OAKWOOD, VA (JUNE 25, 2026) – Appalachian College of Pharmacy Alumna Jordan Smith has been named the Kentucky Pharmacist of the Year by the Kentucky Pharmacists Association (KPhA).
Smith, who resides in Newport, Ky., with her husband, Jim McDaniel, graduated from ACP in 2016. She received the award Saturday, June 13 during the President’s Dinner and Annual Awards Ceremony held during the 2026 KPhA annual meeting in Louisville, Ky.
The Pharmacist of the Year Award recognizes a pharmacist for outstanding professional activities undertaken during the current or previous calendar year, which resulted in a demonstrable benefit to the profession of pharmacy.
“We are very proud of Jordan and we congratulate her on this statewide recognition of her contributions to the profession of pharmacy,” said ACP Provost and Dean Susan Mayhew. “The recognition is well-deserved and indicative of her commitment to her career through not only her work with a national pharmacy chain, but through her own consulting business and now, a foundation focused on further improving community health.”
“Receiving the award means a lot to me,” Smith said. “While the award is incredibly humbling, what means the most to me is knowing that the work happening in communities matters and hopefully, it inspires others to get involved.”
Smith, who is from Versailles, Ky., and who graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in biology, found the Appalachian College of Pharmacy as she was looking into going to pharmacy school somewhere close to home. She was working as a pharmacy technician for Walgreens and decided it was time to up her game and become a full-fledged pharmacist. She ran across ACP in her research of pharmacy schools and said she liked the three-year accelerated program, which was important to her in her goal setting.
In looking back, she said, her study at ACP was the start of what led her to where she is now.
“It was such a blessing,” she said.
Her time at ACP was the beginning of what she said was a real understanding of rural healthcare and the needs of rural communities.
“It really gave me a better understanding of health literacy, access to healthcare issues and all that’s embedded in the Appalachian region,” she said. “My experiences at ACP are where my health equity passion was inspired.”
She noted health literacy, vaccine confidence and access to care in underserved communities have been a significant part of her professional journey as a pharmacist and remain as something that continues to drive her today.
Smith continues to work for Walgreens, where she is currently a district pharmacy supervisor, overseeing 27 Walgreens locations in Northern Kentucky, Lexington, Ky, and the upper half of Eastern Kentucky.
“I grew up in the company,” Smith said, noting she has a 20-year history of working with them since her days pre-pharmacy school as a pharm tech to where she is now.
And while Walgreens is her full-time job, she still finds time to volunteer at local Remote Area Medical (RAM) events when they are held. RAM was something she learned about while at ACP and volunteering as a student at the Grundy event held annually. It’s something she said she never forgot and has sought to continue and grow her involvement in through the years.
Smith has also founded her own company, MedicinLogic (medicinlogic.com), a personalized healthcare consulting business which seeks to help everyday people make sense of their medication. The business offers various services, including pharmacist-led consultations, pharmacogenomic testing, medication reviews and wellness guidance.
The business model includes a membership option called The Logic Lounge which provides ongoing support and guidance from a pharmacist who knows the patient’s history and goals. Membership includes benefits like monthly quick med checks, ask-a-pharmacist access and member pricing on testing and labs.
“MedicinLogic aims to provide patients with a deeper understanding of their medications and health, helping them feel more confident in their care,” she said.
Smith was recognized as a Next Generation Leader during an awards ceremony last year in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community.
She also recently formed a non-profit foundation, the Jordan Smith Community Care Foundation, which she created to expand access to healthcare education, to support community initiatives and empower future healthcare leaders. The foundation is dedicated to improving community health through education, access, empowerment and innovation. Key initiatives include community leadership programs, community innovation grants, healthcare service development programs and scholarships.
This fall, the foundation will host a summit, the Next Dose Summit, October 14-15, 2026 in Covington, Ky. The summit will serve to build connections, inspire ideas, support future community care initiatives and to create conversations around what’s possible beyond the traditional path, Smith said. Funds raised in part will be used so the foundation can work to host a RAM event in her community. Registration for the summit is open now at www.jscommunitycare.org.
“A common thread throughout my career has really been meeting people where they are, improving access and helping people better understand and navigate healthcare,” Smith said. “I think that’s what connects my work at Walgreens, MedicinLogic, the foundation and community outreach efforts.”
Smith is a current member of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association and the American Pharmacists Association. She has been a member of the KPhA board and was installed as secretary of the association at the June 13 meeting as her term as a board member came to an end.
ABOUT ACP: The Appalachian College of Pharmacy is the only three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Founded in 2003, the college accepted its first students in 2005. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its mission is to cultivate a learning community committed to education, community outreach and the professional development of pharmacists. Its graduate pharmacists are now practicing throughout the United States. Learn more at www.acp.edu.
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