Rising to the Challenge
Dean’s Message As we reflect on the past year, we can’t do so without acknowledging the impact the global pandemic has had on us all. From delivery of remote instruction to establishing new clinical collaborations, from new research endeavors for COVID-19 patients to participation in vaccine clinics, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni have proven that when tested, we rise to the challenge. During the pandemic, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni were on the frontlines caring for our community. They led and coordinated vaccine clinics on campus and in the community and continued to manage COVID-19 testing for the University. They also participated in vaccine clinical trials and provided needed resources for families on the Eastern Shore. I continue to admire our faculty and staff commitment to student learning. In addition to improving the virtual learning experience, they continued to provide academic and non-academic support for our students. The tutoring sessions, late night study groups, and C.H.A.T. (Comfort, Help, Attention, Take a Moment) sessions were really appreciated by the students. I am also grateful for the faculty, staff, and alumni who stepped up to host three in-person events for the students this semester. They provided an amazing experience for the White Coat Ceremony (Class of 2023), Pinning Ceremony (Class of 2022), and the Hooding and Awards Ceremony (Class of 2021). The students’ family, friends, and loved ones really enjoyed these events. Lastly, despite this being a challenging year for everyone, I have never been more proud of the UMES Pharmily. They demonstrated dedication, flexibility, and resilience in the midst of the pandemic. I hope reading this edition of Rx Times fills you with the same sense of pride.
With Hawk Pride,
Rondall E. Allen, B.S., Pharm.D. Dean and Professor
List of Administrators Dr. Heidi M. Anderson President Dr. Nancy Niemi Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
The new Pharmacy and Health Professions Building Coming in 2022
Dr. Rondall E. Allen Dean, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions Dr. James Bresette Associate Dean for Development and External Relations, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 Somerset County’s Health Dept. Partnered With UMES for a COVID Vaccination Clinic
Dr. Timothy Gladwell Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assessment
Dr. Lana Sherr Assistant Dean for Professional Affairs
4 UMES Pharmacy Students as COVID-19 First Responders in the Community
Dr. Tosin David Interim Assistant Dean for Experiential Education
5 Virtual Learning…A New Kind of School
6 Caps Off to the Class of 2021
Dr. Sean Vasaitis Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
7 Post-Graduate Opportunities
8 Award Descriptions
Dr. Victor Hsia Department Chair, Pharmaceutical Sciences
9 UMES SOP Graduation Awards 2021
3 Can a Test Shape the Right COVID Treatment?
10 Class of 2022 Pinning Ceremony
Dr. Miriam Purnell Department Chair, Pharmacy Practice and Administration
11 The White Coat Ceremony - Welcome Class of 2023
Communications Committee Dr. Yen Dang Dr. Frederick Tejada Mrs. Nancy Rodriguez-Weller
14 Alumni Updates
Alumni Affairs Co-Directors Dr. Patrice L. Jackson-Ayotunde Dr. Frederick Tejada Dr. Hoai-An Truong This magazine is a publication of the School of Pharmacy. To update your mailing information, send an email to pldouglas@umes.edu or call 410-651-8327. For more information about the School, visit our website www.umes.edu/shp.
12 The Residency Corner: Dr. Seohwee “Chloe” Ahn
15 United States Representative Buddy Carter Comes to UMES 16 Hard Hat Day - A Peek at the Construction of the School 0f Pharmacy 17 Participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disclaimer: Some pictures show people without facial coverings or not socially distancing. UMES School of Pharmacy is in strict compliance with the Centers for Disease Control, the State of Maryland, and the University of Maryland Systems guidelines on COVID-19. Testing and COVID-19 vaccinations have been required for all UMES individuals.
UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
1
One down. One to go.
Somerset County’s health dept. partnered with UMES for a COVID vaccination clinic A steady stream of UMES students, faculty and staff took advantage of an onSecond year PharmD campus COVID vaccine clinic, a turnout that student Safiya Nur left organizers encouraged that headway draws up vaccine doses. is being made in the fight against the pandemic. President Heidi M. Anderson, who is already fully vaccinated, and Dr. Rondall E. Allen, dean of UMES’ School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, were among campus leaders on hand when the doors opened in the Student Services Center’s ballroom. Waiting inside was a well-oiled machine of healthcare professionals; staffers from the Somerset County health department, students and faculty from the university’s pharmacy school and counterparts from Salisbury University. At the end of the first, four-hour clinic, 102 vaccines were administered, according to Dr. Lana S. Sherr, an associate professor of pharmacy and Assistant Dean for Professional Affairs. (A second clinic was added April 12.) A county health department spokeswoman said the agency used the same template to deliver the first dose of the Moderna vaccine at UMES as it has at the department’s headquarters in Westover the past several weeks, including participation of pharmacy students who administer the shots. Among the first students to receive a vaccine was Mona Gassama, a junior biology major from Lanham, Md. “I decided to do it because my parents are older, I don’t want to put them at risk,” Gassama said. Her mother, she said, is a nurse and is vaccinated. Fredrick Adeoye said both his parents also work in the healthcare field and got their vaccines in January, so “it just made sense when this (opportunity) came up that I should do it, too.” “It was a given for me,” the junior engineering major from Hyattsville, Md. said. Then there was Shellyann Henry, a first-year doctoral student in food and agricultural
sciences. “As a student and a mother, it is my responsibility to ensure that those around me are safe,” the mother of four said. “One such way of doing so is to get vaccinated.” UMES faculty members Lana Sherr, Nancy Rodriquez-Weller and Hoai-an Truong were on hand pitching in and observing their students administer the vaccines to peers and employees. “It’s been going very well,” Truong said. “We’re very encouraged by the turnout.” Truong said the pandemic has afforded pharmacy students and instructors a rare opportunity to join the frontlines of combatting the Our pharmacy students vaccinating our faculty spread of a rare, members. Great injection technique! deadly virus that overwhelmed the world in 2020. Those receiving the vaccination were closely monitored for a minimum of 15 minutes to guard against any potential allergic reactions. UMES employee-volunteers sported “This is my fighting COVID-19 shirt” -- and masks, of course -- to help guide those who came out through the process. Dr. Yen Dang, pharmacy professor and a member of the Maryland Department of Health SARS CoV-2 Technical Advisory Board, stresses the importance of UMES, a Historically-Black College and University, actively participating in COVID-19 vaccination events. “There has been mistrust in the medical community among people of color due to historical examples like the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. Minorities have been disproportionally affected by COVID-19 yet have higher rates of vaccine hesitancy. The key to getting communities of color to buy-in on the vaccine is to get local leaders to come out in support of the vaccine and to make it as accessible as possible. By disseminating scientific findings about COVID-19 and participating in COVID-19 vaccination events, UMES is committed to improving the Eastern Shore’s COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates.” Students and faculty at the first UMES COVID-19 vaccine clinic.
