Alumni Newsletter
Summer 2009
C o n g r at u l at i o n s C l a s s o f 2 0 0 9 The following is the list of students who graduated at the commencement exercises on May 17, 2009: Revathi Annapareddy, Poughkeepsie NY Maria Arena*, Cranston RI Deanne Bacon, Warwick RI Melissa Bargione***, Glastonbury CT James Belden, East Greenwich RI Joseph Bellucci***, Cumberland RI Kerry Botelho***, Somerset MA Kaitlyn Bowersox, Hudson NH Sara Brescia***, Columbia SC Michelle Beozzo, Pittsburgh PA Kathleen Bolan**, Newport RI Matthew Coty, Pittsfield MA Richard Coutu, Newport VT Jessica Capparelli, Brewster MA Camille Charbonneau*, Saunderstown RI Kenny Correia, Providence RI Sarah Craver, Dudley MA Stephen Cutts, Westampton NJ Lauren Dandeneau***, Chepachet RI Jenalee DiCarlo, North KIngstown RI James Derderian, Warwick RI Jonathan Dion*, Ashburnham MA
Edward Doyle, Taunton MA Daniel Ferrer, North Providence RI Robert Ferraro, North Providence RI Raymond Fogarty**, Harmony RI Mei Ka Fong**, Huntington Station NY Andrew Gray, Blue Hill ME Stephanie Genovese*, East Swanzey NH Christopher Gormley, Johnston RI Stephanie Hattoy, Coventry RI Daewoo Hong, Spring TX Ronald Hammond, Woonsocket RI Jonathan Hutton, North Providence RI Brandon Iacobo*, East Greenwich RI Christopher Ivanoski*, South Easton MA Kerry Jannetta, Pawtucket RI Casandra Johnson***, Bethlehem PA Adam Jordan, Stillwater ME Derek Joseph, Narragansett RI Jennifer Joubert, North KIngstown RI Nabil Khan, East Meadow NY Eugene Kim, Warwick RI Jennifer Kirsh, Hicksville NY Patrick Kelly**, Cranston RI Michele Konecny***, Freehold Township NJ Stephanie Kruk, Warwick RI Anthonia Kuti, Providence RI
William Lehault**, Wayne NJ Lindsey Lemke, Middletown RI Amanda Luck**, North Reading MA Paula Monteiro***, Pawtucket RI Heath Morrill**, Dracut MA Brian Mac Donald, East Greenwich RI William Morin**, Glocester RI Jennifer Morrow*, New Milford NJ Kelli Murphy**, Bow NH Andrea Noto, Hammonton NJ Margaret Opydo**, Johnston RI Hemali Patel, Shawnee OK Lauren Pickering*, West Kingston RI Sweta Patel, Warwick RI Thomai Petropoulos, Narragansett RI Breanne Piazik***, Warwick RI Richard Pierce*, Charlestown RI Heidi Roy***, Portland ME Stacey Reynolds, Cranston RI Andrew Robertson, Thomaston ME John Roglieri, Clark NJ Neal Russell, Cranston RI Marissa Salvo**, Pittston Township PA Sarah Sevigny***, Swansea MA Jessica Shah, Suffern NY Stephanie Sharkey, Wakefield RI
Amanda Silva, East Taunton MA Christopher Silva, Narragansett RI Jason Simoneau, Johnston RI Sarah Smith, West Kingston RI David Shawver*, East Greenwich RI Christopher Sibicky***, Griswold CT Matthew Simpson, Providence RI Jared Tancrelle*, Smithfield RI Brian Touhey, Schenectady NY Viet Tran, Wakefield RI Marissa Tysiak***, West Sand Lake NY Christopher Wood*, Orefield PA Katherine Waggner, Randolph NJ Jordan Welch, Bethany CT Stephanie Whaley*, West Kingston RI Nicole Wilcox, Somerset MA Hilary Williams, River Forest IL Jason Wittes, Hackettstown NJ Cheyenne Yee**, Malden MA Emine Yalcin, Narragansett RI * Cum Laude ** Magna Cum Laude *** Summa Cum Laude
The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Alumni Newsletter
Message from the Deans Who could have guessed?
