Annual Awards
Celebrate Excellence in Montana Pharmacy
Each year, MPA honors the pharmacists, technicians, and students shaping patient care and the future of our profession. Nominations open every October, with awards presented at our annual Winter CE Conference. Explore the award categories below and help us celebrate the outstanding members of Montana pharmacy.
Nominations
*Nominations for the 2027 Annual Awards are now open.
MPA Fellow Designation Program
Fellowship Highlights:
Esteemed recognition for excellence in pharmacy
Honoring Our
2026 Award Recipients
Bowl of Hygeia Award
Starla Blank, PharmD, BCPS
Director of Materials Management, St Peter’s Health | Helena, MT
About Starla
MPA was proud to honor someone whose impact on pharmacy in Montana is impossible to measure — someone whose leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication have shaped not just programs and policies, but people and communities.
Starla has spent her entire career lifting others up. She has led at every level — from the Montana Board of Pharmacy to the Montana Pharmacy Association to St. Peter’s Health — always with integrity, courage, and a deep commitment to patient safety. Her work helped bring the Prescription Monitoring Program to life, a legacy that continues to protect families across our state.
She is a builder of programs, a mentor to countless professionals, and a visionary who sees what healthcare can be — then rolls up her sleeves and makes it happen. From launching specialty pharmacy services and residency programs to advancing anticoagulation clinics and electronic medical records, her fingerprints are on some of the most important innovations in Montana pharmacy.
But what truly sets Starla apart is her heart. She gives to her community with the same passion she gives to her profession — teaching yoga, supporting her church, and inspiring others through her love of distance running. She leads by example, showing us all what it means to live with purpose.
Her long list of awards — Pharmacist of the Year, the Generation Rx Award, the Pharmacy Alumni Achievement Award, and so many others — reflects decades of excellence. But more than that, it reflects the lives she has touched, the colleagues she has mentored, and the profession she has strengthened.
Starla is a leader, a healer, a teacher, and a force for good in every room she enters. She has given Montana pharmacy her brilliance, her energy, and her heart.
Distinguished Young Pharmacist
Matt Colby, PharmD
About Matt
Matt has quickly established himself as a leader in Montana pharmacy through his exceptional work at an independently owned pharmacy located within a mental health center, where he serves as the primary pharmacist. In this role, he provides comprehensive medication management and compassionate care for one of the state’s most underserved patient populations. His ability to balance clinical expertise with genuine empathy has earned the trust of both patients and providers, and his leadership has strengthened the collaboration between pharmacy and behavioral health teams. Over the course of his career, he has gained a diverse range of pharmacy experience including compounding, mental health, and long-term care, allowing him to serve patients across a wide spectrum of needs. He is especially passionate about improving quality of care through independent family pharmacies, ensuring that patients in smaller communities continue to receive accessible, personalized, and high-quality pharmacy services. He was recognized early in his career with the Mylan Institute of Technology Excellence in Pharmacy Award from the University of Montana for outstanding contributions and leadership in pharmacy school, a sign of the commitment he has carried throughout his professional life. In 2024, he was also selected as one of Billings’ 40 Under Forty, honoring his professional excellence and community impact. Beyond his daily work, he is deeply committed to advancing the pharmacy profession in Montana. He has initiated and supported projects that improve patient safety, streamline workflow for independent pharmacies, and elevate the role of pharmacists in mental health care. His peers regard him as a steady, dependable leader who models integrity, innovation, and a service-first mindset in every setting.
Matt currently serves on the Montana Pharmacy Association (MPA) Board of Directors, where he advocates for the needs of independent pharmacists and advances the role of pharmacy in mental and behavioral health. His active participation in MPA initiatives reflects his commitment to the profession and his dedication to mentoring future pharmacists. In addition to his professional involvement, he remains deeply engaged in the Billings community through volunteer work, health education efforts, and mentorship of pharmacy students and interns. He also serves on the Medical Response Team at Harvest Church, where he provides emergency care support and helps ensure the safety and well-being of the congregation during services and community events. Through his leadership, professionalism, and genuine care for others, Matt exemplifies the values that the Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award seeks to honor. His career reflects not only professional achievement but also a deep and lasting commitment to the people of Montana and the pharmacy profession as a whole.
Fitzgerald Pharmacist of the Year
Marice Bough, PharmD with the MT Board of Pharmacy in Helena
About Marcie
Marcie and her staff have been a model of what a Board of Pharmacy should be when compared to other states. She has seamlessly led many transitions through her tenure including a new drug registry, a new assistance program, as well as updating many rules and statutes to allow pharmacists and technicians to practice at the top of their education. Following in making many emergency provisions during the covid pandemic, she worked with her department and staff to allow implementation for SB112 to be pharmacist and consumer driven, without the rigorous stipulations that could have been imposed by a government entity. She also leads her team to be a valuable resource to our profession and guides them to be a resource, not a hinderance. She and her staff continue to be active and involved with MPA at all meetings and worked closely with MPA during the past legislative session to modernize statutes and rules to reduce barriers of innovation and practice. She continues to monitor the national landscape to see what changes can be implemented in Montana.
Marcie belongs to 2013 to Present Montana Board of Pharmacy, 2007 to 2013 Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, American Pharmacists Association, 2004 to 2007 Senior Manager, Practice Development and ResearchAmerican Pharmacists Association, 1997-2000 Legislative Aide, U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, 2010-2013 Worked with APhA and FDA as a Stakeholder, Commenter and Author helping to develop the REMS program to address patient safety for high-risk medications. Education at the University of Montana, School of Pharmacy, Missoula, Montana PharmD 2000 to 2004, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana B.S. Biomedical Science1991-1996.
Pharmacy Technician of the Year
Tonya Steffenson, CPhT with Billings Clinic in Billings
About Tonya
Tonya has been an integral part of the Billings Clinic pharmacy team for the past two years, bringing with her a strong foundation from the retail setting and a desire to grow professionally. From the moment she joined, Tonya embraced the challenge of transitioning into a hospital environment, demonstrating that determination and a willingness to learn can lead to remarkable growth. She quickly became known for her initiative, adaptability, and ability to connect processes with patient and team needs in her daily work. Despite the learning curve, Tonya has consistently shown leadership among her peers, modeling resilience and a commitment to excellence. She is quick to offer help, eager to learn, and always ready to support her team. Her journey is a testament to the evolving role of pharmacy technicians and the impact they can have when given the opportunity to thrive. Tonya exemplifies the spirit of this award through her dedication, growth, and contributions to the advancement of pharmacy technician practice.