FEIK SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
R
ecent Happenings:
C LASS OF 2023 W HITE C OAT C EREMONY The Feik School of Pharmacy held its 14th annual White Coat Ceremony for the incoming Class of 2023 on Friday, August 16th. The ceremony was held at the UIW McCombs Center in the Rosenberg Sky Room. The class of 102 students were coated
by FSOP faculty, adjunct faculty, alumni and select community pharmacists. Dean David Maize lead the class in reciting the pledge of professionalism, affirming the students’ commitment to service of the pharmacy profession and to patient care. Over 800 guests, including students’ families and friends and FSOP faculty and staff, witnessed the ceremony. Dr. Ruth Morgan, Medical Director of Primary Care Center for Health Care Services, delivered an encouraging and visionary address to the Class of 2023. Students reciting Pledge of Professionalism
G RANT -F UNDED P ILOT R EADINESS P ROGRAM This spring the Feik School of Pharmacy received the Diversity Scholarship Award of $15,000 from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation for the ‘Pharmacy Readiness Program: A Pre-matriculation Program to Increase Student Success in P1 Year.’ The proposal was based on observations from previous years that, while all accepted students meet the minimum threshold on the admissions rubric, many students are not able to successfully navigate the fall semester of the first (P1) year. The hypothesis that a pre-matriculation readiness program will improve the success rate for at-risk students led to the proposal of a Pharmacy Readiness Program (PRP). The summer portion of the program was implemented from May – July by Dr. Sushma Ramsinghani (PI), Assistant Dean and Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and collaborators Drs. Paulo Carvalho, Adeola Coker, Amy Diepenbrock, Lila LaGrange, Anita Mosley, Hansita Patel and Raghu Yendapally.
All 101 students in the class of 2023 were notified of the Pharmacy Readiness Program (PRP). Thirty-eight students responded, from which 25 students were selected for the program. The PRP in-class component was held June 3-7, with 22 students participating. The program included a sample of fall P1 classes and labs, group work, visits with faculty, a tutoring session, and sessions to develop transferable skills and self-care habits (communication, schedule-building, mindfulness, etc.) The students had the opportunity to interact with classmates and interact with the P2 mentors and PRP faculty during two off-site dinners. The students also completed pre- and post-perception surveys and pre- and postassessments on the first and last class day respectively. The self-learning component was administered online from June 17-July 28. Three 2-week modules focused on pharmacy calculations and pharmaceutics, physiology, and biochemistry respectively. Each module also had a drug and medical terminology quiz and a self-help activity. Assessments during in-class learning showed an improvement of 16 percent average from pre- to post-assessment. Of the 22 PRP students here in the summer, 20 matriculated into the pharmacy program. The percentage of PRP students who self-identified as first-generation college students (30%) or minority ethnicity (90%) is reflective of the class demographics as a whole. At the time of this reporting, the first block of the fall semester (five weeks) has concluded with all 20 PRP students continuing in the program. The PRP students have completed four perception surveys thus far. Preliminary review of the data and verbal feedback about the program have been very favorable and positive.
I NTERPROFESSIONAL S TUDY A BROAD T RIPS C ONTINUE The FSOP will again feature a faculty-led interprofessional study abroad opportunity this coming spring. Study abroad electives are offered in partnership with the UIW Illa Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions. These 3hour electives focus on healthcare in the country being studied, and also cover history, politics and demographics. The approximately 14 days of travel in that country center around tours to medical facilities or organizations. This will be the 9th year of these collaborative study abroad electives, with past visits to China, India, Australia, Ecuador, South Africa, and Viet Nam and Thailand. Next May, after completing the didactic portion of the course, participating Nursing and Pharmacy students will travel to New Zealand, visiting Auckland, Waiheke Island, New Zealand Rotorura, Christchurch, and Queenstown. Planned activities include visits to University of Auckland Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy and University of Auckland Hospital, and a presentation from a local Maori shaman in Rotorura, who will speak about the use of traditional medicine within the Maori culture. Several FSOP faculty have been involved in leading these elective opportunities. This current elective and trip will be taught and led by Dr. Amanda Kitten, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Study Abroad Coordinator for the FSOP, in conjunction with Dr. Irene Gilliland, Adult Medical Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist with the School of Nursing. These study-abroad trips can change the story and trajectory of our students’ lives – many of whom may never have traveled beyond the borders of Texas. While certainly broadening their horizons, it can also bring a heightened awareness of the value and quality of the healthcare system they will serve and represent here at home.