Dean Jordan & Associate Dean Lausier
The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Kingston, RI 02881 401-874-2761 uri.edu/pharmacy Mr. Ronald Jordan Dean Dr. Joan Lausier Associate Dean, Academic and Student Affairs 401-874-5888 Dr. E. Paul Larrat Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Education Dr. Stephen Kogut Chair, Pharmacy Practice Dr. Clinton Chichester Chair, Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Alumni Newsletter: Editors: John Grossomanides, Rita Marcoux, Richard Popovic Michael Simeone, and Dawne Strickland. Layout: Ian Lester
Please visit us on our web site at: uri.edu/pharmacy/alumni Email us at: pharmce@etal.uri.edu Send us a fax at: 401-874-4424
The class of 2009 leaves The University and the College at a historic moment from many perspectives. This was the first class to hold commencement exercises indoors at the Ryan Center. Who could have guessed the wet summer in the Northeast that cancelled the traditional ceremony on the quad would last well into July! The indoor event was managed without a hitch. The Doctor of Pharmacy graduates made us proud with their cheers when President Carothers conferred their degree, the last group of degrees he would confer as our 10th President before his June 30 retirement. Many of our graduates family members had to watch the ceremony on closed circuit TV displays in Edwards Hall as the tickets into the Ryan center were limited. This class also enters a world economy struggling to regain its footing and a national health care delivery industry that is awaiting congressional and presidential administration overhaul and reform. All our graduates headed off to their first job, but that was not the case, for the first time, with every college of pharmacy nationwide. The slumping economy has slowed some community pharmacy growth and even hospitals are struggling as elective procedures are delayed. Some nurses even had trouble finding work as fewer retired during a well documented shortage of these and other primary care practitioners. Who could have guessed that we would ever reach that point, even if turns out to be short lived? The University and College leadership was also in a historic state of change when this class graduated. Since then, a chemist from Montana State, Dr. David Dooley was selected as the 11th President of URI and Interim Dean Jordan was selected as the 4th Dean of
the College. Who could have guessed that? This issue of our newsletter commemorates your final step from our professional curriculum toward licensure and independent practice. As you were told at our hooding ceremony, you have received the most advanced education ever delivered by our college. You are better prepared to deliver advice and medication therapy management counsel to patients than any previous graduates. You take on this practice role when pharmacist’s advice has been proven to improve health outcomes and when the majority of other health practitioners have clear knowledge of and respect for your role in optimizing drug therapy. It is truly an historic time to practice pharmacy. You will be shaping the future of health care delivery if you stay involved as you were taught. If you proactively advocate for change that improves patient care as was stated in Pharmacist’s Oath you took and were provided with your diploma, you can make history by advancing practice to new levels of sophistication and effectiveness. Your photographs and the stories of your accomplishments in this newsletter are just the first we hope to publish about you as alumni. We want and need you to stay connected to your college. We want to hear about the best of your career and family highlights from now on and we are here to help you find solutions should have problems or find yourself unhappy with your career pathway. Seek us out, as we were during your six years here, our excellent faculty and staff will be here for you as our alumni well into the future. Someone asked why this issue of the newsletter includes a list of alumni donors to the college. In closing, We wanted to explain that
too. Just as we are proud of the Class of 2009 who are our latest and best products of our nationally renowned program, we are equally proud of previous alumni and especially those who give back to help those who follow them at the College. Your oath as a pharmacist said that you will “… utilize (your) knowledge, skills, experiences, and values to prepare the next generation of pharmacists.” These alumni listed in your commencement newsletter have done this. Like many of you, they probably received some help with the costs of traveling to a professional meeting or maybe they received a centennial or other scholarship to help reduce college costs. They have taken a key step and have given back. Many of them are doing this regularly and we encourage you to think about doing that too. We must sustain the excellence of the URI College of Pharmacy and in the changing world it is clear we cannot do that without the help of generous alumni. Who could have guessed about the level of success that many of you and other graduates achieve? We could and do believe you will be successful beyond your hopes and dreams. On behalf of all the faculty and staff at the college we wish you all the best in your career and life. Be happy at your daily work, love what your do, stay involved and pay attention to others around you who need your leadership, caring attitude and help. We look forward to seeing you at professional meetings and please come back to visit the college whenever you are in the area. Certainly, in two years, we’ll expect you to visit our new facility which will make you even more proud of your Rhody heritage. Dean Jordan & Associate Dean Lausier
Save-the-Date:Groundbreaking – September 29, 2009 The groundbreaking for the new pharmacy building is now finalized for the morning of September 29th , 2009. We hope that as many of our Alumni as possible can join us for this important milestone for the college. More details will be distributed during August.
