pharmacist the
FALL / WINTER 2023 | VOLUME 46 | ISSUE 1
THE MAGAZINE OF UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
: S C I N I L C E N I C I D E en t s i t a P d e UIC T ELEM n o s i r Imp f e r a C f o l e d o AM
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8 ustr y d n I l a c i t u e harmac P r o f d e r a e Graduates G l Program a n o i t a n r e t In
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contents 02
Dean’s Letter
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Events
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College News
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Student News
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The Pacesetters
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Students Prepped for Pharmaceutical Industry Careers
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International Program
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Alumni News
In September of 1868, our college published the first issue of a trade journal simply named The Pharmacist. The magazine you see before you is named in honor of that historic journal.
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EDITORIAL CREDITS PUBLISHER Glen T. Schumock, PharmD, MBA, PhD Professor and Dean EDITORS Laura Hayes
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Director of Digital Marketing and Communications Rob Hoff UIC Creative and Digital Services CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michael Dhar Rob Mitchum Daniel Smith DESIGN Godfrey Carmona UIC Creative and Digital Services
The Pharmacist 833 S. Wood St. (MC 874) Chicago, Illinois 60612 312.996.7240 pharmcommunications@uic.edu ©2023. All rights reserved.
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FROM THE DEAN
A Time to Celebrate BY DE AN GLEN SCHUMOCK
You are receiving this issue of The Pharmacist as we celebrate the accomplishments of fall 2023 and start the new calendar year. I think you will find the contents demonstrate the commitment and success that we have together across all aspects of the mission of this college—education, research, and service. The success of our education and training programs is highlighted in two stories. We are proud that the UIC College of Pharmacy is the #2 program in the country when it comes to placing pharmacy graduates in pharmaceutical industry fellowships. Our rise in this ranking was both student and faculty led. In the article on this you will learn about these efforts, including a new elective course focused on pharmaceutical industry careers. Also in this issue is a story on our international education initiatives—and specifically the summer program that attracts pharmacy students from across the globe. The reputation of the UIC College of Pharmacy internationally, especially for clinical education and training, is second to none.
Online pharmacy.uic.edu go.uic.edu/PharmFBChicago go.uic.edu/PharmFBRockford go.uic.edu/PharmTwitter go.uic.edu/PharmLinkedIn go.uic.edu/PharmInstagram go.uic.edu/PharmYouTube
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UIC remains the #7 pharmacy school in research rankings. That success is because of the innovative and dedicated faculty that work here. Faculty like Alessandra Eustaquio, who is working to discover new drugs through “multi-omics”. Dr. Eustaquio has developed genomic and genetic methods to harness the ability of Burkholderia, a bacterial genus found in soil, to produce natural products, including potential antifungals and anticancer agents. José Villegas is seeking new drugs in a different way. He employs computational models and artificial intelligence to identify small proteins or peptides to disrupt viruses and render them noninfectious. The research of both Eustaquio and Villegas is highlighted in this issue and is characteristic of the innovative approaches to drug discovery being conducted here. Finally, something that distinguishes UIC from all other schools of pharmacy is the depth and breadth of the pharmacy services that we provide to patients. UIC is where advances in the practice of pharmacy are made—advances that eventually becomes the
Got News? Change jobs? Get a promotion? Publish a paper? Publish a book? Get married? Have a baby? We want to hear about it all! Submit your updates at go.uic.edu/AddressUpdate. We’ll do our best to fit it into our publications and/or social media! If you don’t see it in The Pharmacist, please go to go.uic.edu/PharmNews.
standard for pharmaceutical care across the country. That fact is illustrated in the article “The Pacesetters,” which chronicles how UIC developed telemedicine and telepharmacy services in 2010 and how those efforts have expanded since. The work of Drs. Chan, Badowski, and Rebolledo in providing care to patients housed in facilities of the Illinois Department of Corrections is described. There are many things to celebrate about this college. Research discoveries made here have impacted the health of millions of people. The patient care that we provide improves the lives of some of the most underserved. And most importantly, the education and training that starts the careers of so many extraordinary pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, and pharmacy leaders. All of this is made possible by the support and engagement of our 10,000 alumni, our volunteer preceptors, and our friends and corporate partners. We look forward to continuing this success together.
The University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy Office of Continuing Education and Meeting Services (OCEMS) offers continuing education courses for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmaceutical representatives. We have also partnered with the College of Medicine and UI Health to offer a new REMS academic detailing program. See below for more information. PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CE PROGRAMS
10+ ACPE-approved pharmacy technician continuing education programs are available. For more information, please visit go.uic.edu/PharmTechCE. PHARMACIST CE PROGRAMS
30+ ACPE-approved pharmacist continuing education programs are available. For more information, please visit go.uic.edu/PharmacistCE. SPECIALTY PHARMACY PROGRAMS
Please visit go.uic.edu/SpecialtyPharm for our new Specialty Pharmacy programs. PHARMACEUTICAL REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAMS
Pharmaceutical representative continuing education programs are available for the City of Chicago and the State of Oregon. For more information, please visit go.uic.edu/PharmRepCE. UIC OPIOID ANALGESICS REMS PROGRAM
The program includes 15–20 minute academic detailing virtual visits (each program is approved for 0.5 contact hours of CPE/CME/CNE). Fully compliant with the Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) education requirement by the FDA and meets DEA requirements for opioid education. For more information, please visit academicdetail.pharmacy.uic.edu. CHICAGOLAND CRITICAL CARE CONFERENCE
Please save the date for the 9th annual Chicagoland Critical Care Conference to be held at UIC College of Pharmacy on
Our Digital Edition issuu.com/uicpharmacy
Saturday, August 24, 2024. More information and registration coming soon!
