Dr. Megan Kaun, PharmD ‘05, director of Experiential Education, with Dr. Vince Mauro, professor of Clinical Pharmacy.

The Doctor of Pharmacy Experiential Education program recently recognized Dr. Vince Mauro for his excellence in precepting pharmacy students. Based on student evaluations of Dr. Mauro as a preceptor,  he is consistently helpful, informative and warm.

The cardiology rotation students complete with Dr. Mauro in The University of Toledo Medical Center allows them to interact with attending physicians and play a vital role on the medical team.

Starting this fall, UT graduate students can take College of Law courses for credit toward their graduate degrees.

A 3-credit course taught by a full-time College of Law faculty member, Law and the Legal System (LAWM 5000), is being offered in Fall 2013 specifically to UT graduate students who are not enrolled in the JD degree program.  Once graduate students complete this introductory course, they will be eligible to take other College of Law courses in subsequent semesters.

Virtually every discipline is touched by the law, and many graduate students may find it valuable to learn more about the law.  In addition to the introductory course, for example, MBA students may want to take Business Associations or E-Commerce, MPA students may want to take Administrative Law or Employment Law, engineering students may want to take Environmental Law or Patent Law, and criminal justice students may want to take Criminal Procedure.

Law and the Legal System will meet this Fall semester from 9 am to noon on Saturdays.  The course introduces students to the U.S. legal system, including cases, statutes and other sources of law; federal, state, trial and appellate courts; legal reasoning; and principles of contracts, torts, property, criminal and constitutional law.

Credits earned in College of Law courses, including Law and the Legal System, can count toward a UT graduate degree.  College of Law courses taken by students not enrolled in the JD program cannot count as credit toward the JD degree.

Registration for Law and the Legal System (LAWM 5000) is available online now.  If there are any questions about it or other College of Law courses, contact Ken Kilbert, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at Kenneth.Kilbert@utoledo.edu or 419-530-4107.

Harvard Drug, that is.  Three students in the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) program will complete their summer internships at The Harvard Drug Group, a national distributor of generic and branded pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter medications and supplements, respiratory medications, and compounding supplies.

The Harvard Drug Group awarded nationally competitive internship positions to Hemali Joshi, who will work in the Letco Division in Decatur, Alabama, as well as Trevor Eaton and Antonia Chavez, who will work in Livonia, Michigan in the Major Pharmaceuticals and Harvard Distribution divisions, respectively. Remarkably, they will earn $800 per week for their work as interns.

The students will complete 10-week internships in their respective areas, gaining valuable knowledge and skills that will facilitate their placement in the workforce after graduation. The goal of the BSPS internship program is to prepare students to enter the workforce following graduation, and employers in the pharmaceutical sciences are recruiting heavily for the types of positions BSPS students can enter upon graduation.

Dr. Bryant-Friedrich, center, with students in her lab

Dr. Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, associate professor of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, loves working with students.  Since joining the CPPS in 2007 she has mentored seven graduate students from six different countries as well as almost twenty undergraduates.  These students have made enormous contributions to the work in the Bryant-Friedrich lab, focused on understanding the role of oxidative damage in cancer development at a molecular level. Their efforts have been rewarded through numerous publications and presentations at national and international meetings.

In addition to her dedication to the training of students, her leadership role as president of the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) is an example of her strong advocacy for diversity in the sciences.

“The active recruitment and retention of members of all groups represented in our world in STEM fields is key to maintaining the competitive advantage our country has enjoyed for so long.  This includes young students of color from the city of Toledo as well as women who have limited opportunities in the far corners of the globe,” says Dr. Bryant-Friedrich.

Dr. Bryant-Friedrich plans to continue to actively recruit from these diverse populations as she continues her work in cancer etiology and embarks on new projects to design and develop new anti-viral agents.

L-R: Dr. Wayne Hoss, Sarah Milkovich, Dean Early and Dr. Chris Hinko

Sarah Milkovich is the April 2013 Student of the Month. She showed leadership and professionalism in planning the Mr. PharmD pageant, which raised over $1100 for the Make-A-Wish foundation. Sarah’s efforts drew together pharmacy students, students from outside the college, parents and siblings, faculty members, and others from the surrounding community. In addition to her role in this event, Sarah is also vice-president of the American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists; she was very involved in coordinating the patient counseling competition at UT.

By Tyler Tomasek, 2014 Doctor of Pharmacy candidate

Students from the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences along with the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) provided a health and wellness event at the Helping Hands of St. Louis ministry in East Toledo. Helping Hands of St. Louis is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving hot, nutritious meals for all in need who arrive at their doors.

Pharmacy faculty members Dr. Steven Martin and Dr. Michelle Serres as well as PGY1 pharmacy resident Dr. Ayesha Khan also participated and assisted at the event. Patients trickled in throughout the morning to eat a warm meal and receive health services.

Students vaccinated 25 patients for the flu, which was widespread and at an increased activity level. Students also checked 30 patients’ blood glucose and blood pressure levels, screening for diabetes and hypertension.

