URI Pharmacy Alumni Newsletter, Spring 08

University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy www.uri.edu/pharmacy/news

Alumni Newsletter Spring 2008

Message from the Dean They say that Academia has a slow pace. I can’t vouch for that. Time flies by here in Kingston, and the issues, challenges and opportunities never cease. Since our last issue we’ve initiated new Pharmacy Leadership Society (Phi Lambda Sigma) members, recognized this year’s Rho Chi honorees, held the 24th Annual Seminar by the Sea, enjoyed an outstanding 50th Anniversary Gala attended by more than 400 alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the College. We held the 40th Annual URI Breakfast at the APhA Annual Meeting in San Diego. Your College is as busy as ever, and it will continue to be, despite the budget and economic challenges we face.

The 50th College of Pharmacy Commencement is just around the corner on May 18th. This year’s Pharmacy Commencement speaker will be Bob Iacobucci ‘67. Bob has been a tremendous supporter of the College and URI. A highly successful entrepreneurial family, the Iacobuccis’ independent pharmacies have served thousands of Rhode Islanders for many years.

Bob will celebrate three generations of pharmacists trained at the College, a total of six graduates from the College and another eight graduates from URI. The Iacobuccis have always given their time and treasure to the College and the University. We look forward to hearing his advice for our grads about being a professional, serving patients and the profession, and giving back to society as so many in his family have.

This September, we will have our White Coat ceremony for the Class of 2012, and will welcome the Class of 2014, with over 50 students admitted from Rhode Island.

Additionally, as the clock races ahead, we are planning for a bigger and better 15th Annual Louis A. Luzzi Seminar-on-theLinks(www.uri.edu/pharmacy/ce/sol08/).

This year we will ask sponsors to not only continue their usual support of student

scholarships through this program, but also to consider sponsoring a foursome of student golfers. Inviting and sponsoring students to an event that shows how many alumni and friends support students by giving back should help them remember this responsibility when they graduate. Couple that with the opportunity for them to mingle with so many successful people, and you can see why the idea makes sense. It might not improve their golf game, but it could be a point to remember in their lives.

Less upbeat, but nonetheless necessary, like in homes, businesses and governments across the United States, the challenge of the University, College and State budget is very significant. The pressures are leading the University community to analyze whether we are optimally structured and following best practices in everything we do related to teaching, research, service and, just as important, fund raising. URI does not possess the endowments that many other state and private colleges have. While we are working hard at improving this situation with the Making a Difference campaign (www.urifoundation.org/campaign/). URI is examining its image and is planning new investments to ensure that we are optimally positioned for the future in all our endeavors. Our college is facing several retirements resulting from the early incentives recently offered. We need to make strategic decisions that ensure the College delivers the highest quality programs available.

We are well underway in seeking new partnerships in our experiential teaching, developing renewed strengths in our core research areas, and in gaining the support we need for our outreach and endowment development efforts. It is a difficult time, but also a great opportunity to make URI better.

At the Gala, I announced that we have raised nearly $1.6 million in commitments to the new facility and $1.1 million in new scholarship endowments. In this issue, we list the names of donors to the College from 2007 to date in the various levels of support we have established. This group includes long-time regular donors to various College funds and some of the recent early leadership help we have received for the new facility. The College Faculty have overwhelmingly supported our efforts to raise funds for the facility with contributions exceeding $100,000 from over 90% of the

faculty. Our Class Challenge Campaign effort for the College of Pharmacy Future Fund segment of the Making a Difference Campaign will begin in earnest in the next several weeks. Watch your mail, and please speak with your classmates who call to discuss your donation and assistance in this effort. More than ever before, your donation will Make A Difference at URI and help the College to finish our new facility. On that subject, the building is on schedule, as delays cause loss of purchasing power at an alarming rate, and we are making final decisions on how much of the interior we can finish. Donations to the fund right now before the September groundbreaking are critical. If you would like to discuss how you can help, please contact me at 401-874-2761. www.uri.edu/pharmacy/newbuilding/

Ronald P Jordan, R.Ph. Interim Dean

In this issue: Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 5 Page 6-7 Page 8 Page 10 Page 11 Page 11 Page 13 Page 14

Send Gifts to: URI Foundation COP Future Fund c/o Rich Popovic, 133 Fogarty Hall 41 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881

Alumni Notes Commencement 2008 Seminar by the Sea 2008 400 Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Pharmacy at URI URI APHA Breakfast Pharmacy 50th Anniversary Gala Photos RI State Crime Lab Teaching Pharmacy Students about aging Upcoming events New College of Pharmacy Phi Lambda Sigma and Rho Chi Induct New Members Thank You for Giving Back

Spring 2008

Alumni News Corner Class of 1956 Shirley Mckee is in Houston and worked for a department store pharmacy chain before her retirement. Shirley formerly served as APhA House Speaker. “I have been in Texas for many years but EVERYONE here knows I am from RI and very proud to be a Pharmacist from there!”

Class of 1977 Larry Chiuppi “I have been maintaining my NH license but have not practiced in almost ten years. It is truly amazing to see the advances Pharmacy has taken. I have been traveling, living and working in my motor home since I left NH in March 1998. I don't miss pharmacy and really enjoy my current occupation which is planning RV excursions for Older Americans. URI and Pharmacy definitely prepared me to do anything I wanted to do. Seeing the advancements in pharmacy education makes me believe that Rx students are being well prepared for the challenges facing College of Pharmacy University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI 02881 401-874-2761 Mr. Ronald Jordan Interim Dean

Chui Ping Lee, Class of 2002, (L) is on faculty at the University of Hong Kong healthcare. Once a year I attend some CE conference somewhere in either TX, MO, CO or NM and usually talk to some retail pharmacists. It is sometimes ironic to hear the same complaints from them as ten years ago, on the other hand when I have had the chance to speak with pharmacy students, they paint a much better picture.

