MAGAZINE
Spring 2018
The Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
DR. JEFFREY IDLE
A Global Pioneer in Precision Medicine
FELLOWSHIP RISING
Quality Student Experiences with Leading Health Care Brands
THE LACHMAN INSTITUTE
Advanced Analytical Tools for Development, Compounding & Research
THE NATOLI INSTITUTE
Solid Dosing Design and Problem Solving Expertise
NEXT GENERATION INNOVATION 132 Years of Excellence
In This Issue: SPRING 2018 KIMBERLY R. CLINE President, LIU JIM CONENELLO Chief Communications Officer JON SCHNEIDER Director of Public Relations & Media Relations WILLIAM MARTINOV Chief of Admissions & Enrollment Strategy MOREEN MITCHELL University Director of Employer and Alumni Engagement JAMISON SKALA Director of the Annual Fund Stay connected! Visit liu.edu/alumni or email liualumni@liu.edu to share News and Notes or update your alumni profile, address, and/or contact information. Copyright © 2018 by LIU. All rights reserved.
RESEARCH & ACADEMICS
STUDENT SUCCESS
02 RESEARCH GRANTS
16
FELLOWSHIPS
03 THE WILLIAMSON INSTITUTE
17
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
04 THE LACHMAN INSTITUTE
18
AMANDA PIZZO
05 THE NATOLI INSTITUTE
19
JOSEPH WAI KIN LI, YOLDINE MERIS & BENJAMIN KUZMA
06 DR. JEFFREY IDLE 08 DR. GRAZIA STAGNI
ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS
09 DR. KENNETH MORRIS
20 DIETER WEINAND
10 DEAN JOHN PEZZUTO
21
12
GENOMICS AT LIU
22 JAMES R. SCHIFFER
13
CLINICAL AFFILIATIONS
23 CHARCHIL VEJANI, LAURA SEDITA ALAIMO & ALEX ROZOVSKIY
132 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE 14
THE HISTORY OF LIU PHARMACY
ANNA FORSYTHE
LIU Pharmacy 1
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
John M. Pezzuto We are achieving preeminence in pharmacy education, research, and service through our commitment to embrace, educate, and empower aspiring pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. Founded in 1886 as the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy, LIU Pharmacy has a proud tradition of pharmaceutical education, and a decorated legacy built by faculty and alumni. We are particularly proud of the achievements of our distinguished alumni, including Ian Ginsberg,
President and Owner, C.O. Bigelow; Howard Murad, Chief Executive
Officer and founder of Murad, the leader in skincare science; Howard Sternheim, President and founder, Thriftway Drugs; Richard
Neimeth, who invented citrate of magnesia; and Herb Conrad,
President of Hoffmann-La Roche Pharmaceuticals (retired).
Our location in New York City is home to some of the largest and most innovative medical centers, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology firms in the United States including: New YorkPresbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Northwell Health, Pfizer, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. At LIU Pharmacy, there are no limits; innovation and opportunities are boundless. Here you will find talented and dedicated faculty, administrators, and staff; a brilliant multicultural student body; state-of-the art laboratories and learning centers; and the can-do attitude of the New Yorker. Our extended family includes an outstanding array of preceptors, adjunct faculty, and benefactors, as well as core affiliations with some of the world’s most distinguished medical centers and corporations. We have many reasons to be proud of LIU Pharmacy, and look forward to introducing you to our community. Sincerely,
DEAN JOHN M. PEZZUTO, PhD, DSc (hc)
Dean of LIU Pharmacy & Vice President of LIU Health and Research
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RESEARCH & ACADEMICS
Research is Growing at LIU Pharmacy The Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (LIU Pharmacy) prepares researchers to contribute to drug discovery, development, and delivery. Our goal is to understand the underlying mechanisms that cause diseases and to improve treatment responses. Research Institutes LIU Pharmacy is bringing faculty and students together to create leaders in pharmaceutical and biomedical research.
• Samuel J. & Joan B. Williamson Institute • Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Analysis • Natoli Institute for Industrial Pharmacy Research and Development
Research Grants • ViiV Health Care to study “Higher-thanrecommended doses of lamivudine in patients with varying degrees of renal
impairment”, Agnes Cha, PharmD and Briann Luteran, PharmD
• US FDA grant to study “Building towards
• US FDA–NIPTE grant to study ”Pharma-
ceutical quality score-card development”, Ken Morris, PhD
• California Table Grape Commission
(CTGC) grant to study “Contributions of
California grape powder to longevity and health”, John Pezzuto, PhD
statistically-based pharmaceutical quality
• NIPTE grant to study “Cosmetic prod-
Dave, PhD
• Pharmaceutical Industry research sup-
standards”, Ken Morris, PhD and Rutesh • Pharmaceutical Industry research
support to study “Different aspects of
pharmaceutical product development”,
Rutesh Dave, PhD and Ken Morris, PhD • American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), New Investigator
Award for “Prospective evaluation of
preclinical anti-hiv agents for mutational resistance”, Kathleen M. Frey, PhD
• California Table Grape Commission
(CTGC) grant to study “A grape-supple-
mented diet for prostate cancer chemoprevention”, Anait Levenson, MD, PhD
• US FDA–NIPTE grant to study “Explor-
ing performance variability in dissolution testing using biorelevant media”, Ken Morris, PhD
ucts’ ingredients”, Mimi Pezzuto, PharmD port to study “Transdermal penetration
of drugs from experimental gels”, Grazia Stagni, PhD
• US FDA grant to study “Benchmark of
dermis microdialysis to assess bioequiva-
lence of dermatological topical products”, Grazia Stagni, PhD
• Pharmaceutical Industry research support to study “Novel therapeutic compounds”, David Taft, PhD and Vikas Sehdev, PhD • Pharmaceutical Industry research support to study “PBPK modeling in pre-
term infant populations”, David Taft, PhD and Nazeeh Hanna, MD, NYU-Winthrop Hospital
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RESEARCH & ACADEMICS
The Samuel J. & Joan B. Williamson Institute Pharmacometrics has tremendous potential to influence decision making in drug development. The creation and application of mathematical models through pharmacometrics defines, challenges, and resolves questions surrounding biological processes. The Samuel J. & Joan B. Williamson Institute is a center for academic excellence training the next generation of pharmacometricians. The lab contains powerful, sophisticated computer resources for quantitative analysis in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and drug design.
