Vol 13 No. 3 Fall 2016
Fall 2016
Pharmacy Journal of New England
Time for CMS to Take Decisive Action on MTM Advocacy: Rx and the Law Paying Attention to All the Wrong Things: Financial Forum
Complete Coverage of the
2016 New England Pharmacists Convention
Endorsed* by:
Should something happen to you...
is your family covered? Life insurance isn’t for you, it’s for them. Do you have life insurance? We can help.
“Pharmacists Mutual Companies is a company built on integrity, professionalism, moral ethics, and above all a gentle and caring touch that ensures your final wishes will truly come to fruition. Pharmacists Mutual is a cut above the rest and has successfully restored my faith in the value of insurance. I would gladly recommend Pharmacists Mutual to anyone without reservation and am forever thankful for their steadfast diligence and desire to make sure my loved one’s final wishes were carried out.”
Protect your family’s financial future with life insurance.
Call us today and experience the Pharmacists Mutual difference.
800.247.5930
Dr. Elizabeth Odumakinde, MD
Tom White
800.247.5930 ext. 7094 508.942.2211 Products underwritten through The Pharmacists Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Pharmacists Mutual. * Compensated endorsement. Not licensed to sell all products in all states.
phmic.com
Pharmacy Journal
Vol 13 No. 3 Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
of New England
Thankful, and Motivated to Do More
Editors
Dear Readers,
Managing Editor
As the Thanksgiving season and its traditions unfold around us and we head into December, the staff of your state pharmacy associations would like to thank you, its membership, for your continued support and advocacy on behalf of professional associations. In these increasing difficult and frustrating times, amidst political wrangling, reduced reimbursements, and a tilting playing field, it is more important than ever to stay engaged on the front lines. What are the front lines these days? Unfortunately, there are many – the continued debate at our State Legislatures about the role of the Pharmacist and the value of their services; the front line defense we are waging against PBMs and mail order; and most importantly, the front line of providing the best patient care we can in all of our practice settings. Please take a moment to read our articles about what has transpired over the last few months in the New England states. This is also a great time to contact your state association to see how you can make a difference in the upcoming months as a new President takes office, the majority of the State Legislatures reconvene, CE’s are planned, and members are recruited. Please talk to your colleagues, especially the next generation of pharmacists, so that the state associations continue to be positioned and armed on the front lines to advance and defend our profession.
David Johnson Margherita R. Giuliano, R.Ph., CAE Ellen Zoppo CPA
Design & Production Kathy Harvey-Ellis
The Pharmacy Journal of New England is owned and published by the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association and the Connecticut Pharmacists Association. Opinions expressed by those of the editorial staff and/or contributors do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the publisher. Readers are invited to submit their comments and opinions for publication. Letters should be addressed to the Editor and must be signed with a return address. For rates and deadlines, contact the Journal at (860) 563-4619. Pharmacy Journal of New England 35 Cold Spring Road, Suite 121 Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3167 members@ctpharmacists.org
Submitting Articles to the Pharmacy Journal of New England™ The Pharmacy Journal of New England™ is the product of a partnership between the Connecticut Pharmacists Association and the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association. The Journal is a quarterly publication.
Sincerely,
Margherita R. Giuliano, RPh
David Johnson
Executive Vice President Executive Vice President Connecticut Pharmacists Association Massachusetts Pharmacists Association
All submitted articles are subject to peer review. In order to maintain confidentiality, authors’ names are removed during the review process. Article requirements must conform to the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (Ann Intern Med 1982;96 (1part1):766-71). We strongly encourage electronic submissions. PJNE does not assume any responsibility for statements made by authors.
Please submit manuscripts to: PJNE 35 Cold Spring Rd., Suite 121 Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or email to: ezoppo@ctpharmacists.org
Contents 02
04 15 18 21 23
US News
Pictured on the cover, L to R: Marghie Giuliano, Executive VP of CPA; Lynn Pezzullo of RIPA; and Susan Holden of MPhA
New England States New England Pharmacists Convention 2016: Complete Coverage Feature: Time for CMS to Take Decisive Action on MTM Pharmacy Marketing Group: Rx and the Law, Financial Forum From the Colleges
1
U.S. News STD Infections Rise to New Highs After States Close Health Clinics The bacteria that causes gonorrhea can cause infertility in women and men. The number of people infected with three major sexually transmitted diseases is at an all-time high, according to a CDC report released recently. And the increase in reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis is hitting teenagers and young adults hardest. Over half of gonorrhea and chlamydia cases are in people under the age of 25, says Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention for the CDC. These STDs can have serious long term health consequences, including chronic pain and fertility problems. Pregnant women can pass syphilis on to their children, leading to stillbirth or birth defects. State and local budget cuts to STD care and prevention programs are major drivers in the surge in STDs, Mermin says. “Our ability to prevent STDs is only as strong as the public health infrastructure to support it,” he says. “More than half of state and local STD programs have experienced budget cuts. In 2012, 20 health departments reported having to close their STD clinics.” Syphilis infections have been increasing at a particularly troubling rate, according to the report. In 2015, 23,872 cases were reported, a 19 percent increase since 2014. Syphilis cases have been going up over the past decade, while the spike in cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea is more recent. There were 395,216 cases of gonorrhea in 2015, for an increase of 13 percent, and 1.5 million cases of chlamydia, for an increase of 6 percent. All three infections can be treated with antibiotics, though gonorrhea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. “This basically tells us we have to do a better job of reaching out to some of these communities that are disproportionately affected by these infections,” says Dr. Jose Bazan, a medical director for an STD clinic at Columbus Public Health and an assistant professor of internal medicine at Ohio State University who was not involved with the report. Men who have sex with men face a greater risk of being infected with syphilis. Over 80 percent of male syphilis cases were reported among gay and bisexual males, and over 90 2
percent of all syphilis cases were in men. People in racial and sexual minority groups can have more than the usual trouble finding care for preventing and treating STDs. According to a congressional briefing last April by Dr. Gail Bolan, the director for the CDC Division of STD Prevention, over 40 percent of health departments reduced clinic hours, screening, or tracing people who may have been infected. “If that infrastructure gets eroded, people are more likely to have their STDs for a longer period of time, and that can lead to increased transmission,” Mermin says. The federal government also helps fund state and local STD programs through the CDC, but federal funds have not helped make up for some of the budget cuts on the local level, according to David Harvey, the executive director for the National Coalition of STD Directors. “We believe there’s a direct relationship between budget cuts and increases in STDs in the United States. There has been no federal increases for STD programs in this country since 2003,” he says. If the trend is to be reversed, Mermin says there needs to be a real investment in STD prevention so that clinics can monitor these diseases and quickly diagnose and treat people who are infected. “We’ve seen success in the past where investments have paid off,” he says. “We know what we need to do. We just need to do it more effectively than we’ve been able to do with this eroding infrastructure.” -Angus Chen/NPR
CDC: Too Many Antibiotics Still Being Prescribed in U.S. Despite growing concerns about creating drug-resistant bacteria, overprescribing of antibiotics in U.S. hospitals didn’t drop between 2006 and 2012, according to a new federal report. Over that time period, 55 percent of patients received at least one dose of antibiotics during their hospital stay, whether it was needed or not, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. “Antibiotic use remains common, and use of the most powerful antibiotics is rising,” said lead researcher James Baggs, a CDC epidemiologist. “Although the use of antibiotics remained about the same during the study period, a significant increase was seen in the use of newer antibiotics. Because inappropriate antibiotic use increases the risk of
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
antibiotic resistance and other side effects, continued monitoring of antibiotic use is critical to future improvements in patient safety,” he said. The report was published online Sept. 19 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. For the study, Baggs and his colleagues used information from a database that includes about 300 hospitals and more than 34 million patients. Dr. Ateev Mehrotra is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School’s department of health care policy, in Boston. He said, “We’ve known for decades that there are too many antibiotics being used.” Mehrotra co-authored an accompanying journal editorial. “We still give a lot of people antibiotics they don’t need,” he said. “And doctors know they are prescribing too many antibiotics. This is about the fact that doctors are human -- doctors think patients want antibiotics,” Mehrotra said. One reason for overprescribing is that it’s easy to do and many doctors figure it might not help, but it won’t hurt, Mehrotra suggested. So, “they give it just to be safe, which drives a lot of the prescribing,” he said. To get doctors to prescribe fewer antibiotics, several tactics could be tried, Mehrotra said. For example, having physicians justify the use of the antibiotic on the medical record might help them stop and think before prescribing. In addition, patients can ask their doctor why antibiotics are being prescribed, and if they are really necessary. Antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a worldwide problem and will be a topic discussed this week at the United Nations General Assembly. Before the U.N. gathering, Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the nonprofit Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy, is scheduled to hold a meeting of health experts to focus attention on the problem. “Because of how antibiotics around the world both in developed and developing countries are being used, they are not as effective as they were in the past,” he said. “In fact, we now have many multidrug-resistant infections that are not treatable with any antibiotics we have, and consequently there is now a call for global action to solve the problem,” Laxminarayan said.
developing countries too few have access to these lifesaving drugs. Far more people die because of lack of access than they do from drug resistance. We need investment in new diagnostic tools, antibiotics and alternatives to antibiotics,” he said. -HealthDay
Taking Acetaminophen During Pregnancy Linked to ADHD Acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Tylenol, is one of the most commonly used pain medications, and doctors recommend using it to reduce fevers and cold and flu symptoms during pregnancy. But new research is causing pregnant women to question their intake of pain relievers. A study recently published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics found that children of women who used acetaminophen during pregnancy appeared to be at a higher risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). More than 64,000 Danish children and mothers were interviewed, and more than half of the women reported using acetaminophen while pregnant. The study found that taking acetaminophen only one day a week during the first trimester can increase the child’s chances of developing ADHD. The researchers also found an association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and children’s use of ADHD medications or having ADHD-like behaviors at 7 years old. The risk of these diagnoses seemed to increase when mothers used acetaminophen in more than one trimester during pregnancy. Although the researchers found a correlation between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and ADHD-like behaviors, the researchers suggest that further investigations are needed. When two things are associated, it does not necessarily mean one thing causes the other. It is important to have a discussion with your OB-GYN during your pregnancy about which medications are safe for you and your baby. Your doctor can guide you in deciding the best course of action. -Parenting
The antibiotic problem around the world is a two-sided, he explained. “In developed nations, too many people are being prescribed antibiotics unnecessarily, while in many 3
New England Connecticut
Over the past few years CPA has faced great challenges and has survived them well. We have made enormous strides in improving the services we offer to our members, the public and our patients. Some of our recent accomplishments include:
I truly feel privileged to serve as the new president of Connecticut Pharmacists Association. It is indeed an honor to join the ranks of those who have served CPA before me
- The Qualidigm Med Safety contract that Marghie Giuliano secured has provided financial stability to the organization and also led to the opportunity to bid on the Connecticut State Innovation Model grant
President’s Message
and I’m grateful that they have paved the way to make CPA the strong, resilient and vibrant organization it is today. The CPA was established 140 years ago in 1876. The Bahar Matusik, PharmD CPA President, 2016-17 pharmacists who established the organization had a simple mission which was “to secure cooperation and concert of action in the advancement and diffusion of a knowledge of Pharmacy and its collateral branches of science, and to promote the elevation of the professional character of, and facilitate an open and fraternal interaction between, its members.” It was a little less than 20 years ago when I walked into my very first CPA meeting as a representative from my ASP chapter at UConn School of Pharmacy. A little intimidated, another student colleague and I made the trip from Storrs to Rocky Hill. Fast forward to 2010 when I got an email from Meghan Wilkosz asking me if I wanted to join the Board of CPA. I was humbled to be invited to join the Board of the Connecticut Pharmacists Association. What impressed me 20 years ago, what impressed me six years ago and still continues to impress me now about CPA, is what our organization stands for… the pharmacist! Just as our association bylaws state “The mission of the Connecticut Pharmacists Association is to advance the practice and interests of pharmacy in the State of Connecticut.” Our organization is unique in that it is able to represent the interests of all different aspects of pharmacy. 4
- CPA continues to work with the schools of pharmacy such as the current project with UConn and DPH on a MTM project and host students on rotation so they see their pharmacy association at work - CPA has been, and will continue to be in the forefront of the emerging medical marijuana focus - CPA has also recently partnered with other pharmacy groups in CT on the important issue of compounding; CPA along with CT-ASCP and CSHP hosted the first ever Compounding Seminar in May of this year - After hearing from our members’ concern for patient safety due to pharmacists’ working conditions a task force was created to collect data and present to the state - AND most recently CPA has crafted legislation allowing pharmacists to prescribe naloxone However, we cannot rest on our achievements. We are living in an interdependent and rapidly changing world, a world in which healthcare and the laws surrounding it are constantly evolving, creating new medications; new environments, new standards -- all of which affect our profession most profoundly. In order to be able to stay ahead of the curve, we are constantly evaluating pharmacy practice not only in our state but across the country. Our strategic plan is updated every three years and we are able to monitor our progress with dashboards created by a very hardworking Board and CPA staff so that we can serve our members and in turn they can serve their patients. Some examples of these goals include: - to continue to set the standards of our profession
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
- to safeguard the interests of our pharmacist members, technician members, student members and in turn their patients - to break down the silos between pharmacy practice areas to improve communications among community pharmacists, consultants, and hospital pharmacists to help our patients - to provide quality CE opportunities as the focus and parameters change, and have “live” sessions where people network and talk to each other continue to be important - to increase membership, profile and engage new graduates to see the value of membership - to advocate and represent our profession at all levels of government for all pharmacists AND to be the legislative voice of pharmacists in CT
As we set out to accomplish these goals we also try to adapt to the ever-changing world around us, to new working environments, to new work partners, to new technologies -- in brief to new ways of doing. I hope that you will share in my excitement and embrace the changes which lie ahead of us. BUT a single head achieves nothing, so I am counting on your support to achieve the growth and goals our organization puts forth. At the end of the year, it is my dream and prayer that we will have transformed these possibilities, goals and opportunities into stories of success and triumph. I accept this appointment with pride and as Abraham Lincoln said “I will do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.”