This year I will be at the CO conference at Copper Mt in June to get my CE. We are working a job in Breckenridge then so it works out perfect. The last 2 years I have been in Albuquerque, NM at a conference put on by the UNM College of Pharmacy. Off and on I have been a member of 5 different state associations, all great people, albeit I am only with them for 2 days.

Class of 1980 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

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Richard H. Drew, PharmD MS BCPS is a Professor at Campbell University School of Pharmacy, Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), -Duke University School of Medicine, at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC. His email is email: richard.drew@duke.edu

Class of 2000 Tracey H. Taveira has been promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy.

Rebecca (Seamans) Jones is a specialty pharmacy practitioner and preceptor in psychiatry for the Center for Psychiatric Medicine at the University of Alabama hospital in Birmingham, AL. She passed the BCPP exam in 2003. Rebecca and her husband welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Alden, who was born on January 29th 2008.

Class of 2002 Chui Ping Lee, Pharm.D., BCPS, Instructor, School of Pharmacy, Li Choh Ming Basic Medical Science Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shatin, NT. She recently received an award for teaching at the University of Hong Kong. The award is presented annually to outstanding teachers and is designed to encourage and to recognize excellent efforts by the teaching faculty at the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as determined by the students. In the School of Pharmacy (one subdivision of the Faculty of Medicine), one teacher is selected for the entire 3year program annually.

She will also be the Chair of the Hong Kong Pharmacy Conference this

Spring 2008

year in November 2008. It's a local annual pharmacy event similar to the ASHP midyear meeting but on a smaller scale of about 500 attendees every year.

We want to hear from you!!!!

What are you doing?

Alumni news should be sent to msimeone@uri.edu.

Pharmacology: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow If you were to ask an alumnus of the College of Pharmacy what they most remember about Dr. Swonger, it would be Testbank® This was an interactive study program to help students prepare for Pharmacology exams. Countless numbers of students would spend hours in front of computer terminals going through Testbank questions so they would do well on their neuropharmacology exams.

This June, Dr. Swonger is retiring from the University after 37 years of dedicated service. Alvin K. Swonger joined the College of Pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island in 1971. In addition to teaching pharmacology to pharmacy students, Dr. Swonger has also taught nursing students and psychology students. He is well known for his course in Psychotropic Drugs. During his tenure at the University he was involved in many university wide activities, including Chairperson of the Faculty Senate, President of URI – AAUP, and Acting Director of Institutional Research.

He played a major role in developing the PCA (Program Contribution Analysis) to help the University gain some measure of the value of departments and units at the University with regard to teaching effort by program. This effort resulted in regular evaluation of faculty contribution by the University.

From the College of Pharmacy perspective, Dr. Swonger was a valuable addition to the faculty.

Whenever we had a major project to complete for accreditation, his service in the US Marine Corps played a key role in organization and conclusion of the tasks at hand. He also was outspoken in his desire to insure that students were appropriately challenged in the curriculum in ways that were achievable. For many years he served on the Scholastic Standing Committee where his opinions were highly valued by both faculty and students. At the 50th Anniversary Gala, Dr. Swonger was named one of the Cornerstones of the College.

Dr. Swonger is a prolific writer, an excellent teacher, and a strong advocate for undergraduate education. He was very concerned about how students learn and was responsible for providing opportunities in curricula for active learning. He has played a important role in developing the Interactive Learning Seminars that are currently in the curriculum. During his 37 years of service, he often walked the road less traveled and was able to convince others that there is more than one way to solve problems. He is highly regarded for his fairness to all, his advocacy for just causes, and his fearlessness in speaking against the majority opinion.

In addition to his professional publications, Dr. Swonger has visited and catalogued all of the significant waterfalls in all six New England states and published a reference book for the Critical Areas Program in the State of Maine detailing the waterfalls scattered throughout that state. Dr. Swonger is also the national genealogical expert for his surname group and has published a 2-volume, 1600 page book entitled “Schwangers, Swangers & Swongers in America,” now in its sixth printing. These and other hobbies will keep Dr. Swonger well occupied during retirement. He and his wife also hope to travel widely during the next five years. Dr. Swonger also hopes to work for one of the presidential campaigns in the autumn of 2008. The Swongers (Alvin and his loving and beloved wife Elsie) will also be kept busy by their four children, Krishna, Joline, Matthias, and Alina, all of whom graduated from URI. The Swongers currently have three grandchildren.

Commencement 2008

By Dean Joan Lauiser and Denise Gorenski We are busy in the Office of Student Affairs preparing for final exams, the Senior Banquet, the Spring Picnic and Graduation. It seems like yesterday when this class was here for Freshman Orientation. Carrying their blue bookstore bags, they appeared somewhat ambivalent about what lay ahead. On the one hand, they were soon to be viewed as young adults as they launch their college career, while on the other, for many, it was their first time away from home. Our office has seen them grow and mature over the past six years. They are now confident, have positive attitudes about themselves and what they want out of life. Many of them have made lasting friendships that will sustain them throughout their lives.

This year marks an important milestone for the College of Pharmacy.

The Class of 2008 is our 50th class to graduate from the University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy, Kingston. Our new graduates will be joining the profession in a variety of settings. Some will further their education through residencies, fellowships, and graduate school, while others will begin their practice in a community or hospital settings. A few are beginning their careers in the armed forces. We wish each of them successful careers and fulfilling lives. We encourage them to continue their association with the College and to support of our educational programs in the future.

