May 2017 Florida Pharmacy Journal

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The Official Publication Of The Florida Pharmacy Association MAY 2017

F L O R I D A’ S

COLLEGES OF PHARMACY


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florida PHARMACY TODAY Departments 4 Calendar 4 Advertisers 5 President’s Viewpoint 7 Executive Insight 44 Buyer’s Guide

VOL. 80 | NO. 5 MAY 2017 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FLORIDA PHARMACY ASSOCIATION

Features

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Governor Rick Scott Issues Emergency Order On Opioid Epidemic Florida's Colleges of Pharmacy 12 Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 16 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy 18 Larkin Health Sciences Institute College of Pharmacy 22 Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy 28 Palm Beach Atlantic University Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy 32 University of Florida College of Pharmacy 38 University of South Florida College of Pharmacy

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Mission Statements:

FPA Calendar 2017

MAY 29

Memorial Day - FPA Office Closed JUNE

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FPA Officers Retreat Renaissance Orlando Airport

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Florida Board of Pharmacy Meeting Kissimmee

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Last day to submit items of new business for the House of Delegates JULY

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Independence Day -

FPA Office Closed 12

APhA Diabetes and Immunization Certificate Training Programs

AUGUST 4

FPA Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting

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Southeastern Education Gatherin’ Destin

15-16 Florida Board of Pharmacy Meeting Ft. Lauderdale 26-27 FPA Committee, Council and Board Meetings SEPTEMBER 1

Deadline to submit nominations for FPA President-Elect and Regional Directors

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Labor Day - FPA Office Closed

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Regulatory & Law Conference Miami

12-16 Annual Meeting and Convention Orlando 28-29 Southeastern Officers Conference Sandy Springs, Ga.

OCTOBER 7-8

Midyear Clinical & Nuclear Conference Kissimmee

For a complete calendar of events go to www.pharmview.com Events calendar subject to change CE CREDITS (CE cycle) The Florida Board of Pharmacy requires 10 hours’ LIVE Continuing Education as part of the required 30 hours’ general education needed every license renewal period. There is a new 2 hour CE requirement for pharmacists on the dispensing of controlled substances effective this biennial renewal period. Pharmacists should have satisfied all continuing education requirements for this biennial period by September 30, 2017 or prior to licensure renewal. Consultant pharmacists and technicians will need to renew their licenses and registrations by December 31, 2018. For Pharmacy Technician Certification Board Application, Exam Information and Study materials, please contact the FPA office. For more information on CE programs or events, please contact the Florida Pharmacy Association at (850) 222-2400 or visit our website at www.pharmview.com

of the Florida Pharmacy Today Journal

The Florida Pharmacy Today Journal is a peer-reviewed journal which serves as a medium through which the Florida Pharmacy Association can communicate with the profession on advances in the sciences of pharmacy, socio-economic issues bearing on pharmacy and newsworthy items of interest to the profession. As a self-supported journal, it solicits and accepts advertising congruent with its expressed mission.

of the Florida Pharmacy Today Board of Directors

The mission of the Florida Pharmacy Today Board of Directors is to serve in an advisory capacity to the managing editor and executive editor of the Florida Pharmacy Today Journal in the establishment and interpretation of the Journal’s policies and the management of the Journal’s fiscal responsibilities. The Board of Directors also serves to motivate the Florida Pharmacy Association members to secure appropriate advertising to assist the Journal in its goal of self-support.

Advertisers EPIC..................................................................... 17 THE HEALTH LAW FIRM............................... 17 KAHAN & ASSOCIATES................................. 20 MCKESSON.......................................................... 2 PHARMACISTS MUTUAL.............................. 10

CONTACTS FPA — Michael Jackson (850) 222-2400 FSHP — Tamekia Bennett (850) 906-9333 UF — Kristin Weitzel (352) 273-5114 FAMU — Leola Cleveland (850) 599-3301 NSU — Carsten Evans (954) 262-1300 DISCLAIMER Articles in this publication are designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with respect to the subject matter covered. This information is provided with the understanding that neither Florida Pharmacy Today nor the Florida Pharmacy Association is engaged in rendering legal or other professional services through this publication. If expert assistance or legal advice is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The use of all medications or other pharmaceutical products should be used according to the recommendations of the manufacturers. Information provided by the maker of the product should always be consulted before use. 4 |

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E-MAIL YOUR SUGGESTIONS/IDEAS TO dave@fiorecommunications.com


The President’s Viewpoint SCOTT TOMERLIN, FPA PRESIDENT

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Hats Off to the Class of 2017

n this month’s edition of Florida Pharmacy Today, we proudly showcase the Colleges of Pharmacy throughout the state, as well as commemorate the graduating class of 2017. Throughout the past few years, I have had the fortune of meeting many of these future pharmacists, and I must say our profession’s future is in good hands. A promising future will exist due to the creativity, ingenuity and engaged spirit of these future practitioners. I cannot wait to see how they will shape our profession. One of my goals as your FPA president was to create a pathway for growing our membership as an Association, including in the Student Pharmacist and Recent Graduate categories. Our Membership Council, led by Chairwoman Kathy Petsos, has done a tremendous job discussing different ways we, as the Florida Pharmacy Association, can provide so many unique benefits to our members. We have created a new enhancement of the Recent Graduate category, where graduating students will now be able to take advantage of an exclusive offer of 18 months of membership. Another one of these benefits includes our partnership with the student loan consolidation firm, SoFi. Members of the Florida Pharmacy Association can take advantage of a special offer for a reduced interest rate if consolidation is completed through SoFi. Perhaps this one example may illustrate the potentially significant savings a member of the Florida Pharmacy Association may be able to take advantage of through SoFi: The average Pharmacy student graduates with student loan debt of $101,623. By joining FPA with a Recent Grad membership for $97.50, recent gradu-

ates will save $21,500 over the life of a loan (based on a 10-year fixed rate loan). Savings to graduates will be even larger if the loan term is longer than 10 years. Access additional interest rate discounts of 0.125% exclusive to FPA members who consolidate with SoFi (in addition to the AutoPay discount of $650 for recent graduates).

One of my goals as your FPA president was to create a pathway for growing our membership as an Association, including in the Student Pharmacist and Recent Graduate categories. Simple math for recent graduates — by joining FPA after you graduate at a reduced rate of $97.50 and a special offer of six months free in addition to the standard 12-month membership, in return you will be able to qualify for our exclusive FPA partnership with SoFi by consolidating your loans for a savings of over $30,000. How can you say no to such an offer?

Scott Tomerlin 2016-2017 FPA President

(Note: The financial scenario outlined above is for illustrative purposes only. Your savings may differ based on student loan amount financed, rate of term and interest rate at the time you begin the program.) Switching gears – please don’t forget to support the Florida Pharmacy Foundation Adopt-A-Student program as a mentor at this year’s FPA Annual Meeting, to be held July 13-16, 2017, at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando. Please visit the Florida Pharmacy Foundation website at https://flpharmfound.org to make your donation today. By investing $150 in the Adopt-AStudent program, you are helping send a student to the FPA Annual Meeting, which can be a launch pad for their career aspirations. Mentors will meet their adoptee at the annual Adopt-AStudent social, to be held Thursday, July 13, from 7-8 p.m. at the JW Marriott. See you there! n

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2016-17 FPA Board of Directors The Florida Pharmacy Association gratefully acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the following members of the FPA leadership who work diligently all year long on behalf of our members.

Tim Rogers............................................................................................................Board Chair Scott Tomerlin..............................................................................................FPA President Alexander Pytlarz.................................................................................... FPA Treasurer Suzy Wise ...................................................................................................President-Elect Carol Motycka............................................................................Speaker of the House David Mackarey............................................................Vice Speaker of the House Kathy Baldwin.......................................................................................... FSHP President Jennifer Chen........................................................................................ Region 1 Director Neil Barnett............................................................................................Region 2 Director Tom Cuomo.............................................................................................Region 3 Director Linda Lazuka.........................................................................................Region 4 Director Robert Parrado...................................................................................Region 5 Director Luther Laite IV.....................................................................................Region 6 Director Paul Delisser.................................................................... Region 7 Director (Interim) Humberto Martinez..........................................................................Region 8 Director Mitchell Fingerhut.............................................................................Region 9 Director

Florida Pharmacy Today Journal Board Chair.............................................................. Carol Motycka, motycka@cop.ufl.edu Vice Chair....................................................Cristina Medina, cmmedina@cvs.com Treasurer...............................Don Bergemann, don.bergemann@verizon.net Secretary................................................................... Stuart Ulrich, stuarx@aol.com Member.............................. Rebecca Poston, Rebecca.Poston@flhealth.gov Member.................................................Patricia Nguebo, notablep@hotmail.com Member................................................................Norman Tomaka, FLRX9@aol.com Member............................................Greta Pelegrin, gretapelegrin@yahoo.com Executive Editor................Michael Jackson, mjackson@pharmview.com Managing Editor...................Dave Fiore, dave@fiorecommunications.com Journal Reviewer....................... Dr. Melissa Ruble, mruble@health.usf.edu Journal Reviewer....................................Dr. Angela Hill, ahill2@health.usf.edu

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Executive Insight BY MICHAEL JACKSON, RPH MICHAEL JACKSON, B.PHARM, EVP & CEO, FLORIDA PHARMACY ASSOCIATION

Big Hopes for the Graduating Students Entering Our Profession

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his month’s issue of Florida Pharmacy Today is perhaps our most widely read and popular publication. For the month of May, we are featuring articles from all of Florida’s seven pharmacy schools to share some of the exciting things happening in modern pharmacy education. Florida can be proud of our schools with their excellent training programs preparing candidates for the practice of pharmacy today and in the future. The Florida Pharmacy Association plays a role in pharmacy student education and experiences through our student internship programs, the facilitation of the legislative day and health fair event in Tallahassee and student involvement in our comprehensive advocacy programs. Students are even involved in FPA decision making through our House of Delegates and leadership councils and committees. Our Adopt-A-Student program, funded with generous contributions from the FPA membership, creates mentor opportunities for students to learn networking with experienced pharmacist practitioners. One can say that the FPA is a training program for leadership roles with our national organizations. Many of our members have seats on APhA and NCPA boards, committees and councils. Some of our student member candidates have exceeded in their careers through leadership roles with business organizations, while others have gone on to own viable pharmacy businesses. The common thing with all these experiences is the excellent training that our state’s pharmacy schools have provided, the support from Florida pharmacy school faculty, administration and staff,

and the energy and excitement of our FPA student members who are heavily engaged in pharmacy issues. Our current and graduating pharmacy school student members have been instrumental in helping to shape pharmacy policy in this state. Their efforts have resulted in a number of practice

Florida can be proud of our schools with their excellent training programs preparing candidates for the practice of pharmacy today and in the future. act changes such as expansion of pharmacist-provided immunization services, efforts to add Florida members of Congress as cosponsors to our pharmacist provider status legislation and public awareness of the value of pharmacist services through the various health fair programs in communities where pharmacy schools are located. The current generation of pharmacist

Michael Jackson, B.Pharm

candidates can be considered change agents willing to disrupt what we are doing in the profession today in order to advance the practice of pharmacy. Their advanced training through the new integrated teaching paradigms will set the stage for a much more involved and collaborative pharmacy practice. Their continued involvement in the Florida Pharmacy Association will be the essential ingredient needed to plan for the changes necessary for the next 25 years. Consider that the bulk of the current pharmacy practice act was written when automobiles had fins on them and cellular telephones were not even invented. Clearly, there are more things that need to be done in pharmacy advocacy. Our current and graduating pharmacy students can help to make these needed changes a reality. MAY 2017 |

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FPA STAFF Executive Vice President/CEO Michael Jackson (850) 222-2400, ext. 200

Director of Continuing Education Tian Merren-Owens, ext. 120 Controller Wanda Hall, ext. 211

Educational Services Office Assistant Stacey Brooks, ext. 210 Coordinator of Membership Christopher Heil, ext. 110

FLORIDA PHARMACY TODAY BOARD Chair..................................... Carol Motycka, St. Augustine Vice Chair................................Cristina Medina, Hollywood Treasurer...................Don Bergemann, Tarpon Springs Secretary.........................Stuart Ulrich, Boynton Beach Member..............................Rebecca Poston, Tallahassee Member.............................................. Patricia Nguebo, Ocala Member................................. Norman Tomaka, Melbourne Member..............................................Greta Pelegrin, Hialeah Executive Editor.........Michael Jackson, Tallahassee Managing Editor.........................Dave Fiore, Tallahassee

This is a peer-reviewed publication. ©2017, FLORIDA PHARMACY JOURNAL, INC. ARTICLE ACCEPTANCE: The Florida Pharmacy Today is a publication that welcomes articles that have a direct pertinence to the current practice of pharmacy. All articles are subject to review by the Publication Review Committee, editors and other outside referees. Submitted articles are received with the understanding that they are not being considered by another publication. All articles become the property of the Florida Pharmacy Today and may not be published without written permission from both the author and the Florida Pharmacy Today. The Florida Pharmacy Association assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions made by the authors to the Florida Pharmacy Today. The Journal of the Florida Pharmacy Association does not accept for publication articles or letters concerning religion, politics or any other subject the editors/ publishers deem unsuitable for the readership of this journal. In addition, The Journal does not accept advertising material from persons who are running for office in the association. The editors reserve the right to edit all materials submitted for publication. Letters and materials submitted for consideration for publication may be subject to review by the Editorial Review Board.

The leadership of the Florida Pharmacy Association is challenging our graduating pharmacy students to maintain their continued relationship with the Florida Pharmacy Association. A special membership offer is being provided to our graduating P4 pharmacy students. Their P4 student member status in the FPA will end with the June 2017 renewal cycle. Graduating P4 student members will be able to continue their membership in the FPA as a recent graduate. The offer extended

The leadership of the Florida Pharmacy Association is challenging our graduating pharmacy students to maintain their continued relationship with the Florida Pharmacy Association. by the FPA to these new pharmacist candidates is $97.50 and will continue their valuable FPA membership for 18 months or through the end of 2018. That is a value with a cost of only $0.17 per day or $1.19 per week. This is a great investment to ensure the future of pharmacy. We hope that you enjoy this month’s issue of Florida Pharmacy Today, and for you graduating P4 pharmacy students, a hearty congratulations and good luck on your new profession. n

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FLORIDA PHARMACY TODAY, Annual subscription - United States and foreign, Individual $36; Institution $70/year; $5.00 single copies. Florida residents add 7% sales tax. FLORIDA PHARMACY ASSOCIATION

610 N. Adams St. • Tallahassee, FL 32301 850/222-2400 • FAX 850/561-6758 Web Address: http://www.pharmview.com 8 |

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Florida Pharmacy Association


Governor Rick Scott Issues Emergency Order On Opioid Epidemic

Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declaring a national opioid epidemic, Governor Rick Scott signed Executive Order 17-146 directing a Public Health Emergency across the state. By signing the Emergency Order, it will allow the state to immediately draw down more than $27 million in federal grant funding from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Opioid State Targeted Response Grant, which was awarded to Florida on April 21 to provide prevention, treatment and recovery support services. Simultaneously, Dr. Celeste Philip, Florida Surgeon General declared a public health emergency and issued a naloxone standing order for emergency responders. The order authorizes pharmacists who maintain a current active license practicing in a pharmacy located in Florida that maintains a current active pharmacy permit to dispense naloxone to emergency responders for administration to persons

exhibiting signs of opioid overdose. Emergency responders include law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians. The pharmacy must maintain a copy of the Naloxone Standing Order if dispensing naloxone pursuant to the order. You can download a copy of that standing order at this link.