EVENTS
Continuing Education Opportunities
COLLEGE NEWS
Multi-omics Approach Unlocks Discovery of Natural Products from Bacteria BY ROB MITCHUM
Many of today’s most useful drugs were originally discovered in the natural world. After Alexander Fleming famously discovered penicillin in a moldy petri dish, scientists probed the microbial world of bacteria and fungi for new disease-fighting compounds, as well as products useful in agriculture and industry. But the laboratory screening process for finding natural products in bacteria is slow and struggles to find novel compounds. In a new paper published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team led by Alessandra Eustaquio of the UIC College of Pharmacy describes a powerful new combination of approaches. “Traditional pipelines for natural product discovery tend to rediscover compounds that we already know,” said Eustaquio, an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences. “My lab is interested in using genomics to identify and predict what natural products bacteria should be able to make and then using genetic methods to try to obtain the compound.” Multi-omics is the combination of genomic data with data on other biological systems, such as gene transcripts or proteins present in cells. Eustaquio’s paper applies a multi-omics approach to a strain of Burkholderia, a bacterial genus found in soil. Scientists at Pfizer—where Eustaquio previously worked—used the bacterium to produce an antitumor agent called spliceostatin, currently in preclinical studies. But the fully sequenced genome of Burkholderia suggests it has genes to make as many as 28 additional compounds with potential human uses, Eustaquio said.
Alessandra Eustaquio
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Her laboratory utilized metabolomic data to determine which of these products were made in detectable quantities by Burkholderia. They found antifungal and anticancer compounds previously detected in other bacteria and identified a new product in collaboration with chemist Roger Linington at Simon Fraser University that they named selethramide, a peptide that helps the bacteria move. While preliminary tests showed some antibiotic activity, the true applications of this new product will require more investigation. “One of the pros of finding antibiotics through traditional screening is that you only find what you’re interested in,” Eustaquio said. “But you’re always starting the other way around with genomes, where it’s more difficult to predict what the activity of that natural product will be.” The multi-omics approach also enables Eustaquio’s group to study how Burkholderia could be used as a vehicle for synthetic biology and the large-scale production of natural products. “My motivation is to understand the bacteria and develop tools to engineer it,” Eustaquio said. “What we’re trying to do now is to develop Burkholderia as a host organism, or what people call a synthetic biology chassis, where we can find genes of interest in other bacteria, transfer those genes into our host and have it make products of interest.” The study involved graduate students Sylvia Kunakom and Sean Romanowski and postdoc Bruno Paulo at UIC and postdoc Sanghoon Lee and graduate students Michael Recchia, Dennis Liu, and Hannah Cavanagh at Simon Fraser.
Dr. ZACKERY P. BULMAN is the recipient of the 2023 American College of Clinical Pharmacy New Investigator Award. Dr. PAUL CARLIER is part of the first UI System Faculty Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. The program supports the development of entrepreneurship-oriented faculty to seed new venture creation.
Dr. LINDSEY MCQUADE is a recipient of the UIC Award of Merit. Dr. NOOR NAFFAKH completed the Precision Medicine Oncology Genomics Certification from American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Dr. A ABIGAIL ELMES was appointed to the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Opioid Use Disorder Task Force for 2023–2024.
Dr. GUIDO PAULI received a Certificate of Appreciation from the National Cancer Institute for his ten years of service.
Dr. BERNIE SANTARSIERO was appointed chair of the Gender, Equity, and Diversity Committee (GEDC) of the International Union of Crystallography. Dr. LIZ VAN DRIL has been appointed chair of American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2025 Annual Meeting Program Committee.
Dr. ALESSANDRA EUSTAQUIO was named a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Dr. ALICE HEMENWAY was awarded the ICHP’s Shining Star Award.
Dr. LORI WILKEN is now an American College of Clinical Pharmacy fellow. Fellowships recognize excellence in clinical pharmacy practice and science and are awarded to individuals who have made sustained contributions to ACCP.
Dr. ERIN CARSON was voted Preceptor of the Year by the pharmacy residents at UW Health.
Dr. SANDRA CUELLAR was appointed as a member of ASHP’s Commission on Credentialing for the 2023– 2024 term. Dr. Cuellar was also appointed to serve on the AHFS Oncology Expert Committee for three years.
Dr. MATTHEW HENKE was awarded a KL2 Scholar Award from the UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science. The KL2 Clinical and Translational Science (CATS) Scholars Program accelerates the careers of scientists with a commitment to clinical and translational research. Dr. BIRGIT JAKI was awarded the prestigious UIC Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award is given to the university’s “most dedicated and outstanding teachers.”
Vice Dean KEVIN RYNN participated in the UI System President’s Executive Leadership Program. The program is professional development designed to broaden understanding of higher education issues and strengthen leadership skills.
BETH WOODS is a recipient of the the UIC Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence Award.
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COLLEGE NEWS
José Villegas Receives NIH New Innovator Award BY ROB MITCHUM
Two UIC researchers, José Villegas and Ruixuan Gao, have received New Innovator Awards from the National Institutes of Health to fund high-risk, high-reward research at the cutting edge of science. Gao and Villegas are the first UIC faculty members to receive New Innovator Awards from the NIH. The awards select and fund exceptional early career investigators to pursue unconventional, innovative work with the potential for high impact across science and medicine. Villegas, an assistant professor in the college’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, received a New Innovator Award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. His work uses computational methods to design new strategies for treating viruses and cancer. D E SIGNING TR A P S F OR V IRUSE S When designing drugs, researchers typically seek a compound that can bind to a target and block its activity—for example, inactivating a viral enzyme. But these selective drug-target binding opportunities are difficult to design with current tools and tough to execute at dosages that make sense therapeutically.
