Governor Greg Abbott is making moves on the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, fresh off the press as he appoints Stacy Hightower and reaffirms Donald "Donnie" Lewis, Donna Montemayor, and Richard "Rick" Tisch for terms that won't see their end until the close of August 2031. This board, if you're not in the know, is the watchdog for the quality of pharmaceutical care in the Lone Star State, keeping the practice of pharmacy on the straight and narrow with a touchstone of ethics, transparency, and efficiency.
With a gubernatorial nod, Stacy Hightower, hailing from Aubrey, finds herself newly minted on the board. She's no stranger to the world of pharmacy as a certified pharmacy technician and is currently plying her trade at Las Colinas Pharmacy in Irving. The list of her affiliations reads long with ties to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding—her contributions extend beyond the confines of her professional life, as "volunteer" is also a title she wears with pride through her work with Irving Cares and Habitat for Humanity. According to the news released by the Office of the Texas Governor, her academic journey took her through the halls of Angelo State University.
Donald "Donnie" Lewis of Athens scores a reappointment, bringing with him a baggage of over four decades in the pharmacy sector. He's seasoned in the community and hospital pharmacy avenues and adds "entrepreneur" to his credentials, having been the owner of a couple of pharmacies. When he's not scrutinizing prescriptions, he's managing a wedding venue or dabbling in real estate. His past stints include serving as an Athens City Council member and taking on the role of Mayor Pro-Tem, among others. Africa, Peru, and Ecuador also know his name, as this is where he’s channeled his expertise during medical mission trips. His academic prowess was honed at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy.
Then there's Donna Montemayor of San Antonio, who doesn't just fill prescriptions but also fills the role of vice president at HEB within their Pharmacy Professional Services, Marketing, Technology, and New Business sectors. A glance at her affiliations is enough to know she's well-rooted in the pharmacy field, what with memberships spanning from the Texas Pharmacy Association to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. She juggles her work with a vice-presidential position on the Texas State Board of Pharmacy and finds the time to contribute as a faculty practitioner at UT College of Pharmacy. Her educational foundation is as solid as her commitment, having obtained a Bachelor of Science in pharmacy with honors from UT Austin.
Completing the quartet of appointments is Richard "Rick" Tisch of Spring, stepping into the role with a background as regional vice president of HSA Bank. His community involvement pitches him as a member of the Southwest Business Association and previously saw him coaching in the Special Olympics. His name's also been etched on the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities roster as a gubernatorial appointee. When he was hitting the books, it was at UT Austin where he bagged a Bachelor of Business Administration in management and marketing.
