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PRESS RELEASES
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY PARTICIPATES AT EDUCATIONAL EXPO
The Iowa Pharmacy Association and the Collaborative Education Institute sponsored the 20th Annual Educational Expo. The meeting was held in Des Moines from January 22-24. The College of Pharmacy had a strong presence at the event with eleven UI faculty, residents, and alumni presenting lectures at the event:
Faculty: |
| Kristin Horning, Pharmacy Practice and Science (PPS) Assistant Professor (Clinical), “Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Medications” |
| Susan Staggs, PPS Assistant Professor (Clinical), “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Using Reflection to Enhance Student Learning Activities” |
| Coralynn Trewet, PPS Assistant Professor (Clinical), “Preventing Diabetes Through Motivational Counseling”
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| Jim Hoehns, ‘94 PharmD, “Navigating the Change: Leading Patients Through Menopause” |
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Alumni: |
| Joseph Vande Griend, ’05 PharmD, “Screening, Measuring, Analyzing, and Applying Cardiovascular Risk Assessments” |
| Ginelle Schmidt, ’07 PharmD, “Exploring Vitamin D Deficiency” |
| Stuart Pitman, ’09 PharmD, “What Are Auto-Immune Disorders and How Are They Treated?” |
| Carrie Koenigsfeld, ’98 PharmD, “PPI vs. OTC Calcium Carbonate and H2 Blockers” |
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Residents: |
| Sara Nicolaus, PGY1 Community Pharmacy Resident, “NAPLEX – How to Start and What to Expect” |
| Anh Nguyen, PGY1 Community Pharmacy Resident, “Calculations Review” |
| Catherine Pearce, PGY1 Community Pharmacy Resident, “Calculations Review” |
The expo
consisted of workshops on Friday and breakout sessions on Saturday and Sunday. The goal of the expo is to enhance the knowledge of pharmacists regarding new topics in the profession and allow pharmacists to present their research.
GRADUATE STUDENT TO ATTEND NATIONAL MEETING
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Erin Allen, Division of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry graduate student, received a travel award to attend the Society of Toxicology’s 49th Annual Meeting. The award is provided by the Society of Toxicology and involved a national competition among graduate students. The event will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from March 7-11. |
PHARMACY STUDENTS RECEIVE NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
Doctor of Pharmacy candidates Audrey Banner, P2, and Andrea Perez, P2, were selected as recipients of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation Pharmacy Student Scholarship. Each was awarded $2,000 to offset costs of tuition and other course-related student expenses.
The goal of this scholarship program is to support the development of future leaders in the chain community pharmacy industry and to recognize pharmacy students who have a strong interest in pursuing a career in chain community pharmacy. Out of 475 scholarship applications, the Scholarship Committee selected a total of 93 pharmacy students nationwide to receive scholarships.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORATE FOR HEALTH FAIR
Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and American Pharmacists Association - Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) collaborated together to hold a health fair at the Hy-Vee in Coralville on Saturday, January 23rd from 9-12. ASP organized heartburn awareness education. SNPhA held diabetes screenings, blood pressure screenings, and bone density screenings.
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY GRADUATE STUDENTS PRESENT POSTERS
 The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) 2009 Annual Meeting, held  in Los Angeles, presented late-breaking research, validated scientific methodology, and showcased the latest technology, services, and supplies. College of Pharmacy graduate students and faculty members attended the event and held a collegiate and alumni reception. Prior to the meeting, the Division of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics held a poster preview session for those not able to attend.
PHARMACY STUDENTS VOLUNTEERS AT LOCAL PHARMACY
Student members of the American Pharmacists Association - Academy of Student Pharmacists participated in Towncrest Pharmacy's Diabetes Awareness Day in Iowa City in December.
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Alex Hangartner |
Kathryn Lee |
ASSISTANT DEAN NAMED ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AT UI HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
Paul Abramowitz, Assistant Dean for University Hospitals and Clinics, has been named as the associate director for professional services at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He will provide senior administrative leadership to the Departments of Pharmaceutical Care, Radiology, Laboratory Services, Respiratory Therapy, Behavioral Health, and Rehabilitation Therapies. Abramowitz has served in this position on an interim basis since June 2008. In addition to his new role, Paul will continue his responsibility as chief pharmacy officer at the UI Hospitals and Clinics.