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The UIC College of Pharmacy made the list of Knowinsiders’ Most Prestigious Pharmaceutical Sciences Programs at #2.
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Villegas combines biomaterial design and medicinal chemistry to take a different approach: trapping molecular targets as they are formed. He uses computational models and artificial intelligence to create strategies for disrupting viruses, rendering them noninfectious. “What we want to do is not necessarily block the interactions between viral proteins but rather just kind of push them in the wrong direction,” Villegas said. “We use small proteins or peptides to perturb their assembly process and drive viruses to be misshapen or simply nonfunctional.” This different approach has several advantages, Villegas said. Because these compounds don’t need to bind to a specific functional site on the target, it’s less computationally intensive to run drug design simulations. Villegas hypothesizes that this strategy should also make it harder for drug resistance to evolve. “We normally design these drugs to be super tightly binding, and these interactions are so precise that any small change the virus makes can kick out that drug,” Villegas said. “But if we’re not relying on those strong interactions, then the hope is that it won’t be so easy to
P H A R M A C Y.U I C . E D U
kick out, because there won’t be just one little mutation that can just destroy the approach.” The NIAID New Innovator Award will support Villegas as he attempts to apply this approach to HIV, for example, by disrupting the formation of the protective capsid shell of the virus. If successful, the project will provide proof-of-concept that this method could be used in other disease contexts, such as inactivating genetic factors that boost the proliferation of cancer cells. It’s Villegas’s first major award since he became full-time UIC faculty last year via the Bridge to Faculty Program. Led by the UIC Office of Diversity, Equity, and Engagement, the program recruits academics from underrepresented backgrounds to serve as postdoctoral scholars for two years before transitioning to a junior faculty position. For Villegas, who grew up moving between the United States and Mexico, the program and the broader UIC mission made the university the right home for his research, teaching, and outreach. “It seemed like the values that the university embodies are very much in line with my own values and how I see the purpose of education,” Villegas said. “I knew I would prefer to be at a public university in a place where we’re also contributing to upward mobility and reaching out to underserved communities.”
Student pharmacist CELESTE GUZMAN was selected for the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. The fellowship is a year-long servicelearning program. Celeste will conduct mental health workshops for the underserved communities of Chicago.
Student pharmacist DONALD HAGEN was chosen as an American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Aspiring Academic. From more than 200 applicants, only 20 were selected. The program is designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of career paths in academic pharmacy.
ROCÍO RIVERA RODRÍGUEZ, a PhD candidate in pharmaceutical sciences, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. Awardees are selected by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Program, which considers leadership potential, academic and professional achievement, and service record.
Student pharmacist NGOZI IHEMESON was selected as a 2023 IPhO Diversity Scholarship recipient! The scholars are “committed to the pursuit of an industry career.”
Student pharmacist GABRIEL TANKERSLEY was elected to be a student member of the Board of Trustees for the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists.
Rockford Campus Annual Day of Service The Rockford campus held its annual Day of Service. Twenty-two new students and student leaders volunteered at local sites like Camp Winnebago YMCA and the Natural Land Institute. The day culminated in a Celebration of Service sponsored by Walgreens at the Anderson Japanese Gardens.
STUDENT NEWS
Student pharmacist SAM FORDJOUR was selected for the 2023–2024 Phi Lambda Sigma Collegiate Leader Academy program. The program trains leaders from around the nation to be aware of what it is like to be on the other side of the pharmacist/patient relationship. Fordjour was also awarded the ICHP Shining Star Award.
THE PACESSET TERS B Y
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M
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T
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WE’VE HAD
THE PACESE TELEMEDICINE CLINICS REACHED THEIR AMBITIOUS ROLLOUT TARGETS
Before the pandemic forced a rise in telemedicine, UIC launched two telemedicine clinics with the Illinois Department of Corrections and set a model for care that continues to expand and demonstrate wide-ranging benefits.
BECAUSE WE’RE
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC FORCED A RISE IN TELEMED CLINICS WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTME THAT CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND DEMONST
O
n a warm and sunny Monday afternoon, Dr. Juliana Chan
are involved and taxing. The telemedicine clinic requires
begins a phone call by apologizing for her voice. It’s
constant attention to detail and an earnest commitment
weak and hoarse, the byproduct of a morning spent in
to collaboration with other health professionals,
constant conversation.
including an on-site nurse as well as a remote physician
Chan spent nearly four hours on Monday, October
and social worker.
2, virtually shuttling between 20 patients spread
The work is also groundbreaking. One of the earliest
across Illinois prisons as the head of UIC’s hepatitis C
examples of a pharmacist-led telemedicine program,
telemedicine clinic run in partnership with the Illinois
the UIC-IDOC partnership has improved patient health
Department of Corrections (IDOC).
among a vulnerable population under the state’s care,
“Twenty-minute visits with new patients and five-minute follow-ups with those who have finished treatment,” explains Chan, a clinical pharmacist and clinical associate professor in the College of Pharmacy’s
unlocked novel opportunities for UIC trainees, and established a sustainable model for others to follow.
TRANSFORMING CARE
Department of Pharmacy Practice.
In early 2010, IDOC came to UIC seeking collaboration
Chan’s efforts, which began on Sunday with
those under its supervision.
appointment prep work that included inspecting patient charts and preparing notes and will extend into Monday evening with a concluding review of the appointments,
JULIANA CHAN
and a better plan to tend to the healthcare needs of
At the time, individuals in IDOC custody were not receiving any standardized care. Medical care, for example, might be provided by a retired specialist or generalist and attention to chronic conditions might be best described as choppy.
