PostScript Spring 2006 by Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

SPRING 2006 VOLUME 17 NUMBER 1

PostScript N E W S

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A L B A N Y

C O L L E G E

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P H A R M A C Y

Swiss Account Students benefit from new clerkship in ‘Pharmacy Capital of the World’

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FEATURES_________________________________________ Always a Gentleman President and Dean Walter Singer

A Superb Partner Bill Cronin retires

Cover Story: Swiss Account Student clerkships in Switzerland

DEPARTMENTS____________________________________

On the Cover: Scenes of Basel, Switzerland, site of a new ACP clerkship

President’s Ledger From the Dean’s Desk Letters to the Editor

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On Campus New Board members UHA Neighborhood Expo Through the decades Leighton auction/White dedication New Physician Assistant program Gould appointed CFO Campus Partnership House Women’s hoop championship ACP Health Fair

4 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9

Student News Student scholarships Phi Delta Chi PSAs Academic honor roll Transplanted Katrina victims SGA elections NASA summer camp

10 10 11 12 12 13

Faculty News Faculty achievements A leap of faith Mousa recognized Faculty authors

14 14 15 15

Advancement President’s Gala Calendar of events Planned giving Support education through scholarships

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Alumni Affairs Phi Delta Chi celebrates 75 years New Alumni Council

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Class Notes Engagements, births, retirements & much more

In Memoriam

Focus on … J. Gordon Dailey ’57

President’s

Ledger

James J. Gozzo, Ph.D.

Double Vision ACP today – a unique perspective on the past, present and future

This is a unique time to be a part of the Albany College of Pharmacy family. From our vantage point as we near the end of our 125th academic year, we can reflect on a tradition of excellence in pharmacy education, a proud history built by individuals dedicated to providing high-quality care. We also are able to look ahead to an exciting future filled with promise as the College expands on this tradition to enhance all things ACP – our curriculum and academic programs, our degree offerings, our campus, our student services, our faculty and student research, our relationships with our alumni and friends, and our stature on a local, state, national and international level. You will find evidence of all of this and more in this issue of PostScript. You will find a retrospective look at ACP through stories such as those about former President and Dean Walter Singer, Ph.D., and recently retired Vice President of Finance and Business Affairs William M. “Bill” Cronin, as well as the dedication of the Albert M. White Gymnasium and the continuation of our decade-by-decade history in conjunction with our 125th celebration.

It was with sadness that we shared the news of Dr. Singer’s death in the last edition of this magazine. Because that unfortunate event occurred so close to press time, we have dedicated a more prominent place in this issue to Dr. Singer’s many achievements as the leader of this institution for 15 years. We enjoyed a memorable day last October with two wonderful events: the gym dedication in honor of Al White, who touched so many of you during a 50-year career as a pharmacist, educator, administrator and coach, and a benefit auction as we established the Rita E. Leighton ’86 Memorial Scholarship in memory of our late Board of Trustees member. In this issue, we also hope you’ll enjoy an opportunity to catch up with J. Gordon Dailey ’57, Thomas Friello ’80, Charles W. Owens ’54 and Frank Viviani ’58, among many more alums. And then we hit fast-forward. Our cover story this issue details an exciting new international clerkship opportunity for sixth-year Doctor of Pharmacy students. The five-week experience in Basel, Switzerland, as well as a clerkship opportunity in Japan, provide unique and innovative

opportunities for our students to learn not only about a different approach to pharmaceutical care, but also about a different way of life. The combination of novel professional and cultural experiences is a key element of our emphasis on preparing our students to provide quality care to the increasingly diverse populations they will serve. It is a key element of what we mean by Sciences for Life. So, too, are new academic offerings such as the joint admission program we have initiated with Albany Medical Center toward a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies. By continuing to diversify the academic environment at ACP, both through our own programmatic growth and our partnerships with area institutions, we are enhancing our role as a pre-eminent scientific institution. Please enjoy this edition of PostScript.

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F ROM TH E

Dean’s Desk Mary H. Andritz, Pharm.D.

Cultural Competency We all have had the experience of taking action based on assumptions that turn out not to be true! Depending on the circumstances, the consequences can be serious or not so serious. When inaccurate assumptions relate to the care of patients, negative outcomes can be significant. This example probably sounds familiar. Let’s say a patient is directed to take a certain medication with each meal. We might assume that the person will eat three meals and therefore take the desired three doses per day. I think we all know people who don’t necessarily eat three meals every day! The quantity of medication taken could vary from what was intended unless that point was clarified. While I worked at the VA Medical Center a number of years ago, some of my pharmacists were preparing a hospitalized patient to continue his long-term intravenous antibiotic therapy at home. He demonstrated the ability to use the infusion pump and could list what to do if selected problems occurred. His discharge was delayed, however, because it had been assumed he had a refrigerator at home to store several days supply of the antibiotic. We became sensitized to the fact that all homes don’t necessarily have the same amenities. It is easy for student pharmacists to presume that all patients will want the same health outcomes that we define as optimal. In some cases,

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however, there may be cultural, religious or socioeconomic factors that might modify what is ideal or acceptable from the perspective of a given person. It is also an error to think that everyone in a particular ethnic, racial or religious group will have the same beliefs or values. Therefore, it is essential that health professionals respect differences among individuals while developing cultural awareness to guide discussions with those for whom they care. In addition to the traditional competencies stated for courses at ACP, which describe other types of knowledge, skills and attitudes that should be developed, we will be initiating a process to ensure that “cultural competency” is identified as a student learning outcome. As defined by the National Medical Association, cultural competency is “the application of cultural knowledge, behaviors and interpersonal and clinical skills that enhances a provider’s effectiveness in managing patient care.” Census data indicates that the U.S. population has become more diverse recently; this trend is expected to continue. The demographic profile of student pharmacists in the United States does not reflect the same level of diversity. If our goal is to assume responsibility for ensuring optimal use of medications, pharmacists need to be aware

that inadequate cultural competency results in poor health outcomes in populations that already may be subject to disparities in health care. Cultural competency also can be fostered outside of the classroom. You may know of examples in which patient care was significantly modified due to the background or beliefs of the patient. Those real life examples can be very powerful when shared with students. I am looking forward to opportunities to hear about what current practitioners might have learned by experience and to discuss the widespread integration of cultural competency into the “ACP experience.”

SPRING 2006 VOLUME 17 NUMBER 1

Letters to the Editor

PostScript is published as a magazine for alumni, parents and friends of Albany College of Pharmacy. Managing Editor

Ron Lesko Editor

Christine Shields 2006-07 Editorial Board

James J. Gozzo, Ph.D., President Mary H. Andritz, Pharm.D., Dean Vicki A. DiLorenzo, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Robert J. Gould, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Operations Packy McGraw, Director of Student Affairs Contributing Writers

James J. Gozzo, Ph.D. Mary H. Andritz, Pharm.D. J. Gordon Dailey ’57 Ron Lesko Charles W. Owens ’54 Christine Shields

To the Editor: I just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed receiving the “vintage” postcards of ACP and reading the decade-by-decade history of the College. As an alumna who now teaches in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at ACP, I am very aware of the changes we have gone through since my own graduation. It’s been fascinating to see just how far we’ve come in 125 years, from a two-year program (that did not even require a high school degree for entrance!) to a six-year doctoral program for pharmacists and a diversifying academic environment. Of particular interest to me is the expansion of our student body from one woman, who graduated with the first full graduating class in 1883, to nearly 700 women today, 58 percent of our total enrollment. I always tell my students that to have a complete picture of where we are going, they need to appreciate where we have been as well. Thanks for helping them develop an appreciation of our history! I look forward to reading upcoming installments, including the saga of “my own” decade!

Contributing Photographers

-- Angela Pasquariello Dominelli ’78, Ph.D.

Shannon Ballard Elizabeth Bell, Poughkeepsie Journal Joel Benware John Denio Don Elliott Ron Lesko Anna Ritchey, Tri-Town News Office of Institutional Advancement

Vicki A. DiLorenzo, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Sergio A. Mendez, Executive Director of College Relations Shelly Calabrese, Director of Annual Programs Lynne DellaRocca, Systems Administrator Deanna Ennello-Butler, Associate Director of Advancement Research Ron Lesko, Director of Communications Christine Shields, Assistant Director of Communications Please send story ideas, comments, letters and suggestions to: PostScript Albany College of Pharmacy 106 New Scotland Avenue Albany, NY 12208 1-888-203-8010 alumni@acp.edu

To the Editor: I recently received the 1910s installment of your monthly postcards in celebration of the College’s 125th year and am eagerly looking forward to the Roaring ‘20s, when the pharmacy profession was affected drastically by Prohibition, and on into the present. ACP was so much more than just a College to me. I often look back fondly on my days playing basketball under Coach Al White and other non-academic pursuits. It’s been interesting to read about the life that students led outside of classes in “the old days,” including the formation of a basketball team and the beginnings of the sports program. We’ve come a long way! I am thrilled with the school’s progress in the new millennium. With the Pharmaceutical Research Institute taking a leading role in the emerging field of nanopharmaceuticals, a student body that is growing by leaps and bounds and the new Student Center scheduled to open this spring, we are indeed living in exciting times as we prepare for our next 125 years!

-- J. Gordon Dailey ’57

Spring 2006

On Campus

ACP Welcomes Three New Board Members

Christopher Del Vecchio ’88

Bridget-ann Hart ’80

ACP alums Christopher Del Vecchio ’88 and Bridget-ann Hart ’80 and well-known Capital Region investment strategist Hugh A. Johnson are the newest members of the ACP Board of Trustees. The three new members were elected to the board at its annual October meeting. “All three new trustees bring a wealth of experience to the Board,” said President James J. Gozzo, Ph.D. “Their contributions will be invaluable as we continue to grow to meet the expanding needs of the pharmacy and health care professions.” As Chairman of Johnson Illington Advisors, Johnson manages nearly $624 million of equity, fixed income and cash investments for institutional clients, and serves as a consultant to more than $900 million in institutional assets. In addition, he serves as a consulting investment strategist to First Albany Cos. Inc., where he previously served as Director. Johnson gained national recognition as an investment strategist after joining First Albany in 1978. His work

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Hugh A. Johnson

appears regularly in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Barron’s, Business Week and other leading business publications. He is a regular guest on CNBC and CNN and has appeared on “Wall Street Week with Louis Ruykeyser” and on the nightly news shows for ABC, NBC and CBS. He serves as an economic advisor to the New York State Assembly Committee of Ways and Means and is Director of the New York Business Development Corp. Since earning her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from ACP in 1980, Hart has served in various capacities of increasing responsibility with Gouverneur-based Kinney Drugs, including vice presidencies in the areas of professional services, pharmacy technology, corporate development and store operations. A 25-year veteran of the company, Hart serves on Kinney’s Board of Directors and in her new role as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer is instrumental in helping lead the future growth and

development of Kinney Drugs, a privately held business with 80 employee-owned stores in New York and Vermont. Del Vecchio is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of enfrastructure Technologies, Inc. in Clifton Park. Founded this year, enfrastructure Technologies is a leading provider of e-business and e-government technology infrastructure solutions. The company works with clients throughout North America in four areas of business: professional services, managed services, deployment and structured cabling. A 1988 graduate of ACP with a B.S. in Pharmacy, Del Vecchio previously served as Principal of CatalystOne, a firm providing strategic management and business development expertise to health care clients, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Health Solutions Ltd., a pharmacy benefit and health information management company.

