COLLEGE OF PHARMACY A N N U A L R E P O R T 2020
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ i
CONTENTS 2.
YEAR IN REVIEW
4. COVID-19 8. RESEARCH 14. STUDENTS 20. ACADEMICS 22. FACULTY 24. ALUMNI 26. MAKING A DIFFERENCE
WHO WE ARE Mission Create the future of health through pharmacy.
Vision Excellence through leadership
Organizational values
About the cover Researchers in the College of Pharmacy’s 3D lab printed a model of a coronavirus molecule on the College’s 3D printer.
URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
We value: service to the local, national and global community; integrity and ethical behavior; innovation and collaboration in research; professional practice and education; personal growth through lifelong learning; diversity and respect for all individuals; cultural competence.
DEAN’S MESSAGE This year, we have witnessed the health care community facing perhaps its most monumental challenge in decades. Pharmacists, nurses, doctors and clinicians of all disciplines have come together for the battle of their careers. Individuals on the front line and in supporting roles have persevered in attending to the human condition, and continue to fight on until the coronavirus pandemic is eradicated. That commitment extends to the College of Pharmacy, which has seen its faculty, staff, students and alumni jump into the fray. Faculty members have volunteered to work on contact tracing, case investigation and cluster outbreak management. The College donated and supported the distribution of electronic tablets to patients isolated in hospitals and nursing homes. The Pharmaceutical Development Institute produced hand sanitizer. Professors volunteered to fill the severe shortage of pharmacists at state field hospitals, and others worked directly with the state performing outreach to COVID-19 positive patients. These are just some of the ways our College has helped to make a difference. These dedicated efforts continue to make a significant impact on the local fight against COVID-19. They reinforce and remind us of the overwhelming strength of our community and the commitment to service of our profession. I couldn’t be prouder of our College’s efforts over the last few months. While the pandemic is obviously front and center, it hasn’t overshadowed the other important accomplishments our researchers and educators have achieved this year. The College has reached its highest rank ever in federal research funding, rising to 8th in the nation, as our researchers continue to confront such conditions as neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, hepatitis and the opioid crisis, among others. We remain committed to extending our educational offerings both to matriculating students and to professionals working in the field. This annual report documents just some of the initiatives our dynamic faculty, staff and students are engaged in. I hope you’ll join me in looking back over a truly historic year in society and in the College of Pharmacy, and looking forward to all the successes to come. –Dean E. Paul Larrat
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YEAR IN REVIEW The College earned a #1 rank in New England in several categories:
93%
97%
100%
44
FIRST-TIME PHARMACY BOARD PASS RATE FOR 2019
EMPLOYMENT RATE UPON GRADUATION
PROGRAM SATISFACTION
RESIDENCY MATCHES
$ FEDERAL RESEARCH FUNDING
BY THE NUMBERS ANNUAL FUND = $133,172
905 UNDERGRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL DEGREE PHARMACY STUDENTS ENROLLED FOR 2020
Pharm. D. by the numbers
ENROLLED STUDENTS
1261
116%
INCREASE OVER 1 YEAR
INCREASE OVER 5 YEARS
380
HIGHLY QUALIFIED STUDENT APPLICATIONS APPLICANTS IN 2020 FOR 137 SPOTS
INCOMING CLASS OF 2026
134
14%
AVERAGE SAT
AVERAGE GPA
3.90
66% OUT-OFSTATE
STATES
11
SCORES OF INCOMING CLASS
OF INCOMING CLASS
PROPORTION OF STUDENTS
REPRESENTED BY THE STUDENT BODY
Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences by the numbers 25 INCOMING STUDENTS FOR 2020
AVERAGE SAT
1190
AVERAGE GPA
3.72
64% OUT-OFSTATE
STATES
INCOMING CLASS
INCOMING CLASS
PROPORTION OF STUDENTS
REPRESENTED BY THE STUDENT BODY
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Residency Placements The URI College of Pharmacy consistently ranks in the top tier nationally for postgraduate residency placements and fellowships. From the Class of 2020, 56 students have been placed in residencies or fellowships in their first postgraduate year, a record for the College. The students and their placements include: Moyra Aziz - Novartis/Rutgers, East Hanover, NJ
Lauren Dodd - Alnylam Pharmaceuticals /Northeastern University, Cambridge, MA
Loomis, Amanda - VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
Alexandra Barton - Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
Heather Dorich - Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Portsmouth, NH
Jennifer Martins - Lowell General Hospital, Lowell, MA
Angelica Bevinetto - NYU Winthrop Hospital, Mineola, NY
Brian Foster - Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, PA
Megan McMahon - Sentara Healthcare--Hampton Roads, Norfolk, VA
Brian Bishop - Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ
James Haggerty - Walgreens/MCPHS Community Pharmacy Residency, Worcester, MA
Samantha Morganelli - Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY
Courtney Cameron - Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
Emily Murray - Lahey Hospital & Sarah Hale - Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Burlington, MA Medical Center Acute Care, Lebanon, NH Bridget Cange - UMass Memorial Mihir Murthi - Our Lady of The Lake Medical Center, Worcester, MA Katherine Harte - Dartmouth-Hitchcock Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA Medical Center Acute Care, Lebanon, NH Quyen Cao - Emerson Hospital, Emerald O’Rourke - Regional Health, Concord, MA John Handshaw - Inspira Medical Lakeland, FL Center, Vineland, NJ Giovanna Codispodo - North Shore Hannah Ritchie - Baystate Medical University Hospital, Manhasset, NY Joshua Hayden - Boston Medical Center, Springfield, MA Center, Boston, MA Erin Connolly - University of New Robert Rocchio - Matchstick LLC, England/Martin’s Point HC, Portland, ME Olivia Huber - Henry Ford Hospital, Boonton, NJ Detroit, MI Noelle Cordova - Michael E. Debakey Adam Saluccio - Merck/Rutgers, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Alexandria Jarvais - Glaxo SmithKline Rahway, NJ Houston, TX Oncology/Northeastern University, Steven Sica - Backus Hospital, Cambridge, MA Cecelia Costello - UW Health, Norwich, CT Frisca Kang - ProMedica Flower Madison, WI Janine Short - UF Health Jacksonville, Hospital, Sylvania, OH Justin Culshaw - UC Health – Jacksonville, FL University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Hannah Ketch - Peacehealth Southwest Emily Uebbing - Stratton VA Medical Cincinnati, OH Medical Center, Vancouver, WA Center – Albany, Albany, NY Victoria DaSilva - VA Connecticut Maria Khasminsky - MCPHS, Victoria Urban - AU Medical Center, Healthcare System, West Haven, CT Sanofi-Genzyme, Cambridge, MA Augusta, GA Dominic DeFilipi - Western New England Caroline Kruszecki - Advocate Christ Samantha Webb - Sarasota Memorial College of Pharm, Springfield, MA Medical Center & Childrens Hospital, Hospital, Sarasota, FL Oak Lawn, IL Taylor DeRocha - VA New Jersey Jennifer Weiss - Community Medical Health Care System, East Orange, NJ Danielle Kubicsko - Lawrence + Center, Toms River, NJ Memorial Hospital, New London, CT Laruen Della Grotta - UPMC St. Bradford Williamson - Intermountain Margaret, Pittsburgh, PA (geriatrics) Patrick Lee - Tufts Medical Center, Healthcare, Taylorsville, UT Boston, MA Caroline DiCristo - Global Medical Affairs Oncology, Pfizer/Rutgers, New York, NY Amanda Lefemine - Carolinas Medical Christian Zitelli - Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY Center, Charlotte, NC Colin Dimond - Early Clinical Sophy Levine - Cambridge Health Development Genentech/U of Alliance, Cambridge, MA the Pacific, San Francisco, CA ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 3
College Personnel, Students Jump Into the Fray When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in earnest in March, the URI College of Pharmacy’s many experts were uniquely positioned to jump into the fight and help ease the impact on patients and the state. Pharmacy professors, researchers, administrators and students answered the state Health Department’s call for assistance in case investigation, contact tracing and cluster outbreak management. Experts from the College advised the state and residents on such issues as testing procedures and the importance of social distancing. The College’s Pharmaceutical Development Institute produced hand sanitizer at a time it was particularly difficult to find. Professors volunteered to fill the severe shortage of pharmacists at the state field hospitals, should they become active, and others worked directly with the state performing outreach to positive patients and helping with contact tracing. Students also signaled their willingness to enter the fray, taking advantage of the state’s offer to issue emergency 90-day licenses to bring more pharmacists into frontline healthcare positions, and some others are working with a professor in the College’s labs on COVID-19 testing technology.. The college collected N95 masks, ventilators, gloves, disposable gowns, face shields, IV poles, laboratory equipment and hospital beds to donate to area hospitals. College personnel also collected iPads and Fire tablets to donate to hospitals and nursing homes for quarantined patients to use, and provided ongoing tech support. “I was amazed by the diversity and creativity of our initiatives during the initial stages of the COVID pandemic,” professor and dean E. Paul Larrat told the Providence Journal. “Our faculty, staff and students unselfishly stepped in to help those at greatest risk of contracting the virus in a very stressful environment.” Read on for more details on the College’s response to the pandemic.