TELEMEDICINE OFFERED A COST-EFFECTIVE AND STREAMLINED WAY FOR IDOC TO ELEVATE ITS CARE
UIC-IDOC PARTNERSHIP HAS IMPROVED PATIENT HEALTH AMONG A VULNERABLE POPULATION UNDER 8
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EXCELLENT OUTCOMES AND BEEN ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR PATIENTS, SO THERE’S A SUCCESSFUL MODEL OTHERS CAN FOLLOW.
ETTERS THE SPECIALISTS, WE KNOW WHAT’S WORKING IN THESE [SUBSPECIALTY] AREAS AND CAN PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE CARE TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES
ICINE, UIC LAUNCHED TWO TELEMEDICINE NT OF CORRECTIONS AND SET A MODEL FOR CARE RATE WIDE-RANGING BENEFITS.
UIC presented a novel solution in telemedicine—remote
“Because we’re the specialists, we know what’s
patient care empowered by technology. Though in its
working in these [subspecialty] areas and can provide
infancy at the time, telemedicine offered a cost-effective
the appropriate care to improve outcomes,” says
and streamlined way for IDOC to elevate its care.
Badowski, a clinical professor in the Department of
In the summer of 2010, Chan started UIC’s hepatitis
Pharmacy Practice.
C telemedicine clinic alongside IDOC while fellow
Today, the Badowski- and Chan-led clinics work with
clinical pharmacist Dr. Melissa Badowski launched a
28 IDOC prisons and treatment centers spread across
telemedicine clinic devoted to HIV care. Both tech-
the state, each equipped with telemedicine equipment,
infused clinics started with three IDOC facilities and the
such as electronic stethoscopes and high-definition
goal of adding three additional facilities each month
electronic exam cameras. Collectively, Badowski and
throughout year one.
Chan see and treat about 1,500 HIV and hepatitis
“We got moving and quickly learned what worked and what didn’t and applied that to the next set of clinics,” Chan says, adding that both telemedicine clinics reached their ambitious rollout targets. Badowski’s and Chan’s efforts got individuals with Hepatitis C and HIV who were in IDOC custody started on front-line regimens. Working closely with
C patients each year, reviewing patient histories, medication adherence, and interpreting labs or imaging for the patient to inform next steps in care. They also provide education to prevent reinfection or spread of the respective viruses. “We’re another set of eyes, and we advocate a lot for the patients,” Badowski says.
UIC’s dispensing pharmacy team, which was charged to distribute medications to the IDOC facilities, the respective clinics created a closed-loop system ensuring
MELISSA BADOWSKI
responsive action to supply issues or the latest treatment guidelines.
WE’VE MOVED THE MARKER, THERE’S NO DENYING THAT
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THE CLINICS ALSO
THIS IS A NOVEL AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY MEDICATIONS AND CLINICAL
28 1500 99 120
IDOC PRISONS AND TREATMENT CENTERS BENEFITTING FROM UIC TELEMEDICINE
HIV AND HEPATITIS C PATIENTS TREATED EACH YEAR
PERCENT OF PATIENTS LIVING WITH SUPPRESED HIV
( P R E V I O U S LY O N LY 5 0 % B E F O R E U I C I N T E R V E N T I O N )
DIABETES PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE COMORBIDITES FOLLOWED
To that advocacy point, clinic protocols have evolved over the years. Initially, for example, Chan only saw hepatitis C patients at advanced stages. Now, any individual with the virus may receive care. The clinics also aim to see every new intake within two weeks of their arrival in the IDOC system. Most notably, the clinics have produced impressive results. Before UIC’s arrival, in fact, about 50 percent of IDOC-housed patients living with HIV were virologically suppressed. Today, that number approaches 99 percent. “We’ve moved the marker,” Badowski says. “There’s no denying that.”
E X PA N D I N G H E R E A N D B E YO N D The success of the UIC-IDOC telemedicine clinics has generated widespread attention and expanded services. As telemedicine adoption accelerated amid the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, professionals from other states and medical specialties regularly contacted Badowski and Chan for insights on their established practice. “These telemedicine clinics have set a model for clinical practice others can and have followed,” says Dr. Edith Nutescu, head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the UIC College of Pharmacy. And last year, UIC expanded its relationship with IDOC when it introduced a telemedicine clinic devoted to diabetes management. A complex and chronic condition, diabetes affects an estimated 2,000 individuals in IDOC custody. Dr. Julio Rebolledo serves as the clinical pharmacist leading IDOC’s diabetes management telemedicine program, a collaboration with the UIC College of Medicine akin to the HIV and hepatitis C clinics. While
STUDENTS CAN ALSO TAKE A TELEMEDICINE ELECTIVE TO GAIN AN OVERVIEW OF IT’S A POSITIVE FOR THE PATIENT, THE
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AIM TO SEE EVERY NEW INTAKE WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THEIR ARRIVAL IN THE IDOC SYSTEM
PHARMACIST EXPERTISE FOR THIS POPULATION
patients typically receive diabetes care on-site from a
“The telemedicine rotation is like no other,” Badowski
primary care provider, many have multiple comorbidities
says, adding that students can also take a telemedicine
and require specialized diabetes care. Those individuals
elective to gain an overview of the emerging service
are referred to Rebolledo, who conducts a remote
and its role in healthcare systems. Badowski recently
comprehensive diabetes assessment, ensures
taught that course alongside Chan.
medication optimization, and oversees all follow-ups.