Laboratory for Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics Led by Dr. Jeffrey Idle, the lab contains liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry equipment, together with the capability for genomic analysis of DNA.
Laboratory for Pharmacokinetic Research
instrumentation and equipment to support in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME), including automated HPLC systems, centrifuges, balances, and spectrophotometers. Additionally, the laboratory has two complete systems for perfused organ (kidney and liver) experiments.
Laboratory for Structure-Based Molecular and Computational Drug Design This laboratory operates with computational and structure-based drug design in medicinal chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology. The laboratory is equipped with a Schrödinger Small Molecule Drug Discovery Suite used for in silico compound docking and analysis. In addition, Molecular Dynamic simulation, residue scanning, site map prediction, free energy perturbation (FEP) calculations, and macromolecular X-ray crystallography are available.
The Institute collaborates closely with the Laboratory for Pharmacokinetic Research. This facility contains
Dr. David R. Taft, PhD, is Director of the Williamson Institute and former Dean of LIU Pharmacy. His primary research area is pharmacokinetics, with an emphasis on preclinical evaluation of drugs and drug candidates.
Dr. David Taft
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The Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Analysis The Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Analysis is equipped with advanced analytical instrumentation in support of preclinical drug development research, industrial drug development, and compounding pharmacy activities. The core capabilities for the Institute are focused on physical and chemical characterization, including: solid state properties of APIs/excipients and dosage forms, chemical characteristics and chemical stability, degradant identification and quantitation, and changes during processing and storage.
Projects at the Institute • Pre-clinical studies on small molecules in support of Quality by Design (QbD) and Question Based Reviews of new drug and ANDA applications
• Development of analytical methods for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Impurities, Dosage Forms, Dissolution, Form Selection, and Stability Studies • Beyond-use dating and formulation development for compounding pharmacies • Investigating OOS (out of specification) results • Training for industrial, government, and academic scientists and regulators The Lachman Institute supports faculty research, fosters graduatelevel training and provides a venue for industry-supported research through a generous gift from LIU Trustee & Pharmacy Chancellor, Leon Lachman.
Dr. Kenneth Morris, PhD, is the Director of the Lachman Institute. His primary research focus is in pharmaceutical material science.
Dr. Kenneth Morris
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RESEARCH & ACADEMICS
The Natoli Institute for Industrial Pharmacy Research and Development The Natoli Institute for Industrial Pharmacy Research and Development, in partnership with Natoli Engineering, advances knowledge in the field of pharmaceutical solid oral dosage formulation and engineering. It furthers pharmaceutical compression science and supports research into the industry’s most complex challenges. Scientists from academia, industry, and governmental agencies work at the Institute to solve problems with solid dosage formulation. Natoli, the world’s leading manufacturer of tablet compression tooling, presses, and parts, presents faculty and students with formulation problems from its customers. In solving these problems, students in both the PharmD and graduate programs gain hands-on experience in
industrial pharmacy, while working with a leader in the field. The lab is designed for the purpose of manufacturing pills and contains five suites corresponding to the five processes of tablet making: weighing, granulating, drying, blending, tablet coating and compression. Nearby the Natoli Industrial lab is the Lachman Institute, an analytical lab where students analyze the pills they produced for accuracy and compliance. Rounding out the project is a Pharmacometric Lab for computer work. The Natoli Institute also offers tremendous benefits to the pharmaceutical tableting industry, including new product manufacturing studies, tablet tooling, sticking and picking evaluations, and new formulation technologies.
Dr. Rutesh Dave, PhD, is the director of the LIU Natoli Institute. His primary research areas are solubility, powders, generic and 505(b)2 development, and oral strip formulation.
Dr. Rutesh Dave
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RESEARCH & ACADEMICS
A Global Pioneer in Precision Medicine DR. JEFFREY IDLE // Endowed Professor and Director of the Division of Systems
Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics at The Samuel J. & Joan B. Williamson Institute
LIU Pharmacy is combining its world-class research capabilities with a recognized global pioneer in precision medicine to promote new breakthroughs.