We view them as part of our family.

Graduation will be held Sunday, May 18th at 12:30 pm on the Quadrangle. The mini commencement for Pharmacy will be held immediately after the main ceremony at Edwards Auditorium. We expect to honor our first graduating class, the Class of 1958.

All friends and alumni are invited to attend.

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Spring 2008

23rd Annual Seminar by the Sea Highlights

by Mary-Jane Kanaczet The College of Pharmacy’s Office of Continuing Education held its Annual Seminar by the Sea on March 6 & 7 at the Hyatt Regency in Newport, RI. The theme for this yearly favorite was Caring for the Patient: Our Top Priority. The keynote speaker was Dr. Skip Granai, Associate Professor at Brown University and Director of the Program in Women’s Oncology at Women & Infants Hospital, Rhode Island’s largest focused cancer program dedicated to women. Dr. Granai delivered an effective presentation urging the audience of health-care professionals to go beyond the medicine of health-care and provide patients with human values such as compassion in their daily interactions.

Nearly five hundred attendees listened as timely topics such as adolescent eating disorders, herbal medicines and communication with patients were addressed by experts from URI, Hasbro Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Program and Duke University’s Medical School. Dr. Evangeline Lausier, MD, class of 75, spoke on Herbal Medicines. Dr. Daniel Hussar from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy presented an informative update on new drugs and two legal sessions covered emerging legal issues and CMS and Medicare Part D. A pre-conference workshop, Pharmacy-Based Immunization, was held on March 5 by URI faculty members Jeffrey Bratberg, Brett Feret, Celia MacDonnell, and Kelly Orr. After completing a rigorous self study program, participants engaged in a full day of hands-on learning about immunization programs, schedules and techniques.

After a successful seminar, the Office of Continuing Education looks forward to returning to Newport for the 24th Annual Seminar by the Sea which will occur on Thursday & Friday, March 19 & 20, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel.

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From left to right: Jonathan Mundy, Michael Simeone, Walter Soja, James Melfi and Ronald Lombardi.

Above: Alum Scott Campbell coowner Ocean Pharmacy with Ram mascot Rhody

Above: Associate Dean Paul Larrat with Rhody

Spring 2008

400 Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Pharmacy at URI

By Dave Lavallee It was billed as the 50th Anniversary Gala of the University of Rhode Island’s College of Pharmacy.

But the March 8th celebration at the Newport Marriott marking the college’s opening year, 1957-58, was more like a reunion with young and old alumni reconnecting, faculty members sharing laughs about the early days and friends joining the night of comedy, dining and dancing.

“Tonight is about 50 years of dedication to excellence in teaching and research by our former and current faculty and the staff who support them, and it is about our hopes and dreams for even greater success in these areas in the future,” said Ronald P. Jordan, interim dean of the College of Pharmacy.

“Tonight is about a College of Pharmacy inventors, innovation and highly successful entrepreneurs who have designed and patented new dose forms, developed new products and launched successful businesses that have improved peoples’ lives,” Jordan said.

Joyce Luzzi, the widow of Louis Luzzi,

URxI Celebrates 40TH Annual Breakfast at APhA Annual Meeting in San Diego March 17, 2008 More than sixty alumni, students, faculty, staff, friends of the College and guests gathered at 7:30 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day in the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego for the 40th such event at APhA. Initiated in Montreal in 1969 by our founding dean, the late Dr. Heber W. Youngken, Jr., the breakfast has become a welcome tradition to the many constituencies which make up the College of Pharmacy family.

There were no Green Eggs and Ham, served although Professor Campbell read from an autographed copy of this work that Dr. Tony Palmieri presented him 15 years earlier in 1993. Dean Ronald P. Jordan ’76 welcomed the assembly organized by CE Director Michael L. Simeone ’76.

The new building campaign for the “College of Pharmacy Future Fund” segment of the University’s “Making a Difference” campaign was mentioned and

the second dean of the College who died last summer, offered some words of tribute to her husband and addressed the need to raise funds for the College’s new $75 million home. Voters approved a $65 million bond issue, for the building, but $10 million must be raised privately to complete it. Fogarty Hall, the College’s current home, long ago became obsolete and too small.

To help encourage donations to the building effort, Joyce that night committed $510.25 from the Luzzi family for each year following his 1959 graduation from URI. In thanking Joyce Luzzi, Jordan said, “The generous gift from the Luzzi family totaling $25,000 brings the group of gifts dedicated to a new pharmacy facility naming opportunity for Dean Luzzi to nearly $100,000,” Jordan said.

He said now that several major events are behind the College, it can focus its attention on the University’s “Making a Differ-

materials were distributed. The new facility plans were shown in a continuous loop slide show throughout the breakfast.

Following self-introductions, Dean Jordan and Professor Emeritus/Ambassador Dr. Norman A. Campbell ’57 presented the College’s Achievement Award to alumnus Captain Robert W. Pollock, USPHS (ret.) ’72, ’76.

Captain Pollock served in many clinical practice roles in USPHS hospitals and clinics before assuming administrative roles in the Department of Health and Human Services, most significantly as Deputy Director of the Office of Generic Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration. Bob retired from federal service in 1995 after more than 20 years of leadership roles.

Currently, he serves as Senior Vice President of Lachman Consultant Services in Westbury, NY, utilizing his generic drugs expertise in advising clients worldwide. Bob and his wife, Janice, a URI alumnus, reside in Encinitas, CA. Following the presentation of the Award, Event Chairman Michael Simeone ran the

ence” Campaign.

Earlier in the evening, Jordan thanked the event chairs, Celia P. MacDonnell, class of 1975 and Douglas Fisher, class of 1971.