Getting to Know the Neighborhood

Students nibbled their way through the Albert M. White Gymnasium as they learned more about their neighborhood.

The second annual University Heights Association Neighborhood Expo was a home run! Held September 20 in ACP’s Albert M. White Gymnasium, the event attracted more than 650 students from the four University Heights colleges – ACP, Albany Law School, Albany

Medical College and The Sage Colleges. The Expo featured 35 vendors from a variety of businesses and organizations in the neighborhoods surrounding campus, providing an opportunity for students to learn more about the activities and services

available to them nearby and throughout the Capital Region. Free food samples from participating eateries were a highlight of the event, as were door prizes that included MP3 players, a fitness center membership and gift certificates for local businesses.

ACP THROUGH THE DECADES 1927. Charles Lindberg makes the first nonstop solo flight. Popular vaudevillian Al Jolson amazes audiences in The Jazz Singer, the first full-length “talkie.” Belgian astrophysicist Georges Lemaitre proposes the Big Bang Theory. And Albany College of Pharmacy opens a brand new building. From a shared building downtown with Albany Medical College to its home in Albany’s University Heights neighborhood to today’s rapidly expanding campus, ACP has grown into one of the nation’s premier scientific teaching institutions. Join us throughout 2005-06 as we mark

our 125th academic year – our quasquicentennial! – with a decade-by-decade history of the College. Each month, we will explore a new decade, reliving our past as we build for the future. To see how ACP fared through World War I, The Great Depression, Prohibition and the Jazz Age, visit www.acp.edu and click on the “Celebrating 125 Years” for a fascinating look at the 1910s and 1920s. You also can access the “Celebrating 125 Years” pages of our Web site by visiting the Our Story section. Check back each month to learn about a new decade in ACP history!

The ACP basketball team in 1927.

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On Campus October 29, 2005

A Gymnasium Dedicated …

ACP hosted two special events October 29, 2005 – an auction to benefit the new Rita E. Leighton ’86 Memorial Scholarship in memory of the late basketball star and Board of Trustees member, and a dinner to dedicate our gymnasium in honor of Albert M. White. The Leighton auction, attended by family (including Rita’s mother, Josie, below, right) and friends, raised nearly $9,000 for the scholarship, which was created by members of the current ACP women’s basketball team (below, left). Later that evening, approximately 130 family members, friends and former students were in attendance as President Gozzo dedicated the Albert M. White Gymnasium. Dean White (above, right) served ACP tirelessly during a 50-year career as a pharmacist, faculty member, administrator (Associate Dean of Students and Director of Athletics) and men’s basketball coach.

A Scholarship Benefitted …

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ACP, Albany Med Partner on Unique Physician Assistant Studies Option Continuing the strategic plan to diversify academic offerings in part through partnerships with Capital Region institutions, ACP has added a Physician Assistant Studies option in conjunction with Albany Medical College. The program allows combined acceptance into both ACP’s Bachelor of Science program in Biomedical Technology and Albany Med’s Master’s-level Physician Assistant Studies program. Qualified students will complete the entire program, with the opportunity for dual certification in a diagnostic laboratory field and as a physician assistant, in 51⁄2 years instead of the traditional six. Freshmen accepted into the program will be exempt from taking the Graduate Record Examination, providing they maintain the required undergraduate academic standards while at ACP. The program is available begin-

GOULD APPOINTED CFO

Robert J. Gould, director of ACP’s enrollment expansion since 1999, has been appointed Vice President of Finance and Administrative Operations, replacing William M. “Bill” Cronin, who retired in December after 27 years as the College’s Chief Financial Officer. “Robert has been an invaluable contributor to our strategic growth during this

ning this fall. To learn more, visit www.acp.edu. “This unique professional pathway is an important addition to our expanding catalog of academic programs,” said President James J. Gozzo, Ph.D. “Allowing students to come to ACP as freshmen and pursue a wide range of career options in health-related professions, both through our own programs and through partnerships with outstanding area institutions like Albany Medical College, is a central focus for us.” The program builds on similar relationships ACP has with other area institutions, including an Early Assurance admission program with Albany Med for medical school, joint degree programs with Albany Law School and The Graduate College of Union University, and academic affiliations with The Sage Colleges, The College of St. Rose and Hudson Valley Community College.

Physician assistants, or PAs, play an important role in the provision of health care services, working interdependently with physicians to provide diagnostic and therapeutic patient care across the spectrum of practice settings and specialties. PAs take comprehensive patient histories, perform physical exams, interpret and evaluate diagnostic data, establish treatment plans, counsel and educate patients, and respond to emergency care situations. They are highly sought-after members of the health care team. “As the demand for physician assistants continues to grow, accelerated joint degree programs such as these become that much more important,” said Vincent Verdile, M.D., Dean of Albany Medical College and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at Albany Medical Center.

decade,” said President James J. Gozzo, Ph.D. “I am confident his exceptional leadership skills and strategic vision will continue to enhance our plans for the future.” Robert came to ACP as Director of Admissions in 1999. He served as Vice President of Enrollment Management from 2003-05, overseeing a strategic increase in freshman enrollment during his tenure. Last fall’s freshman class of 257 represented the largest incoming class in the

college’s 125-year history, the fourth straight year ACP has enrolled a record class. Applications for the traditional firstyear-entry Doctor of Pharmacy program and the Accelerated three-year program also have risen sharply. In his new role, Robert maintains responsibility for admissions and financial aid while also serving as CFO and director of administrative functions, including human resources.

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On Campus

Campus Partnership Progress From dodgeball to bowling to the NCAA Tournament and just plain digging in the dirt, the ACP community has been busy raising funds and helping with construction on the Habitat for Humanity Campus Partnership House project that began in the Fall semester. A partnership of four Capital Region colleges and universities, the Campus Partnership House in North Albany was progressing nicely into the spring. Students, faculty and staff from ACP participated in build dates on March 4 and April 1. ACP held several fundraisers for the project, including a Dodgeball Tournament organized by the freshman class on February 4, a Bowling Night on February 15 and a Hoops for Habitat game in conjunction with the NCAA Tournament in March. The events raised more than $1,300 combined. Through March, ACP had raised more than $7,000 overall and John J. Denio, Associate Dean of Student and Academic Affairs, was confident the College would hit its target of $10,000 for the project. Also participating are the University at Albany, The College of St. Rose and Albany Medical College. Anyone wishing to contribute can send checks payable to ACP and addressed to Dean Denio at 106 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208. All gifts will be acknowledged.

Bowling, digging and dodging for Humanity!

Three-peat! The women’s basketball team won its third-straight Northern Independence Conference championship – a school record! – with a 68-51 victory over Clinton Community College in the Albert M. White Gymnasium on February 18. Amber Jillson led the Panthers (14-7) with 17 points and Randi Maurer added 12 in her final game to extend her school career scoring record to 1,621 points. The victory was ACP’s 14th in a row against NIC opponents, dating to January 2004. For complete coverage of the 2005-06 women’s and men’s basketball seasons, visit the Student Life section at www. acp.edu.

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HEALTH FAIR

ACP Health Fair 2005 was held October 25 in conjunction with American Pharmacists Month. The Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first comprehensive health-related event, it attracted about 300 attendees. Organized by the ACP chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) and sponsored by Brooks/Eckerd Pharmacy, the event featured information and services on a wide array of health issues, including cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, smoking cessation and more. A flu shot clinic also was provided.

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Student News

Students Receive Prestigious Scholarships Doctor of Pharmacy candidates Sarah Kokosa ’07 and Nimish Patel ’06 have received prestigious scholarships for academic and professional achievement. Sarah, a fifth-year student, received the 2005 Adirondack Branch Memorial Scholarship from The American Association of University Women. The AAUW, founded in 1921, currently has 160,000 members nationwide. The organization promotes education and equity for all women and girls, lifelong education and positive societal change.

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Adirondack Branch Memorial Scholarship, created in 1955 by the family of Glens Falls Mayor Milton G. Tibbitts. Nimish, who will graduate in May, received a highly competitive scholarship to attend the Fourth Annual Paul Ambrose Health Promotion Student Leadership Symposium last summer in Washington, D.C. The program strives to cultivate a cohort of student leaders capable of assuring quality health professions education, and ultimately, improvement in the public’s health.

Nimish joined 49 medical, pharmacy, physician assistant and graduate nursing students selected from applicants representing 36 health professions schools nationwide. In addition to financial support for the symposium, Nimish received a micro-grant to be used to implement a community project once he returned for his final year at ACP. With materials donated by the Center for Disease Control, his project was to promote public health in ambulatory care centers, predominantly by maintaining an immunization record.

Fraternity Takes on Big Tobacco ACP’s chapter of the Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity has taken on big tobacco. The Alpha Theta chapter produced a television public-service announcement aimed at reducing teen smoking. Produced to coincide with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout in November, the PSA aired on local ABC, NBC and FOX affiliates through January. “The PSA is part of an effort to stop big tobacco from forcing its influence on teens and young people,” said Stephen Esker ’08, a fourthyear Doctor of Pharmacy student and

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the chapter’s Professional Committee Chair. The spot was co-sponsored by the New York State Tobacco-Free Coalition. The spot, filmed at Scotia-Glenville Senior High School, features students from the high school interacting with ACP students, alumni and faculty. Stephen, a Scotia-Glenville graduate, wrote the script. His father, a producer at WNYT-TV, Albany’s NBC affiliate, filmed the piece and worked with him on editing. The nation’s first pharmaceutical fraternity, Phi Delta Chi sponsors a wide variety of professional events at

ACP. The Alpha Theta chapter is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2005-06. They produced a similar spot, which began airing in January, in support of the Red Dress Campaign, an international effort sponsored by the American Heart Association to raise awareness of the dangers of heart disease and stroke for women. Stephen plans to submit both PSAs to the Health Improvement Institute, whose Aesculapius Awards recognize excellence in health communications through the use of television or radio PSAs and Web sites.