A Word from Pharmacists Mutual It is vitally important for everyone to protect their greatest asset – their ability to earn an income. Disability income coverage is available through PMC Advantage Insurance Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Pharmacists Mutual. Life can happen in an instant, so protect your financial future with disability insurance. Call 800.247.5930 ext. 4090 to speak with a Coverage Advisor or visit www.phmic.com for more information.
5
New England States
continued
Massachusetts
Governor recognize that pharmacists can increase the adherence rates of these patients through not only their accessibility but their attentiveness to the medication regimen of these patients.
Dear Colleagues,
MPhA is also participating in a pilot that will establish the important role that community pharmacists can play in the treatment of individuals with hypertension. Efforts such as these will contribute to the growing awareness among policy makers and the insurance industry, that pharmacists can be utilized to improve patients’ outcomes, minimize adverse effects, and contain costs. Like the Operation Prevention Committee, our Government and Legislative Affairs Committee and our Professional Affairs Committee are vibrant groups that guide our efforts to promote the profession.
President’s Message
I am deeply honored to serve to as the President of MPhA for the coming year and I look forward to working for you and with you in the coming months. As a member of the Board, each of the presidents I have served under left their own mark on the Association. I know I have large shoes to fill and I hope that we can continue the forward Alicia Mam daCunha momentum for the Association MPhA President, 2016-17 in coming year. My immediate predecessor and now Chairman, Karen Horbowicz, has focused on the opioid abuse epidemic and founded Operation Prevention, a committee that she will continue to Chair. This work, which emphasizes both the role that pharmacists can play to combat this public health crisis and the safety of pharmacists who are on the front lines, will remain a central theme of our efforts during the coming year. If you haven’t already, I urge all members to visit Operation Prevention under the “Resources” tab of our website, www.masspharmacists.org, and take advantage of the information provided there. If you know of other information and links that you can contribute in this effort, please contact us. In addition to the work of Operation Prevention, a second and equally important theme of the coming year is our focus on making progress in our fight to promote a larger role for pharmacists as providers of care. With your help we will increase opportunities not only in hospital and ambulatory care settings, but in the retail setting as well. On October 7th, Governor Baker signed into law a supplementary budget that included language that will allow pharmacists to administer medications via injection for the purpose of treating mental health diseases and substance abuse. The Legislature and 6
Our Communications Committee, chaired by board member Nirali Rana, has taken important steps to implement a mentoring program to allow MPhA members to pass on their talents and get to know some of our student members. The Communication Committee is also engaged in the planning of events that will highlight the important role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the health care system. This leads me to the third theme of the coming year: to enhance the role of the Association as a community. It would be my pleasure to get to know each of you and for you to get to know personally members of our board and your fellow MPhA members. To do this, we will make every effort to increase networking opportunities at our regular annual events and to provide additional social activities where we can meet and get to know one another. Please take advantage of opportunities to serve on one of the above mentioned committees or any of our other committees. The full list and description of each is on our website. And please consider attending at least one of our events and take advantage of the opportunity to expand your network with MPhA! Sincerely, Alicia Mam daCunha, PharmD, BCACP, AE-C
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
2016 MPhA Award Winners
The MPhA Industry Award Winner is Paul Larochelle. Diane Martin is awarded the Bowl of Hygeia.
Paul Riendeau wins the Upsher-Smith Excellence in Innovation Award. Michael Reppucci takes home the MPhA Pharmacist of the Year Award.
7
New England States 2016 MPhA Award Winners continued
Joseph Ferullo wins the Cardinal Health Generation Rx Champions Award.
Annie Vong is named the Pharmacists Mutual Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year.
Timothy Fenksy receives the Nathan Goldberg award. Shannon Tesini is awarded the first annual MPhA Pharmacy Technician of the Year.
8
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
New Hampshire
(B) The training required regarding dosage, conditions for administering Narcan, and other appropriate training.
Legislative Update
(C) Whether there should be mandatory reporting of use of Narcan.
Standardized RX Prior Authorization Form
(D) Whether those persons who are administered Narcan should be required to go to outpatient treatment for a certain period of time.
As a result of legislation this past session, health insurers, health maintenance organizations, health services corporations, medical services corporations, and preferred provider programs must use and accept only a uniform prior authorization form developed by the commissioner of insurance. The NH Insurance Department is currently drafting rules and process requirements to develop a standardized RX prior authorization form. The Public Consulting Group has been hired by the Insurance Department to assist with stakeholder meetings and to develop the criteria. The plan is to allow insurers to start using this form as of July 1, 2017, and then only allow the form to be used as of December 31, 2017. More information will be forthcoming.
Commission to Study Narcan A commission to Study Narcan was established as a result of the Legislative Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Epidemic last fall. The final report date is November 1, 2017. They are due to make an interim report shortly. Members of the 13-member Commission are representatives from the legislature, House and Senate, the NH Board of Pharmacy, NH Fire Standards and Training, EMTs, nurse practitioners, the Department of Health and Human Services, and members of law enforcement.
(E) The commission shall produce a long-term plan on the use and distribution of Narcan. (F) The commission shall solicit information from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to its study. The first meeting was held on September 20, 2016, and Senator Avard was elected Chair of the Commission. They are gathering information about the use and availability of Narcan and taking testimony from the medical profession and law enforcement. It was noted that the rules were amended this year to allow law enforcement officers to carry Narcan after successfully completing required training. The rule is now being revised to allow firefighters to administer as well. The NH Department of Health and Human Services reported that they have just ordered 5,600 additional kits to be distributed to law enforcement, healthcare providers and for community events. It is worth noting that currently 25 high schools now have Narcan. The Commission has already determined that public service announcements will be a recommendation. They feel strongly it is important to remind the public to call 911 if Narcan is administered. The Commission plans to look at the Good Samaritan law and how it is working. The Commission will continue to hear from stakeholders and the public.
Duties of the Commission are:
Advanced Practice Pharmacy Technician: P1800 Rules:
II (a)(1) The commission shall study all aspects of Narcan, including, but not limited to:
At the August meeting, the NH Board of Pharmacy worked on the PH 1800 rules.
(A) Whether there should be a registry established for those in possession of Narcan.
This is a work in progress with the main focus on “Advanced Practice Pharmacy Technician.� An Advanced Practice Pharmacy Technician must complete an accredited 9
New England States
continued
technician training program that would work for all practice settings. This would allow technicians to perform duties that are non-judgemental. Expansion of duties would include product verification when bar coding is used. A technician who was licensed to perform advanced practice duties would be more valuable to employers and those individuals will be sought out by employers wanting to institute this position to allow their pharmacists the time to practice at the top of their licenses, doing immunizations, MTM, and the new opportunities for collaborative practice. Discussion on the qualifications of an individual to become an advanced practice technician included National certification, ASHP accredited training, special requirements for technicians involved in sterile compounding and number of hours required to be eligible. Recommendations include 4000 hours total and 1000 hours after ASHP training. Recently, the NHBOP received feedback from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (“NACDS�) regarding the PH 1800s. The NACDS strongly opposes the additional 4000 hours of experience required under Section 1803.01 c {7} as well as the 15 hours of training on product verification as specified in 1803.01 (d). They believe these requirements are overall too burdensome. Other concerns were also raised and will be discussed at the next workgroup session.
Continuous Quality Improvement The committee members continue to meet and discuss the goals for the program. A meeting was held in June and another in August. The group has decided to design the program to be non-punitive, drafted so it would work for all practice settings, and to have CQI quarterly meeting minutes and action plans available at the practice site for board review. No reporting to the Board would be required. The group is focusing on the proposed statue to get ready for the legislative session this fall.
10
The NACDS does not support the current language of the proposed regulations. They foresee issues with how this information could be considered discoverable during potential litigations, as well as challenges that would discourage the use of electronic record-keeping. They found several of the requirements to be inconsistent with the CQI programs that already have been implemented in other
states. The Virginia CQI model acknowledges that many pharmacies already may be reporting to a Patient Safety Organization (PS0), which will then conduct an investigation and aid in resolving issues. Additionally, this model takes advantage of the confidentiality and privilege protections of the Federal Patient Safety Act that is applied to a PSO, so that pharmacies can share quality and patient safety information without fear of legal discovery. They urge the Board to consider the CQI program established by the state of Virginia statute and regulation to be similar to those operating in other states. The NHBOP disagrees in that there are chains now who belong to PSOs, and yet their NH pharmacists have no idea what those are or how to use them. The board wants to hold everyone to a uniform standard. The Virginia model focuses more on identifying and correcting the problem instead of the repercussions for an error. More discussion among the committee members will be forthcoming.
In Memorium Norman E. Rhodes Sr, 86, passed away on July 7, 2016 at the CRVNA Hospice House in Framingham, MA. Born in 1930 in Framingham, MA, Norm graduated from Wayland High School and then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1953. A job opportunity in Laconia, NH brought him to NH in 1954 where he worked at Story Drug, an independent pharmacy, for five years. Norm then decided to try hospital pharmacy and went to work at the Laconia Hospital. Later, Norm was hired as Chief Pharmacist at the 2,000-bed NH Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Concord, NH. He also worked as a consultant pharmacist at the Merrimack County Nursing Home and other community pharmacies. He was discharged from the NH National Guard as a 1st Lieutenant in 1959. He was Past President of the NH Society of Hospital Pharmacists. Norm was a SHRINER, and for 20 years he participated in summer parades to raise money for the 22 Shriners Hospitals throughout the country. In December 2015, Norm was the recipient of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented in recognition of exceptional commitment, loyalty and
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
dedication to the practice of pharmacy in the State of New Hampshire.
Emily K. Seamans (PharmD Candidate [P4]) from UConn School of Pharmacy
Norm leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Sandra (Palmer) Rhodes, 8 children, 19 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Emily is a recent graduate of the UConn School of Pharmacy with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Studies. Emily has volunteered at David’s House at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters. She applied and was accepted to UConn’s Urban Service Track in May 2015 and was a VALOR Intern at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont. She is a member of Lambda Kappa Sigma. Emily is a past recipient of the NHPA 2014 Scholarship Award.
Scholarship Committee Highlights Each year the New Hampshire Pharmacists Association (NHPA) Scholarship Foundation provides student pharmacists of NH an opportunity to receive scholarship funds. The Scholarship Committee included the following members: Cheryl Abel (CE Chairperson), Lorraine Radick, Joe Clement and Paul Boisseau. Eight students were interviewed on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016 via remote or in person at the MCPHS University in Manchester, NH.
Congratulations to you both!
The scholarship committee places high value on students with the right balance of professionalism, initiative, leadership, insight and decisiveness, as well as need and scholastic ability. This year the foundation awarded two outstanding students. The recipients will be honored at the MCPHS University Pharmacy Awards Reception in December. The committee is pleased to announce the following NH Pharmacists Association scholarship recipients for 2016: Ryan R. Morgan (PharmD Candidate [P3]) from MCPHS University, Manchester, NH Ryan is a member of Rho Sigma Kappa (Gamma Section). He volunteers at the Boys and Girls Clubs, in Milford, NH. He promoted safe medicine practices to approximately 50 middle school aged children, participated in the Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk and the YMCA Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Awareness and Prevention program. He did an introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience at the Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, Camp Lejeune, NC. Ryan is an EMT. He received the New Hampshire Hero Award in August 2007. He was presented the award by Former NH Governor John D. Lynch. Citation: “For risking your own life in an outstanding act of heroism”.