MacDonnell and Fisher then introduced five individuals called the “Cornerstones of the College.” These faculty members who were identified for played key roles in the development of the College were Professor Emeritus Leonard Worthen, Professor Emeritus Yuzuru Shimizu, Professor Alvin Swonger, Associate Dean Joan Lausier and Professor Emeritus Norman Campbell.

Dean Jordan and Professor Emeritus/ Ambassador Dr. Norman A. Campbell present the College’s Achievement Award to alumnus

usual highly competitive raffle for Rhody Gifts. He also mentioned the changing APhA schedule and the possibility that the day of the breakfast or even the breakfast format might be altered as a result of the changes. Following an impassioned plea by Alumnus Tony Palmieri, no one dared to vote other than unanimously for Tony’s motion to preserve the event as a Monday Breakfast for another 40 years.

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Photo Gallery of the 50th Anniversary Gala Saturday, March 8th ,2008 Newport RI

Spring 2008

Pictured (L-R) David Thatcher, President RICA, Dennis Hilliard, Director of the State Crime Lab at URI and Treasurer, RICA; Ralph Costantino, Secretary RICA; Dr. Thomas Zorabedian, Associate Dean of Development, URI Foundation; and, Josh Birrell, Vice President RICA. The RICA recently presented a gift of $5000 to the URI Foundation. This recent gift is part of URI’s Making a Difference capital campaign and brings the RICA’s total giving to over $24,000.

Criminalistics Association Presents Gift to State Crime Lab at URI The Rhode Island Criminalistics Association (RICA) recently made a gift of $5,000 to the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory at URI. This most recent gift brings the dollar value of cumulative annual donations from the RICA to over $24,000 since 1993. This donation was made as part of the URI’s Making a Difference capital campaign.

This latest gift from the RICA will be used for supplementing the expenses of the state crime laboratory in both assisting law enforcement in the examination of crime scene evidence and the continued training of law enforcement officers in crime scene investigation.

URI Foundation president Glen Kerkian said the long-term commitment and record of giving from the RICA should be applauded. “The RICA membership has placed a high value on continuing to support the crime lab at the University and they have chosen to do that, in part, by making an annual gift. This group’s generosity has translated into real and measurable program enhancements. Those enhancements have helped elevate both the educational experience for URI students in this field and the lab’s value as a resource to law enforcement agencies looking for forensic assistance.”

“The RICA has been a long term supporter of the State Crime Laboratory going back to its first meeting in East Providence, RI in March of 1953,” says Dennis Hilliard, director of the state crime laboratory. “Even before the RICA began making cash donations to the URI Foundation on behalf of the laboratory, they provided funding to purchase materials and to provide educational opportunities for law enforcement officers at the University, particularly in the Criminal Investigation: Scientific Evidence course which has been offered 36 times at URI since 1952 and which has

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trained nearly 1,150 law enforcement officers.”

In making the gift, the RICA president Det. Lt. David N. Thatcher noted, “I graduated from the Scientific Evidence Course back in 1993. The training and education I received have proven to be immeasurable resources during my career as a law enforcement officer. I, as well as other graduates of this course, have been afforded the opportunity to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including the URI Forensic Science Partnership, by assisting in crime scene investigations and providing specialized training in crime scene investigations.

The RICA is proud to serve the State Crime Laboratory, considering it an honor and a lifetime commitment.”

The crime lab, which has its roots at URI beginning in 1952, was formally established by the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1978 and is part of the University’s College of Pharmacy.

It is the primary facility for the examination of physical crime evidence in Rhode Island and has earned a national reputation for providing expertise in matters of criminal forensic investigations. The crime lab’s services, facilities and experts are available to all law enforcement agencies within Rhode Island at the state, local and federal levels.

Examples of services made available to the state’s law enforcement community include: latent print examination and comparison; firearm and tool mark examination, impression pattern examination and trace examination which includes hair, fibers, glass, soil, gunshot residue, and accelerant examination, according to Hilliard. The crime lab was accredited in April of 2007 by Forensic Quality Services International

and was the first multi-disciplinary lab in New England to earn accreditation under the ISO 17025 guidelines for forensic science laboratories.

“RICA’s generous support is helping our state and the University to stay at the forefront of developing areas of forensic sciences that are critical to the security of our nation and the world,” said Ronald P. Jordan, Interim Dean of the URI College of Pharmacy and Executive Secretary of the RI State Crime Lab. “The Crime Lab is a gem at the College that has for many years helped stimulate the forensic science work here at the University. The RICA must be commended for their foresight and continued commitment to this area.”

The crime lab has also played a key role in developing URI’s Forensic Science Partnership. The Partnership is a collaboration of the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory, the Rhode Island Department of Health, and URI’s Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Human Science and Services and was created to link the lab with related academic disciplines.

It was established in 1999 to make URI a center of forensic excellence through research, curriculum development and community seminars. Its collaboration led to the creation, this past December, of a chemistry and forensic chemistry major at URI – the first of its kind in New England at any public university or college.

Spring 2008

On Sunday February 24th, over 50 pharmacy alumni enjoyed a College of Pharmacy alumni gathering at a URI Ram basketball game against St. Joseph’s Hawks held in the Ryan Center President's Suite. Afterwards, there was a reception at Liliana's in South Kingstown.

