leadership. CEO RoxAnn Dominguez, Pharm.D., is also a UT Austin alum, earning her undergraduate degree from the University before receiving her Pharm.D. from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and returning to UT Austin for a residency in psychopharmacology. Since becoming TPA's CEO in September 2024, RoxAnn has led the association's work to advance the profession and help shape the future of pharmacy across Texas.