2 UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
Can a test shape the right COVID treatment?
UMES alum and privatesector partners think they found one that works
A partnership between UMES and a
A year ago, Figliozzi was working with IES
“What you’re going to get [is] … maybe
Dorchester County biotech company has
Life Sciences Inc. in Cambridge, Md., which
two or three levels,” Jubin said in an interview
produced promising results for a test to
had been focused on developing technology
with WUSA. “So, no disease, low disease, high
guide treatment options for newly diagnosed
involving its research on lupus and cancer-
disease.”
COVID-19 patients.
detection when the pandemic was declared.
“The doctor needs to determine if a
The team of scientists shifted its attention to
patient has a score of 10, or a one or a five,”
taking on the COVID-19 virus.
he said, “they need to easily understand what
Pending emergency authorization by the federal government, the test shows potential
that means.”
in helping identify effective treatment
Figliozzi did his doctoral research under
protocols while alleviating pressure on
Dr. Victor Hsia, who conducts research
resources, including healthcare providers on
on the herpes virus, which shares some
the frontlines.
characteristics with the COVID version.
“My cousin died on a Saturday from
“As soon as we get … the rigorous FDA
Figliozzi’s familiarity with Hsia’s work helped
COVID,” he said. “My mother died on the
approval and authorization process, we’ll be
guide the UMES-IES research partnership in
Sunday from COVID ... (the) same weekend.”
able to get … this test directly into the hands
concentrating on biomarkers to gauge how a
Figliozzi said a challenge has been trying
of labs and clinicians all around the country,
body’s immune system responds to the new
to measure if an infected patient’s immune
and hopefully, the world,” Dr. Rob Figliozzi
disease.
system reacts favorably and causes little or no
IES’s chief executive officer David Spiegel has seen COVID’s impact up close.
“We’re looking at individuals’ ... total
life-threatening symptoms -- or will the virus
immune health, and how they’re responding
cause what is known medically as “cytokine
his
to this infection,” Dr. Figliozzi said in an
storm.”
doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences with a
interview with WUSA TV in Washington, D.C.
“The virus,” he said, “is hiding from your
specialization in toxicology. He’s been putting
“And we’re grouping them into little groups.
immune system. The cytokine -- the biomarker
human DNA samples from COVID patients
And different groups have different severity
-- (is) being suppressed in ways, and others
through a rigorous analysis of “biomarkers,”
levels.”
are being over activated in ways.”
told WBAL TV. Figliozzi, a 2020 University of Maryland Eastern
Shore
alumnus,
earned
Dr. Ronald Jubin, IES’ co-founder and its
“That overreaction and under reaction
chief science officer, said the research efforts
is what leads to bad symptomology,” Figliozzi
“What we found was that we’re able to
have been aimed at developing a roadmap
told TV reporters.
detect the severity of the COVID-19 disease
that provides physicians more information
“We need to catch people as early as we
based on these biomarkers,” Figliozzi said in
about how to develop a customized treatment
can,” he said in his interview with WBAL. “It’s
an interview with WBOC TV.
strategy.
really exciting.”
looking for indicators that can project potential seriousness of the infection.
UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
3
On the COVID-19 Frontlines:
Our student regimens. “I have frequently pharmacists are worked with the patient floor often known for their nurses to work out the patient’s contributions to the drug therapy to account for the community. This patient’s insurance situations phenomenon is best and prescription clarity,” said exemplified by students Kevin Yong, a fellow SP-2 completing the school’s working at TidalHealth Hospital. 3-year accelerated These measures, aimed at curriculum while accounting for the increased additionally serving as need for medications such as pharmacy interns. This anticoagulants and inhalers, are Written by Yacine Gharbi, past year, our current crucial for long-term patient Class of 2023 generation of student recovery. healthcare workers As vaccines have become have found themselves our primary key to ending the fighting on the front COVID-19 Pandemic, some lines responding against student pharmacists have also the deadliest pandemic participated in clinical research in over 100 years. In to learn more about the novel the face of this unique COVID-19 vaccines and with Zach Becouvarakis, first-year student, hits the books to prepare for the Novavax challenge, many UMESimplementing COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccine trial. SOP student pharmacists vaccine clinics. Research across various settings, Specialist Intern and first-year fueled by duty to student, Zach Becouvarakis, their profession, have is currently assisting in the taken on many new Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trial responsibilities to protect at Health Research of Hampton their patients. Roads. “My role personally has The already consisted of training patients fast-paced nature of on recognizing and reporting community pharmacy symptoms, data entry, and UMES Student Pharmacists are always practice has intensified general patient screening over the past year. “Being around to lend a helping hand! interviewing,” Zach spoke of his faced with the pandemic work in the trial. With vaccine has been challenging eligibility now open to all, UMES hospital settings have also faced for pharmacy personnel due to heightened student pharmacists have spearheaded challenges tied to rapidly changing fears amongst patients, concerns about their COVID-19 vaccine distribution circumstances. Secondmedications, anger over insurance billing, throughout Somerset County year pharmacy student and delays from doctor’s offices,” explained and surrounding areas. Mercedes Vilasoa, Rita Ogbonna, a first-year pharmacy student Many already working who works at Johns working at Rite Aid. On top of maintaining a in the pharmacy, Hopkins Hospital, functioning pharmacy under these difficult such as second-year experienced first-hand conditions, Maryland pharmacy technicians student Pooneh Azadikhah, have the difficulties faced by pandemic now possess the responsibility of immunizing been instrumental in bringing first responders. “The healthcare patients. When asked about how they manage their expertise to volunteer at local team would work long hours, these new challenges, Rita and fellow student community immunization events. As restrict themselves from seeing pharmacist Tania Estrada both affirmed that we approach the conclusion to this loved ones, continuously try to their goal of providing quality patient care crisis, our providers-in-training will save patients’ lives, and have drives them forward. “Giving COVID-19 surely proceed to use their knowledge to deal with the trauma of vaccines has been super rewarding, especially seeing patients not make it,” and skills gained in this battle against when the elderly come in and are excited future public health emergencies. Mercedes explained. In hopes about getting the vaccine,” Tania reflected on of minimizing such suffering, Second-year student Mercedes her experiences immunizing at Walgreens. our Student Pharmacists work Vilasoa is suited up to take on Student Pharmacists working in tirelessly to optimize patient care COVID. Go get ‘em, Mercedes!
UMES Pharmacy Students as COVID-19 First Responders in the Community
4 UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
Virtual Learning… A New Kind of School Written by Yacine Gharbi, Class of 2023
The 2020-2021 Academic School Year has been a year like no other for our University of Maryland Eastern Shore Student Pharmacists. When the COVID-19 Pandemic struck last spring, the Class of 2022 found themselves making a quick switch to online learning, while the Class of 2023 arrived online that summer. Amidst these unprecedented conditions, student pharmacists hoped to find some semblance of normalcy in their pharmacy school experience. One year later, the creativity, teamwork, and willingness to adapt exemplified by our students transformed these unusual circumstances into a productive and memorable journey for all. One of the biggest concerns among our incoming class was missing out on the crucial social aspect of pharmacy school. “It was very challenging at first; I am a people-person and I love to interact with people. Virtually that wasn’t possible,” explained first-year student pharmacist Ramatoulaye Koita. First-year Pharmacy Class President Ashley Che, understanding these concerns, set up a GroupMe chat for the entering class at the start of the semester. “It’s where we joke, share good news, share not so good news, share pictures and encourage each other,” Ashley said of the platform, “I’m so overjoyed that as a class, though we didn’t see much of each other, we were able to connect via group chat.” As the semester progressed, such class comradery became a crucial tool in taking on an unfamiliar learning environment where Blackboard Collaborate, an online teaching platform, replaced the classroom. While many enjoyed following a more self-paced curriculum
from the comfort of their homes, studying adequately away from school proved to be challenging. “It became a draining experience. I sometimes didn’t have as much interest in class,” first-year student Obinna Ejoh commented regarding these challenges. Fellow SP-1 Sophia Amoah faced similar challenges while balancing this unfamiliar setting with her job as a pharmacy technician. When asked about how she confronted this issue, Sophia commented, “I connected with some of my classmates and met on Microsoft teams to go over concepts we found challenging and also met with professors during their office hours if we had any questions.” In addition, Sophia attributed her success this semester to finding a quiet study place, planning ahead, and treating herself after passing exams. As we approach our return to in-person classes next semester, many of our students look back on their days online as a positive experience that left students well-prepared to return to campus. “The virtual experience was new, and we adjusted well, both faculty and students,” second-year student pharmacist Bertrand Akuche remarked. “I met beautiful people from my class,” Ramatoulaye reflected, “we built study habits together because we were all trying to figure it out. We knew each other’s weaknesses and strengths. We empowered each other. We motivated each other.” When asked about the lesson she will take with her into the next semester, Ramatoulaye said. “One thing I have learned is that pharmacy school is very hard, but with the right people and advice, you will progress smoothly. I can’t wait to see what next year is holding for us!” UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
5
CAPS OFF TO THE CLASS OF 2021 The Class of 2021 had their Hooding and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 13th, 2021. The ceremony consisted of speeches prepared by the Dean, Keynote Speaker and Apple Discount Drugs Chief Operations Officer Dr. Zachary Sherr, and the Class Advisor and President. The Awards and Scholarship Committee also presented the graduates awards for their exceptional academic, leadership, and service activities. Congratulations to the 2021 graduates and best wishes for your next adventure! DOCTOR OF PHARMACY GRADUATES
Dr. Zachary Sherr of Apple Discount Drugs gives his Keynote Address. Below: Dean Allen delivers his congratulatory remarks to the graduating class.