Precision medicine is an emerging approach to health care which takes our individuality into account in order to secure better outcomes for patients. With the appointment of Dr. Jeffrey Idle as Endowed Professor and Director of the Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics at The Samuel J. & Joan B. Williamson Institute, LIU Pharmacy is combining its world-class research capabilities with a recognized global pioneer in precision medicine to promote new breakthroughs. “I am excited to join the world-class team at LIU Pharmacy, where there is a strong commitment to invest in research,” Dr. Idle said. “Precision medicine takes into account the differences between individuals to find patient-centric approaches to improve treatment. The research we will conduct at LIU is about improving outcomes for patients.” Through the use of mass spectrometry, metabolomic studies identify the small molecules produced through metabolic
LIU Pharmacy 7
The research we are adding to our portfolio at LIU Pharmacy is centered around improving patient outcomes. processes in cells, tissues, organs, biological fluids, or organisms. Dr. Idle’s work in this field and in pharmacogenetics has been instrumental in moving therapeutics towards more patient-specific treatments (“precision medicine”) in a broad range of medical specialties. In addition, metabolomics has been successful in the discovery and definition of biomarkers of disease susceptibility and outcomes, for example, in various types of cancer patients. Metabolomics and precision medicine may also lead to breakthroughs in treatments for osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and liver and lung disorders, among others. “Dr. Idle is driving LIU Pharmacy’s evolution into a progressive and leading research institution,” said Dr. John Pezzuto, Dean of LIU Pharmacy and Vice President for LIU Health and Research. “The Institute’s work will place LIU at the forefront of
TEAM APPROACH Dr. Diren Beyoğlu, PhD, MSc, is Associate Director and Associate Professor in Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics. She is a specialist in metabolomics and lipidomics and has trained in genotoxicity, pharmacogenetics, and chemometrics. Dr. Beyoğlu received her PhD in Pharmaceutical Toxicology from Marmara University.
precision medicine, providing innumerable opportunities for collaboration with government research bodies, medical schools, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry.” Dr. Idle joins LIU from the University of Bern in Switzerland, where he was a professor and research fellow from 2003-2016. In addition, he serves as a consultant in metabolism and a scientific contractor for the Center for Cancer Research at the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, since 2002. Trained in chemistry and biochemistry, Dr. Idle began his career
studying drug metabolism under Professors R. Tecwyn Williams and Robert L. Smith at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, now Imperial College, University of London. He is an internationally renowned scholar who has held appointments during his career at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School and Newcastle University in the UK, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway, Charles University in the Czech Republic, and the University of Bern in Switzerland. Dr. Idle is the founding editor of Pharmacogenetics, and is the highly-cited author of more than 430 original scientific publications.
“Dr. Idle is driving LIU Pharmacy’s evolution into a progressive and leading research institution.”
RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP LIU Pharmacy is adding a post-doctoral clinical and research fellowship in precision medicine offering PharmD graduates the opportunity to develop research skills necessary for independent and collaborative research. Fellows will also provide direct patient care to patients in an interdisciplinary precision medicine clinic.
STATE-OF-THE-ART The Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics laboratory contains liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry equipment, together with the capability for genomic analysis of DNA.
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RESEARCH & ACADEMICS
Expanding Patient Access to Generic Topical Treatments GRAZIA STAGNI // Professor of Pharmaceutics
For Grazia Stagni, Professor of Pharmaceutics at LIU Pharmacy, this fall’s “Benchmark of dermis microdialysis to assess bioequivalence of dermatological topical products”—backed by a sevenfigure grant from the FDA, is a study more than 20 years in the making. “I was a research assistant after receiving my PhD,” Stagni said, “I observed some researchers using microdialysis—a very tiny probe inserted under the skin—to study physiological properties in the skin. I saw the opportunity to apply it to assess the delivery of drugs when applied topically.” Historically, availability of generic options for topical treatments has lagged behind generics for other drugs, due to the lack of cost-effective testing methods.
“The generic company must go through a lot of very costly procedures to get the product approved,” Stagni said. “In the end, the consumer is punished because there are no generics of these very expensive topical products.” In microdialysis, Stagni saw an opportunity to assess topical treatments without lengthy, expensive clinical trials, enabling generic manufacturers to offer alternatives to consumers more quickly and at lower costs. Now, FDA funding and support from the generic drug industry will allow Stagni to pursue human testing. “The goal is affordable technology to demonstrate bioequivalence of the new, lower cost product,” added Dr. Stagni.
Dr. Stagni’s work is part of a global effort with a common goal to provide treatments for more patients at a lower cost.
While Stagni explores microdialysis, a team in Austria is studying the potential use of microperfusion for evaluation purposes. The simultaneous studies will help determine the best way forward. “We’re going to study the same topical products,” Stagni said, “to understand when one method is more appropriate than the other. “Overall,” Stagni clarifies, “it is a global joint effort including teams from Austria, Australia, Mississippi, and Maryland, with a common aim to eventually provide treatments for more patients at a lower cost. Our end-product could become a set of guidelines from the FDA telling the generic industry, ‘If you want to expedite the approval of a generic of this cream, you can try to perform this set of studies.’”
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RESEARCH & ACADEMICS
NIPTE Grants are Facilitating More Student Research DR. KENNETH MORRIS // Director of the Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Analysis
in the University’s Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Analysis. Under one grant, faculty and students are studying how tablets dissolve in biorelevant media. The goal is to determine and measure differences between dissolution in biorelevant media and dissolution in water, the standard method for testing solid dosage forms, improving the development process for manufacturers and outcomes for patients.
Dr. Morris is internationally recognized for his research on dosage form design, and is credited with modernizing dosage form development. LIU Pharmacy’s faculty and students are hard at work on impactful research, making the most of opportunities generated by the University’s membership in an elite pharmacy research consortium. The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education (NIPTE) has seven top 10 schools in U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of college pharmacy programs among its membership, including the University of Minnesota, the University of Texas, and Purdue University. Creating opportunities for students is exactly what LIU leaders expected when the prominent pharmaceutical scientist
Dr. Kenneth Morris was appointed to lead the Lachman Institute. Morris is internationally recognized for his research on dosage form design, and is credited with modernizing dosage form development. He has also held high-level positions outside academia, including with Bristol-Myers Squibb and the FDA. Dr. Morris was instrumental in the application to NIPTE and in obtaining several research grants that helped fund the studies of three students. One year after LIU joined NIPTE, research grants received through the consortium have been expanded. These grants facilitate research
LIU Pharmacy is also working with researchers at the University of Iowa on a clinical study involving transdermal patches. Students and faculty are using mass spectrometry to determine the level of a drug in patients’ blood after they have worn a transdermal patch for a given length of time. Through the study, researchers at Iowa and LIU are examining how much the amount of drug in a patch varies between different manufacturers, and how much it varies among patches made by the same manufacturer. As LIU Pharmacy continues to conduct research in its institutes – with and without NIPTE partners – the University is a top destination for elite pharmaceutical researchers and motivated graduate students.
