Blake Torres was named the recipient of the 2026 National Preceptor of the Year Award by the NCPA Foundation.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 4, 2026) – Blake Torres, co-owner and managing partner of West Side Pharmacy and Compounding, was named the recipient of the 2026 National Preceptor of the Year Award by the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation as part of NCPA’s Annual Convention, being held Oct. 3-6 in Kansas City, Mo. This award recognizes a pharmacist who has made a significant contribution to the education of pharmacy students as a preceptor in a community practice setting. Preceptors demonstrate commitment to students as professional mentors and teachers and display high standards of professionalism. The selection was made through a blind selection process to guarantee fairness and impartiality.
Torres, a health care executive, state health official and passionate advocate for community pharmacy, continues to advance patient access and sustainable health care models throughout Saline County and the state of Arkansas. He leads one of Arkansas’s premier independent pharmacy operations, driving clinical innovation while expanding local access to essential health services.
Based in Benton, Ark., West Side Pharmacy and Compounding is a locally owned independent pharmacy dedicated to providing personalized patient care, specialized compounding, immunizations, clinical services, and home delivery. A 2014 graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy, Torres has consistently dedicated his career to expanding patient services, combating health care barriers, and fostering education by mentoring the next generation of health care professionals.
Torres launched COVID-19 testing in the summer of 2020, months before vaccines were available, and later opened the state’s first independent monoclonal antibody infusion site, treating patients who previously had no option outside a hospital. Students on rotation see this work firsthand, gaining hands-on exposure to disease state management, medication therapy management, patient counseling, compounding, and insurance reconciliation, alongside site visits to long-term care facilities, health screenings, and state capitol advocacy days.
Seth Heldenbrand, PharmD, associate dean experiential education professor of pharmacy practice, who nominated Torres for the award, pointed to an unmatched track record in student development. “Every student who completed an APPE rotation at this practice over the past two years gave their preceptor a perfect 5.0 out of 5.0 on every scored evaluation metric,” he said. “Students describe a preceptor who explains the reasoning behind every clinical, workflow, and business decision rather than expecting them to absorb it by observation. That kind of consistency across multiple cohorts isn’t luck. It reflects a deliberate approach to teaching.”
In addition to his clinical operations, Torres is a vocal advocate at the state legislative level, routinely testifying before legislative panels to protect independent community pharmacies and fighting for pharmacy benefit manager reform. His state-level public service was recently reaffirmed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), with his reappointment to the Arkansas State Board of Health for a term running through December 2029.
Under Torres’ strategic leadership, West Side Pharmacy and Compounding continues to build upon more than 75 years of service from its longstanding South Street location in Benton. That legacy has entered a new chapter with the opening of a brand-new, state-of-the-art second location on Military Road. The new facility significantly expands West Side’s capabilities and regional reach, bringing together advanced sterile compounding, long-term care pharmacy, traditional retail pharmacy, and expanded clinical services while positioning the organization to meet the evolving health care needs of Saline County and communities throughout Arkansas.