6 UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
Abreha, Aziza Anderson, Adrianna Azadikhah, Shahin Bah, Marlyse Banson, Shekinah ΦΛΣ Del Pilar, Alexis* Px Diaz, Kimberly ΦΛΣ Dykes, Samantha ΦΛΣ Fisch, Tyler Goldsborough, Christopher ΦΛΣ Hwang, Keun Jackson, Brittany* Px ΦΛΣ Kamsu, Nasah, Ebai Helene Etta Kazmi, Asma ΦΛΣ
Kazmi, Obaid Kheni, Nilesh Kume, George Px Metangpa, Tasong ΦΛΣ Ogunkoye, Oluseye Onyegwara, Chiazoka Paracha, Amna** Px ΦΛΣ Patel, Dhruv*** Px ΦΛΣ Patel, Mitkumar ΦΛΣ Poli, Tyler ΦΛΣ Sama, Noella* Px ΦΛΣ Tengen, Jennifer Yuven Mabu, Jacqueline
CLASS OFFICERS PRESIDENT Mitkumar Patel VICE PRESIDENT Christopher Goldsborough SECRETARY Asma Kazmi TREASURER Tyler Poli PSGA LIAISON Kimberly Diaz
POST-GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES RESIDENCY CLASS OF 2020
Introducing our new graduates, Drs. Asma Kazumi and Kimberly Diaz.
Sherif Ahmed Thomas Jefferson University Hospital PGY-2 Critical Care
Tayler Jackson The Johns Hopkins Hospital PYG-2 Ambulatory Care
Nancy Wambi Bayhealth Hospital PGY-1
RESIDENCY CLASS OF 2021
Summa Cum Laude Gold Braided Cord Rho Chi Academic Honor Society Purple and White Braided Cord
Shekinah Banson MedStar Union Memorial Hospital PGY-1
Magna Cum Laude Silver Braided Cord Phi Lambda Sigma Leadership Society Gold and Green Braided Cord
Brittany Jackson James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital PGY-1
Cum Laude White Braided Cord
Academic Achievement Summa Cum Laude - *** Magna Cum Laude - ** Cum Laude - *
Tasong Metangpa Sentara RMH Medical Center PGY-1
Academic Honor Society Rho Chi - PX Leadership Honor Society Phi Lambda Sigma - ΦΛΣ Distinguished graduates receiving recognition will be wearing braided cords as part of the academic regalia.
Tyler Poli Albany Medical Center PGY-1
FELLOWSHIP CLASS OF 2021
Amna Paracha CSL Behring/University of the Sciences Medical Information/Medical Affairs Fellowship
UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
7
AWA R D Academic Achievement Awards Latin honors are awarded to students who are in the top 20% of the class. The class valedictorian holds the distinction of having the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA) in the class. The salutatorian has the second highest GPA.
UMES Internal and Organization Awards
NCPA Awards
Students are not competing nationally for this recognition. Each school can nominate one student from their chapter. All nominated students will receive a framed certificate and letter of congratulations. Framed certificate will be mailed to the NCPA Faculty Liaison and should be presented to the recipient at an appropriate ceremony. Students nominated should have demonstrated excellent dedication to the NCPA student chapter through consistent engagement in the chapter meetings and events, holding an officer position or multiple positions, and being a positive role model and voice for independent community pharmacy.
American Society of Consultant Pharmacist Award
This award is presented to a graduating student who is committed to serving older adults. The student must be a member of the ASCP Organization has leadership skills, has presented a poster or done research on a geriatric-related topic either at the ASCP Mid-Atlantic Conference or other professional organization, participated in a rotation with a geriatric focus and attended GAIT events.
Kappa Psi Brother of the Year
The Brother of the Year Award is presented to the graduating Brother of Kappa Psi Epsilon Nu who best personified the meaning of brotherhood and fraternity in the eyes of the chapter.
Leadership Award
The Outstanding Leader Award is given to a member of the graduating class who has provided outstanding leadership to the class by mentoring others, demonstrating servant leadership and leading by example. The graduating class nominates recipients for this award. The awards committee chooses a candidate based on the quantity and quality of votes received. This award consists of a plaque.
Phi Delta Chi “Dr. Sisca” Brother of the Year
This award is named in honor of the first UMES colony and the first chapter advisor, Dr. Tom Sisca. It is presented to a Phi Delta Chi Gamma Omicron brother who has demonstrated leadership, scholarship, and service.
External Awards American Institute of the History of Pharmacy Award
This award recognizes a student who has contributed to the profession of pharmacy in one or more of the following ways: completed a project pertaining to pharmacy history, documented UMES SOP history through school or organizational service (i.e. organizational historian), has contributed to documenting UMES SOP history through school or organizational service (i.e. organizational historian), participated in community outreach events to educate the public on the many roles of the pharmacist, or has shown dedication in advocating for the profession of pharmacy and provider status.
8 UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
D E S C R I P T I
CARE Oncology Awards
This award presented to a graduating student who has participated in an academic or community project that has impacted the cancer community and who has expressed interest in oncology and/or clinical practice.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Award
This award is given to a graduating student who has demonstrated promise in improving patient care and shows an appreciation for scientific inquiry and an evidence-based approach to evaluating complementary and alternative medicines. The award consists of an award certificate.
CVS Scholarships
This scholarship is awarded to a student who has demonstrated interest in community pharmacy practice, has completed volunteer work that has benefitted underserved populations, and has held leadership positions in local, state, regional, or national pharmacy organizations. CVS work experience is taken into considered, but is not required.
Facts and Comparisons Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication
This award is presented to a graduating student in the top 25% of his/her class who has demonstrated superior verbal and written clinical communication skills. The award consists of a certificate, a 1 year subscription to Facts and Comparisons and a one year subscription to Lexi-COMPLETE.
