The Pharmacist - Spring 2024

165 YEARS

THE MAGAZINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

Celebrating 165 Years and Much More

BY DEAN GLEN SCHUMOCK

Welcome to the spring 2024 issue of The Pharmacist. Spring is such an exciting time of the year at the UIC College of Pharmacy—with many different events recognizing the academic-year accomplishments of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and preceptors. Of course, this is all capped with the commencement ceremony for our graduating students in May.

This year we had 180 students cross the graduation stage to receive their diplomas, as you will see in this issue. These included, for the first time, students from the new Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program. These graduates were joined with those from our Doctor of Pharmacy, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy programs to form the Class of 2024. They join our alumni network of over 11,000 of the best pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists in the world.

We’ve been training pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists for a

long time—165 years to be exact. In fact, September 12, 2024, marks the 165th anniversary of the UIC College of Pharmacy. In this issue you will find the timeline for major events in the history of the college over those years. These include the Great Chicago Fire, the Civil War, and many others!

Among the important events in our history is the initiation of our residency program and the founding of the Rockford regional campus. Both of those are also celebrating anniversaries this year. The residency program started in 1969 and is now 55 years old. It is not only among the longest running, but also the largest program of its type. We plan to hold a celebration of this milestone during the UIC reception at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting on December 8, 2024, in New Orleans. Please

In 2010, we admitted the first class of PharmD students at the Rockford campus, and those students graduated in 2014. We have now had a decade of

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graduates in Rockford, and on May 4, 2024, we held a well-attended event to recognize this anniversary.

For 165 years, this college has steadfastly pursued our mission of education, research, and service. Like Chicago itself, the college has survived through grit and determination—and it has paid off. Our graduates have led the profession of pharmacy—not just in Illinois but across the country and world. Our faculty have made scientific discoveries that have cured disease and saved millions of lives. And the clinical programs of the college provide needed medications and pharmaceutical care to thousands of patients every day.

We are indebted to all those who have contributed to the success of this college throughout our history, and who do so now. It is people that make an institution great—and we have great people. Alumni, preceptors, and partners that join our faculty, staff, and students in making the UIC College of Pharmacy something to celebrate. Our Digital Edition

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Continuing Education Opportunities

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. See below wfor 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

PHARMACEUTICAL REPRESENTATIVE LIVE WEBINAR CE PROGRAM

A live webinar for pharmaceutical representatives will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024. Pharmaceutical representative continuing education programs are available for the City of Chicago and the State of Oregon, and participants may take these as individual home-study courses or join us virtually to complete all five courses in one day. For more information and to register, please visit go.uic.edu/pharmrep24

CHICAGOLAND CRITICAL CARE CONFERENCE

Please join us for the 9th annual Chicagoland Critical Care Conference to be held at UIC College of Pharmacy on Saturday, August 24, 2024. For more information and to register, please visit c4conference.uic.edu

EVENTS

Dr. PAUL CARLIER was named the Hans W. Vahlteich Chair in Medicinal Chemistry, and Dr. GUIDO PAULI is now the Norman R. Farnsworth Chair in Pharmacognosy. Drs. Carlier and Pauli celebrated their investitures together at a ceremony on April 8, 2024.

Dr. DAVID CHAN was appointed to the Alliance Pharmacy Committee. The Alliance Pharmacy Committee is a resource for research pharmacists at all Alliance member institutions.

Dr. STEPHANIE CRAWFORD has been named an associate director of UIC’s new Institute for Equitable Health Data Science Research. The institute will “shape solutions for biomedical and health data science and technology while prioritizing health equity for Chicago’s diverse population and beyond.”

Drs. TARA DRISCOLL and KAY YAMAMOTO are a new members of the ICHP Board. Dr. Drisscoll will serve as the director of educational affairs for 2023–2024. Dr. Yamamoto will serve as the New Practitioners Network chair for 2023–2024.

Dr. STEPHANIE DWYER KALUZNA served on the Peer Review Committee for the 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation.

Dr. ABIGAIL ELMES was awarded a Research Pilot Grant for her research titled, “Meeting Patients Where They Are: Expansion of Mobile Low-Threshold Buprenorphine and Van-Based Harm Reduction Services into Nonurban Settings.”

Dr. SCOTT FRANZBLAU was elected to a fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology. The academy recognizes excellence, originality, service, and leadership in the microbial sciences.

Drs. MATT GIMBAR and ADAM BURSUA served on ASHP’s Strategic Advisory Group on RFID technology in medication use systems.

Drs. JENNIE JARRETT, ABIGAIL ELMES , BRIAN MURPHY, PAUL CARLIER , ALEXANDER MANKIN , and DEBRA TONETTI presented three-minute summaries of their research at Chancellor Miranda’s SparkTalks, a forum for the UIC community to learn more about the top research being produced at UIC.