Among the notable successes of the event was that students were able to refer some of the patients to their physicians or to free or discounted health services in the area based on their blood pressure or blood glucose levels.

The students, along with the supervising pharmacists, provided education to patients about their values and answered general health questions. Students also talked to patients about their medications.

Students even overcame a language barrier with a non-English speaking patient and contacted a member of UT’s faculty who spoke the language. This faculty member helped to translate between the patient and volunteers, successfully establishing communication and facilitating the care of this patient.

Drs. Suzanne Epstein and Paul Abramowitz receive honorary degrees at Commencement

Dr. Suzanne Epstein

Suzanne Epstein, Ph.D., is the recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Dr. Epstein is the Associate Director for Research for the Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration. She is also the Principal Investigator and regulatory reviewer for the Gene Transfer and Immunogenicity Branch of the Division of Cellular and Gene Therapies.

Dr. Epstein is recognized for her major contributions to the fields of immunology and basic pharmaceutical science. In particular, she studies vaccines against influenza virus, one of the deadliest viruses to afflict humanity. Dr. Epstein is a leader among researchers seeking to develop a universal influenza vaccine that reduces the population’s vulnerability to an influenza pandemic and protect public health. Dr. Epstein is also an expert on other antiviral vaccines. Since 1985, she has worked with the Food and Drug Administration to develop policy and guide regulatory issues on gene therapy.

Among Dr. Epstein’s career achievements are numerous publications and presentations as well as service on various boards and in organizations that advance science and education. She is a member of the American Association of Immunologists, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Association for Women in Science. She has also been recognized repeatedly within her field for leadership, innovation, and policy development.

Dr. Paul Abramowitz, ’77

Paul Abramowitz, Ph.D., is the recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Science degree. Dr. Abramowitz is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, an organization dedicated to supporting the professional practice of pharmacists in hospitals, health systems, ambulatory care clinics, and other settings spanning the full spectrum of medication use.  He is also president of the organization’s Research and Education Foundation and Chair of the Board.

Prior to serving as the CEO of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, he was the president of the organization. Dr. Abramowitz’s professional roles include service as the Associate Hospital Director for Professional Services at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and as the Assistant Dean of The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.

In addition to his numerous highly regarded publications, Dr. Abramowitz currently holds executive leadership roles in the National Patient Safety Foundation, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board and the Pharmacy e-Health Information Technology Collaborative.

Dr. Abramowitz, who earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from The University of Toledo in 1977, has shown progressive and visionary leadership in pharmacy. His patient-centered approach to pharmacy practice and his commitment to pharmacy practice and the education of students and residents are the cornerstones of his leadership as a pharmacist. Furthermore, Dr. Abramowitz has spent his career focusing on the effect that quality pharmaceutical care can have on improving outcomes of care and reducing costs.

Drs. Epstein and Abramowitz offered public seminars in their areas of expertise on May 3, 2013.

Steven Lombardo, BSPS ’11

Steven Lombardo, BSPS ‘11, completed a one-year Fulbright Fellowship studying neuroscience in Australia. His research involved GABA receptors, key to some pharmacological solutions for mental health disorders.

Currently a neuroscience doctoral student at Wake Forest University, he returned to UT to discuss his research and his Fulbright experience.  He expressed that the experience he gained in the BSPS program prepared him for his Fulbright research project because of the breadth of knowledge the program provides, not only in biology and chemistry, but also in pharmacology. His visit was co-sponsored by the Jesup Scott Honors College and CPPS.

The April 2013 issue of Refill, the e-newsletter of The University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, is now available online.

In this issue:

• New CPPS faculty members go to class
• Chillin’ and grillin’ with SNPhA
• Students create a culture of giving
• Grad student Raziya Shaik wins travel award
• Meet Dr. Youssef Sari
• 2013 AZΩ faculty auction
• P3 student Gretchen D’Arcangelo presents poster
• Upcoming events

Each year, the college participates in a faculty auction hosted by Alpha Zeta Omega, the co-ed pharmacy fraternity, to raise funds for students completing medical missions around the world. Faculty members donate numerous items and experiences, and the students bid on these items, often in groups, to raise funds. The result is a great opportunity for students and faculty to engage outside of the classroom, in addition to supporting global outreach. The funds raised in the auction are used to purchase medical supplies for the mission trip.

This year’s medical mission to Honduras was supported by students and faculty, who donated generously. Items donated by faculty members for the auction included tickets to a suite in the Press Tower for a 2013 season Football Game, including dinner, snacks and beverages; a Whirlyball outing (combination of basketball and jai alai) and dinner in Ann Arbor, MI; gift baskets; dinner at Granite City Brewery; a pool party, including dinner on the grill and beverages, hosted by Dr. Steve Martin; a meal at Mancy’s Italian Restaurant; and Dr. O’s Grill Extravaganza, an elaborate backyard barbeque for six students hosted by Dr. Martin Ohlinger.

This year’s auction raised $7,800 for the mission trips.