UNT Health’s Jennifer Fix receives prestigious Bowl of Hygeia Award
Dr. Jennifer Fix, associate professor at the College of Pharmacy and Health Professions
at UNT Health Fort Worth, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Bowl of Hygeia
Award by the Texas Pharmacy Association, one of the profession's highest honors recognizing
pharmacists for outstanding professional excellence and community service.
Presented by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, the Bowl of Hygeia Award recognizes pharmacists who have made significant contributions to their communities and the pharmacy profession. Fix was selected from a distinguished pool of nominees by the TPA Awards Selection Committee of the Association Affairs Council.
Dean Evan Robinson said Fix exemplifies the spirit of the award through her decades of service, leadership and advocacy.
"Dr. Fix has spent her career advancing patient care, pharmacy services and pharmacy education while encouraging others to serve their communities and the profession,” Robinson said. “She is truly deserving of this award."
Dr. Megan Wesling, chair of the Department of Pharmacotherapy and associate professor, said Fix's impact extends across education, patient care and professional service.
"Dr. Fix's dedication to educating future pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, advancing patient care and strengthening the profession reflects the very best of pharmacy,” Wesling said. “We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition."
For Fix, the recognition came as both a surprise and a profound honor.
“One of the high points of a pharmacist's career is to be recognized with the Bowl of Hygeia Award for their state, celebrating their service to the community and the profession,” Fix said.
Throughout her career, Fix has worked in community pharmacy, clinical practice, organized pharmacy and higher education. Among the accomplishments she considers most meaningful is her work advocating for prompt pay legislation benefiting medical providers and pharmacies.
“This bill benefits both medical offices and pharmacies who submit clean claims for reimbursement. I consider this a legacy accomplishment as it established a sounder framework for healthcare.”
Before joining academia, Fix spent 25 years as a pharmacy owner. She operated an independent pharmacy franchise, The Medicine Shoppe, before renaming it JenCare Pharmacy after the franchise term concluded. Although she has transitioned from community pharmacy into education, her connection to patients and the community remains strong.
“I miss our patients, but I get to see some of them at the Haltom City Senior Center when I circle back there with our UNT Health pharmacy students and residents for presentations and health fairs.”
A commitment to healthcare, service and education has been woven throughout Fix's life. Inspired by a family deeply rooted in medicine and teaching, she followed a path that allowed her to combine patient care, mentorship and professional leadership.
Today, she brings those values into the classroom, striving to help students become compassionate, patient-centered pharmacists. Throughout her academic career, she has expanded her patient care expertise through family medicine and specialty clinic practice, including in-home pharmacist visits through the MightyCare Program and caring for patients with hepatitis C.
Fix believes one of the most important qualities pharmacists can possess is the ability to listen.
“Listening is an overlooked quality. It's important to get the attention of the patient first to engage in a meaningful exchange,” Fix said.
Her commitment to service extends far beyond the classroom. Fix currently serves on the Drug Utilization Review Board for the Texas Health and Human Services Medicaid Program. She was elected by her peers to serve as vice chair, the highest office a pharmacist can hold on the board.
She also has served as UNT Health Faculty Senate presiding officer and remains active in community volunteer efforts, including service with the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Fix considers community engagement as an essential responsibility of the profession.
“Pharmacists are among the most trusted and accessible health professionals. Beyond helping patients understand their medications, we can connect them with community resources that improve their overall health.
That commitment to service is something she encourages in her students as well. Through simulations, patient interactions and experiential learning opportunities, Fix helps students understand that pharmacy is not simply a profession but an opportunity to improve lives.
“We want our students to evolve and understand how important their role is in empowering others through sharing what they know about medications through patient interactions, clinic visits and consultations on new prescriptions,” Fix said.
One lesson she hopes students carry with them throughout their careers is simple:
“Be thoughtful caring pharmacists to your patients and your profession.”
Mentoring future pharmacists has also influenced her own growth as an educator and practitioner.
“My personal motto is ‘Live Longer — Get Smarter’ which to me means that I am always learning new things no matter how old I get. I'm open to learning and growing,” Fix said.
She encourages pharmacists who want to make a broader impact to become active participants in their profession.
“Get involved in your profession. Join the local pharmacist group, go to the dinners and network, participate in a leadership or planning role. For on-the-job satisfaction, talk to your patients. Help your patients understand their medicines and resolve problems. Once you make a connection with your patients, you will enjoy your work and profession more than ever. It feels good to help people.”
Looking ahead, Fix remains focused on continued growth as an educator while supporting workforce development efforts that strengthen the profession. She has challenged herself to pursue promotion and tenure. Her hope is that her academic and faculty contributions meet the criteria to be successful.
She also hopes her work will continue to support future pharmacists through pharmacy technician education and workforce development initiatives.
“The pharmacy technician course is vital in addressing workforce development. Pharmacists are supported by pharmacy technicians and we want our pharmacist graduates to work in well-staffed organizations that meet the needs of the community.”
As she reflects on this latest honor, Fix is grateful for the support she has received throughout her career. Especially from her husband, Bob, who has been beyond patient and supportive of her leadership and service to pharmacy.
Fix will be recognized on July 25 during the TPA Awards Dinner and President's Celebration at the 2026 TPA Conference & Expo in The Woodlands.