MARISSA KING was awarded the Rockstar Award at Rockford’s annual employee recognition award ceremony. The award recognizes excellence in “attitude, commitment, leadership, and job performance.”

Dr. BLAKE MAX was honored by the CORE Center with the creation of the Blake Max Excellence in HIV Teaching and Education Award. The award recognizes those who display compassion and dedication to patient care and education.

Paul Carlier

Guido Pauli

David Chan

Tara Driscoll

Kay Yamamoto

Stephanie Dwyer Kaluzna

Abigail Elmes

Scott Franzblau

RACHEL MORROW participated in the Professional Staff Leadership Academy. The academy “fosters a culture of exceptional, dynamic, and transformational leadership.”

Dr. MARIANNE POP was selected to serve on the Academic Emergency Medicine Pharmacists (AEMP) Program Committee.

Dr. PAOLA ROSAS was awarded the Vahlteich Research Award for her project titled, “The Impact of Shortchain Fatty Acids on Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications”. The Vahlteich Award supports innovative research by early career faculty members.

Dr. BERNARD SANTARSIERO received the Excellence in Higher Education [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion], Philanthropy, Humanitarian & Community Engagement Award from the Not Alone Foundation. The award honors excellence and contributions to society.

Dr. SHILPA SANT was elected to the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows.

Dean GLEN SCHUMOCK is one of 17 pharmacy school deans named to the Walgreens Deans Advisory Council. Schumock said he is excited to work with Walgreens to improve the impact that pharmacists can have in community practice and to support those pharmacists better. The new council was also the focus of a Crain’s Chicago Business article that quotes Schumock saying “[He] thinks the group will be able to drill down even further with Walgreens than it has in the past and provide the company with honest, open feedback about what the company can do, and what schools can do, to move together.”

Dr. ZONGMIN ZHAO was awarded the Maximizing Investigators Research Award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

UIC College of Pharmacy Remains a Top-Ranked National Program

The University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy is pleased to announce it is ranked #15 of over 140 colleges of pharmacy in the United States and the #1 pharmacy school in Illinois, according to rankings published on April 9, 2024, by US News & World Report. This year, UIC Pharmacy was one of four UIC graduate and professional programs ranked in the top 20 nationally.

“In this extremely competitive environment, it is an honor to see our college continue to be recognized as a top pharmacy program in the United States. We see the results of our efforts in the great career outcomes and impact of our graduates. I would like to thank our faculty, staff, students, and alumni network who consistently strive for excellence and make us proud to be a part of UIC,” says Dean Glen Schumock.

Pharmacy & Theraputics Team Places Third

The college’s P&T team placed third at the AMCP Foundation National Student Pharmacist Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Competition.

Blake Max

Marianne Pop

Bernard Santarsiero

Students included Sean Martin, Eddie Pallares, Leah Song, and Daniel Lee.

Dr. Alexander Mankin Named a Fellow

Dr. ALEXANDER MANKIN was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This is one of the scientific community’s most important honors and places our faculty among the nation’s top researchers and innovators.

Dr. John Nitiss Named Distinguished Researcher

Dr. JOHN NITISS has been honored with the UIC Distinguished Researcher Award in Basic Life Sciences. Nitiss’s lab discovered that drugs derived from bacteria targeting the activity of DNA topoisomerase could help kill cancer cells. But further experiments showed that mutations in the enzyme can also cause cancer.

“You now have this really interesting balance of an enzyme that’s a target for anticancer drugs, but it’s also an enzyme that, when perturbed, can promote cancer,” Nitiss said. “That leaves us with a lot of things to explore and potentially some novel strategies for new cancer therapies.”

Dr. Andrew Riley Named Rising Star

Dr. ANDREW RILEY has been named a UIC Rising Star in Basic Life Sciences. An expert in medicinal chemistry, Riley searches for new drugs in natural sources, such as the akuamma tree and the Aristotelia family of evergreen shrubs and trees. Some cultures use the seeds and leaves of these plants to treat pain and infection. Riley zeroes in on the compounds that produce these effects and seeks to test and improve on them in the laboratory.

With Aristotelia plants, Riley’s group used chemicals found in the leaves to create new synthetic compounds that target a specific brain receptor involved in the rewarding effects of drugs. Designing a new inhibitor of this receptor could help prevent relapse in people fighting addiction to cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, and other substances.

“We’re just at the beginning of the story here,” Riley said. “We’ve made the first discoveries, but the ultimate prize for me is being able to help patients. I think that’s why most of us go into drug discovery.”