The Scholarship Committee meets to decide on candidates. Pictured committee member left to right:Joe Clement, Paul Boisseau, Cheryl Abel and Lorraine Radick.
Continuing Education Highlights NHPA Fall CE Conference: On Sunday, September 11th, NH Pharmacists Association held a Fall CE program at the LaBelle Winery in Amherst, NH. This conference was a huge success with over 130 attendees comprised of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students. We even started the day with a mini yoga practice session followed by motivational interviewing for diabetic patients, insomnia and pharmacy law with a focus on compounding. In addition to our vendor exhibits and raffle, we had our first silent auction for the NHPA Scholarship Foundation. Twenty-six items were up for auction, and we accepted private donations as well. Thank you to all who donated. The Foundation raised close to $1500 for deserving students. The 11
New England States
continued
scholarship committee is planning another silent auction again next fall. Pharmacy students from MCPHS University (MHT campus) presented posters during the lunch break. Presentations included the following: “The Effects of Entresto on Heart Failure” by Molly Ennis, PharmD Candidate 2017 “Is PD-L1 Testing necessary in the treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer?” By Meghan Stanton, PharmD Candidate 2017 “Community Pharmacists Workload Concerns in NH” by Gabby Hill, PharmD Candidate 2018 “The Therapeutics of Medicinal Cannabis” by Ami Neeper, PharmD Candidate 2018 Numerous pharmacy students from University of New England College of Pharmacy also participated in this educational program. Lastly, we ended the day with a wine tasting event. Several NHPA Board Directors were available to answer questions, educate, and obtain feedback, etc. from our attendees. A good time was had by all. NHPA is currently making arrangements for our 2017 CE programs. The plan is to return to Attitash (Bartlett, NH) for our Summer CE, LaBelle (Amherst, NH) for our Fall CE and SERESC (Bedford, NH) for the December CE. Check our website at www.nhpharmacists.net for details as they become available. Remember, save the date for our 2016 Last Chance CE program: Sunday, December 4, 2016, SERESC, Bedford, NH
12
Attendees place their bets at the NHPA Fall Conference.
Details and directions can be found on our new website at www.nhpharmacists.net. Also, please join our Facebook page by searching “NHPA”.
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
Maine MPA Recognizes Individuals for their Contributions to Pharmacy The MPA celebrated the contributions of pharmacists, technicians, and students to the profession of pharmacy at the 2016 Fall Convention in Bangor, Maine. The award ceremony recognized pharmacists for national and local awards. The recipients are as follows: Bowl of Hygeia Award: Roberta “Becky” Brush Distinguished Young Pharmacist Award: Cassandra Parsons Cardinal Health Generation Rx Champions Award: Stephanie Nichols Upsher-Smith Excellence in Innovation Award: Robert Cattan Maine Technician of the Year: Michelle Antone A highlight of the night was the MPA membership awarding $4,000 in scholarships to four outstanding students from Maine or attending the Maine pharmacy schools of Husson University and the University of New England. The deserving recipients were Ashley Chace (UNE), Ian Macomber (UNE), Courtney Brooker (Husson), and Todd Conner (Husson). The association wishes them a successful academic year.
MPA Inaugurates President and PresidentElect MPA swore in the officers for the upcoming year. Serving as the president is Dr. Betty Harris. Betty’s pharmacy career covered many pharmacy settings, such as long-term care, specialty pharmacy care, community chain pharmacy, hospital settings, and academia. Dr. Harris has a passion for pharmacy and has provided volunteer leadership service to pharmacy associations on the state and national level including APhA and the Florida Pharmacy Foundation. She recently retired and now serves as a guide. The association is thankful for what she has to offer for this position. Dr. Cassandra Parsons was sworn in to the office of Presidentelect. Dr. Cassandra White is an Assistant
MPA President Gregory Cameron presents the Bowl of Hygeia Award to Roberta “Becky” Brush.
Professor for Husson University School of Pharmacy. Cassandra has served on the Board of Directors for the Maine Pharmacy Association (MPA) since 2014. She is actively involved in the organization by participating in legislative efforts, performing administrative tasks, and presenting at many MPA conventions. She is a passionate advocate for advancing the pharmacy profession in what she considers “the greatest state in the USA.” A big thank you goes out to Gregory Cameron for serving as president for the past two years. Greg’s leadership continued to strengthen the association. Greg will continue to serve the association in the position of Immediate past president for the upcoming year. It’s All about ME - A Tradition of Caring: The Way Pharmacy Should Be! The Maine Pharmacy Association, the first professional state pharmacy association in the nation, will celebrate the Sesquicentennial Anniversary in 2017. To mark this milestone, we are hosting a three-day event with continuing education tracks, social events and a trade show in Portland on October 13- 15, 2017. We are excited to partner with the Maine Society of Health System Pharmacists; the meeting will be held in conjunction with the APhA - ASP Region I meeting. Mark your calendars!
13
New England States
continued
Vermont
The Vermont Pharmacists Association (VPA) is pleased to announce S.243, including Health Care Provider Status for pharmacists, was signed into law by Governor Shumlin on June 8, 2016. VPA board members Jim Godfrey, RPh and student chapter President, Vermont Pharmacists members provided Association valuable testimony in support of this bill, as did Vermont Retail Druggists, Vermont Health Systems Pharmacists, and Albany College of Pharmacy Colchester, VT Campus faculty. Our profession will be called upon to provide more clinical services in the 21st century. This will help bring us deserved recognition and compensation as providers.
to do more work with less support staff due to shrinking profits. While we evaluate the possibility of state legislation, the VPA wishes to thank US Congressman Peter Welch (VT) for co-sponsoring H.R. 5951 https://www.congress.gov/bill/114thcongress/house-bill/5951/text which addresses the issue on the federal level. Companion legislation has been introduced in the US Senate, and pharmacists in all states should ask their elected representatives in Washington D.C. to vote in favor. The 2016 VPA Fall Social was held September 9th at Idyletime Brewery in Stowe. A good time and an opportunity for networking was had by all, and we were happy to see many new faces. Best wishes for professional success in the rest of 2016! Jim Godfrey, President Vermont Pharmacists Association
Lack of PBM transparency in the form of retroactive DIR fees collected after a claim is “paid” is causing major loss in pharmacy revenue. The VPA considers this not only a threat to the existence of independent pharmacies but, in the chain pharmacy, setting a burden on pharmacists who will be asked
1-(877)-360-0095 www.buy-sellapharmacy.com
Your Local Specialist Jack Collins, R.Ph. jackc@buy-sellapharmacy.com Tel: 1-(203)-395-6243
Completely Confidential!
Don’t Leave Money On The Table
when you transition the ownership of your pharmacy. • If you are talking with a buyer (particularly a chain buyer), have an offer on the table, haven’t signed anything yet, TALK TO US LAST!! •
If you are contemplating a sale but haven’t begun to consider the issues involved, TALK TO US FIRST!!
•
Either way, all conversations are TOTALLY CONFIDENTIAL AND TOTALLY WITHOUT OBLIGATION. THEY COST YOU NOTHING!
Don’t be fooled by web sites or advertisements that purport to tell you EXACTLY HOW MUCH you are leaving on the table. There are no absolutes when selling a business and EVERYTHING is negotiable. Visit our website to view a list of references that you can contact.
A 15-year track record of successfully completing more than 400 independent pharmacy sales.
14
.
New England Pharmacists Convention 2016
MPhA Bowl of Hygeia winner Diane Martin and MPhA President 2016-17 Alicia Mam daCunha
CPA President Bahar Matusik takes the oath of office, alongside her husband Tony.
A group kicks back at the NEPC reception.
Lucrezia (Lu) Finegan and her husband Steven (left) visit with Philip Hritcko of CPA.
Pictured above L to R are: Katherine Czarnowski, PharmD, Alyssa Taqi, PharmD and Laura Driscoll, PharmD
15
New England Pharmacists Convention 2016 URI Wins Pepto Bowl
Above, proudly displaying the Pepto Bowl trophy, from L to R, are: Helen Kim, Brittany Durgin, Ting-Chia Liu, Emily Kaminski, Matthew Lippertshauser, Clinical Professor Jeffrey Bratberg, Ethan Melillo, Clinical Professor Kelly Orr, Darlene Tat and Kyunghye Lee.
Matthew Lippertshauser and Ethan Melillo represented URI in the “Jeopardy!�-style academic competition at the annual New England Pharmacy Convention on Sept. 23. Their victory marks the third time in nine years that URI has won the contest, says College of Pharmacy Clinical Professor Kelly Orr. From https://today.uri.edu/news/uri-pharmacy-students-win-academic-competitionpepto-bowl/
16
2015 Recipients of the “Bowl of Hygeia” Award
Dan McConaghy Alabama
Tom Van Hassel Arizona
Nicki Hilliard Arkansas
Robert Shmaeff California
Sherman Gershman Connecticut
Kevin Musto Delaware
Fritz Hayes Florida
Ron Stephens Georgia
Kerri Okamura Hawaii
Steven Bandy Illinois
Jane Krause Indiana
Richard Hartig Iowa
Robert Nyquist Kansas
Larry Stovall Kentucky
Lloyd Duplantis Louisiana
Kenneth McCall Maine
Butch Henderson Maryland
Paul Jeffrey Massachusetts
Derek Quinn Michigan
Jenny Houglum Minnesota
Robert Wilbanks Mississippi
Richard Logan Missouri
Gayle Hudgins Montana
Heather Mooney Nevada
Richard Crowe New Hampshire
Edward McGinley New Jersey
Amy Bachyrycz New Mexico
Benjamin Gruda New York
David Moody North Carolina
Kevin Oberlander North Dakota
Danny Bentley Ohio
Gordon Richards, Jr. Oklahoma
Ann Zweber Oregon
Thomas Mattei Pennsylvania
Deborah Newell Rhode Island
Sharm Steadman South Carolina
Renee Sutton South Dakota
Mac Wilhoit Tennessee
Jim Cousineau Texas
Marvin Orrock Utah
John Beckner Virginia
Gregory Hovander Washington
Terri Smith Moore Washington DC
David Flynn West Virginia
Brian Jensen Wisconsin
Randy Harrop Wyoming
The “Bowl of Hygeia”
The Bowl of Hygeia award program was originally developed by the A. H. Robins Company to recognize pharmacists across the nation for outstanding service to their communities. Selected through their respective professional pharmacy associations, each of these dedicated individuals has made uniquely personal contributions to a strong, healthy community. We offer our congratulations and thanks for their high example. The American Pharmacists Association Foundation, the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations and the state pharmacy associations have assumed responsibility for continuing this prestigious recognition program. All former recipients are encouraged to maintain their linkage to the Bowl of Hygeia by emailing current contact information to awards@naspa.us. The Bowl of Hygeia is on display in the APhA Awards Gallery located in Washington, DC.
17
Boehringer Ingelheim is proud to be the Premier Supporter of the Bowl of Hygeia program.