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F L O R I D A’ S

COLLEGES OF PHARMACY 12

Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy

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Larkin Health Sciences Institute College of Pharmacy Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy Palm Beach Atlantic University Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy University of Florida College of Pharmacy University of South Florida College of Pharmacy MAY 2017 |

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F L O R I D A' S C O L L E G E S O F P H A R M A C Y

The Florida A&M College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Mother-Daughter Duo Geraldine Roberts and Alexis Roberts McMillian Attribute Success of Their Frenchtown-Based Business, Economy Drugs, to the Foundation they Received at FAMU. Dr. James Moran Most recently, the College received notification from the American Association of Colleges and Pharmacies (AACP) that its faculty led the state in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, thus exceeding all the state’s pharmacy programs to include the University of Florida, University of South Florida, Nova University and Palm Beach Atlantic University. In terms of surrounding states, COPPS faculty also secured more NIH funding than faculty at institutions such as Samford University, Auburn University and the University of Georgia. “If you look at the level of productivity we’ve had and look at 65 years from graduating a class of two people and being housed in Jones Hall to now completing the construction of another phase of our own pharmacy building and leading the State in NIH funding, you can see that we as a College have made tremendous leaps and bounds,” said Dr. Michael D. Thompson, Former Dean of the COPPS. To celebrate the excellence that has led to such accolades as the College being praised for graduating the most African-American Ph.D.’s in pharmaceutical sciences, Thompson is planning a 65th Anniversary Reunion, August 25-28. A few of the planned anniversary activities include the dedication of the new research building, an induction ceremony for newly installed members of the College of Pharmacy Alumni Gallery of Distinction, and the weekend will culminate with a formal gala and fundraiser hosted by Christopher “Play” Martin. While the College has stood on a solid foundation for more than six decades, Thompson said that flexibility is the key to its continued success. “We have to continue to adapt because the profession is changing, so we are gearing up to meet those needs,” Thompson said. Thompson believes adapting won’t be a problem for COPPS faculty, staff and students. He pointed to the hands-on experience that students gain on a weekly basis, which keeps them engaged with the community and up-to-date on today’s patient needs. Students regularly attend events, such as health fairs, where they perform blood sticks for various testing such as 12

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glucose levels and triglyceride monitoring in addition to other services. “We have a lot of ‘brown bag’ days where our students go out into the community and encourage residents to bring their medicine in a brown bag so that they can sit with them and inform them on what they should do or should avoid as it pertains to their prescriptions. Our students are well equipped,” Thompson said. FAMU alumna Geraldine Roberts, who manages Economy Drugs in the Frenchtown Community of Tallahassee along with her daughter, was one of the first two graduates of the program in 1954. Roberts said the growth and progress of the College from then to now has been amazing. “It makes me feel good to know that I was a part of the first class and that I have family members who have come through the program FAMU alumna Geraldine Roberts and are pharmacists or in the medical field,” Roberts said. Her daughter, Alexis Roberts McMillan, who is also a COPPS alumna, echoed her mother’s sentiments about the program. “Knowing that this is a pharmacy program that could produce pharmacists who are now all over the world is exciting,” McMillan said. “These are professionals who are able to have an insight on new medications, new procedures and new ways of enhancing your health.” A remarkable example is the pharmaceutical services the College provides at the Lincoln Neighborhood Medical Center in Tallahassee. FAMU graduates and current students manage the Center’s services. The Center is federally qualified to function as a community health center and receives funding to provide healthcare and medications to patients. FAMU alumna, Brittany Lyles, Pharm.D., who has served as a pharmacist at the Center for three years, believes the services provided foster a good partnership between the University and the city. “Generally, patients don’t get the care that they need or re-


F L O R I D A' S C O L L E G E S O F P H A R M A C Y

quire because it’s costly,” Lyles said. “When patients are getting adequate care, and getting access to medicines they can’t afford, it leads to better healthcare otherwise.” An example of progress accomplished by the College during its 65 years of existence, as noted by Thompson, is becoming one of the first pharmacy programs in the country to house a public health institute. He also cited the opening of the Center for Health Equity in 2013 as a signature achievement. FAMU Pharmacy Program Receives Top Recognition For Innovative Medical Research Dr. James Moran Faculty in the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (COPPS) are making a national impact in medical research. The prestigious Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research has listed the College as the No. 12 pharmacy program in the nation for generating the most research funding, and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) lists the College as the largest recipient of National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants among all Florida pharmacy programs, as well as among those at the University of Georgia, Auburn and Samford. These accomplishments have helped to contribute to the University’s recent elevation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education System to an R-2 or “high research activity” institution. This new classification ranks FAMU on the same research level as institutions such as Auburn University and Old Dominion University, though the University has only half the faculty as these institutions. “I am extremely proud of our faculty, administration, graduate students and our research office assistants as we do our part to keep FAMU in its rightful place as a national leader in medical research and in training the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists and pharmacy professionals,” said Michael D. Thompson, Pharm.D., Professor of Pharmacy Practice. At the core of the college’s advances in research is its renowned Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program, which over the last five years has received a total $13,696,992 in NIH funding. The RCMI program serves the dual purpose of bringing more racial and ethnic minority scientists into mainstream research while also promoting minority health research because many of the investigators at RCMI institutions study diseases that disproportionately affect minority populations. The researchers credited for the program’s success are Karam F.A. Soliman, Ph.D., principal investigator; Carl B. Goodman, Ph.D., associate program director; and core activity leaders John Cooperwood, Ph.D., and Selina Darling-Reed, Ph.D. The COPPS also recently announced two significant advances in medical research. Interim Dean Seth Ablordeppey, Ph.D., received a total of $1,411,289 or $337,755 for four years, from the NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences

for his research on a new approach to the development of novel antipsychotic drugs. “This award reinforces that Florida A&M University continues to be a leader in research at the national level. The quality of our faculty is second to none,” said Vice President for Research Timothy Moore, Ph.D. “We will continue to innovate so that we may take our ideas and change the lives of the citizens of Florida, the nation, and the world.” The COPPS also recently opened its state-of-the-art Molecular Modeling Facility (MMF) to afford a variety of multidiscipline biomedical researchers an environment that integrates molecular modeling and machine-driven simulation tools to address fundamental research questions through the development of a variety of models and simulation profiles correlated to various data sets. Recent pharmacy grants through the NIH National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities grant for $5,443,319 in total or $980,609 per year across a five-year period. The P20 COE program’s overall goal and objective is to develop innovative cancer research (breast and lung) utilizing an interdisciplinary and synergistic approach toward addressing some of the most significant health consequences in minority and socioeconomic disadvantaged populations. The P20 Florida Minority Cancer Research and Training Center (MiCaRT) received $692,088 or $177,045 across a fouryear period in NIH-National Cancer Institute funding. MiCaRT is the state’s first and only National Cancer Institute P20-funded minority institution/cancer center partnership focused on cancer research and training for African-Americans. The Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) had multiple SCORE SC1 (NIH-National Cancer Institute) awardees. Nazarius Lamango, Ph.D., as principal investigator, received a $1,351,400 award over a four-year period for his research, “Disrupting Polyisoprenylated Protein Function for Lung Cancer Therapy.” Mandip Sachdeva, Ph.D., principal investigator, received $1,156,275 over a four-year period for his research, “Targeted Nanocarriers for Treatment of Lung Cancer.” The College also received funding under the SCORE SC2 Award (NIH-National Cancer Institute). The SC2 mechanism provides early stage investigators the opportunity to test a new idea or gather preliminary data to establish a new line of research. It also allows more experienced investigators to switch to a different research area from the one in which they have been engaged and published. Syreeta Tilghman, Ph.D., as principal investigator, was awarded $126,071. The Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) program is designed to support stages of research career development from the undergraduate to the faculty level. IPERT complements the research training and research education programs at Florida A&M University. Shawn Spencer, Ph.D., principal investigator, and Carl B. Goodman, Ph.D., as co-principal investigator, were awarded $2,541,585 total, or $527,517 annually for this program. MAY 2017

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F L O R I D A' S C O L L E G E S O F P H A R M A C Y

The R21 (NIH-National Cancer Institute) grant was awarded to Mandip Sachdeva, Ph.D., principal investigator, in the amount of $340,901 or $182,126 over a two-year period for his research on the “Role of Telmisartan on Intra-Tumoral Distribution of Targeted Nanoparticles.” The grant is intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of project development. Mathis Awarded Leadership Fellowship Dr. Arlesia Mathis was awarded a fellowship from the Next Generation Initiative’s Faculty Leaders Program at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. The Next Generation Initiative was created to prepare policy analysts, innovators and leaders who can tackle the most challenging societal and public problems in their communities, nationally and interDr. Arlesia Mathis nationally, from informed and diverse was recently awarded perspectives. Faculty Leader Fellowships a fellowship from are competitively awarded to approxithe Next Generation mately 10-12 selected faculty members to Initiative’s Faculty Leaders Program. participate in a week-long policy analysis summer program at the campus headquarters in Santa Monica, Ca. The fellowship will allow faculty fellows to participate in sessions designed to foster critical thinking, analytical reasoning, complex problem-solving and multidisciplinary collaborative research planning. Faculty fellows will return to their home institutions armed with new tools to effect change in their communities and to inspire their students to consider careers and advanced study in public policy analysis. Pardee RAND Graduate School is a private institution based in Santa Monica, Ca. at the RAND Corporation – inventor of many of the analytical tools of public policy analysis. Colquitt Awarded GNAHEC Grant Dr. C h a rl ie W. Colquitt, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, was awa r de d a Gu l fcoast Nort h Area Hea lt h Educat ion Center (GNAHEC) grant in the amount of $10,000. Known as Dr. Charlie Colquitt was awarded a Gulfcoast the Quality Improve- North Area Health Education Center grant. ment Action Hypertension Initiative, the goal of the grant is to increase patient awareness of and compliance with hypertensive guidelines from the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8). Moreover, select pharmacists who receive the grant will be able to make 14

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a more concerted effort to employ medication therapy management and counseling to help patients reach blood pressure goals. Parke Receives MLK Day Service Grant Dr. Crystal Parke, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, was awarded the Martin Luther King Day Service Grant from St. Petersburg College. The amount awarded in 2016 was $3,381. Entitled “The Biggest Loser,” the purpose of the grant is to promote wellness through healthy lifestyle changes and encouragement of daily exercise. Dr. Parke and FAMU pharmacy students performed body mass index and blood pressure measurements and blood glucose screenings. Patients were also provided Magic Bullets, a smoothie recipe book, portion plates and daily food diaries to encourage lifestyle modifications. Crestview Educational Center Gives Back to the Community

FAMU COPPS students at the Crestview U Count Health Fair

U Count Health Fair Carlos Gieseken Faculty of the Crestview Division participate in many local health fairs in the Pensacola area. One of our biggest and most impactful health fairs every year is the U-Count Services Day where we assist in providing services to the local homeless population of the area. Typically, 30 to 40 agencies and other service providers gather in one location to offer health screenings, warm blankets, haircuts, eye glasses and referrals for employment or transitional housing. The annual fair is coordinated by Esca Rosa and coincides with the annual Pointin- Time Count, a census of homeless people in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The homeless was interviewed by volunteers to complete the federally mandated surveys from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development would count the homeless who had not traveled in more than 10 different locations. This was our third year participating with the program. Sixteen students and faculty from Florida A&M University (FAMU), College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (COPPS) provided blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar screenings.


F L O R I D A' S C O L L E G E S O F P H A R M A C Y

The Crestview Annual Health Fair at the Durell Peaden Jr. Education Center

Dr. Juan Mosley, a FAMU faculty member said, “The homeless need these services like the rest of us. The difference is I have a car to drive me to the doctor’s office, and I have the money for medication.” Crestview Annual Health Fair Vivi M. Tran On October 1, 2016, over 50 students from Florida A&M University (FAMU), College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (COPPS) at the Durell Peaden Jr. Education Center in Crestview, Fla. committed to delivering free health services to the local community. In August 2012, FAMU COPPS opened the Crestview Education Center with the vision of preparing students for lifelong learning and careers in an evolving pharmacy profession. While matriculating through the program, students are taught how health disparities adversely affect groups of people having social, economic, racial and/or environmental disadvantages. To help bridge the gap between health disparities and disadvantages within the Crestview community, Vivi Tran, P-4 Pharm.D. candidate organized and spearheaded the First Annual Health Seminar and Health Fair, and Amber Williams, P-2 Pharm.D. candidate was the Executive Chair under the direct supervision of Dr. Margareth Larose-Pierre and Dr. Lillian Smith-Mosley, along with the support of faculty, staff and students from both FAMU campuses (Tallahassee and Crestview). Students could provide free consultations and health screenings to the community. Screenings included: blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index, cholesterol and HIV testing. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation assisted with the HIV testing, along with two resident pharmacists from West Florida Hospital who provided patient consultations. Also, the students conducted presentations to educate patients on many different topics including: diabetes, smoking cessation, HIV, sexual transmitted disease, asthma/ Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), hyperten-

sion, high cholesterol, cancer, senior care tips, proper medication disposal and nutrition. FAMU COPPS provided requisite services and refreshments to the Crestview community, with the generous contributions of local sponsors, which included: CVS Health, Publix, Casbah Coffee Shop, Winn Dixie, Hart Printing, Rustic Reflections, and Holloway Agency. City of Crestview Mayor David Cadle provided unyielding support throughout the planning and implementation stages of the health fair, and he delivered the opening remarks for this event. Crestview Student Publications Dr. Lillian Smith and Dr. Juan Mosley, II, who serve as faculty at the Durrell Peaden Education Center, announced that 17 of 21 students (81 percent) assigned to the Crestview division (P-4s) published manuscripts or had manuscripts accepted for publication prior to graduation. This class published articles in the following journals: Florida Pharmacy Today, U.S. Pharmacist, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Journal of Generic Medicines, Journal of Hematology Oncology Pharmacy, and Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The Class of 2016 at Crestview has a total of 10 publications to date with five additional articles pending editor decisions. Lopez Presents at Annual Meeting of the Public Health Association Dr. Ivette Lopez, Associate Professor of Public Health, presented findings from the La Salud de Greensboro Health Assessment Study at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. In addition, a poster that explained the process of mentoring to improve the health of this Latino community was also selected for this competitive conference.

