OAKWOOD, VA (OCTOBER 26, 2026) – Third year Appalachian College of Pharmacy student Patrick Sturgill’s involvement with the Kentucky Pharmacists Association (KPhA) started with his appointment to serve on the KPhA public health committee a year ago and has now led to his involvement in the formation of a new program to benefit students not only at ACP, but also those who participate in the KPhA.
The KPhA Emerging Student Leadership Program was developed as a pilot program and when Sturgill was invited to join the inaugural pilot program by KPhA leadership, not only did he readily agree to take part, but he also volunteered to help develop resources intended to explain KPhA in a way that students and new members better understand everything from how the association is structured and what the board and House of Delegates do, to how committees work, how policy is developed, how parliamentary procedure fits into the process and how to achieve a meaningful role in the organization. He now serves as the pilot’s KPhA 101 & Leadership Education Lead.
Sturgill, who is originally from Jenkins, KY, has been paired with Joel Thornbury as his mentor for the program. Thornbury has longstanding ties to ACP and to KPhA.
“It means a lot to me to be included and to take part in creating this program,” Sturgill said. “I will directly have a hand in influencing future pathways for students to be involved and take full advantage of what KPhA has to offer. This not only means a lot for students, this will also help the profession by showing current students that there is a path to be involved in current policy in the Commonwealth and their voices can be heard regardless of what pharmacy school they attend. KPhA has supported me since day one and the opportunities have been endless in just one year of joining.”
During Sturgill’s service on the KPhA Public Health Committee during the 2025–2026 year, he has been actively involved in the committee’s policy work. Among other projects, he helped with development of a policy statement addressing pharmacist access to Kentucky’s medical cannabis monitoring information; and participated in the development of a resolution addressing Kentucky’s pharmacy sale notification requirements, specifically the exemption involving sales of pharmacies within five miles of one another. The concern raised through that work was that patients may receive little or no advance notice before their pharmacy closes, limiting their opportunity to make informed decisions regarding where their prescriptions and care are transferred.
“Patrick is exactly the kind of student we hoped this program would empower,” said Dr. Lindsey M. Dunwoody, chair of the KPhA Public Affairs Committee. “He had already spent a year showing up, contributing to real policy work and asking thoughtful questions about how KPhA works and how students can meaningfully participate. What has impressed me most is that when those questions helped us recognize gaps in the pathway for student involvement, Patrick did not simply identify the problem, he volunteered to help build the solution.
“Through his leadership of KPhA 101, he is creating something that can make it easier for future student pharmacists, including ACP students who plan to practice in Kentucky, to find their place in the association and in professional advocacy,” Dunwoody added.
Beginning with the 2026–2027 association year, responsibilities previously assigned to KPhA’s Public Health Committee were incorporated into the Public Affairs Committee. Sturgill has continued his KPhA committee service as a member of the Public Affairs Committee, where he remains involved in issues affecting pharmacy practice, patients and the profession.
“We are very proud of Patrick and the initiative he showed by seeking to become a member of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association public health committee and now to be a leader in the development of this pilot program,” said ACP Provost and Dean Susan Mayhew. “The role of pharmacists as frontline public health providers is a critical one and as we train the next generation of pharmacists here at ACP, we are pleased that one of our students is already out there making a difference in the profession of pharmacy in this way.”
In addition to his membership on the KPhA committee, Sturgill also serves on the Jenkins Independent Schools Board of Education in Jenkins, Ky., where he currently resides. He was previously commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Andy Beshear. The Kentucky Colonels designation is an honorary title awarded by the Governor of Kentucky to individuals “for their noteworthy accomplishments, contributions to society, or exceptional service to their community or state.”
Sturgill completed his pharmacy prerequisites and earned an Associate of Science Degree at Southeast Community and Technical College in Cumberland, KY. He chose to pursue his PharmD degree at ACP, he said, because it is so close to his hometown and because it is an accelerated three-year program.
Sturgill and his wife, Kayla, have two children, Leah, age nine; and Luca, age four.
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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