It’s an Honor! Congratulations to the following ACP students who earned academic honors during 2005-06:

Phi Lambda Sigma

National Honor Society of Rho Chi

Who’s Who Among Students

The National Pharmacy Leadership Society Phi Lambda Sigma inducted 14 new members in October. Phi Lambda Sigma encourages, recognizes and promotes leadership in the field of pharmacy. The Society selects members on the basis of their service to and leadership in the advancement of pharmacy. David Aboelezz Sal Bottiglieri Nicole Dott Margot Dubuc Stephen Esker Joseph Farrell Jeffrey Graves Jessica Knowles Abby Lahart Lisa Lee Amy Murdico Michael Nashat Michelle Potter Derek Valentine

The Gamma Gamma chapter of The Rho Chi Society, the American honor society in pharmacy, inducted 37 new members from the fourth- and fifth-year classes in October. Rho Chi is the only national scholastic honor society for pharmacy and holds membership in the Association of College Honor Societies. Richard Adamczyk Mark Abdel-Malek David Aboelezz Sal Bottiglieri Christopher Briffa Erin Burke Candice Carr Christopher Carter Robin Carville Carolyn Chapman Lindsay Conlan Michael Daprano Amy Davis Lauren DeRitter Hillary Dessureault Stephen Esker Jessica Farrow Xiaodong Feng Kelly Johnson Jennifer Lasky Amy LaVallee Nicole Laverty Yi Li Kristen Meininger Danny Miller Ryan Montpetit Hung Nguyen Carrie Phillips Kimberly Phillips Toni Schaeffer Andrea Searle Shahira Shokralla Dorothy Szczerba Terri Underhill Katrina Van der Kloet Courtney Warner Brent Yeager

Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges added 25 ACP students to its ranks in January. One of the most highly regarded and longstanding honors programs in the nation, Who’s Who recognizes the outstanding campus leaders of the year, chosen by faculty and peers. Kiera Cilley Danielle Citrolo Mark Danek James DeFoe Firas Salah El-Saheb Christopher Gardiner David Goodman Daniel Hind Wendy Johnson Michael Kruger Annamaria Logozzo Kelli Manor Kevin Mocerine Amy Murdico Katie Pallotta Nimish Patel Tressa Rahn Timothy Randolph Melissa Reale Matthew Rizzo Carolyn Smith Julie Stark Amy Stewart Justin Szucs Kimberly Thomas

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Student News

After the Flood Two Hurricane Katrina victims begin again at ACP The elements, at least, have been kind to them this time around. Driven by Hurricane Katrina from their native New Orleans and the start of their fifth year in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Xavier University, Melanie DeFusco ’07 and Staci Dufrene ’07 restarted their lives – academic and otherwise – at ACP last September. Their first northeast winter passed benignly without so much as a snow day. Staci took up snowboarding, and Melanie and husband Mike were fortunate to have Murphy, one of their two toy poodles, take to the snow like an Iditarod veteran (Brady, on the other hand, remains a decidedly Southern pooch). Still, life never will be the same for either woman. The nearly incomprehensible damage Katrina wrought on their hometown has wiped away so much of the city they knew and loved. It is hard,

and sad, to miss a place so drastically and permanently changed. “What we miss doesn’t exist anymore,” Melanie said. “The New Orleans that I knew isn’t there anymore,” Staci added. What has been familiar is their pharmacy education. When Katrina threw their lives into disarray August 29, they were faced with a decision: take at least a semester off or transfer. They contacted ACP, and were welcomed warmly by Associate Dean of Student and Academic Affairs John Denio and the entire campus community. They arrived in Albany for good September 19 and were in class the following morning. They settled first in Delmar, furnishing the apartment partly with desks, dressers, chairs and beds donated by the College. “I just think the attitude of all the people here is amazing,” Staci said. “Everyone was just so helpful, so nice. It was just amazing to see the

Melanie DeFusco and Staci Dufrene

outpouring of help. It was very heartwarming.” Both now live in their own apartments near campus. Melanie’s husband, an accountant, was hired by PricewaterhouseCoopers and moved north in December. The couple learned over the winter that they are expecting their first child in August. Melanie and Staci are looking forward to the end of this academic year, the last of the didactic portion of the curriculum before beginning clerkship rotations in their final year. A chance to rejuvenate, reflect and continue rebuilding in their new home. “It just teaches you that at any given point your life can be turned upside down,” Melanie said. “You have to think about what’s really important to you.”

SGA ELECTIONS GO CAMPUS WIDE Ryan Madison ’08 and Lindsay Davison ’09 will serve as President and Vice President of the Student Government Association in 2006-07 following ACP’s first campus wide elections for the two important positions. Ryan, in his fourth year, and Lindsay, in her third, were elected in March in online balloting by 588 students – an impressive 50 percent of the student body. Both Ryan and Lindsay are Doctor of Pharmacy candidates. SGA moved to campus-wide elections this year to ensure that all students on campus had an opportunity to voice their opinion in the selection of the leaders of the vital student organization. The President and Vice President had been selected only by SGA members in the past. “Congratulations go to all of the candidates who ran,” said Elizabeth Finochio, Coordinator of Student Activities. “The energy and effort they put into the election made it a huge success.”

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Newly elected SGA President Ryan Madison and Vice President Lindsay Davison

Pharmacy on the Final Frontier Joshua Vinson

Forgive Joshua Vinson ’09 if he seems a little spacey at times. Ten weeks spent contemplating a roundtrip journey to Mars can do that to a person. Joshua spent last summer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, serving an internship in the Pharmacotherapeutics Department of the Human Adaptations and Countermeasures Office. A primary focus of America’s space program currently is a manned mission to Mars, a sixthmonth journey each way. “It was actually surreal being there,” he said. Among Joshua’s main projects, he developed monographs for HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. More commonly known as statins, these drugs are used to lower cholesterol levels. The tricky variable in space travel is that zero gravity has a significant affect on the gastrointestinal system, altering the way the body processes medication. That basic fact of life on the final frontier was the gateway to a summer full of intense and exciting exploration, both about career options in pharmacy and about the massive space program. “It wasn’t in a traditional pharmacy setting, and it was good to see how pharmacy can be applied in many different arenas, even space,” Joshua said. “It became evident that pharmacy is not just about dispensing medications and getting patients on their way. It is so much more.” The internship was through NASA’s Summer Temporary Employ-

ment Program. It included seminars, lectures and tours of the sprawling Johnson Space Center complex and related facilities. Lecture topics included the effects of radiation in space, pharmacotherapeutics and muscle effects in space. Astronauts lectured about their experiences, including Gene Kranz, Flight Director of the famous Apollo XIII mission (portrayed by Ed Harris in the popular Ron Howard film). “Space, it’s a whole ‘nother world,” Joshua said. “It’s harsh on the human body.” Now finishing the third-year of the Doctor of Pharmacy program this spring, Joshua also conducted research into muscle atrophy in space. The lack of gravity significantly reduces the use of muscles for movement as basic as standing or sitting upright, so astronauts lose muscle when they are in space for any period of time. A year-long expedition to Mars would take a heavy toll, even on well-conditioned astronauts. That connected with his work on statins. One study he discovered in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that 17 out of 22 highly conditioned professional athletes with genetic histories of high cholesterol experienced some type of muscle problems while taking a statin. “If astronauts already are losing muscle due to gravity, is it really safe to give them one of those drugs due to the risk of increased muscle damage?” Joshua said.

No, he determined. And that was his recommendation to NASA on the basis of his research. Throughout his first two years at ACP, Joshua’s aspiration was to become a clinical pharmacist. However, his eyes were opened to a wide range of new possibilities during his most excellent summer adventure. “Many aspects of the research interest me,” he said. “Whatever I choose to do, the primary objective is to help achieve optimal health through my knowledge of pharmacy.”

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Faculty News

Faculty Achievements ACP faculty members have received numerous awards in recent months, highlighting the College’s high level of academic and professional excellence. Department of Pharmacy Practice Associate Professor Harold J. Manley ’96, Pharm.D., BCPS, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology, one of only three pharmacists in the nation to achieve FASN status. Two of the three pharmacists with FASN status are ACP faculty members; the third is an alumna of the College. The FASN designation recognizes leaders in basic and clinical research, clinical nephrology or renal pathology. Fellowship status represents recognition by the society of high professional achievement, personal integrity and commitment to the field, superior competence and demonstrated scholarship. Dr. Manley, who specializes in kidney disease, was awarded FASN status in the investigator track. His research focuses on medication-related problems in hemodialysis patients. Department of Pharmacy Practice Professor Margaret Malone, Ph.D., FCCP, has been designated as a Fellow

A LEAP OF FAITH

Kara Lee Shirley, PharmD., BCPS, BCPP, is making a leap of faith to help stop sexual violence. An Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, Dr. Shirley planned to participate in Operation Freefall: the TwoMile High Stand Against Sexual Assault. She will join thousands of people at skydive centers across the country April 29, jumping to raise awareness and funds for this serious issue.

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of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. Fellowship in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society recognizes outstanding original contributions to the advancement of pharmaceutical knowledge, or those who have attained distinction in the science, practice, profession or history of pharmacy. Dr. Malone’s area of clinical expertise is nutrition, in the last eight years focusing primarily in the management of obesity. Four Department of Pharmacy Practice faculty members earned certification from the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties, an independent arm of the American Pharmaceutical Association. Assistant Professor Sara Dugan, Pharm.D., achieved certification in Psychiatric Pharmacy; Assistant Professors Christopher Miller, Pharm.D., and Shannon Rivers ’04, Pharm.D., earned certification in Pharmacotherapy; and Assistant Professor Sarah L. Scarpace, Pharm.D., received certification in Oncology Pharmacy. BPScertified pharmacy specialists are rec-

ognized for their advanced level of knowledge, skills and achievements by government agencies and health care organizations throughout the United States. Five specialty practice areas are certified by the agency: Oncology Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy, Nuclear Pharmacy, Psychiatric Pharmacy and Nutrition Support Pharmacy. Twelve ACP faculty members are BPS-certified. Lisa Vines, Ph.D, an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, had two series of oil paintings on display during January at the Bethlehem Public Library in Delmar. The series are entitled “G.I. Joe and Barbie” and “Window Treatments.” Department of Pharmacy Practice Assistant Professor Mario Zeolla ’99, Pharm.D., is one of 10 award recipients in the Pharmacy Today One to One Counseling Recognition Program. All of this year’s winners received a trip to San Francisco for the annual meeting of the American Pharmacists Association. Dr. Zeolla also will be profiled in upcoming issues of Pharmacy Today and Annual Meeting News.

Dr. Shirley is not a skydiver and, like many of the other participants, this will be her first-ever jump. This year’s sixth annual event will include 2,000 volunteers at drop zones in 18 states. All will make tandem dives along with tandem masters licensed by the United States Parachute Association. Dr. Shirley planned to join other participants at Skydive The Ranch in Gardiner, N.Y., near New Paltz. By participating in Operation Freefall, Dr. Shirley is raising funds for Speaking

Out About Rape (SOAR) and Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) as well as the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention. Founded in 2001, Operation Freefall has received national attention and has been featured on television shows such as Oprah, The View, Extra and Today. For more information, visit Dr. Shirley’s donation Web site at www.firstgiving.com/ squirrely or the Operation Freefall Web site, www.operationfreefall.com.

PRI’s Mousa Among Area’s Most Influential People of 2005 Shaker A. Mousa, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research Institute at ACP, was recognized as one of the 10 most influential people in New York State’s Capital Region during 2005. Dr. Mousa was among the “Tech Valley Hot 10” in the December issue of Visions magazine, the monthly publication of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Mousa’s internationally recognized research focuses on better regulating the flow of blood to treat diseases such as cancer, vascular and cardiovascular disorders, diabetic retinopathy and macular degenera-

tion. His contributions led to dynamic growth at PRI in the past year. Under Dr. Mousa’s direction, PRI grew from three employees at the end of 2004 to 17 at the end of 2005 and is expected to double during 2006. A former research scientist at DuPont Pharmaceuticals Co., Dr. Mousa has attracted specialists in nanotechnology, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, cell biology and other related fields. With the scientific and administrative additions, as well as the completion of a Preformulation and Stability Testing Laboratory, PRI has accelerated the use of nanotechnology and

biotechnology to advance its work in drug discovery and development, as well as nanopharmaceuticals. Dr. Mousa has filed, independently or in conjunction with other researchers in the Capital Region and beyond, six U.S. patent applications in late 2004 and ’05. Beside his previous publications, which exceed 600, he published 55 peer-reviewed publications this past year and presented his work in various national and international conferences. He was noted in 2005 as among the top 1 percent of cited authors for journals in the life sciences.