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Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy LECOM

LECOM Pharmacy and Dental Students Learn -- and Learn to Rely on Each Other Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Bradenton School of Pharmacy has begun interprofessional collaboration with the LECOM School of Dental Medicine in an effort to improve healthcare quality. This program takes pharmacy students into the dental clinic, where they learn to work closely with patients as well as with other healthcare professionals.

Working in concert, D3 Natalie Hage, left, and P3 Kelly Fero take a detailed history of a patient at the LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Bradenton.

LECOM Bradenton faculty member Kathleen Hitchcock, Pharm.D.

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“What it gives the pharmacy students is confidence,” said Kathleen Hitchcock, Pharm.D., one of the faculty advisors. “It teaches them skills that pharmacy students require when they meet patients during experiential-education rotations. It also reinforces to both the dental and pharmacy students that we are all contributing to a team and that collaboration is what is best for the patient.” The pharmacy student works in the dental student’s treatment room, where they record the patient’s current and past

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medication usage, take detailed vital signs and consult on drug interactions while assisting with the patient’s dental care. Kelly Fero, a third-year School of Pharmacy student, said it has been “a learning experience for me to be that close to a patient and not having anything between us. When working in a pharmacy, you always have that barrier Third-year LECOM School of Pharmacy – the counter – between you and the pa- student Kelly Fero. tient. Being up close and personal with them, it was an intimate interaction with the patient. Working with Natalie, it’s really a team-based approach.” Her third-year dental school counterpart, Natalie Hage, agreed, saying, “Just as I would rely on an orthodontist to treat malocclusions in my patients, I would rely on a pharmacist to delve into what a patient is taking, as well as why they’re taking it and when they’re takThird-year LECOM ing it.” School of Dental “Before the Pharmacy students came, Medicine student I was relying on my knowledge of phar- Natalie Hage. macology and the medicines that the patients might be on— which is good, because we’ve had the courses—but relying on someone who actually specializes in the medicines was ideal,” Hage said. Faculty advisor Madge Potts-Williams, DDS. said the collaboration came about when the deans of their respective schools—Julie Wilkinson, Pharm.D., AsLECOM Bradenton sociate Dean of the Traditional Pathway faculty member Madge for the LECOM School of Pharmacy, and Potts-Williams, DDS. Mathew Bateman, Ph.D, D.H.Ed., Dean of the LECOM School of Dental Medicine—brought together individuals from both schools with the intent of exploring interprofessional collaboration. “Essentially, the pharmacy students are screening to see if patients can be accepted to the dental clinic and they work together with the dental students to take detailed patient histo-


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ments – that really have more effect than the general population may understand.” The No. 1 patient counseling point has been about overthe-counter medications and herbal/natural treatments, followed by medication adherence, smoking-cessation, adverse effects, drug interactions and finding lower-cost medications. Early surveys of patient satisfaction indicate the collaboration has been “very successful,” Dr. Hitchcock said, “with 100 percent of respondents relaying positive feedback on the more than 70 surveys that have been logged.”

Dr. Madge Potts-Williams, Natalie Hage, Kelly Fero and Dr. Kathleen Hitchcock.

ries and vital signs,” Dr. Hitchcock said. Added Dr. Potts-Williams, “Each set of students is able to get a better idea of what the other does. They’re also beginning to see how they can develop relationships with others of another profession and see the value in that.” “After the medical history is completed, “ she said, “the pharmacy student will look at the combinations of medications the patient is taking, counsel the patient and look at the overlap – including over-the-counter medications and supple-

D3 Natalie Hage, left, and P3 Kelly Fero examine a patient’s X-rays at the LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Bradenton.

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Larkin Health Sciences Institute College of Pharmacy Introduction Larkin University College of Pharmacy (LU COP) has evolved from Larkin Hospital, a community-based hospital that prides itself as a teaching hospital and has the largest Osteopathic Medicine residency training program in the United States. It is also the third largest statutory teaching hospital in Florida. As healthcare began to change with the increased need for medical doctors and other healthcare professionals, Larkin Health Systems (LHS) saw itself as the center of what was most needed for the education of the new healthcare professionals: access to experiential and interprofessional training. Founded in 2013, LU is a private not-for-profit academic institution, drawing students and faculty from across the nation to Miami. LU consists of the College of Biomedical Sciences and the College of Pharmacy. The College of Biomedical Sciences welcomed its inaugural class in fall 2013, while the College of Pharmacy welcomed its inaugural class in fall 2016. While the University began as Larkin Health Sciences Insti-

Faculty member Dr. Nasir Uddin and students in pharmaceutics lab 18

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tute (LHSI), in March 2017 the Florida Department of Education approved the name change in recognition that all of our current programs are at the graduate level. The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program offers direct entry to students who have completed the required 63 credits of prerequisite coursework. Established by experienced leaders in pharmacy education, and based on the principles of active learning, the program is distinguished by its strong educational focus on experiential and interprofessional education. The goal of our Pharm.D. degree is to prepare graduates to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care. Such care must promote optimal drug therapy and patient safety across the healthcare continuum. We believe that learning constitutes more than memorization of facts, but rather use of one’s knowledge to synthesize and evaluate real world problems. We expect learners to participate fully, to use critical thinking, and to be personally accountable for their own learning. To be successful in establishing this culture, our approach is learner-centered. Curriculum Layout A major portion of the classroom teaching is delivered by means of an integrated block curriculum (i.e. pathophysiology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and pharmacotherapy occurring together), while at the same time incorporating co-curricular and interprofessional learning opportunities to enhance the development of our students. The co-curricular learning is a core component that teaches students to assess their own professional development goals, create an action plan and ultimately establish habits that emphasize the importance of life-long learning in the pharmacy profession. An established program of Professional Development Units


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is available as a menu of options from which students choose the activities that align with their professional growth and development. Rather than studying many subjects simultaneously, the block curriculum challenges students with biomedical and clinical cases that combine a range of symptoms, possible diagnoses and therapeutic outcomes, one course at a time. Essentially, it puts students in real-life clinical situations from day one. The active learning strategy is complemented throughout the three years with extensive clinical practice and patient contact integrated with theoretical study elements. The experiential learning is conducted at various health care institutions throughout South Florida, including entities of LHS. Interprofessional Education & Community Outreach A huge focus for LU COP is interprofessional education (IPE), as mirrored in the new American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) standards. Students’ exposure to IPE begins during the first semester of the program. In the fall, LU COP partnered with the Miami-Dade College’s Physician Assistant (PA) program for an IPE day focused on communication. Pharmacy and PA students were divided into groups where they participated in an ice breaker on facing fears and a presentation by one of our clinical practice faculty on emotional agility and group dynamics. The day closed with discussions and case evaluations covering interprofessional communication and the intersection of PA and pharmacy practice. Future interprofessional days are already being incorporated into therapeutic blocks, with a focus of learning alongside prescribers and/or prescriber trainees, and increasing complexity of patient cases as each activity occurs. Our desire is for interprofessional learning to be application-based and, therefore, grow as the students’ knowledge grows. Outside of the classroom, IPE has been built into their introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) rotations in both the community and hospital settings. At LU COP, we believe it is vital that our students have the solid foundation necessary to mature into successful pharmacists. For that goal to come to fruition, we believe IPE must begin the very first semester. LU COP also focuses on community outreach, and we are eager to serve our community! To date, we have contributed to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and Light the Night Walk through fundraising, and student and faculty participation in the walks. Also, student leaders and faculty have volunteered their time to assist in Florida’s 321 Dance for Down Syndrome, and LHS Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. Being a part of LHS is incredible as they organize multiple community events throughout the year! In December 2016, 18 students, five faculty and one preceptor volunteered at the hospital Christmas carnival where they provided cough, cold and flu education in English and Spanish to families attending the event. LHS is also hosting a spring celebration, and

Faculty members (Dr. Nicole Lounsbury and Dr. Nicholas Chow; far left) and students at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

our students are set to educate the community on the topic of “medication vs. candy,” a common hazard that can lead to accidental poisonings when children misunderstand the difference between the two items. In March, The Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) Walk and Family Fun Day at Marlins Park, hosted by Walgreens, provided a direct patient care experience for 21 student pharmacists. Our students provided blood pressure and blood glucose screening and counseling to members of the community. Most recently, LU COP hosted our first blood drive with One Blood, and had 11 faculty, staff and students donate—some were first time donors! A goal for the near future is partnering with Miami-Dade Area Health Education Center (AHEC) for public health trainings, community outreach opportunities, and an advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) elective for the COP. We are confident that as students continue matriculating through the pharmacy program, our community outreach will expand, reaching deeper into the surrounding areas. The momentum that exists now will fuel the passion in our upcoming servant-leaders. Remaining future-minded, we also desire to offer healthcare mission trips to our students in the years that follow.

LU COP ALSO FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND WE ARE EAGER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY! TO DATE, WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER WALK AND LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK THROUGH FUNDRAISING, AND STUDENT AND FACULTY PARTICIPATION IN THE WALKS. MAY 2017

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Faculty, preceptors and students from LU, NSU, PBAU, and Cleveland Clinic Florida (CCFL) during preceptor development collaboration; LU faculty member Dr. Kathleen Jodoin (front center)

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Experiential Education As of March, our students completed both their community and hospital IPPEs. They returned to the classroom with a refreshed desire to learn more knowledge in preparation for their future APPEs. We are very proud of their performance and the exposure they gained while serving patients and other healthcare providers out in the community. At LU COP we take pride in our experiential education program, and believe it is vital to provide support and training to meet the needs of our preceptors both inside and outside of the college. In February, LU COP collaborated with Nova Southeastern University (NSU), Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBAU), and Cleveland Clinic Florida (CCFL) to record preceptor development videos. Faculty, students and preceptors participated in these cinematic productions, which will ultimately provide education to pharmacy students in South Florida. Additionally, the videos will be submitted to the Annual Meeting of Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP) as part of an Experiential Tack, and will be broadcasted as part of a segment titled “Providing Effective Feedback to Students and Residents.”

AT LU COP WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, AND BELIEVE IT IS VITAL TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND TRAINING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR PRECEPTORS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE COLLEGE. Accreditation and Enrollment The Pharm.D. program received pre-candidate accreditation status by the ACPE in June 2016. The COP’s inaugural class of 62 students includes 85 percent underrepresented minorities and is primarily from Miami-Dade County, highlighting the college’s commitment to Miami and building on its core values of social justice. In April, we will welcome back ACPE for review to the next phase of accreditation: candidate status. Our faculty and staff have been diligently working throughout the last year to collect data and create our self-study to present to the ACPE site visit team which will include a member of the Florida Board of Pharmacy. The finished product is nothing short of a collaborative effort from the entire LU team. Future Campus In early 2013, LHS purchased 50 acres of land in Naranja, Fla. with plans to create Larkin University, which will include the existing programs (i.e. pharmacy, nursing, biomedical sciences) as well as plans for a College of Osteopathic Med-


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icine, a College of Dentistry, and public charter middle and high schools to target students interested in the health sciences. The charter middle school has already been approved and building plans have begun. The campus will also include student life and housing facilities. The Naranja campus is still under development and the COP does not anticipate relocation for several years. As LHS continues to prosper and grow, we are very excited for the future of LU! Inaugural Administrative Leadership The President of the College is Sandy Sosa-Guerrero, FACHE, RN, BSN, MBA-HA. The Dean of the College is Gary M. Levin, Pharm.D., BCPP, FCCP. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Assessment is Sandra Benavides, Pharm.D., FCCP, FPPAG. Dr. Benavides is the lead editor for ACCP’s textbook Pediatric Pharmacotherapy. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions Lynne Arric, MS, Ed.D. The Assistant Dean of Experiential Education is Kathleen Jodoin, Pharm.D., BCPS. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Chair is Anupam Bishayee, B.Pharm., M.Pharm., Ph.D. Additionally, LU COP recently welcomed our newest administrator, Joshua Caballero, Pharm.D., BCPP, FCCP, renowned in the field for being the senior editor for ASHP’s Get the Residency: ASHP’s Guide to Residency Interviews and Preparation. He serves as the Chair for the Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences. Inaugural Faculty The college has two faculty departments: The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (DPS) and the Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences (DCAS). Currently, DPS consists of two medicinal chemists, two pharmacologists, and two pharmaceutics faculty members. One additional pharmacologist will be starting in May and we are currently recruiting for one more. In addition to the administrative leaders, DCAS presently has three clinical practice faculty members and one social-administrative science (SAS) faculty member. DCAS has recently hired three new faculty (two clinical and one SAS) to begin between May 1 and July. DCAS is currently recruiting for an additional two-three faculty to begin this summer. Next year will bring ten new hires. At LU, we pride ourselves in developing a collegial culture focused on teamwork and a student-centered environment both inside and outside of the classroom. LU is a multicultural, inclusive community characterized by relationship, compassion and respect for self and others. Social justice is critical to our mission, and the institute nurtures and values cultural, social and intellectual diversity, and welcomes faculty, staff and students of all traditions and values. Student Leadership Our students are very enthusiastic overall, and when it came to implementing leadership roles within the college, they illustrated the same level of passion. Students elect-

Students and Dr. Christiane Chbib (far right) at Florida Pharmacist’s Legislative Days & Health Fair in Tallahassee

ed their inaugural Student Government Association officers this past fall. In March, we officially welcomed our inaugural student chapter of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)—Academy of Students of Pharmacy (ASP). Along with APhA-ASP, the students elected their inaugural executive board. Immediately following, a chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNAPhA) was chartered and the executive board was elected. Currently, a group of students and faculty advisors are working towards the next organization charter for American Society of Health-System Pharmacists-Student Societies of Health-System Pharmacy (ASHP-SSHP). Through the processes of initiating new chapters, our students will gain even more leadership and professional growth. Lastly, we were very excited to send our first group of students to Florida Pharmacist’s Legislative Days and Health Fair in Tallahassee, Fla. and Student Advocate Training and Legislative Day hosted by ASHP in Bethesda, Md. Within this first year, our students have illustrated dedication and a proactive attitude when it comes to involvement and engagement in their future profession. We could not be prouder of our student leaders as they lay the groundwork for their successors. We know there are amazing things yet to come at LU COP!