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Dean John Pezzuto is a Force in Pharmacy DEAN JOHN M. PEZZUTO, PhD, DSc (hc) // Dean of LIU Pharmacy & Vice President of LIU Health and Research
Having one of his publications cited in the scientific literature more than five thousand times, he still maintains a keen interest in grapes and health. In fact, he has recently edited a book titled Grapes and Health (published by Springer) and manages a research program.
Dr. John Pezzuto, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Long Island University, is a force to be reckoned with in the pharmaceutical realm. Highly accomplished, widely published, and universally respected, Dr. Pezzuto seeks to change the face of the study of pharmacy and help usher in a new century of
research. A world-renowned expert on resveratrol and its contributions to the fight against cancer, Dr. Pezzuto is leaving an indelible mark on health care. Pezzuto and his team were the first group to report the biological activity of resveratrol, a constituent of grapes and grape products such as wine.
Pezzuto and his team were the first group to report the biological activity of resveratrol, a constituent of grapes and grape products such as wine.
College-wide, the Lachman and Natoli Institutes remain a point of pride for Pezzuto, and he is thrilled to see the Williamson Institute growing even stronger through the addition of systems pharmacology and pharmacogenomics. “I am excited about all of our progress in research, including programs of our individual faculty members,” he says, “but, of course, precision or personalized medicine is especially notable.” According to Pezzuto, Pharmacy is a profession that has evolved over the course of history more than most. It has grown from relatively unstructured apprenticeships to the requirement of a doctorate. It is very clear that drug therapy will continue to become more-and-more complicated, and no health professional is better informed or qualified to manage this aspect of the health care sector. “So, the future is bright,” Pezzuto says, “but the evolution must continue at a heightened pace. It
LIU Pharmacy 11
“I am excited about all of our progress in research, including programs of our individual faculty members,” he says, “but, of course, precision or personalized medicine is especially notable.”
is critically important that pharmacists are recognized with provider status and learn to work as integral members of health care teams. It is vital that the curricula of pharmacy programs help to prepare our graduates for this new world reality.” How his work is changing the face of Pharma is not a question he can easily answer. “I once visited a pharmaceutical company where a former student was employed, and he told me they maintained a file titled something like ‘Ideas stolen from John Pezzuto,’” he recalls. “I am not complaining. I am happy that some of the 600+ manuscripts I have published have had an effect. Our discovery of resveratrol has made a notable difference.” (Type “resveratrol” into a Google search and it comes back with about 49,000,000 results.) Pezzuto advises any aspiring pharmacist to always remember they are studying to be one of the most trusted health professionals in the world, he says. And they should always remember why this is true. Patients seen by a pharmacist are often ill. In addition to dignity, compassion, and confidence, patients expect and deserve
high-level service and advice that cannot be matched by any other health professional. The pharmacist is the expert in all aspects of medication management. This includes educating the patient on the best medication therapy and providing some pragmatic aspects of dealing with the health care system, such as out-ofpocket expense, alternatives, insurance claims, management of side effects, and so on. The pharmacist should be an advocate and treat every patient as they would if they were a member of their own family. “It is an honor to serve as the dean of the College of Pharmacy,” Pezzuto says. “As dean, you always wonder if you can do more, make things even better and stronger for those you serve, and if you can accomplish what needs to be accomplished in an appropriate time frame. But I remain mindful of a statement attributed to Bill Gates: ‘As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.’ If I can help to realize this, and empower the faculty, staff and students of LIU, I will have a happy day.”
Winner of Volwiler Research Award Dr. Pezzuto was the 2014 recipient of the Volwiler Research Award by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. His current research interests are predominantly in the areas of biology-driven natural product drug discovery and characterization, with primary emphasis in the fields of cancer chemotherapy and cancer chemoprevention. He is widely known for identifying the cancerprevention aspects of resveratrol, a chemical found in grapes and grape products.
Editor of Grapes & Health This book, edited by Dr. Pezzuto, offers a thorough review of the scientific research that links the consumption of grapes to better health. The book starts with a basic review of grape biology, including the key families of phytochemicals found in grapes, and where they are found. An overview of the rationale for and subsequent creation of a standardized grape powder for use in basic and clinical research provides insight and understanding regarding its widespread use in grape-specific research today.