Feature Time for CMS to Take Decisive Action on MTM by Vivian Tahmasbi, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate 2017
In 2008, section 1115A of the Affordable Care act established the Innovation Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The purpose of the CMS Innovation Center is to identify, test and spread new ways to pay for and deliver better care and better health at reduced costs to those individuals who receive Medicare, Medicaid, or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits. The Innovation Center focuses its efforts on testing new services and evaluating results in order to advance best practices and promote continuous quality improvements. In keeping with this mission, the CMS Innovation Center commissioned a study of MTM Part D programs. The study, entitled Medication Therapy Management in Chronically Ill Populations: Final Report, investigated how Part D MTM programs in operation in 2010 affected Medicare beneficiaries’ adherence, quality of prescribing, resource utilization, and cost of hospital and emergency room (ER) care.1 A most important finding of the report was the identification of the common characteristics of the programs that demonstrated both improved health outcomes and cost effectiveness. Unfortunately, armed with this information and mandated to “spread” these models of care, CMS has decided to take a cautious approach and provide incentives to Part D plans to include these effective characteristics in their MTM programs in only 11 states beginning in 2017 and has left Medicaid programs untouched by these findings. Medication therapy management (MTM) is a service or group of services that optimize therapeutic outcomes for patients. Pharmacists provide medication therapy management to help patients get the best benefits from their medications by actively managing drug therapy and by identifying, preventing and resolving medication-related problems.6 Data from CMS as well as many trusted studies have shown that by allowing pharmacists to manage a patient’s medications, pharmacists are able to reduce costs, improve health, and provide better 18
outcomes for patients. In 2003, The Medicare Modernization Act established prescription drug benefits for patients ages 65 and older. Beginning in 2006, this act required that every Part D plan offer an MTM program in its benefit structure as a quality improvement feature. Plan sponsors must offer a minimum level of MTM services to each beneficiary who qualifies for enrollment including all of the following: interventions for both beneficiaries and prescribers, an annual comprehensive medication review (CMR) with written summaries, and quarterly targeted medication reviews (TMRs) with follow-up interventions when necessary.8 However, the Medication Modernization Act did not specify a set of standardized MTM program requirements for each Part D sponsor. This lack of standardization allowed Part D sponsors flexibility in designing and executing their own programs, and some sponsors merely adapted the MTM-like programs that had already been in place in their network pharmacies to satisfy CMS requirements.1 The lack of standardization also created clear differences in the types of services provided and outcomes. From the Final Report in 2013, CMS provided insight that the most important aspect of MTM is creating a relationship with the patient as well the patient’s physician. It has been proven that pharmacists that utilize CMR (Comprehensive Medication Review) have better outcomes for their patients.3 Below are specific examples provided by the MTM Final Report identifying the profile of an effective MTM program to include the following practices:1 • Establishing proactive and persistent CMR recruitment efforts. Beneficiaries who were not taking evidencemedications before enrolling into an MTM program had higher odds of uptake of evidence-based medications for CHF during the outcome period after they received MTM. Additionally, MTM was associated with increased odds of adherence to evidence-based medications for CHF within both PDPs and MA-PDS • Targeting and aggressively recruiting patients to complete a CMR based on information on medical events such as a recent hospital discharge in addition to scanning for the usual MTM eligibility criteria
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
• Coordinating care by utilizing trusted community relationships including networks of community pharmacists to recruit MTM eligible candidates, and utilizing existing working relationships between MTM providers (pharmacists) and prescribers to make recommendations and discuss identified problems for patients • Employing intensive patient education efforts aimed at addressing adherence barriers including a comprehensive understanding of the importance of each medication prescribed • Documenting the opportunities that were addressed with the patient for switching to generics or formulary alternatives • Improving drug adherence by providing a complete list of prescribed medicines • Addressing financial barriers to adherence such as high drug costs by potentially switching to generics or less expensive formulary alternatives • Documenting the quality and safety of prescribing as part of the MTM intervention record (e.g. ACEi/ARBs in CHF and diabetes, cardio-selective betablockers in CHF, drug-drug interactions, high-risk medications) • Conducting follow-up, documentation, and resolution of any identified drug safety issues • Using efficient communication methods to convey medication recommendations to prescribers including the use of e-prescribing and electronic medical records • Leveraging all available data sources (EHR, registries, claims data) to determine whether gaps in medical care are present including preventive care and maintenance care related to the patient’s specific medical conditions (e.g. HbA1c and screening for kidney damage in diabetes patients). An estimated 65% of the population is non-adherent to medications. Medication non-adherence accounted for 33 - 69% of all medication-related hospital admissions in the U.S. in 2000. 1.25 million medication errors occur annually, and approximately $17 billion of these costs are associated with preventable errors.7 MTM’s main goal is to provide patients affordable care with services that have been
proven to decrease adverse drug reactions, medication errors, costs, and increase patient adherence. Any patient taking medications is at risk of non-adherence and adverse drug reactions. MTM is a service that can be provided to any population with the goal of reducing medication errors and non adherence. By all accounts a well-designed MTM program is the cost saving solution to these issues. In recognition of this simple fact, and without prompting or direction from CMS, nine states make MTM available to their Medicaid beneficiaries. The outcomes have been impressive. Ohio, for example, introduced MTM services to their Medicaid Beneficiaries through CareSource, a nonprofit managed care company. CareSource began to offer face-to-face MTM services in 2012 to each of its 900,000 members. Total savings, including avoided hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and other unnecessary health care consumption, yielded a return on investment (ROI) of $4.40:$1. 5 Since 2008 Wisconsin has provided MTM as a benefit to Medicaid beneficiaries through a program run by the Wisconsin Pharmacy Quality Collaborative (WPQC). For those that have four or more chronic diseases, complex medication therapies, and transition of care patients, Wisconsin’s MTM program provides what they call “WPQC Level II comprehensive medication reviews (CMR),”4 which allows an in-depth look at patients who are deemed to be high risk as well as requires more face-to-face contact, and followups with both the patient and the provider. As the MTM final report stated CMR is the most beneficial aspect of MTM; CMR allows the pharmacists to review a patient as a whole and make better clinical judgements. From an article in PharmacyToday, Audra Kilburg, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist, said that the program has “really provided the incentive for pharmacists to dig in deeper in making sure patients stay as healthy as they can for as long as they can.” Kilburg also states Level II comprehensive medication reviews have allowed patients to spend “more time with the pharmacist without feeling rushed, and to ask the questions” that they might have been reluctant to ask in a busy pharmacy or physician’s office.”2 With this MTM model, WPQC has a 10:1 ROI. A telling fact that speaks to the efficacy of MTM is that no state has ceased or curtailed its MTM program. To the contrary several have expanded access to additional patients.
19
Feature
continued
MTM has also proven itself as a vital component of care for patients in transition of care. In the Clinical Study Post-discharge pharmacist medication reconciliation: impact on readmission rates and financial savings analysts conducted a study on the costs and impact on patients in transition of care that are placed in a MTM program. In 2010, clinical pharmacists were completing medication reconciliations for approximately 82 patients per week, a total of 4,280 patients for that calendar year saving $1,518,600 in readmission costs.
5. Collins S. https://www.pharmacist.com/many-happy-returnsohio-based-medicaid-plan-pays-pharmacists-mtm-saves-money. American Pharmacists Association. http://www.pharmacist. com/. Published May 2014. Accessed June 24, 2016.
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid is fully capable of providing the guidelines and incentives to make MTM programs efficient and cost effective. These guidelines need not be so prescriptive that they thwart innovation. However, instead of requiring Part D plans in all states to modify their MTM programs to adopt models that have been demonstrated effective, they are piloting incentives to only 11 states. Additionally, with nine states actively promoting MTM to their Medicaid patients and showing impressive savings, CMS has not taken steps to encourage the spread of the practice. It is time for CMS to utilize the information gathered by the Final Report and various studies of state programs and incentivize all Part D plans across the country and all state Medicaid programs to adopt effective models of MTM. The current go-slow by the CMS Innovation Center on MTM is at odds with its mandate to spread what works. Lawmakers, administration officials, healthcare advocates, and especially national and state pharmacists associations should be urging CMS to pick up the pace.
8. Jody L. Lounsbery et al., “Evaluation of Pharmacists’ Barriers to the Implementation of Medication Therapy Management Services,” Journal of the American Pharmacists Association 49 no. 1 (January 1, 2009): 51–58, doi:10.1331/JAPhA.2009.017158
References: 1. 2015 MTM Trends Report. OutcomesMTM. https://www. outcomesmtm.com/documents/2015mtmtrendsreport.pdf. Accessed June 24, 2016. 2. Buckley B. MTM covered by Medicaid, private payers in Wisconsin initiative. Pharmacy Today. https://www.pharmacytoday.org/. Published January 2015. Accessed June 24, 2016. 3. CMS.gov. 2014 Medicare Part D Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Programs. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/ prescription-drug-coverage/prescriptiondrugcovcontra/downloads/cy2014-mtm-fact-sheet.pdf. Accessed June 24, 2016. 4. CMS.gov. MTM Medication Therapy Management. https:// www.cms.gov/medicare/prescription-drug coverage/prescriptiondrugcovcontra/mtm.html
20
6. Isasi and E. Krofah F. National Governors Association. The Explanding Role of Pharmacists in a Transformed Health Care System. 2015;41(09). http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/nga/ files/pdf/2015/1501theexpandingroleofpharmacists.pdf. 7. Jessica Frank and Jim Gartner, “MTM Services for Managed Medicaid: Results, ROI, and Lessons Learned from One Large MCO” (paper presented at the PBMI Drug Benefit Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 4, 2014)
Pharmacy Marketing Group
Rx and the Law By: Don R. McGuire Jr., R.Ph, JD
This series, Pharmacy and the Law, is presented by Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company and your State Pharmacy Association through Pharmacy Marketing Group, Inc., a company dedicated to providing quality products and services to the pharmacy community.
Advocacy To paraphrase John Godfrey Saxe: laws are like sausages, it’s better not to see them being made. I am not an expert on sausages, but I would disagree with this comment with regards to laws. Even if we don’t get involved in the making of laws, we will be subject to them nonetheless. Pharmacists can ill afford to be impacted by laws drafted by those who know nothing about pharmacy. Unfortunately for many of us, lobbying is a word with very negative connotations. It projects images of under the table dealings and improper exchanges of cash. So how do we inform lawmakers of the impact of proposed laws on the practice of pharmacy? Through advocacy. Advocacy is simply the act of supporting a cause, an idea, or a proposed policy. Many state and national associations organize advocacy meetings for their members. While we can all do this individually, a group of concerned citizens visiting the lawmaker’s office together can certainly make a larger impact. The purpose of these visits is to educate the lawmaker and their staff on proposed laws that impact our profession. We might be in favor of a proposal, opposed to it or want to amend the language as presented. Lawmakers are serving because they want to make a positive difference in our society. However, they are not experts in every field. There is only one pharmacist, Buddy Carter of Georgia, in the 114th Congress. The other Senators and Representatives need pharmacists’ help to understand how proposals will affect pharmacy practice.
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
them to take. For pharmacists, the potential impact is not always direct. The impact may be on our patients; denying access, increasing costs, or creating hurdles to care. Of course, these indirect impacts will have impact on your pharmacy practice. Many times the true impact on patients is not readily apparent. Pharmacists can explain how a particular policy will make it more difficult for patients to get their medications. Don’t expect immediate action. It is always a pleasant surprise to get a commitment, but many times the materials that you provide are circulated in the office before decisions are made. Not all advocacy has to take place in Washington, D.C. or your state capital. Invite your lawmaker to visit your pharmacy while they are home in the district. Then they will get to see first-hand what you are doing for your patients, their constituents. You can also advise them about how proposed laws will impact your ability to provide these services. First-hand knowledge and stories of real impacts (not just theoretical ones) will have the most influence on the process. If pharmacists don’t educate lawmakers about the effects of the changes on their practices and their patients, who will? Don’t think of it as lobbying. We are really educating our lawmakers. Joining and participating in professional organizations is a good way to get started. In the end, the profession will benefit and ultimately, our patients will too.