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Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy Where The Stars are Dazzling A constellation is a cluster of stars that constructs a particular vision. The past year at Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy is best viewed through the lens of new stars assembling, along with realignment of select administrative leadership positions, to propel the school’s mission to new heights and provide exacting readiness for 2017, and beyond. Key new hires in the College include David Nau, Ph.D., R.Ph, FAPhA,, CPhQ as Assistant Dean of Accreditation and Assessment. Dr. Nau brings 20 years of blue-blooded academic experience to the college (Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia) and is the founder and former president of Pharmacy Quality Solutions, a company specializing in value based healthcare. The College also hired Scott Kjelson, Pharm.D., in the newly developed position, Director of Student Transitions. Dr. Kjelson embodies the energy and excitement of the College in the new position and the student-centered focus of the school. Dr. Kjelson is a recognized speaker on trends in healthcare industrialization, particularly as they relate to pharmacy practice, and his passion for students and the profession imbues his every move. The College hired Professor Albert Wertheimer, Ph.D., MBA, former Professor at Temple University and Dean Emeritus of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Dr. Wertheimer has more than 30 years of academic experience, is author or editor of 40 books, numerous book chapters and about 430 journal articles. He has lectured or consulted in about 75 countries, and holds visiting professor appointments at universities in Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey, Slovenia and China. He has pioneered work in the area of social and behavioral sciences in pharmacy and brings with him the Dr. Albert Wertheimer presenting at Dubai International Pharmaceutics & Technologies (DUPHAT) Conference & Exhibition. 22

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Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research where he serves as Editor. Our newest star in San Juan, Puerto Rico is Raquel Lozada, Pharm.D., CGP, Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Lozada brings over twenty years of experience as a clinician and now precepts students at the Cardiovascular Hospital of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, offering for the first time in Puerto Rico students the opportunity to actively participate in open-heart surgery and others specific cardiac procedures. In fact, our students now share clinical rounds with the distinguished cardiologists and surgeons credited for having performed the first heart transplant in Puerto Rico. In terms of administrative re-alignment the College named Dr. Renee Jones, former Director of Preceptor Development, as Director of Pharmacy Partnerships and Innovation. Dr. Jones is coordinating professional and educational activities with regional Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Managed Service Organizations (MSO) and Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH), developing International agreements including Advanced Practice Pharmacy Experiences (APPE) and coordinating clinical services and educational opportunities with community based pharmacy partners. Dr. Elizabeth Shepherd is now Assistant Dean of Strategic Partnerships and Program Development where she works to increase the endowment of the College, create expanded partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry, develop new programs, and formalize the College’s strategic planning process. Dr. Rochelle Nappi former Director of Student Services, was named Assistant Dean, Palm Beach Campus, where she brings her ten years of student incumbency and educational leadership to an exciting new opportunity. Mr. Jeffrey Jurkas, MBA, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions is serving now as the Interim Director of Student Services making his immediate impact felt. Research on the Forefront On the research front, the College had another prodigious year. Nova Southeastern University’s newly opened $100 million Center for Collaborative Research (CCR) is one of the largest and most advanced research facilities in Florida, and has become home for several faculty and College of Pharmacy-led Institutes. Significant examples include relocation of the Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer research, under the direction of Dr. Appu Rathinavelu. Dr. Jean Latimer was announced as the Director of the AutoNation Institute for


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Breast and Solid Tumor Cancer Research, providing her the support and resources required for her cutting-edge research. The College of Pharmacy was instrumental with the development of the Center for Drug Discovery and Develop3 ment (CD ) under the direction of Dr. Mutasem RawasQalaji. The Center is designed Dr. Mutasem Qalaji, Director for to conduct translational rethe Center for Drug Discovery and search to support efforts to Development, and inventor of the provide formulation expertise Epi-Pill. for new drugs and cell therapies. No doubt, Dr. Qalaji’s pioneering, ingenious and mediaattracted work on an Epi-Pill, a sublingual nanoparticle formulated epinephrine tablet, suited this appointment well. Among specific faculty, Dr. Elizabeth Sherman was reawarded a subcontract with the University of Miami, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration to support maintenance of a local partner site within the South Florida – Southeast AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC). Dr. Singh-Franco continued her research efforts publishing yet another meta-analysis, this time in Sage Open Medicine, entitled “An updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and tolerability of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease.” Dr. Kalumi Ayala, as an HIV expert, presented a poster title “Patient-Centered Clinical Pharmacy Services: Promoting appropriate utilization of over-the-counter products, focus on natural supplements” in the National Ryan White Conference on HIV Care and Treatment, Washington DC. In collaboration with Drs. Andrea Levin and Jose Valdes, Dr. Alexandra Perez published a series of 4 national studies evaluating the use and quality of antidiabetic, antihypertensive and antidepressant regimens in racial/ethnic minority patients with type 2 diabetes. Dr. Perez also published an article in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education describing the evaluation of an applied secondary database analysis research elective. Dr. Malav Trivedi, was awarded a grant titled ‘Genomic approach to find female-specific mechanisms of GWI (Gulf War Illness) pathobiology’ from the Department of Defense. The main objective of this research grant is to identify novel, female-specific mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in Gulf War Illness that will help to better understand GWI pathobiology. Their research studies will reveal potential therapeutic targets of GWI and provide insight into sexspecific disease onset and progression with the goal of devel-

oping better therapeutic interventions. Dr. Latimer, received funding from the Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program for the award titled ‘Persistently Elevated Somatic Mutation as a Biomarker for Clinically Relevant Exposures in GWI. This grant will perform tests on the blood of veterans with Gulf War Illness to determine if exposures to pesticides or radiation caused permanent genetic changes to their bone marrow or altered DNA repair capacity. Dr. Genevieve Hale, Dr. Stacy Maravent, Dr. Tina Joseph, Dr. Sarah Alameddine et al., were awarded a Nova Southeastern University, Quality of Life (QOL) Faculty Community Based Applied Research Grant to improve quality of life and cardiovascular health and wellness of elderly patients in South Florida. Additionally, Dr. Genevieve Hale, Dr. Devada Singh-Franco, Dr. Tina Joseph and colleagues were awarded a Nova Southeastern University, Health Professions Division Research grant for their evaluation of practitioners’ preference of stroke risk in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: CHA2DS2-VASc versus CHADS2.

ON THE RESEARCH FRONT, THE COLLEGE HAD ANOTHER PRODIGIOUS YEAR. NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY’S NEWLY OPENED $100 MILLION CENTER FOR COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH (CCR) IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST ADVANCED RESEARCH FACILITIES IN FLORIDA, AND HAS BECOME HOME FOR SEVERAL FACULTY AND COLLEGE OF PHARMACY-LED INSTITUTES. Faculty Blazing Professional Pathways Faculty highlights include the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Dr. Luigi Cubeddu’s publication, “Drug-induced inhibition and trafficking disruption of ion channels: pathogenesis of QT abnormalities and drug-induced fatal arrhythmias and the antiviral actions of statins.” Dr. Richard Deth met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA staff at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) to discuss the issue of vaccine safety as related to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. He, alongside Dr. Trivedi, continue their groundbreaking research on Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders at the College. Dr. Enrique Nieves submitted a US Provisional Patent Application for a new delivery system for potent (low dose) drugs. In Pharmacy Practice, Dr. William Wolowich attended the Certara Simcyp (physiologically based pharmacokinetic modMAY 2017

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elling) workshop and as a result the College is one of a select group of universities (UNC, Michigan, and less than 10 in total) with a registered Simcyp user. Faculty members of the ACORN SEED (Accountable Care Organization Research Network, Services and Education), including Dr’s Tina Joseph, Genevieve Hale, Yesenia Prados, Renee Jones, Matthew Seamon, and Cynthia Moreau, published an important paper on ‘Integration Strategies of Pharmacists in Primary CareBased Accountable Care Organizations’ in the Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy. Dr. Shirin Madzhidova published two textbook chapters (Pediatric Seizures and IBS) in the “Pediatric Pharmacotherapy” textbook. Dr. Jose Valdes, was accepted to participate in the 2017 summer European program for education, training, youth and sport (Erasmus+) program to provide lectures on clinical neuropharmacology and treatment overviews of various neurologic and neuropsychiatric conditions to College of Pharmacy students at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Dr. Colón-Pratts served as the second vice-president of the Executive Committee of the Government Board of the Puerto Rico Pharmacist Association-Colegio de Farmacéuticos de PR. Dr. Yarelis Alvarado was elected as secretary of Puerto Rico Pharmacist’s Association Board. Having a truly international impact on Sociobehavioral and Administrative Pharmacy, Dr. Manuel J. Carvajal, and Dr. Albert I. Wertheimer were featured speakers at the Dubai International Pharmaceutics & Technologies (DUPHAT) Conference & Exhibition. Approximately 6,000 pharmacists from around the world, primarily from the Middle East and North Africa, were in attendance. Dr. Georgina Silva Suarez was awarded with a Health Profession Division grant to implement a pilot project that aim to optimized antiretroviral adherence among a group of women living with HIV in Puerto Rico. Dr. Leanne Lai received the Research Bronze Medal Award from 2017 Academy of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy (AMCP) annual conference for her work on the ‘Under-treatment of Chronic Interstitial Cystitis in the United States – A Population Based Study.’ Dr. Margarita Miranda worked in conjunction with the Board of Pharmacy of Puerto Rico revalidating the law examination for Puerto Rico and instrumental in facilitating pharmacy interns to vaccinate. Setting the Profession Abuzz Faculty from the College had a truly breakout year in terms of professional impact, providing truly pioneering services in practice. ACORN SEED faculty expanded the boundaries of pharmacists in practice, thoroughly rooting themselves in the primary care arena, working alongside community based physicians in their office settings to provide vanguard ambulatory services. The team’s quality improvement findings were documented and presented by students at conferences including ACCP, AMCP and APhA. The ACORN SEED established the first Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) in the country focused on Accountable Care, and were granted 24

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registration with AHRQ. Moreover, ACORN SEED re-engineered their medication therapy management Center to provide full service medication optimization and improvement in quality measures. Affectionately known as the ATM Center, pharmacists and students will be focusing on adherence, transitions-of-care, and medication therapy management, under the leadership of Dr. Jones and Dr. Prados. 2016 also saw the development of the first ACO based Fellowship in the country at the College; and ASHP accreditation for the College’s Transitions of Care PGY-2 Residency. Dr. Tina Joseph matched with her top two selections for her newly developed PGY-2 Pharmacy Practice Residency in Ambulatory Care based in accountable care for the 2017-2018 year. Dr. Jose Rey was named Board Member, of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), South Florida. The College once again hosted an Elementary School Career Day Field Trip, whereas Drs. Jaime Riskin, Brian Hierholzer, Andrea Levin, Jennifer Steinberg, and David Mastropietro designed a field trip intended for elementary-aged students. Local Broward county fourth grade gifted students traveled to the schools laboratories to experience a college-environment and have a hands-on exposure to various aspects of pharmacy practice, including compounding, physical assessment and lifestyle management. Overall, the faculty and staff of the College showed their commitment with exceptionally strong giving/participation and engagement to the College winning the Thanks-A-Latte party for exceeding the giving target and winning a pizza party for their high response on the university employee engagement survey. Student luminaries shine bright Our student showed once again why they are the pride and joy of the College, being recognized at local, state, and national levels. At the local level: the Broward County Pharmacy Association awarded scholarships to three students, Farima Raof (‘17), Zejna Custovic (’17), and Damaal Walker (’18). The scholarships were awarded based on the student’s’ academic success, community service, and advocacy for the profession. At the state level, a team of students was thrilled to win the OTC Jeopardy competition at the 126th Annual Meet-

Students taking a needed break from studying for the annual Welcome Back BBQ.


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ing and Convention of the Florida Pharmacy Association. The local (Beta Lambda) chapter of Phi Delta Chi held several fundraisers and were able to make a sizeable donation to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Farima Raof (’17) was the first student ever to be inducted into the prestigious Florida Pharmacy Association (FPA) #1 Club. At the national level, Daniel Pearson (’17) was selected to serve on the National Executive Board for the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA). Mr. Pearson also received the Barry A. Bleidt Scholarship Award at the SNPhA/NPhA annual meeting in Atlanta. Kaitav Shah (’17) was awarded the National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA) Foundation’s Presidential Scholarship. Mr. Farley Saint-Louis (’18), SGA President, and member of President Hanbury’s, President’s 64, an elite body of student leaders on campus, was selected to represent the College at this year’s Cardinal Leadership Conference. Mr. Leroy Koh (’17) was awarded a national 2016 Tylenol Future Care Scholarship, being the College’s second recipient of this prestigious scholarship, with Ms. Nour Samra (’17) who won in 2015. Ms. Norimar Rivera Ortiz (’20) won the Poster and Slogan Competition from the Puerto Rico Pharmacist Association. Her slogan and poster entitled “El Farmacéutico, proveedor y comunicador en salud” (The pharmacist: communicator and health care provider) was used as the official promotional materials to commemorate the Pharmacist Week in Puerto Rico. For those of you counting, this is the third year in a row a student from the College has won. Ms. Wildalis Novoa (’20) was awarded the first scholarship granted by the “Colegio de Farmacéuticos de Puerto Rico this year. Alumni at the Empyrean On the alumni front, the College was proud to host our 2nd annual Alumni Homecoming Reunion. Efforts were made to connect to more than 4,000 alumni worldwide. Alumni came “home” to a warm gathering of fellow classmates and some of their favorite faculty members. This year the Charter Class of 1987 was honored. The College is proud to announce this year’s Alumni of the Year finalist for the University’s STUEY (Student Life Achievement) Awards is Dr. Serafin Gonzalez (’95). As Director of Pharmacy Services at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute his compounding protocol for bevacizumab (Avastin) for the treatment of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other neovascular eye diseases has had an immeasurable impact on ophthalmic practice and patient outcomes. Serendipitously, the College’s four Preceptors of the Year awards were all won by NSU alumni. Dr. Rhoda Alarchi of Walgreens (’03) won the IPPE Community Preceptor of the Year award while Dr. Caroline Taazieh of Jackson North (’97) won the IPPE Health Systems/Pharmacy Services Preceptor of the Year. Dr. Chey Reid of Jackson South (’05) won as APPE Preceptor of the Year and Dr. Kalumi Ayala (’05) with her practice at Centro Ararat in Ponce, Puerto Rico won APPE

Sharks coming home for the annual homecoming event.

Faculty Preceptor of the Year Award. Alumnus Dr. Juan Santos (’05) and P4 student Sonia Muñoz (’17) were guests on the Puerto Rico weekly TV show Tu Salud Informa. The show, hosted by Julio Jimenez, M.D., addresses health-related topics relevant to the general population. Brilliance in the Classroom Fall 2016, saw the inauguration of the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Affairs program providing a seamless entry point into the industry or bridge into the profession The Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences was granted approval to launch, Fall 2017 focusing on molecular medicine and pharmacogenomics, drug development, and social and administrative pharmacy. The re-imagined Pharmacy Practice Seminar course, mirrored in the style of the hit television show Shark Tank, had an impressive debut. Students worked in small groups to develop, prototype, and present to industry representatives an innovative new pharmacy service or product. As much hope and anticipation the faculty had for the student body, they soared to heights not anticipated. Student projects ranged from clinical services to reduce suicide within Veterans Affairs Hospitals to drones which could deliver medications directly to patients’ doorsteps. Some students worked to obtain provisional patents and present their ideas at national conferences. In furtherance of a unique identity for the course, the students will now be called Pharmovators and the evening event PharmaCon.