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Genomics at LIU Pharmacy Long Island University is on the forefront of the genomics revolution. Dr. Jeffrey Idle has joined the University to lead the new Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics Division. Dr. Jeffrey Idle is a world leader in the fields of metabolomics and pharmacogenetics. Dr. Idle’s work in this field and in pharmacogenetics has been instrumental in moving therapeutics towards more patient-specific treatments (“precision medicine”) in a broad range of medical specialties. In addition, metabolomics has been successful in the discovery and definition of biomarkers of disease susceptibility and outcome, for example, in various types of cancer patients. Metabolomics and precision medicine may also lead to breakthroughs in treatments for osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and liver and lung disorders, among others. The building block of precision medicine is the study of genomes. “The entire field of the treatment of human disease is moving toward precision or personalized medicine,” says Dr. John
Pezzuto, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Long Island University. “Basically, we’re all different people. One size does not fit all. By understanding the differences in terms of metabolism and genetics, systems, pharmacology and epigenetics, a more efficacious and more advantageous therapeutic approach can be designed.” A genome is the complete set of DNA of an organism. Therefore, the human genome is all the genetic information in the DNA that has been used to produce and to operate a human being. Each of us has a unique genome, with the exception of identical twins, who share a common genome. The human genome comprises approximately 3 billion so-called “base pairs” arranged into units called genes, each of which has particular biological functions. We have somewhere between 20,000 and 25,000 individual genes and, despite the Human Genome Project, the exact number is still uncertain. Since our genome is largely responsible for our individuality, including our response to
drugs, the study of how the genome affects drug responses, pharmacogenomics, is one of the main building blocks of precision medicine. This is why the pharmaceutical industry is collecting information on 2 million genomes, so that drugs can be better tailored to individual patients. By stratifying patients using genomic information, the licensing of new drugs by FDA will be streamlined. “Systems pharmacology and pharmacogenomics research at LIU will furnish new insights into the mechanisms of drug action and adverse drug reactions, and therefore assist in the development of programs of precision medicine, fueling the greater good,” says Dr. Idle. “We will move to the top of this area of precision medicine,” says Pezzuto. “In turn, this will lead to many important partnerships with various other institutions, hospitals, and clinics throughout the city, the nation, and, perhaps, the world. Stateof-the-art technology and expertise will be right here at LIU.”
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RESEARCH & ACADEMICS
Clinical Practice Makes Perfect Experiential education is a central component of the Doctor of Pharmacy program, beginning on the first day of the professional program and continuing until graduation. Under the mentorship of over 400 leading practitioners at over 240 of the nation’s top medical centers, including Brooklyn Hospital, Mount Sinai, Maimonides, Lenox Hill, and many VA hospitals in NYC, students are introduced to the pharmacy profession and the provision of pharmaceutical care through practical experience rotations in different health care environments. Experiential rotations prepare students for the real world by giving them the opportunity to interact with other members
of a health care team in various patient care settings. Throughout the three years of the professional phase, students build the confidence, professionalism, and competency to participate in the drug use decision making process, to select the correct medication and dosage for a given situation, to interact with health care professionals and peers, to communicate with patients and/or care-givers, to solve issues related to the use of medications and document them, to utilize drug information skills to respond to queries, to assist pharmacists in dispensing medications, and to develop in-depth pharmaceutical care plans. In addition to becoming practice ready, practical experience rotations are also a
unique opportunity to make an impression, build a professional network, and learn which areas of the profession are the best fit. Pharmacy students often receive job offers at former experiential placements after graduation. From the LIU Pharmacy Class of 2017, 19 students were accepted into Post Graduate Year (PGY-1) clinical residency programs. A number of these students have taken on positions outside of New York in Texas, California, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
Accreditation
Long Island University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, www.acpe-accredit.org.
Experiential rotations prepare students by giving them the opportunity to interact with other members of a health care team in various patient care settings.
132 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
The History of LIU Pharmacy 1886
1892
14 LIU Pharmacy
FIRST GRADUATING CLASS
In 1892, the College graduated its first class. Students in this era attended lectures in a two-room apartment on the second floor of a Victorian building located at 399 Classon Avenue. Among the members of the first class was William D. Anderson, PhG, who became the third dean of the College.
1929
The Brooklyn College of Pharmacy was established in 1886 by the Kings County Pharmaceutical Society three years after the opening of “the great bridge.”
MOVING TO...
MOVED TO 600 LAFAYETTE
1903
In 1903, the College moved to its first specially built home at 265-271 Nostrand Avenue. The three-story brick and stone building had been constructed by the Society to be “thoroughly equipped for the best work in pharmaceutical education.” The building served the college for 26 years.
In 1929, the College affiliated with the recently established Long Island University but still retained its own board of trustees and independence.
...OUR FIRST HOME
In 1976, construction was completed on a new complex for the College at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus, a quarter mile from the building at 600 Lafayette. The new home for the College was made possible by the philanthropy of Arnold Schwartz and his wife, Marie Smith Schwartz. The Brooklyn College of Pharmacy became the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
In 1950, the College appointed its first female faculty member, Dr. Shirley Kraus.
In 1956, Arthur G. Zupko, an internationally renowned researcher in pharmacology, became the fifth dean of the college.
1994
In 1937, Dean William D. Anderson retired and Dean Hugo H. Schaefer took over leadership of the College. Dean Anderson had served the college since 1902.
In September 1994, the College accepted its first students into the postbaccalaureate PharmD program.
Dr. Stephen M. Gross succeeded Dean Sciarra in 1985. Campus facilities continued to grow as well with completion of the Steinberg Wellness Center, Kumble Theater, and the Pratt Building.
20 08
These institutes moved into newly constructed state-of-the-art space in 2014, creating a center for pharmaceutical innovation.
2015
2014
19 95
The Zeckendorf Health Sciences Center, completed in 1995, provides the College’s students with expanded lecture facilities, a state-of-the-art home for the International Drug Information Center, and specialized laboratories for the PhD program in Pharmaceutics (begun in 1993) as well as faculty research.
The ninth dean of the College, Dr. John M. Pezzuto, joined us in August 2015.
We continue to drive innovation in our pursuit of excellence in teaching and research.
&
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In 2008, Dr. David R. Taft became the eighth dean of the College. Under his stewardship facilities continued to grow and expand.