Lilly Achievement Award
This award is given to a graduating student for superior scholarship and professional achievement. Leadership qualities as well as professional attitude are considered along with academic performance in the selection of the individual for this honor. The award consists of a Drug Information reference book and certificate.
Maryland American Association of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) Maryland Chapter Award
ASCP-MD chapter recognizes one graduating PharmD candidate from HU, NDM, UMB, UMES schools of pharmacy for their excellence in provision of geriatric care.
Merck Manual Awards
The award recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement as determined by the awards and scholarship committee. To be eligible, a student must be in the top 10% of their class. The award consists of a special edition of the Merck Manual of Diagnosis & Therapy engraved with Merck Academic Excellence Award on the front cover.
Peggy Naleppa Outstanding Citizenship Award
This award was named in honor of Dr. Peggy Naleppa, a leader in the Maryland Eastern Shore medical community, at the inaugural School of Pharmacy Hooding & Awards ceremony in May 2013. It is awarded to the graduating student who best represents the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy through a combination of demonstrated leadership and service. This award consists of a plaque and a monetary award.
O N S
UMES SOP Graduation Awards 2021 Name of Award Class Valedictorian
Recipient(s) Dhruv Patel
Class Salutatorian
Amna Paracha
Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program
Shahin Azadikhah Amna Paracha George Kume Noella Sama Jacqueline Yuven Mabu Tasong Metangpa
American Institute of the History of Pharmacy Award
Noella Sama
American Society of Consultant Pharmacist Award
Samantha Dykes
CARE Oncology Award
Christopher Goldsborough Ebai Kamsu Etta
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Award
Adrianna Anderson
Facts & Comparisons Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication
Brittany Jackson
Kappa Psi Brother of the Year
Shekinah Banson
Lilly Achievement Award
Tyler Poli
Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacy Award
Mitkumar Patel
Merck Manual Award
Dhruv Patel
NCPA Award
Oluseye Ogunkoya
Outstanding Leader Award
Christopher Goldsborough
Peggy Naleppa Outstanding Citizenship Award
Shekinah Banson
Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation Award
Tasong Metangpa
The award was established to recognize pharmacy students’ contributions to public health pharmacy practice.
Phi Delta Chi “Dr. Sisca” Brother of the Year
Christopher Goldsborough
Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award
Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award
Alexis del Pilar
USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice
Amna Paracha
CVS Scholarships
Mitkumar Patel
Walgreens Scholarships
Oluseye Ogunkoya
Walgreens Diversity Scholarship
This scholarship is presented to a graduating student who is from an underrepresented minority group, has demonstrated interest in community pharmacy as observed by work experience on their curriculum vitae, and has demonstrated passion for a future career in community pharmacy as evidenced through a submitted scholarship essay.
State & National Awards Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program
AHEC Scholars is a program for health professions students interested in supplementing their education by gaining additional knowledge and experience in rural and/or underserved urban settings. This is a longitudinal program with interdisciplinary curricula to implement a defined set of clinical, didactic, and community-based activities. Scholars must complete the program during a period of two years: • 80 hours of community-based clinical training in rural and/or underserved area • 80 hours of didactic education that is a combination of face-to-face and online training opportunities focused on the following six core topics areas: Interprofessional Education, Behavioral Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health, Cultural Competency, Practice Transformation, Current and Emerging Health Issues.
Maryland Society of Health System Pharmacy Student Achievement Award
Nominations for this award traditionally come from the advisors of the UMES American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) chapter. The award is presented to a student who has excelled through their didactic and experiential coursework and has intentions of practicing in hospital pharmacy after graduation.
United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice Award
This award goes to a student who is in the Top 25% of graduating class, demonstrates strong clinical communication skills and effectively relays drug information appropriately to a variety of audiences, demonstrates strong record of professionalism as seen in nomination or CV, and holds a leadership position in a UMES SOP organization or at the state/regional/national level.
9
UMESRxTIMES RxTIMES>>Spring Spring2021 2021 UMES
Class of 2022 Pinning Ceremony… Another Milestone Completed
Top: Mrs. Rodriguez-Weller and her mentor group, Mirette Mina, Blair Yesko, Ashley Andrew, and Hoyi Tsui, after the Pining Ceremony.
The Class of 2022 students received their pins on May 10th, 2021. This event is where faculty mentors pin the students’ white coats to represent their transition from their didactic to experiential year. This milestone allows students to enter rotations to start practicing the skills needed to be a pharmacist. You made it to rotations, Future Pharmacists. Go out and represent our profession well!
Below: Second-year students Safiya Nur, Alyssa Reese, Kristine Hang, Sakeena Kazmi, Kerisha Singh, Blair Yesko, Lisa Yi, and Pooneh Azadikhah celebrating post-Pining Ceremony.
10 UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
T H E W H I T E C O AT C E R E M O N Y
Welcome Class of 2023!