Dr. Amanda Kitten
D EAN R ECOGNIZED BY A LMA M ATER On September 28, 2019, Dean Maize was honored by his alma mater by being named the “Distinguished Alumni of the Year.” Dr. Maize graduated in 1991 with a BS in Pharmacy with honors from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. He is the first alumnus from the Class of 1991 to receive this award. Surrounded by family and old friends, he humbly accepted the award from Dr, J. Douglas Bricker, Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
FSOP E MPLOYEES H ONORED ON UIW H ERITAGE D AY The UIW Heritage Day Ceremony was held on October 9th in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word. This annual celebration recognizes UIW employees who have contributed milestone years of service. Six FSOP personnel celebrated milestone anniversaries this year. Also notably honored during the Heritage Day Ceremony was Dr. Nile Barnes, IPE and APC Lab Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice. Dr. Thomas Evans, UIW President, recognized Dr. Barnes and Dr. Yvonne Davila from the School of Nursing with red capes, in thanks for their super community service. While participating in a health fair at Meadowcliff Community Center, Dr. Barnes and Dr. Davila assisted a volunteer from Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda’s office with a medical incident until an ambulance arrived. Dr. Evans applauded the way Dr. Barnes and Dr. Davila reflected the spirit of the mission by their actions. Drs. Barnes and Davila were conducting an immunization outreach with students from the schools of Osteopathic Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The interprofessional team of faculty supervising them included Professors Bellanger and Cota from FSOP and Professors Hook and Van Doren from Nursing. All involved conducted the entire endeavor in the spirit of the UIW mission.
NEW HIRE: Dr. Rajesh Thapa, Post-doctoral Research Associate, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department Dr. Rajesh Thapa joined the FSOP in the summer of 2019. He received his master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal in 1998. Dr. Thapa earned his MS degree in chemistry from Miami University, Oxford, OH in 2010, and PhD degree from University of Louisville, Louisville, KY in 2015. Dr. Thapa’s experience includes methodology development, ligand design, synthesis and characterization of organic compounds and metal complexes. His PhD dissertation title was “Phosphinimine zinc complexes and neutral phosphinimines for ring opening polymerization of lactides.” Dr. Thapa’s post-doctoral work at University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR include synthesis and characterization of macrocyclic N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands and bis(NHC)Pd(II), bis(NHC)Ni(II) complexes and their application as a catalyst for C-C coupling reactions. Scholarly achievements include peer-reviewed publications, patent and poster presentations.
Faculty In Focus Dr. Raghunandan Yendapally, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS: A STUDY IN SYNERGISM I joined the University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy in January 2012. It is an honor to be part of this wonderful team. I enjoy teaching medicinal chemistry and love to enhance students’ learning experiences. Throughout my career, I have had an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues on diverse interdisciplinary projects. My interactions with other teachers, researchers and students over the years has given me greater insights into drug discovery and overall pharmacy education. One of my research projects is the synthesis of novel fluoroquinolone derivatives. Fluoroquinolones constitute a major class of antibacterials that are extensively prescribed to treat Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial infections. Dr. Isaac Garza (PharmD 2017) had an opportunity to work as a graduate research assistant (2014 - 2016) on this research project. Few of the synthesized compounds demonstrated good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. We collaborated with Dr. Richard Lee at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for minimum inhibitory concentration testing. These research findings were presented at the UIW Research Week and published in the peer-reviewed journal Archiv der Pharmazie (Garza et al., 2017). Collaboration with a former pharmacotherapy resident Dr. Ashley Zurek and pharmacy practice faculty Dr. Elizabeth Urteaga resulted in a review published on efficacy and safety of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 Parinhibitors in Diabetes Spectrum (Zurek, et al., 2017). More recently, in association with Dr. Helmut Gottlieb, I authored a book chapter on drugs used to treat cardiac disorders in the prestigious and widely published textbook Foye’s Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, Wolters Kluwer, 8th Edition. In collaboration with Dr. Donald Sikazwe, I have recently submitted a book chapter on nutraceutical’s role in proliferation and prevention of prostate cancer in Advances in Nutraceutical Applications in Cancer, CRC Press. Currently, I am working with one student and faculty on a review article related to three specific antidiabetic agents. I am excited to continue my work here at FSOP and happy to collaborate with students and faculty. If you would like more information, please feel free to stop by my office or send me an email at yendapal@uiwtx.edu.
F
aculty Highlights:
Dr. Rebecca Attridge −
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Published Clonidine as a strategy for discontinuing dexmedetomidine sedation in critically ill patients: a narrative review in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, August. Co-authors: Glaess SS, Gutierrez GC, Attridge RL. Published Evaluation of prophylactic antibiotic regimens on recurrence and mortality in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in the Annals of Hepatology, August. Co-authors: Glaess SS, Attridge RL, Brady RL, Attridge RT. Presented Pain, Agitation, and Delirium Management: Updates from the 2018 SCCM PADIS Guidelines at the 4th Clinical Pharmacy Conference: Improving Patient Health with Evidence-Based Medicine, Vienna, Austria, September 15. Presented What’s New in the ICU? A Focus on Sepsis – Part I at the 4th Clinical Pharmacy Conference: Improving Patient Health with Evidence-Based Medicine, Vienna, Austria, September 17.
