Madison – The Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board (PEB) has earned the 2026 Fred T. Mahaffey Award, given by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NAPB) Executive Committee, marking the PEB’s first leadership award from the NABP.
“I was quite surprised and honored to hear about this prestigious award. I also know how hard our board has worked to achieve this honor. I am extremely proud of our team, including the full DSPS staff,” said PEB Chair John Weitekamp.
“It’s a tremendous recognition of the PEB’s work,” said Secretary Dan Hereth of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), which administers state regulatory boards. “As Wisconsin’s safety agency, DSPS salutes the board, Chair Weitekamp, and all members for their commitment to public safety through regulation.”
The Mahaffey Award honors outstanding contribution to the protection of the public health and welfare through the enforcement of state and federal laws and regulations, and it also recognizes contribution to the advancement of objectives and goals of the NABP.
The DSPS staff liaison for the PEB, Brad Wojciechowski, will join Sec. Hereth and Chair Weitekamp in accepting the award next month.
“Receiving this award is a testament to the mission of the Board and DSPS in protecting the citizens of Wisconsin. Under the leadership of Sec. Hereth and the Board members, Wisconsin led a pilot program with North Dakota to grant pharmacy students early access to take the multistate jurisprudence exam, or ethics exam. By granting students the ability to take the exam early, candidates are able to submit their application materials earlier, which means being able to safely join the workforce sooner than in years past.”
The Mahaffey Award is named after late NABP Executive Director Emeritus Fred T. Mahaffey, who served in the executive director position from 1962 to 1987.
The PEB will receive the physical award May 14, at the 122nd NAPB Annual Meeting in Boston.
About DSPS
DSPS issues more than 240 unique licenses, administers dozens of boards and councils that regulate professions, enforces state building codes, and maintains the Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is a key tool in the multi-faceted public health campaign to stem excessive opioid prescribing. A fee-based agency, DSPS is self-sustaining and receives no general fund tax dollars for its day-to-day operations. With two offices and roughly 250 employees, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy.