Class of 2023 re-united at last. You did it!! On April 30th, 2021, the Class of 2023 participated in the White Coat Ceremony, a long-honored tradition that signifies a student’s transition into the clinical years of the pharmacy program. During the ceremony, students wear their white coats to represent their commitment to patient care and recite the “Pledge of Professionalism” to serve the public. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore prides itself on the diversity in our school and the Class of 2023 is no different. Fourteen students are Eastern Shore residents. Additionally, 11 students are firstgeneration college students and over half the class who are minorities. The countries represented are Jamaica, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Ghana, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Philippines and Cameroon. Many students reside in Maryland but there are students who come as far as Florida, Delaware and Virginia. The Class of 2023 also have diverse majors represented. Many have backgrounds in education, nursing, medicine, photography, law, and accounting. Before entering our program, students wrote essays reflecting
their interest in the profession of pharmacy. These are some of their comments on how they were inspired to join the profession: • “To me, pharmacy is more than just a job or degree. It is an avenue for me to fulfill a lifelong passion of mine, helping people.” • “I am passionate about making a difference and getting the opportunity to change lives and improve a patient’s overall quality of life.” • “I see pharmacists as an integral part of the healthcare team, and this is one of the areas of pharmacy by which I am inspired.” • “The role of a pharmacist is much more profound than just filling prescriptions, and the roles of many pharmacists go beyond those of primary care physicians.” Entering this program is challenging, intense, and demanding, but it will be worth the effort in the end. The White Coat Ceremony is the first step in the Class of 2023’s journey into becoming future Doctors of Pharmacy. Much success to each of you! Do well! UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
11
The Residency Corner:
Featuring Dr. Seohwee “Chloe” Ahn, Current PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident 1. Tell us about yourself and why you decided to pursue a residency. My name is Seohwee Chloe Ahn, but I go by Chloe. I am a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, class of 2020. After graduating, I came to the UMES–Apple Discount Drugs to complete my PGY1 residency in community pharmacy. I decided to pursue residency program because I wanted to learn more ways pharmacists can get involved in patient care and gain experience in clinical settings. 2. What attracted you to the UMES-Apple Discount Drugs PGY-1 residency program? Before I came here, I had worked in community pharmacy for 7 years for different chain stores. I got to partake in a few patient care programs like MTM (medication therapy management) and vaccine clinics. I wanted to get more involved in these services and get more experience with patient care, and I saw that this program was able to cater to my interest. Another thing that drew me to this program was the residency program director and all of the preceptors. They were very personable and had much to tell me about their program, which made me feel comfortable about moving to Salisbury as the only resident in the program. 3. Can you describe what a typical week is like during residency? My work weeks tend to be different each week depending on what is going on either at Apple with patient care services or at UMES with teaching responsibilities. I spend 3 to 4 days per week at Apple conducting MTMs, dispensing medications, performing COVID-19 rapid tests, and administering vaccines (including the Moderna and Janssen vaccines for COVID-19). On the other 1 to 2 days per week, I work at UMES on my teaching duties and providing patient education for nursing homes as part of my geriatrics rotation.
12 UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
4. What teaching experiences did you have this year? I taught 3 didactic lectures in the Physician Assistant program on ophthalmology and pulmonology, as well as 2 lectures for the Pharmacy program in gastroenterology. I have also co-precepted first, second, and third year pharmacy students on rotations. I have been involved in the Professional Development courses (I, II, III, and IV), teaching students about abstract writing, professional poster presentations, and grading reflections. During the Spring semester of 2021, I have also served as a mentor for second-year students on SOAP note writing. 5. Can you describe your research project and its impact? My research project is titled “Determining factors for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among older adults in a medically underserved community.” It consists of an online survey that was conducted to evaluate what the factors for vaccine hesitancy were during the COVID-19 pandemic and if we could find any changes or patterns in how COVID-19 has affected vaccine uptake. We were able to reach 100 patients who are 65 years and older for the survey. As a result, we were able to determine that risks vs. benefits, facts about safety and efficacy, state or local vaccine roll out schedules, and local vaccination sites were the most influential determinants in vaccine usage in this population. 6. Describe your interaction with your residency director and preceptors. It is very easy for me to talk to my residency program director and preceptors about any topic, whether it be related to the program or personal issues. It is easy to text, call, or email anyone here and talk to them if I needed something. They always make themselves available to me when needed and made me feel welcome. Earlier in 2021, when I had caught COVID-19 and was unable to go into work, everyone was very understanding about working with me to switch things around so that I could work from home while I was sick and make up the time later. My program director also checked up on me regularly, which I appreciated and made me feel more like a part of the UMES-Apple family.
A Close-Up of the UMES-Apple Discount Drugs PGY-1 Residency Program
7. What is your most memorable residency experience? The most memorable residency experience is working the flu clinics in the Fall of 2020. I was able to see the Eastern Shore when I had to travel to go to the clinics. I got to meet and talk to all kinds of people from all walks of life. It was also a learning experience for me because this was one of the first times I had to coprecept students and several of the students were nervous during the vaccination events, which made me step-up as a resident.
9. What skills have you learned as a result of the residency? Residency requires you to juggle a lot of different projects and responsibilities, and often times, it requires you to work your schedule around other people’s schedules as well. It helped fine tune my time management and project coordination skills. Also, through mentorship and projects with students at UMES and at Apple, I was able to gain new skills in leadership and teaching.
8. What are some of the challenges you faced this year as a resident and how did you overcome them? The biggest challenge that I saw with this year was that the COVID-19 pandemic restricted my ability to participate in certain types of pharmacy experiences that involved lots of patient interaction. For example, I was very interested in doing ambulatory care and geriatrics rotations, but the clinics and nursing homes did not allow for credentialing of new residents during the height of the pandemic. However, my preceptor were able to get me on a project at UMES that involved telephonic interactions with nursing home patients and was able to create a unique patient care elective in geriatrics for me. With ambulatory care, I was able to co-precept a student who was on an ambulatory care rotation and teach about chronic diseases. I will do my ambulatory care experience at the end of my residency in HIV and primary care, and I appreciated the efforts from my preceptors to give me a chance to have this experience.