Above Karen Lamorge and Bill Rosa

John Grossomanides and Karen Jordan (L-R) Vern Wyman, Doug Fisher, and Rich Popovic Above Bob Iacobucci and Dean Joan

Anita and Hector Derreza

Left: Judy Newberne and John Serio

Bart Grimes, Director of Pharmacy, Newport Hospital

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Spring 2008

Teaching Pharmacy Students About Aging: A New Approach

by Erica Estus, Pharm.D. Clinical Assistant Professor Advanced Geriatric Pharmacotherapy (PHP 505) is a professional elective coordinated by Drs. Erica Estus, Anne Hume, and Norma Owens. It was first offered to the P2 class in Fall 2007 and currently to the P3s in Spring 2008. Key concepts are taught through lectures focusing on aging and geriatric syndromes, but also real case discussions, debates of clinical controversies and a variety of alternative teaching methods such as site visits and a “film club.” In addition to improving clinical knowledge and the ability to prioritize complex pharmacotherapy issues, a primary objective of this class is to strengthen oral communication skills with older adults.

When informally surveyed on the first day of class, the majority of students had a negative perception of aging mostly due to unpleasant encounters in the retail pharmacy setting, in many cases Medicare Part D related. But after a site visit one student commented, “I think a lot of my interactions in these environments have always been focused on the needs of these individuals- what I can teach them. Until this site visit, I think I was forgetting to realize that these individuals have many more years behind them than I and there is a lot they can teach me!” MT, P3 student South Bay Manor in Wakefield, RI has offered students the ability to experience positive, healthy aging firsthand. Residents hold investment clubs to learn ways to invest money, watch slide shows of photos from trips around the world, and practice weekly tai chi.

Students in the elective course have recently introduced the residents to the Wii during a “Gaming with Seniors” series on Wii Wednesdays. As one student

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states, “We have preconceived notions about the elderly. But most are energetic individuals with incredible memories and a strong willingness to learn and try new things. If people would stop what they are doing for a while and sit down with them, they probably could learn a lot.” RH, P3 student All I need to know about patient counseling I learned from the Wii???

It is sometimes difficult to determine if an individual understands medication information during counseling at the pharmacy. It takes patience to communicate effectively with older adults. The pharmacy students who participated in the Wii event demonstrated strong interpersonal skills with the “gamers” trying to bowl for the first time. They explained what to do, and showed them the technique and before long, pins were down, some spares, even a few strikes. With the Wii, it doesn’t matter if mobility is an issue, modifications can be madesitting while monster truck racing, boxing with the use of a cane, and bowling with the assistance of a walker…if only patient counseling was this easy! “I thought it was refreshing to see that the residents seemed to embrace their age, joking about how luckily they don’t have their driver’s licenses anymore (Wii monster truck racing), or how their golf score used to be a lot better than it was now (on Wii sports).

The entire experience is one I won’t forget for a long time. I know that there are places full of life and energy and full of people who, despite being wise beyond their years, are

still eager to learn more and try new things.” JT, P3 student.

A Resident’s Perspective “It took me 88 years but I finally got to college!” FM, 88 years old One resident from South Bay Manor volunteered to participate in a mock patient care conference activity. He came to campus to meet the class and discuss his care plan. He used the time as an opportunity to “teach” students about some of the ways to achieve healthy aging. Students asked questions, listened to his stories, and genuinely respected what he has been though during his 88 years.

“It was really interesting to listen to his story and the more we talked to him the more he revealed.” MB, P3 student The semester concludes with a patient interview project. Students working in pairs are partnered with a patient volunteer from South Bay Manor. Students meet with their patient in their apartment at South Bay Manor, conduct a medication history and review, check blood pressure, and assess the area for safety (ie: falls risk, medication storage, medication compliance). The de-identified information is compiled, discussed with a faculty member, and reviewed with the Wellness Director at South Bay Manor. Patients receive a summary prepared by the students to encourage discussion with their physician. This activity is a valuable communication exercise and clinical activity for everyone involved, but it also an important service to the older adults of this local community. At the end of the project, a party is planned for residents and students to kick off the beginning of summer, mark the end of the school year, and offer the chance to celebrate unexpected friendships that occurred as a result of this class.

Spring 2008

Second Annual Summer Institute in Pharmacoepidemiology The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy will host the Second Annual Summer Institute in Pharmacoepidemiology on June 911, 2008 at the Whispering Pines Conference Center at URI’s W. Alton Jones Campus in West Greenwich, Rhode Island.

The Summer Institute in Pharmacoepidemiology was conceived to provide a forum for the continued acquisition of information and methods in pharmacoepidemiology, and the exchange of ideas between government, academia and industry. It is targeted at the many professionals and students planning careers in drug safety, development of practice guidelines, drug policy and clinical trials.

Pharmacoepidemiology is a relatively new (2-3 decades) application of epidemiology, and the only branch of epidemiology that is directed entirely at health issues arising from therapies intended to treat or prevent disease. Medications are prescribed to improve the health of patients, but all medications are accompanied by some level of risk.

When medications are used inappropriately, or when the level of risk is not well understood, medication use can lead to a decline, rather than an improvement in health.

The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy Summer Institute in Pharmacoepidemiology is the first of its kind to begin to address the higher level training needs of professionals finding themselves responsible for surveillance, pharmacovigilance, formulary development, practice guidelines, risk management and related activities in government and industry.

Five courses, 3.5 hours each, will take place over a three day period. Meal times will permit faculty and students to continue discussions, exchange information, and identify topics for future research.

Courses and faculty are described below.

Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research, Diana Brixner, PhD, University of Utah Individualized Medicine, Sean P. David, MD, SM, DPh, Brown University Systematic Literature review and Metaanalysis, Susan D. Ross, MD, FRCPC Consultant in Evidence Based Medicine Drug Safety Surveillance at FDA , Judy A. Staffa, PhD, RPh, CDER/FDA Therapeutical Risk Management: Pharmaceutical Industry Practice Songlin Xue, MD, PhD, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Tuition for the entire three day program is $925 and includes all five courses with our nationally recognized faculty, all course materials, and lunches for each of the three days, June 9, 10 and 11, 2008. Register online at: www.uri.edu/pharmacy/ce/si08.