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Summer 2009
Above right, Douglas Fisher ‘71, PhD, Director, Safety and Risk Management, Pfizer, Inc. delivered the commencement address
Photos by Bob Night & Chappell Studio
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The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Alumni Newsletter
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Summer 2009
Above, Richard Coutu, PharmD
made the student presentation
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The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Alumni Newsletter
G r a d u at i n g p h a r m a c y m a j o r b e l i e v e s U R I ta u g h t hi m ‘ to be t he be s t of t he be s t ’ University of Rhode Island graduating pharmacy major Chris Sibicky experienced many facets of the University during his six-year tenure in Kingston.
“We all know each other and see each other everyday,” said Sibicky. “We are all taking the same classes and the same tests and we all want to help each other out.”
The length of URI’s pharmacy program coupled with its complexity can be intimidating, but Sibicky says the tight-knit nature of the program keeps pharmacy majors on top of their game.
A member of Rho Chi, the pharmacy honors society, Sibicky credits the College of Pharmacy for putting him in a position to succeed as a professional.
“They push you hard. You have to know what you are doing and be good at what you are doing, and they make sure you are prepared,” said Sibicky. “They do a great job of showing you what the real world is like, showing you how to manage your time, and showing you everything that is relevant to the field.”
Full story and video interview at: http://www.uri.edu/news/releases/index.php?id=4920
S e n i or Awa r d s 2 0 0 9 TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA Student Award - Certificate and check to recognize outstanding achievement in the study of pharmacy at URI. Recipient: Heidi Roy
Glaxo - Smith Kline Beecham Patient Care Award – Plaque and Brochures to recognize a student for excellent performance during their pharmacy rotations, both hospital and community.
Lambda Kappa Sigma – gift to sister making a significant contribution to the chapter and the College Recipient: Stephanie Kruk
Recipient: William Lehault Eli Lilly Award - A book and plague to student showing superior scholastic achievement.
Recipient: Michelle Konecny
Rho Chi Award - engraved plaque PMD graduate having highest grade point average after 6 years of study
Wolters Kluwer/Facts and Comparison Award - Text and subscriptions to student demonstrating outstanding communication in a clinical setting
Recipient: Casandra Johnson
Recipient: Paula Monteiro
Kappa Psi - engraved plaque to the brother making a significant contribution to the chapter and to the College. Recipient: Brian MacDonald
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Merck Award - The Merck Manual and Merck Index to recognize outstanding achievement in pharmacy studies.
McKesson Award - Engraved plaque to student demonstrating leadership in Academy of Students in Pharmacy Organization
Recipient: Christopher Sibicky
Recipient: Jason Wittes
Recipient: Marissa Tysiak
Perrigo Award – An Award and check to recognize excellence in nonprescription medication communication. Recipient: Margaret Opydo
Roche Award - Engraved plaque to recognize and promote effective pharmacists/patient communication
Recipient: Sarah Sevigny
Recipient: Melissa Bargione
Recipient: Marissa Salvo
Recipient: Sara Brescia
Mylan Excellence in Pharmacy Award Program – Certificate and Print to recognize high academic achievement and professional motivation of a Pharm.D. student. Intent to enter practice upon graduation.
President’s Excellence Awards to recognize outstanding achievement in Pharmacy Studies
CVS Community Practice Leadership Award –A plaque to recognize students who are involved in public service, activities in community practice Recipient: Brian MacDonald
Natural Medicines Recognition Award – Book and Certificate to the student who has exhibited and interest in the use of natural medicines, and who shows promise in the assessment, evaluation, or delivery of patient care related to the use of natural medicines. Recipient: Lauren Dandeneau
APhA Award - senior recognition certificate for participation in activities of ASP Recipient: Kaitlyn Bowersox
Phi Lambda Sigma Award: A plaque to recognize Outstanding Leadership for the College Recipient: Sarah Sevigny
Pharmacy Practice Achievement Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Teaching: Ted Doyle, Marissa Salvo Outstanding Achievement in Research: Breanne Piazik Outstanding Achievement in Pharmacy Practice: Jared Tancrelle, Casandra Johnson, Pat Kelly, Sarah Brescia, Sarah Sevigny
Summer 2009
G r a d u at e S c h o o l G r a d u at i o n Doctor of Philosophy Awards Thesis Title
Major Professor
Cyrus Agarabi
A Multiparticulate Platform for Drug Delivery
Thomas E. Needham, Ph.D.
