Linh Lee, an accomplished pharmacy executive with more than twenty years of experience in community pharmacy, specialty pharmacy and pharmacy management, is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.

After earning her B.S. in biological sciences with a minor in psychology in 1997, she went on to earn her doctor of pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) from the University of Southern California in 2001.

Linh is the director of pharmacy for Ralphs Pharmacy, a division of the Kroger Co. and Kroger Health. She oversees pharmacy operations, developing and implementing clinical programs, improving efficiency and driving growth. She has also developed, coordinated and implemented various clinical services for Ralphs, including immunizations and disease state management programs.

At the heart of her work is her drive and dedication to giving back to communities and helping people. She feels most inspired when she can put a smile on the face of someone she assists. Her commitment to UC Irvine includes helping establish the Ralphs Grocery – Pharmacy Endowment, which supports the education of aspiring student pharmacists at UC Irvine’s School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.

She also serves as an advisor for the school’s Dean’s Leadership Council and is a member of the UC Irvine Preceptor Advisory Committee. Her ongoing engagement with UC Irvine also involves working with faculty to create opportunities for current Anteaters to learn about and pursue careers in pharmacies, including opportunities at Ralphs.

Outside of UC Irvine, Linh is a member of the Chapman University Dean’s Professional Advisory Group for the School of Pharmacy, the California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) Strategic Plan Workgroup, and the CalOptima Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.

She is a fellow of the CPhA and has received multiple industry awards recognizing her contributions to the field, including being named a Top Women in Grocery: Rising Star by Progressive Grocer. In 2022, the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences honored Linh with the Distinguished Alumni of the Year award.