ALUMNI

Spreading URI’s Global Impact

First Montalto Memorial scholarship awarded

Pharmacy Student, National Guard Reservist Is Inaugural Recipient

The memory of a URI College of Pharmacy graduate, who became a prominent optometrist and a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, is being honored in a scholarship that is benefiting another pharmacy student serving in the military. Samuel Montalto graduated from URI in the 1980s. He served as a pharmacist while attending New England College of Optometry. He was a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force Reserves, a member of the 439th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, serving at Westover Air Reserve Base from 2010 until he died from pancreatic cancer in 2017. Montalto, of Westerly, was 57 years old. Montalto’s family, along with close friends Paul and Amey Larrat, and John and Mary Mastrianni, created the Samuel J. Montalto Jr. Memorial Scholarship to benefit URI College of Pharmacy students. The first recipient is Michaela Young, a student in her second professional year who serves as a pharmacy technician in the R.I. National Guard. Last March, the Cranston native was activated to assist with COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island, continuing her studies during breaks from serving on the state’s Contact Tracing Team. The scholarship helps Young cover her expenses, allowing her to focus on her schoolwork and her service to the community in the National Guard. “Michaela exemplifies many of the traits that I remember in Sam,” Dean Larrat said. “A love of country, family, and colleagues. An unwavering desire to support those around them. A positive outlook, a great sense of humor, and a love for life. I know Sam would be proud an exemplary student and dedicated member of the community member like Michaela is the inaugural recipient of his scholarship.”

Samuel Montalto is pictured with his family, wife Debbie Montalto and children, Catherine, Emily and Sam, before his passing in 2017. “Michaela exemplifies many of the traits that I remember in Sam.” —Dean Paul Larrat URI pharmacy student Michaela Young, the first recipient of the Montalto Scholarship, studies for classes during a break from contact tracing with the Air National Guard.

New URI Pharmacy Scholarship to Benefit Underrepresented Students

While improvements in diversity have been made in recent years, African American people are still severely underrepresented in the pharmacy profession across the country, accounting for less than 5 percent of all pharmacists, according to PharmacyTimes. A new scholarship established by one of URI’s first doctor of pharmacy graduates aims to help lessen the disparity. The Robert and Birdie Lawrence Endowed Scholarship will support students in the College, with a preference for qualified African American students with a demonstrated financial need, or students from other historically underrepresented populations. The $50,000 gift was invested within the URI endowment, where it will grow over time and continually help students with financial need pursue a world-class education.

URI alumnus Kenneth Lawrence ’88, Pharm.D. ’90, established the scholarship in the names of his parents, “whose lifelong commitment to the importance of education and perseverance in the face of adversity shaped my character and informed my career,” he said. “Education was always a big priority for my parents, and going to URI was a huge opportunity for me. I want to help others have that same opportunity.” Lawrence spent 20 years as a clinical pharmacist before moving into pharmaceutical development, currently serving as senior director of Seres Therapeutics in Watertown, Mass. He credits the opportunity he got at URI and the hard work he was exposed to in the College of Pharmacy for his career success, and hopes to pay that opportunity forward, especially for a student with a similar background to his. In addition to providing opportunity for students, Lawrence hopes the scholarship plays at least a small part in increasing diversity in health care in general.

Our college 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

Matthew Alcusky ’14 Stephen J. Allen ’76 Steven Arcidiacono ’80, ’84 Marc Bernarducci ’91, ’95 Richard Bianco ’86 Jeffrey E. Cehelsky ’87 Amanda Copans ’00 James Fratantino ’14 David F. Ludwig ’80 Robyn Peters ’86 Kim Queren ’83 Jason Soares ’98 Carl Symecko ’94

DEAN’S ADVISORY BOARD

Henrique T. Pedro ’76, chair Lynn Pezzullo ’91, vice chair Rami Beiram Ph.D. ’17 Dea Belazi, Pharm.D, ’01 Norman Campbel,

Ph.D. ’57, Christine M. Collins ’90 Ewa Dzwierzynski,

Pharm.D. ’96 George Grandolfi,

Ph.D. ’81 Kathleen Jaeger ’87 Kenneth Lawrence ’88,

Pharm.D. ’90 David Ludwig ’80 Justina Molzon ’73,

M.S. ’76 Nancy C. Motola,

Ph.D. ’83 Eleanor Perfetto ’90,

M.S. ’88 Susan Petrovas ’92 Robert W. Potter Jr. ’83 Edward M. Rudnic ’78,

Ph.D. ’83 Sarah Thompson

EMERITUS MEMBERS

Heather Larch ’98 Colleen Moffit ’88,

M.S. ’94 Edward Quinlan ’71 John Zevzavadjian ’88

FRIENDS OF THE YOUNGKEN GARDEN

Muriel Benjamin Amey Larrat Joan Lausier Julia Law Victoria Leyden Robin Rodgers Kenneth Rose Hiroko Shimizu Richard Youngken