Riley was also recently elected to the chair of the Early Career Board for the journal ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters

Dr. Todd Lee Named Faculty Mentor of the Year

Dr. TODD LEE was named UIC’s first ever Faculty Mentor of the Year. Huiwen Deng, a PhD candidate in the Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes, and Policy, was one of Lee’s mentees who nominated him for the award. Deng highlighted Lee’s supportive nature and thoughtful guidance as hallmarks of his mentorship style:

“Dr. Lee ensures that his students are not only wellprepared academically but also equipped with real-world insights,” says Deng. “This guidance has been crucial in aligning my career decisions with my aspirations and personal values. Dr. Lee’s comprehensive mentorship, encompassing both personal and professional development, has significantly shaped my approach to the postgraduation job landscape.”

70 Pharmacy Students Honored at the 2024 Chancellor’s Student Service Awards Ceremony

Since 1973, the Chancellor’s Student Service and Leadership Awards ceremony has recognized outstanding UIC student leaders and student volunteers who maintain high academic achievement and demonstrate a commitment to the UIC community.

This year, UIC Pharmacy students won the most awards of any college with a total of 70 student winners: 65 PharmD students, four graduate students, and one BSPS student. Congratulations to all!

FOLA AROWORA has been selected as a 2024 Janssen Scholars of Oncology Diversity Engagement. The program builds relationships with exceptional, ethnically diverse PharmD students and helps them shape their careers.

CELESTE DEDIC won the USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award.

2024 Commencement Awards

Congratulations to the following students and instructors who were honored at the 2024 Commencement ceremony on May 1, 2024:

PharmD Valedictorians

 Travis Robert Hanson

 Hidaya Almahdy Hassan

 Elaina Joan Johnson

 Mitchell Scott Sorensen

 Kendall Yerkes

Golden Apple Award

 Dr. Varanya Chaiyaperm

Preceptors of the Year

 Dr. Lori Wilken

Internal Preceptor of the Year

 Dr. Marissa Booth

OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center

External Preceptor of the Year

Student pharmacists SAM FORDJOUR , CELESTE DEDIC , and NIAM VORA met Dr. Anothony Fauci after his talk with Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda.

Student pharmacist TEHUT ZEWDU and medical student

ELLIE LIEB won the College of Pharmacy’s Outstanding Poster Award for clinical/community research at the Rockford campus’s annual Research Day.

Sam Fordjour, Dr. Anothony Fauci, Celeste Dedic, and Niam Vora

Fola Arowora

The BSPS Program Graduates Its First Class and Valedictorian

The College of Pharmacy is pleased to announce its first graduating class of the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) program. First announced in 2021, the new major is the first of its kind in Illinois and was created to enhance the appeal of UIC to undergraduates interested in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

“We are really proud of these first graduates of the BSPS program. They were pioneers in entering this new program, and I think that spirit and drive will bode well as they move on in their careers,” says Dean Glen Schumock.

What does it mean to you to be the valedictorian of the BSPS program?

I am proud that my hard work is being recognized. It is an immense privilege to be the valedictorian in the first ever BSPS graduation cohort. It was not an easy journey, but I am thankful for all of my peers, professors, and advisors who paved the way for my success.

What made you decide to pursue the BSPS program?

I was initially a chemistry major as the BSPS program was not established until my sophomore year at UIC. Once I learned about the program, it made more sense for me to pursue it due to its continuity with my PharmD degree.

What’s your favorite memory from your time in the BSPS program?

I would like to acknowledge Dr. Bruzik for his dedication to his students and his continuous support for his students’ success. I also found medicinal chemistry to be an interesting introduction to drug-design, drug-receptor interactions, and many more topics.

Were there any challenges you experienced during the program that you were able to overcome?

It was definitely difficult to adjust to my last year of the BSPS program, which was my

Students complete the BSPS program course work in the final two years of their undergraduate degree, and have the option to apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program and enroll as P1s in their final year of BSPS. This year, the BSPS valedictorian is P1 student ODEH-JORDAN FAKHOURY. We asked him about his experience so far at UIC Pharmacy, the BSPS program, and how he feels about being the program’s first valedictorian.

P1 year of pharmacy school as well. During that time, I was also participating in research for my honors capstone project. The workload is significantly more demanding. However, with the right mindset, it is possible to adapt, whether it be through forming study groups or identifying new study strategies.

What advice would you give to students who are just starting the BSPS program?

My advice to students who are starting the BSPS program is to exercise moderation. While studying is essential, it is important to recognize that college is a time for personal growth as well. It is important to learn how to effectively manage your time to allow for rest, extracurricular activities, and other interests.

What are you looking forward to in your next three years in the UIC PharmD program

In the next three years, I hope to gain more opportunities to be involved in industrial pharmacy. I have great interest in drug discovery and clinical trial design, which I would like to explore further. I wish to gain experiences that enrich my portfolio through collaboration with professors and involvement in professional organizations within the college.

