Nicole Sifontis, PharmD, MPH, FCCP, BCPS, clinical professor and interim chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Temple University School of Pharmacy, has been selected to Cohort 23 of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy's (AACP) Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP).
The yearlong ALFP is designed to develop and support leaders across academic pharmacy who contribute to the advancement of pharmacy education, higher education and the profession, while helping Fellows expand their networks with peers and colleagues both within and beyond their home institutions. Selection is competitive, as the program is capped at 35 fellows nationwide each year, and candidates are evaluated on their demonstrated leadership, the strength of their letter of intent, and a letter of support from their dean outlining a mentoring plan.
"Dr. Sifontis has been an invaluable leader in our Department of Pharmacy Practice for many years, and her selection to join this program reflects the caliber of leadership she brings to our school every day," said Dean S. Suresh Madhavan. "We're proud to see her join the ranks of ALFP fellows and look forward to watching her growth during the next year."
Over the course of the program, Dr. Sifontis will take part in three in-person sessions and a series of virtual workshops covering leadership self-assessment, team-building, change management, and conflict resolution, culminating in a team project presented at the AACP Annual Meeting in Toronto next summer.
"I view leadership as a continuous journey of learning, service, and empowering others to strengthen our profession and improve the communities we serve,” said Sifontis. “I believe my experiences have prepared me for this next stage of leadership, and I am committed to applying the knowledge, mentorship, and professional network gained through the ALFP to strengthen my institution, contribute meaningfully to AACP, and help shape the future of pharmacy practice and education."
Dr. Sifontis earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science in 1999 and completed an ASHP-accredited two-year Solid Organ Transplant Fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
In 2001, she joined the faculty at TUSP, where she established the first clinical pharmacy service for the kidney transplant program at Temple University Hospital. One of her most significant scholarly contributions, in collaboration with the National Transplant Registry, led to the FDA pregnancy category reclassification of mycophenolic acid, based on safety data from kidney transplant recipients.
Since 2011, Dr. Sifontis has directed an advanced pharmacy practice global health medical mission experience that has prepared more than 100 pharmacy students to deliver care in underserved communities globally. In 2012, she co-developed an elective public health course that enabled students to apply knowledge to meaningful community service initiatives. One such initiative involved conducting patient home visits alongside community health workers, directly improving medication adherence and facilitating smoother transitions of care. In recognition of these contributions, she received the 2013 Elective Preceptor of the Year Award and the Outstanding Faculty Service Award.
In addition, she received the Golden Apple Award for Innovative Teaching in 2014, 2024, and 2025; and was honored with the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2019.
Dr. Sifontis joins a growing list of Temple University School of Pharmacy faculty who have participated in the ALFP over the years, reflecting the school's ongoing investment in developing strong, forward-thinking academic leaders.