PRECEPTORS

Tena Abraham Kimberly Ackerbauer Shawn Ackerman Casey Adams Erica Adler Cyrus Agarabi Kyriakos Agathangelou Paul Ahearn David Ahern Scott Ahern Emem Akpan Monica Akus Betool Al-Mazraawy Chris Albanese Christopher Albanese Chirene Albatal Leah Allebach Edward Allie Nicole Allie Rachel Almeida Nilesh Amin Dana Amore Valerie Anselmo Madeline Archer Nicole Asal Ifeoma Asoh Dhiraj Asrani Leah Baccari Jose Badillo Paul Badore Lynette Badu Rita Baglini Tania Baker Julie Barber Tricia Bardzak Joanna Barnas Amanda Barner Christina Barnett Pamela Barton Mark Basile II James Beaulieu Joanne Hoffman Beechko Glenn Beloso Kathryn Bender James Berghelli Kyle Bertram Andrea Bianco Amanda Bissonnette Deepa Blomstedt Christine Borowy Carol Botelho Amani Boutros Jennifer Boyle Jeffrey Bratberg Eleanor Broadbent Todd Brothers Amy Brotherton Anne Brown Britny Brown Robert Brunault Shannon Burke Theresa Byrne-Hart Stacy Cairns Juli Caisse Nick Caldarelli Scott Candon Steven Cano Rebecca Carlson Tonya Carlton David Caron Michael Carrier Bob Cattan Vivianne Celario Ryan Centafont Michael Cerasuolo Scott Cerce John Cerini So Sum Chack Randy Charlska Maggie Charpentier Kevin Charron Jeff Chau Ashley Child Ashley Chin Sebastian Choi Keith Choquette Anthony Ciampi Gregory Cianfarani Raymond Ciarleglio Vincent Cinquemani Nicole Clark Kathleen Cleary Ebenezer Cofie Lisa Cohen

Alexa Colavecchio Abimbola Cole Christine M. Collins Andrea Cone Brent Conlee Samantha Copeland Kenny Correia Thomas Cory Jackie Costantino Kelly Cotter Erin Cournoyer John Coutros Cassandra Couture Susan Couture Marty Coyne James Craven Megan Crete MaryAnne Cronin Hanaa Crvaric Becky Curtin Mark Curtis Jeanne Curzake Melissa DaCosta Manuel Dalomba Jessica Damon Erica Dankiewicz Ashley Davey Melissa Davis Kevin Dehner Jeffrey Del Ricci Jr. Alexis Dellogono Kelly DeMoura Casey Dempsey Jillian DePaola Mary Depippo Noemi/Lisa

DeSimone/Cohen Heather Deslauriers Jennifer Diamond Christopher DiBlasi Cheryl DiLucchio Lucy DiMase Vincent Do Frank Dogali James Doolittle Muriel Dorval Alex Dozier Kristen Driscoll Robert Dufresne Kayla Duquette Chris Durigan Courtney Durkin Christine Dyer Kelsey Eggeman Christine Eisenhower Sarah Ekbatani Consuelo Elder Corey Elias Natalie Erichsen Erica Estus Jenny Eung Michael Facente Alexander Fairhurst Erika Fallon Natalija Farrell Ashley Fay Megan Feeney Dawn Feret Jacqueline Ferreira Diana Fields Michela Fiori Pamela Fiske Kylie Fogarty Angie Forbes Donna Fortin Rachel Fortin Kevin Foster Kyle Fraielli Chris Franzese Alexander Fredette Carlos Freitas Katharine

Freudenberger Kayla Friend Brandon Fusaro Amy Gabriel Paul Gabriele Elyse Gagne Dana Gagnon Julia Galea Lyndsey Garde Kevin Gaul Michelle Gaumond Alycia Gelinas Marc Gentile Robert George Gavin Gillespie Sean Gilman Jane Girgasky Anthony Giso Anthony Giuliani Lindsay Gladysz David Goodnow Robert Goris-Kolb Lisa Grabowski Rachel Grant Stephanie Grant Justin Greene Rebecca Greene Paul Hackett Mary Hall Gina Policelli

Halvorsen Tara Hanagan Lori Hand Lisa Harpel Britt Harrington Ashley Harris Anthony Harrison Cherie Hatch Michelle Hersey Tamara Hersh Amanda Higgins AnnMarie Higgins Ryan Hitte Kevin Horbowicz Victoria Hudson Kyle Hultz Anne Hume Erika Huntley Justin Huynh Robert Iacobucci Kristen Ignacio Amy Ingargiola Anita Jacobson Nicholas Jandovitz Whitney Jandreau Daniel Janish Jacqueline Jankins Kirsten Jenkins Peter Jensen Premesh Jina Sony John Gregg Jones Jay Joshi Thomas Kalista Harpreet Kaur Richard Kavi Amanuel Kehasse Michelle Kelley Ryan Kelley Mary Kate Kelly Patrick Kelly Brigita Kelsey Bassam (Sam) Khalil Melissa Kilsey Brianna Kimball Elizabeth Koczera Anna Koltracht Michelle Komlo Elizabeth Korah Akshita Kota Dylan Krawczyk Agnes Krudysz-Zajac Pranati Kuchimanchi Kathleen Kundrat Heather Kutzler Marta Lachcik Kimberly LaCroix Kristina LaPerriere Kerry LaPlante Chelsea Laracy Joanmarie Lariviere Jason Laskosky Lisa Lavalette Alyssa Lazzara Veronica Lee Daniel Lefkowitz Anthony Leggio Ginger Lemay Francis Lerz Nicholas Leso Emma Letts Shannon Levesque Joseph Lewis Justin Liauw Jean Lilly Denis Lipovac Amy Little Brian Little Alyssa Littlejohn Erica Liu Riley Lizotte Mark Lorson Nicholas Lotano Christopher Lotito Jeff Low Scott Lucian Samantha Luk Karl Lussier Daniel Lyktey Brian MacDonald Celia MacDonnell Sesily Macon Julia MacManus Leana Mahmoud Lauren Major Andrea Malanakarot Mia Marcello Allison Marchand Cindy Margaritonda Jonathan Marquess Emily Marshall Paul Martel Sara Martin Corinn Martineau Paul Massad Megan Masse