American approach to the world as the United States laid the foundations for its 20th century foreign policy and set the stage for our foreign policy today. A specialist in 19th-century U.S. maritime, diplomatic and naval history, Dr. Blume is at work on several more books. Historical Dictionary of U.S. Maritime Industry is scheduled for release in 2007, while Advancing American Seapower: The Story of Richard W. Meade III (1837-1897), is under revision for University Press of Florida. Assistant Professor Erika A. Muse, Ph.D., published a book on her anthropological research in Boston’s Chinatown community. Published by Routledge, the book is entitled The

Evangelical Church in Boston’s Chinatown: A Discourse of Language, Gender and Identity. The book provides valuable anthropological data on the identity construction of a rapidly growing Chinese Christian population in the United States. As more and more Chinese of different generations and varying cultural backgrounds practice evangelical Christianity, the meaning of ChineseAmerican will change accordingly, Dr. Muse writes. Significant linguistic data for a nascent but important area of anthropological research is another important feature of the volume.

Book Nook Chinese culture in America and U.S. diplomacy during a formative era in the nation’s history are the subjects of books published this academic year by two members of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. Professor and Department Chair Kenneth J. Blume, Ph.D., wrote Historical Dictionary of U.S. Diplomacy from the Civil War to World War I, published by Scarecrow Press. The book, the first of a new series on diplomacy, provides a convenient introduction to a critical period in American history. The halfcentury spanning 1861 to 1914 was a crucial time in the development of

Spring 2006

‘He was always a gentleman’ President and Dean Walter Singer, Ph.D.

n 1948, when he graduated from ACP, Walt Singer’s class prophesy predicted that, by 1962, their “brilliant” cohort would be teaching Biochemistry at UCLA. It wasn’t far off, as it turned out, although the crystal ball just didn’t see far enough into the future. Fourteen years after graduating from ACP, Dr. Singer was indeed teaching in the University of California system, just further north on the San Francisco campus. It would be a precursor to a 15-year tenure at the helm of ACP. Dr. Singer, who served the College faithfully in a variety of roles over many years, died last July. He was 87.

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“He was always a gentleman,” said Kenneth W. Miller, Ph.D., who succeeded Dr. Singer as President and Dean of ACP in 1983. “I liked him very, very much.” Dr. Singer received his B.A. in Biology from the University of Michigan in 1939 and then went on for a Master’s degree in Zoology from the University of California, Berkeley. In a career-changing move, he enrolled at ACP in 1946, earning a B.A. in Pharmacy two years later. He was hired at the College as an Instructor in Chemistry upon graduation and quickly made the transition from student to faculty member. His former classmates had to adapt as well.

“All kinds of expressions greeted Professor Singer behind his desk as he rose to the challenge of teaching the first class in Chemistry to the Class of ’52,” noted the 1949 yearbook. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Singer became involved in campus life. He served as an honorary member and faculty advisor of Rho Pi Phi Walter Singer in the 1948 yearbook. Pharmacy Fraternity and was known to “look the other way” when certain residents of “Rope Hall” drifted in late to class. Dr. Singer taught at ACP until 1954, when he decamped for UC-San Francisco to earn a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. At that institution’s School of Pharmacy, he was hired as an Instructor and eventually rose to Assistant Dean. In 1966, Dr. Singer returned to ACP as Associate Dean and became Dean of the College the following year, succeeding Francis J. O’Brien, who had served since 1943. Dr. Singer was named President and Dean in 1980, the first leader of the College to hold both titles. His tenure included the 1981-82 construction of the administration and library building (named in honor of 1931 alumnus Rudolph H. Blythe in 2000) in conjunction with the College’s centennial. At the same time, the O’Brien Building was modernized, providing new lecture hall space and the Student Lounge. William Cronin, hired by Dr. Singer in 1979 as ACP’s Chief Financial Officer, remembered Dr. Singer as “a very gentle and compassionate man whom I had ultimate respect for and enjoyed working for. He had a great, and very dry, sense of humor.” “He probably did more than anyone to enhance faculty salary and benefits,” said Cronin, who retired last December after 27 years at the College. Dr. Singer also set the foundation for excellence in research at ACP to complement and enhance the College’s excellence in teaching. “Walt was kind of a renaissance person,” said Dr. Miller, now Vice President of Graduate Education, Research and Scholarship for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. “He knew a lot about a lot of topics and he was always great to talk to.” Dr. Singer published widely and gave more than 200 talks on a range of pharmacy topics, most notably on non-prescription drugs. One of his most in-demand speeches was “Advertisements You Shouldn’t Believe,”

about the packaging and promises of many over-thecounter medications. Upon his retirement in 1982, Dr. Singer was appointed Dean Emeritus. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1983. With more time to devote to them, Dr. Singer became very involved in the Capital Region and statewide pharmacists societies. “Walt played a very significant role both locally and at the statewide level,” Dr. Miller explained. “He really almost had a second career in his workings with CAPS and PSSNY.” Dr. Singer witnessed great changes in the role of the pharmacist. “The professional pharmacist can provide invaluable advice to his customers and this is increasingly important today when more and more health care products are available without prescriptions,” he said during an interview in the 1980s. “The individual has greater opportunities to make decisions regarding self-care but, along with this freedom, comes the need for information regarding the correct usage of such medications.” Outside of work hours, tennis was Dr. Singer’s lifelong passion. With a national ranking in his age group, he played in several tournaments a year. For several years, he organized the Senior Tennis Tournament for the Albany area and held that tournament each year until 2004. “He invited me to play once, and he beat me so badly I never played with him again,” Dr. Miller said with a smile. Dr. Singer is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lilia Singer, also a pharmacist and a well-known artist. In the 1980s, Mrs. Singer was commissioned to do portraits of several of the College’s leaders, including one of her husband (below, center). From the stairway in the entrance to the O’Brien Building, Walter Singer still surveys the College that he served so well.

Spring 2006

A Superb Partner William M. “Bill” Cronin retires after heading financial and administrative operations for 27 years

From July 1, 1979 (when, on his first day of work [above], he discovered that no books had been ordered for the upcoming school year) to December 31, 2005 (when he rang in not only a new year, but a new stage in life) William M. “Bill” Cronin stored up – and left behind! – a lifetime of memories at ACP.

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Bill retired at the end of 2005 after 27 years as ACP’s Chief Financial Officer. He started as Chief Business Officer under Dean Walter Singer, Ph.D., and completed his career – five CEOs later! – as Vice President of Finance and Business Affairs under President James J. Gozzo, Ph.D. “I have so many wonderful memories of my times at ACP,” Bill said. “The people that I’ve worked with and the students that I interacted with. I could not have been in a better situation or worked for a better institution than ACP.” Dedicated. Hard-working. Loyal. Stubborn. Caring. Outspoken. Respected. These are words friends and colleagues use to describe the man sometimes referred to as “Dollar Bill” for his frugal style of managing the College’s finances. It was that conservative approach through the first two decades of his tenure that helped position ACP to expand when the long-awaited opportunity presented itself in the late 1990s. Not that he ever parted with that cautious approach while helping the College maintain a strong financial position during the dynamic strategic growth of this decade! “His role has been critical in the development of the campus and our growth in enrollment and academic programs in terms of financing,” Dr. Gozzo said. “He always did a terrific job in securing the best financial arrangements for us. He was a very careful money manager and always fought for the best rates. “I think many people don’t really appreciate that because it’s not something most people are aware of, but it is a vital role he played for us.” Bill came to ACP after eight years as the Business Manager at Siena College, and before that three years with Burroughs Corp. He intended to stay

at ACP for five years, “then the job just grew around me,” he said. His role as ACP’s money manager certainly was his most important and most prominent, but it was only one of many responsibilities Bill shouldered for the College. From assistant men’s basketball coach to manager of the human resources and physical plant staffs – roles that grew significantly as the College added new facilities and employees in recent years – Bill was involved in nearly all aspects of administration. That also included auxiliary services such as the bookstore, cafeteria and the infirmary contract. “You couldn’t ask for a better person in that position,” said Kenneth W.

Bill was at home in Troy preparing to leave for church that morning when he took a call from the College’s cleaning service. ACP was planning to open its new library the next day in conjunction with the start of the Spring semester – the new administration building, now the Rudolph H. Blythe ’31 Building, had opened at the start of that school year. Bill had asked the company to spend the morning making sure the new facility was in perfect condition the following day when it welcomed students, faculty and staff for the first time. The library was anything but perfect. In the equivalent of a “Houston, we have a problem” conversation, Bill learned that the heavy rain that had

Miller, Ph.D., who succeeded Dr. Singer as President and Dean in 1982 and served until 1993. “He did the work of three people. “Bill is probably the most hardworking guy I have ever known, the most loyal to an institution that I have ever known in my life. And, while those are all serious matters, he has a great sense of humor.” He needed it more than ever on January 30, 1983, the day of the Super Bowl Flood.

fallen the previous night on top of a layer of ice was starting to leak into the library because the drain pipes were frozen. Crews had placed a garbage can under the leak to collect the water dripping in. Bill headed for the office. “I get down there,” he said, “and I walk into the library – everything in the place is brand new, never been used – and there are three ceiling panels crashing down and water’s pouring in.”

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Bill enjoyed lots of laughs – some of them at his expense! – with friends and family (seated around him at right) during a retirement dinner in his honor March 31.

Before the drains could be thawed, several inches of water flooded the library and adjoining offices. The start of the semester was postponed a day to clean up the mess. “We had some adventures, that’s for sure,” Bill said. Although he admits it is hard to single out defining moments in his ACP career, he points to his first day on the job and the formation and development of the University Heights Association, the driving force in the growth of the College’s physical campus, as most memorable. His achievements were many. • He was instrumental in the construction of the administration and library building as well as the renovation of the O’Brien Building under Dr. Singer in 1981-82. • He helped the College acquire its first residence facility, the for-

•

mer Alumni Hall and Annex on Holland Avenue, under Dr. Miller in 1985. He was instrumental in the continuous enhancement of employee benefit packages. He was a stabilizing administrative presence as the College struggled through leadership changes in the mid-1990s. He was Chair of the Safety and Security Committee for his entire tenure. He was a key financial and strategic advisor to Dr. Gozzo in the development and execution of the current strategic growth initiative, which, since 2000, has included the addition of Notre Dame Residence Hall, the Classroom Building and Albert M. White Gymnasium (the former Christian Brothers Academy buildings), the Pharmaceutical

Research Institute (the former Bender Hygienic Laboratory), South Hall (the former Nelson House) and the new Student Center, which will open this spring. “He was involved in everything that concerned the running of this institution,” Dr. Gozzo said. “I found him to be a superb partner.” Though he officially has retired, Bill has agreed to stay on as a parttime consultant to the Office of Institutional Advancement. Following an extended vacation to Florida and other relaxing southern stops with his wife of 37 years, Elaine, he returned to the Capital Region in mid-March ready for his new role. Friends and former colleagues gathered at Franklin Terrace in Troy on March 31 for a retirement celebration that also served as a fundraiser

SUPPORTING THE WILLIAM M. CRONIN ROOM The William M. Cronin Room in ACP’s new Student Center will be a private meeting and dining room adjacent to the main dining area on the first floor. The room is named in honor of the College’s longtime Chief Financial Officer, who retired in December after serving ACP for 27 years. The College’s goal is to raise $100,000 to support this valuable component of the Student Center project. If you would like to make a donation to the Cronin Room, please contact Lynne DellaRocca in the Office of Institutional Advancement at (518) 694-7253 or dellarol@acp.edu. You also can send a check to Albany College of Pharmacy in care of The William M. Cronin Room, 106 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208. Checks should be payable to Albany College of Pharmacy. All contributions are tax deductible.

