Kelly Battese honored with KU Pharmacy Distinguished Service Award
LAWRENCE — Rear Admiral Kelly Battese of the U.S. Public Health Service and Indian Health Service (IHS) has been selected as the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy 2025 Distinguished Service Award recipient.
A native of Olathe and a 2005 graduate of the School of Pharmacy, Battese will be recognized April 11 in a ceremony at the Pharmacy Building in KU's West District.
The award honors individuals who have demonstrated selfless and sustained service and leadership in advancement of the pharmacy profession, their communities and the School of Pharmacy.
Battese was recently promoted to director for the Division of Commissioned Personnel Support. He also serves as chief pharmacy officer for the U.S. Public Health Service. Prior to his promotion, he had served as the chief executive officer for the Haskell Indian Health Center in Lawrence. Battese is a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.
“I am just completely blown away that my alma mater would recognize me in this way,” Battese said. “There are hundreds of other people that are as deserving or more deserving, so I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and hope that I represent our school and our profession well.”
In his director role, Battese is responsible for the administration of the Commissioned Corps program for the Indian Health Service, providing oversight, direction, support and guidance for the more than 1,200 commissioned officers in IHS. As chief pharmacy officer, he oversees the active duty pharmacists in the Public Health Service and advises and guides the U.S. surgeon general and public about pharmacy issues and pharmacy practice.
“It’s been an honor to do that,” Battese said. “Serving in this way is beyond what I would have ever dreamed my career would lead to.”
Battese has spent his whole career with the Indian Health Service. In addition to two stints at the Haskell Indian Health Center, he served at the White Cloud Indian Health Station as well as the Claremore Indian Hospital in Oklahoma. He has also deployed numerous times for disaster response with the Rapid Deployment Force 4 including border missions, hurricane responses and remote area medical missions.
“One of the reasons I really wanted to join the Public Health Service and put the uniform on was the opportunity to deploy, serve and help people,” Battese said. “We set up field medical hospitals and take care of local patients that have nowhere else to go. Those experiences are very impactful — helping people in their greatest need at vulnerable times.”
“We are so very proud of Dr. Battese and his committed service to public health,” said Barbara Timmermann, interim dean of the KU School of Pharmacy. “His contributions to the pharmacy profession have impacted countless people, and he continues to support our students and contribute his expertise to the school. We are pleased to honor him with the Distinguished Service Award and look forward to his continued success.”
Battese earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Tabor College prior to entering the Doctor of Pharmacy program at KU. Later he completed a Master of Business Administration in health care degree from Southern Nazarene University. Battese and his wife, Rachel, live in Lenexa with their three children.
Battese has been awarded several times by IHS including Outstanding Senior Pharmacist of the Year Award for the Oklahoma City Area, Chief Executive Officers Award from the IHS Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee and the IHS Director’s Award.