Yet more, learners can also gain clinical research
After seeing but a handful of patients each week
experience. Over the years, IDOC has approved a host
throughout his opening months, largely limited to
of trainee-led, retrospective research studies examining
IDOC’s Dixon and Stateville facilities, Rebolledo’s
clinical outcomes.
caseload continues swelling as new IDOC facilities come on board. As of September 2023, Rebolledo is following 120 patients. “Access to optimal diabetes care is complicated enough for the general population, and it’s a positive for the patient, the community, and the whole system when these individuals have access to first-line therapies, timely care, and education that keeps them healthy,” Rebolledo says.
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
Given the relationship’s benefits to various stakeholders—the College of Pharmacy, IDOC, individuals in custody, and learners among them—it’s no wonder many hope to see the model grow. Nutescu says the college is working with IDOC to identify other high-need disease states and strategize its next wave of action, which might include conditions such as hypertension or pulmonary disease. Thereafter, the college hopes to export its model to other state correctional agencies, many of whom have already inquired about, if not studied, UIC’s
Nutescu calls UIC’s telemedicine effort with IDOC a
model. Across the United States, many states continue
critical and important practice serving a vulnerable
struggling to meet the health needs of those in
patient population, advancing health, and preserving
correctional custody, frequently battling budgetary,
cash in a budget-challenged state.
social, and political realities.
“With disease states like hepatitis C, HIV, and diabetes
“There’s a clear need for a service like this, so how can
being high cost and high risk, this is a novel and
we bring clinical pharmacy services to all prisons?”
effective way to provide the necessary medications
Badowski asks. “We’ve had excellent outcomes and
and clinical pharmacist expertise for this population,”
been able to advocate for our patients, so there’s a
Nutescu says.
successful model others can follow.”
The College of Pharmacy, meanwhile, captures benefits
But until then, Badowski, Chan, and Rebolledo will
from the relationship as well. In particular, students,
continue their purpose-driven work.
residents, and trainees can work alongside top chronic disease experts during rotations and gain valuable experience in a tech-charged practice likely to become
“Another Monday is just around the corner,” Chan says.
more commonplace throughout their careers.
JULIO REBOLLEDO
THE EMERGING SERVICE AND ITS ROLE IN HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS COMMUNITY, AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM WHEN THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO FIRST-LINE THERAPIES
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HOW UIC PHARMACY MET BOOMING INTEREST IN INDUSTRY CAREERS B Y
M I C H A E L
D H A R
A
s interest in the pharmaceutical industry has
surged among pharmacy grads, UIC Pharmacy has excelled in preparing students for this rewarding nontraditional path. This year, the college rose to number two nationally in placing students in highly competitive pharmaceutical industry fellowships. That remarkable achievement comes despite the geographical advantages of rival East Coast schools, said Dr. Glen Schumock, dean of the college. In the rankings from the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO), UIC placed 35 fellows, edging out the University of North Carolina and Northeastern University, which tied for third at 29. Rutgers placed first with 72 fellowships, while St. John’s University rounded out the top 5 with 27 placements. The rankings include 122 schools.
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MIDWEST’S BEST Standing shoulder to shoulder with schools on the East Coast, where the pharma industry is concentrated, makes UIC’s achievement even more impressive, Schumock said. Those institutions frequently work with pharmaceutical companies to develop these very fellowships. So while UIC runs five industry fellowships with pharma companies, places like Rutgers and the University of Massachusetts collaborate
UIC has helped prepare its grads in a
“We had a couple of vice presidents of
number of ways, from providing a uniquely
departments come to talk. We have
strong clinical foundation to offering
global directors,” said Dr. Brad Bartels, UIC
pharmaceutical-related electives—including
Pharmacy clinical assistant professor and
marketing and managed care—not available
coordinator for the course. “We were able
at other schools, Schumock said.
to get a lot of very, very important people,
This fall, the school debuted a new industryfocused elective that will introduce students to the many roles, from medical affairs to
also continues to seek alumni interested in participating.)
health economics, a pharmacy grad could
Bartels said he hopes the new elective gives
take in industry. Students learn directly from
students a clearer view of what pharma work
professionals in the field, with speakers
entails. “In reality, the process of creating
visiting weekly to discuss their roles—and
a drug and getting it onto market could
provide networking opportunities.
take 20 years, 30. There’s a lot of people
on 100 or more—with the networking
Guest lecturers come from some of the
advantages that entails.
biggest pharma companies, drawing from
“Their students certainly have an
very knowledgeable people.” (The course
involved in the process, a lot of different departments.”
UIC’s connections with high-ranking experts.
advantage because they’re at that school already,” Schumock said. “They know the ins and outs. They know who to talk to,
SWEET HOME CHICAGO
and they may have even worked in the
The course draws on another strength at UIC:
pharmaceutical company, so to be number two on this list really speaks volumes for our students and our program.”
S O U G H T-A F T E R G R A D UAT E S Coming in at no. 2 also represents a rise through the years for UIC. In 2022, the college placed third and has improved from number five in 2016–2017, when it placed 16 students in fellowships. Overall, that rise shows the success of the college in producing highly sought-after pharmacy graduates, Schumock said, noting that only around 1% to 2% of pharmacy students nationally earn these fellowships. “It’s a sign that the training that they get here is valued by pharmaceutical industry.”
the college’s connections to local companies.