SAVE THE DATE CPA Mid-Winter Conference Thursday, February 2, 2017 Aqua Turf, Southington CT 8 Live Credits
I have participated in advocacy meetings on both the state and national level. In my experience, the lawmakers and staffers are eager to hear how proposals will affect constituents in their districts. The meetings usually consist of an introduction, explanation of why you are there, what the real impact in their district will be, and what action you want 21
Pharmacy Marketing Group
Financial Forum Paying Attention to the Wrong Things Becomes All Too Easy
If you ever have the inkling to manage your investments on your own, that inkling is worth reconsidering. Do-it-yourself investment management is generally a bad idea for the retail investor for myriad reasons. Getting caught up in the moment. When you are watching your investments day to day, you can lose a sense of historical perspective – 2011 begins to seem like ancient history, let alone 2008. This is especially true in longstanding bull markets, in which investors are sometimes lulled into assuming that the big indexes will move in only one direction. Historically speaking, things have been so abnormal for so long that many investors – especially younger investors – cannot personally recall a time when things were different. If you are under 30, it is very possible you have invested without ever seeing the Federal Reserve raise interest rates. The last rate hike happened before there was an iPhone, before there was an Uber or an Airbnb. In addition to our country’s recent, exceptional monetary policy, we just saw a bull market go nearly four years without a correction. In fact, the recent correction disrupted what was shaping up as the most placid year in the history of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.1 Listening too closely to talking heads. The noise of Wall Street is never-ending, and can breed a kind of shortsightedness that may lead you to focus on the micro rather than the macro. As an example, the hot issue affecting a particular sector today may pale in comparison to the developments affecting it across the next ten years or the past ten years. Looking only to make money in the market. Wall Street represents the only avenue for potentially building your retirement savings or wealth. When you are caught up in the excitement of a rally, that truth may be obscured. You can build savings by spending less. You can receive “free money” from an employer willing to match your retirement plan contributions to some degree. You can grow a hobby into a business, or switch jobs or careers. Saving too little. For a DIY investor, the art of investing equals making money in the markets, not necessarily saving 22
continued
the money you have made. Subscribing to that mentality may dissuade you from saving as much as you should for retirement and other goals. Paying too little attention to taxes. A 10% return is less sweet if federal and state taxes claim 3% of it. This routinely occurs, however, because just as many DIY investors tend to play the market in one direction, they also have a tendency to skimp on playing defense. Tax management is an important factor in wealth retention. Failing to pay attention to your emergency fund. On average, an unemployed person stays jobless in the U.S. for more than six months. According to research compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the mean duration for U.S. unemployment was 28.4 weeks at the end of August. Consider also that the current U-6 “total” unemployment rate shows more than 10% of the country working less than a 40-hour week or not at all. So you may need more than six months of cash reserves. Most people do not have anywhere near that, and some DIY investors give scant attention to their cash position.2,3 Overreacting to a bad year. Sometimes the bears appear. Sometimes stocks do not rise 10% annually. Fortunately, you have more than one year in which to plan for retirement (and other goals). Your long-run retirement saving and investing approach – aided by compounding – matters more than what the market does during a particular 12 months. Dramatically altering your investment strategy in reaction to present conditions can backfire. Equating the economy with the market. They are not one and the same. In fact, there have been periods (think back to 2006-2007) when stocks hit historical peaks even when key indicators flashed recession signals. Focusing more on money than on the overall quality of life. Managing investments – or the entirety of a very complex financial life – on your own takes time. More time than many people want to devote, more time than many people initially assume. That kind of time investment can subtract from your quality of life – another reason to turn to other resources for help and insight. Citations. 1 - cnbc.com/2015/09/10/this-market-is-setting-a-wild-volatility-record.html [9/10/15] 2 - research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/UEMPMEAN [9/4/15] 3 - research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/U6RATE/ [9/4/15]
From the Colleges
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy New Website Connects Mental Health Patients and Pharmacists By Kristen Cole, UConn Communications Identifying pharmacies that provide mental health services is important for patient treatment and now there is a way to do that online. The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) Foundation recently launched a website with a searchable directory of more than 850 mental health pharmacies. “Individuals with mental health conditions should expect to engage a community pharmacist when needed in order to best understand their medications and how to get the greatest benefit from them,” says Professor Charles Carey UConn School of Pharmacy Clinical Professor Charles Caley, who led the project as the CPNP Foundation’s president. Consumers can search the Mental Health Pharmacy Directory to find a participating pharmacy in their area and see a list of services that the pharmacy provides. The CPNP Foundation defines a mental health pharmacy as one that meets a number of criteria, including providing on-site assistance and education about psychiatric medications; communicating with mental health care providers to resolve medication-related problems; dispensing special mental health medications such as clozapine or longacting injectable antipsychotics; and motivating adherence by providing patients with individualized medication reminder packages, devices, or delivery schedules. An estimated 1 in 5 adults in the United States will experience mental illness during the course of a year, according to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Nearly half of all adults
in the U.S. will develop at least one mental illness during their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mental health pharmacy website was developed in response to a national survey of individuals with mental illness who were asked about their experiences with pharmacists. Approximately 75 percent of those surveyed reported that they seldom or never received assistance from their pharmacist in monitoring the effectiveness or safety of their medication. The greatest concern raised by 58 percent of the respondents was the lack of private space in the pharmacy for an individual to discuss a medication issue with the pharmacist. “The realities of high prescription volumes and busy, nonprivate environments makes it difficult for many individuals to access the knowledge, skill and support of pharmacists,” says Caley. “Active support can lead to better treatment outcomes.” The CPNP Foundation focuses on the needs of individuals living with psychiatric and neurologic disorders, their families, and health professionals in general practice to further evidence-based treatment.
In Memorium Amy C. Anderson, professor of medicinal chemistry and head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the UConn School of Pharmacy, died July 17 at UConn Health John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington. She was 47. Amy was born in Worcester, Mass. and raised in Westborough and Princeton, Mass. She received a BS in the life sciences from MIT, a Ph.D. in biophysics from Harvard, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California-San Francisco. Anderson was a brilliant scientist who used structural biology to study the shapes of protein molecules to guide drug design. She published more than 80 research papers and was an 23
From the Colleges
continued
inventor on several patents. Her career was dedicated to the treatment of drugresistant pathogens, especially the socalled “superbugs,” such as K. pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. She and her Amy C. Anderson husband, UConn professor Dennis Wright, worked closely together for more than a decade with a team of outstanding students to develop a new class of experimental antibiotics to treat these i nfections. Her work has also helped explain how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. Anderson developed a mathematical algorithm to help scientists identify drug resistant mutations and to synthesize a compounds that can overcome the resistance. Her many honors included the Connecticut Technology Council’s Woman of Innovation in Research award and the UConn Provost’s Special Achievement Award. She was recently elected to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering. In 2015, she was included in the list of 100 Inspiring Women of STEM in Insight into Diversity magazine. She chaired the Gordon Research Conference on Drug Resistance and was a member of the NIH study section on Drug Discovery and Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance. Anderson was also a dedicated and effective educator in the classroom and in the laboratory. She was an inspiring mentor and an outstanding role model for young women in science. Two of her mentees were honored by the Connecticut Technology Council as Women of Innovation. Anderson was interested in science from a very young age, and she credits her parents for helping to get her first job in science. They introduced her to a biochemistry professor who directed a laboratory and provided her first exposure 24
to research. While collaborating on antibiotic research at Dartmouth College, Amy met the love of her life, Dennis Wright. In 2005, they married and moved to Storrs, where they embarked on their teaching careers at UConn and became parents of two boys. She was a fabulous baker, often baking muffins with her sons Evan and Dean and using a rolling pin made by her father, Doug Anderson, and her grandmother’s breadboard. She particularly enjoyed cooking exotic spicy Indian and Thai dishes. She was a gifted classical and blues pianist and took great joy in teaching piano to her children. One of her most beloved times was reading stories with her boys at bedtime each night. She loved family vacations and looked forward to her annual pilgrimage and retreat to North Truro on Cape Cod. Last year, she fulfilled her longtime dream of vacationing with her family at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. She was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend and will be remembered for her tenacious and optimistic nature. Anderson is survived by her husband Dennis L. Wright and their sons, Evan Bailey and Dean Stanton Wright; her parents, Douglas and Joyce Anderson; her brother, Mark Anderson, and his wife, Jennifer, and their children; aunts, uncles, and cousins; and her cat, “Sam.” The Professor Amy Christine Anderson fund has been established by the family and friends of Amy in her memory. The fund will support students enrolled in the University of Connecticut’s School of Pharmacy who demonstrated academic merit and scholarly activity. Those wishing to honor Amy in this way may contribute at: https://uconn.givecorps. com/causes/5258-professor-amy-christine-anderson-awardfund.
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Boston Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Dear Colleagues, On behalf of President Charles Monahan and Provost George Humphrey, I bring you greetings from the School of Pharmacy Boston at MCPHS University. I trust you are all well and are enjoying the New England fall weather. The new academic year is well underway and our many highly motivated students, both new and returning, have again populated the Longwood Medical area. I would like to share some recent updates and accomplishments with you involving our faculty and students. Paul DiFrancesco Dean of Pharmacy
New Faculty Dr. Swati Betharia is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology. She received her PhD in Pharmacology from MCPHS University (Boston) after which she held a faculty position at Manchester University College of Pharmacy in Indiana before returning here. Dr. Greg Landry is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology. He received his PhD in Toxicology from Louisiana State University, and comes to us from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Minnesota where he has been a post-doctoral fellow for the past 2 years. Dr. Roseann Gammal is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a clinical specialist in pediatrics and pharmacogenomics. She is currently developing a new pediatric ambulatory care practice with Yogman Pediatric Associates in Cambridge. She graduated from MCPHSWorcester and first completed a Residency at the University of North Carolina, then a Pharmacogenetics Residency at St.
Faculty Awards Associate Professor Joseph Ferullo was recently awarded the MPhA Cardinal Health Generation Rx Champions Award at the Massachusetts Pharmacist Association Annual Banquet. The Cardinal Health Generation Rx Champions Award recognizes a pharmacist who has demonstrated excellence in communitybased prescription drug abuse prevention. Professor Ferullo’s accomplishments and work in the area of opioid abuse prevention were highlighted including his involvement in the creation of an educational program for about 300 pharmacy students.
Preceptor Activity With over 180 preceptors in attendance, MCPHS University held the Annual Preceptor Appreciation Seminar at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, MA in September. The preceptors benefitted from a day of learning, networking and sharing ideas with their colleagues. Awards were presented to three preceptors for their outstanding achievement in teaching students. The program offered five hours of CE credit, including panels on Best Practices in Medication Safety and Cultural Diversity, in addition to Pharmacy Law and updates in Experiential Education.
Accomplishments of Students and Recent Graduates Each year the MCPHS – SOP Boston students create an innovative business plan to solve problems in the healthcare field. During this time, students learn team building, time management and organizational skills as well as enhancing their knowledge of business management and entrepreneurship. This project focuses on key concepts that prepare our students for success as future pharmacists. At the end of the year-long project, the teams are judged by professionals in the healthcare field to determine the most well-designed business plan.
25
From the Colleges
continued
This past year’s first place winners, Shivani Shah and Simran Bimrah, have created AskMolly, an interactive drug database. They presented their idea at the Annual Beantown Throwdown on September 28 as part of Hubweek. This is a highly competitive competition and it was exciting to see MCPHS - SOP students competing for the first time against students from 11 other prominent Boston colleges such as Harvard, MIT, BC, and BU. Allison Burns, a 2015 graduate, will be inducted in the 2016 Boston Business Journal’s 40-Under-40 for her creation of “End Mass Overdose” an official Massachusetts 501(C) nonprofit organization.
The student chapter of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) hosted an event with the Massachusetts chapter of the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill (NAMI). During this event, two NAMI members came to the campus and spoke to approximately 70 students from all years in the pharmacy program about their personal experiences living with mental illness.
MCPHS - SOP Business Plan Winners Shivani Shaah and Simran Bimrah
Students learned what mental illnesses can look like -beyond what they might read in a textbook. This program was also highlighted in the September 2016 issue of The CPNP Perspective, the monthly newsletter for CPNP. The student chapter plans to continue providing this program on an annual basis on campus, with the goal of reaching more pharmacy students and decreasing the stigma of mental illness.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Worcester/ Manchester Dear Colleagues, It was a pleasure to welcome 256 Worcester and 59 Manchester students in the SOP-W/M Class of 2019 with a White Coat ceremony on September 2. The class of 2018 will be completing their IPPE rotations soon and we look forward to welcoming them back to campus at the end of October. The class of 2017 has completed one APPE rotation – only 5 more to go! The SOP-W/M faculty and staff continually strive to improve our PharmD curriculum to align with our mission of 26
preparing competent and compassionate pharmacists, capable of providing contemporary pharmacy care to patients in various practice areas and in collaboration with other healthcare providers. Starting in the fall 2016 semester, SOPW/M launched a revised and realigned curriculum that meets the complex and ever changing world of pharmacy practice. I look forward to working with each of our students as they continue and complete their academic journey in the profession of pharmacy. Best wishes for a successful fall semester to all. Sincerely, Anna K. Morin, PharmD Interim Dean and Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
ASHP Clincial Skills Competition
Faculty Podium Presentations
Congratulations to Michael Hoang and Mehrnaz Sadrolashrafi, both in the Class of 2017, who won the SOPW/M ASHP Clinical Skills Competition! Several teams of students from Worcester and Manchester entered the competition which was held on September 27. Michael and Mehrnaz will represent the MCPHS University SOP-W/M in the national competition which will be held at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in December which will be held in Las Vegas, NV.
Timothy Aungst, JP Bratberg and JJ Cain presented a workshop at the AACP Annual Meeting in Anaheim, CA (July 2016) titled “Technology in pharmacy education and learning SIG: Emerging technologies”.
Faculty Awards and Recognitions Valerie Coppenrath was recognized as the Faculty Preceptor of the Year for the MCPHS Biopharmaceutical Fellowship Program at the June 10, 2016 MCPHS Biopharmaceutical Fellowship Graduation Ceremony. Linda M. Spooner has been elected as the Chair (2017-2018) of the ASHP Section of Inpatient Care Practitioners. Linda M. Spooner
Chase Smith and Tamsin Mansley were awarded a travel grant to give a podium and poster presentation titled “Modern cheminformatics tools in the teaching laboratory: A practical exercise simulating a drug discovery project” at the American Chemical Society Meeting in Philadelphia, PA (August 2016). The travel grant sponsor was Optibrium, Ltd. Karyn Sullivan presented a workshop at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists National Pharmacy Preceptor Conference in Washington, DC (August 2016) titled: “The sooner the better: applying a novel assessment tool early on advanced rotations.” This workshop was presented with Paul Milligan from BJC Healthcare in St. Louis, Missouri and Sarah Howard (a 2015 MCPHS SOP-W/M graduate) who is completing Karyn Sullivan her PGY2 residency at the VA in Lewiston, ME.