Titus Mathew Kelly Matson Megan McCaskill Kimberly McCormack Rachel McGarty Gerald McGaunn Kristina McGill Melanie F. McGuire Donald McKaig Kristi McKenzie Christine McLellan Kevin McMurray Krista Mecadon Michael Medouris Brian Meneses Diana Mercurio Aimee Mertz Roger Michaud Darlene Molett Miranda Monk Maricelle Monteagudo-Chu Stephanie Morais Melvin Morales Jr. Katrina Moran Jason Mordino Chloe Morgan Elisa Morgan Paula Morgan Angelo D. Morgantini Mark Morrison Michael Muller Tara Mulligan Brian Musiak Foster Myers III Jessica Nagy Safiya Naidjate Joseph Navarra Kristen Nelligan Karen Nolan Sean Nolan Kelsey Nordaby Kelsey Norman Matthew Olivier James Olszewski Carmen Oquendo Jeff Owren Nathan Pallang Jugal Panchal Effie Papatsoris Paul Parchesky Grace Park Alison Parker Hiren Patel Nainesh Patel Payal Patel Saloni Patel Shardul Patel Suraj Patel Vimal Patel Vrushank Patel Jayne Pawasauskas Cory Pazcoguin Meredith Peabody Kayla Pederzani Brittany Pelsue Amanda Penacho Jeffrey Pepe Kathy Peterson Michael Piampaino Marisa Piers-Gamble Vinicius Pimentel Katelyn Pina Leslie Pires Kevin Placentino Mark Porcaro Jill Powers Christina Procaccianti Ellie Provisor Michael Przekopowski Jessica Putney Kayla Quan William Quirk Margaret Fox Racette Anika Raisa Jena Ramdat Noemi Ramos -DeSimone Craig Randall Lee Raspet Dereck Realejo Emily Reese Gene Regnier Jr. Kate Reichert Ashley Reynolds Amy Ricupero Michael Riendeau Vera Rigali Jacob Ripley Margaret Rivera Lisa Robbins Anella Robinson Victoria Rodgers Lisa Rodriguez Mark Rogers Luis Rosado Felicia Rosh Andrew Ross Adam Rucando Robert Saba Mark Santilli Kelley Sanzen Christopher

Saunders Marizela Savic Renee Savory Cynthia Scaffidi Amy Schauster Alison Schiesl Amy Schuck Hope Serafin Ronald Serak Elena Serpico Deven Shah Purvi Shah Rajeev Shah Sunish Shah Ann-Marie Shea Stacie Siedzik Jillian Silber Kevin Silvestre Sarah Silvia Amrita Singh Shally Singh Andrew Smith Jennifer Smith Bill Snow Dawn Sollee Jenna Solomon April Sorrentino Raymond Spinella Amy St Amand Wendy Steadman Michael Stearns Marina Sulik Mary Takhtovich Alyssa Taqi Angelica Taskin Tracey Taveira Andrew Terranova Xia Thai Suja Thannickal Rosalba (Rose)

Thiboutot Elsy Thomas Germain (Gigi) Thomas Karen Thomas Rhonda Thomas Neil Tierson Frank Toce Amanda

Tommasiello Christopher Toro Nancy Tortolani Robert Tortolani Sarah Tortora Cristina Tran Julienne Tran Andrea Tremblay Shayna Trenn Krupali Trivedi Sarah Troob Lily Tuleva Ronald Tutalo Kate Ulbricht Bryan Vachon Julie Valdes Jerril Varghese Oksana Vernik Lyly Vien Laura Villegas Michael Viscusi Nancy Volpe Tammy Walker Leah Walsh Allan Wang Kristina Ward Taylor Ward Audrey Wentworth Alexander West Lisa Wheaton Gregory Wheeler Stephanie Wildenhain Meghan Wilkosz Steve Willis Ian Willoughby Jennifer Wills Bridgit Witbeck Margot Wolf Corinne Woods Kevin Yeh William Zaleha Christopher Zemaitis Min Zhang Lorraine Zinga Allison Zuern