This year, UIC College of Pharmacy rose to
NUMBER TWO nationally in placing students in highly competitive pharmaceutical industry fellowships
Though it doesn’t rival the East Coast, the Chicago area has a much higher concentration of pharma corporations than most other places in the country, Schumock said. “Our students get experience at those companies in the summer. They do internships, or they do their clerkship rotations,” Schumock said. “That also becomes part of their resume or CV . . . when they apply for these positions.” Dr. Sam Hong, PharmD ’19, director of global health economics and outcomes research at cancer diagnostics company Agilent Technologies, agreed about the college’s geographic advantages. UIC is uniquely positioned in that the school’s location gives students access to experiences [in] more traditional pharmacy routes, but at the same time, there are pharma companies . . .
and multiple pharmaceutical consulting
extracurricular series, Bartels said.
companies, he said. “So students really have
“The interest in that has been growing
access to almost all of the different routes
significantly over the last couple years, and
you can take with pharmacy.”
the amount of students that are enrolled in the IPHO organization has skyrocketed.” Student groups also played a leading
STRONG CLINICAL FO U N DAT I O N
role in Hong’s journey to industry. In his
UIC’s strong placement of pharmaceutical
case, the Academy of Managed Care
fellows speaks not just to the school’s specific
Pharmacy (AMCP), where he became
strengths in industry, but also the general
chapter president, offered Hong his first
quality of its program, Schumock said. “We’re
Even before the new elective, UIC Pharmacy
exposure to the industry and related
ranked in the top 10 nationally as a pharmacy
offered students valuable opportunities to
networking opportunities. “They are a [major]
program, and we have been for a long time,
interface with pharma professionals, Hong
professional organization that hosts national
so that gives our students an advantage.”
said. “These companies come to speak at
annual conferences that bring in more than
UIC on a pretty regular basis,” he said.
10,000 professionals,” he said.
That happens as part of the regular curriculum,
UIC’s IPHO chapter also gives students the
added. “We’re known nationally as being
through the new course’s predecessor,
opportunity to experience pharma work
really focused on clinical pharmacy. That
which brings in speakers from all areas of
first-hand. In the group’s “case competition”
reputation precedes our students and helps
post–pharmacy school careers, including
activity, members break into groups and
in the application.”
industry. Student groups also play a big role
replicate the entire process of getting a drug
in giving UIC students exposure to pharma,
to market.
THE ROLE OF STUDENT GROUPS
in particular the UIC student chapters of the Drug Information Association (DIA) and IPHO. These local branches of national organizations “are just fantastic in terms of how they help our students,” Schumock said. “It’s the networking, the access to the parent organizations . . . they provide a lot of resources to the student groups.” The new pharma-focused course builds on the IPHO, which has brought speakers to campus in an increasingly popular
In particular, the school’s unique clinical focus helps UIC students stand out, he
Hong said he valued the clinical basis of his education at UIC, as well as the chance to
They’re designing a plan for a hypothetical
get involved in research with faculty. Those
drug and they’re . . . laying out how they’re
opportunities helped expand his notion of
going to implement getting this drug onto
what he could do with a pharmacy degree.
market, said Bartels, the group’s advisor. “So they have to spell out their marketing aspects. What is their slogan going to be? What’s their logo going to be?”
UIC is really strong on making sure students are going to be clinically adept upon graduation . . . and they offer these additional supplements to our clinical knowledge, he
The several-months-long process leaves
said. “I think the way I was introduced to the
students “very well rounded afterwards,”
pharmaceutical industry was appropriate, and
Bartels said.
I honestly wouldn't change anything about it.”
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College of Pharmacy celebrates ten years of the International Summer Program BY L AUR A HAYES
College of Pharmacy Celebrates of the International Summer Pro
In summer 2023, the College of Pharmacy celebrated its 10th anniversary of hosting international students, faculty, and practicing pharmacists at the college’s Chicago campus for the International Summer Program on Contemporary Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Education. PROGR A M OR IGINS Dr. Alan Lau, professor emeritus and director of International Clinical Pharmacy Education, started the program at the request of one of the college’s international partners at China Medical University in Taiwan. Eventually, more of UIC Pharmacy’s international partners, such as China Medical University, Taipei Medical University, National Taiwan University, and University of Hong Kong, started sending participants. Since 2013, more than 400 people from locations like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Spain, Turkey, and Cambodia have participated in the monthlong summer program to build their interest in pharmacy, expand their perspectives on clinical practice and pharmacy education, and allow them to experience U.S. culture. “I think people from around the world look up to the United States for clinical education, and that’s our focus for the international program,” Lau says. Each summer, the program provides more than 80 hours of teaching and learning activities led by more than 30 UIC Pharmacy faculty. They give case-based lectures and discussions, which include telling students what they do in the hospital and clinics. The program also hosts handson lab experiences and shares different career tracks within clinical pharmacy. Participants also get tours of the UIC campus and UI Health hospital and clinics and participate in various group outings in Chicago.
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P H A R M A C Y.U I C . E D U
A P OSTPA ND E MIC PROGR A M RE L AUNCH In addition to Lau, Department of Pharmacy Practice faculty Dr. Nancy Shapiro and Dr. James Lee now codirect the program, which welcomed 68 participants to UIC campus in 2023 after a three-year hiatus. “I really enjoy leading this program and am grateful that we were able to offer it again this year,” says Shapiro. “We include a great group of faculty that have a passion for teaching in their clinical practice and service areas. This program works so well because we have so many faculty to turn to for their contributions, that are dedicated to furthering clinical pharmacy practice and education beyond the United States.” “We made some changes since the pandemic, and the responses have been very good,” Lau says. “There were a lot more interactions with our own students this year and the feedback has been great.” UIC STUD E NT PH A RM ACIST A MBA S SA D ORS 2023 marked the addition of having current UIC student pharmacists engage and lead the participants as their UIC mentors and teaching assistants. “I was very grateful to be asked as one of the TAs and mentors,” says Angelo Turla, current P3 student. “I prepared a lecture, did a student-led panel, hosted multiple social events, assisted with the different labs such as blood pressure and geriatrics, and addressed any questions that our group had.” “I really loved all the events we had set up for the students. It was a good opportunity for us to get to know them, as well as learn about the different responsibilities and requirements pharmacists have in each country.” The program participants also learned from their UIC mentors about differences and benefits of PharmD programs offered in the United States.