Faculty Publications Goldsmith C, Abel C, Yu S. A pilot workshop to help refugees navigate the US pharmacy system. J Am Assoc 2016;Jul-Aug 56(4):361-466. Alkholief M, Campbell R. Investing the role of mucin in the delivery of nanoparticles to cellular models of human cancer disease: an in vitro study. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2016;12:1291-1302. Gardner A, Lahoz MR, Bond I, Levin L. Assessing the effectiveness of an evidence-based practice pharmacology course using the Fresno Test. Am J Pharm Edu 2016;80(7):Article 123.
Faculty Grants The MCPHS University Faculty Development Grants have been awarded for 2016/17. The Faculty Development Committee for Worcester/Manchester awarded three grants. The MCPHS University Faculty Development Grant Program is intended to support pilot projects that will enable the investigator to obtain a presentation/publication at a professional conference or refereed publication and support the faculty in his/her pursuit of obtaining extramural funding for further research and scholarship in their discipline.
27
From the Colleges
continued
• Aimee Dietle and Michael Bear – awarded an MCPHS Faculty Development Grant titled: “Diabetes Under Control Program.” Grant amount: $1,635 • Carroll-Ann Goldsmith and Mimi Mukherjee – awarded an MCPHS Faculty Development Grant titled: “Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Interprofessional Education Initiative.” Grant amount: $2,900. • Paul Kaplita – awarded an MCPHS Faculty Development Grant Titled: “Evaluating in Vitro Brain Penetration Properties of Selected Nootropic Supplements.” Grant amount: $3,690 • Helen Pervanas and Jennifer Towle - grant funding to embed Screening/Brief Intervention/Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and Interprofessional (IPE) training in the pharmacy curriculum. NH Area Health Education Center and several academic partners received funding from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Administration (SAMSHA). Funding period September 2016-September 2017. Grant amount: $10,000.
Faculty Poster Presentations Morrill AM, Abel CA., Increasing electronic cigarette awareness amongst teens: community education by advanced pharmacy practice experience students. AACP Annual Meeting Anaheim, CA July 2016. Donovan JL, Abel C, Comee M, Dunican KC, Horton ER, Morin AK, Morrill AM. Impact of an Interprofessional Education Curriculum on Pharmacy Students in an Accelerated School of Pharmacy. AACP Annual Meeting Anaheim, CA July 2016. Mukherjee M, Kanaan A, Yogaratnam D, Durand CR, Willett KC, Jarvis CI, Donovan JL, Morin AK, Belliveau PP, Malloy MJ. Sequential Remediation in a Pharmacotherapeutics Course Series. AACP Annual Meeting Anaheim, CA July 2016. Jehle G, Bonaceto K, Carace N. Interviewing Impact: An Assessment of Personal & Professional Development during Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). AACP Annual Meeting Anaheim, CA July 2016. 28
Faculty Promotions Dr. George Acquaah-Mensah – Promoted to Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dr. Donna Bartlett – Promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Kara Bonaceto – Promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Nicole Carace – Promoted to Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Katherine Carey – Promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Paula Evans – Promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Alice Gardner – Promoted to Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology Dr. Abir Kanaan – Promoted to Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Ann Lynch – Promoted to Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Sheila Seed – Promoted to Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Karyn Sullivan – Promoted to Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
Northeastern University Message from the Dean Greetings from Northeastern! Another summer has flown by, almost as fast as a Rich Porcello fastball or a Tom Brady touchdown pass! And while Boston made the transition from summer to fall, our students, faculty and staff at Northeastern continued to make amazing discoveries and serve our patients and communities. Please take a few moments to learn more about what we are discovering and learning at the School of Pharmacy, and all of the great people who make it happen. And while you’re at it, please drop by campus, either to see our Huskies defend their Hockey East championship, or to stop by the School of Pharmacy and say hello! We’d love to hear from you! David P. Zgarrick, PhD, FAPhA Acting Dean and Professor
Faculty News and Updates Welcome Diomedes Logothetis Diomedes Logothetis Diomedes Logothetis, PhD was recently appointed as the new Department Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences. His mission is to advance Northeastern’s standing as a go-to institution for academic researchers interested in drug discovery. Dr. Logothetis previously served as chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine before coming to Northeastern. However, Dr. Logothetis is a Husky at heart, as he received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Northeastern in 1980 and his master’s degree in psychology in 1981. “My graduate training introduced me to the complex but fascinating world of molecular mechanisms of regulation of protein function”, says Logothetis, “NEU’s lead in coopera-
tive education and Boston’s lead in the biotech sector offer exciting opportunities…that could facilitate the process from discovery to application. With an emphasis on targeting membrane proteins I aspire not only to continue my three lines of research interests but also to stimulate a unique environment through Pharmaceutical Sciences, where significant advances toward solving important health challenges can be achieved.” DiVall Recently Featured in AJPE Publication Margarita DiVall, PharmD, co-authored a viewpoint on academic dishonesty in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. The viewpoint reviewed some of the possible contributors as to why students cheat and the challenges that faculty face when dealing with academic misconduct. The paper emphasizes the importance of upholding high ethical standards among future pharmacists, offers some suggestions for how schools and colleges of pharmacy can implement measures to prevent cheating and how to decisively deal with it when it takes place. Health Policy: EpiPens School of Pharmacy faculty members Tayla Rose, PharmD, and Steve Pizer, PhD, along with health policy researcher Gary Young, JD, PhD, were recently featured in News at Northeastern where they discussed the drastic increase in cost of the Mylan EpiPen – one of the few available medical reliefs for people with severe allergic reactions – and how the price hike will affect the economics of both the healthcare system and healthcare policy. “The EpiPen is just the most recent and visible example of certain drug companies taking advantage of the way FDA review can delay entry of new competitors into specific drug markets. These practices do not promote innovation, and we all pay for the resulting monopoly profits in our taxes and insurance premiums.” – Steve Pizer Steve Pizer spoke further about the EpiPen on “Greater Boston,” WGBH News on August 1st, 2016.
29
From the Colleges
continued
Health Policy: The Opioid Crisis On June 30th, 2016, Todd Brown, RPh, MHP, Vice Chairman of the Department of Pharmacy and Health Systems Sciences, was appointed to a special opioid commission by Governor Charlie Baker. The Special Commission is tasked with developing recommendations to ensure future prescribers have an understanding of certain fundamental issues relative to the opioid epidemic, including pain treatment, pain treatment planning, safe prescribing practices and prescription monitoring. Clinical Research Update A number faculty and students from the Department of Pharmacy and Health Systems Sciences attended the ACCP annual meeting in late October, where they presented their research. • Department Chair Michael Gonyeau, PharmD, and P4 student Anthony Zaki presented their poster entitled,”Retrospective analysis assessing the relationship between health literacy and medication adherence.” • Dr. Gonyeau, faculty member Stephanie Sibicky, PharmD and P4 students, Patrick Landayan, Alison Lew, Alice Margulis, and Nicholas Quinn, presented their research on “Accuracy of hospitalized patients’ height and weight documentation and impact on drug dosing;” • Doctor Gonyeau and Director of Assessment Margarita DiVall, PharmD along with P4 student Francesca Napolitano presented their research entitled, “Do faculty and residents grade differently? Evaluation of grades in a therapeutics seminar course series.” • Brandon Dionne, PharmD joined the Department of Pharmacy and Health Systems Sciences as an Assistant Clinical Professor in August. Dr. Dionne is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine and received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of New England. He completed PGY1 and PGY2 residencies with the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, and was an Assistant Professor with Midwestern University College of Pharmacy – Glendale prior to joining Northeastern. Dr. Dionne 30
Todd Brown, RPh, MHP is appointed to a Special Commission by Governor Charlie Baker.
specializes in infectious disease and has a practice site at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Please welcome Dr. Dionne to Northeastern! • Faculty members Tayla Rose, Danielle Miller, Mike Conley, have recently earned their Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) credentials by passing the BPS Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Exam. Ambulatory Care Pharmacy addresses the provision of integrated, accessible healthcare services for ambulatory patients in a wide variety of settings, including community pharmacies, clinics and physician offices. • In the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dr. Ganesh Thakur was promoted to Associate Professor, and Dr. Heather Clark was promoted to Professor.
Student News P1 Northeastern University PharmD student, Katherine Alfond, was recently selected to serve as the 2017 RxIMPACT Student Ambassador for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS). As a participant in RxIMPACT day on Capitol Hill in 2016, Katherine maintained a blog describing her experiences in helping push pro-pharmacy legislation into law. Her insights and demonstrated passion earned her the honor of serving NACDS as an ambassador where she hopes to inspire other student-pharmacists to become actively involved in current policy issues. Katherine has been invited to attend as a speaker at the 2017 NACDS RxIMPACT U Academy and related program activities on March 14-15, 2017.
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
Student recognized by Organ Donor Awareness Challenge For the first time, students from the Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences School of Pharmacy participated in the Organ Donation Awareness Challenge set forth by the American Society of Transplantation. Under the guidance of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Pharmacy transplant specialists Dr. Christin Rogers and Dr. Katelyn Richards, a group of fifteen pharmacy students began brainstorming at the beginning of February. Together, they organized several new and exciting events throughout March and April to raise awareness and clarify common misconceptions surrounding organ donation. Kayla Joyal, P3, was one of twelve project and activity projects submitted for the 2016 Organ Donation Award. She was chosen by the AST Transplant Pharmacy Community of Practice Organ Donation Workgroup for the 2016 New Participant Award. Kayla received her certificate at the AST meeting this past July in Boston.
Kayla Joyal
Health Fair Celebrates 10 years!
The 10th Annual Bouvé College Health Fair
On October 5th Northeastern hosted its 10th Annual Bouvé College Health Fair and Flu Clinic, where students, faculty, and staff received free flu shots and accessed a range of other health screenings, information and resources. The health fair is hosted by the university chapter of pharmacy fraternity Phi Delta Chi, which is led by faculty member, Mark Douglass, PharmD. In collaboration with the School of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, and the Physician Assistant program, as well as other student groups and University Health and Counseling Services, organizers had more than 3,000 flu shot vaccines to distribute to the community -- the most in the event’s history.
31
From the Colleges
continued
University of New England UNE Alumna Brooke Cowles Joins the College of Pharmacy’s PGY-1 Program Brooke Cowles, Pharm.D. ’16, has joined UNE’s College of Pharmacy as a PGY-1 resident. Cowles matriculated into UNE’s pre-pharmacy program and graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May 2016. Brooke Cowles At UNE, she was named to the Dean’s list from 2012 to 2016 and was inducted into the Rho Chi Academic Honor Society. As a student, Cowles had leadership roles in student professional organizations serving as treasurer and philanthropic chair of the college’s Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity chapter and patient care vice president of the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter. These accomplishments were recognized through induction into the National Pharmacy Leadership Society, Phi Lambda Sigma, in 2014. Cowles also brings extensive pharmacy work experience to the residency program. She worked for Holland’s Variety Drug in Skowhegan, Maine, as a pharmacy technician from 2009 to 2012 and then at Rite Aid Pharmacy in both Gardiner and Gray, Maine, from 2012 to 2016. “Brooke has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to balance academics, service leadership and work responsibilities,” said Kenneth McCall, B.S.Pharm, Pharm.D., CGP, associate professor and residency director in the College of Pharmacy. “We are very fortunate to have her join us in the residency program.”
University of Granada Students Arrive at UNE College of Pharmacy as Part of Exchange Program Eight students from the University of Granada in Spain recently arrived in Portland as part of a College of Pharmacy cultural exchange program. Their arrival was preceded by a six-week visit to the University of Granada made by ten UNE pharmacy students in May and June. The Spanish pharmacy students will spend four weeks on the Portland Campus learning about United States pharmacy practices and health care systems and visiting Maine sites related to pharmacy, such as Apothecary by Design, Coastal Pharmacy, Hannaford corporate office, Hannaford Supermarket Pharmacy on Forest Avenue, Mercy Hospital, Maine Medical Center, Waltz Longterm Care Pharmacy, Central Maine Medical Center, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens Pharmacy, Sam’s Club Pharmacy and Shaw’s Supermarket Pharmacy. They will also travel to Boston to visit Biogen and Genzyme. The UNE students who traveled to Spain lived with host families and spent the first two weeks of their stay completing an intensive Spanish language study at the University of Granada Modern Language Centre. They then spent four weeks taking pharmacy courses, attending lectures and visiting places such as community and hospital pharmacies, a pharmaceutical distribution company and the Andalusian Public Health Center. The exchange program is designed to expose pharmacy students to the differences between European and United States health care policies and to raise awareness about the impact of culture on health care decisions and policy making. The program is part of UNE’s goal to graduate students who are competent global citizens with knowledge of the world’s cultures. “These eight Spanish students will be a tremendous resource to UNE’s own pharmacy students and faculty,” commented Anouar Majid, UNE’s vice-president for Global Affairs. “They will enrich our university culture and be an asset to the Portland community. Our own students come back with rich experiences when they go to Spain, Thailand and elsewhere.”