THE RE-IMAGINED PHARMACY PRACTICE SEMINAR COURSE, MIRRORED IN THE STYLE OF THE HIT TELEVISION SHOW SHARK TANK, HAD AN IMPRESSIVE DEBUT. STUDENTS WORKED IN SMALL GROUPS TO DEVELOP, PROTOTYPE, AND PRESENT TO INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES AN INNOVATIVE NEW PHARMACY SERVICE OR PRODUCT. MAY 2017

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Following the State of Florida’s legislative addition of student interns to immunize, Dr. Marylee Worley, Dr. Levin and members of the Department of Pharmacy Practice are proud to boast they have guided over 700 student pharmacists in the last two years become certified to immunize. Once again the Dean extended the Dean’s Ambassador Program, to new ambassadors throughout the campuses. Ambassadors are charged with representing the Dean, College, and University amongst alumni, preceptors, student colleagues, constituents, affiliated organizations, respective professional communities, and the public in College-based activities. Our star faculty battled for the Golden Apple nominations in recognition of Professor of the year. Dr. Yong Kwon, Dr. Jennifer Steinberg, Dr. Nathan Unger and Dr. Andrea Levin were recognized by the four classes respectively, with Dr. Kwon winning the coveted prize. Once again, the College proudly offered their International Travel Study program, this time to Spain. They toured Madrid, Toledo, Salamanca, and Granada as part of the cultural segment of the trip. This year students are welcomed to experience travel study in Slovakia and Argentina.

Faculty enjoying and team-building during annual Faculty Development.

Soaring the Profession to Unheralded Heights The CAREERx SPACE hosted three probing programs to support and inspire our students while highlighting some of our distinguished alumni. The LEADERxS Series featured Dr. Armando Bardisa (’97), CEO of South Miami Pharmacy and Dr. Christina Celdran (’07), Customer Care Operations Clinical Manager for Walgreens. The Accomplished Pharmacist Under 40 Series showcased Dr. Alicia Rozen (’14), Vice President of Brand Development for Brand Institute and Dr. Kim-

Medical Marijuana debate hosted by Dr. Scott Kjelson.

mi Stultz (’07), CEO and Founder of Juicery Rx, an apothecary inspired juice bar providing pharmacy based nutritious and wellness counseling. Mr. Philip Kraus, CEO of Kraus Capital Wealth Management, counseled our students on student debt, career savings, and capital management in a program entitled, “Financial Strength and Intelligence.” The College expanded its reach in the professional through its advocacy program under the direction of Dr. Scott Kjelson. The College hosted an influential debate on the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, known as Amendment 2. The debate had a political/legislative component alongside a medical information panel. Included in the legislative debate was Mr. Ben Pollara, campaign manager for the political committee backing the amendment, and State Representative Joseph Geller who spoke in support of the proposed amendment. In opposition of were Mr. Barney Bishop III, CEO of Smart Justice Alliance, a strategic consultant agency, and State Senator Dennis K Baxley. A sincere thank you goes to the Sun Sentinel’s Mr. Andrew Abramson who moderated the often passionate debate with tremendous finesse. The medical panel included Jeffrey Block, M.D., a renowned botanist and anesthesiologist, and faculty members Robert Speth Ph.D., an accomplished biomedical researcher, and Jose Valdes, Pharm.D., a respected neuro-psychiatric clinician. As has become customary, College faculty and administrators led a strong, multitudinous contingency of dedicated students to Capitol Hill as part of Florida Pharmacy Association’s Legislative Days and Health Fair. In preamble, students idyllically orchestrated a newly formed Legislative Days Task Force which brought about a momentous showing; whereby

OUR STAR FACULTY BATTLED FOR THE GOLDEN APPLE NOMINATIONS IN RECOGNITION OF PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR. DR. YONG KWON, DR. JENNIFER STEINBERG, DR. NATHAN UNGER AND DR. ANDREA LEVIN WERE RECOGNIZED BY THE FOUR CLASSES RESPECTIVELY, WITH DR. KWON WINNING THE COVETED PRIZE. 26

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students led meetings with state legislators and community representative’s demonstrating the value and significance of pharmacists. Dr. Julie Marin, Director of Experiential Education, Puerto Rico worked to develop a Compounding Residency through a generous donation by Santa Cruz Pharma Care, while Dr. Jones spearheaded the College’s effort, in partnership and through donation, with SimfaRose Pharmacy to help establish a Community Pharmacy Residency. The Future is Approaching For those of you following the school closely, next year is going to be equally impressive. Some sneak peeks to look for include key new hires such as Dr. Karen Sando from University of Florida College of Pharmacy and Dr. Kimmi Stultz as Director of Preceptor Development. The school is abuzz with an exciting branding campaign under the guidance of the Brand Institute, the leading consultant for pharmaceutical industry branding. Construction of the CAREERx SPACE is in full effect, which will provide students an avantgarde approach to individualized career planning, personalized branding, job placement assistance, and professional shadowing opportunities. The skill-based, inter-professional education (IPE) enriched, block curriculum is nearing implementation as the College continues to seek innovative, experiential approaches to the classroom under the curricular leadership of Dr. Graciela Armayor and Dr. Robert McGory. International partnerships will continue to progress, with Argentina, Bahamas, Cuba, England, Korea and South Africa in sight, amongst other countries. Our innovative, and inimitable Continuing Education offerings will continue to impress and draw large crowds and will now include immunization certification for pharmacists. Philanthropy - The Fuel to Ignite As with any successful program, the College would not be where it is, if not for the support of our generous philanthropists, including alumni, friends, corporations and foundations. This money helps ensure our deserving students receive the highest quality education, research opportunities, scholarships and experiential learning opportunities possible. Walgreens, the University’s Corporate Sponsor of the Year, continued its unwavering support of the College with three endowed scholarships, a diversity scholarship, and support for 20 students to attend a women’s leadership conference. The Publix Endowed Scholarship Fund was established to provide scholarship support to students. Accountable Care Options provided a generous donation to sponsor a student scholarship and the CAREERx SPACE. The Royal Dames continued to support the College in cancer research with a donation to Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research (RGI) The a2Milk Company, based in Auckland, New Zealand, committed multi-year support for faculty research in milk protein and its relationship to the brain. Standard Pro-

cess, a high-quality, whole food-based, nutritional supplement manufacturer provided targeted benefaction, allowing the College to establish a framework for a specialty track curriculum for students interested in integrative pharmacy. Other kind supporters of the College include Solara, Inc., Dr. and Mrs. Robert Speth, and Rama R. Mantena. Dean Lisa Deziel, Pharm.D., Ph.D, BCPS, FASHP As proud Dean of the College of Pharmacy, it is astonishing to look back at the year and realize all the College has accomplished. Each and every student, faculty, staff and administrator represents a unique star in the constellation that is Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy and provides a glowing navigation for continued expanse.

Dean Lisa Deziel and SGA President, Mr. Farley Saint-Louis.

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Palm Beach Atlantic University Gregory School of Pharmacy Palm Beach Atlantic University is a Christian university that equips students to lead fulfilling lives through learning, leadership and service. The University’s Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy exists to manifest that purpose in all of its graduates by ensuring that they are not only excellent scientists and clinicians, but are also equipped to use this knowledge and these skills in service to others in a manner consistent with and compelled by their faith as modeled by Jesus Christ. Our school’s mission statement is simply stated…Pharmacy with Faith, and such drives our collective pursuit of the School’s vision…Excellence with Character. Healthcare, including the profession of pharmacy, is in the midst of seismic change. A few short years ago the federal government effected a plan to significantly overhaul the nation’s healthcare system, resulting in The Affordable Care Act (i.e. Obamacare). The system was (and is) in desperate need of overhaul, a task of monumental (and nearly insurmountable) proportion. I cannot envision it ever being fully “right.” And, now again, under a new administration, the system is undergoing significant change with effects we won’t fully realize for many years. However, these changes do offer pharmacists unprecedented opportunity to, not only participate in the care of patients in new and exciting ways, but to also serve as change-leaders. Therefore, it offers the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy (aka Gregory School of Pharmacy) an opportunity to prepare and contribute to a generation of pharmacists in a way that will make eternal differences in lives of people here and around the world.

Dr. Jeff Lewis was appointed dean of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Gregory School of Pharmacy in July of 2016.

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School Welcome New Dean In July of 2016 the interim dean of the Gregory School of Pharmacy, Dr. Scott Mohrland, returned to the classroom and passed the baton to newly appointed dean, Dr. Jeff Lewis. The school expresses is deepest gratitude to Dr. Morhland for his willing and skillful leadership during that time of transition. Dr. Lewis has been privileged to be a member of the profession of pharmacy for 30 years – engaged in a variety of practice, management, leadership and educational roles. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from Ohio

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Northern University, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Cincinnati, and completed a specialized residency in hospital pharmacy administration at the Medical College of Virginia hospitals. His early career roles were in hospital pharmacy management within which he was responsible for developing and maintaining many of the systems and processes that affect quality institutional drug use (e.g. formulary management, hospital staff education, Continuous Quality Improvement efforts related to safe medication use). For a few years, he turned his professional attention to the ambulatory care/community pharmacy arena, including home infusion care, specialty compounding and early iterations of medication therapy management. During this same period he also earned a Master of Arts in Christian Ministries degree from Malone College in Canton, Ohio. While pursuing this degree he accepted an invitation to join medical information publisher Lexi-Comp, Inc. – authoring their envisioned drug interactions database, Lexi-Interact™, to which he continues contributing, and concluded his tenure there as Director of Product Development. He joined the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy (Cedarville, Ohio) as the inaugural Associate Dean in 2009, during its earliest stage of development. As a member of the executive team he was charged with developing and launching not only the School, but also the associated degree programs (Pharm.D.; B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences), before his recent appointment as Palm Beach Atlantic University’s fourth dean of the Gregory School of Pharmacy. “It’s a tremendous privilege and honor to join the faculty and staff of the Gregory School of Pharmacy,” states Dean Lewis. “Tremendously talented and rightly purposed…the future of the School is very exciting.” The Vision As it pertains to the vision that Dr. Lewis holds for the Gregory School of Pharmacy, he describes it in a four-fold manner: Mission-Driven, Leaders in Innovation, Student-Focused, and Collaboration. With respect to mission-driven, it’s important that the members of any organization not only understand, but align their every associated pursuit, with the organization’s mission. The mission of the Gregory School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy with Faith, is not just a creative, noble tagline, it represents


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our relentless purpose for existence. We realize that the development of Christian character involves more than just the classroom. In fact, a student’s classroom success is profoundly affected by that which occurs outside the classroom in their individual and collective lives. Thus, our faculty and staff readily journey with our students in all facets of their pharmacy-centric pursuit, intentionally investing in student’s lives as they lead by example. The faculty and staff of the Gregory School of Pharmacy are truly relentless in their pursuit of this mission. Dr. Lewis has challenged his team to be leaders in innovation and seek solutions to today’s real-world problems in healthcare. The challenge is not for self, but for others, using their talents to make a difference in the lives of people in Florida and around the world. Whether it’s the creation of novel new drug formulations, the ideation of more efficient and productive practice models or the development of novel tools for patient education, the faculty – with students alongside – are making a difference. When Dr. Lewis lists student-focused among his vision elements, it goes beyond the baseline of developing solid graduates scientifically, technically and clinically. The School is focused on ensuring their career success, not just their NAPLEX success. He desires that PBA graduates be known for their compassion towards others, their willingness to lead, their business acumen and their ability to navigate the challenging issues (bioethical and otherwise) of their day, employing wisdom each step of the way. His desire is that PBA graduates will ‘live above the marketplace’ and possess the abilities to perceive the otherwise unmet needs in their communities and create the jobs required to meet them. And, finally, as it relates to collaboration, the dean is challenging the Gregory School of Pharmacy team to pursue the mission collectively and collaboratively, not just inside the walls of the organization, but across the landscape of healthcare and academia, and to prepare our students to do likewise. Compassion towards others A hallmark of the Gregory School of Pharmacy legacy is the manner in which students, faculty and staff engage in serving the needs of the underserved. Over the last 13 years the school has facilitated no less than 44 medication mission trips, both domestic and international. Within that period, more than 700 students, faculty and other friends of the School have served more than 15,000 patients. Part of that service included filling more than 40,000 prescriptions. In 2016 the School sent five teams (faculty leaders noted by each) to various parts of the globe, from nearby Belle Glade, Fla. (Drs. Amy Henneman, Tom Robertson and Edwin Santini) to several other countries, including Costa Rica (Drs. Christine Yocum and Samantha Axtell), Dominican Republic (Drs. Jay Jackson, Marile Santamarina and Carlos Torrado), Honduras (Dr. Dana Brown) and Uganda (Drs. Adwoa Nor-

Gregory School of Pharmacy faculty and students provide care for a man in the Dominican Republic during a mission trip.

noo, Mariette Sourial and Harm Maarsingh). In all, 81 faculty, students and friends reached out to those in need providing more than 2,700 people with physical/medical and spiritual care. In general, the days are long and the work is exhausting. The cultures are invariably different from home (which is a key reason that each location is selected). The trips are also filled with many risks, but in the end, each participant is changed, having developed a new, fresh perspective regarding life and service. Additionally, we are convinced that our ‘home’ patients will be better served by the graduates who have engaged in these incredible opportunities.

A Gregory School of Pharmacy student at the 2016 Community Health Fair in Lake Worth, Fla.

In addition to the robust engagement on these medical mission trips, the school also facilitates an annual health fair in nearby Lake Worth, Fla. The purpose of the Gregory School of Pharmacy’s annual health fair is to promote health awareness, prevention and treatment to patients in need, as well as to provide students with a meaningful service learnMAY 2017

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Washington D.C. Disappointingly, this event was cancelled in March of this year due to inclement weather. Recently graduated student, Viviane Caya Vandenbroek (’17), was a recipient of the U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice Award. Her public health pursuits have taken Viviane to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, and provided her an opportunity to meet the Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States, Mr. Martin Dahinden. Gregory School of Pharmacy students pose with the school’s dean, Dr. Jeff Lewis (far right), at the welcome booth of the 2016 Community Health Fair in Lake Worth, Fla.

ing experience. The health fair is organized by pharmacy students to connect with and educate the community. On Saturday, October 1, 2016, students hosted the ninth such annual fair as part of a strategic effort to reach the underserved Mayan and Guatemalan populations in the Lake Worth area. The fair was easily accessible to the community by foot or public transportation. The 2016 Community Health Fair had a total of 24 educational/service booths and served more than 100 members of the community. The booths represented health-related topics, and were headed by students from 13 different pharmacy student organizations. Booth topics included aging and the elderly, alcohol abuse, alternative medicine, Asthma/COPD, Chronic Kidney Disease, cholesterol, diabetes, generation Rx, Gastrointestinal care, hypertension, immunizations, health insurance, medication counseling, men’s and women’s health, mental health and stress management, lifestyle/fitness and nutrition, poison prevention, self-care, skin care, smoking cessation, spiritual health, sexually transmitted infections, veterinary, and children’s entertainment. Student Honors On a more individual basis, PBA students continue to gain great attention from national organizations. Below are three examples: P3 student, Ms. Aisha Shokoya, was one of only 40 students nationally to receive the Tylenol Future Care Scholarship, recognizing students who have disThird-year student played academic excellence, exemplary Aisha Shokoya was leadership, community involvement and one of just 40 students dedication to a career of caring for others. nationwide to receive a scholarship from P1 student, Mr. Salar Habib, was seTylenol. lected as one of only 50 students nationwide to participate in the National Association of Chain Drug Stores RxIMPACT Day on Capitol Hill – a 2-day event during which these students gain an understanding of legislative advocacy for the profession, then accompany NACDS members to the offices of key legislators in 30

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Advocating for the Profession Many students from the Gregory School of Pharmacy make the long trek to Tallahassee each spring to participate in the Florida Legislative Days event. This year, Dean Lewis and 25 students participated in the annual event, meeting with legislators and their aides, while advocating for the advancement of the pharmacy profession for the well-being of those we serve. The students, from all Florida-based pharmacy programs, represented our profession well at the state Capitol.