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACY PRACTICE AND SCIENCE GAINS TWO NEW EMPLOYEES
Two new employees recently joined the College of Pharmacy's Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science. Kent Ball is a Research Assistant with Barry Carter, Professor. Ball screens and enrolls patients in Carter's Continuity of Care study. Scott Egerton is working with Bill Doucette, Professor, as a Research Assistant.
Egerton helps to develop materials and coordinate tasks related to Dr. Doucette's work on the Demonstration of Quality Improvements in Medication Therapy Management.
 KENNY SHAW RETIRES FROM COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AFTER 48 YEARS
Kenny Shaw retired from the College of Pharmacy on January 4, 2010. Shaw worked for two years at the College of Pharmacy when he was a student, and started his regular employment in 1964. He was with the College of Pharmacy for a total of 48 years. His friends and colleagues celebrated his dedication and hard work with a reception at the end of December.
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY CHEERS ON HAWKS AT ORANGE BOWL
College of Pharmacy alumni and friends cheered on the Hawks at an Orange Bowl Collegiate Reception hosted by the Colleges of Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Public Health. The event was held Monday, January 4 from 1:00-3:00pm, and was followed immediately by the Hawkeye Huddle at the Miami Beach Convention Center. University of Iowa President Sally Mason welcomed guests with brief remarks, as did College of Pharmacy Dean Donald Letendre, College of Dentistry Dean David Johnsen and College of Public Health Dean Susan Curry. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Dave Loebsack attended the event as well.
 COLLEGE OF PHARMACY GRADUATE FEATURED IN PHARMACY PUBLICATION
Randy McDonough, '97 MS, '00 PharmD, co-owner and Director of Clinical Services for Towncrest Pharmacy in Iowa City, is a contributing writer for the November 2009 issue of Pharmacy Today. He discussed the importance of medication therapy management (MTM) services in pharmacy. Using his own experiences as a base, he emphasized the development of innovative ways to identify, screen, and monitor patients who can benefit from a pharmacist’s services.
His entire article can be viewed at http://apha.imirus.com/Mpowered/imirus.jsp?volume=pt15&issue=11&page=1.
 PROFESSOR RECEIVES RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dale Eric Wurster, PhD, professor of pharmaceutics and translational therapeutics, has been named the recipient of the 2009 Research Achievement Award in Manufacturing Science & Engineering. This award is among the highest conferred by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. The continuing high quality of Wurster's work and its impact was the basis upon which he was selected as this year's recipient. Research Achievement Award recipients discuss their research at a dedicated lecture session at the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition. Wurster received the award on November 10 in Los Angeles.
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY GRADUATE NAMED AAPS FELLOW
 The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) named Yihong Qiu, '92 Ph.D., an AAPS Fellow. He was awarded at AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition in Los Angeles, California on November 8th. Ron Schoenwald and Keith Guillory were his co-major professors at the College of Pharmacy. Only five other Iowa graduates have been designated Fellows in previous years: Michael Akers, James McGinity, David Nichols, David Pope, and Satyam Upadrashta. Qiu is currently a Research Fellow at Abbott Laboratories in Chicago, Illinois.
AAPS recognizes Fellows to recognize individuals for outstanding contributions that improve pharmaceutical sciences and for professional excellence. The primary criterion for selection as an AAPS Fellow is professional competence reflected through scholarly and research contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences.
UI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY TO LEAD DEVELOPMENT OF FDA REVIEWER TRAINING
The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy is a part of a national consortium that has received a two-year, $652,000 FDA contract to develop an educational program for staff in the FDA Office of Pharmaceutical Science. Lee Kirsch, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics associate professor, is the project manager.
"As educators, we are very pleased to have this opportunity to work with the FDA. We believe that this project will help facilitate the incorporation of advanced technologies into pharmaceutical manufacturing and could ultimately lead to shorter timeframes for the development of new drug products," Kirsch said. The entire article can be viewed at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2009/november/112509pharmacy.html.