13th Annual Images of Research Competition Winners

The Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education hosted the 13th annual College of Pharmacy (COP) “Images of Research” competition. The competition assembles a portfolio of the most innovative and creative images to convey the range of research taking place in the college. Congratulations to this year’s winners!

CHEMISTRY

IS THE PAINT, AND LIGHT IS MY PAINTBRUSH

Elie Abi Khalil

PhD Student, Pharmaceutical Sciences

“Here we see the College of Pharmacy logo printed on a mouse spleen section with a photoactivatable dye, a digital micromirror device, and blue LED light. I am developing an imaging-based technique for labeling regions of interest to investigate the multiomic changes taking place within the tumor microenviornment and in therapeutic development.”

LEVCELL LIQUID DROPLET SUSPENSION

Cory Matsumoto PhD Student, Pharmaceutical Sciences

“In the Levcell, multiple liquid droplets are suspended in the air using acoustic levitation to counteract the force of gravity. A sample addition arm contactlessly adds reagent (yellow) to previously levitated droplets (clear) in an automated fashion.”

FINDING LOVE IN SCIENCE

Angeliki Andrianopoulou PhD Student, Pharmaceutical Sciences

“During tissue viability assessment within an ex vivo porcine skin model, the TUNEL assay, designed to identify DNA fragmentation associated with cell apoptosis, indicated that most of the fibroblasts in the lower dermis have undergone apoptosis. But here’s the fun part: we stumbled upon a heart-shaped black spot, probably just some leftover tissue debris, which brought a smile to our faces. It’s a little reminder that science’s surprises can pop up anywhere, even in the most unexpected spots!”

UIC PHARMACY: 165 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP

Since its inception in 1859, the UIC College of Pharmacy has been a leader and pioneer in pharmacy education, research, and service, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of pharmacy, pharmacists, researchers, and healthcare leaders in Illinois and beyond.

As we reflect on our college’s rich history and impact, we express gratitude for all those who have contributed over the past 165 years—from the college’s founders to the dedicated faculty, staff, students, and alumni who continue to carry the torch and advance our mission of excellence in education, research, and service.

Here’s to 165 years of learning, discovery, and growth— and to many more years of success!

We will be celebrating this anniversary in person in fall 2024—more information will be coming as we get closer to the official anniversary date of September 12, 2024.

1833

The City of Chicago is incorporated.

1852

The American Pharmaceutical Association, now known as the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) is formed.

1859

On September 12, the charter that forms the Chicago College of Pharmacy is signed, marking the official establishment of Illinois’s first school of pharmacy, the sixth school of pharmacy in the nation, and making it the oldest college in the University of Illinois System.

1861

The college graduates its first class of two students.

1862

Chicago College of Pharmacy closes due to the Civil War Professors and students join the Union forces.

1868

The college begins a monthly academic periodical called The Pharmacist, the third pharmaceutical journal in America.

1871

The Great Chicago Fire destroys roughly 3.3 square miles of the city and over 17,000 structures, including the college’s own building. Albert Ebert begins writing letters to friends and pharmacist colleagues around the world to help save the college. The rescue effort was led by Dr. John Attfield, who was able to secure support from people and organizations in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, Italy, and across the United States.

1872

The college is rebuilt and reopens on October 2, 1872. The new building is named in honor of Dr. Attfield.

1880

The college assists in the creation of the Illinois Pharmaceutical Association

Dr. John Attfield

1896

On May 2, 1896 The Chicago College of Pharmacy becomes part of the University of Illinois. The college is renamed the University of Illinois School of Pharmacy

1912

Along with the Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry, the college moves to Chicago’s west side on South Wood Street.

1917

The Northwestern School of Pharmacy merged with the University of Illinois School of Pharmacy. The Northwestern School of Pharmacy operated from 1886 to 1917.

1932

The college is renamed and becomes the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy.

1941

The college introduces graduate degree programs: Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy

1950

Head of the university’s Institute for Tuberculosis Research Sol Rosenthal develops the Tice strain of the BCG vaccine to prevent tuberculosis.

1954

The College of Pharmacy moves to a newly constructed six-story building and current home– 833 South Wood Street

Dean Oscar Oldberg

1965

The University of Illinois Chicago Circle campus opens.

1969

The college graduates its first cohort of pharmacy residents

1982

The Medical Center and Circle campuses consolidate to form the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC).

1984

The college moves exclusively to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree as the only professional degree awarded.

1986

The BCG vaccine originally developed at the college’s Tuberculosis Institute gains official approval for treating bladder cancer

1999

The college celebrates the groundbreaking of the Dorothy Bradley Atkins Medicinal Plant Garden.

2003

The college receives a $15.7 million grant to develop new antibiotics to treat and prevent Anthrax infection.

2008

The college suffers its second “Great Fire.” A fire in the 833 South Wood Street building forces classes to be canceled for a week and results in months of rebuilding.