COVID-19 Service on the Front Lines
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Clinical Professor Rita Marcoux and Senior Development Scientist Saleh Allababidi produce hand sanitizer in the College’s Pharmaceutical Development Institute.
PDI Makes Hand Sanitizer to Help Fill Shortages Aiming to fill local shortages and meet growing demand to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the University of Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Development Institute produced its own line of hand sanitizer in its labs in the College of Pharmacy. Scientists in the Institute began producing Rhody Blue and Rhody Clear hand sanitizer, which contain 75% isopropyl alcohol, early on during the coronavirus pandemic. The Rhode Island Department of Health certified the Institute to produce the sanitizer as the coronavirus pandemic led to empty shelves in many stores. It was produced and bottled in the labs in Avedisian Hall, the College’s home on URI’s Kingston campus. The Institute filled 8-ounce bottles of Rhody Blue gel sanitizer for distribution throughout the URI campus and to donate to first responders and medical facilities around the state. In addition, the
Institute made Rhody Clear liquid hand sanitizer for the state Department of Corrections in half-gallon bottles for use in its facilities. “A demand for hand sanitizer was expressed from the University and from some of our external partners, so we put an emergency response team together to help meet the need,” Institute Acting Director Cathy Curtin-Miller said. “Staff members have selflessly volunteered to be part of the response effort to the virus, led by Dr. Saleh Allababidi, our senior development scientist and a faculty member with the College.”
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College Donates iPads, Tech Support for Hospitals The College donated dozens of iPads to local hospitals, helping quarantined patients connect with their loved ones and with the outside world while battling COVID-19 in isolation.
College of Pharmacy faculty, staff and students helped collect personal protective equipment and other supplies to donate to area medical facilities to help fill shortages.
Making a Difference for Strategic Opportunities Despite an economic downturn, alumni and friends were generous to the College’s Annual Fund, subsidizing relief PPE, funding the URI humanitarian iPad & Fire tablet initiative, providing student aid, and underwriting COVID-testing research.
“I always support a URI College of Pharmacy Scholarship, but when Paul expanded the iPad and Fire tablet initiative to New Jersey, I had to help. This was important for my neighbors and friends.” — Lou DiFazio ’64, P’86, H’97, retired President of Technical Operations, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 66/ /URI URICOLLEGE COLLEGEOF OFPHARMACY PHARMACY
In addition, IT staff members from around the university volunteered to set up hundreds of Fire tablets Amazon had donated to the state. These were transferred to hospitals, nursing homes and medical facilities around the area. “The intention is to provide all hospitals across the state with the tablets, and then also to provide hospice centers and nursing homes,” said Ian Lester, manager of Technology Services for the College, who is heading up URI’s involvement in the project. “The goal is to help connect patients suffering with the disease with their family and loved ones.” The initiative began when the Rhode Island Medical Society put out a call for extra devices on behalf of Covid Connectors, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to helping COVID-19 patients communicate while in isolation. Lester located iPads not being used by College personnel. He formatted the iPads, set up Apple IDs, uploaded necessary software like Zoom, and delivered them to Lifespan, the state’s largest healthcare system. He stepped in again after online retailer Amazon donated 540 of its Fire tablets for use at other Rhode Island hospitals. Lester organized IT staff members from around the university to assist in getting the tablets ready for use. Lester continues to deliver tablets to tech staff for formatting, in addition to preparing dozens of them himself. The initiative’s success led to leadership and support for a similar effort in New Jersey.
New Graduates Get Emergency Licenses More than 100 recent graduates from the URI College of Pharmacy found themselves in the COVID-19 fight earlier than they ever expected, helping fill a critical shortage of pharmacists, thanks to emergency 90-day licenses the state Department of Health is issuing.
workers on the front lines, and helping spell pharmacists who had been pulling long hours fighting the pandemic, and those who have been exposed to the virus in their public-facing roles.
Students who hadn’t yet graduated but had completed their doctor of pharmacy degree requirements in March, were eligible to begin working at the beginning of the pandemic after receiving their emergency licenses, delaying the licensing exam for 90 days. “Usually it takes graduates several months after graduating to get their licenses, and they wouldn’t be out there working until the end of summer,” said Clinical Professor Brett Feret. “The goal is to get them out at the field hospitals helping in the fight against the virus instead of worrying about studying for their boards over the next few months.” The new graduates were qualified to operate as registered pharmacists, adding to the health care
URI College of Pharmacy graduates are all over the front lines of the pandemic, in hospitals, medical facilities and pharmacies.
From the Front Lines: Lauren Eng I am a P2 Pharmacy major from Queens, NY, with a double minor in biology and leadership studies. I’ve been working at CVS pharmacy for two years now, and I am working at a 24-hour store here in Astoria, Queens, which was hit the hardest of the five boroughs. Here at my CVS in Astoria, I am working mainly on drop off, consultation and data entry of new prescriptions. There have been many challenges, but we’ve been working through them. Some challenges are as simple as having difficulty hearing patients through the plastic barriers and their masks. Other difficulties we have experienced include a lot of medications on back order, including generic rescue inhalers, which has also created a lot of issues for patients who normally carry rescue inhalers. We also have had a difficult time getting in controlled substances like opioids for pain, which has resulted in a lot of patients not being able to continue their therapy for treatment of chronic pain.
URI College of Pharmacy student Lauren Eng has been serving patients in a CVS pharmacy in Astoria, NY, during the pandemic.
I have seen a lot of prescriptions coming in for Z-Packs and Hydroxychloroquine. Many of these prescriptions now require prior authorizations from insurance companies to prevent overprescribing, so it is very difficult to tell patients that they may not be able to pick up their medications or may have a delay in care due to the prior authorizations. One elderly patient who had been taking Hydroxychloroquine for rheumatoid arthritis for 10 years couldn’t get her prescription because it was on back order. She was very upset to hear that I couldn’t fill it for her. But a week later, I was able to. I recognize how important the medication was to her, and I was so happy I was able to get it filled for her. ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 7
RESEARCH Dynamic Faculty, Students fuel Scientific Breakthroughs 8 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
College Ranked 8th Nationally in Federal Research Funding The rank, among 142 colleges, is a new record for the College The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy has improved on its top 10 ranking in total federal research funding, moving up to number 8 in the country in funding from federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health, securing more than $18 million in fiscal 2019. The number 8 ranking — among 143 pharmacy colleges in the country — is a record for URI for the third year in a row. After consistently ranking in the 20s in the annual American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy summary of research funding over the last several years, the College soared to number 11 in fiscal 2017, following that up with its first top-10 ranking last year. URI is the only college of pharmacy in the northeast in the top 20. The funding will fuel research such as efforts to improve the influenza vaccine, find new treatments for cerebral palsy and reduce incidences of HIV. URI Pharmacy faculty members will also work on easing the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s
disease, reducing the incidence of opioid overdose, and developing new approaches to test for COVID-19, among several other groundbreaking projects. A more comprehensive look at planned research projects can be found at uri.edu/ pharmacy/news.
Study: Prescribe Naloxone With Opioids Pharmacies across the region are being encouraged to distribute naloxone along with higher dose opioid prescriptions and medication combinations to help fight the opioid overdose crisis, according to a recent University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy study. Naloxone is the fastest and most effective way to save someone’s life and restore breathing, according to Clinical Professor Jeffrey Bratberg. Pharmacies should offer the drug along with prescription opioids to protect patients in the case of an accidental overdose, and they are willing to do so, the study has shown. “The more naloxone we see in any community, the fewer overdoses we see and the more opportunities to connect people to care,” Bratberg said. “We know that the more pharmacies stock naloxone, the more it’s distributed to the public, the more people are saved.”