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Six CEOs Later … After serving under six CEOs over his 27-year tenure as ACP’s Chief Financial Officer, William M. “Bill” Cronin had this advice for surviving leadership changes: “Bend like a willow,” he quipped. “People used to ask, ‘What do you do when a new President comes in?” I’d say, ‘The first thing I do is update my resume!’” Bill retired December 31 after an illustrious career helping lead the College through unprecedented growth. When Bill came to ACP in 1979 the College had one building, about 550 students and 56 employees, including about 26 faculty members. ACP now has six buildings, a seventh (the Student Center) set to open in a matter of weeks, more than 1,100 students and about 190 employees, more than 80 of whom are faculty members. Bill offered these thoughts on each of the CEOs he served.

After 37 years of marriage, Elaine and Bill, enjoying a moment together during the Albert M. White Gymnasium dedication ceremony October 29, 2005, have embarked on a new stage of life together.

for The William M. Cronin Room in the Student Center. The spectacular 54,000-square-foot facility will open later this spring at the heart of ACP’s expanded campus. The Cronin Room, a private dining facility, will ensure that Bill’s name endures at ACP. But after an impactful tenure that began while former Dean Francis J. O’Brien ’20 was a member of the faculty and included all or part of four decades, Bill will be remembered as one of the most influential administrators in the College’s 125year history. “What I remember most are the stories and the laughter,” he said. “There were so many wonderful times and wonderful people at ACP. “I’ve been blessed.”

Walter Singer ’48, Ph.D., 1967-82 “I thought he was a very underrated leader of this institution. He probably did more to enhance faculty salary and benefits, and he spearheaded a $4.5 million construction project that included the construction of the Blythe Building and the renovation of the O’Brien Building. On a personal side, I found Walter to be a man of impeccable integrity, tough and stern on the outside but fair and compassionate on the inside. I had the ultimate respect for him.” Kenneth W. Miller, Ph.D., 1982-93 “He was a perfect fit for us at the time. He had a tremendous sense of humor. Very gregarious, very open. Just a pleasure to work for. … He brought a little bit of spirit into the place. It was really the reason I stayed here, because he made it so enjoyable.” Ronald W. McLean ’51, 1993-94 (interim) “He was the epitome of professionalism. As a pharmacist, he was well respected both internally and externally. He had a quiet, mild way about him. He kept people united. His objective was to keep the ship steady, and he fulfilled that.” Claire M. Lathers ’69, 1994-96 “She heightened the importance of having a strong research program that would help enhance the instructional program already in place.” Bobby Bryant, Pharm.D., 1996-98 (interim) “Bobby was a stabilizing force through a tumultuous period. He moved the UHA (University Heights Association) process along and made sure it was going in the right direction in terms of campus development. That took a lot of planning and hard work.” James J. Gozzo, Ph.D., 1998-present “In my estimation, the Board of Trustees could not have picked a better leader, with the experience and vision that Dr. Gozzo brought to ACP. He was a perfect choice and he has been an outstanding leader for the institution. … He’s the type of guy who lets you express your ideas and opinions, knowing that he has to make the ultimate decision. Plus, he’s just a nice person, a sincere person.” “I call myself a survivor,” Bill said. “I really had to adjust to their styles, and all of their styles were different. They were all great to work for and they all treated me well.”

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Swiss Account Students enjoy first ACP clerkship in ‘Pharmacy Capital of the World’ Sixth-year Doctor of Pharmacy candidates James DeFoe ’06 and Michael Arcuri ’06 were the first ACP students to participate in the College’s new clerkship rotation in Basel, Switzerland, last summer. The choice of Basel for the new rotation made perfect sense. Sometimes referred to as the “Pharmacy Capital of World,” Basel is the undisputed center of the pharmaceutical and chemical industry in Switzerland. No other industry in the Basel region employs as many people, and chemicals and pharmaceuticals account for roughly half the region’s net output. “I think the students would agree that the approach to pharmacy in Europe is very different from that in America,” says Kevin Hickey, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. Dr. Hickey was instrumental in setting up the clerkship experience through contacts he made while living and working for several years in Basel.

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The five-week rotation included exposure to makologischer Service and Clinical Pharmacology clinical pharmacology, retail pharmacy practice to be especially enlightening. and pharmacological research, as well as a prePharmacy practice differs quite a bit in Switzersentation in which the students shared their newly land, according to Michael, who said much of the acquired global perspective. They also received pharmacy work is lab-oriented and publicationan introduction to the city related. He enjoyed his G ERMA N Y and Swiss culture. work at in the pharmacy F RANC E James and Michael of the city’s hospital, KanBasel spent time with faculty and tonsspital Basel. Zurich AU ST RIA students of the Pharmaceu“Seeing how much Bern tical Sciences Department work can be accomSW I T ZE R L A N D of the University of Basel plished in a completely working with preceptor laid-back and stress-free André Scholer, Ph.D., head atmosphere was the most of the Clinical Chemistry valuable lesson that I took Geneva ITA LY Department at University away from the experiHospital Basel. Jürgen ence,” he said. Muser, Ph.D., Director of Central Laboratories The students also had opportunities to visit Basel Land, was also instrumental in the program. Basel’s History of Pharmacy Museum (Pharmazie“For me, one of the most valuable components Historisches Museum Basel), the research departof the rotation was seeing how well the Swiss ments of pharmaceutical giants Roche and Novarintegrated basic science and clinical practice with tis, and an independent pharmacy. the goal of improving patient care and developing “Independent community pharmacies can be new medicines,” James said. “Every pharmacy stufound on nearly every street corner in Switzerdent at Uni-Basel is required to do a practical land,” James said. “Most are solely focused on research-related project with industry, academics prescription medications and other health-related or the hospital.” products. With an interest in clinical development, James “In the Späleberg pharmacy we visited, there found the weekly meetings with Klinisch Pharwas a pharmacy business manager who took care

Preceptor André Scholer with Michael Arcuri, center, and James DeFoe.

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of the financial aspects. And, because all prescriptions must be dispensed in the manufacturer’s packaging, the Swiss do not count pills, giving pharmacists adequate time to do counseling and patient education.” Michael was amazed to see some of the “store owners shut down to have coffee breaks with their staff.” According to Dr. Hickey, the Swiss are more into alternative medicine as well. Physicians prescribe more herbal and homeopathic remedies, and insurance companies will pay for treatments such as spa sessions and massage. Dr. Hickey hopes that the internships in Basel, in conjunction with an existing clerkship experience with Maruzen Pharmaceuticals in Japan, are the first steps toward expanding international opportunities and perspectives at ACP while attracting more international students to the College.

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The next students to head for Switzerland will be Kara Jastemski and Maria Fatiga, both current fifth-year Doctor of Pharmacy students. They will spend June and July on rotation in Basel as they begin the final year of the Pharm.D. program. Faculty currently are investigating sponsoring an annual lecture at ACP that would deal with global perspectives on health, Dr. Hickey said. Topics might include urban malaria, increasingly prevalent in overpopulated cities, or avian flu, which now appears more likely to be making its way around the globe by plane rather than by migrating birds. “The better students at ACP understand the rest of the world, the better prepared they will be as pharmacists for the increasingly global and interconnected world,” Dr. Hickey said.

ACP students will enjoy exposure to Swiss pharmacy practice (above) and culture (below) as part of the College’s new five-week clerkship experience in Basel.

MERCI VILMAL (THANKS A LOT!) Basel is just one of the rotation sites available to students at ACP. Many thanks to all of the dedicated preceptors who worked with students in our Doctor of Pharmacy program over the past year. More than 250 preceptors, many of them alumni, provided opportunities for students to experience health care management in a wide variety of practice settings, from New York to Texas and internationally in Japan, Switzerland and Canada. For more information about how to become a preceptor, contact Laurie Briceland, Pharm.D., Director of Experiential Education, at (518) 694-7272 or bricelal@acp.edu. William Ainsworth Latefa Amin Maria Amodio-Groton Rupesh Asher Anne Astemborski Jennie Ayers Todd Banks Julia Bartoszek Bill Beach John Betters Ed Bielawski Rich Billington David Blanchard Eric Bogdanowicz Kathleen Boland Jeffrey Bonner Katie Bonnier Karen Bossert Jane Boyd Mark Brackett Leigh Briscoe-Dwyer Patrick Broderick David Brown Erin Buckley Jennifer Burch Henry Bussey John Carriola Koth Cassavaugh Michael Chicella Kelly Chillingworth Katie Chon Jennifer Cichon Carol Cole Rebecca Cole Jonas Congelli Colette Connolly Dave Coriale Selig Corman Cindy Coscione Jean Cottrell Robert Crain Laurie Cronin Greg Cwikla Tim Dannehy Raymond Dansereau William Darko Maryanne Davis

Peggy Decelle Tracey DeNardo Jennifer DiMura Ed Dombroski Warren Drezen Mary Durma Janie Dutch Nancy Egerton Helen Ellis Gerald Engel Julie English Kathy Fama Andy Farrell Theresa Faul Debra Feinberg Margery Fellenzer Mike Fernandez Joseph Fery James Finamore James Finn Kelly Flynn Tammy Folsom George Fredericks Susan Fry Jeffrey Fudin Andrea Gabriel Maya Garala Peter Gargano Anthony Giso Thomas Golden JB Goss Joely Graber Eileen Graffunder Maria Griswold Roy Guharoy Scott Guisinger Wendy Gwozdz Ted Hahn Bruno Hains Christine Hamby Kristofor Hanchett Leza Hassett Edmund Hayes Frank Heinrich Tanya Hickson Clint Hinman Christopher Houle

Marc Hudes Joseph Hulett Nancy Huntington Mark Hylwa Marty Irons Kimberly Joedicke Kelly Kang Jeffrey Kennicutt Mark Kester Jim Kitts Grant Knickerbocker Lydia Kosinski Donna Kushyk Gary Lam Pete Lamanna Kathy Lee Timothy Lesar Ben Lomaestro Thomas Lombardi Marcus Lonky Anthony Luppino Thomas Lynch Tom Lynch Bob MacBlane John Macri Gary Mantz Marc Marchand Jeanna Marraffa Leslie Martin Michael Masterson Jim Mayo Karen McBride John McDonald Wayne McDonald Jacqueline Merrick Aaron Michelucci Roberta Miller Amy Mitchell Colby Mitchell Jeff Mittendorf Catherine Mondon Laura Monroe-Duprey Amy Montpelier Phylliss Moret Vince Nagengast Saleem Naina Rob Nelson