Ten Years ogram
BY L AUR A HAYES
“The international students were surprised to learn about the number of different electives and student organizations we have at UIC Pharmacy,” says Turla. “Another surprise was the fact that U.S. students can become interns, externs, and technicians in pharmacies, and that it is common for students here to juggle organizations, research, mentorship, and work on top of their academics.” “I still stay in touch with a lot of the students and faculty over social media,” Turla says. “When I was in Dallas at ACCP, I ran into one of the faculty from Hong Kong that participated in the program, and we were able to catch up!” The program also hosts discussions with UIC Pharmacy graduates who live and practice pharmacy abroad. These international alumni share firsthand perspectives with participants on how a UIC Pharmacy education can help them build a successful pharmacy career outside of the United States, and help participants build connections with pharmacists in their home countries.
International Summer Program participants who decided to continue their studies at UIC Pharmacy SHIYI LAN Student Pharmacist Originally from Guangzhou, China, Shiyi Lan is now a P3 (Class of 2025) at UIC College of Pharmacy. There is no Doctor of Pharmacy program in Mainland China, so I decided to continue my graduate level pharmacy degree in the United States after my bachelor’s degree in clinical pharmacy in China in 2021. I participated in the UIC College of Pharmacy International Summer Program in 2018, which introduced me to how clinical pharmacists practiced in the United States as healthcare providers and how to make an impact as a pharmacist on the team. I learned how to live independently in a foreign country far away from home; I gained time management skills since I need to balance my course work, research projects, student organizations, and extern job; and I developed communication and collaboration skills between team members and coworkers from my
BUILD ING L A ST GLOBA L CONNEC TIONS Over the years, the program has inspired many participants to pursue further clinical education at home, in the United States, and at UIC. Several students have ended up enrolling in the UIC Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program (see sidebar). Program leaders reported that many students from the most recent session expressed interest in enrolling at UIC for PharmD or PhD, and the UIC–University of Malta collaborative Doctorate of Pharmacy program. The program continues to receive lots of positive feedback from student and faculty participants alike. “The summer program is relevant, friendly and interactive. It exposed me to profound clinical pharmacy practice and encouraged me to pursue further clinical education by enrolling in the UIC PharmD program,” says student participant Amy Leng (Macau). According to faculty participant Janet Wong of Hong Kong University, “The UIC summer program has been one of my most memorable experiences in pharmacy career. Having the opportunity to learn from the work of the UIC faculty as well as pharmacists and students from different countries, I have been inspired and empowered to take a proactive role in leading the development of clinical pharmacy practices in primary care setting in my region.”
experience in school and at work. My current plan after graduation is to pursue more research training either in a PhD program or a fellowship program since during my time at UIC, I have been exposed to a lot of research opportunities and impressed how research can show the impact of a pharmacist-led service. Eventually, I want to become a clinical pharmacist in oncology area as well as teach pharmacy students.”
PIA FIEL PharmD ’20 Originally from the Philippines, Dr. Fiel currently works as clinical pharmacist at Van Matre Encompass Health. I decided to pursue pharmacy education overseas because I wanted to challenge myself and grow my career as a pharmacist. I decided to come to UIC because it is one of the best pharmacy schools in the United States, and one of the nation’s most diverse public research universities. I completed pharmacy school on the Rockford campus, and I loved the small class size; it makes it easier to connect with your class and the pharmacy professors. Be professional and make connections everywhere you go, like they always say, pharmacy is a small world!.”
FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 3
T H E P H A R M A C I ST
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ALUMNI NEWS
KUDOS
HANNAH BRENNAN, PharmD ’20, is now the clinical pharmacist specialist, Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Stewardship, at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Illinois.
What has changed in your life? PLE ASE LET U S K N O W AT G O.U I C . E D U/ A LU M N I U P DAT E
TANYA CHAUDHRI, PharmD ’18, is now the associate director, Regulatory Affairs, in the Therapeutic Strategy with the Rare Disease Business Unit at Amgen. ANDREA COLLARO, PharmD ’97, was named to the Private Label Hall of Fame. With oversight of over a dozen private brands encompassing over 4,500 items, Andrea Collaro has touched consumers across the United States and earned recognition as a 2023 Private Label Hall of Fame honoree in the Private Brand Champion category. JAIME HOLDEN, PharmD ’20, is now the specialty clinical development pharmacist at CVS Caremark.
Andrea Collaro
MADIHA KHAN, PharmD ’19, was promoted to scientific director at the Lockwood Group in July 2023. OTILIA KOO, PhD ’05, has been elevated to fellow status in the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) The fellowship recognizes professional excellence and impact in developing products and therapies to improve global health. KUN LIN, PharmD ’21, is now the clinical pharmacist, Stem Cell Transplant, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
ALICE PAU, PharmD, Res ’84, received the 2023 U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service—the highest honor within HHS. Dr. Pau, a faculty member from 1988 to 1996, has worked at the National Institutes of Health since 1997. She played a critical role in the U.S. COVID-19 response and was recognized with this award for her leadership as executive secretary of the HHS Antiretroviral Guidelines Panel and the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel. She credits her success to the many years spent at UIC and the clinical skills, work ethic, and drive developed there.
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T H E P H A R M A C I ST
P H A R M A C Y.U I C . E D U
Otilia Koo
CARISSA MANCUSO, PharmD ’02, is now the associate director, Medical Information, Women’s Cancer Care, Eisai Inc. VISHAL SHAH, PharmD ’21, is now the pharmacy operations manager at Emory Specialty Pharmacy. ANDRELISA WALLEN, PharmD ’91, is now director of Material Review at Canopy Life Sciences.