Bratberg’s study also found pharmacists had more positive attitudes toward fighting the opioid crisis if they stocked Naloxone and allowed anyone to freely acquire it without a prescription. The study demonstrates how the familiarity of the drug can lead to the acceptance of it. The more familiar the public and pharmacists are with the drug, the easier it is to dispel the many myths regarding its safety and efficacy. The ultimate goal is to normalize the use of naloxone and change the stigma around possession of the medication.
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Study to Address Medication Access Barriers Research project examines access to oral cancer medications
Toxic Algae May Slow Neurodegenerative Disease Toxic algal blooms can be devastating to natural waterways, but they may also be beneficial in combatting the progression of neurodegenerative disease, a URI College of Pharmacy study is showing. Assistant Professor of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Matthew Bertin is teaming up with biotech firm Biosortia Pharmaceuticals Inc. to study the chemicals produced by algal blooms, which may hold the key to reducing neuroinflammation, a primary reason diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s progress. Bertin’s laboratory has found several promising anti-inflammatory compounds from blooms of the marine cyanobacterium Trichodesmium. Bertin, who believes many of the compounds that are considered toxic can be leveraged for the benefit of human health, seeks to determine which chemicals can reduce neuroinflammation, and purify active compounds to further access their therapeutic potential. “I believe there are numerous chemicals available in the microbial world that can be useful in treating diseases ranging from diabetes to Alzheimer’s,” Bertin said. “These previously inaccessible compounds may provide the next blockbuster treatment for neurodegenerative disease.” The Bertin group is screening hundreds of chemical mixtures from Biosortia’s library and assessing the ability of these chemicals to reduce the inflammatory response. Early studies have shown many promising “hits” that do not result in any cytotoxicity to mammals, which is key to development in this area. These chemicals will be purified further to isolate single components for additional testing. Follow-up studies will further investigate these promising anti-inflammatories, hopefully moving into animal testing in the near future. For more details, visit uri.edu/ pharmacy/news 10 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
A University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy researcher has received a research grant to address barriers patients face in accessing needed medications for cancer. The $74,556 grant is funded by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance and the National Pharmaceutical Council. Assistant Professor Ami Vyas will lead a study to identify significant patient access barriers and facilitators of adherence with oral anticancer medications. The study will examine patient out-of-pocket costs, socioeconomic characteristics, clinical factors and subsequent health outcomes. Higher out-of-pocket costs for oral anticancer medications can lead to prescription abandonment, delayed initiation and other forms of nonadherence, Vyas said, potentially leading to worsening conditions. “Our project will determine the association between patient out-of-pocket costs of oral anticancer medications and treatment adherence among adult cancer patients in the U.S., and will also determine how adherence impacts patient health outcomes,” Vyas said. “Our research will provide crucial evidence-based information for several stakeholders to develop and implement approaches aimed at improving patient access to oral anticancer medications.” Findings are expected to be presented at a meeting of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance in 2021. For details, visit uri.edu/pharmacy/news
Associate Professor Anita Jacobson leads efforts to stem the opioid crisis in more rural areas around the state.
$1M Grant Fuels Opioid Outreach Program in Rural Areas Professors, students and health professionals from URI aim to stem the ongoing opioid crisis in rural communities around the state, thanks to a $1 million grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The “Community First Responders Program” seeks to educate rural communities about substance use disorder and opioid misuse, and provide resources to help address the opioid crisis, according to Associate Professor Anita Jacobson. The program involves outreach to rural areas, teaching members of the community to recognize signs of overdose and how to respond — including administering naloxone. They will distribute naloxone kits, allowing members of the community to be true first responders. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jacobson has also offered the seminars online. “This is an opportunity to reach rural communities, where there is not always as much outreach regarding overdose and addiction as in more urban areas,” Jacobson said. “We want to be a referral source and help people find the treatment and recovery they need.”
“We want to be a referral source and help people find the treatment and recovery they need.”
Representatives distribute and teach residents how to use nasal spray naloxone for victims displaying signs of an overdose. They will also provide testing strips to check for fentanyl, as well as HIV/ hepatitis testing, referrals to recovery programs, and information on methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone treatments. “We want to have as many people in the community as possible to be first responders,” Jacobson said. “If people are educated about this and know how to recognize an overdose, we can save lives.”
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Seminar By the Sea Tackles Emerging Healthcare Trends Health professionals from around the region met at Newport, R.I. in March to earn valuable continuing education credits while discussing some of the most pressing healthcare issues of the day.
The ‘Smarter Sweetener’ Bioactive Botanical Lab partners with culinary school to apply health benefits research in maple Students from around the region created tasty treats and demonstrated innovative uses of a local crop that shows promising health benefits as they demonstrated the culinary — and medicinal — versatility of maple. The Maple internship program at the Food Innovation Nexus (FIX) at Johnson & Wales University is part of a federally funded, $500,000 initiative to promote the maple industry throughout the Northeast, stressing the potential health benefits of the native tree. Pharmacy Professor Navindra Seeram and his team have worked for a decade to unlock the health benefits of maple. They have identified more than 67 bioactive natural plant compounds with potential health benefits, including stabilizing blood glucose levels, fighting inflammation and even helping fight wrinkles. Seeram’s Bioactive Botanical Research Laboratory partnered with FIX to demonstrate ways to incorporate maple into one’s diet to take advantage of its healthy properties. Students used pure maple ingredients to create such entrees as couscous with maple vinaigrette, and tuna poke with maple drizzle. Others designed a healthy maple ice cream easier for older adults to swallow, edible maple birthday candles, and even edible science kits found in toy store aisles. For more information on Seeram’s work with maple and the health benefits the local crop contains, visit uri.edu/maple. 12 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
The University of Rhode Island Office of Continuing Professional Development for the Health Professions hosted the 35th annual Seminar by the Sea Northeast Regional Conference March 11-13 at Gurney’s Newport Resort and Marina. The conference — “Emerging Healthcare Trends: Treating the Whole Patient” — brought together pharmacists, nurses and clinicians for three days of seminars and discussions on such topics as therapeutic CBD, pharmacogenomics and the epidemiology of the opioid epidemic. The keynote presentation — “Caring for the Whole Patient by Addressing Social Determinants of Health” — was delivered by Amina Abubakar, owner of RX Clinic Pharmacy in Charlotte, NC Continuing education (CE) credits were available for pharmacists and nurses, including pharmacology, immunization and law credits. Next year’s conference is scheduled for March 17-19, 2021, for both in-person and online attendance.
Clinical Associate Professor Virginia Lemay administers a flu shot to a student in Avedisian Hall. Lemay leads the College’s “Operation Immunization” efforts.
‘Operation Immunization’ Wins APhA Award The College of Pharmacy won the American Pharmacists Association Chapter Achievement Award for the second time since 2011 this year, when the organization honored Clinical Associate Professor Virginia Lemay’s Operation Immunization program. The program aims to increase the rate of vaccinations on campus to protect against influenza and, more recently, Meningitis B, a relatively new strain of meningococcal disease that is not covered in typical meningitis vaccinations required by most college campuses. The project began with an education campaign last fall, followed by a vaccination clinic, with participating students receiving the first shot in October and another in November. A second vaccination clinic was planned for the spring before the coronavirus closed campus. The project, with initial funding from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, aims to encourage a ripple affect across the university. The long-term goal is to generate data that will convince the university admissions office to require meningitis B vaccines for all incoming students.
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Students Learn Traditional Medicine in Indonesia Four College of Pharmacy students joined student health colleagues from the Academic Health Collaborative in learning about traditional Eastern medicine and educating locals about such conditions as hypertension, stroke and heart disease during a January J-Term trip to Indonesia. Stephanie Katartzis, Melissa Menditto, Hannah Bedard and Madelyn Hallisey joined 17 other students from the Colleges of Nursing and Health Science on the global health trip. The students partnered with their counterparts at Universitas Islam Indonesia in Yogyakarta to prepare public presentations in the Indonesia language on hypertension and stroke prevention, the leading causes of death in the country. The students met with local villagers, toured the Ministry of Health, and got an extensive lesson on traditional medicines in the ministry’s herbal garden, which contains more than 30,000 herbs and botanicals used in medication.