Accommodations at the W. Alton Jones Campus are $360 for single occupancy and $240/person for double occupancy.

For reservations, download form at: www.uri.edu/pharmacy/ce/si08/ room_reservation_form.pdf or telephone (401) 397-3361, ext.

6056. Accommodation fees include dinner on Monday and Tuesday evening, June 9 and 10, 2008, and breakfasts on Tuesday, and Wednesday, June 10 and 11, 2008. Lunches are included in course registration fee.

Payment is NON-REFUNDABLE after May 8, 2008 Reservations will be honored in the order in which they are received.

For more information see our website: www.uri.edu/pharmacy/ce/si08

Upcoming Events Sunday, May 18, 2008 University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy 50th Commencement, Kingston, RI June 4, 11, and 18, 2008 "Last Chance" June Minicourse Series ‘08 Sheraton Airport Hotel, Warwick, RI June 9-11, 2008 2nd Annual Summer Institute in Pharmacoepidemiology Monday September 8, 2008 15th Annual Louis A. Luzzi Seminar on the Links Quidnessett CC North Kingstown, RI

November 11, 2008 Heber W. Youngken Clinic

URI College of Pharmacy Alumni Newsletter: Editors: Rita Marcoux, Michael Simeone, and Dawne Strickland.

Layout: John Grossomanides Please visit us on our web site at: www.uri.edu/pharmacy/news Email us at: pharmce@etal.uri.edu Send us a fax at 401-874-4424

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Spring 2008

Here comes the New College of Pharmacy!!!

First visible signs of progress- During the winter of 2008, underground utilities on the College of Pharmacy building site are relocated in preparation for the formal Fall groundbreaking

College of Pharmacy Building Committee Co-chair Ian Lester discussed design issues with architect David Feth

Architect Todd Sloan discussed floor plan issues with COP faculty members Margaret Charpentier, Kelly Orr and Joan Lausier

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COP floor plans

Pharmacy Faculty members Clint Chichester, Ian Lester and Roberta King provide input for architect Todd Sloan, seated

The Masons Committee- P3 pharmacy students Brian MacDonald and Chris Ivanoski discuss student fundraising efforts for the new building

Spring 2008

URI College of Pharmacy’s Mu Chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma nducts New Members

by Sarah E. Sevigny, President 2007-08 On February 26, 2008, the Mu Chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma inducted 28 new members at Spain Restuarant of Narragansett. New members include students from each of the four professional pharmacy classes as well as honorary pharmacy faculty and community pharmacy leaders. No greater honor can be bestowed upon an individual than to be recognized as a leader by one’s peers.

Such recognition instills and enhances self-confidence, encourages the less active student to a more active role, and promotes greater effort toward the enhancement of pharmacy. Following the official induction ceremony conducted by President Sarah E. Sevigny, Vice President Brian MacDonald, Secretary Edward (Ted) Doyle, and Advisor Dr. Celia MacDonnell, both new and old members celebrated the event by enjoying a welcoming dinner sponsored by Rite Aid. Congratulations to the Mu Chapter’s 2008 inductees: Andrew Benson, Andrew Bundeff, Kevin Cabral, Andrew Cadorette, James Derderian, Christine Eisenhower, Stephanie Genovese, Audrey Gould, Vasudha Gupta, Christopher Ivanoski, Natalie Jacques, Michelle Krawczynski, Molly MacDonnell, Rosana Mean, Nicole Nazy, Andrea Noto, Sara Perkins, Heidi Roy, Ritesh Shah, Erica Snape, Peri Stark, Srilatha Vallabhaneni, Amanda Watkins, Nicole Wilcox, Corinne Zanone, Dr. Jef Bratberg, Dr. Patricia Valencia, Mr. James Gallagher.

URI College of Pharmacy’s Beta Pi Chapter Rho Chi Inducts New Members

by Sarah E. Sevigny , Treasurer 2007-08 The Beta Pi Chapter of Rho Chi at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy proudly announces the induction of its new members. Eighteen undergraduate Pharm.D. students, three graduate students, and two faculty members took the oath to become official members of the Rho Chi Society on March 12, 2008 at Arturo Joe’s Restaurant in Narragansett, RI. After a hearty Italian dinner, family members and faculty looked on as President Melissa Bargione, Vice President Marissa Salvo, Secretary Casandra Johnson, Treasurer Sarah Sevigny, Historian Marissa Tysiak, and Advisor Dr. Jef Bratberg conducted the induction ceremony. At the conclusion of the evening, Karen Thudium was announced as the recipient of the annually awarded Rho Chi Scholarship. The Rho Chi Society recognizes pharmacy students who achieve academic excellence, as well as faculty members who exhibit excellence in the profession of pharmacy. Congratulations to all new members of the Rho Chi Society!

Kevin Cabral, Meaghan DeNobile, David DiBiasio, Kasey Dumas, Christopher Federico, Marcie Flagg, Rebekah Fritz, Carly Karthauser, Maria Klusek, Brian L’Heureux, Jeffrey Ryan, Rayon Seng, Brian Seyboth, Janine Skipper, April Tessier, Karen Thudium, Srilatha Vallabhaneni, Gregory Wheeler, Cyrus Agarabi, Matthew Preiss, Jason Simeone, Dr. Sonia Lin, Dr. Stephen Kogut

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Spring 2008

Thank You for Giving Back

By Rich Popovic Assistant Dean of Development Thank you to everyone who helped make 2007 and the beginning of 2008 fun and successful. These are exciting times for the development efforts at the College. We are on our way towards reaching our goal of $15 million for the College of Pharmacy Future Fund by 2010. This initiative for our new building is part of the overall $100 million Making A Difference Campaign for the University of Rhode Island. This effort for the new facility is a major priority for the University.