2010

The college expands to a second campus in Rockford, Illinois

2014

The college graduates its first cohort of PharmD students from the Rockford campus.

2016

The college unveils the Foglia Compounding Lab, a world-class training space for students to learn compounding, sterile, and non-sterile preparation of medications.

2017

Pozen Plaza is dedicated, and the college installs the world’s second largest mortar and pestle at 833 South Wood Street.

2019

The Herbert and Carol Retzky Simulation Lab is unveiled, providing students access to a state-of-the-art education and training space.

2020

College helps lead the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine to people across Chicago and throughout Illinois. Phexxi, a contraceptive gel developed by UIC Pharmacy’s Don Waller, hits the market.

2021

The college launches the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, which allows students to complete a bachelor’s degree and a PharmD in seven years.

2022

The college unveils six new concentrations to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, unlocking new academic and career opportunities for its students.

2024

The college celebrates its 165th anniversary.

The

Future of Excellence in Education, Equitable Patient Care, and Research is

on the

way with the Drug Discovery and Cancer Research Pavilion (DDCRP).

The UIC College of Pharmacy along with the UI Centre and our partners in the UI Cancer Center, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) are set to launch a new initiative that will leverage our robust academic health enterprises by doing something only UIC is uniquely positioned to do: Provide the broadest access to the highest levels of educational, research, and clinical excellence.

THE DDCRP WILL:

1. Allow our students the opportunity to learn from the best in an environment not often experienced at other R1 Universities.

2 . Bring necessary attention and resources to health equity and drug discovery that will impact our local and global community.

3 . Create a new state-of-the-art facility for top-notch researchers to collaborate under one roof.

We need your support to bring this project to fruition. To learn more about the DDCRP and how you can help strengthen the future of the UIC College of Pharmacy, e-mail senior director of development Derrick Collins at dmc22@uic.edu or call 312.996.3376

ROCKFORD, RESIDENCY MILESTONES HIGHLIGHT UNIQUE UIC PROGRAMS

by Michael Dhar

As the UIC College of Pharmacy commemorates 165 years, two vital components of the school have their own anniversaries: The residency program marks 55 years of training some of the nation’s most promising new pharmacists, while the Rockford pharmacy campus celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its first graduating class.

“They’re both really important milestones and, I think, especially in combination with the 165th, show the long-term success of the College of Pharmacy,” Dr. Glen Schumock, dean of the college, said.

A HALF-CENTURY TRAINING RESIDENTS

UIC’s pharmacy residency program, one of the first in the nation, graduated its initial cohort in 1969. Since then, UIC has also had one of the country’s largest and most comprehensive postgraduate pharmacy training programs, consisting of first- and second-year (PGY1 and PGY2) residencies and research-focused fellowships.

After launching with four residents, the program has hosted 893 total residents and fellows, granting 1,027 certificates as of 2023. The PGY1 program includes 12 residents at UI Health (with more in community-based, international, and other residencies), making it “one of the bigger programs in the country,” said Dr. Kirsten Ohler, PGY1 Director. “Most have maybe two to six residents.”

Beyond size, the program boasts a record of success, matching 98% of PGY1 residents seeking PGY2 or fellowship opportunities from 2020 to 2022. Professional and academic worlds recognize the quality of UIC residents, too, Ohler said. “Our residents, when they hit the job market, are highly sought after by academic institutions [and] pharmaceutical companies into leadership roles fairly early in their careers.”

As it’s grown, the program has also diversified. Hospital or clinical residencies remain the largest “and probably best known” aspect of UIC’s program, but it has expanded into ambulatory care and other areas, Schumock said. Recent PGY1

After launching with 4 residents, the program has hosted 893 total residents and fellows, granting 1,027 certificates as of 2023.

additions include residencies at Rockford (first graduates, 2021). Specialized (now called PGY2) residencies graduated their first cohort in 1983; starting with emergency medicine, that program has added oncology, infectious diseases pharmacy, emergency medicine at Rockford (first graduates, 2023), and more.

The first research fellowships were halfspecialty pharmacy/half-research and started with cardiology (first graduates, 1983). Longer, two- to three-year research fellowships started just afterward, with the first graduates in 1984. The fellowship program has grown to include specialties

from infectious diseases (the largest) to academia/family medicine.

Today’s residency program owes its clinical focus to the vision of Dr. Richard Hutchinson, former director of pharmacy and head of pharmacy practice, said Dr. Frank Paloucek, residency program director, 1999–2019. Hutchinson wanted to help spur the discipline’s evolution toward clinical pharmacy, and “he thought the key was to train as many young people as you could into believing that’s what it should be,” Paloucek said. Hutchinson “put an enormous commitment” into the residency program, supporting 12 residents at a “time

[when] there were like 200 total residency positions in the country.”