“A lot of Western medicines have their origins in traditional herbs and botanicals, so it’s great for pharmacy students to learn about them. It brings up provocative questions about traditional medicines versus Western medications — there may be fewer side effects, but what is their efficacy,” said Assistant Professor Matthew Bertin, who directed the trip. “It was a powerful, unique experience for the students that will stay with them for a long time.” The students also toured cultural sites around Indonesia, visiting several temples, snorkeling over coral reefs and visiting with villagers and Indonesian students, with whom they made lasting relationships.
STUDENTS Tomorrow’s Leaders Impacting Today 14 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Four URI Pharmacy students joined others from the Colleges of Nursing and Health Sciences on a J-Term trip to Indonesia.
Eight pharmacy students were awarded academic scholarships during the College’s annual Heber W. Youngken Jr. Pharmacy Clinic in November.
Pharm.D. Student Scholarship Awards Eight URI College of Pharmacy students were awarded scholarships during the college’s 62nd annual Heber W. Youngken Jr. Pharmacy Clinic. The conference brought together practicing pharmacists and pharmacy educators for a continuing education summit — “Who’s Calling the Shots? Vaccine Hesitancy and Patient Safety Initiatives” — focused on the importance of vaccinations to individual patients and the larger community.
The URI Pharm.D student winners include: • Kailen Carvalho, 2022 • Eleanor Cifrino, 2022 • Kaitlin Pothier, 2022
• Victoria DaSilva, 2020 • Megan Wilks, 2020 • Courtney Grant, 2021
• Jason Darmanin, 2021 • Mazen Taman, 2023
Making a Difference for URI Learning Experience Learning is not limited to the classroom, but professional growth often requires prohibitively expensive travel. Thanks to support from the Annual Fund and endowments like the Potter Family Scholarship for Professional Development, life-changing experiences like J-terms and attendance at national pharmacy meetings are available to all students.
“With the passing of my dad, my wife, daughter (Erin PharmD’19) and I wanted to help students explore similar opportunities around the world.” Robert (Bob) W. Potter, Jr. ’83, Head of Global Sales Excellence, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.” —Robert (Bob) W. Potter, Jr. ’83, Head of Global Sales Excellence, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 15
Graduate Emily Murray Thinks Big in Research, Pharmacy Service “I think this idea of thinking big is truly ingrained in every aspect of the pharmacy program.” Living up to the University of Rhode Island’s “Think Big. We Do” motto, Emily Murray, part of the newest class of graduates from the URI College of Pharmacy, has proven she is capable of thinking big herself by leaving a lasting impact on the URI community. Murray’s achievements during her six-year college career include traveling to Jamaica to work with disabled children, and serving as a Resident Academic Mentor. She also served as a student representative on campus and competed in the Pepto Bowl, a Jeopardy-style pharmacy competition. She was honored this year with the prestigious College of Pharmacy Service Award. One of Murray’s favorite experiences of her college career was completing her Honors project, for which she contributed Native American medicinal plants to the medicinal garden outside Avedisian Hall. The next step for Murray is to become a pharmacist at a top-ranked hospital and medical clinic in Massachusetts. She said the education and experience she has received at URI has prepared her well for her career. “I love URI,” Murray said. “I think that they have given me so much in terms of where I am today and how I’ve been able to progress as both a student and an individual.” To read Murray’s full story, visit cutt.ly/EmilyMurray
Students Host APhA Conference Students from the URI College of Pharmacy hosted the northeast regional conference of the American Pharmacists Association in Providence last winter, advancing the region’s proposed policy changes to the national organization. Third-year Pharm.D. student Angela Dansereau, along with a dozen fellow College students, coordinated the regional meeting of more than 200 attendees from 16 colleges of pharmacy from around the northeast. The conference featured networking events, leadership training, and presentations on pharmaceutical issues, including sessions by URI Pharmacy Professor Anita Jacobson and Professor Emeritus Norman Campbell. The northeast chapter also identified key pharmaceutical issues and proposed policy changes it will advance to the national organization. The chapter aims to encourage legislation that would allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense birth 16 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
control and HIV prophylaxis. The chapter also encourages greater LGBTQ inclusion in pharmacy education. “We voted on the issues in the industry that we feel need change,” Dansereau said. “We will move them to the national committee, which adopts policies it feels pharmacists should be following. This is something pharmacists should be doing. When a large organization like this makes a statement, it can impact policy at the state and federal level.”
Student Academic Awards While students were stuck sheltering at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, they continued to attend classes virtually and were able to complete requirements toward their degree. The hard work of graduating seniors throughout the coronavirus crisis, and during more familiar times in the classroom before the outbreak, has not gone unnoticed. The College of Pharmacy has announced the following end-of-year senior awards. Congratulations to all winning students. •
Academic Excellence — Rachel Diatonio
•
Research Excellence — Victoria Johnson
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Mylan Excellence in Pharmacy — Elena Beauregard
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Rho Chi Award — Katherine Harte
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Rho Chi Service Award — Colin Dimond
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Merk Award — Sydney Esser, Hannah Ketch and Janine Short
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Eli Lilly Award — Taylor DeRocha
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Facts and Comparison Award — Robert Rocchio
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Pharmacy Practice Teaching Award — Hannah Ritchie
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Pharmacy Practice Research Award — Brian Bishop and Emily Uebbing
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Pharmacy Practice Self-care Award — Emily Murray and Megan Wilks
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BPS Achievement Award — Rachel Carley
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APhA-ASP Award — Anthony DeAngelis
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PLS Award — Jennifer Weiss
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SNPhA Award — Noelle Cordova
Natural Medicines Award — Olivia Huber
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ASCP Award — Amanda Loomis
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University Excellence Award — Justin Culshaw and Qiwen Chen
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NCPA Award — Joshua Hayden
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Kappa Psi Award — Patrick Lee
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Academic Excellence Awards — Kyle Adams, Bridget Cange, Patrick Lee, Shannon MacLeon, Matthew Unruh and Victoria Urban
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LKS Award — Paige Kennedy
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College of Pharmacy Service Award — Emily Murray
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ASHP Award – Justin Culshaw
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Pharmacy Practice Award — Caroline Kruszecki
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 17
Student Spotlight: N’Deye Dabo Aiming to ‘bridge the gap’ of health disparities in developing nations While growing up in Senegal, student N’Deye Dabo saw firsthand the health disparities people face in the African country. The experience solidified her desire to enter the medical field, ultimately choosing pharmacy, with a goal of eventually working in international medicine. “In Senegal, they don’t have the funds to have the best hospitals and equipment. Medicine is in really short supply there,” said Dabo, who moved to the west Africa country at age 2 to live with family members and learn about her native culture. “If you’re really sick and you have few funds, you really need to leave Senegal for care. My grandma had a heart issue and had to go to Paris for treatment. A lot of serious health conditions just cannot be taken care of there.” When Dabo moved back to the United States at age 10, her career goals were taking shape. She focused on pharmaceutical sciences, and applied to the URI College of Pharmacy, where she is completing her P4 year. “My goal has always been medicine. I didn’t know which branch I wanted to go into, but I knew my path has to be something that can help the people I was raised with,” Dabo said. “I really wanted to come back and get a great education, and that’s why I chose URI.” Dabo has made it a point to help others at URI, serving as a Resident Advisor from her first year. She was passionate about advocating for the students in her care, “making sure each and every student is able to have their voices heard and feel the support they need.” For her extraordinary efforts, Dabo received the Rainville Student Leadership Award in 2019. Dabo also helped mentor incoming students, and participated in the College’s Walgreen’s Program, which allows minority students to get a taste of the work done in the labs of Avedisian Hall. She is also a founding member of the pharmacy academic fraternity Alpha Zeta Omega’s Rhode Island branch. Beyond being a leader on campus, Dabo has proven to be a conscientious student. She completed a rotation with CVS Pharmacy and is about to begin one with the state Department of
18 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
URI President David Dooley presents pharmacy student N’Deye Dabo with the Rainville Student Leadership Award.