Anne Niemiec Jon Nolin John Noviasky Francis O'Hearn Joel Owerbach Paul Pagnotta Michael Panasci Jerilyn Pascale Joyce Pashalides Rachel Patel Shashi Patel Lesa Paulsen-Cortes Bob Pavelka John Peebles Co Pham Kathy Phelan Carl Possidente Luke Probst Tony Quaid Jill Rebuck Stephen Richards Brian Richardson Kevin Ridgeway Frank Riley Mary Ellen Rinaldi Lynn Rogers Barbara Rogler Kerri Ryan Elizabeth Saltsman Ernesto Samuel Dawn Santon Andre Scholer Priti Shah Elizabeth Shlom Judi Sills William Silta Deborah Simard Vange Sin Evan Slichko Thomas Smith Tom Smith Carolyn Sommo Maureen Sontz Scott Southard Robert Stankes Shanda Steenburn Patty Stevens

Connie Stitt Dave Stitt Christine Stork Shannon Strong Robert Sullivan Jane Sundberg Elizabeth Szymaniak Sharon Ternullo Alecia Thompson Edward Timm Mandy Torres Terry Towers Kurt Trautmann Suzanne Treen Peter Trovitch Catherine Ulbricht Jenny Van Amburgh Nicole VanAlstyne Rosina VanDeWall Nancy Viele Jodi Walker Karen Wameling John Ward Ron Weathermon Tricia Weed Pam Weislo Marcia Whitbeck Michelle Wilhardt Korey Willard Karen Williams William Winkowski Cindy Wordell Abbie Wright Sergio Zullich

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Advancement Far left: Seated, left to right: Board of Trustees member Tom Maggs; Ellen Robison and Trustee Richard Robison ’52. Standing: Commodore Paul Murphy and Dean Mary H. Andritz, Pharm.D. Center: Lucille Cerro with Marie and Al Collins ’53, Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees. Below: Kathleen Barlow and Bob Barlow, of Higher Education Marketing Associates, with Dr. Gino Turchi.

President’s Gala The first-ever President’s Gala October 15, 2005, at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, N.Y., was a huge success. More than 80 ACP alumni and friends wined and dined overlooking beautiful Lake George and danced the night away to the sounds of the Karen Lawrence Band. A special feature was a brief talk on the historic hotel, presented by local author William Gates.

Help Wanted! ACP is seeking alumni interested in serving on various committees at the College, including a current vacancy on the Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum Committee is charged with the assessment of student learning and teaching outcomes, the ongoing assessment of the standing curriculum and the review and development of proposals for changes in the curriculum. Because the Committee meets several times a month during the academic year, the alumni slot could be shared

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among a few people. Alumni who reside outside of the Capital Region will be able to participate via teleconference or by phone after reviewing agendas and minutes. Future committee needs will call for multiple alumni to be involved with strategic planning and assessment. If interested in serving on any of the committees, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at (518) 694-7393.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Important dates and events to watch for (all events at ACP unless otherwise noted).

MAY

JUNE

SEPTEMBER

Friday-Sunday, May 5-7 Reunion Weekend.

Thursday, June 15 Continuing Education event: Pharmacy Law and CDTM Update. O’Brien 110, 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Stay tuned for details!

Saturday, September 9 Student Center Grand Opening. 10:30 a.m. Join us as we celebrate a new era in our history with the official opening of this exceptional new facility!

Friday, May 5 Annual Alumni Golf Tournament. Normanside Country Club, Delmar, N.Y., 8:00 a.m.-noon. Cocktails and Special Anniversary Dinner: 45th and 50th Reunion Classes. The Desmond Hotel, Albany, N.Y., 6:009:00 p.m. Senior Salute. The Century House, Latham, N.Y., 6:00-9:00 p.m. Dinner and awards ceremony honoring graduating students. Saturday, May 6 The Barbara M. DiLascia Lecture Series. O’Brien 110, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Watch your mail for details on this ACP Continuing Education session on women’s health. Robison Cocktail Reception. The Desmond Hotel, Albany, N.Y., 6:007:00 p.m. Join fellow alumni from all classes for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Alumni Dinner Dance and Awards Ceremony. The Desmond Hotel, Albany, N.Y., 7:00-11:00 p.m. Trip the light fantastic with former classmates! Sunday, May 7 Reunion Farewell Brunch. South Hall Alumni Conference Center, 9:0011:30 a.m. Enjoy breakfast before Commencement. 126th Commencement. Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany, N.Y., 2:00-4:00 p.m. Post-Commencement Reception. Tent behind O’Brien Building, 4:30-6:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Sunday, June 25 Alumni Trip to Yankee Stadium. Join alumni for a trip to the Bronx as the Yankees take on the Florida Marlins in interleague action. Game time 1:05 p.m. Watch your mailbox for details!

Friday-Sunday, September 29-October 1 ACP Family Weekend. Stay tuned for details! Friday, September 29 White Coat Ceremony. Student Center, 4:00-5:00 p.m. The traditional ceremony marking the start of the professional curriculum for third-year Doctor of Pharmacy students.

JULY Continuing Education event: Pain Management.. Stay tuned for details!

OCTOBER

Monday, July 17 Sneak Preview Day at ACP. The first of three opportunities for incoming freshmen to get a jump start on their college experience, 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Additional dates July 18 and 24.

Sunday, October 1 Men’s Alumni Soccer Game. ACP Soccer Field, 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, July 18 Sneak Preview Day at ACP. The second of three opportunities for incoming freshmen to get a jump start on their college experience, 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Additional date July 24. Monday, July 24 Sneak Preview Day at ACP. The third and final opportunity for incoming freshmen to get a jump start on their college experience, 8:30 a.m.3:45 p.m. Saturday, July 29 Day at the Races. Join friends for a day at the Saratoga Race Track. Stay tuned for details! Monday, July 31 Dean’s Cup Golf Tournament. Normanside Country Club, Delmar, N.Y. Stay tuned for details!

Join us in celebrating American Pharmacy Month throughout October!

Friday, October 20 Annual Fall Board of Trustees meeting. Alfred J. Collins Jr. Board Room, Classroom Building. Saturday, October 21 President’s Gala. Stay tuned for details! Saturday, October 28 Women’s Alumni Basketball Game. Albert M. White Gymnasium, Noon. Men’s Alumni Basketball Game. Albert M. White Gymnasium, 1:30 p.m. All proceeds to benefit the Rita E. Leighton ’86 Memorial Scholarship.

NOVEMBER Friday, November 3 ACP Career Fair. Albert M. White Gymnasium, 2:00-5:00 p.m. Open to all students. Saturday, November 4 ACP Interview Day. ACP, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. An opportunity for graduating students to meet prospective employers and begin forming productive recruiting relationships.

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Planned Giving Charles William Owens ’54 Following in the footsteps of my father, a pharmacist and alumnus of Columbia University, Class of 1920, I graduated from Albany College of Pharmacy in June 1954. On August 8, I married my high school sweetheart, Higouhi Markarian, who has given me comfort, support and three great children.We celebrated our 50th anniversary with family and friends in 2004. After graduation, I went to work as a pharmacist for Kinney Drugs in Massena, N.Y. This was a great experience.At the time, the St. Lawrence Seaway was under construction and every day was busy. In 1958, I was named Manager of a new Kinney Pharmacy in nearby Malone and held that position until 1973, when I was promoted to Store Supervisor and moved to the home office in Gouverneur. In 1979, I was named Vice President of Pharmaceutical Purchasing. I was appointed to the Board of Directors of Kinney in 1982, serving for 12 years. In 1991, I was named Vice President of Pharmacy Operations and, the following year, promoted to Senior Vice President of Purchasing and Distribution. Although I retired in 1994 after 40 years with Kinney, I still remain involved as President of the Kinney Drugs Foundation, an organization founded in 2002 and committed to supporting quality health care throughout Northern and Central New York and Vermont. The foundation awards more than $500,000 per year to local health care, youth and educational facilities. I am also past President of the New York State Chain Pharmacy Association and currently serve on the Management Board of the United Helpers

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Nursing Home in Ogdensburg. For 47 years, I have been involved with Rotary and have served as past President of both the Malone and Gouverneur Rotary Clubs. As a Christmas present in 1954, B.O. and Harold Kinney presented me with a share of Kinney stock that I still keep framed on my desk all these years later.This made a profound impression on me, to think that they would give me part-ownership in their company. Over the years, I continued to increase my investment in Kinney and to make other investments as well. I have always felt indebted to Albany College of Pharmacy for the education I received; it contributed greatly to my success. I’ve been proud to serve the pharmacy profession.The retail experience and interaction with my customers has brought me a great deal of satisfaction. In 1987, when Higouhi and I updated our estate plans we set up a Charitable Remainder Trust and earmarked a percentage to go to Albany College of Pharmacy. It’s our way of saying thank you. I would encourage all alumni to remember our alma mater when making estate plans.

WHAT IS PLANNED GIVING? Planned giving is a meaningful way to make a charitable gift of lasting value to ACP and realize significant tax benefits on your estate. Through a bequest provision in your will, you can designate a specific amount of money, a percentage of your estate or the remainder of your estate after other bequests are satisfied. Additional planned giving tools include charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts and gifts of life insurance. For more information about planned giving at ACP, contact Vicki A. DiLorenzo, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, at (518) 694-7331 or dilorenv@acp.edu.

THANK YOU!

The Difference Is You!

“I am thankful for the education that I received at ACP and all the opportunities and advantages that education has provided me. After my graduation I made a promise to myself that when I was able to, I would find a way to help other deserving and qualified ACP students achieve their goals of an education without having to struggle the way that I had to. This is why I created the Rinaldo V. DeNuzzo ’52 Alumni Scholarship, and why I continue to contribute to the scholarship every year.” – Rinaldo V. DeNuzzo ’52

Scholarships at ACP provide the foundation for an excellent, competitive education for dozens of young men and women each year and help to give every student a chance. Your support is critical. Whether you choose to contribute to one of the many existing scholarships listed below or create a scholarship in your own name or in honor of a family member, friend or classmate, each gift, large or small, impacts upon our students in countless ways. For more information about how you can make a difference, call the Office of Institutional Advancement at (518) 694-7253 or visit the College Relations section of our Web site at www.acp.edu and click on Scholarships.

“The Kenneth Gordon Hunter Scholarship was a very special gift from my wife Gloria. My father and brother were both graduates of ACP and I can think of no better tribute to my father than this scholarship in his name. The need for professional pharmacists is growing dramatically and he would be proud of what this scholarship will help accomplish.”