32
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
UNE students who participated in the exchange were Ryan Dang, Morgan Harper, Daisy Jacquez, Connor Kalin, Brandon Kong, Trinh Le, Van Le, Finch McKinney, Jelinna Rances and Linh Tran.
College of Pharmacy Alumna Heather Stewart Presents at National Drug Monitoring Conference Heather Stewart, Pharm.D. ’14, spoke at the Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) National Meeting on August 17, 2016. Stewart, who is a pharmacy manager at Walgreens in Portland, presented “Multi-State Medication Take Back Initiative: Inside our Medicine Cabinets.” Hosted by the PDMP Training and Technical Assistance Center at Brandeis University and the Bureau of Justice in Washington, D.C, this event explored the latest topics and areas of concern in prescription drug monitoring.
Jessica Bates Named to New Shared Faculty Position in the College of Pharmacy Jessica Bates, Pharm.D., has joined UNE’s College of Pharmacy as a clinical assistant professor in a new shared faculty role. A native of Maine, Bates received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Jessica Bates Husson University in 2015, and then completed a PGY1 residency in community pharmacy at Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) in Bangor. As the College’s first shared faculty member, Bates will spend much of her time at PCHC’s Bangor location, where she will provide clinical services in a variety of specialties including anticoagulation, diabetes, and controlled substance stewardship. She will continue her work related to controlled substance and will be involved in PCHC’s ongoing efforts related to collaborative drug therapy management. Bates will also be providing both experiential and didactic teaching, as
well as academic service at the College of Pharmacy.
Pharmacy Students Ian Macomber and Ashley Chace selected as scholarship recipients by the MPA Chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, Ian Macomber (COP, ’19) and Ashley Chace (COP, ’18) have been awarded scholarships by the Maine Pharmacy Association (MPA). Chace and Macomber were formally recognized at the MPA Fall Convention on September 10. An active participant in student professional organizations, Macomber attended the 2016 American Pharmacists Association (APhA) annual meeting. He was selected among national applicants to attend the June 2016 APhA Institute on Drug Dependency and Alcoholism in Salt Lake. Macomber has also worked at Walgreens Pharmacy. Chace, who completed her pre-pharmacy studies at UNE, has been previously recognized for her academic excellence through induction into Rho Chi. She has also been inducted into Phi Lambda Sigma for her service leadership accomplishments. In addition to her academic career, Ashley works at Rite Aid Pharmacy.
Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity Names UNE’s Chapter as a Top Performer Delta Chi, the College of Pharmacy’s chapter of the Kappa Psi professional pharmacy fraternity, has been recognized as a top-performing chapter. Kappa Psi evaluates each chapter annually, awarding points for activities such as participation in pharmacy associations and involvement in social and professional activities. Chapters must successfully attain 85% of the points available to be named as a top performer, while going above and beyond the expected activities of the chapter. Matthew Lacroix, Pharm.D., BCPS, MMEL ‘16, assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy and Grand Council Deputy/faculty advisor of Delta Chi, noted that UNE’s chapter has greatly increased its community outreach and philanthropic giving over the past year. In the coming year, Delta Chi plans to increase the chapter awards program and prepare to attend the biennial Grand Council Convention national meeting. 33
From the Colleges
continued
UNE Community Partnership Helps Prevent Falls for Aging Mainers With help from University of New England students, faculty and Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA), older adults in York and Westbrook, Maine recently participated in two separate “Balance and Strength Screening” events. Participants received checks of balance, strength, and blood pressure, reviews of their medications and connections to the community-based falls prevention workshop “A Matter UNE at SMAA
WCSH Reports on UNE Professor’s Breast Cancer Detection Marker Srinidi Mohan, Ph.D., assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, was interviewed by WCSH about his innovative advancement in the field of breast cancer research. Mohan has developed an early detection and disease monitoring method, which uses markers in the blood to detect the presence of tumors and help track cancer growth.
of Balance.” UNE team members included Nursing students, Doctor of Physical Therapy students, Pharmacy students, Assistant Professor Donna Hyde, MSN/Ed., R.N., MGSF, Associate Professor Jim Cavanaugh, P.T., Ph.D., and Assistant Clinical Professors Joel Coon, Pharm.D., and Jim Krebs Pharm.D. The efforts were part of SMAA efforts to reduce falls in the State of Maine and highlighted on the September 22, 2016 National Fall Prevention Awareness Day sponsored by the National Council on Aging.
Mohan found the marker, Nw-hydroxy-L-Arginine (NOHA), to be a sensitive and reliable indicator for estrogen receptornegative (ER–) tumors. ER– tumors are more aggressive and difficult to treat than ER-positive tumors. They also have greater ethnic disparity concerns and a worse prognosis, with almost twice the risk of mortality. Over a long term period, Mohan and his colleagues will test NOHA as an indicator for other basal-like solid tumor subtypes. Eventually, NOHA could be used to monitor disease induction and therapy outcome in responsive subgroups, and would be also beneficial in preventing unnecessary exposure of unresponsive patients to ineffective therapy. Watch the interview
34
Srinidi Mohan, PhD
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
College of Pharmacy Professor Presents at Annual Conference for School Nurses Christian Teter, Pharm.D., BCPP, associate professor of Psychopharmacology spoke at the 33rd Annual School Nurses Conference, hosted by Saint Anselm College. Presenting as one of eight distinguished faculty members from across New England, Teter gave a talk titled “Medical Marijuana: Impact on Our Students.” The conference focused on “Challenges and Changes in Today’s School Nursing” and included sessions on topics ranging from the neurobiology of trauma and its impact on children to rejuvenation and relaxation techniques for students and staff.
UNE Pharmacy Students Develop Interprofessional, Outreach-Focused Neuroscience in Health Professions Club Recognizing the need for a student-based organization dedicated to community outreach and substance abuse education, Emily Reed (COP ’17), Brittany Sorbello (COP ’17) and Ashley Chace (COP ’18) have developed the Neuroscience in Health Professions Club (NHPC) on the Portland Campus. Sorbello, Chace and Reed created the club as a way to provide the public with information about the science behind addiction and mental illness, while addressing misconceptions and creating open dialog. As president of the organization, Chace is working to build connections between health professions students, establishing a group skilled in team-based service. In turn, Sorbello and Chace hope that the group will serve as an educational tool for UNE students, helping to equip them with the skills needed to provide compassionate care. “The extensive work of developing and leading a group of people will, without a doubt, be worth it as long as it makes a difference to a single individual,” said Chace.
Christian Teter, PharmD, BCPP
Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You - Keep Track of Earned CE Credits Before December 31st The easiest way to check your CPE Monitor is to log onto the NABP website by clicking below. You will be asked for your email and your password, which will then bring you to your dashboard. Click on the CPE Monitor box on the left column and then scroll toward the bottom where you will see the list of CE credits in chronological order. If you so choose, you may also print a hard copy from your list. You can choose “Print Transcript of CPE Activity” on this page by using the date selection range – for example choose January 1, 2016 – October 28, 2016 to see what you have to date. ALL CE suppliers should be loading your credit but if they don’t have your e-profile and DOB on file, that may not be happening.
Click here to log in to the CPE Monitor 35
From the Colleges
continued
Western New England University College of Pharmacy
Message from the Dean
All my best! Greetings from Western New England University College of Pharmacy! May of 2016 saw us graduate our second class of the College of Pharmacy, the Class of
2016. Graduating two classes of alumni is exciting and how often in the history of a College can you say you doubled your alumni base! We did just that! But we are still new, still evolving, and still growing and to that end we have much to accomplish in the years to some. As you read about the great things we’ve accomplished over this past year, I wanted to draw attention to the contributions of our faculty. Some highlights from last year include 54 peerreviewed manuscripts, eight non-peer reviewed manuscripts, 41 published abstracts, 48 poster presentations, four patents pending, and 14 external grants totaling over $740,000. Overall it was a productive year! As we welcome the Class of 2020 and I reflect back on the eight years I have been at Western New England University, I am reminded that no matter how far we’ve come, we are still on the beginning of a collective journey that has many twists, turns, and exciting opportunities ahead of us. Ralph Waldo Emerson was quoted as saying “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” To date we have blazed a trail of collective success, a trend to continue! When you seek to blaze a trail you work towards a point and use your compass to guide you forward. Knowing your direction and leaving a trail is good, but it is better to know what to do when obstacles or items arise to cause you to rethink your path forward all the while knowing that your end point, your final destination, remains unchanged. I look forward to hearing from you and please keep up with our activities by visiting www.wne.edu/pharmacy. 36
Evan Robinson Dean and Associate Provost
Faculty Accomplishments Research and Publications David Baker, associate professor of pharmacy administration, published, with pharmacy student Uyen Nguyen ’16, “Cyclical History of U.S. Pharmacy School Openings and Closings” in the History of Pharmacy SIG Newsletter: Pharmacy Chronicles: Past, Present, and Future (2015: Spring, 2: 4-5). Dr. Baker also published “Teaching Pearls: An Exercise to Engage Students in the History of Pharmacy” in the same issue (pp. 12). Matthew Dintzner, assistant dean for assessment and accreditation, authored an invited book chapter titled “Montmorillonite Clays as Heterogeneous Catalysts for Organic Reactions” in Catalysis for Sustainability (2015: New York: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group; pp. 137-147). Dr. Dintzner also coauthored a white paper entitled “Are you CAPE-A.B.L.E.? Assessment Blueprint for Learning Experiences” with J. Sousa, M. Fulford, et al., published on the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s website (Washington, DC: AACP; 2014 Nov 18 [cited 2015 October 7]). Daniel Kennedy, associate professor of pharmacology, published with pharmacy alumnae Christine Galinski ’15 and J. Zwicker, “Revisiting the Mechanistic Basis of the French Paradox: Red Wine Inhibits the Activity of Protein Disulfide Isomerase” in in vitro, Thrombosis Research (2016: 137, 1: pp. 169-173). Dr. Kennedy also published with D. Ginsburg, pharmacy alumnus Nathan Harnois ’15 and Joshua Spooner, assistant dean for student affairs, “The Role and Responsibilities of Pharmacy Student Government Associations in Pharmacy Programs” in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (2015 Sept 25: 79, 7: Article 100). Clinton Mathias, associate professor of pharmacology, published with Shannon Kinney, assistant professor of
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
pharmacology, L. Carlson, J. Ser-Dolansky, S. Shah, G. Gambrah, C. Thompson, W. Xing, and S. Schneider, “Curcumin Ingestion Inhibits Mastocytosis and Suppresses Intestinal Anaphylaxis in a Murine Model of Food Allergy” in PLoS One (2015: Jul 6; 10: 7, e0132467). Dr. Mathias also published “A Learner-Led, Discussion-based Elective on Emerging Infectious Disease” in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (2015: 79, 6: Article 81). Ronny Priefer, professor of medicinal chemistry, published an article titled “Cubane: 50 Years Later” with K. Biegasiewicz, J. Griffiths, G. P. Savage, and J. Tsanaktsidis, in Chemical Reviews (2015: 115, 14: pp. 6719-6745). Dr. Priefer also published “Acid–base Equilibria of Multilayered Pseudopolyelectrolytes,” with pharmacy student Ayeisca Mateo, in Applied Surface Science (2015: 356, pp. 1229-1233). Jilla Sabeti, assistant professor of pharmacology, coauthored an abstract titled “Adolescent Alcohol Exposure Influences Later Striatal Akt Activation by Dopamine: Detection of Aberrant Akt Phospho-Isoforms Using Simple WesternTM Technology” with T. White for Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (June 2015: 39, Supplement S1: 124A, #450). Shusen Sun, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine published the following: With XQ Li, NM, XG Li, et al., “Association of PON1, P2Y12 and COX1 with Recurrent Ischemic Events in Patients with Extracranial or Intracranial Stenting” in PLOS ONE (11: 2: e014889). With Eric Nemec, former clinical associate professor of informatics, “Implementing an Elective Toxicology Course through Integration of Emergency Medicine Resident Physicians Into Didactic Lectures” in Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning (2016: 8, pp. 200-206). With Courtney Doyle-Campbell, clinical assistant professor of ambulatory care, Jared Ostroff, clinical assistant professor of ambulatory care, and Melissa Mattison, clinical assistant professor of community care, “A Comprehensive Capstone Course Focusing on Simulation in Community, Ambulatory, and Acute Care” in Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning (2016: 8, pp. 69-76).