Corrections. The variety fits with her career goals after graduation. “I’ve worked in hospitals, but I also have worked in community pharmacy, thanks to the experience URI has provided me,” Dabo said. “I am looking to do community pharmacy full-time and hospital part-time. They both give me things I really love, but community provides me with the opportunity to really talk to the patient. You have the opportunity to sit down with the patient and really make sure that they are getting the best treatment.” Ultimately, Dabo plans to move into international medicine, and has added French as a double-major. She also speaks Wolof, a local dialect in Senegal, where she hopes to one day bring her skills to help erase the health disparities residents face. “My ultimate goal is international medicine, so finding a way that I can bridge the gap and help bring supplies and medical attention to Senegal,” Dabo said. “Any way we can fund raise and help give them the support and education they need will make a huge difference. I plan to bring what I’ve learned and help bridge the gap of knowledge they really need.”
URI College of Pharmacy Class of 2020 BS CANDIDATES
Rachel Diantonio
Justin Leslie
Rachel Smilansky
Abigail Agreda
Nhi Doan
Jie Hao Li
Noah Steinberg
Roger Al Kabout
Alexandra Gamarra
Yingqi Lin
Liza Tabshey *
Yaslin Alicea-Hidrovo
Cassandra Gaudio
Sheyna Medina *
Giuseppe Tarantola * Ryan Thomas *
Sarah Aubin *
Peter Goretoy
Andreysi Ortiz Estevez
Jasmine Ayala *
Madelyn Hallisey
Zoe Perkins *
Kara Torrey
Jacqueline Biasetti*
Mohamad Jamal Aldine
Eric Pfeiffer *
Justin Trickett
Kevin Blewitt *
Victoria Johnson
Christine Plant
Chelsea Sorelle Washington *
Joshua Breggia
Daniel Kelly
Erika Poissant
Alex Wharton *
Hazel Brown
Amir Khairalla
Jillian Poulin *
Austin White
Qiwen Chen
Hyunjoo Lee
Eftim Ristov
Matthew Wilcox
Ethan Dasilva
Daniel Leonard
Olga Skende *
PHARM.D. CANDIDATES
Lauren Dodd
Amanda Loomis
Kristen St. Jean
Kyle Adams
Julia Eisenstein
Shannon MacLean
Tyler Stevens
Ashley Ayotte
Sydney Esser
Steffi Marasigan
Joshua Tiang
Moyra Aziz
John Fares
Lina Masalaitis
Michelle To
Alexandra Barton
Angela Ferlo
Steven Matthews *
Leanne Trischitta
Casey Bates
Elizabeth Gleeson
Megan McMahon
Jennifer Tudino
Elena Beauregard
Matthew Griffin
Gavin McQuate
Adam Turenne
Angelica Bevinetto
Andrew Guu
Meagan Medeiros
Emily Uebbing
Brian Bishop
James Haggerty
Janelle Mercer
Matthew Unruh
Jennifer Blazy
Sarah Hale
Seah Min
Victoria Urban
Courtney Cameron
Katherine Harte
Samantha Morganelli
Jordan Villella
Dominic Campione
Joshua Hayden
Meghan Morrissey
Samantha Webb
Bridget Cange
Olivia Huber
Emily Murray
Jennifer Weiss
Quyen Cao
Hongseok Jang
Mihir Murthi
Megan Wilks
Rachel Carley
Yoosoo Jang **
Marissa Norberto
Bradford Williamson
Sabrina Carter
Alexandria Jarvais
Tyler Noury
Tayllor Wright
Sydney Cassell
Frisca Kang
Nicole O’Brien
Christian Zitelli
Yujin Cha
Haeyun Kang
Emerald O’Rourke
Nicole Chen
Peter Keenan
Andy Ok
Yu-Ton Chen
Paige Kennedy
Anton Orlov
Giovanna Codispodo
Hannah Ketch
Avery Pacheco
Erin Connolly
Maria Khasminsky
Kayla Pelletier
Noelle Cordova
Yeon Kim
Rachel Pereira
Cecilia Costello
Anastasiya Kreshchuk
Morgan Perich
Justin Culshaw
Caroline Kruszecki
Olivia Ramey
Dylan D’Aguanno
Danielle Kubicsko
Hannah Ritchie
Victoria DaSilva
Samuel Lachapelle
Robert Rocchio
Haley Dacyczyn
Kelynn Laliberte
Adam Saluccio
Gabrielle Davis
Patrick Lee
Julia Schwechheimer
Benjamin Barlock
Anthony DeAngelis III
Matthew Lefebvre
Janine Short
Nicholas Belviso
Dominic DeFilipi
Amanda Lefemine
Steven Sica
Emily Marques
Lauren Della Grotta
Sophy Levine
Daniel Silva
Marisa Pfohl
Taylor Derocha
Nicholas Linehan
Matthew Solarczyk
Hilary Ranson Anitha Saravanakumar
Caroline Dicristo
Matthew Listro
Kyler Solomon
Colin Dimond
Connor Longo
Victoria Souza
M.S.CANDIDATES Abdullah Alharbi Veronica Basaly Ashley Hanks Craig Hessler Tyler Mantaian Benjamin Skov
Ph.D.CANDIDATES
** August Graduate * December Graduate
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 19
College Offers Program in Therapeutic Cannabis Studies First-of-its-kind online program aimed at multiple positions in cannabis industry The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy is offering an online undergraduate certificate program in therapeutic cannabis studies, responding to the growing demand for skilled workers in one of the nation’s fastest growing industries. URI’s online, four-course program — the first of its kind in the nation — aims to meet that demand. The online delivery model will allow for the flexibility necessary to accommodate students nationwide, as well as working professionals. The program, delivered by leaders in phytocannabinoids like CBD, consists of four 3-credit courses. The virtual laboratory experience will introduce students to state-ofthe-art equipment for cannabis chemistry analysis and testing of cannabis-related products.
The overall goal of the program is to provide graduates with an in-depth knowledge about the safe production and dissemination of cannabis-related information and products for qualified patients. Students successfully completing the course will earn a 12-credit certificate.
ACADEMICS A dynamic, interdisciplinary approach 20 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
For more information and to apply for future courses, visit cutt.ly/onlinecannabis
New Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Degree Program Pharmacy joins Health Sciences, CELS in one-of-a-kind program Undergraduates in the College of Pharmacy will soon have the opportunity to delve into the mysteries of the brain in a new neuroscience academic program. The new B.S. in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience will offer students the option of three areas of focus, distinguishing it among neuroscience programs in New England. The program brings together a wide range of disciplines—from basic research and clinical studies to new drug development—allowing for a more thorough study of neurological processes and disorders. The three degrees are: a B.S. in Neuropharmacology from the College of Pharmacy; a B.S. in Clinical Neuroscience from the College of Health Sciences; and a B.S. in Molecular Neuroscience from the College of the Environment and Life Sciences. The program will offer students access to training and faculty expertise from researchers at the George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience.
Ten new undergraduate classes have been developed as part of the core curriculum, enabling students to explore fundamental concepts of neuroscience, learn research methods and apply that knowledge in the field. “There are a lot of students who are just so excited to learn more about neuroscience and some of them have actually joined my lab and are helping me in my research,” said College of Pharmacy and Ryan Institute researcher Katharina Quinlan, who is studying neurodegeneration in the spinal cord and dysfunction in motor control disorders like cerebral palsy, ALS and spinal muscular atrophy. “There is a huge amount of grassroots enthusiasm for neuroscience here that is wonderful to see. If you are interested in neuroscience, URI is really a great place to be.” For more information on the program and its curriculum, visit uri.edu/inp.
PDI Offers Online Training for Pharmaceutical Firms The University of Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Development Institute continues to provide critical workforce training for pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms throughout the coronavirus pandemic, offering a suite of online experiences for industry partners. The Institute, part of the URI College of Pharmacy, provides training for the existing biopharmaceutical workforce and prepares the next generation of biotech workers. The Institute’s team of specialists have extensive industry and education experience and ordinarily offer scheduled courses in a combination of classroom, lab and GMP spaces. During the pandemic, the Institute is continuing to provide the critical training, developing fully online experiences that offer the same expertise industry partners have come to expect, just from a distance.
Current online courses include the following: • Upstream Aseptic Processing • Best Practices in Cleaning and Environmental Monitoring • Introduction to Cosmetics Development In addition to scheduled courses, the Institute’s experts create custom foundational courses designed to meet an industry partner’s specific needs. For more information and to register, visit uri.edu/pdi/training ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 21
Brett Feret Named Pharm.D. Faculty Member of Year Clinical Professor Brett Feret has been chosen by the Pharm.D. Class of 2020 as the Faculty/Staff Member of the Year. The doctor of pharmacy students selected Dr. Feret because of “his leadership, service, and commitment to the students.” In addition to teaching as a clinical professor, Feret also serves as director of Experiential Education, overseeing the curriculum and implementation of introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences, including the service learning curriculum. Ferret also coordinates the introductory pharmacy course for the first professional year students, and teaches immunization and self-care courses. He is also a pharmacy consultant for the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response.
