Hayden Wood is a third-year PharmD candidate at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy and the 2025–2026 APhA–ASP speaker of the house.
I’m incredibly honored to serve as your 2025–2026 APhA–ASP speaker of the house. This opportunity means the world to me, and I’m excited to work alongside student pharmacists from across the country to help shape the future of our profession through advocacy, policy, and meaningful dialogue.
I’m from a tiny town in northeast Arkansas called Floral—population 80. My family has lived there for over a century, and I’m a proud fourth-generation cattle and hay farmer. When we’re not working the farm, we help manage one of the oldest tree farms in Arkansas and run a hunting sanctuary tucked away in the woods. Outside of pharmacy school, I’m all about the outdoors and spending time with the people (and pets) I love. I’m on a mission to visit all 424 national park sites—so far, I’ve made it to 24. I also enjoy fishing, especially for crappie out on the lake, playing cards with family, watching movies with my girlfriend, and playing fetch with my dog, Mitsy.
I didn’t get involved with APhA–ASP until my second year, but once I jumped in, I found a community that truly felt like home. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of serving as vice president of policy and Political Action Committee chair for the UAMS chapter from 2023 to 2025, where I led advocacy initiatives, connected students with legislators, and worked closely with our state association to promote student engagement in policy. Nationally, I’ve served as a chapter delegate, Region 6 delegate, and a member of the APhA House of Delegates Policy Review Committee. These experiences have been incredibly meaningful and have shown me just how much of an impact students can have.
To anyone who feels like it’s “too late” to get involved—please know that it’s not. Whether it’s your first year or final year, there’s a place for you in this association. APhA–ASP welcomes every student pharmacist with open arms, and your voice truly matters. Looking ahead, I’m excited about the changes happening in pharmacy—especially the momentum behind PBM reform and the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. Seeing how these policies are implemented and how student pharmacists contribute to that process will be inspiring. I’m also eager to explore the new APhA Communities and the opportunities they’ll offer for collaboration and professional growth.
From a small town in Arkansas to the national stage of APhA–ASP, I’m grateful for the journey so far—and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.
Five questions for Hayden
1. What show are you currently binging, and why do you like it?
The Big Bang Theory. I just love the dynamic of the friend group. It reminds me of a close group of friends I had in high school, so it is very nostalgic and relatable.
2. What bucket-list item do you want to check off before you graduate?
I want to finish visiting all of the national parks and museums in Washington, DC, before finishing out my final year.
3. Which Marvel character is your favorite and why?
My favorite Marvel character is Iron Man. Growing up, he was the first character I ever watched from the Marvel universe. Everything from his personality and care for others reminds me of my late father.
4. If you could perform at the Super Bowl, what would your opening song be and why?
Honestly, I don’t think I could ever sing in front of a crowd that large—but I would absolutely be willing to conduct a band performing “Roar” by Katy Perry. It’s such a fun and energetic piece for a marching band, and the field choreography that goes along with it is always incredibly captivating to watch.
5. If you could come up with your own ice cream flavor, what would you put in it?
I’ve never come across a Fruity Pebbles ice cream flavor, so I’d create my own by combining Cold Stone Creamery’s sweet cream ice cream with Fruity Pebbles cereal and top it off with fresh strawberries. The flavor would be called: Pebbleberry Cream.