ACP Scholarships

Walter ’43 and Kathryn Henning Scholarship Kenneth Gordon Hunter ’25 Scholarship Paul A. Jablon Scholarship Bruce Kay ’66 Memorial Scholarship Burt Orrin Kinney Alumni Scholarship Kirkpatrick Memorial Scholarship E. Charles Leighton ’59 Memorial Scholarship Rita E. Leighton ’86 Memorial Scholarship George C. Lewis ’28 Alumni Fund Edward Malkonian ’34 Endowed Scholarship Donald McAndrew ’62 Memorial Scholarship James McGuiness ’71 Alumni Scholarship Dr. Kenneth W. Miller Scholarship James J. Morrissey ’65 Memorial Scholarship Varant Najarian Endowed Scholarship National Association of Chain Drug Stores Scholarship Francis J. O’Brien ’20 Alumni Scholarship Henry A. Panasci Jr. Pharmacy Scholarship Bertram Rapowitz ’58 Scholarship Rite Aid Company Scholarship Ellis H. Robison Alumni Scholarship Dennis Rule ’96 Memorial Scholarship Carol Lee Sowek ’74 Memorial Scholarship Dr. Albert Vander Veer II Scholarship Albert M. White Alumni Scholarship Women’s Club Fund of Columbia University of Pharmaceutical Sciences Michael P. ’20 & Elsie K. Yuda Scholarship

Peter Joseph Alotta ’49 Memorial Scholarship Allen Barnum ’24 Alumni Scholarship Jacob M. Baurle ’31 Memorial Scholarship Milton Bernstein ’31 Alumni Scholarship Oren O. Bigelow ’42 Scholarship Rudolph H. Blythe ’31 Award Ellen Widenmann Boyian Scholarship Debra Bramer ’87 Memorial Scholarship Bristol-Myers Squibb Scholarship Capital Area Pharmaceutical Society Scholarship Class of ’88 Memorial Scholarship Wilma Clinton Cytotechnology Scholarship Alfred J. Collins Jr. ’53/Warner Lambert Scholarship Thomas Cutbush ’68 Fund Dean’s Endowment for Excellence Demers Family Scholarship H. Russell Denegar ’43 Scholarship Rinaldo V. DeNuzzo ’52 Alumni Scholarship Barbara M. DiLascia ’55 Memorial Fund Francis Donovan Fund Harland R. Eckler ’20 Alumni Scholarship Eli Lilly Scholarship John E. Flynn Scholarship General Alumni Association of ACP, Inc. Scholarship General Scholarship Fund Haggerty Memorial Scholarship

– James Hunter

“A scholarship is a very worthwhile project and I would encourage others to think about doing the same. Jim and I had the opportunity to meet Josh Wood, the first recipient of the Hunter Scholarship, and believe ACP made a great selection.” – Gloria Hunter

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Alumni Affairs

Happy 75th Phi Delta Chi! The Alpha Theta chapter of the Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity will celebrate its 75th anniversary in May with a variety of special events for brothers old and new planned for Reunion Weekend. The Alpha Theta chapter grew out of another fraternity, the Alpha Chapter of Epsilon Phi, which had been organized at the College in 1917. When many of the members left to fight in World War I, activities were suspended until 1922, when the group was revitalized. As early as 1907, the brothers of Epsilon Phi had been eager to obtain a charter to Phi Delta Chi, the first Greek society to include pharmacists and chemists. But nothing came of their efforts until 1931, when chapter President Theodore Rittershausen traveled to the Phi Delta Chi convention in Cleveland to plead their case. The actual installation of the new chapter took place May 9, 1931, with 21 men in attendance. Other events in those early years included an annual “smoker” during the pledging period in the fall, during which brothers enjoyed copious quantities of cigarettes and cigars. During the 1940s the fraternity was largely inactive and there was a total cessation of activities during World War II. According to the yearbook, potential members were elsewhere learning first-hand the significance of their motto “Alterum Alterius Auxilio Eget,” or “Each needs the help of the

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Φ∆Χ other.” When the war ended, the fraternity was reactivated by a “group of energetic veterans” in February 1947. Fraternities played a leading role in the social life of most colleges in the United States in the 1950s and it was no different at ACP. In 1951, Phi Delta Chi, which had been a pharmaceutical and chemical fraternity, became a pharmaceutical brotherhood exclusively. At ACP, the frat joined the new Interfraternity Council, started in the 1954-55 academic year, and gathered together with members of the other fraternal organizations for dances, sporting events and picnics.

Increased enrollment at the College led to the highest number of members ever in the 1960-61 academic year, with a whopping 70 active brothers. Active in the interfraternity sports program and clad in jerseys of “old gold and dregs of wine,” the brothers took on their rivals on the basketball court and softball field. By 1970-71, the frat had established a recruitment program to aid prospective freshmen in learning about pharmacy as a profession. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, members became increasing involved in service projects including Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Adopt-a-Highway, with the frat active both socially and professionally. In the new millennium, PDC has been active in dispensing information to the public about a variety of diseases and health-related issues such as teen smoking and heart disease in women (see story page 10). With a recently reactivated alumni chapter, Phi Delta Chi brothers of old have flocked back for events including Founder’s Day and the Rush Dinner. Alumni and their families are welcome to join in special 75th anniversary festivities May 5-7 during Reunion Weekend. Details on other Reunion events, such as the annual golf tournament, are listed in your Reunion mailing.

JOIN THE CELEBRATION! Friday, May 5

8:00 p.m.-midnight – Phi Delta Chi Wing Ding at the Elbo Room, 170 Delaware Ave., Albany. Wear your old jerseys and reminisce with current brothers and alumni. Saturday, May 6

Noon-2:00 p.m. – BBQ/softball game (location TBA) 4:30-6:00 p.m. – 75th Anniversary Reception, The Desmond Hotel, Albany. Come and see PDC memorabilia and hear about the chapter’s accomplishments. A cash bar and light refreshments will be available. Phi Delta Chi brothers cook dinner for residents of Ronald McDonald House.

PDC also will be creating scrapbooks. Brothers are requested to send in pictures or composites, including names and year, by e-mail or regular mail to: Matt Smollin, Worthy Alumni Liaison 367 Morris St., Apt. 1, Albany, NY 12208 smollinm@acp.edu (518) 669-4593 Brett Laude 686 Park Ave. Albany, NY 12208 SlashPDC@hotmail.com (518) 248-3108

Michael Dufort, President, Alpha Theta Alumni Association The Pharmacy, Inc., 205 North St., Bennington, VT 05201 DufortRPH@yahoo.com W: (802) 442-5602, H: (518) 686-7376 Cell: (802) 376-9015

Calling All Alumni! ACP has established a new Alumni Council that will assist the Office of Institutional Advancement with its fundraising efforts. President James J. Gozzo, Ph.D., has appointed Timothy Garrity ’66 to chair the new volunteer organization. Efforts are underway to recruit new members. All alumni are invited to lend their time and expertise to the Council. Those interested in serving can contact Tim at the office, (518) 724-2484, at home, (518) 449-4243, or via e-mail, tgarrity@nycap.rr.com, or Shelly Calabrese, Director of Annual Programs, at (518) 694-7304 or calabres@acp.edu. Many thanks to Tim for his efforts to get this new venture off the ground!

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Class Notes 1950s ‘52 Richard G. Robison, a member of the ACP Board of Trustees, was honored last fall for his extensive volunteer efforts throughout the Capital Region with a Third Age Achievement Award.

‘58 Winston Dobbins writes that he enjoyed skiing with six of his grandchildren for his birthday this year. He would appreciate hearing from any alumni who can send him the formulas for show globe multi-layers and how to color them. Contact Win at wdobbins@hotmail.com.

‘69 Barry Paraizo and wife Linda Schweikhart Paraizo ’70 were featured in an article on independent pharmacies that ran in the Palm Beach Post last summer. The Pariazos bought the Winship Pharmacy in 1983. The business, a self-described “mom-andpop type of store,” is able to cater to Palm Beach County’s aging community through specialized services. The pharmacy sells medical equipment in addition to candies, cards and household items, fills and delivers prescriptions and customizes medications.

1970s ‘71

1960s ‘60 Cynthia Spagnoletti Gabriels and her husband, Dr. Joseph Gabriels, have moved to suburban Charlotte, N.C., “to enjoy warm weather and more golf.” Cynthia writes that she was “sorry to see so few of our class at the 45th reunion” in May 2005. “Please come to our 50th – especially our section!”

Spring 2006

Patricia Leahy Chase, Ph.D., has been appointed Dean of the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy, effective July 1, 2006. Dr. Chase has been Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Butler University in Indianapolis for the past six years. Under her leadership, the enrollment and number of faculty and staff at Butler doubled. At West Virginia, research will play a big part in her vision for the school’s future, she said. She is also Chair-elect of the Council of Deans of the

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Dr. Chase and husband Jim recently bought a house in Greystone, W.Va. They have three grown children.

‘76 Anthony Laiacona Jr., who just completed 25 successful years at BristolMyers Squibb Pharmaceuticals, was named District Manager of the Year for 2005. Albany District Manager for Cardiovascular Drugs, Tony also has been promoted to Executive District Manager, one of only five in the country out of 350 managers. He is an Adjunct Instructor at ACP as well, teaching Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing. Tony and wife Laura, married for 20 years, have two daughters. Both Taylor, 17, and Gabriel, 14, have their sights set on ACP. The family resides in Clifton Park, N.Y.

1980s ‘82 Robert Zywiak won a silver medal in August in the United States Cycling Federation Virginia State Time Trial Championship, Category V, age 45-49. Bob covered the 40-kilometer course at an average speed of 23 mph. He is the Pharmacy Operations Manager at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Va. Contact him at Robert.Zywiak@ medicorp.org.

‘84 The Bainbridge (N.Y.) Pharmacy, owned by Edwin (Ed) P. Greenman Jr. and wife Sandy, was selected by the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce as Business of the Year for 2005. The Greenmans purchased the pharmacy in 2001, fulfilling a long-time dream of Ed’s.

Sandy and Ed Greenman

Sandy’s degree in business management and retailing nicely complements her husband’s pharmacy degree. The couple was recognized for their support of many community, school and sports activities at a Commitment to the Community dinner in October.

‘95

1990s ‘91 Nicole Valente and her husband welcomed a daughter, Emma Victoria, on October 1, 2003.

‘96

‘85 Timothy L. Fortin, Ph.D., has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Research Information Management at Wyeth Research. Dr. Fortin joined American Cyanamid (now Wyeth) in 1992 as a Biomedical Information Scientist and has been involved in Information Management since that time. Tim holds a B.S. in Pharmacy from ACP and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Rochester and is an active member of several professional organizations. He is the son of Louis P. Fortin ’58 and Marilyn Cepiel Fortin ’61, and the husband of Diane Guglielmo Fortin ’86. … John McDonald III of Marra’s Pharmacy in Cohoes, N.Y., received a January visit from U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., as part of a tour to highlight problems with the new Medicare prescription drug program for seniors and the disabled. Sen. Clinton was joined at the pharmacy by state and local officials.

Melanie Leclau Martin was a guest lecturer at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., during the Spring 2005 semester. Melanie spoke on the field of pharmacy, how it is evolving and what the future holds.

Emma Victoria Valente

‘92 Scott Preische was featured in the Rochester, N.Y., Democrat and Chronicle “Weekend Warrior” column for his tenure with the Sharks, a team in the Amateur Baseball Congress that has won the league championship 11 of the past 12 years. Scott, who mostly plays first base for the Sharks, also plays softball one night a week for a local team and dabbles in basketball and golf. After an injury to his elbow tendon just prior to his arrival at ACP, Scott sat out the first season and put aside his pitching career but joined the Union College team his second year. Now an executive hospital representative for Merck and Co., Inc., Scott resides in Rochester with his wife Holly.