FACULTY Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders
22 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Feret’s current research and practice interests include delivery and assessment of experiential education, the pharmacist’s role in emergency preparedness, self care, and immunization delivery.
Meet the Professors: Jaime Ross, Guieseppe Coppotelli College’s newest educators and researchers bring a wealth of worldly experience Two of the newest professors in the College bring with them a wealth of experience at such prestigious institutions as the National Institutes of Health and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, funded research into neurological anti-aging, and dynamic teamwork that extends beyond the lab into the home. Professors Jaime Ross and Guiseppe Coppotelli met while completing their doctoral theses at the NIH. Discovering a mutual interest in neuroscience and anti-aging, the pair struck up a professional relationship that became personal, and the two married before heading together overseas. It was in Stockholm where their professional teamwork expanded. Ross was studying aging of the central nervous system, specifically premature aging related to mitochondrial mutations. In need of a biochemistry expert to help dissect and analyze cells and tissue in the mouse brains she was using, Ross turned to
Making a Difference for Transformative Faculty Philanthropy is essential to recruiting and retaining rising stars like Jaime and Giuseppe. With faculty size limited by state budgetary constraints, the College of Pharmacy has grown its faculty by 15% over five years with philanthropic resources from the Thomas M. Ryan Professorship, Hermann Professorship, Ernest Mario Distinguished Chair in Pharmaceutics and the Paramaz Avedisian Endowed Chair in Medical Organic Chemistry. This investment in talent led to the College’s #8 national ranking in federal research grants, rising from #10 the previous year.
Coppotelli, who jumped into a study the pair continue today. “We were already married, but that’s when we became scientifically married,” Ross said. They continue their research into neurological aging, attempting to discover why aging seems to occur at different rates in different people. Is it their environment, diet or lifestyle, or is there more going on in their bodies at the cellular level? Their studies, supported by a $1 million K99-R00 grant, aims to discover the answers. “The goal is to understand aging and how aging predisposes us to disease,” Coppotelli said.
“If we can understand the process, perhaps we can manipulate, slow down and improve the aging process.” The pair take their team approach to URI, not just in the lab but also in the classroom. Coppotelli and Ross will teach NEU-262 in the spring, a course in cellular and molecular neuroscience research lab techniques that is part of the College’s new neuroscience undergraduate degree program. Given their varied experience, the two will be able to share their expertise in multiple branches of neuroscience. “I’m really excited to be part of this course and to further our research,” Ross said. “We decided we can put our interests together and what we come up with could be really fun. In this course, students get hands-on experience in small groups, and get to learn the basics of the different methodologies of neuroscience that we both have expertise in.” ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 23
Alum, preceptor Joins TB12 Marathon Team Combining his passion for personal health and helping others improve their physical Chris Federico performance, URI Pharmacy alumnus Chris Federico has joined former New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady’s Boston Marathon team, which hopes to improve on the $125,000 it raised for the TB12 Foundation during the marathon last April. Federico graduated from the College with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, and developed a passion for raising awareness and delivering education related to physical fitness and nutrition. After growing up with a sibling with Type 1 Diabetes, Chris learned firsthand how access to healthcare resources can have a positive impact on an individual’s physical health and overall wellness.
ALUMNI Continuing to Make the College Proud 24 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
The Boston Marathon is traditionally run in April each year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the live race was cancelled in favor of a virtual race scheduled for Sept. 7-14.
Care New England pharmacist, URI alum, wins 2020 Campbell Award The College presented alumna and Care New England Director of Specialty Pharmacy Leslie Pires with the Dr. Norman A. Campbell Award for Ethics and Excellence in Healthcare, honoring her contributions to pharmacy and health care in general in the region.
Dean Paul Larrat presents pharmacy entrepreneur Susan Petrovas with the College’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
Pharmacy entrepreneur wins College’s Distinguished Achievement Award Susan Petrovas ’92 is a pharmacist and entrepreneur The URI College of Pharmacy honored the career of an alumna who has made a tremendous impact on health care with one of the College’s highest honors during the Distinguished Achievement Awards ceremony on Oct. 5. Susan Petrovas ’92 is a pharmacist and entrepreneur who has created several corporate entities in her years since graduating from the College. Along with her husband, George, Petrovas founded CDMI, a successful pharmacy and medical management company, which was acquired by Magellan Health Services in 2014. The Newport-based firm provides clinical consulting programs and negotiates and administers drug rebates for managed care organizations. “Sue is a kind, caring, generous and accomplished alum, committed to the patients we all ultimately serve,” said Dean Paul Larrat. “She has managed to blend her business and clinical acumen to improve the quality of life of countless individuals.”
Pires, an adjunct clinical associate professor at URI, is also a consultant for the 340B drug program for Soleo Health in McKinney, Texas, as well as for the American and Rhode Island Pharmacists Associations. She received the award March 12 Dean Paul Larrat presents the at Seminar By the Dr. Norman A. Campbell Award to Sea, a conference Care New England Director of Specialty Pharmacy Leslie Pires. hosted by the URI Office of Continuing Education for the Health Professions. Pires received her Bachelor’s in Pharmacy and Pharm D. from URI, and her Master’s in Pharmacology from Northeastern University. She has worked at Women and Infants’ Hospital for most of her career, and was the longtime director of pharmacy before being promoted to pharmacy director for all of the Care New England hospitals. The Campbell Award was created to honor those like Pires working in health care who have displayed high ethics and integrity over the course of their career.
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 25
Looking to the Future – a conversation with Dean Larrat As URI and the College of Pharmacy enter the most ambitious comprehensive campaign in our history, the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement (URIFAE) team met with Dean Larrat to learn his vision for the college’s future.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE Through Service & Support 26 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
URIFAE: Student pharmacy applications nationwide are declining, and several pharmacy programs are closing, yet the URI College of Pharmacy continues to thrive. What is the basis of your success, and how will that be sustained? Dean Larrat: As the profession became increasingly specialized and a more diverse set of career opportunities unfolded for our students, we expanded our course selection and invested in the pharmaceutical sciences and neurosciences, expanding the breadth of research and recruiting talented faculty well positioned to secure competitive grants. At the same time, we are adapting our pharmacy practice curriculum to meet society’s changing needs. Our world is evolving, so we are preparing our students to be lifelong learners and collaborative leaders as well as excellent clinicians and scientists. URIFAE: That has been effective thus far, but has the COVID-19 pandemic changed your vision of the College? Dean Larrat: The COVID 19-crisis presents logistical challenges to teaching and experiential learning, as well as the conduct of research, but it has reinforced awareness that pharmaceutical research and pharmacy practice are essential to identify, prevent and treat life-threatening illness. If anything, the public now knows that our work is critical for the public’s health, and for economic stability. We can’t afford not to invest in the College. URIFAE: How can alumni and friends sustain our current success and advance the College’s mission? Dean Larrat: Looking to the future, we must invest in our students, our faculty, and in the tools of innovation:
STUDENTS ARE THE FUTURE: Our profession must represent the society it serves. We must be affordable, with an infrastructure to support first-generation college students. This will require both need-based and merit scholarships. We have elevated our standing as a national research college and that must continue. This means recruiting highly qualified graduate students through fellowships and research funds. To remain competitive, URI students are encouraged to expand their horizon with experiential learning and professional-growth and leadership opportunities. They will need support from student enhancement funds.