Students and faculty from the Gregory School of Pharmacy traveled to Tallahassee to meet with legislators and represent their field at the Florida Legislative Days event.

Reshaping the School’s Organizational Structure In an effort to improve organizational communication, efficiency, productivity, and foster the talent of our incredible faculty, Dean Lewis has re-organized the leadership team in some key ways. The dean has formally established two academic departments in the school: The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Department of Pharmacy Practice, each of which will be overseen by an academic chair. The school is excited to announce that Dr. Adwoa Nornoo, a talented, respected and devoted eight-year veteran of the school’s pharmaceutical sciences faculty, was named Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences beginning February 3, 2017. The appointment of the other chair is expected soon. Additionally, the school has made a few administrative appointments and adjustments of note, all aimed at achieving


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Dr. Adwoa Nornoo (right) began her role as Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in February of 2017.

our corporate goals: Dr. Dana Brown was promoted to Associate Dean for Academics (formerly Assistant Dean for Academics), and Dr. Thomas Robertson’s title was broadened to Assistant Dean for Students & Alumni (the latter portion being added in recognition of the School’s growing emphasis on engaging our alumni base more effectively). In support of our growing engagement in Interprofessional Education (IPE), Dr. Mariette Sourial, was named Director, IPE. Dr. Sourial has been deeply involved in shaping our school’s IPE strategy over the past few years – collaborating with PBA’s School of Nursing as well as the medical, nursing and social work programs of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. And, finally, in an effort to grow our support of our students’ business acumen, Dr. Keysha Bryant was named Director of the Pharm.D./MBA Program. In this new role, Dr. Bryant will be honing our strategic plan aimed at preparing students for the ever-changing and demanding marketplace, ensuring their readiness, from a business perspective, to manage the non-clinical aspects of their professional career.

cation programs to our academy and profession. A brief, selective bibliography of faculty scholarship is provided, below, towards demonstrating the scope of work in which they are regularly engaged. Dr. Dana Brown. “Sexual Dysfunction in Men.” Women’s and Men’s Health. Pharmacotherapy Self-Assessment Program, Book 3. Eds. John E. Murphy and Mary W. Lee. Lenexa, KS: American College of Clinical Pharmacy, 2016. 155-180. Dr. Elias Chahine, et al. “Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir: The First Pangenotypic Direct-Acting Antiviral Combination for Hepatitis C.” Annals of Pharmacotherapy (September 2016). Online. Dr. Yasmin Grace. “The Evolving Treatment Landscape in Heart Failure: Applying Pharmacists in the Hospital and Retail Setting: Patient Case.” Pharmacy Times Continuing Education Patient Case (2016). Online. Drs. Erenie Guirguis, Dana Brown and Yasmin Grace et al. “Establishing Edoxaban’s Role in Anticoagulation.” Journal of Pharmacy Practice 29.3 (2016). 228-38. Dr. Harm Maarsingh. “Arginase on its Way to Therapy.” International Symposium, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. December 9, 2016. Drs. Mara Poulakos, Jamie Fairclough and Elias Chahine. “Implementing and Assessing an Elective Learning Experience in Medical Missions for PGY-1 Pharmacy Residents.” Currents in Pharmacy Teaching & Learning 8.4 (2016): 559-64. Drs. Marile Santamarina and Elias Chahine. “APhA Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery: A National Certificate Program.” Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL. November, 2016. Connecting with the Gregory School of Pharmacy The team at the Gregory School of Pharmacy is very excited about our future, and would welcome others to join us in the journey. If you are interested in a faculty position, serving as a preceptor or student mentor, supporting students via scholarships or simply learning more about our program, please find us at www.pba.edu/schoolofpharmacy.

An Outstanding Faculty No school thrives without an outstanding faculty. And, the Gregory School of Pharmacy is privileged to have a faculty full of talent and passionate about their work. Not only are they excellent in the classroom, but they are also active scholars in their respective disciplines. The faculty, during the past year, have teamed up to present and/or publish several dozen scholarly works, therapeutic updates and continuing eduMAY 2017

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The University of Florida College of Pharmacy This is a great time to be a Gator pharmacist, as momentum continues to build at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy following our top 10 national ranking by U.S. News and World Report. The ranking reflects upon our recent advances and commitment to excellence in the core areas of the college, including education, research and clinical innovation. UF graduates are recognized for their superior training and continue to be sought after for top employment positions, including residency programs. In 2017, UF College of Pharmacy matched nearly 90 students from the graduating class into a post-graduate residency, which places us among the top colleges in the country. Faculty researchers secured more than $14 million in awards last year, and led several major research breakthroughs, including findings that showed a genetic test can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by guiding antiplatelet drug therapy for some heart patients. As you will read in the next few pages, Gator pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists are having a profound impact in delivering world-class care and leading cutting-edge research for our state, nation and the world. Julie Johnson, Pharm.D., Dean and Distinguished Professor Training Future Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists With the successful implementation of the first two years of the new Doctor of Pharmacy program curriculum, interdisciplinary faculty teams are teaching the next generation of pharmacists using team-based learning strategies that emphasize patient-centered care. New active learning spaces that are designed for team-based learning are now in place on the

In the fall of 2016, the College of Pharmacy opened the DuBow Family Foundation Interactive Classroom in Jacksonville. The state-of-the-art, interactive classroom supports the college’s new team-based learning curriculum and connects pharmacy students in Jacksonville with their professors and peers in Gainesville and Orlando via videoconferencing. A gift from the DuBow Family Foundation supported construction of the new learning classroom.

Gainesville, Jacksonville and Orlando campuses. These active learning spaces also have state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology, and as a result, teaching across the three campuses is now synchronous. The new co-curriculum is also providing students with skills to enhance self-awareness, interpersonal communication, advocacy and leadership. In 2016, 263 graduates were awarded Doctor of Pharmacy degrees in our entry-level Pharm.D. program. The college is a national leader in placing students into a residency, with nearly 90 students from the class of 2017 matching into a post-graduate residency. In addition, two of the college’s own residency programs, ambulatory care and pharmacogenetics, were

More than 700 pharmacy students from 27 pharmacy colleges across the Southeastern United States, including 200 UF pharmacy students pictured here, traveled to Orlando in October for the American Pharmacist Association Academy of Student Pharmacists Midyear Regional Meeting. The UF College of Pharmacy hosted the regional event and UF students took home several honors for their work related to diabetes care and heart health. 32

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granted the maximum six-year accreditation by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The residency in pharmacogenetics is only the second such residency in the country. The College of Pharmacy also serves as fertile training ground for future pharmaceutical scientists. More than 40 graduate faculty provide mentorship and training to 99 Ph.D. and residential M.S. students who have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research and take a lead role in advancing science. In 2016, there were nine Ph.D. degrees and five M.S. degrees awarded by the residential graduate program and 228 M.S. degrees awarded through the online programs based in the college. The College of Pharmacy’s online graduate programs continue to serve working professionals in a significant way. These programs provide access to the University of Florida to those who would otherwise be unable to attend. Examples include working professionals, parents with young children or family members needing care, those with disabilities and those with geographic constraints. With 30 percent of students being under-represented minorities, and students from 40 countries, we have extended the reach of UF well beyond its typical student body. The college also supports online programs from the Colleges of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, as well as providing support of major grants that require an outreach component.

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■■ A student organization in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy proved to be best in the nation by winning the 2017 APhA-ASP Chapter of the Year award. The honor is given annually to the chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists, or APhA-ASP, that excels in areas including, patient care projects, legislative advocacy, standards of leadership and advancing the pharmacy profession amongst its members. This marks the first time that UF has won the APhA-ASP Chapter of the Year award.

Professional and graduate students in the UF College of Pharmacy annually earn recognition for their outstanding educational accomplishments and their commitment to improve their university and larger communities. A few notable recognitions in 2016-17 included: ■■ The UF College of Pharmacy APhA-ASP student organization won the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists Chapter of the Year for the first time. The group also won the APhA-ASP Back the PAC Challenge award for the sixth consecutive year.

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The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy awarded UF College of Pharmacy with one of four national Student Community Engaged Service Awards for student volunteer efforts at the Equal Access Clinic Network. UF pharmacy students volunteer weekly at the studentrun free health care clinics that provide medical and mental health services to underserved residents of Gainesville and Alachua County. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists awarded a national Outstanding Professional Development Award to the Gainesville student chapter of the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, or ASCPT, recognized six University of Florida College of Pharmacy trainees with ASCPT Presidential Trainee Awards during the organization’s 2017 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. The awards are given annually to the top scoring abstracts submitted by clinical pharmacologists in training. Only 27 young scientists received the presidential trainee honors, and UF’s six awardees were more than any other pharmacy college. The top trainee abstract award, the David Goldstein award, was also given to a UF postdoctoral trainee, Sarah Kim, Ph.D. UF College of Pharmacy took home half of the eight student abstract awards presented at the American College of Clinical Pharmacology Annual Meeting in Bethesda, Maryland. A panel of judges selected Tanaya Vaidya, a first-year Ph.D. student, as the recipient of the A. Colburn Wayne Memorial Award for the best paper at the conference. Trey Burry, a third-year student from the Gainesville campus, was selected as one of eight junior members to serve on the National Community Pharmacists Association Student Leadership Council. Jessica Rodiles, a fourth-year pharmacy student from the Gainesville campus, was elected to serve on the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation’s Executive Committee. Shannon Stittsworth, a second-year pharmacy student from the Jacksonville campus, was elected as the APhAASP Region 3 Member-at-large. There is one Member-atlarge per region, and there are eight regions representing APhA-ASP nationally. In the role, she will coordinate communication among the 26 chapters within Region 3, as well as the national office. Graduate students Gena Burch, Pharm.D., and Amelia Deitchman, Pharm.D., received fellowship awards from the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education.

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Leading Research Breakthroughs to Improve Health College of Pharmacy researchers enjoy remarkable success in securing funding and leading research breakthroughs that support many areas of human health. In the 2016 fiscal year, the college secured $14 million in research awards from federal, state, corporate and foundation sources. At a time when many colleges and universities are struggling to maintain existing funding levels, especially among federal sources, the College of Pharmacy has experienced remarkable growth.

Stephan Schmidt, Ph.D., an assistant professor of pharmaceutics, is one of the researchers in the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology focused on taking large amounts of data to build virtual models that can predict how patients will react to a drug without embarking on a clinical trial.

identify genetic variations that affect drug response, with the goal of enabling safer and more effective drug therapy. Faculty have authored multiple guidelines for the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Consortium, or CPIC, which is a panel of experts who provide guidelines on applying genotype information to prescribing decisions. Finally, the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology features researchers that are solving major health problems through biosimulation. By bridging the disciplines of pharmacometrics and systems pharmacology, scientists are predicting how patients may react to a drug in a virtual environment without embarking on expensive clinical trials. Among the notable recent research accomplishments by College of Pharmacy faculty were: ■■ Larissa Cavallari, Pharm.D., associate professor and director of the Center for Pharmacogenomics, presented research at a high profile session at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions that showed a genetic test can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by guiding antiplatelet drug therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention. The test identifies a genetic deficiency that affects the body’s ability to activate clopidogrel, a common antiplatelet drug given after a coronary artery stent is inserted. The national collaborative project of nearly 2,000 patients from seven institutions across the U.S. confirmed UF Health’s previous findings that genetically-guided therapy reduced the percentage of deaths, heart attacks or strokes by nearly half compared to those who were prescribed clopidogrel.

Three centers anchor our research efforts in the college. Collectively, faculty in these centers received $7.5 million in research awards in 2016, and trained nearly 100 graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and international scholars. The Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development fosters early-state drug discovery by focusing on unique natural products. Scientists at the center aim to exploit the biosynthetic and therapeutic potential of untapped biodiversity, including the world’s oceans, for drug discovery. UF’s Center for Pharmacogenomics ranks among the top pharmacogenomics programs in the world, as researchers strive to

THREE CENTERS ANCHOR OUR RESEARCH EFFORTS IN THE COLLEGE. COLLECTIVELY, FACULTY IN THESE CENTERS RECEIVED $7.5 MILLION IN RESEARCH AWARDS IN 2016, AND TRAINED NEARLY 100 GRADUATE STUDENTS, POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS. 34

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Larissa Cavallari, Pharm.D., led a team of UF Health researchers that presented findings at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions that showed a genetic test can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events by guiding antiplatelet drug therapy for some heart patients. ■■

Almut Winterstein, Ph.D., a professor and chair of pharmaceutical outcomes and policy, published research in the journal Pediatrics that found no evidence that children taking the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, drug atomoxetine were at an increased risk of suicide or suicide attempts, despite a black box warning from the Food and Drug Administration. Winterstein’s


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research team studied a half of million children with ADHD in 26 states for four years and found no increased risk of suicide attempts among 5- to 18-year olds treated with atomoxetine compared with those receiving stimulant treatment. Thomas Schmittgen, Ph.D., a professor of pharmaceutics, is identifying novel treatments and new ways to deliver therapies for treating liver cancer by restoring microRNA levels in cancer cells. He leads a team of researchers studying natural therapies for treating the disease that claims 600,000 lives worldwide each year. A $3.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health supports Schmittgen’s liver cancer research.