Perhaps the residency program’s biggest innovation came in 1980 with on-call and resident-report requirements. (In these components, residents stay overnight at the hospital to respond to emergencies and provide drug information, then gather with other residents and preceptors to discuss lessons.) Residents have proven themselves invaluable at the hospital. “Physicians and nurses at the highest levels of the medical center said you cannot get rid of the residency program,” Paloucek said. “That, to me, is the enduring legacy for the UIC College of Pharmacy.”

Residency alumni name the on-call program as a highlight, too. “Not a lot of pharmacy residency programs have an in-house on-call program where you have an experience like a medical resident where you sleep in the hospital, carry a pager,” said Dr. Karen Berger, critical care resident in 2010–2011. The experience of “being responsible to go to a cardiac arrest or a stroke or an emergency in the ED or answer some complicated drug information questions . . . is very helpful,” said Berger, now an assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Nova Southeastern University and a trauma and medical ICU pharmacist at Broward Health Medical Center in Florida.

The on-call program stands out, too, for alumni from the program’s earlier days. “That on-call program was probably the most valuable experience I had,” said Dr. Robert Parker, who completed a fellowship with a clinical pharmacy component in

1987–1989. He credits his fellowship experience under former dean Dr. Jerry Bauman with underpinning his research career at the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy in Memphis. Parker’s fellowship studies on reversing cocaine toxicity (still cited in treatment guidelines) “set the foundation for what I’ve done as a faculty member here,” he said.

An alumnus of the program himself, Bauman started his residency in 1976, just as Hutchinson was transforming the focus toward clinical pharmacy. “To this day, it was a great experience,” Bauman said. “It made me want to pursue clinical pharmacy as a career.”

A DECADE OF ROCKFORD GRADS

In 2010, UIC Pharmacy joined the UIC health-sciences campus in Rockford (itself celebrating 50 years of the medical school this year). The first pharmacy class graduated four years later. Created “to meet the needs of the state in improving recruitment and eventual graduation of pharmacists into rural communities and beyond,” the Rockford campus has proven its value, said Dr. Kevin Rynn, dean of the Rockford campus. “Marking the 10 years, it’s been important as a college and as a campus for us to meet those needs.”

UIC Rockford Pharmacy has grown from a faculty of three to four professors to 35 faculty and staff members, graduating 338 PharmD students, as well as six pharmacy PhD students.

For Dr. Chris Schriever, PharmD ’99, among the first Rockford Pharmacy faculty members and a Rockford native, the campus’s first 14 years have meant maturing from a newcomer to a known commodity. “Rockford was trying in the beginning to find its foothold within the city, to let the Rockford region know that we’re here,” he said. “And I think we’ve advanced . . . we’re going out throughout the region, throughout the state, and nationally now.”

One of the major contributions of Rockford Pharmacy comes from its Rural Pharmacy Education (RPHARM) Program, designed to train grads for service-oriented careers in rural areas. The program, one of few in the nation, helps address a critical shortage in rural areas in Illinois and beyond. “To be able to supply high-quality pharmacists to rural communities that might otherwise have to close pharmacies or hospitals because they don’t have health care professionals . . . that’s been a real benefit,” Schumock said.

A total of 61 UIC Rockford graduates have earned the RPHARM concentration with 75% taking their first job in an area with a shortage of health professionals and 44% in rural areas. As of 2023, 62% still had jobs in shortage areas and 43% in rural locations, “which I think is a huge win,” said Dr. Heidi Olson, RPHARM director. “And we know that over half of our graduates from the rural program are practicing within 50 miles of their hometown.”

UIC Pharmacy has also helped improve medical care in Rockford and surrounding areas through partnerships with local health care institutions, including via the new Rockford residencies, Schumock said. “The impact that we’ve had by placing faculty in and creating collaborations with those health systems has elevated the care that is provided to people that live in Rockford.” Partner institutions include providers like OSF HealthCare and Crusader Community Health.

Rockford Pharmacy staff and students also stay active in the community in other ways. “At health fairs, immunization events, and volunteer activities, I see the college wellrepresented,” Schriever said. In particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic, UIC partnered with the Winnebago County Health Department to deliver vaccinations on campus and at local clinics. “Without our help, efforts for the county likely would not have been as smooth,” Rynn said.

UIC Pharmacy’s presence in Rockford has created opportunities for potential future pharmacists in the area, as well. Outreach efforts include the Summer Pharmacy

The Rural Pharmacy Education program, one of few in the nation, helps address a critical shortage in rural areas in Illinois and beyond.

Institute (SPI), a weeklong immersion program for college students, and similar, half-day programs for area high schoolers. These programs are made possible by generous funding from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, another great local partnership, Rynn said.