Hitesh Agarwal
Nucleoside Analogs for Targeted Drug Devliery
Keykavous Parang, Ph.D.
Rajesh Narwal
PK-PD Analysis Using Mixed Effect Models
Sara Rosenbaum, Ph.D.
Dimple Pabla
Oral Formulations of Levothyroxine
Hossein Zia, Ph.D.
Aaron Socha
Chemistry of Antibiotics from Marine Microbes
David Rowley, Ph.D.
Guofeng Ye
Peptides as Inhibitors and Transporters
Keykavous Parang, Ph.D.
Masters Degree Awards Thesis Title
Major Professor
Lina Adwan
Tolfenamic acid interrupts the de novo synthesis of plaque-forming amyloid beta peptides: implications for Alzheimer’s disease
Nasser Zawia, Ph.D.
Laura Hamel
Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activation
Matthew Stoner, Ph.D.
James Higginbottom
Evaluating the ten year trends of acid-suppressing drug therapy from the public health perspective
Brian Quilliam, Ph.D.
Rajani Kaimal
Troglitazone, but OOT Rosiglitazone or pioglitazone, modulates farnesoid x recep- Ruiteng Deng, Ph.D. tor signaling activity: a potential mechanism for troglitazone-induced hepatotoxicity
Emine Bihter Yalcin
Relationship between Enzyme Function and Protein Structure of Sulfotransferase Enzymes
Roberta King, Ph.D.
Xinyuan Yu
Cadmium-induced proliferation of breast cancer cells is mediated by GPR30
Zahir Shaikh, Ph.D.
URI double m ajor m akes get ting an e d u c at i o n a g l o b a l e x p e r i e n c e University of Rhode Island pharmacy graduate and French major Mei Ka Fong has seen the world during her time at URI. Fong is a resident of Huntington Station, N.Y. but was born in Macau, a region of southern China that was a Portuguese colony until 1999. She has been a globetrotter much of her life, spending time as a pharmacy intern in France, volunteering at a medical clinic in the Dominican Republic, and teaching English to children in Panama.
Aside from the clinical experience she gained in France, much of Fong’s traveling has been an offshoot of her church involvement. Fong is a member of the Long Island Alliance Church in Dix Hills, N.Y. The pharmacy program at URI is very demanding and Fong said practicing her skills helped keep her motivated. She said a January church trip to the Dominican Republic strengthened her love of pharmacy. The group included a medical outreach
team, which she was able to be a part of. “I was able to help people and counsel them, all because I knew the medications. Doctors were asking me for my input and I really felt like part of the team,” said Fong. “It showed me what I was studying for. It was an eye-opening experience.”
Full story and video interview at: http://www.uri.edu/news/releases/index.php?id=4928
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The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Alumni Newsletter
Gift Recognition—January 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009 The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy gratefully acknowledges the alumni, corporations, faculty, foundations, friends, students and parents whose gifts have been received by the College between January 1, 2009 and June 30, 2009. Your continuing support allows us to educate and train the pharmacists, clinicians, pharmaceutical scientists and community leaders of tomorrow. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information below. In the event of an error or omission, please contact Rich Popovic, Assistant Dean of Development at 401-874-9017 so that we may correct our records.
Lifetime Benefactors CVS/Caremark Corporation Mario Family Foundation Dr. Ernest Mario Omar Family Magnate Foundation Dr. Mostafa M Omar Thomas M & Cathy H Ryan
Gifts $1,000-$4,999
Gifts $250-$499
Albertson's Inc
Fatemeh Akhlaghi * & MR Jafari
Anthonys Drug Stores Inc
David C Bruce
John W Belviso
William P Bundeff
Frederick W & Beverly Ragosta Burgess
David W & Cheryl A Cabral
Dr & Mrs Paul J. Desjardins
David E Johnson
Erica L * & Todd M Estus
Kerry L LaPlante *
Douglas O & Kathleen O Fisher *
Deborah J Magiera
Fougera
Andrew W Marcoux
Chester A Hibbard
John J Mastrianni
Chester A & Debra G Hibbard
Joyce O'Brien
Ronald P * & Karen W. Jordan
Brian J Quilliam
Saul & Susan Kaplan
RI/MA Junk Removal, Inc.