PREPARING FOR A NEW GENERATION OF FACULTY: My generation of academic colleagues are approaching retirement age, presenting a rare opportunity to increase the national and international stature of our faculty. Excellent talent is in high-demand, so professorships and faculty development funds will be needed to attract and retain the most promising junior faculty, prominent senior researchers and faculty leaders. URIFAE: Can a gift be used to generate more money? Dean Larrat: Those are the tools of innovation that I mentioned earlier. We will always need research support to pilot “big ideas” and leverage novel opportunities with potential for earning larger grants. Some of these projects could have commercial applications. Alumni and friends can add to the College of Pharmacy Innovation Fund or create one of their own. Another good source of gift-ROI is the College’s Pharmaceutical Development Institute (PDI), our sterile GMP manufacturing facility. Philanthropy is needed to assure its sustainability and broaden its capabilities, but I am confident that it will continue to be a source of commercial revenue through drug development and industry training with industry partners. URIFAE: Is there anything else you want to share? Dean Larrat: I’ve been at URI a long time, and we’ve made great progress. For us to become, and remain a top-10 College of Pharmacy, we need an endowed Deanship, to recruit and retain executive leaders with the experience, knowledge and stature to strengthen the College from generation to generation. If the right person were out there, they could have an extraordinary impact on the future of our college. And don’t forget the College of Pharmacy Annual Fund. That is the most important source of money to address short-term needs and emergency expenses. It was essential for us to meet the COVID challenge, and I am so grateful to alumni and friends for their support! For more information about supporting the College of Pharmacy, contact: Eric Schonewald, Managing Director of Development, at eschonewald@uri.edu or phone 401-874-9017 Tim Babcock, Director of Development, at tbabcock@uri.edu or phone 401-874-4909
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 27
Making a Difference for Student Access
TAYLOR DEROCHA '20 COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Taylor proudly sporting her white coat at the Narragansett Sea Wall.
I was out in the community completing my rotations when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, so my transition to remote learning has been a little different than that for students who were on campus and in the classroom. This was a great time to be practicing in the community setting, as I was able to talk to patients about COVID-19, counsel them on the importance of washing their hands with soap and water and social distancing. However, when that 6-week rotation block came to an end, I was set to begin my final rotation but students were not allowed to complete hours at the hospital due to the pandemic. Thankfully, my preceptor went above and beyond in her work to make sure that all the students on her rotation would be able to complete their requirements in time for graduation. I was able to personally grow by learning to become more flexible and adaptable while staying motivated and positive during tough times. 28 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
“Being on rotation, I have been unable to work. Your generosity has allowed me to focus on my studies and not worry about paying my tuition bills.�
TIME + TALENT Our College of Pharmacy community is indebted to a vast network of alumni, partners and friends who dedicate their time and expertise to support our mission. BSPS ALUMNI MENTORS
Marissa Barrett
Randy Charlska
George D’Agostino
Pamela Barton
Maggie Charpentier
Melissa DaCosta
Stephen J. Allen ‘76
James Beaulieu
Jamie Charron
Manuel Dalomba
Steven Arcidiacono ‘80, ‘84
Anthony Bellino
Bongsup Cho
Tim Dambach
Marc Bernarducci ‘91
Glenn Beloso
Jenny Choi
Karen Dang
Richard Bianco ‘86
Kathryn Bender
Catherine Chy
Erica Dankiewicz
Jeffrey E. Cehelsky ‘87
James Berghelli
Anthony Ciampi
Ashley Davey
Christopher Ivanoski ‘09
Kyle Bertram
Gregory Cianfarani
Melissa Davis
David F. Ludwig ‘80
Shubha Bhat
Nicole Clark
Eric Deane
Robyn Peters ‘86
Andrea Bianco
Kathleen Cleary
Marissa DeFoe
Kim Queren ‘83
Joseph Bizier
Travis Coffey
Angelo DeGuglielmo Jr
Jason Soares ‘83
Stephanie Blais
Lisa Cohen
Kevin Dehner
Carl Symecko ‘94
Deepa Blomstedt
Christine M. Collins
Jeffrey Del Ricci Jr.
Chris Yun ‘88
Christine Borowy
Laura Condra
Susan DeLeo
PRECEPTORS
Phil Boshar
Christopher Connolly
Christopher DeLucia
Kimberly Ackerbauer
Carol Botelho
Mark Coons
Valerie Demekhin
Cyrus Agarabi
Marybeth Boudreau
Chandra Cooper
Peter Demestihas
David Ahern
Allison Boyd
Lesley “Nicky” Corkum
Christopher DiBlasi
Scott Ahern
Jeffrey Bratberg
Erica Correia
Lucy DiMase
Meav Ainley
Todd Brothers
Kenny Correia
Shannon Dion
Abimbola Aladesuru
Anne Brown
John Correira
Patrick Dougherty
Nicole Allie
Robert Brunault
Katherine Corsi
Alex Dozier
Rachel Almeida
Allorie Caldwell
Jackie Costantino
Kristen Driscoll
Valerie Anselmo
Chelsey Campbell
Kelly Cotter
Robert Dufresne
Brittany Arrighi
Steven Cano
Michael Courage
Chris Durigan
Nicole Asal
Paul Capuano
Diana Courtney
Courtney Durkin
Ifeoma Asoh
Rebecca Carlson
John Coutros
Christine Dyer
Damianos Avramidis
David Caron
Marty Coyne
Kelsey Eggeman
Jose Badillo
Linda Carver
Megan Crete
Christine Eisenhower
Anita Banerjee
Scott Castonguay
MaryAnne Cronin
Rachael Elias
Julie Barber
Vivianne Celario
Becky Curtin
Trevor Embry
Colleen Barboza
Scott Cerce
Mark Curtis
Erica Estus
Michele Chantra
Jeanne Curzake
Michael Facente ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 29
Alexander Fairhurst
Karen Gradischer
Kirsten Jenkins
Alyssa Lazzara
Jay Fajiculay
Rachel Grant
Aimee Jensen
Thu Le
Erika Fallon
Justin Greene
Erik Johnson
Jennifer Leavitt
Austin Faria
Rebecca Greene
Jamiele Johnson
Siu Ching Lee
Natalija Farrell
Justin Gregoire
Monique Johnson
Daniel Lefkowitz
Megan Feeney
Barbara Gross
Treesa Joseph
Anthony Leggio
Dawn Feret
Michelle Guarriello
GaEun Joung
William Lehault
Jennifer Fiebert
Paul Hackett
Bonnie Judd
Ginger Lemay
Kristen Fink
Cynthia Haggarty
Arnold Kaplan
Lisa Letarte
Pamela Fiske
Sonya Halevy
Adrijana Kekic
Shannon Levesque
Christopher Flores
Stacie Haley
Jennifer Kelleher
Joseph Lewis
Paul Florio
Cindy Har
Ryan Kelley
Robert Lewis
Shelley Fojas
Britt Harrington
Mary Kate Kelly
Justin Liauw
Rachel Fortin
Alicia Harvey
Patrick Kelly
Kristin Linder
Robert Fortin
Susan Hauf
Kaitlin Kennedy
Christine Ling
Keith Foster
Mojdeh Heavner
Afzav Khan
Denis Lipovac
Kyle Fraielli
Cory Heck
Kati Khouri
Cheuk H. (Michael) Liu
Kayla Friend
Keith Heim
Anne Marie Kilcoyne
Roger Liu
Elyse Gagne
Michelle Hersey
Melissa Kilsey
Craig Long
Dana Gagnon
Tara Higgins
Roberta KIng
Mark Lorson
David Gagnon
Jeffrey Hill
Shawna King
Corey Lotridge
Linh Gagnon
Patricia Hite
Angela Korac
Greg Low
Richard Gannon
Letiana Hitoaliaj
Taylor Kozlowski
Scott Lucian
Katy Garrett
David Ho
Dylan Krawczyk
Karl Lussier
Kevin Gaul
Tara Holtzman-Ball
Kathleen Kundrat
Lisa Ly
Marc Gentile
Joseph Hong
Christopher Kunkel
Daniel Lyktey
Mercy George
Kevin Horbowicz
Anthonia Kuti
George Macaw
Melissa Gerry
Kayla Huggins
Marta Lachcik
Celia MacDonnell
Shannon Giddens
Anne Hume
David LaCoste
Leana Mahmoud
Shannon Gilhooley
Justin Huynh
Matthew Lacroix
Lauren Major
Fouachee Gillespie
Leslie Huynh
Debra LaFond
Andrea Malanakarot
Alicia Gillogly
Robert Iacobucci
Kristina LaPerriere
Janice Maniwang
Michael Glovich
Elie Jabbour
Kerry LaPlante
Jyoti Mann
Peter Godbout
Anita Jacobson
Heather Larch
Mia Marcello
Viraj Godsay
Nicholas Jandovitz
Lindsay Latin
Cindy Margaritonda
Robert Goris-Kolb
Jacqueline Jankins
Janella Lawton
Kay Marioni
30 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Sara Martin
Brian Musiak
Amy Peters
Michael Riendeau
Corinn Martineau
Jessica Nagy
Michelle Pheng
Margaret Rivera
Ariana Masi-Karpuc
Safiya Naidjate
Michael Piampaino
Lisa Robbins
Megan Masse
Shilpa Nair
Lina Piech
Marisa Roberto
Kelly Matson
Michael Natale
William Pierce
Martha Roberts
Kelly Mazzulli
Jessica Natali
Marisa Piers-Gamble
Anella Robinson
Laura McAuliffe
Joseph Navarra
Vinicius Pimentel
Britny Rogala
Jeffrey McCarthy
Jarrod Nedvidek
Daniella Pina
Andrew Ross
Kelli McCarty
Deborah Nery
Katelyn Pina
Linda Rowe-Varone
Megan McCaskill
Jeffrey Newton
Leslie Pires
Dana Royal
Rachel McGarty
Karen Nolan
Lisa Pistorino
Diana Saad
Gerald McGaunn
Sean Nolan
Michael Poirier
Vincent Salerno
Kristina McGill
Carla O’Donnell
Gina Policelli Halvorsen
Linda Sampson
Melanie F. McGuire
Joseph O’Neill, Jr.