These pipeline programs aim to bring young people to UIC but also the pharmacy profession in general. Since SPI began in 2015, the program has welcomed 310 students to the campus—with 34% of 2015–2022 attendees applying to the college and 20% enrolling.

Simply the presence of UIC Pharmacy in Rockford had made a tremendous difference

for some area students. Dr. Annette Carmichael, PharmD ’16, grew up in Rockford, and life circumstances prevented her from leaving the area for grad school.

The Rockford campus made a pharmacy career possible for her, she said.

“When the campus actually came to fruition and opened, it really opened the possibility for me to go to graduate school,” said Carmichael, now a clinical assistant professor and director of the Rockford PGY1 residency program. “And the best part of all of it, I love the area. This is home for me, and I got to stay home and pursue my dreams.”

UIC COLLEGE OF PHARMACY LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP

This year marks a significant moment in the history of the University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy: our 165th year of educating pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, producing cutting-edge research, and providing innovative patient care to serve our local, national, and global communities. As the college looks to the future, Dean Schumock has identified scholarship support as a top priority to recruit the best students entering the field of pharmacy.

To celebrate this historic moment, we are announcing the college’s commitment to educating current and future leaders of pharmacy with the UIC College of Pharmacy Legacy Scholarship Program. This new matching scholarship program, the first of its kind at UIC, is an investment

in our students that will help ensure they complete their pharmacy education with debt below the national average. Your gift will help ensure the brightest minds keep applying to pharmacy school and are able to choose UIC over other competitors.

The College of Pharmacy will match 50% or 100% of your contribution when you invest in the Legacy Scholarship Program with a gift that meets the following requirements:

 Contribute $50,000 and the college will make a 50% match on your scholarship gift.

 Contribute $100,000 to $1 million and the college will make a 100% match on your scholarship gift.

 Gifts must support merit- or need-based recruitment scholarships in the college.

 Donor(s) may add one additional preferred criterion (e.g., degree program, department, or geographic location).

 Qualifying gifts may be pledged but must be fully paid within five years to remain eligible.

ALREADY HAVE AN ENDOWED A SCHOLARSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE?

If you are willing to update the scholarship criteria to that of the legacy scholars program, you can qualify for the match for additions to your existing scholarship.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER FULL FUNDING?

Once fully funded, scholarships may be named as [donor(s) preferred name] Legacy Scholarship, and student recipients will be known as Legacy Scholars.

QUESTIONS?

For any questions about this scholarship program and gifts to the college, please contact senior director of development Derrick Collins at dmc22@uic.edu or call

312.996.3376

ALUMNI REUNION

ALUMNI REUNION AND RESEARCH DAY

The college celebrated its 14th Annual Research Day and kicked off its Alumni Reunion at a combined reception on November 10. Thanks to the terrific students who presented their great research and our spectacular alumni, friends, and faculty who served as the poster judges. Thanks to all the alumni who attended reunion events on November 10 and 11. Save the date for next year’s Research Day on November 1, 2024.

| RESEARCH DAY

CONVOCATION

CONVOCATION

The 2024 Honors Convocation receptions took place on March 28 and April 2, 2024. This year, over $180,000 was awarded to 140 students, with some students receiving more than one award. Congratulations to all the honorees, and thank you to all the donors for their continued support of our students’ education.

COMMENCEMENT 2024

COMMENCEMENT 2024

The College of Pharmacy celebrated its newest group of graduates on May 2, 2024, exactly 128 years to the day after the college formally joined the University of Illinois System. President Tim Killeen, Chancellor

Marie Lynn Miranda, and keynote speaker and dean of the UW–Madison College of Pharmacy Steve Swanson, PhD ’90, gave speeches to an enthusiastic crowd of students, families, and friends. The Class of 2024 includes the first-ever graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) program. Watch the livestream at graduation.pharmacy.uic.edu. Congratulations to all!

11 new invention disclosures

43 U.S. patent applications

5 U.S. patents issued

#7 currently national-ranked pharmacy school FY22 at $27.79m (FY23 rankings to be released summer 2024.)

scholarships + aid

$353 , 711 scholarships awarded $489, 050 total awarded scholarships, prizes, awards, fellowships, and waivers

UI Health pharmacy services

353 , 107 total prescriptions filled

81,783 prescriptions processed (UI team RX)

19,459 Medication Assistance Program prescriptions

43,250 specialty pharmacy prescriptions

7,012 patients served by the Medication Assistance Program

JIM MOWRY, BS ’77, AND JUDI JACOBI MOWRY

DONATED $2 MILLION

Mowry-Jacobi Clinical Toxicology

Fund to support clinical toxicology efforts within pharmacy, promote careers, and enhance research and knowledge in the field.