2017 132 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AND THE 126TH CLASS OF GRADUATES
In 2011, the College celebrated its 125th anniversary. In 2018 we are 132 years young. The College graduated its 126th class of students in May 2017.
B E Y O N D
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STUDENT SUCCESS
Notable Fellowships From the class of 2017 these 6 individuals represent the high caliber of scholarship and drive that the University strives to achieve. Students leverage our accomplished faculty and alumni network of pharmaceutical industry leaders to obtain meaningful roles with globally recognized health care brands.
Laura Sedita Alaimo
Kimberly Koop
Edwin Lam
US Field Medical Affairs and Clinical Strategy at Novo Nordisk (NJ)
Global Regulatory Affairs Strategy (Oncology/Cardiovascular/Inflammation) with Amgen (CA)
Joint NIH Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA
Leah Madsen
Christopher Russo
Benazir Sahak
2-year fellowship in Global Medical Affairs with Pfizer (Chatham, NJ)
Inflammation and Immunology Fellowship, Global Medical Affairs, Pfizer (Collegeville, PA)
TBWA/WorldHealth Postdoctoral, Omnicom Health Group (NY, NY)
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STUDENT SUCCESS
A Vibrant and Engaged Student Population The hallmark of an LIU education is engaged learning. There is no substitute for real-world experience in our communities, our businesses, and within students' chosen fields. LIU Pharmacy exemplifies this principle and connects students with work and volunteer opportunities, helping to foster their career ambitions, growing their skills and networks, and guiding their personal development.
In fall 2017, members of LIU Pharmacy’s ACE-The Health Practitioners Society participated in a community screening in Masaryk Towers alongside NYU Dentistry and College of Podiatry students. The goal of the event was to provide counseling for patients with pharmacy, podiatry, and dentistry needs. Students participated in a collaborative screening process in which students assessed and interviewed patients, checking their blood pressure, providing free blood glucose meters and educating them on how to properly manage their medications. By the end of the experience, LIU pharmacy students learned how other professionals interacted with their patients while experiencing firsthand the role of a pharmacist in the community. By Kateryna Kovalenko PharmD 2020, and Rima Issa PharmD 2019
Every year, LIU Pharmacy’s chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma, the Pharmacy Leadership Society, conducts a mentorship program for pharmacy students. Incoming students are paired with more veteran students (years 4-6). The older students share their experiences and help guide their mentees through the pharmacy program and beyond. The pairings serve to expand the mentors and mentees networks within the College, and often blossom into enduring friendships. This year, the program hosted its first-ever “Meet & Greet,” where the pairings were revealed. The event attracted over 100 participating students and served as a fundraiser for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America organization. By Cheryl Louie PharmD 2019
In the fall 2017 semester, members of Lambda Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Chi, and Kappa Psi assembled at the Recovery House of Worship, a charitable Baptist church in downtown Brooklyn, to assist at a food pantry. Volunteers gathered to create care packages for guests. The packages consisted of a variety of food items, including cereal, rice and oats, canned soup, and juice boxes. After two hours of sorting the items, the volunteers gathered the packages and began distributing them to the guests in need along with a smile and a warm greeting. By Kevin Picou PharmD 2020
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STUDENT SUCCESS
Amanda Pizzo is Driven to Succeed AMANDA PIZZO // LIU Pharmacy '18
For LIU Pharmacy student Amanda Pizzo, counseling patients is about being a source of knowledge and support. “I really like the personal interaction,” said Pizzo, who works in an independent pharmacy while studying at LIU. “I like to assist patients and make their lives a little easier. I like making their day a little better.” Recently, however, the PharmD student has mixed her compassionate spirit with a competitive one. Pizzo represented LIU Pharmacy in the patient counseling competition at the American Pharmacists Association National Meeting in San Francisco, competing against students from more than 120 schools across the country. “You get five minutes,” Pizzo said. “You get a drug, a prescription, and a profile, and you have to look up information about the drugs: interactions with the patient’s profile, proper counseling on the medication, things to look out for. Then, you have five minutes to counsel the mock patient. The judges watch you, and then they send the results.” It’s an intensely competitive experience, but also a constructive one. “It makes you see what you need to work on,” Pizzo said. “The patient I had in San Francisco wasn’t very friendly, but you’re not always going to get that patient that’s happy to be there. You get patients that just want to take the prescription and leave. It’s important to learn how to deal with different personalities. I think that’s one of the things I’ve learned.”
Traveling across the country to compete against fellow students wasn’t something Pizzo could have seen herself doing when she enrolled at LIU in the fall of 2012, but exploring different aspects of her chosen field has been one of the great benefits of her LIU Pharmacy education. “When I got into LIU, I pushed myself to do things that I wouldn’t normally do,” Pizzo said. “That opens you up to a wider range of thinking. I’ve grown in that sense, and become a better person by trying new things.” Pizzo has immersed herself in the culture of LIU Pharmacy, serving as president of the P5 class and secretary of pharmacy leadership society Phi Lambda Sigma. Over her years at LIU, the second-floor pharmacy lounge has become a second home. “It’s where I’ve made all my friends,” Pizzo said. “We studied in there, hung out in there, talked in there, ate in there…it’s a place with a lot of good memories.” And each year, as she volunteers at the hooding ceremony for LIU Pharmacy’s newest graduates, Pizzo gets a glimpse at her own future. “You get to see all the students that you know graduate,” Pizzo said. “Their families are there, and they’re so happy. You can see their achievements, and I like that a lot, because one day, that will be us.”