IN MEMORIAM
LEONARD R. GROENEVELD, Class of 1957, passed on July 16, 2023, in Bastrop, Texas. JOHN M. CAMPBELL, Class of 1948, passed on February 15, 2023. He lived in Pinellas Park, Florida. PETER SOLYOM JR., BS ’51, passed on April 13, 2023, in Katy, Texas. He was 96 years old.
Remembering Thomas Temple The UIC College of Pharmacy salutes the life and
Dr. Manasse also worked with Tom later in life when
career of Thomas Ronald Temple, a graduate of UIC
Tom led the Iowa Pharmacists Association and its
Pharmacy in 1975. Tom Temple died August 14, 2023,
component group of hospital pharmacists.
at the age of 74.
Temple was an engaged supporter of the college over
Tom Temple was a leader in the profession of pharmacy.
the years. Bauman called him a loyal alumnus of the
He served as chief executive officer of the Iowa
University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. “He graduated
Pharmacy Association for 35 years and was well-known
the year before me, and later, I was fortunate to convince
nationally for his ability to collaborate and build bridges
him to serve on my Dean’s Advisory Committee where
across organizations. Dean Emeritus Jerry Bauman said
I relied upon him to provide strategic advice for
that Tom “was a leader both in Iowa and at the national
the direction of the college.” In 1998, Tom
level. He was instrumental in melding all pharmacists
Temple was recognized by the UIC College
in Iowa into a single organization, increasing their
of Pharmacy as Alumnus of the Year.
influence and serving as a model for state pharmacy professional organizations across the nation.”
“Tom Temple’s significant contributions to the profession of pharmacy were
Nationally, Temple served as member (2010–2020) and
noteworthy,” said Glen T. Schumock,
chair of the U.S. Pharmacopeia Board of Trustees, was
professor and dean of the University of
a member of the American Pharmacists Association
Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy. “Tom
Foundation Board of Directors (2013–2016), and was
exemplified the leadership and professional
president of the National Alliance of State Pharmacy
commitment that we instill in
Associations (1986–1987). His national status and
our graduates.”
contributions to the profession were recently reported in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (zxad241, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxad241).
His survivors include his wife of 48 years, Cathy (Chrischilles)
As a graduate of the UIC College of Pharmacy, Tom
Temple; his children
Temple was well-remembered. Dean Emeritus Henri
Brad and Eric; his
Manasse recalled Tom “as a diligent student who
grandchildren Tori
developed strong ties to his fellow students and to
and Leyton; and
several student organizations. He was clearly interested
his sister Donna
in leadership and enhancing the future of the profession.”
Hatzenbuhler.
ALUMNI NEWS
BABIES Beckett Dukala
DANUTA DUKALA, PharmD ’21, welcomed son Beckett Dukala in June. NICOLE MICHAEL, PharmD ’21, welcomed son Isaiah Michael on September 6, 2022. LAURIE NOSCHESE, PharmD ’12, and husband Ricky welcomed their daughter Claire Rosemary Noschese on February 9, 2023. Claire has a big sister Abby, age 6, and a big brother Jake, age 3. MYRNA RIVAS, PharmD ’18, and husband Jesus Perez welcomed son Jeriah Perez on June 2, 2023, Jeriah joins his 17 year-old brother, Jaysen.
Isaiah Michael
Claire Rosemary Noschese
RYAN SEELING, PharmD ’15, welcomed daughter Olivia Lou Seeling on January, 28, 2023.
Olivia Lou Seeling Jeriah Perez
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WEDDINGS
CHRIS SAFFORE, PharmD ’16, PhD ’19, and Mercedes Sanchez, PharmD ’16, were married on September 23, 2023, in Joliet, Illinois.
SEP
23
PL A N YOUR LEGACY AND INVEST IN THE
f u t u re OF THE UIC COLLEGE OF PHAR MACY TODAY
We are continually encouraged by the generosity of our dedicated alumni and f riends. As you ref lect upon your goals and consider your legacy, we hope you will include a deferred gift for UIC Pharmacy as part of your estate plan.
T A K E
T H E
K E Y Q U E S T I O N S T O A S K as you consider
your deferred gift: • How do you want to provide for yourself and your family? • What impact would you like to make at the college? • What tax advantages can you expect as you consult with your financial advisor and/or attorney? D E F E R R E D G I F T S are a simple, easy, and popular method that allow you to have an enduring legacy in the college. They include naming the University of Illinois Foundation (Tax ID 37-6006007), for the benefit of the College of Pharmacy at UIC, as a beneficiary through instruments like:
• Wills/living trusts and annuities • Retirement plans • Payable-on-death (POD)/transfer-on-death (TOD) provisions on brokerage or bank accounts • Gifts of real estate, stocks, and other securities
N E X T
S T E P
To learn more about ways to make a deferred gift to the College of Pharmacy or to share your intentions, contact Derrick Collins, senior director of development, at 312.996.3376 or dmc22@uic.edu or visit uif.giftplans.org today.
8 3 3 S . W O O D S T. ( M C 8 74 ) · C H I C A G O , I L 6 0 6 12
save the date: spring 2024 events CUBS VS. WHITE SOX SPRING TRAINING GAME Friday, March 1, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona U I C CO LLEG E O F PH A RM ACY H O N O RS CO NVOC ATI O N Thursday, March 28, 2024 / Rockford Campus Tuesday, April 2, 2024 / Chicago Campus
Contact pharmacy-advancement@uic.edu with any questions.
