Monarez receives the 2025 Lourdes M. Cuéllar/University of the Incarnate Word/EPASHA Scholarship

The Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists Research & Education Foundation (TSHP R&E Foundation) is proud to announce the recipient of the 2025 Lourdes M. Cuéllar/University of the Incarnate Word/El Paso Society of Health-System Pharmacists Scholarship is Julian Monarez.

One of the four El Paso Society of Health-System scholarships was designated in 2009 in honor of TSHP Past President (1999-2000) and R&E Foundation President (2002-2010), Lourdes M. Cuéllar. Lourdes has been a Director of Pharmacy at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston for many years, and is an adjunct clinical professor at the University of Houston and at the University of the Incarnate Word Colleges of Pharmacy. She has served on many state and national Boards and State of Texas health advisory boards by appointments from Governors Bush and Perry. She has contributed to the profession of pharmacy as a leader, practitioner, educator, preceptor and mentor to many students and pharmacists. She has been the recipient of TSHP’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, and is recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. This scholarship honors her long-time dedication to students and pharmacy education in Texas.

The Lourdes M. Cuéllar scholarship was created to provide qualified students of Hispanic heritage, with an opportunity to complete a pharmacy education. The goal of this scholarship is to promote academic excellence and to afford an opportunity for a student with financial need to reach their goal of becoming an exemplary pharmacist practitioner. It is awarded annually to a student native to the El Paso area attending the University of the Incarnate Word John & Rita Feik School of Pharmacy. If no applicants meet these criteria, preference is given to students from the El Paso (preferably) or West Texas ( see map) area attending any accredited college of pharmacy; or another student the scholarship committee feels meets the requirements.

"Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, I am a first-year pharmacy student (P1) at the University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy," said Monarez. "My journey into pharmacy is deeply rooted in a strong work ethic instilled by my parents, especially my father, a first-generation Mexican American who overcame adversity to serve in the military and retire after 28 years with the El Paso Police Department. His resilience and dedication inspired me to pursue higher education and create a better future for my family. With over five years of experience as a pharmacy technician, I witnessed firsthand the vital role pharmacists play in patient care. This experience fueled my passion for expanding my impact beyond the scope of a technician and becoming a pharmacist committed to improving health outcomes. I am honored to receive the TSHP Research & Education Foundation Lourdes M. Cuéllar Scholarship, which recognizes students of Hispanic heritage dedicated to academic excellence and service in pharmacy. This award supports my mission to advance pharmacy practice and contribute meaningfully to my community.

"My goal is to become an exemplary pharmacist practitioner, ensuring that patients receive compassionate and comprehensive care," continued Monarez. "I am grateful for the opportunity this scholarship provides and look forward to continuing my journey toward making a lasting difference in the field of pharmacy."

This honor was presented April 4 during the 2025 Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy (TSHP) Annual Seminar at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas in Irving, TX. TSHP’s Annual Seminar is the largest educational and networking meeting of student pharmacists, career pharmacists, new practitioners, technicians, and industry professionals in Texas. With a focus on quality patient care and medication safety, registrants may select from many educational and networking activities, including dozens of hours of live programming each year and events catered to students as well. TSHP Annual Seminar programs are designed to maintain and enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of pharmacy professionals in health-systems across Texas.

Testimonials from past scholarship recipients have gone on record noting how crucial TSHP's financial assistance has been to them. Read what several past scholarship winners had to say at https://tshp.org/scholartestimony.

For more information on scholarships, visit https://tshp.org/scholarships. Bookmark the link & return this fall to apply for next year's scholarships.

About the TSHP R&E Foundation
The TSHP Research & Education (R&E) Foundation has been supporting our pharmacy community in Texas since 1977, reminding us of our shared strength in helping one another. Scholarships of $500 to $1,500 are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students based on financial need, academic ability and career interest. The R&E Foundation also offers the CAB Bond Memorial Research Grant, which assists researchers in pursuing original research and worthwhile projects that result in improving health outcomes for Texans.

LEARN MORE: https://tshp.org/about_foundation
DONATE: https://givebutter.com/TSHP-RE_Foundation

About TSHP
The Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacy includes current pharmacists, student pharmacists, industry associates and other classifications. The organization began in 1949 when its first annual seminar for hospital pharmacists was held at The University of Texas College of Pharmacy in Austin. Twenty-five founding members came together to form what has become one of the leading health-system pharmacy societies in the country with a dynamic professional membership association which serves Texas health-system pharmacy professionals dedicated to the mission, vision, core values, philosophy, soul, spirit, and motto of TSHP.

If you are interested in joining TSHP as a member or organization, visit https://tshp.org/membership.

For more information, visit https://tshp.org.