Faculty Leadership Key to the College’s Success Faculty in the College of Pharmacy continued a tradition of excellence in scholarship, research and education in 201617. Since May 1, 2016, the college has added 15 new faculty, including three researchers from the department of medicinal chemistry that were hired as part of UF’s preeminence initiative in drug discovery and development. ■■ Chenglong Li, Ph.D., a professor of medicinal chemistry and the Nicholas Bodor Professor in Drug Discovery. ■■ Christopher McCurdy, Ph.D., B.S.Ph, FAAPS, a professor of medicinal chemistry ■■ Chengguo Xing, Ph.D., a professor of medicinal chemistry and the Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair in Drug Research and Development McCurdy and Bonnie Avery, Ph.D., a clinical professor of pharmaceutics, will lead the newly established UF Translational Drug Development Core. This initiative will allow faculty to bridge the gap from promising compounds on the bench to translation into animal and potentially human studies. The efforts led by TDD Core faculty will accelerate the transformation of new therapeutic interventions for the treatment and prevention of diseases. Kristin Weitzel, Pharm.D., a clinical associate professor, was appointed director of Continuing Pharmacy Education at the UF College of Pharmacy. In this new role, she supports the college’s continuing education programs and is expanding collaboration with the college’s online educational programs to offer clinical professionals new opportunities for professional education. Finally, College of Pharmacy faculty were recognized with many national and international awards in 2016-17. These honors reflect upon the outstanding scholars and educators at the college. A few of the many faculty honors included: ■■ Rhonda Cooper-DeHoff, Pharm.D., M.S., an associate professor of pharmacotherapy and translational research, was presented with the Russell R. Miller award at the American College of Clinical Pharmacy’s Annual Meeting. ■■ Hartmut Derendorf, Ph.D., a distinguished professor of pharmaceutics and the V. Ravi Chandran Professor in

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Pharmaceutical Sciences, has been invited to serve on an expert review panel at NASA. Julie Johnson, Pharm.D., dean and distinguished professor, was honored with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s Volwiler Research Achievement Award, the nation’s top academic pharmacy research honor. In addition, Johnson was named as one of Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers of 2016. Hendrik Luesch, Ph.D., a professor and chair of medicinal chemistry and the Debbie and Sylvia DeSantis Chair in Natural Products Drug Discovery and Development, received the Gold Medal Award for his presentation at the 2nd International Conference on Herbal and Traditional Medicine in Thailand. Folakemi Odedina, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacotherapy and translational research, was awarded a 2016 Inspiring Women in STEM Award by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Stephan Schmidt, Ph.D., an assistant professor of pharmaceutics, was awarded the 2016 Tanabe Young Investigator Award by the American College of Clinical Pharmacology and was named a fellow by the same organization. Thomas Schmittgen, Ph.D., a professor of pharmaceutics was elected a fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.

The American Association of College of Pharmacy presented Julie Johnson, Pharm.D., dean and distinguished professor, with the Volwiler Research Achievement Award, the nation’s top academic pharmacy research honor.

Innovation Leads to Improvements In Clinical Care Pharmacists in the UF College of Pharmacy are identifying innovative ways to advance clinical pharmacy practice as well as improve access for patients receiving primary care services. Innovative interdisciplinary and collaborative practice agreements have positioned the College of Pharmacy as a national leader in the development and evaluation of unique clinical pharmacy practice models. The shared-responsibility model between the College of Pharmacy and the UF Health MAY 2017

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Pharmacy Department partners clinical pharmacists with academic clinicians to strengthen the education of future pharmacists and increase scholarly activity. In 2016, the partnership with UF Health expanded to include teams in infectious disease, critical care and pediatrics. In 2017, the model will expand to include a clinical pharmacogenomics team based at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando. Additional collaborations with UF Health aim to expand the breadth of pharmacy services offered in the areas of cancer care and internal medicine. The College of Pharmacy and UF Health Cancer Center are recruiting for a shared faculty position to serve as the Assistant Director of the Experimental Therapeutics Incubator. This role will help position the college and UF Health at the forefront of cutting-edge phase 0 and phase 1 clinical trials. A new outpatient precision medicine consult service will begin at a UF Health internal medicine clinic later this year and provide genetic counseling services to patients suffering from depression and chronic pain. Led by a College of Pharmacy faculty member working alongside a UF Health physician, the program aims to determine if a patient would benefit from genetic testing to improve medication outcomes.

THREE CENTERS ANCHOR OUR RESEARCH EFFORTS IN THE COLLEGE. COLLECTIVELY, FACULTY IN THESE CENTERS RECEIVED $7.5 MILLION IN RESEARCH AWARDS IN 2016, AND TRAINED NEARLY 100 GRADUATE STUDENTS, POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS. Embracing Diversity in our College The UF College of Pharmacy celebrates our community of faculty, staff and students from diverse backgrounds and experiences. A diverse student body leads to a better education and healthier understanding of how the world works. The College of Pharmacy is committed to promoting multicultural learning experiences through various programs and activities that showcase pharmacy’s role in serving people of different backgrounds and cultures. Through collaborations with the other UF Health colleges, the College of Pharmacy has engaged in multiple initiatives to promote health education programs to underrepresented minorities. The six UF Health colleges received a $415,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop a pilot project for the 2017 Summer Health Professions Education Program. The program will enable 80 underrepresented and minority students to take part in the free six-week summer residential program at UF designed to facilitate interest in, successful application to and matriculation into health professions education. Students in the program will receive transportation, food and on-campus room and board while providing access to information and resources that will strengthen their knowledge and understanding of

Stacy Voils, Pharm.D., a clinical associate professor, is a member of the critical care team in the shared-responsibility model.

The College of Pharmacy’s Center for Quality Medication Management, or CQM, further secured its place in 2016 as the nation’s largest academically owned medication therapy management center. The center, with locations in Gainesville and Orlando, supports Medicaid and Medicare recipients by providing comprehensive medication reviews, adherence interventions and other telephonic outreach services to 450,000 unique patients a year. The CQM team has grown from 12 full-time employees in 2012 to more than 120 today. The center supports the college’s research and education missions by hosting a residency program and pharmacy students completing clinical rotations.

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Latoy Waite, right, a second-year Pharm.D. student, competed in her first Research Showcase poster competition hosted by the UF College of Pharmacy. Events such as Research Showcase offer professional and graduate students valuable opportunities to share research findings with colleagues and sharpen their presentation skills.


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health fields, including pharmacy. In April, the College of Pharmacy participated in the second annual UF Health Science Center Diversity and Inclusion Forum. The event featured a keynote address from Henry Frierson, Ph.D., associate vice president and dean of the UF Graduate School. A panel of experts, including faculty representation from the College of Pharmacy, discussed ways to promote inclusiveness within the UF Health colleges, and minority students participated in a poster session that showcased research initiatives across the respected colleges. Underrepresented minority students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree from the College of Pharmacy were invited in May to participate in the first-ever Graduate Programs Open House for Underrepresented Minorities. The two-day event offered these students the opportunity to tour research labs and meet with graduate faculty and students in multiple areas of pharmacy research. A poster session was held to highlight current research projects led by minority students, and the College of Pharmacy provided free accommodations for those students who traveled from outside of Gainesville.

More than 300 Gator pharmacists attended the 30th Annual Alumni Reunion BBQ before a University of Florida football game in September.

ceptions at state and national pharmacy meetings. These events help reconnect pharmacy alumni and friends, as well as give leadership an opportunity to share news about the college. More than 300 faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the college enjoyed a sunshine-filled September afternoon at the 30th Annual Alumni Reunion BBQ. Dressed in their orange and blue, these Gator fans enjoyed a barbeque meal and a visit by Albert and Alberta, UF’s official mascots, before making their way to The Swamp to watch Florida defeat Kentucky in football. Seven members of the College of Pharmacy class of 1966 reunited in Gainesville in November for their Grand Guard, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of their graduation. Attendees enjoyed a tour of the college and a private luncheon with Dean Julie Johnson. They also participated in several activities sponsored by the UF Alumni Association, including the Grand Guard Induction Ceremony where they dressed in traditional orange and blue robes and were formally inducted into the Grand Guard Society.

THE GATOR SPIRIT LIVES ON IN THE MORE THAN 12,000 LIVING COLLEGE OF PHARMACY ALUMNI THAT HAIL FROM ALL 50 STATES AND MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES. CONNECTED BY A COMMON BOND TO THE COLLEGE AND AN AFFINITY FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, THESE ALUMS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENTISTS.

Alumni and Friends Provide the Foundation for Future Growth The Gator spirit lives on in the more than 12,000 living College of Pharmacy alumni that hail from all 50 states and more than 40 countries. Connected by a common bond to the college and an affinity for the University of Florida, these alums play a critical role in supporting the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. In the fall of 2016, the college asked alumni and friends to rise to the challenge and support student scholarships through the Crisafi Challenge. The 10-day challenge raised $55,000, including a $20,000 match from Bob Crisafi, Ph.D., a 1956 graduate of the college. All the money raised will help UF recruit exceptional pharmacy students in the class of 2021. Throughout the year, the college hosted several Gator re-

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The University of South Florida College of Pharmacy USF Pharmacy Class of 2020 Stampedes into the Future The USF College of Pharmacy Class of 2020 celebrated their entry into the pharmacy profession at the sixth annual White Coat Ceremony in the USF Marshall Student Center ballroom. The 101 new Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) students pledged their commitment to integrity, ethical behavior and honor that are hallmarks of the pharmacy profession.

Dr. Edmund Funai, chief operating officer for USF Health and vice president for strategic development for the USF System, addresses the new class.

“Receipt of your first white coat is a very personal and special occasion, although the white coat does not contain any magical powers, one cannot help but feel difference once cloaked,” said Amy Schwartz, Pharm.D., associate dean of academic affairs at the USF College of Pharmacy, who began the ceremony reminding students of the qualities a white coat symbolizes. Edmund Funai, M.D., chief operating officer and vice president for administration for USF Health and vice president for strategic development for the USF System, praised the incoming class. “This class was chosen from a robust pool of applicants who garnered high scores on their PCAT exams and one of the highest GPAs of any incoming class,” Dr. Funai said. “We started out with a talented class and I’m confident they will excel in the next phase of their professional journey. Today’s ceremony represents the first step in becoming a pharmacists, I personally think that these white coats do have a little magic.” The students were also welcomed into their new profession by leading representatives of all four USF Health Colleges: 38

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Bryan Bognar, M.D., vice dean of educational affairs for the Morsani College of Medicine; William Quillen, P.T., DPT, Ph.D., FACSM, senior associate dean for the Morsani College of Medicine and director of the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and Donna Petersen, Sc.D., CPH, senior associate vice president for USF Health, dean of the College of Public Health and interim dean of the College of Nursing. The consensus from the representatives was that together we can all improve health care, and that if any student needed help they do not have to go far. Kevin Sneed, Pharm.D., senior associate vice president for Dr. Kevin Sneed, dean of the USF College of Pharmacy


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USF Health and dean of the College of Pharmacy, opened up his welcome with a story about his extraordinary week helping a patient. He stressed the importance of patient-centered care. “I’m encouraging all of you that no matter what you do we must do better,” Dr. Sneed said. “We all have an obligation to do better for our patients. We must have more advocacy, more influence and more technological advances to make sure that we are doing everything for that patient and the millions like them.” Sharing the significance of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, he said, “When you get a clinical doctoral degree or any doctoral degree across the world, it’s unlike any other degree you will obtain. When you get a bachelor’s degree we say, ‘Good luck’; when you get you master’s degree we say, ‘Do well’; but when you get your doctoral degree we say, ‘Welcome’.” The keynote speaker Chris Christopoulos, Pharm.D., health care supervisor at Walgreens Boots Alliance, shared with the students a theme that had resonated with him – responsibility. “There is a level of respect that comes with that white coat because it represents all that you have achieved, but it also represents the responsibility you have to make the most of this opportunity.” said Dr. Christopoulos.

Dr. Sneed and Dr. Christopoulos taking the traditional selfie.

In his final sentiment, Dr. Christopoulos said, “You represent a sense of hope and it is our hope that you will do more, that you will carry the torch further than we were able to.” After presenting Dr. Christopoulos with the College’s traditional keynote speaker award, Dr. Sneed used his cell phone to snap a selfie with Dr. Christopoulos and the students. Each student was then helped by College of Pharmacy faculty as they put on their own white coat, which included their name embroidered on the front and a note from its donor in the pocket.

In conclusion of the ceremony, Angela M. Hill, Pharm.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacotherapeutics and Clinical Research and associate dean of Clinical Affairs for the USF College of Pharmacy, led the Class of 2020 as they took the Oath of Professionalism. Together, they pledged their commitment to integrity, ethical behavior and honor that are hallmarks of the pharmacy profession. Bristol-Myers Squibb Makes Largest Single Scholarship Gift to USF College of Pharmacy Global biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb has made the largest single scholarship gift yet to the USF College of Pharmacy, funding two years of full tuition for a student specializing in research and development. “We are delighted to receive such a generous gift from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company,” said Kevin Sneed, Pharm.D., dean of the USF College of Pharmacy. “The company’s focus on the application of big data and informatics perfectly aligns with our college’s strategic initiatives. We are all committed to being leaders in the digital transformation of health care, and our appreciation for the support received from Bristol-Myers Squibb will propel our goal of creating health care leaders of the future.” “We are proud to partner with USF to help develop the incredible talents of today’s students,” said Lee Evans, general manager of Bristol-Myers Squibb Tampa. “We believe that investing in the best minds of today will help us to discover, develop and deliver more transformational medicines in the future for patients facing serious disease.” Third-year USF pharmacy student USF College of Christopher Konig will receive the Bris- Pharmacy Student Christopher Konig, tol-Myers Squibb scholarship. Described Recipient of the as “the ideal future clinical pharmacist” Bristol-Myers Squibb to receive the scholarship, Konig is a du- Scholarship. al-degree student in USF’s MBA program in health care analytics at the Kate Tiedemann College of Business, president of the USF’s chapter of the National ComMAY 2017

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munity Pharmacists Association and informatics chair for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy chapter. “I am deeply humbled by Bristol-Myers Squibb’s generous support and profoundly thankful for their strong faith in me,” said Konig, who earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences with honors from USF in 2014. “Through the innovative use of data analytics and business intelligence, together we can collaborate to revolutionize clinical practice and improve the quality of life for our patients.” USF Health’s Dr. Angela Garcia Elected PresidentElect for Florida Pharmacy Association USF Health pharmacy faculty member Angela Garcia, MPH, Pharm.D., was recently elected president-elect for Florida Pharmacy Association. Dr. Garcia, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice in the USF College of Pharmacy, will be installed at the group’s annual convention in Orlando in July. Dr. Angela Garcia Dr. Garcia earned her pharmacy degree, as well as her Master of Public Health degree, from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Garcia served as the co-coordinator for an international medical mission outreach program through Women of HOPE, working in an interprofessional capacity in Jamaica, West Indies, since 2008. In addition, she has worked in community pharmacy and spent her time building relationships that fostered initiatives resulting in improved outcomes for patients. Currently, Dr. Garcia serves as the member-at-large for the Florida Public Health Association, and formerly served as a member of its Board of Directors. She has supported the pharmacy profession through local unit leadership as a former member of the Board of Directors with the Broward County Pharmacy Association and currently with the Pinellas County Pharmacy Association. Within FPA, Dr. Garcia has served as chair for both the Public Affairs and the Educational Affairs councils, as well as the Ad Hoc Health Fair Committee. She has been active in advocacy and legislation to support the Florida Pharmacists’ Health Fair and Legislative Days, a program designed to support public health and awareness. USF Health’s New Leadership Board to Strengthen Interprofessional Clinical Collaboration The USF Physicians Group has a new governance structure, called USF Health Care, to better reflect a faculty practice group incorporating professionals from across health care disciplines, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, public health professionals, physical therapists and physician assistants. “USF Health Care recognizes the value added when all 40

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USF Health practitioners work together as one to improve the health and quality of life of our patients and the greater community,” said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president of USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “It is another important step in the coordination of effort among all our health science colleges and schools.” Dr. Lockwood recently approved the creation of the new clinical leadership board for the practice plan, which includes the deans of USF Health’s four colleges and the director of its School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. This board will help advise Dr. Lockwood on issues related to USF Health’s clinical service mission.