RESEARCHER PUBLISHED IN ARCHIVES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
 Pharmacy Practice and Science professor Barry Carter's research was published in the November 23rd issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. It was reviewed and approved by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) to be released to media. The article describes Carter's study on the impact of doctor-pharmacist teams on high blood pressure control. In the study, 402 people treated for high blood pressure were divided into two groups. One group received the usual high blood pressure treatment in which a prescription is written based on the doctor's measurement of blood pressure, and a pharmacist fills the prescription. The other group was treated by doctor-pharmacist teams in which the pharmacists were trained to assess participants' blood pressure and adjust both the kind of drugs prescribed and the dosage of those drugs. After six months, blood pressure had dropped to the recommended level in 30 percent of the participants in the traditional treatment group, while 64 percent of those treated by pharmacist-physician team achieved the goal. Carter said, "A minority of patients now have access to such care, but that could change as the health-care system changes." The entire articles can be viewed at http://www.drugs.com/news/doctor-pharmacist-teams-boost-blood-pressure-control-21088.html and http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2009a/1123.dtl#4.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TEACHERS AND PRECEPTORS OF THE YEAR
Each year the College of Pharmacy recognizes outstanding Teachers and Preceptors. The process begins by soliciting nominations of exceptional teachers and supporting comments from each of the class of pharmacy students. Selected finalists who are asked to supply documentation describing their approach to teaching and their teaching philosophy. This year's teachers of the year are:
P1 Class:
Jeffrey Reist, '82 PharmD, Pharmacy Practice and Science assistant professor |
P2 Class:
Michael Ernst, '97 PharmD, Pharmacy Practice
and Science associate professor |
P3 Class:
Michelle Fravel, '06 PharmD, Pharmacy
Practice and Science assistant professor
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Collegiate Teacher of the Year:
John Swegle, '96 PharmD, Pharmacy Practice
and Science associate professor |
Preceptors are an integral part of the College of Pharmacy's program by providing a vast selection of advanced practice experiences. Criteria for Preceptor of the Year selection includes nominations from students, written comments, scores and past service as a preceptor.
Community/Ambulatory Pharmacy:
Tony Pals, '01 PharmD
Timothy Becker, '79 BSPh
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Faculty:
Sarah Johnson,'97 PharmD, Pharmacy Practice and Science assistant professor
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Hospital:
Amy Taylor, '00 PharmD
Linsey Schuldt, '03 PharmD
Elizabeth Nichols, PharmD
Christopher Clayton, '09 MBA, '00 PharmD
(not pictured: Barry Westbrook, BSPh)
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KCRG SPECIAL REPORT ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA
 Should Iowa endorse medical marijuana? Claire Kellett, KCRG anchor/reporter, created a special report on the issue which aired November 12th. Although marijuana is Iowa's most used illegal drug, medical marijuana helps treat pain, lack of appetite, and nausea. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy believes the benefits outweigh the drug's negative impacts, and plans to make a recommendation on medical marijuana to state lawmakers in the upcoming weeks. Ronald Herman, Pharmacy Practice and Science associate professor, was interviewed for the feature and said, "If we can refine and identify the appropriate chemical substances in there that would give us the desired effect, I think there is good potential." The entire news article, including a video, can be accessed at http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/69931732.html.
PHARMACY CAREER FAIR AND PLACEMENT DAY
 The Pharmacy Career Fair and Placement Day were held this month at the Sheraton Hotel in Iowa City. All pharmacy students were encouraged to attend the career fair to exchange establish on-going relationships with the companies.
The goal of the event was to provide and exchange information regarding career opportunities, mentoring, tuition assistance, and/or available internship positions.
The following day, graduating seniors attended Placement Day, which consists of 30-minute scheduled interviews allowing the recruiters to get to know the students on a more personal level.
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR FEATURED IN UI NEWSLETTER
 Aliasger Salem, associate professor of Pharmaceutics and Translational Therapeutics, was featured in the November 2009 UI monthly newsletter, Spectator. The article was titled "Driven to Discover" and discussed the inspiration, innovation, and collaboration of scientists at the University of Iowa. It debunks the stereotype that science is straightforward and highlights the time, struggle, and reward that comes with research. The article featured scientists throughout the UI colleges to gain perspective on why they love their field, what motivates them, and their daily activities. Salem, whose research involves developing vaccines that stimulate an immune response against cancer cells, said, "I love teaching students and helping them understand the inquisitive nature of the profession. We’re trying to answer questions that have an impact on our society.”
The entire article can be viewed at http://spectator.uiowa.edu/2009/november/scienceintro.html.
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