WAYNE BOHENEK , PharmD ’89,

KATHERINE DESANCTIS , PharmD ’17, KIM SPENCER , PharmD ’03, DESI KOTIS , PharmD ’94, and JESS DE JESUS , PharmD ’90, were all alumni named in Becker’s “75 Hospital and Health System Chief Pharmacy Officers to Know” article.

KATHERINE DESANCTIS , PharmD ’17, is now director of pharmacy for Home Hospital at Mass General Brigham.

BASEM K. HAMDAN , PharmD ’23, started their new position as pharmacy manager at Walgreens.

JOSEPH FRIEDMAN , RPh ’78, was named among the 50 most influential leaders in pharmacy by Drug Store News

RAZAN HENDI , PharmD ’22, started a new position as hospice consultant pharmacist at Delta Care Rx.

OTILIA M. KOO , PharmD ’05, is now portfolio vice president at Novo Nordisk.

MARK A. PILKINGTON , MS ’88, was named executive director of Pharmacy Profiles, LLC (subsidiary of APhA).

DANYA M. QATO , PharmD ’02, was awarded the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) 2024 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Recognition Award.

KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK 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?

We are continually encouraged by the generosity of our dedicated alumni and friends. As you reflect upon your goals and consider your legacy, we hope you will include a deferred gift for UIC Pharmacy as part of your estate plan.

DEFERRED GIFTS 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

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

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.

FITZLOFF, ’84, celebrated faculty member, passed away in his home in Lombard, Illinois, on February 1. He was a medical chemistry faculty member at the College of Pharmacy for almost 40 years.

Remembering Thomas A. Tolhurst

December 24, 1946–December 28, 2023

Thomas Albert Tolhurst, instructor in the Department Pharmaceutical Sciences, passed away on December 28, 2023, in Chicago at the age of 77. He is survived by his children, Tom Tolhurst and Brooke Tolhurst; granddaughter Nina Gracie Mirza; partner Varanya Chaiyaperm; and siblings Harry Tolhurst, Jr., and Marilyn Douglas.

The UIC College of Pharmacy gathered to honor Thom’s memory at a special ceremony at the college on April 23, 2024. Thom’s decadeslong legacy as a caring teacher and mentor lives on in the many UIC Pharmacy students who were positively impacted by his teaching and support. He will be greatly missed by the college community. Here are a few reflections on Thom and his impact:

“Thom was one of my favorite professors at UIC. He was the first professor I met in office hours, and I had the pleasure of having him as my phlames mentor. Thom always challenged me to think outside of the box while also encouraging me to have fun and enjoy my time at UIC. If you knew Thom, you’d know he had a sense of humor that could make you smile no matter the circumstance.”

— Asia Banks, Student Pharmacist, Class of 2025

“Thom labored very hard and diligently to help his students. He scheduled many office hours, and often when I walked into the outer office, Thom would be there working kinetics problems with his students. I believe a

majority of every class would form a studentteacher/mentor bond with the man. He worked hard to help them learn.”

— Ronald L. Koch, Emeritus Associate Professor

“Thom was truly one of a kind. I was fortunate to have him as a partner for seven years. He had the biggest and kindest heart of anyone I have ever met. Thom would always try to come off as tough with the students, but when they got to know him, they knew how supportive he was.

If you come across a pharmacist who graduated from UIC College of Pharmacy and asked them if they remember Thom, I am sure the answer would be yes and there would be a funny memory to share. That is his legacy, and he will be truly missed.”

— Varanya Chaiyaperm, Clinical Assistant Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences

“Thom was always helpful to whomever needed help. Primarily, this involved students in his courses, but also included new faculty, graduate teaching assistants assigned to his classes, and administrative staff; Thom was a giving person. Thom’s experience at the college spanning more than 35 years was a valuable resource to all. Students lined up outside his door—usually at the last minute— when they realized their lack of understanding in Thom’s courses. Thom helped them all no matter what the circumstances. Thom was a

KENNETH M. SOLOVY, PharmD ’69, who studied pharmaceutical chemistry in the Graduate College of the UIC Medical Center, passed on February 18, 2023, in Thousand Oaks, California, at age 83.

model of flexibility, service, and loyalty. Thank you, Thom, for your dedication, diligence, patience, and for being a good friend. You have impacted many lives and professional careers. You will not be forgotten.”

— Paul L. Pluta, BS ’70, PhD ’76

“Thom was an excellent educator. Pharmacokinetics was a tough subject, but he had a unique way of conveying profound concepts in a manner that still resonates with me today. Above his being a wonderful educator is his immense support he had for anyone that needed it. He always had students in his office. He always believed in his students and wanted to align his actions to ultimately benefit students. That was his goal and that was his passion.”

— Nishant B. Thakar, PhD ’12

The college will be setting up a scholarship in Thom’s memory. If you wish to contribute, please contac the Pharmacy Advancement office at pharmacy-advancement@uic.edu.