From left, Dr. Donna Petersen, dean of the USF College of Public Health and interim dean of College of Nursing; Dr. Kevin Sneed, dean of the USF College of Pharmacy; and Dr. Laura (Dolly) Swisher, interim director of the USF School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences.

The recent change in clinical governance structure is a testament to USF Health’s dedication to creating the best teambased care available, said Kevin Sneed, Pharm.D., dean of the USF College of Pharmacy. “We are delighted and prepared to contribute to outstanding quality of care and health outcomes for USF Health patients,” Dr. Sneed said. “The evolution to USF Health Care confirms our collective commitment to train the most advanced health care workforce for the future, ultimately resulting in optimal health for people in our communities.” USF College of Pharmacy faculty members Wendy Updike, Pharm.D., Olivia Pane, Pharm.D., and Rachel Franks, Pharm.D., have been active contributors to the USF Health clinical enterprise for years. Each maintains a collaborative clinical practice in the USF Health departments of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine. “I’m excited that our contributions as clinical pharmacists will be integral to the success of an interdisciplinary clinical team,” said Dr. Wendy Updike, Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacist. “USF Health has been the ideal environment for us to demonstrate team-based care to our students.” Dr. Sneed was also named to be a member of the USF


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Health Care Executive Management Committee, which is charged with developing the strategic direction of the clinical enterprise. This will provide additional opportunities for the USF College of Pharmacy to more meaningfully integrate the profession of pharmacy into the evolving healthcare paradigms. USF College of Pharmacy Faculty Participate in Medical Missions Faculty member Jose Barboza has a long history of serving as part of medical mission trips. For the past nine years, since he was a second year pharmacy student, he has willingly participated in interdisciplinary programs. Through these endeavors, he has instilled a sense of compassion in his students and provide awareness of health disparities. Channeling his passion, he has been an active participant in the USF Health organization known as Project World Health (PWH). PWH has been providing aid in the Dominican Republic for over 18 years. It is composed of a team of physicians, physician residents, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, medical students, pharmacy students and other volunteers. USF’s Morsani College of Medicine faculty Dr. Eduardo Gonzalez and Dr. Jose Colon lead the medical mission teams. The teams arrive in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, separate into two to three teams, and drive to smaller towns where the population has limited access to healthcare. Once the team arrives, they set up the clinic, including a full pharmacy, medical team stations, triage, OB-Gyn, and dental areas. A true team spirit permeates the entire mission experience. This year, second-year pharmacy students, Luis Polanco, Elise Fishel, and third-year students Bionqua Lynch and Lamija Zimic worked extremely hard throughout the entire year to acquire the appropriate medications and supplements for the trip. Before the trip, students organize the medications, create labels, work on the formulary, prepare the medications, and help the medical team in contacting pharmacies with donations, assisting with donation drives, fundraising, and other activities. The medical students created a PWH boot camp in preparation for the trip. Specialists are invited to provide lectures in an area of expertise and prepare the students for the trip. Dr. Barboza provided a lecture on the pharmacology of the most common medications used in the trip. During the week-long trip, PWH provided care to about 1,000 patients. While this is an outstanding accomplishment, the teaching and learning during this week is just as powerful as the patient care provided. The knowledge and experience that students gain from this trip is invaluable. In conversations with students, Dr. Barboza and the USF Health faculty receive feedback from the students that participating on this trip is a life-changing experience that provides them a new perspective about the world around us. Thank you Dr. Barboza, students from USF College of Pharmacy, and USF Health for your commitment and dedication to serve those in need.

USF College of Pharmacy Leads the Way in TeamBased Practice USF College of Pharmacy is transforming pharmacy practice to meet the demands of the ever-changing field of health care. The USF Health college strongly emphasizes interprofessional education to prepare the pharmacists of the future and improve patient care. “We believe team care is the best care,” said Kevin Sneed, Pham.D., founding dean of the USF College of Pharmacy. “So, we’ve incorporated interprofessional education into our curriculum to prepare students to work closely together with doctors, nurses, physical therapists and other health professionals to improve health outcomes.” The USF College of Pharmacy collaborates with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and other USF Health colleges to provide hands-on training to students in clinical settings and simulation environments. Richard Roetzheim, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, has helped USF College of Pharmacy move that idea forward since the college opened its doors in 2011. “An effective relationship and communication between pharmacists and physicians starts at health colleges,” Dr. Roetzheim said. “As physicians, we can’t take care of patients alone. Pharmacists bring a different perspective. So, we have to train students in medicine and pharmacy to work together as one team to provide adequate care. And we’ve done that successfully here at USF for years.”

Second-year students, Raisah Salhab, USF College of Pharmacy, and Hannah Shin, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, read a patient’s medical history during a simulated medical consultation.

Pharmacy continues to grow and evolve, allowing pharmacists to become part of a team-based healthcare delivery. Now, more than ever, they play a big role in the patients’ recovery and contribute to better health outcomes. The USF College of Pharmacy has embraced that change. That’s why the college trains students alongside USF Health Morsani College of Medicine students and physicians in a high-tech environment at the USF Health Morsani Center for MAY 2017

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Advanced Healthcare. They look at patients together, discuss the diagnoses and lay out a plan of care. Barry Silverstone, a patient who suffers from a blood disorder, has visited Dr. Sneed and other USF Health doctors in the USF Health Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare for years. Silverstone said a close collaboration between his doctors, nurses and pharmacists has kept his health in check. “I feel a sense of wellbeing when my doctor and pharmacist communicate about my recovery process,” Silverstone said. “I speak to the pharmacists regularly about my medication, what to take and when to take it. Our communication has kept me healthy longer and my blood level consistent.” The USF College of Pharmacy is leading the way in teambased training. The college’s ultimate goal is to continue to prepare the best pharmacists in the country to meet the needs of tomorrow’s health care and improve patients’ lives. “The future of pharmacy is right here at USF Health,” Dr. Sneed said. “Our college is ready to face whatever challenges health care brings. We’re committed to our students’ success for the benefit of the patient.” Pharmacogenetics Clinic at USF Health Pharmacy Plus Clinical Pharmacogenetic testing services are now being offered at the USF Health Pharmacy Plus, the college’s stateof-the-art community pharmacy located within the Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare. Pharmacogenetic testing can help us gain insight into how a patient is likely to respond to a medication from an analysis of genes involved in drug metabolism, transport or drug targets. “Pharmacists are in a prime position to interpret pharmacogenetic results and guide treatment in partnership with the patient’s healthcare team to optimize response and prevent adverse effects. At Pharmacy Plus, we have implemented a clinical pharmacogenetics service to carry out that very task,” says Teresa Vo, Pharm.D. Patients can bring in a prescription for a pharmacogenetic test and set up an appointment to meet with a pharmacist. The pharmacogenetics counseling session involves a detailed medication history review and a discussion of benefits and limitations. All of their care is coordinated with their physician and documented in the patient’s electronic health record. When the results are available, the pharmacist reviews the results and contacts the physician to discuss alternative treatment options. The patient is then contacted for a follow up visit to educate the patient on how the results impact their current medications and any medications they may be potentially prescribed in the future, given these are lifetime results. The clinical pharmacogenetics service also serves as a drug-gene information hub, analogous to a drug information center. Physicians will contact Dr. Vo to see if a medication they plan to prescribe is impacted by pharmacogenetics. For inquiries related to pharmacogenes not available for testing at the pharmacy, we help the physician identify appropriate 42

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laboratory options. Another important aspect of the service is the training of student pharmacists on the advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) elective rotation. Several APPE students were involved in the initial developmental stages to help the clinic grow into the service it is today. USF Pharmacy’s Dr. Kevin Sellers Named Hero of the Game at Bulls Football Game USF College of Pharmacy instructional designer Kevin Sellers, Ed.D., was honored as the Hero of the Game at the USF Bulls Oct. 8 game against East Carolina. Hero of the Game is a designation for current service men and women, retired military personnel and veterans. Dr. Sellers retired in 2015 as lieutenant colonel after 21 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Sellers was nominated by Kathy Pendergrass, executive administrative specialist, for the College of Pharmacy. At the Oct. 8 game, and to a standing ovation, Dr. Sellers was honored for his service to our country. In addition, he received four complimentary game tickets and a USF prize pack.

Dr. Kevin Sellers stands with his family, wife Kim and daughter Katelyn (his other daughter Kourtney was not able to attend due to Hurricane Matthew), as he is applauded and honored as the Hero of the Game on Oct. 8, 2016.

Dr. Sellers’ career is extensive and impressive. He completed Air Force ROTC at the University of Florida, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. In addition, he earned an MBA from Embry Riddle and a Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University. In the beginning of his career, he “sat for about 180 24-hour alerts in a capsule underground ready to launch nuclear weapons at the order of the President of the United States.” His career also included teaching ROTC at the University of Pittsburgh, working at Cape Canaveral supporting launch operations, including the Space Shuttle and the introduction of two brand new launch vehicles (Delta 4 and Atlas 5). He also supported operations for protection of our nation’s launch capability immediately after the events of 9/11. In the Air Force and through is activism with the Amer-


F L O R I D A' S C O L L E G E S O F P H A R M A C Y

ican Red Cross, Dr. Sellers earned four Meritorious Service medals, a Humanitarian Service medal, and a Military Outstanding Service medal, among other honors. USF College of Pharmacy Hosts Medical Cannabis Symposium to Separate Stigma from Science The USF College of Pharmacy hosted a research symposium with top scientists and experts to discuss medical cannabis and its impact on patient health. The event, held on April 28 at the USF Patel Center for Global Solutions, focused on separating the medical cannabis stigma from science. “We’re thrilled to bring together worldwide experts, scientists and clinicians to have an open conversation about medical cannabis,” said Kevin Sneed, Pharm.D., dean of the USF College of Pharmacy. “Our goal here is to discuss cannabis research, current regulations and policies, and how it could help people with various medical problems.” Florida voters approved the medical marijuana constitutional amendment for patients with debilitating conditions on Nov. 8, 2016. However, the bill (HB 1397) has not been fully passed through the Florida Senate and House of Representatives. A diverse group of experts from USF Health and around the world gathered to discuss the issue, including Michael Dor, M.D., medical director for the Medical Cannabis Unit at the Ministry of Health in Israel, and Juan Sanchez-Ramos, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

(L to R). Nissim Garti, Ph.D., CEO of Lyotropic Delivery Systems, Michael Dor, M.D., medical director for the Medical Cannabis Unit at the Ministry of Health in Israel, Mark Rosenfeld, Ph.D., CEO and CSO of Ananda Scientific, Juan Sanchez-Ramos, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, and Mark Kindy, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, answer questions from the audience.

ment of a variety of diseases. “We’re trying to distinguish between the stigma, which is marijuana, and the science, which is cannabis,” Dr. Sanchez-Ramos said. “Medical cannabis can be useful for a limited range of conditions. But, as clinicians and scientists, we need to conduct research that carefully defines those conditions, the doses, and the dose schedules that will work for the patient.” That’s why USF College of Pharmacy is hoping to take the lead in conducting top-quality research on medical cannabis and find the correct oral formulation that’s beneficial to the patients and their overall health. “We want to stay true to our expertise and our profession of pharmacy,” Dr. Sneed said. “Our goal is to find the proper formulation that does not involve hallucinogenic or euphoric side effects, but hopefully will involve something anti-inflammatory and medicinal that helps improve patients’ health.” This is not an easy solution; however, the symposium is a first step, Dr. Sneed said. The USF College of Pharmacy hopes to work closely with USF researchers, clinicians and local business partners, taking a structured evidence-based approach to conduct research on medical cannabis. The USF College of Pharmacy Class of 2017 Bids Farewell with Special Gift! The USF College of Pharmacy Class of 2017 gifted the college with a beautiful shovel, indicative of their goal of do achieve “Ground-breaking” healthcare as they enter the health workforce. The shovel, revealed the class of 2017’s Gateway celebration, also serves as a key focus of the college’s quest to continue clinical collaborations as their medical school colleagues plan to move into a new building in downtown Tampa. The new building, which will be minutes away from the Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation, as well as Tampa General Hospital, will continue to provide interprofessional learning opportunities for all of USF Health’s academic programs. The University of South Florida College of Pharmacy welcomes the Class of 2017 into the pharmacy family, and we look forward to all of their wonderful future accomplishments! The University of South Florida College of Pharmacy wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the USF Health Public Affairs to this article submission.

During the event, which was hosted in collaboration with Ananda Scientific, a company that produces nonpsychoactive and nonabusive oral cannabinoid health products, experts emphasized the importance of cannabis research in the areas of safety, quality and effectiveness that are critical to the treatMAY 2017

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florida BUYER’S GUIDE PHARMACY TODAY

ADVERTISERS: This is a special section designed to give your company more exposure and to act as an easy reference for the pharmacist.

PHARMACY RESOURCES PPSC Retail Pharmacy Purchasing Program (888) 778-9909

LEGAL ASSISTANCE Kahan ◆ Heimberg, PLC Brian A. Kahan, R.Ph., Attorney at Law (561) 392-9000 The Health Law Firm George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M. (407) 331-6620

PHARMACEUTICAL WHOLESALER McKesson Drug Company Jim Springer (800) 804-4590 FAX: (863) 616-2953

FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS AHCA MEDICAID PHARMACY SERVICES 2727 Mahan Drive Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 412-4166 www.fdhc.state.fl.us/medicaid/ pharmacy AMERICAN PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION (APhA) Washington, D.C. (800) 237-2742 www.pharmacist.com AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEALTH SYSTEM PHARMACISTS Bethesda, MD (301) 657-3000 www.ashp.com/main.htm DRUG INFORMATION CENTER Palm Beach Atlantic University (561) 803-2728 druginfocenter@pba.edu FLORIDA BOARD OF PHARMACY 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin #C04 Tallahassee, FL 32399-3254 (850) 245-4292 www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa FLORIDA POISON INFORMATION CENTER NETWORK (800) 222-1222 http://floridapoisoncontrol.org/ NATIONAL COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION 100 Daingerfield Road Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 683-8200 (703) 683-3619 fax info@ncpanet.org

Advertising in Florida Pharmacy Today Display Advertising: please call (850) 264-5111 for a media kit and rate sheet. Buyers’ Guide: A signed insertion of at least 3X per year, 1/3 page or larger display ad, earns a placement in the Buyers’ Guide. A screened ad is furnished at additional cost to the advertiser. Professional Referral Ads: FPA Members: $50 per 50 words; Non‑members: $100 per 50 words; No discounts for advertising agencies. All Professional Referral ads must be paid in advance, at the time of ad receipt. 44

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RECOVERING PHARMACISTS NETWORK OF FLORIDA (407) 257-6606 “Pharmacists Helping Pharmacists”


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