Also critical to our future are gifts to scholarship endowments, program transformation, and the University’s Fund for URI appeal.

Endowments are critical for every University. Many of our alumni continue to contribute to named funds and as a result increase their impact on our students, graduate students, faculty development, specific College programs and overall growth of the College. Whether you support the College of Pharmacy Endowment, one of the largest student endowments at URI, or elect to establish your own named endowed scholarship through the Tom & Cathy Ryan Challenge Grant with a minimum gift of $12,500 over 5-years, the theme is giving back to the College that has served you well and helping those who follow you.

In the spirit of giving, we encourage each of you to visit the URI Foundation website at www.urifoundation.org.

The website provides a number of avenues on how to give. Give more than you thought possible with tax advantages by transferring appreciated securities (stocks, mutual funds), and planned giving (wills, charitable trusts). Furthermore, if you work for a matching gift company, your employer can match your gift on a 1:1 and sometimes a 2:1 basis. Start giving or continue to give on-line to the Fund for URI and designate your annual gift

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to the College of Pharmacy. Annual support for the College of Pharmacy complements existing campaign efforts and is critical for future success.

Of course, we always welcome contact from alumni. Don’t hesitate to contact our offices to make a personal gift.

Whether it is for the College of Pharmacy Future Fund, an existing endowment, or establishing your own legacy through the Ryan Challenge, there are many opportunities to support your College. We appreciate your gifts and would welcome the opportunity to further explain our special College of Pharmacy Future Fund campaign and the many opportunities to designate a section of the facility in your name in perpetuity.

On behalf of the College, thank you to our friends and alumni who generously given of their time, talents and resources. We have produced a list of donors that follows. Please contact me at 401-874-9017 or rpopovic@foundation.uri.edu to join your colleagues on this distinguished list of giving.

Spring 2008

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, 2007 and March 31, 2008. 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.

College Benefactors (Annual gifts of $50,000 or greater) Mario Family Foundation MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals Inc Thomas M Ryan

Dean’s Roundtable Ambassador Circle (Annual gifts of $10,000 to $49,999) Michael A & Angela Arnold Joseph P Burghardt CVS/Caremark Corporation Paul J Hastings Hoffman La-Roche Robert Lewis & Nancy Iacobucci Herbert Leon MacDonell NACDS Foundation Pfizer Incorporated Brian P Russell Robert & Arda Saute Brian & Susan Sawchuk Walgreens Michael A Zoglio

Fellow Circle (Annual gifts of $5,000 to $9,999) Scott A & Regina Campbell CVS Charitable Trust Inc Douglas O & Kathleen O Fisher* Ronald P & Karen W Jordan* Joseph Louis Masso Nigel Musgrave Novo Nordisk Inc Osprey Medical Inc Paul G Pierpaoli Rhode Island Hospital RI Criminalist Associates Gordon S Willcox

Partner Circle

(Annual gifts of $1,000 to $4,999) Ahold Financial Services Albertson's Inc American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education Anthem Prescription Management Anthonys Drug Stores Inc Timothy E Baker Baker's Pharmacy of Jamestown Inc Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals BioScrip and Subsidiaries Norman A & Mary Campbell* Mario Casinelli, Jr. Gregory R and Heidi Cianfarani Clinical Reference Laboratory Michael J Costa Cowen and Company LLC CuraScript Inc Lynn K Davis William E Dewhirst Louis T & Monica Difazio Dominion Diagnostics, LLC Erica L & Todd Estus* William J Golini Dennis C Hilliard* Julie M Jones Saul & Susan Kaplan Roberta S King & Louis Soloff Orsula V Knowlton E Paul & Amey W Larrat* Joan M Lausier* Lilly Foundation Inc Louis and Monica Difazio Foundation Rita M Marcoux & James Gutkowski* Lois Vars & William Mason McKesson Corporation Merck Company Mylan Laboratories Inc Newell Group LLC John G Niedzwicki Novartis Andrea V O'Hair Lynn M Pezzullo Pharmacists Mutual Companies Publicis Events USA Inc Milan Puskar Rite-Aid Corporation Charles L Rossi Schering Corp Yuzuru & Hiroko Shimizu* June Tyler Spink* Peter J Swenton, Jr. & Irene Roditakis F Randy & Jane K. Vogenberg Wal-Mart

Mortar and Pestle Society Gold (Annual gifts of $500 to $999) Stephen J Allen Richard E Angeli, Sr. Marilyn Barbour * Thomas J Carty, Jr. Bongsup P Cho* Anne & George Hume* Ian T Lester & Debra A Cohen* Eric J Mack Richard V Morgera NKI Enterprises Inc Katherine Kelly Orr & Frank J Toce III* Helen R Palmer* Henrique T Pedro Christopher V Riel Richard S Sabatelli Lionel R Savaria Henry Sisun St Joseph Hospital The Integra Group Inc Rita J Valentino Patricia Lynn Verhulst Kristin A Vogell