Jill Powers
Alexandra Santamaria
Donald McKaig
Aimee Okonski
Jessica Price
Daisy Santiago
Christine McLellan
Matthew Olivier
Christina Procaccianti
Mark Santilli
Ashly McPhillips
James Olszewski
Jessica Putney
Kelley Sanzen
Krista Mecadon
Carmen Oquendo
Kayla Quan
Justin Saver
Angela Medeiros
Kelly Orr
William Quirk
Cynthia Scaffidi
Diane Medeiros
Victor Ortiz II
Allison Raich
Alison Schiesl
Angeles Medina Peraza
Maria Osundele
Anika Raisa
Stephen Schwartz
Diana Mercurio
Donna Paine
Lesley Raley
William Schwetz
Evan Miller
Anna Palazzo
Jena Ramdat
Brahim Sebbah
Margaret Moniz
Brianna Palowitch
Patrick Seckler
Maricelle Monteagudo-Chu
Penny Panciera
Noemi RamosDeSimone
Melvin Morales Jr. Chloe Morgan Jessie Morgan John Morgan
Effie Papatsoris Paul Parchesky Aamani Parchuri Diane Parente Alison Parker
Angelo D. Morgantini
Devi Patel
Mary Moritz
Nainesh Patel
Kathryn Morrison
Puja Patel
Mark Morrison
Jayne Pawasauskas
Michael Muller
Brittany Pelsue
Nigel Musgrave
Gregg Pennington
Maggie Randazzo Stacey Ranucci Theodore Ray Brooke Raymond Amelia Rebello Mary Regan Gene Regnier JR Kate Reichert Lisa Reilly Jared Reles Amy Ricupero
Navindra Seeram Hope Serafin Ronald Serak Elena Serpico Deven Shah Hardi Shah Nishita Shah Rajeev Shah Ann-Marie Shea Elizabeth Shepard Jaime Sicoli Stacie Siedzik
ANNUAL REPORT 2020/ 31
Sarah Silvia
Jared Tucker
Swati Singhal
LilyTuleva
Jennifer Smith
Kate Ulbricht
Bill Snow
Kelly Valente
Dawn Sollee
Christine Vaudo
Jenna Solomon
Sarah Velez
Meghan Soso
Sarah Verbyla
Enid Soto-Berninger
William Viens
Bethany Spadaro
DEAN’S ADVISORY BOARD Henrique T. Pedro ’76, Chair Lynn Pezzullo ’91, Vice Chair
FRIENDS OF THE YOUNGKEN GARDEN Muriel Benjamin Amey Larrat Joan Lausier
Dea Belazi, Pharm.D, ’01
Julia Law
Kimberly Viersma
Norman Campbell, Ph.D. ’57
Kenneth Rose
Abhishek Srivastava
Michael Viscusi
Christine M. Collins ’90
Robin Rodgers
Amy St. Amand
Tammy Walker
Hiroko Shimizu
Katie Starbuck
David Wang
Ewa Dzwierzynski, Pharm.D. ’96
Angelica Stark
Zhong Wang
George Grandolfi, Ph.D. ’81
Richard Youngken
Michael Stearns
Kristina Ward
Heather Larch ’99
Emily Stoukides
Adam Whalley
David Ludwig ‘80
Jada Taglione
Gregory Wheeler
Tracey Taveira
Shawn Whitehead
Colleen Prior Moffitt ’88, M.S. ’94
John Tederous Jr
Steve Willis
Andrew Terranova
Richelle Winkler
Xia Thai
Jesse Wisniewski
Karen Thomas
Bridgit Witbeck
Rhonda Thomas
Margot Wolf
Eleanor Perfetto ’90, M.S. ’88
Genine Thormahlen
Jon Wolowicz
Susan Petrovas ‘92
Frank Toce
Kong Wong
Robert W. Potter Jr. ’83
Amanda Tommasiello
Crystal Yu
Edward Quinlan ’71
Christopher Toro
Shirley Yu
Martha Torok
Sarah Zamil
Edward M. Rudnic ’78, Ph.D. ’83
Nancy Tortolani
Wesley Zemrak
Sarah Thompson
Robert Tortolani
Michael Zeng
John Zevzavadjian ’88
Rodney Tortorich Jr.
Christine Zeolla
Andrea Tremblay
Michael Zummo
Shayna Trenn Krupali Trivedi Sarah Troob Mei Tsai Dong Tu
32 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Justina Molzon ’73, M.S. ’76 Nancy C. Motola, Ph.D. ’83
Victoria Leyden
Yusuru Shimizu
IN MEMORIUM College Mourns Passing of 2 Community Members Leonard Worthen Leonard Worthen, 94, of Wakefield, died April 9, 2020 after a brief illness. Born in Woburn, Massachusetts, Dec. 28, 1925, he was the son of the late Alice (Ransom) Worthen and Lawrence Preston Worthen and the brother of the late Gordon A. Worthen, all of Stoneham, Massachusetts. Worthen was a professor, researcher, department chair, and associate dean at the URI College of Pharmacy during his 33-year career. He was inducted in the URI College of Pharmacy Hall of Fame last fall. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he was married to his beloved wife, the late M. Elizabeth “Betty” (Shumway) Worthen, for 54 years. He is survived by his three children: Diane Worthen-Hirsch and her husband Eric, of North Scituate; Lawrence P. Worthen and his wife Diane, of Exeter; and David R. Worthen, of South Kingstown. In addition to his academic work, Worthen served for more than 40 years as a community pharmacist in Massachusetts and at the former DeFanti’s Pharmacy, in Wakefield and the Pier Pharmacy, Narragansett.
Mario Casinelli Mario Casinelli, 92, of Cranston, passed away July 8, 2020 at RI Hospital. He was the husband of Veronica (Athas) Casinelli. Born in Providence, Mario was a son of the late Mario Casinelli, Sr. and Marie “Bambina” (Carpetola) Casinelli. Casinelli was a U.S.Army veteran, having served during WWII. Using the GI Bill, he attended the RI College of Pharmacy, predecessor to the current College, and became co-owner of Oaklawn Pharmacy in Cranston. He spent countless hours in educating the community on topics such as poison prevention, the dangers of smoking, drug addiction, and sexually transmitted diseases, the latter involving a national billboard campaign. During his career, he served as president of the RI Pharmaceutical Association, and for twelve years was the Chief of the Board of Pharmacy. He continued to practice Pharmacy until he retired at age 90. Besides his wife, Mario is survived by his children, Paul E. Casinelli and his wife Susan of Westerly, and Karen M. Pasquazzi and her husband David A. of Cranston. Mario was the grandfather of Marc Pasquazzi and his wife Catharina; Adam Casinelli, Domenic Casinelli, and Liesl Casinelli. He was a brother of Loretta Paesano, and the late Joseph and Frank Casinelli.
College of Pharmacy Avedisian Hall, 7 Greenhouse Road Kingston, RI 02881
PA I D Wakefield, RI
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URI is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. 8/2020 1370/PHR PHOTOS: JOE GIBLIN; NORA LEWIS; PATRICK LUCE; MIKE SALERNO
