Six students from The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy were awarded nationally competitive student registration grants to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP), marking a record year for the college.
Funded through the AAPP Foundation and the AAPP Past Presidents' Destiny Fund, the grants were awarded to just 33 Doctor of Pharmacy students nationwide. Recipients were selected based on the strength of their applications and faculty recommendations, recognizing academic achievement, leadership and commitment to the field of psychiatric pharmacy.
This year's Texas Pharmacy recipients include Sierra Aguilar (P3), Sara Bhimani (P2), Isabel Mateo (P2), Edwin Rice (P2), Delandra Robinson (P4) and Sydney Saenz (P4).
Advancing a Passion for Psychiatric Pharmacy
For many recipients, the award affirms a growing commitment to serving patients living with mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
Sara Bhimani shared that receiving the grant is especially meaningful as her interest in psychiatric pharmacy has expanded through transformative experiences, including participation in the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Summer Institute for Medical Students program and attendance at the 2025 AAPP Annual Meeting.
"These opportunities confirmed my passion for a field that advocates for and serves a significantly underserved patient population," Sara said. "Having the opportunity to learn about ongoing research, network with experts and attend education sessions will greatly impact my professional growth and career trajectory."
For Isabel Mateo, the award represents both personal and organizational pride. A dedicated leader within the college's AAPP chapter, Isabel has served as Junior Peer Outreach Chair and now as Senior Peer Outreach Chair, engaging in mental health advocacy across campus and the community.
"When I was applying to pharmacy schools, I was especially drawn to the UT Austin College of Pharmacy because of its strong student organization involvement, particularly AAPP," Isabel said. "At the Annual Meeting, I look forward to deepening my understanding of psychiatric pharmacy, gaining exposure to emerging treatment strategies and connecting with professionals who share similar interests."
Transforming Lived Experience into Purpose
For Edwin Rice, the path to psychiatric pharmacy is deeply personal. Edwin lost his mother to complications of alcohol use disorder in 2016. That same year, he experienced a period of profound personal struggle that ultimately led to a serious hospitalization related to his own mental health. During his recovery, he found unexpected community while attending peer support meetings alongside individuals living with substance use disorders.
"What I initially approached with hesitation became a place of acceptance, humility and healing," Edwin reflected. "The lessons I learned there continue to shape how I see myself and others."
Since matriculating at Texas Pharmacy, Edwin has pursued opportunities to better understand psychiatric and addiction care, including shadowing clinical psychiatric pharmacists, participating in the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Summer Institute program and applying skills from his concurrent master’s degree in bioinformatics to psychiatric pharmacy research.
At the 2026 AAPP Annual Meeting, he looks forward to exploring the intersection of bioinformatics and psychiatric pharmacy, particularly emerging conversations around artificial intelligence in personalized treatment planning.
"Texas Pharmacy has surrounded me with mentors and opportunities that have allowed me to grow not only as a future practitioner, but also a patient advocate," Edwin said.
Leadership, Research and Giving Back
For Delandra Robinson, the grant builds on years of leadership and service through the college's AAPP chapter and the Operation Naloxone initiative, where she facilitated opioid overdose awareness and prevention trainings for students, faculty and community members.
Her experiences, including serving as chapter president and working as a research assistant with the Pharmacy Addictions Research & Medicine (PhARM) Program, solidified her goal of becoming a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist.
"As a fourth-year student on the cusp of beginning my career, I am honored to have been selected to receive a national AAPP student registration grant and am excited to present my research at this year's conference," Delandra said. "I look forward to the day when I can give back to the profession by supporting future student pharmacists in pursuing their passions."
Sydney Saenz is also preparing to present her research at the national meeting.
"Having the opportunity to present my research poster at the AAPP Annual Meeting is what I am looking forward to the most," Sydney said. "This experience will promote the expansion of my communication and presentation skills, and I am excited to share my research at a national level while expanding my clinical knowledge and professional network."
Challenging Stigma, Advancing Care
For Sierra Aguilar, receiving the AAPP registration grant represents an opportunity to deepen both knowledge and practical experience in psychiatric pharmacy.
"Receiving this AAPP registration grant allows me to further explore and expand my knowledge in psychiatric pharmacy while applying what I have learned in the classroom to real-world patient care," Sierra shared.
Her interest in the field began after joining AAPP-ATX and attending general meetings featuring speakers from diverse areas of psychiatric pharmacy. "Learning about their career paths inspired me to deepen my involvement, which led me to attend SIMS at the Hazelden Betty Ford Center. There. I gained a greater understanding of patients' lived experiences and challenged stigmas I previously held," she said.
At Annual Meeting, Sierra looks forward to learning from leaders in the field, exploring emerging research and treatment strategies and connecting with professionals committed to advancing mental health care.
A Record Year for Texas Pharmacy
Receiving six national registration grants marks a milestone for the college, which in previous years typically received two or three awards. The record-setting achievement reflects both the caliber of Texas Pharmacy students and the strength of faculty mentorship in psychiatric pharmacy.
As these six student pharmacists prepare to join peers and leaders from across the country, they carry with them not only individual accomplishments, but the values of the college, dedicated to advancing the health of communities through leadership, innovation and compassionate patient care.