10. What is your message to students interested in pursuing a residency after graduation? My message to students interested in pursuing residency is to be open to and embrace different opportunities. Through my residency program, I found new interests and was able to create unique projects, which could only happen because the structure of the residency program left a lot of room for creating my own experiences, and also made me go out of my comfort zone. *** The UMES-Apple Discount Drugs PGY-1 Residency Program has received full American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accreditation until 2023.***
Apple Discount Drugs Pharmacy
UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
13
Alumni Updates For upcoming SOP Alumni Affairs events, visit our website https://umes.edu/Pharmacy/Content/Alumni-Events/
Class of 2014 Alumni as Keynote Speakers Dr. Jeremiah Hicks and Dr. Zachary “Zack” Sherr gave inspirational keynote speeches at the recent Class of 2023 White Coat Ceremony (April 30, 2021) and at the Class of 2021 Hooding and Awards Ceremony (May 13, 2021), respectively. Dr. Jeremiah Hicks graduated from University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s School of Pharmacy, Class of 2014. After graduation, he entered the retail realm of CVS pharmacy in Washington D.C. where he received multiple awards such as “My Patient Care District Awards” & “My Store Health District Awards.” After CVS, he moved to Arizona to serve an isolated, rural, and underserved indigenous population where he felt he could make an impact. Dr. Hicks has excelled within the Indian Health Services and has held many titles within a short amount of time. While pioneering the COVID-19 Immunization Clinic Coordinator, he has generated over $2M within two months from the pharmacy department alone. With hard work, Dr. Hicks has been recently announced as the Deputy Chief of Pharmacy at Hopi Healthcare Center in Polacca, AZ. In his spare time, he is an avid traveler with his family and trains vigorously for triathlons as a passion. Dr. Zack Sherr is the Director of Store Operations/Chief Operations Officer for Apple Discount Drugs, a locally owned and operated pharmacy in Salisbury, MD. He is a licensed pharmacist, who graduated from University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s School of Pharmacy, Class of 2014. He served as a staff pharmacist at Apple Discount Drugs after graduation and maintained that role until 2019 when he transitioned to his current role in the company. Dr. Sherr’s role at Apple oversees a unique approach to healthcare availability. Apple goes beyond traditional community pharmacy means by providing full-scale durable medical equipment, custom compounding, an accredited diabetes education center, and a robust respiratory department that includes oxygen, c-pap, and bi-pap services. Dr. Sherr lives in Salisbury with his wife Lana and their two children, Thea and Ella.
14 UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
Alumnae wins the 2020 Clinical Excellence Pharmacist Award Dr. Tola Adebanjo was awarded the 2020 Clinical Excellence Pharmacist Award at The University of Kansas Health System. After graduating in 2018, Dr. Adebanjo went on to complete a Post-Graduate Year 1 Residency and HSAP Residency at the University of Kansas Health System.
Alumnae wins the 2020 Walmart Pharmacy Manager of the Year Dr. Elizabeth Eddy was recently awarded the Walmart Neighborhood Market’s Pharmacy Manager of the Year for 2020. She graduated from UMES School of Pharmacy in 2014. After graduating, she worked for CVS in Virginia Beach for 2 years, and then started working at Walmart, where she has worked for 4 years and counting. She became the pharmacy manager at a store in Chesapeake, Virginia in 2019. She did so well at that store that she was then transferred to a much higher volume store in Norfolk, Virginia and is currently working to improve that store as well. In her free time, her hobbies include traveling, cooking, and going to the beach. Future goals include working her way up to becoming a district manager with Walmart.
United States Representative Buddy Carter Comes to UMES Written by Blair Yesko, Student Pharmacist and President of the ASCP Student Chapter
On September 15th, 2020, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) student chapters of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and the American Pharmacist’s Association (APhA) held a joint virtual meeting inviting U.S. Representative Earl “Buddy” Carter to speak to students and faculty. Buddy Carter, the United States Representative from the 1st district in Georgia, at the time of the meeting, held the title of, “the only pharmacist in Congress”. However, after the most recent election he is now joined by Diana Harshbarger from Tennessee and Jerry Carl from Alabama, who are both pharmacists or independent pharmacy owners. Representative Carter spoke of his time before Congress, where he owned Carter’s Pharmacy for over 30 years. He detailed his passions for pharmacy and why he decided to join this profession. Now, as a U.S. Representative, he explained his continued push for pharmacists to receive provider status and his involvement in Operation Warp Speed legislation. Using his voice as a “drug expert”, Representative Carter helped other Congress members understand the vaccine clinical trial phases and how pharmacists would play an integral role in vaccine distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, Representative Carter represented a different path of pharmacy that is not the most common. This meeting allowed for the school of pharmacy to celebrate the diversity of pharmacy pathways during American Pharmacist’s Month, as well as learn about the connection between pharmacy and legislation. On behalf of ASCP and APhA, we would like to thank Representative Carter for sharing his wisdom and experiences as both a pharmacist and a U.S. Representative.
UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
15
‘Hard Hat Day’ a hit with UMES supporters
The University of Carozza (R-Worcester) Maryland Eastern Shore and Del. Sheree Samplemarked the half-way Hughes (D-Wicomico), Two of our alumnae, Dr. Brandy Inkrote-Taylor and Dr. Lauren Antal, participated in point of construction speaker pro tem of the UMES SPHP Hard Hat Event. Dr. Inkrote-Taylor (Class of 2015) works as a pharmacy on its newest classroom the Maryland House of manager at the RiteAid Pharmacy in Berlin, MD and Dr. Antal (Class of 2019) joined the SOP faculty in the PPA Department in Fall 2020. building today with Delegates. “Hard Hat Day,” an “You are well event that substituted for a groundbreaking ceremony cancelled a year aware of the healthcare professionals’ shortage we have here on the ago by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eastern Shore and the state of Maryland,” Sample-Hughes said, turning When the $90 million structure is completed, the School of to five current UMES pharmacy students sitting socially distanced on the Pharmacy and Health Professions currently spread among six front row. “We need you.” buildings, will be consolidated under one roof including state-of-theIt was a theme repeated by an appreciative parade of speakers art laboratories for training and pharmaceutical research. invited to participate in the celebration. University leaders envision the three-story building being the first of two phases to create an allied health sciences complex on the east side of campus. UMES offers seven such programs, graduate degrees in physical therapy, physician assistant studies and rehabilitation counseling, undergraduate instruction in exercise science, rehabilitation services, and rehabilitation psychology, which longrange planning recommends be clustered together to foster greater collaboration. It was a sentiment emphasized in remarks by UMES President Heidi M. Anderson and her boss, Dr. Jay Perman, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. Because of COVID-19 mitigation protocols, Posters helped event guests UMES organized a low-key, invitation-only event that visualize the finished building included a small gathering of university supporters and elected officials, including state Sen. Mary Beth
16 UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
The university provided invited guests a sneak peek at its new classroom building
Alzheimer’s isn’t stopping. Neither are we. Participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Written by Blair Yesko, Class of 2022
Rondall Allen with scholarship benefactor Carolyn Elmore Afterwards, guests -- donning hard hats -- toured the first floor of the structure with 125,000 gross square-feet across College Backbone Road from the university’s Engineering and Aviation Science Complex, which opened in 2016. UMES launched its Doctor of Pharmacy program in 2010 under former President Thelma B. Thompson, who enlisted the late state lawmaker, D. Page Elmore, as an ally to help the university secure mandatory approvals and funding to create the graduate program. Dr. Carolyn Elmore, his wife, traveled from Florida to attend the event and sentimentally shared that she wished he had lived to see the fruition of one of his favorite constituent service projects. In its first 10 years, UMES’ pharmacy school has produced some 440 licensed pharmacists -- and most recently six doctorates in pharmaceutical science. One Ph.D. graduate is engaged in promising research to create a reliable test that hopefully will help physicians shape an early treatment regimen for patients starting to exhibit COVID-19 symptoms. Dr. Brandy Inkrote Taylor, an alumna who graduated in 2015, said the new building “is quite impressive. When I was here, people really didn’t know there was a pharmacy school at UMES.” “It’s encouraging to hear that the university sees the value in having the various health professions’ students working together,” she said. “It’s so important.” In the fall of 2020, the Maryland State Arts Council announced UMES qualified for a $260,000 grant through its Public Art Initiative to help the university with coordinated aesthetics for interior décor as well as entrance plazas and sidewalks. Construction was halted for Hard Hat Day ceremonies so guided tours of the partially completed building could be conducted safely. The building is on schedule to be completed by mid-2022, with the first classes expected to be held starting with the fall semester.
This year, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) School of Pharmacy participated in the Alzheimer’s Association’s, “2020 Walk to End Alzheimer’s” to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care. This event usually takes place in Salisbury, Maryland, but due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2020 walk was conducted virtually. The UMES Chapter of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) worked in conjunction with Salisbury Walk Leader, Leslie Zimmerman, to ensure that walkers would still get an “in-person” experience this year. All walkers who joined the UMES School of Pharmacy (SOP) team would receive a yard sign and flags to walk with. If walkers individually raised over onehundred dollars for their team, they would also receive a Walk Day t-shirt. On October 31st, 2020, Walk Day occurred. The Salisbury “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” allowed teams to participate virtually to allow for small groups to remain socially distanced. Walkers participated through tracking steps wherever they chose to complete the walk. The “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” App allowed for easy step tracking, as well as allowing for motivational speeches that would have been played on loudspeakers at the live walk, to be played through the app as walkers completed the race. Overall, the UMES School of Pharmacy ASCP Walk Team, took the virtual race in full stride. Among many Salisbury teams, the UMES SOP Walk Team placed second in the steps category, with 34,959 steps completed. Alongside these steps, the team raised $1,125 for the Alzheimer’s Association. A huge thank you goes out to all who participated and to Mrs. Rodriguez-Weller, the UMES ASCP Chapter Advisor and the coordinator between UMES and the Salisbury Alzheimer’s Association. The upcoming 2021 “Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” on October 30th, 2021, has plans on being held in-person. Registration has already opened, and the UMES ASCP organization would like to challenge UMES to take more steps and raise more for the Alzheimer’s Association than this past year! The link to registration is listed here: https://act.alz.org/ site/TR/Walk2021/MD-GreaterMaryland?fr_id=14527&pg=entry UMES RxTIMES > Spring 2021
17
Thank You to Our Healthcare Heroes! UMES School of Pharmacy thanks the Healthcare Heroes who worked fearlessly on the COVID-19 Front Lines. We are grateful for your unwavering commitment, dedication, and sacrifice to the public. We want to stay up-to-date on what you’re doing, your achievements, and your significant life events. Please use this link to share your news with us. https://www.umes.edu/Pharmacy/Content/Contact-Us/
J.T. Williams Hall, Suite 2104 • Princess Anne, MD 21853
umes.edu or email umes-sop-alumni@umes.edu Follow us on Facebook on the ‘University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy’ page at https://www.facebook.com/University-of-Maryland-Eastern-Shore-School-of-Pharmacy-100618791778420
