Dr De La Pena teaching in a Pharmacy classroom

Ike De La Pena, PhD, associate professor at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy received the 2025-26 Innovation in Teaching Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Founded in 1900, the AACP is the national organization advancing pharmacy education in the United States.

Pharmacy is the third-largest health profession after nursing and medicine, with over 300,000 clinicians practicing in diverse healthcare settings, according to AACP. The Innovation in Teaching Award recognizes pharmacy faculty for developing, implementing, and documenting novel teaching and learning strategies.

De La Pena’s award‑winning submission, titled “Targeted Teaching, Learner‑Centered Grading: Improving Student Performance on Challenging Questions,” describes a data‑informed instructional and assessment redesign of a Foundations of Biomedical Sciences course.

Applying this new teaching strategy, De La Pena observed substantial improvements in student mastery of historically difficult concepts, including renal physiology and pharmacology. “I also saw a boost in student engagement and reduction in assessment‑related stress, which strengthened student learning outcomes,” he said.

"I am proud to congratulate this year’s recipient of the Innovation in Teaching Award, Dr. Ike de La Pena from Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy," said Lee Vermeulen, BSPharm, MS, FCCP, FFIP, AACP executive vice president and CEO. "By advancing innovative teaching, learning, and assessment strategies, Dr. De La Pena's work is not only elevating the academic experience but also shaping the future of professional practice. This recognition is richly deserved, and we look forward to the continued influence of his work across the academic community.”

As part of this recognition, De La Pena has been invited to present his work at the 2026 AACP Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas, and his abstract will be published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.

“This achievement reflects not only Dr. De La Pena’s creativity and rigor as a Doctor of Pharmacy educator, but also our school’s shared commitment to evidence‑based teaching and learner‑focused assessment,” said Kyle M. Sousa, PhD, dean of LLU School of Pharmacy. “We are grateful for his innovation, and for the way his work continues to elevate our academic community.”