Pizzo has immersed herself in the culture of LIU Pharmacy, serving as president of the P5 class and secretary of pharmacy leadership society Phi Lambda Sigma.
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STUDENT SUCCESS
Scholarship in Action
Joseph Wai Kin Li
Class of 2020–LIU Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
President of the Pharmacy Student Leadership Council, the College’s student government, Joseph is active in a number of other professional organizations, including Phi Delta Chi Pharmacy Fraternity and the American Pharmacists Association and Phi Lambda Sigma, the Pharmacy Leadership Society. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Joseph works parttime as a pharmacy intern at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn and is considering pursing a PGY-1 residency program after graduation and a career as a clinical pharmacist.
Yoldine is president of the College’s chapter of Lambda Kappa Sigma International Women's Pharmacy Fraternity and is a managing editor of The Pharmacy Newsletter, the student print and online newsletter. Yoldine works part-time as a pharmacy intern at Montefiore Medical Center and plans a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Yoldine Meris
Class of 2019–LIU Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
Benjamin Kuzma
Class of 2019–LIU Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD)
Benjamin’s work toward his doctorate includes assisting Dr. Grazia Stagni with her FDA-sponsored research on microdialysis, which improves the availability of topical treatments. He serves as chair of LIU Pharmacy’s student chapter of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, and as graduate hall director in LIU Brooklyn’s 490 Fulton Apartments. “I enjoy attending LIU Pharmacy because it has so much to offer,” Benjamin said, “and because graduate students and undergraduates can interact daily.”
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ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Bayer AG Board Member Dieter Weinand DIETER WEINAND // LIU Pharmacy '87, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG, President Pharmaceuticals
As a member of the board of management and president of Pharmaceuticals at Bayer AG, Mr. Weinand described his experience earning his master’s degree at LIU Pharmacy as “essential” to his career. He remarked that his education at LIU gave him a foundation of “solid scientific understanding required to identify unmet medical needs and opportunities for medical or pharmaceutical intervention,” and reinforced that “seemingly minor scientific nuances can make a meaningful clinical difference.” Looking forward, Mr. Weinand stated, “We are moving from population-based medicine to individualized personal medicine yielding better outcomes." He reflected on the evolution of the industry and the unmet medical needs around cancer and complex cardiovascular or neurological conditions, as well as the growing and consequential body of research on stem cell technologies and artificial intelligence. Under Mr. Weinand’s leadership, Bayer is focusing on two primary
therapeutic areas: cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In hemophilia, women’s health care, and ophthalmology, he sees Bayer uniquely positioned in the respective disease segment. As such, the company is well prepared to confront, and one day perhaps even overcome, some of the top health concerns impacting patients and health care systems today.
share your knowledge and learn from perspectives of others. Most importantly, go where the science is. In our globalized environment, scientific excellence has no geographic boundaries. Young scientists need to embrace flexibility to get the best out of all the different approaches to deliver true innovation that benefits patients.”
For the pharmaceutical industry to successfully deliver solutions for today’s major health concerns, Mr. Weinand says the true focus must be on the best science and delivering true value. “We have become agnostic as to whatever the cutting edge science is and go to where it comes from, be that at academic institutions, small or large companies, or internally. Our focus is on providing health care solutions that benefit societies.” For aspiring pharmacists, Mr. Weinand advises, “Continue your education,
“We have become agnostic as to whatever the cutting edge science is and go to where it comes from, be that at academic institutions, small or large companies, or internally. Our focus is on providing health care solutions that benefit societies.”
LIU Pharmacy 21
ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Anna Forsythe Creates Purple Squirrel Economics ANNA FORSYTHE // LIU Pharmacy '95, Managing Partner of Purple Squirrel Economics
LIU’s mission is to provide excellence in private higher education and access to people from all backgrounds. There may not be a better example of that mission than Anna Forsythe. Forsythe, the Managing Partner of Purple Squirrel Economics, which provides health technology assessments and novel solutions for health care leaders, came to LIU Pharmacy in 1991 with a musicology degree from a Russian conservatory and just three dollars in her pocket. “LIU started everything for me,” said Forsythe, who founded Purple Squirrel as the next step in a career that’s included two separate stints at Novartis—most recently as Director of Global Health Economic and Market Access Oncology—in addition to working for several other pharmaceutical companies. Forsythe did not have money for her first semester’s tuition. Not sure where to turn, Forsythe met with Dr. Stephen Gross, the then Dean of LIU Pharmacy, for advice. With Dean Gross’s help in navigating the scholarship opportunities available, Forsythe found the resources to fund the beginning of her pharmaceutical education. From there, it was on Forsythe to earn the Maimonides Scholarship, which required top grades and the recommendation of Dr. Anthony Cutie, who oversaw the program. Forsythe earned a 4.0 GPA, impressing Cutie with her determination. Forsythe got
the scholarship, and with it, a part-time job at Maimonides Medical Center. “I was extremely lucky,” Forsythe said. “Without Dean Gross and Dr. Cutie, I wouldn’t have graduated.” When Forsythe did graduate, she worked at Duane Reade before pursuing opportunities in industrial pharmacy. Then, what started as a two-month contract position working for Novartis turned into the beginning of nearly two decades in industrial pharmacy. “It was a huge risk,” Forsythe said, “but I wanted to try something more interesting. “Our contract was finishing,” Forsythe continued, “and they said, ‘Next week, we’re only going to need a few people. Whoever knows Excel really well, raise your hand.' I raised my hand, but I had no clue what Excel was." “I went on the way home, bought Excel for Dummies, and studied all night.” She eventually became Associate Director at Novartis before moving on to Schering. A five-year stint at Savient Pharmaceuticals followed, and after her second tenure at Novartis and three years at Eisai, she founded Purple Squirrel in May 2016. She returned to LIU, where she teaches as an adjunct professor. “Some of my students said it was the most difficult class they’d taken at LIU,” Forsythe said with a laugh. “I approach it as if it’s real life. When the students go into the real world, they’re not
“LIU started everything for me,” says Anna Forsythe, who founded Purple Squirrel Economics, which provides health technology assessments and novel solutions for health care leaders.
going to be treated as students, and doing your best may not be good enough.” It’s a tough standard, but meeting it has gotten Forsythe to where she is today, and that drive to excel is what she looks for in her employees—including one of her former LIU students—at Purple Squirrel.