E. Paul Larrat * & Amey Wilkinson Larrat
Christopher V Riel
Joan M Lausier *
Sara * & Stephen Rosenbaum
Paul & Arlene Pierpaoli
Lollie Abramson Stark
Rhode Island Foundation
Kristina E Ward Bruce*
Rhode Island Hospital Charles L Rossi Richard S Sabatelli Norman C Saute Brian & Susan Sawchuk Sherry J Soloff
Gifts $10,000-$49,999 Douglas & Elizabeth Durand Family Fnd Paul J Hastings Hoffmann La-Roche NACDS Foundation Andrea Panaggio Edward M Rudnic & Elizabeth Gorman Rudnic Brian P Russell Anthony J Solomon
SuperValu Foundation Unilever HPC Gordon S Willcox Leonard R Worthen Bing Fang Yan*
James Abeshaus Pamela R Alexander Nicholas D Alteri Jr. Cynthia M Anderson Jeffrey J Ares Gary F Avila Robert F Baier Dea T Belazi Jeffrey P Bratberg * & Patricia Cavanagh Paul H & Sharon Quirk Capuano
Gifts $500-$999 Stephen J Allen American Health Quality Foundation Inc Dana H Anderson Richard E Angeli Sr. Joseph G Armstrong
Gifts $5,000-$9,999
Mario & Veronica Casinelli
Timothy E Baker & Baker's Pharmacy of Jamestown Joseph P Burghardt Scott A. Campbell & Ocean Pharmacy Charlestown Gregory R & Heidi Cianfarani Roberta S King * Henrique T Pedro & Janice Violante RI Criminalist Associates Henry Sisun Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc David & Debra Whalley & Newport Prescription Center
Richard H Krupski
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Gifts below $250
LI-COR, Inc Eric J Mack Philippe H & Karen M. Morisseau Lionel R Savaria Zahir* & Mary Shaikh Danny R Simard Jason E Twombly & Kiera L Twombly
Thomas J Carty Jr. Thomas M & Barbara J Chamberlain Chih-Wu & Pei-Tei L Chang Lisa B Cohen Szumita* & Andrew Szumita Michael V Colasanti Patti A Connery Nicolette Daniels Robert Leo Deering Jeffffrey A Del Ricci Jr Maurice P Depalo Marie Gora DiMicco Amario Diorio David M Dunn Joyce Anne Gawron David N Girard & Karen R Girard Gretchen K Golikov Denise* & Henry Gorenski Robyn Fillmore Graham & Timothy S Graham Barbara C Guentert Annette S Hockman Lisa M Hunt
Susan C Johnson Marie T Kadlec Brian G Kerr Walter Joseph Krochmal Douglas M Lehmann Thomas Joseph Lyons Celia MacDonnell* Ann M Macro Steven A Mantel & Janet Schwartz Mantel Marykristine Mazmanian Lynne M McMullen William J Meyer Lesley T Mifsud Baratz Richard L Moultrop Harold A Nelson Alice A Oravetz Richard E Palumbo Eugene Anthony Parker Susan C Patota John J Pavis Normand A Pelissier Susan M Petti Vincent A & Kathy J Pigula Shirley Freeman Putney & Edward J Putney Janet C Russell Mark K Scanlon Mary McDonald Schmidt Cosimo A Serio Pilar Seyrlehner Joan Martha Shobrinsky David M Sironen Marsha L Smith Eugene R & Donna P Soares June Tyler Spink Vasant G Telang Reverie Baranski Tiruchelvam Rao V Vallabhaneni Elizabeth M VanVeldhuisen Ann Marie Viall & Gary D Viall F Randy & Jane K Vogenberg Alan Willoughby & Jane W Willoughby Hossein Zia * * Indicates a gift from member of the College’s faculty or staff (including emeritus faculty)