Katie Reinke honored as SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Pharmacist Preceptor of the Year

Katie Reinke, SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac Director of Pharmacy, has been named the 2026 SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Pharmacist Preceptor of the Year, an honor selected by the hospital’s graduating PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency class.

The award recognizes a pharmacist preceptor who has made a significant impact on the learning, professional development and growth of pharmacy residents.

This year’s graduating residents, Bailey Hutchings, PharmD, and Brianna Richards, PharmD, selected Reinke for the recognition after completing the final year of the program, which recently celebrated its fifth graduating residency class.

The SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency, established in 2021, prepares residents to become clinical providers of advanced patient care services in a community hospital setting or to pursue specialized PGY2 training. Through the program, residents gain experience providing direct patient care, collaborating with physicians and other healthcare professionals, educating students and care team members, and advancing the pharmacy profession through leadership and innovation.

“Receiving recognition from residents is especially meaningful because it reflects the relationships built through mentorship and shared learning experiences,” according to Reinke. “Our residency program is designed to challenge and support pharmacists as they grow into confident clinicians and leaders. It has been a privilege to work alongside Bailey and Brianna and watch them develop their skills, professionalism and passion for patient care.”

According to Natalie Weber, PharmD, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Director, the annual award is chosen by residents and is intended to honor a preceptor who demonstrates exceptional dedication to teaching and professional development.

“Each year, our residents select one pharmacist preceptor who has contributed significantly to their learning and growth,” according to Weber. “Katie’s commitment to mentoring new pharmacists and supporting their success made her a deserving choice for this year’s award.”

Throughout their residency year, Hutchings and Richards worked with pharmacists across a variety of patient care settings at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital. Pharmacists provide decentralized clinical services throughout the organization, including the emergency department, medical-surgical units, intensive care unit, cardiology and neurology departments. Services include admission medication reviews, participation in interdisciplinary rounds, glycemic management, antimicrobial stewardship, pharmacokinetic monitoring, discharge medication reconciliation and patient education.

In addition to inpatient care, pharmacists and residents collaborate with teams in the cancer center, anticoagulation and infusion clinics, and ambulatory care settings, providing residents with broad exposure to the many ways pharmacists contribute to patient outcomes.

“Katie exemplifies the qualities that make a great preceptor,” Hutchings and Richards share as part of the nomination. “She consistently encourages growth, challenges us to think critically and creates an environment where learning thrives. Her support and guidance throughout our residency year have helped shape us both professionally and personally.”

As Director of Pharmacy, Reinke plays a key leadership role in advancing pharmacy services across SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac while fostering the next generation of pharmacists through mentorship and education.

The recognition highlights the continued success of the SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital residency program and the commitment of its pharmacy team to developing future pharmacy leaders who will enhance patient care across the communities they serve.