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ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS
James Schiffer Offers Compliance Guidelines JAMES R. SCHIFFER // LIU Pharmacy '73, Partner, Allegaert, Berger & Vogel LLP
There are many innovative ways to use a pharmaceutical degree. After graduation, some go into public health, become entrepreneurs, dive further into research, and at least one took his experience from LIU Pharmacy into a law practice. James Schiffer described his time at LIU as “excellent training,” preparing him for a career in pharmacy. Following his graduation in 1973, he owned a pharmacy in Sunset Park, Brooklyn for nearly 30 years. Reflecting on that time, Schiffer said, “I do miss the direct impact I had on my patients as I helped keep them healthy.” Despite his passion for helping patients and the pharmaceutical industry, Schiffer decided to pursue a law degree and embark on a second career that would marry his academic endeavors. Today, after earning his JD from Brooklyn Law School in 2003, Schiffer is a Partner at Allegaert, Berger & Vogel LLP. His practice is focused on representing businesses, trade associations and individuals in a variety of health care related matters. As an attorney, Mr. Schiffer now focuses on “guiding today’s pharmacists on compliance with state and federal regulations.” He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at LIU Pharmacy, since 1987, and he gives educational lectures on current regulations to pharmacists. Schiffer still enjoys working as a pharmacist and does that—although not that often—at an independent pharmacy
in Bayonne, New Jersey. To future pharmacists, Mr. Schiffer advises, “Stay honest and ethical in your practice.” He also recommends that graduates get involved in local and national professional organizations. “The world of health care is rapidly changing and so are the regulations and demands placed on today’s pharmacists. Stay involved and stay informed.” Mr. Schiffer was named by American Druggist as one of the nation’s most influential pharmacy leaders for his work concerning the activities of Pharmacy Benefit Management companies. He is also the recipient of the 2013 Bowl of Hygeia Award in New York, in recognition of his outstanding civic leadership as a pharmacist, and Schiffer has received awards from the National Community Pharmacists Association for his efforts on behalf of community pharmacy.
LIU Pharmacy 23
ALUMNI ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Successful Young Alumni
Charchil Vejani
Laura Sedita Alaimo
Alex Rozovskiy
Senior Formulation Scientist, PuraCap Pharmaceutical, LLC
Postdoctoral Fellow in Field Medical Affairs and Clinical Strategy with Novo Nordisk, Inc.
Founder & Managing Director, PharMecha
Degree
MS in Pharmaceutics, LIU Pharmacy, 2009; PhD in Pharmaceutics, LIU Pharmacy, 2015
Career Highlights
Published an in situ method to quantitatively determine dissolved free drug concentrations in vitro in the presence of polymer excipients using pulsatile microdialysis in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics.
“My time at LIU has provided me with the necessary tools to enhance my skills, taught me valuable knowledge about the drug development process, and eventually enabled me to contribute to my research group immediately.”
Degree
PharmD, LIU Pharmacy, 2017
Career Highlights
Developing hemostasis and rare bleeding disorders content and training for medical affairs as a Fellow at Novo Nordisk.
“Being a student at LIU gave me the opportunity to obtain the leadership skills necessary to be a successful fellow and make an impact as an integral member of my organization.”
Degree
PharmD, RPh, LIU Pharmacy, 2014
Career Highlights
Starting a business that helps to communicate complex science in an accurate, engaging, and impactful manner.
“A PharmD is the key to a world of opportunity. Studying at Long Island University gave me a foundation of knowledge in science and pharmacy that enables me to create invaluable resources for my clients. Ultimately, my experience at LIU put me on the path to becoming an entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry.”
24 LIU Pharmacy
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
A Curriculum Heavy on Experiential Learning LIU Pharmacy is a destination for pharmacy students seeking opportunities for impactful research and patient-centered care, backed by a 132-year legacy as an urban leader in pharmacy education. Our curriculum places heavy emphasis on ethical and experiential learning in a variety of settings in order to prepare students for leadership positions. LIU Pharmacy is a member of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education, creating opportunities for students and faculty to collaborate on impactful research in the University’s state-of-the-art institutes and labs, including the Lachman Institute for Pharmaceutical Analysis, the Samuel J. & Joan B. Williamson Institute, and the Natoli Institute for Industrial Pharmacy Research and Development. LIU Pharmacy graduates are prestigious leaders throughout the pharmacy profession. The heavy concentration of pharmaceutical industry and medical institutions in the New York metropolitan area provides incomparable opportunities for study, practical experience, and professional advancement.
Degree Programs • Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pharmaceutics • Master of Science (MS) in Pharmaceutics with specializations in Cosmetic Science, Industrial Pharmacy, Drug Regulatory Affairs, and Pharmacology/Toxicology • MBA/PharmD—Dual degree program offered with LIU Brooklyn School of Business • Unique opportunity to earn the BPS degree after two years of study
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