Silver (Annual gifts of $250 to $499) Fatemeh Akhlaghi* Wanda Rae Aldrich Carole J Amore Steven J Arruda AstraZeneca Atwood Prescription Center Inc Jill Kinter Bebey Cecilia L Caldwell Patti A Connery Ruitang Deng* Lisa A Durland Health Strategies Group Inc Sungja Kang George H Kenson Kerry L LaPlante* Lawsons Pharmacy Inc Andrew W Marcoux John J Mastrianni Larry Meyerson Sheila C Monk Karen M Morisseau Arnold M Olshan Norma J Owens* Debbi Perkins Brian J Quilliam* Rhode Island Pharmacy Foundation RI Pharmacists Association RI Soc of Health System Pharmacists Sara E Rosenbaum* David C Rowley & Gloria Sun* Luigia C Solda David R Tortolani Bing Fang Yan*

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Spring 2008

Bronze (Annual gifts below $250) Michael K Ahlijanian Chris M Albanese Dora C Aleicho Kenneth S Alexander William Almeida Antonio M Amaral Ruth H Amirault Cynthia M Anderson Elizabeth E Anderson Edith Sequino Anthony Adine D Bakie Leslie Baratz Maryanne Barry Marcia G Beagan Kasey A Bellisle Lorraine E Bello Belmont Marketplace Tracy A Benson Sylvester A Beozzo Robert P Berman Kenneth Bianchini Ann Marie Bolvin Jeffrey P Bratberg & Patricia Cavanagh* Frank X Braun David W Cabral Philip G Campbell Kristen J Candon John Henry Capalbo Donald C Carlson Paul R Carroll Carmine J Catalano Susan L Charbonneau Andrew S Charpentier Peter Chin Lynda F Codega Christopher J Connolly Connolly's Pharmacy Inc Shirley S Currie Ruth Dapaah-Afriyie David E Williams Enterprises LLC Delta Kappa Gamma Soc Epsilon Peter Vincent DeMinico Marie Gora DiMicco Amario Diorio Rebecca L Dobbs Jayne E Dodge Diane G Donnerstag Douglas Doyle Susan McCooey Drady Stephen J Driscoll Kathi J Duffy Robert L & Regina A Dufresne* Samantha A Dumaresq Roy A Eckloff, Jr. Sandra DePadova Elder George E Ellis John P Favour Alan H Feldman Brett & Dawn Feret* William T Fitzgerald Kenneth S Fletcher, Jr. Sharon R Ford Christopher J Freed Brian L Furbush Donna M Gagnon Herbert Gaudet Joyce Anne Gawron Gerry Enterprises Inc

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Gwendolyn Gill Elaina K Goldstein* Denise K Gorenski* Emily Grady Geraldine Grenier John Grossomanides Megan B Haggarty Sharon J Haggerty Jeanne Haroian Annie Ho Annette S Hockman IMS Donna M Isaac Robert Karczewski Robert Lee Kaufman Michele B Kaufman Harry C Keenan Brian G Kerr Vaughn C Kinosian M Serpil Kislalioglu* Charlene K Kochhan Stephen J & Nancy Kogut* Abraham Kovoor* Donald S Kramer Walter Joseph Krochmal Gertrude M Kulig Richard C Kumins Noriko Kurokawa William J Lambert William H Lang Heather A Larch* Frank R Laurito William J G Lawton Fung-Njan Lie Laurie L Lincoln Francine Luizzi-Bench Joyce Kaye Luzzi Thomas Joseph Lyons David Joseph Magiera Cathy A Mancini Patricia Manferdini Graham P Mann Steven A Mantel Maple City Pharmacy Kelly L Matson & Michael Moyer Aubrie M Mazza Nancy J McCarey Thomas R McSparren Paul H Medeiros Medspan Healthcare Market Research Inc Fiona A Leo Mensah Richard Messier William J Meyer William A Millar II Andrew C Miller James O Moretti John R Moriarty, Jr. Alan L Morris Nancy C Motola Deboarah Mulhearn Patricia Ryan Murray* Carole M Myles Joyce O'Brien Ocean Pharmacy Oxnard Pharmacy Richard E Palumbo John R Paolucci Keykavous Parang* Steven G Pashko Louise DiChiara Pastore Payette Associates Inc

Maureen A Pelosi Elizabeth V Pokeos Joan Elizabeth Polseno Edward J Popkin Nancy A Potter Robert Pump Quality Partners of RI Quidnessett Country Club Inc William A Quirk R D Denelle & Co Realtors Inc Todd J Radziewicz Edward V Reardon Florence Reynolds Rhode Island Podiatric Medical Society William Riggs Martha J Roberts Constantine Roditakis Roger Williams Lodge #32 AF & AM Rosario's Restaurant Inc Charles M Rowlett Louis G Roy Patricia E Ruggeri John S Ruggiero RXinsider Ltd Dennis A Ryan Nancy Kleinman Sainsbury Service Imports LTD Joan Martha Shobrinsky Elizabeth R Sibicky Susan Helga Sidel Julietta Silva Michael L & Jennifer A Simeone* Joan Smarto Irving Smith Anthony J Solomon Barbara M Spencer Robert T Stedman, Sr. Matthew A & Melissa Stoner* Paul E Sturtevant William J Summa, Jr. M Beverly Swan Alvin K & Elsie Swonger* Jessica L Tavares Nicholas D Tessier Gloria R Thiboutot Joseph Tkacheff, Jr. Jason E Twombly U Methodist Women Sheppard of Valley Susan G Ursillo Patricia R Valencia Rao V Vallabhaneni Eleanor D Vanable Sandra L Vetterito Janice L Violante Colleen A Walker Donna Jean Wallace Colleen E Walsh Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club Janet Wenzel Westerly Nursing Home Inc Marilyn Wolicki Pamela Wood Leonard R Worthen Richard Allen Yacino, Sr. Kurt A Young Nasser H. Zawia* Hossein Zia*

* Indicates a gift from member of the College’s faculty or staff (including emeritus faculty)