Zada Cooper Leadership Symposium

       Presented by the UI College of Pharmacy, the Zada     
       Cooper Leadership Symposium seeks to honor Zada           Mary Cooper’s legacy of leadership by encouraging     
       attendees to #belikeZada. Be trailblazing, be   
       collaborative, be innovative, be bold, and be involved!

The symposium will feature influential leaders who will share their experiences and expertise on leadership including varying leadership pathways and overcoming leadership challenges. The symposium will also offer attendees opportunities to make career-enhancing connections and build their networks.

Keynote Presentation                                                                          
No Boundaries: Founding/Building a Company and Climbing Mount Everest    

Leslie J. Williams, BSN, MBA, is the founder, president and chief executive  officer of ImmusanT. Founded in 2010, the company is developing a new class of therapeutic vaccines to change the lives of people living with autoimmune diseases. Williams has extensive industry experience in biotechnology start-up, pharmaceuticals, and device and venture capital. She has been a chief executive officer in the biotechnology industry for the last 15 years. 

Williams has served on public and private biotechnology and non-profit boards, in addition to the UI College of Pharmacy's Executive Leadership Board. She is on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Life Science Leader and Journal of Advanced Therapies and Medical Innovation Sciences. 

Breakout Sessions                                                                              

Three breakout sessions will be offered between 9:30 - 10:30 am. Breakout session topics are listed below.
You will choose ONE of the three sessions on the following registration page.

Breakout #1: "Your Work Life by Design - Making Choices and Taking Control"
Learn techniques that will allow you to plan and design your workplace conversations to help
you sell your ideas and get what you want.
Roundtable session facilitated by: Michele Williams, Assistant Professor, UI Tippie College of Business

Breakout #2: "Mapping Your Life: How to Plan for the Big Picture When in the Weeds?"
What is your next step in life? In your career? This session will encourage you to create your own life map, or vision board, how to proceed using your map, and how to redirect and refocus when the map changes (career shift).   
Presenters: Emily Vyverberg, '09 PharmD, Assistant Professor, University of Dubuque and Justin Carr, '13 PharmD, Pharmacist, California Department of Corrections at Salinas Valley State Prison

Breakout #3: "The Year I Became a Mom and CEO"
The presenter will discuss work-life integration, her own professional burnout and reversing burnout experience, and share career growth tips.
Presenter: Kate Gainer, Executive Vice President and CEO, Iowa Pharmacy Association             

Panel Discussion: "Reflections: A Letter to My Younger Self"        

A panel discussion with an emphasis on self-reflection.

Panel:
Rob Nichols, ’17 PharmD, Greenwood Drug, Waterloo
Morgan Jacks, ’19 PharmD, PGY1, Unity Point, Waterloo
Danny Olszta, ’09 PharmD, Oncology Supply, Joliet, IL
Nicole Del Castillo, MD, MPH, Director, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, UI Carver College of Medicine

Panel moderated by: Monica Fay, ’03 PharmD, senior VP, Medical Affairs, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Boston MA

Why Attend?                                                                                         

Attend the Zada Cooper Leadership Symposium to:

• Inspire attendees by inviting leaders to present, engage, and model leadership;
• Encourage all healthcare providers (practitioners, researchers, students, residents, and academicians) to become involved in their profession and community;
• Increase awareness of current and emerging leadership challenges;
• Facilitate and promote connections – students, residents, and practitioners to engage in informal conversation with leaders;
• Inspire all participants to reach out and become leaders; “Big L,” or “Little L;”
• Introduce varying leadership pathways and thoughts on leadership;
• Collaborate and build networks.

Additional event information can be found here: pharmacy.uiowa.edu/leadership-symposium.

Schedule                                                                                               

7:30 - 7:50 am       Registration
7:50 - 8:00 am       Welcome Remarks: Dean Donald Letendre
8:00 - 9:00 am       Keynote Speaker: Leslie Williams
9:00 - 9:30 am       Student Leadership Award Presentation
9:30 - 10:30 am     Breakout Session
10:45 - 11:45 am   "Reflections: A Letter to My Younger Self" Panel
12:00 - 1:00 pm     Optional Networking Lunch

Accommodations                                                                                 

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Kayla Sanders, Alumni Coordinator, UI College of Pharmacy in advance at (319) 335-8348.