With ZM Yi, XX Li, M Lu, SD Zhai, “An Evaluation of Clinical Pharmacist Service on a Neurology Care Unit” in the International Journal of Clinical Pharm (2016: 38, 1: pp. 30-33). With ZM Yi, XJ Zhi, L Yang, et al., “Identify Practice Gaps in Medication Education Through Surveys to Patients and Physicians” in Patient Prefer Adherence (2015: 9, pp. 14231430). With XG Li, YX Wu, SG Mei, et al., “Population Pharmacokinetics of Vancomycin in Postoperative Neurological Patients” in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2015: 104, pp. 3960-3967). With ZG Zhao, “Clinical Pharmacists in the Management of Drug Overdose: Vital Signs and Toxidromes” in Drug Evaluation (2015: 12, 22: pp. 6-13–in Chinese). Presentations David Baker, associate professor of pharmacy administration, wrote a presentation, with G. Higby who presented it, titled “Historic Milestones in Federal Pharmacy Law: The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938—The Elixir That Made Drugs Safe” at the AACP Annual Meeting in National Harbor, MD, in July. At the same meeting, Professor Baker presented, with pharmacy student Uyen Nguyen ’16, “The Historical Events Upon Which U.S. Pharmacy Schools Were Founded” and with Eric Nemec, former clinical associate professor of informatics, “Pharmacy on the Small Screen: The Television Portrayal of the Profession.” Matthew Dintzner, assistant dean for assessment and accreditation, presented a poster titled “Effects of Prior Degree and Age on Course Evaluations,” with pharmacy student Stacy Longo, at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in National Harbor, MD, in July. Daniel Kennedy, associate professor of pharmacology, Eric Nemec, former clinical associate professor of informatics, and Beth Welch, associate dean of academic affairs, with pharmacy alumnus Paul Dipietro ’16 and pharmacy student Stacy Longo, presented “Current Practices of Awarding Graduation Honors Within Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Programs” at the AACP Annual Meeting, July 13 in National Harbor, MD. 37
From the Colleges
continued
Daniel R. Kennedy, associate professor of pharmacology, Bart Lipkens, professor of mechanical engineering, and Michael Rust, associate professor of biomedical engineering with Tyler Gerhardson ’15 (BSBE) and Ryan Dubay ’15 (BSBE) presented a poster titled “Design and Fabrication of a Micro-scale Acoustophoretic Separation System” at the 41st Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference in Troy, NY. Clinton Mathias, associate professor of pharmacology, presented “Modulation of the Allergic Response—Roles of Dietary Components and Regulatory Cytokines” at the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA. Thomas Moore, media and simulations operation manager, Scott Sherman, divisional administrator of technical services in information technology, and Beth Welch, associate dean of academic affairs, presented “Selecting a Technology Device that Provides Maximum Educational Benefit” at Campus Technology 2015 on July 28 in Boston, MA. Ronny Priefer, professor of medicinal chemistry, presented “Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Amide Tethered Polymers” at the 250th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, August 16-20, in Boston, MA. Jilla Sabeti, assistant professor of pharmacology, presented “Adolescent Alcohol Exposure Influences Later OCD Risk and Striatal AKT Activation by Dopamine” in San Antonio, TX, at the scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, in June. The presentation was made possible through generous funding provided by the NIH-National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Joshua Spooner, assistant dean for student affairs, Kim Tanzer, assistant dean of experiential affairs and continuing education administrator, and Beth Welch, associate dean of academic affairs, presented “Incorporating a Required Longitudinal Professional Development Course Series into the Doctor of Pharmacy Program” at the AACP Annual Meeting, July 11, in National Harbor, MD. Shusen Sun, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine, presented the following: “Interpretation of FDA Approved New Drugs in 2014” at the 5th National Annual 38
Meeting of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, September 17 in Beijing, China. “Geriatric Pharmacotherapy” at the Sino-US Pharmacy Specialist Internet and On-Site Training Conference, on September 17 in Beijing, China. “Pharmacist Role in Geriatric Medication Therapy Management” at 2015 Continuing Pharmacy Education Conference, Shandong Association of Licensed Pharmacists, in November in Jinan, Shandong, China. “Pharmacy Experiential Education Teaching Experiences at the U.S. Pharmacy School” at the Eleventh Clinical Pharmacy Practice Training and the Capital Medical University Clinical Pharmacy Preceptor Training Conference in November in Beijing, China. “Psychiatric Drug Toxicity,” “Updates of Prescription Drug Toxicity,” and “Medication Reconciliation in Emergency Department” at the Global Emergency Medicine Meeting 2015, in November in Shenzhen, China. “Medication Therapy Management in the Elderly” at Western Massachusetts Hospital Pharmacist Association, in November in Holyoke, MA. “Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative” at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, in December in Beijing, China. Appointments Matthew Dintzner, professor of medicinal chemistry and director of assessment, was promoted to assistant dean for Assessment and Accreditation. Clinton Mathias, associate professor of pharmacology, was appointed as adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Tenures and Appointments, effective September 1, 2016 Dr. David Baker, promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacy Administration Dr. Izabela Collier, promoted to Clinical Associate Professor of Ambulatory Care Dr. Matthew Dintzner, tenured and promoted to Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
Dr. Daniel Kennedy, tenured and promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacology Dr. Clinton Mathias, tenured and promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacology Dr. Ronny Priefer, tenured Dr. Shabnam Sani, tenured and promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Awards David Baker, associate professor of pharmacy administration, received the Class of 2015 Recognition Award from the College of Pharmacy graduating class. Matthew Dintzner, assistant dean for assessment and accreditation was accepted into the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s 2015-2016 Academic Leadership Fellows Program. Beth Welch, associate dean of academic affairs, and C. Schrauf of Elms College were faculty advisors of the Script Your Future National Team Challenge in which approximately 20 pharmacies and nursing students participated. The National Consumer’s League announced that Western New England University College of Pharmacy was a finalist for the national award.
and Method of Detecting Breath Acetone.”
Engaging in the Communtiy College of Pharmacy Travels to Thailand to Explore Healthcare Challenges WNE College of Pharmacy collaborated with University of New England College of Pharmacy to bring our students to Thailand. In November 2015, seven fourth-year professional students from each program participated in the annual Thailand: Global Healthcare Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience, which is offered each fall and explores the concepts of global healthcare and contemporary health concerns in Thailand. Dr. Kim Tanzer, assistant dean for experiential affairs at WNE University, and Dr. James Krebs, assistant dean for experiential education at University of New England, led the group. Through sessions with experts in the field and experiential learning, learners learn about healthcare challenges in this part of the world. Topics include Thai and Chinese medicine as well as disease states prevalent in the tropics. Learners traveled throughout Thailand, visiting a variety of healthcare settings including private and urban hospitals, rural clinics, government public health facilities, research laboratories, hospices, and orphanages.
External Grants Matthew Dintzner, assistant dean for assessment and accreditation, received a grant of $365,000 from the National Science Foundation to acquire a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer that will be housed in the Center for Sciences and Pharmacy. The instrument will be used by the Cooperating Colleges for Greater Springfield (CCGS) consortium to facilitate the scholarly productivity of CCGS science faculty and enhance the training of hundreds of undergraduate science students annually. Ron Priefer, professor of medicinal chemistry, and Keri Lee, assistant professor of chemistry, are co-PIs on this award. Patents Ronny Priefer, professor of medicinal chemistry and Michael Rust, assistant professor biomedical engineering filed patent with Europe, India, and Mexico titled “Breath Acetone Monitor
Michael Courage, Class of 2016, with young children in Thailand.
39
From the Colleges
continued
University of St. Joseph School of Pharmacy Message from the Dean Greetings to All!
The Zeta Iota chapter of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc. at the University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy is one of three chapters in the nation to be awarded the Frank H.
University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy’s fall semester
Eby Scholarship Tray Award 2016. Criteria established for this
began with a passionate class of Pharm.D. students.
award as listed on the fraternity website states “This honor is
Eighty-one women and men matriculated into the University
given to the Collegiate Chapter with the highest grade point
of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy Class of 2019. They
average in a one-year period, based upon their membership
represent 11 states and 7 countries. We look forward to a
and their school’s grading system”.
healthy and happy academic year, and welcome your well wishes and support in preparing these new students for their inspiring Pharmacy careers.
Additionally, the chapter’s Grand Council Deputy (i. e. fraternity advisor) Andrea L. Leschak, Pharm. D., was one of ten advisors in the nation awarded the Grand Council Deputy
As always, we thank you for your continued support.
Certificate of Excellence.
Best,
Sheikh Zakaria, a USJ student on rotation with CPA in August
Joseph Ofosu
2016, represented the CPA at the annual University of Saint
Founding Dean and Professor
Joseph School of Pharmacy vendor fair August 11, 2016.
News University of Saint Joseph’s five-day Orientation culminated on August 12, 2016 with the White Coat Ceremony at Hoffman Auditorium on the West Hartford Campus. Our featured speaker was Dr. Eucharia E. Nnadi, Chancellor of the Henderson, Nevada Campus of Roseman University of Health Sciences. She delivered a wonderful talk on Leadership and Professionalism.
Sheikh Zakaria at the USJ School of Pharmacy Vendor Fair (above)
Posters and Presentations Laskey DA, Kohn CG, Matusik FB, Henkel JG, Ofosu JR, Szollosi DE. “Predictors of Success and Struggle: GPA, PCAT, and a Novel Composite as a “Diagnostic Test”.” AACP Annual University of St. Joseph School of Pharmacy Holds its White Coat Ceremony.
40
Meeting. July 2016 Anaheim, CA. Haines SL, Peters, MA, Summa MA, Dy-Boarman EA, Willson, MN, Clifford KM. “Integrating Academic Career Preparedness in Schools and Colleges of Pharmacy.” AACP Annual Meeting. July 2016 Anaheim, CA.
Pharmacy Journal of New England • Fall 2016
Szollosi DE, Ghoneim OM, Manzoor M, Dhuguru J, Edafiogho IO. “Characterization of piperazino-enaminone compounds as novel anti-inflammatory agents.” 16th Annual Meeting of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies 2016, June 2016. Tran L, Ghoneim OM, and Khalil SS, “SAR of Phenoxyacetic Acid Analogs as Synergistic Dual Activity Serotonergic Ligands for Potential Use in ASD.” Poster Presentation at the 2016 International Meeting for Autism Research, Baltimore Maryland, May 11-14, 2016. Bill A, Goldstein A, Ghoneim OM. “Hands-on Experiment to Enhance Student Learning on Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution Reaction.” Poster Presentation, ECSC 2016, Western New England University, April 2, 2016, Springfield, MA. Orzechowski K and Gayakwad S. “Solid dispersions - A Smart Formulation Strategy for Enhancing Solubility of Poorly Water Soluble Drugs.” Poster Presentation, ECSC 2016, Western New England University, April 2, 2016, Springfield, MA. Copeland SA and Slauson SR, “Expanding a nitrogen bridge on epibatidine compounds to aide in smoking cessation.” Poster Presentation, ECSC 2016, Western New England University, April 2, 2016, Springfield, MA. Walicki JA and Slauson SR, “Rate studies of n-protected pyrroles for the synthesis of epibatidine derivatives.” Poster Presentation, ECSC 2016, Western New England University, April 2, 2016, Springfield, MA.
England University, April 2, 2016, Springfield, MA. Stoj AM and Slauson SR, “Investigation of epibatidine analogs to increase nicotinic subtype selectivity.” Poster Presentation, ECSC 2016, Western New England University, April 2, 2016, Springfield, MA.
Publications Masocha W, Kombian SB, and Edafiogho IO. Evaluation of the antinociceptive activities of enaminone compounds on the formalin and hot plate tests in mice. Science Reports. 6, 21582, 2016. doi: 10.1038/srep21582 (2016). Szollosi DE, Ghoneim OM, Manzoor MK, Dhuguru J, Edafiogho IO, “Novel piperazino-enaminones suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibit chemokine receptor CCR2.” Inflammation 2016. DOI: 10.1007/s10753-016-0443-y Laskey, DA, “The impact of one-bag N-acetylcysteine dosing on administration delays: a five-year look.” North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology Annual Meeting, September 2016, Boston, Massachusetts. Malm, T, “Emerge from the Crowd: Effective Presentations: Tips, Tricks, and Tactics.” American College of Clinical Pharmacy Annual Meeting, October 2016, Hollywood, Florida
Calderon L and Sweezy MA. “Characterization of the cell growth inhibitory mechanism of methyl n- phthalimidooxy2-methylacrylate.” Poster Presentation, ECSC 2016, Western New England University, April 2, 2016, Springfield, MA. Germano O and Sweezy MA, “The biochemical activities of rad51 paralogs rad55 and rad57.” Poster Presentation, ECSC 2016, Western New England University, April 2, 2016, Springfield, MA. Kowalski T and Sweezy MA, “The role of the rad52 family recombination mediator proteins in homologous recombination repair in the fission yeast schizosaccharomyces pombe.” Poster Presentation, ECSC 2016, Western New 41
42