2000s ‘04 Jagat Patel, owner of Crestwood Pharmacy in Albany, was featured in news coverage about the new Medicare-Part D prescription drug coverage in the Albany Times Union.

Kevin Barnhart and his wife Andrea welcomed a daughter, Kendall, on November 3, 2005. Kendall was born weighing 5 pounds, 14 ounces. Kevin is a District Pharmacy Supervisor for CVS. … Amy Barton-Pai, Pharm.D., has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology, one of only three pharmacists in the nation to achieve FASN status. The FASN designation recognizes leaders in basic and clinical research, clinical nephrology or renal pathology. The other pharmacists with FASN status are ACP faculty members, Associate Professor Harold J. Manley ’96, Pharm.D., BCPS, and Professor George R. Bailie, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

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Good Sport Marlon Brando could have been a contender. Frank Viviani ’58 still is. From high school right up through the present, sports have been central to Frank’s life. For his many achievements over the years, he was named to the Rome (N.Y.) Sports Hall of Fame last summer. A three-sport standout at Rome Free Academy, Frank was the leading scorer for his high school basketball team in his senior year, a two-year starting quarterback and a three-year starter in baseball. He also played American Legion baseball and was a member of three different semi-pro squads. At ACP, Frank was a four-year letterman, distinguishing himself on the basketball team under Coach Al White. In his senior year, Frank scored 280 points and set a school record for most points in a game with 55, a record that stood for nearly 40

years. He was named to ACP’s Albert M. White Sports Hall of Fame in 1982. Though offered a baseball contract by the Pittsburgh Pirates during his time at ACP, Frank had no trouble making the decision to remain in school. “I wanted to finish school and that was my biggest priority,” Frank told the Rome Daily Sentinel. “I had to think about my career and not playing baseball.” It turned out to be the right choice. Frank went on to a successful career in retail pharmacy and then with the New York State Department of Corrections. He still works parttime for several doctors and says “it’s the best job I ever had … no stress!” These days, “Frankie Viv” is more likely to be found on the links. An avid golfer, he still plays several times a week at Teugega Country Club and has captured numerous senior-flight

Frank Viviani on the court in 1958.

titles, both there and in the Rome city tournament. In 1990, he finished sixth in the New York State Senior Men’s Amateur Golf Championship. He also skis, both cross-country and downhill, but in February when the snow got to be a bit wearisome, he headed out to Arizona with wife Angela to play golf. In Frank’s own words, “What a life, huh?”

All in the Family Thomas M. Friello ’80 never had any doubt that he would end up in the family business. He got his feet wet working in his parents’ pharmacy in Johnstown, N.Y., beginning at age 14. After attending Fulton-Montgomery Community College, he went on to graduate from ACP. In October, Friello took over the Palmer Pharmacy from his parents, Angelo ’57 and Kay. The elder Friellos, who bought the drugstore from Frank J. Palmer in 1964, remained at the helm for 41 years until turning the

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business over to their son and daughter Tina, the store manager. While Angelo and Kay enjoy retirement in Surfside Beach, S.C., they can rest assured that the family business is in good hands. Business is booming, according to the new owners, due in large part to contracted services with local facilities, which account for more than half of the business. The company also maintains a health care business within the store. Tom and Angelo are not the only ACP graduates in the family. Sister

Catherine Friello Eleiott ’79 and husband David Eleiott ’79 recently relocated to Arizona, where they are both staff pharmacists for Wal-Mart. David, who received his Master’s in Divinity from Grace Theological Seminary, is searching for a congregation. Current ACP students are involved in the Friellos’ pharmacy as well. Four students each year complete five-week rotations at the store.

Dynamic Duo Jeffrey Papo ’97 receives Business Excellence Award

A summer internship while completing his degree at ACP led to a lifechanging move for Jeffrey Papo ’97. It was 1994 when Papo first met Dominick Tuminaro, then proprietor of the Hopewell Pharmacy in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., near Poughkeepsie. Tuminaro “took a chance on me and hired me as a student pharmacist,” says Papo, who spent two summers at the pharmacy learning the ropes. Eventually, Tuminaro sold that pharmacy and went to work for a local chain; but he missed his business. With Papo also looking for something different, the duo decided to strike out on

their own, opening Tuminaro Pharmacy together in May 2004. The business was selected as the 2005 winner of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corp.’s Business Excellence Award in the newcomer category. Winners were chosen for making a significant economic contribution to the county. The pharmacy, located on Route 82 in Hopewell Junction, focuses primarily on pharmacy items and health supplies and emphasizes customer service. It harkens back to the time of the “personal touch,” according to a member of the award selection committee. “If you own your own business,

Jeff Papo, left, with Dominick Tuminaro.

you really have a vested interest in making sure everyone who walks out your door is completely satisfied,” says Papo. The co-owners contribute to the community in other ways as well. The pharmacy offers a free blood-pressure screening each month and Papo writes for the Healthy Living section of the Poughkeepsie Journal.

It’s Time to Nominate One of Your Fellow Alumni for Service! We are collecting nominations for the annual alumni awards, to be presented at the Alumni Dinner Dance and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 6. Please fill out this form and attach any supporting documents and return to Shelly Calabrese, Director of Annual Programs, Office of Institutional Advancement, 106 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208, or e-mail your nomination, including nominee and category, your name, class year and contact information, to calabres@acp.edu. Your name_________________________________________________________

Class Year__________________________

Address__________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Outstanding Service to the Profession of Pharmacy Award honors an alumnus or alumna who has made an exceptional contribution to the profession.

__________________________________

The Outstanding Service to the Profession of Biomedical Technology Award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the profession of Biomedical Technology.

__________________________________

The Outstanding Service to the Albany College of Pharmacy Alumni Body Award is given to an alumnus or alumna who has made an exceptional contribution to the alumni body. __________________________________ The Outstanding Service to the Community Award is given to an alumnus or alumna who has made an exemplary contribution to the needs of the community.

__________________________________

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In Memoriam

‘36

‘49

‘59

Harry T. Tischler Dec. 25, 2005

James E. Davis Sept. 21, 2005

Gary W. Hamblen March 4, 2006

‘38

‘52

‘61

Carl H. Randall Jr. Oct. 19, 2005

David A. Corwin Sept. 11, 2005

William L. Candido Feb. 17, 2006 Sue McNamara Fox Dec. 26, 2005

‘47

‘53

George M. George Oct. 18, 2005

Alan L. Bergman Dec. 18, 2005

‘48

‘55

Alexander J. Fiore March 8, 2006

John E. Sanford March 8, 2006

what’s new …

Have you accepted a new position, published an article, had an addition to your family, recently married, received an award or have any other exciting news you want to share? Send in your news today. And please send a photo if you have one.

‘63 Richard W. Becker Dec. 16, 2005

tell us your news …

NAME CLASS OF ADDRESS

May we publish your e-mail address in the next PostScript? Yes No CITY/STATE/ZIP PHONE (HOME)

YOUR TITLE

PHONE (WORK)

EMPLOYER’S NAME, ADDRESS

E-MAIL

Is this new address information?

Yes No

Send to: PostScript Editor, Albany College of Pharmacy, 106 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, New York 12208 Or e-mail your information to: alumni@acp.edu

Spring 2006

FOCUS ON … J. Gordon Dailey ’57 When I was in high school (at Vincentian Institute in Albany) I had chosen to go to Siena College. At the end of August of that year I drove by ACP on New Scotland Avenue and I hit the red light at DeLaSalle Road. I saw the college there and I said, “I wonder what that’s all about.” I had discussed the possibility of pharmacy with my older brother, so I took a right-hand turn and went into the school parking lot. I retired five years ago and I am totally enjoying my retirement. I sold my pharmacy, Holland Patent Pharmacy, to an ACP alum, Earl Robert Black ’91, and he is doing exceptionally well. I maintain my pharmacy license, but I work only “under duress!” My wife Barbara, a retired teacher, and I live about half the year in Holland Patent, and half the year in Florida. I have a passion for golf. I’ve given it a considerable amount of attention and devotion, but I think the game has passed me by! I also do a lot of skiing in the winter time. Where am I now?

How my ACP education benefited me most: My ACP education provided me a

wonderful career in pharmacy, not only as an employed pharmacist but as a pharmacy owner. I was shown the utmost respect and loyalty from my clientele and community. I feel that I served the community favorably, and the favor was returned twofold. It was a wonderful experience for 34 years. What I remember most about my ACP years: I think of all the wonderful profes-

sors I had, all the wonderful friends I made long-term, the individual attention and the family atmosphere we had going there. There are many wonderful memories formed while attending ACP, but this one is my favorite.

I parked and went into the office and met Miss Glavin, Dean O’Brien’s secretary. I told her that I was going to Siena College in the fall and that I was just interested in knowing, if I chose to transfer to ACP in a year or two, if the courses I was planning to take at Siena would be sufficient. She said Dean O’Brien was in his office and happened to be free at that moment, so she ushered me in to see the Dean and I pretty much told him the same thing. He said, “Mr. Dailey, if you’re really interested in coming to Albany College of Pharmacy you should start here as a freshman. Transferring in is very difficult and you’ll have a much better opportunity if you start here.” He explained that if I wanted to go back to Vincentian and get my transcript, he would be happy to review it. So I continued this lark. I went over and got a transcript of my marks and came back. He took a careful look at my marks and there appeared a big frown on his face. He commented, “Mr. Dailey, I don’t know. You do have sufficient marks to enter our school, but you’re missing chemistry and we usually require that. I don’t know if you can make it here.” But he said he would accept me conditionally. Basically, what he was telling me was that he had a slot open and he wanted to

fill that slot. However, it wasn’t going to be easy for me. I struggled at first, but with the help of fellow students and faculty I finally got my feet on the ground and the experience became a wonderful ride. Why I support ACP financially and what I would say to encourage other ACP graduates to support the College: Whenever I

talk to my colleagues, whether my classmates or other members of my profession, I discuss with them our wonderful experience at Albany College of Pharmacy. I remind myself and them that we received an excellent education that provided us a very lucrative career, and I discuss with them that it really cost us very little to attend. It only makes sense that you would give back. What I hope ACP will be like in the future: Under the leadership of President

Gozzo, this College has made great strides and it’s for sure it’s going in the right direction. With the need for pharmacists in our society, there is a big need for pharmacy colleges, and I think we’re on the cutting edge. I think it’s only going to get better with the Pharmaceutical Research Institute and Shaker Mousa. Giving the students exposure to research is incredible.

Spring 2006

Construction of our new Student Center is progressing rapidly this spring and we are excited to begin moving into this fabulous facility in the weeks and months ahead. The 54,000square-foot Student Center will feature a new cafeteria, bookstore, lecture hall, convenience shop, offices for student organizations and ACP staff, a student lounge and a spectacular atrium entranceway. View a complete photo history of the Student Center construction in the Student Life section of our Web site at www.acp.edu.

NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage PAID Albany, NY Permit No. 219 ALBANY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY 106 New Scotland Avenue Albany, NY 12208-3492