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Presented What’s New in the ICU? A Focus on Sepsis – Part II at the 4th Clinical Pharmacy Conference: Improving Patient Health with Evidence-Based Medicine, Vienna, Austria, September 17. Presented Beyond Benzodiazepines: Treatment of Refractory Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome at the 4th Clinical Pharmacy Conference: Improving Patient Health with Evidence-Based Medicine, Vienna, Austria, September 17. Published Effect of non-selective beta-blockers on mortality in patients with end-stage cirrhosis in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy, October 1. Co-authors: Snoga JL, Lusk KA, Attridge RT, Attridge RL. Presented Comparative efficacy and safety of fludrocortisone plus hydrocortisone versus hydrocortisone as adjunctive therapy in septic shock at the Society of Critical Care Medicine Texas Chapter Annual Symposium, Houston, TX, October 11. Co-authors: Lock A, Gutierrez CG, Barthol C, Hand EO, Attridge RL.
Dr. Russell Attridge − −
Published Evaluation of prophylactic antibiotic regimens on recurrence and mortality in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in the Annals of Hepatology, August. Co-authors: Glaess SS, Attridge RL, Brady RL, Attridge RT. Published Effect of non-selective beta-blockers on mortality in patients with end-stage cirrhosis in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy, October 1. Co-authors: Snoga JL, Lusk KA, Attridge RT, Attridge RL.
Dr. Renee Bellanger − −
Volunteer for scholarship application review with Express Scripts, San Antonio, TX, September 11. CE presentation Women’s Health: Dietary Supplements, Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs at the BCPA monthly meeting, San Antonio, TX, September 25.
Ms. Joanne Fazio-Gosser − −
Attend and precept four students for the Medical Mission Trip, Oaxaca, Mexico, September 1-8. CE presentation Strategies for Optimizing Work/Life Balance at the CTSHP fall seminar, San Antonio, TX, October 5. Co-presenters: Fazio-Gosser J, Frei B.
Dr. Bradi Frei −
Presented Breast Cancer Awareness and Risk Factors at the UIW wellness meeting, San Antonio, TX, October 16.
Dr. Abigail Hulsizer −
Poster presentation Hyperglycemia post-influenza vaccine in patients with diabetes at the ACCP 2019 Annual Meeting, New York, NY, October 28. Co-authors: Urteaga E, Witte AP, Attridge RL, Hulsizer A.
Dr. Donald Sikazwe −
Presented Research Trails: Metabolism to CNS Drug Discoveries at the FSOP Fall Pharmaceutical Sciences Seminar, FSOP, San Antonio, TX, October 16.
Dr. Raghu Yendapally −
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Book chapter: Drugs Used to Treat Cardiac Disorders in Foye’s Principles of Medicinal Chemistry. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Eighth Edition, Chapter 16. Publication date: August 21, 2019. Co-authors: Yendapally R, Gottlieb H. Book chapter: Nutraceutical’s role in proliferation and prevention of prostate cancer in Advances in Nutraceutical Applications in Cancer – Recent Research Trends and Clinical Applications, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Chapter 3, pages 39-60. eBook published October 23. Co-authors: Yendapally R, Sikazwe D.
D
ean’s Corner:
Dear FSOP Alumni, As I think back over the semester that is rapidly ending, one of the highlights of the fall has to be our most recent graduates’ NAPLEX scores. Congratulations to the Class of 2019 for achieving a 95.4% pass rate for first-time test takers! All of your hard work and dedication certainly paid off. I want to tell you about two alumni events coming up, and we certainly hope to see you there:
FSOP A L U M N I H O L I D A Y S O C I A L :
You and your family are invited to attend our FSOP Alumni Holiday Social on Thursday, December 5th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Mo's Irish Pub at The Quarry. Come socialize with faculty, staff, and friends of FSOP as we network and catch up with one another! We will also be giving prizes to the Ugliest Christmas Sweaters if you choose to dress up (not required to attend). You can RSVP for this FREE event at bit.ly/FSOPAlumniSocial. Your RSVP includes appetizers and 1 drink ticket. Happy hour prices available for the event.
FSOP F O R M A L : A P H A R M A L A F F A I R
Friday, January 24, 2020 from 7:30-10:00 p.m. at the UIW Student Engagement Center Ballroom, with special recognitions: Honoring the Class of 2010 on their 10th anniversary & the Class of 2015 on their 5th anniversary. Tickets are $20 each, which includes dance, photo booth, appetizers, desserts, and 1 drink ticket. Cash bar available. Purchase tickets at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/U026 Thank you for your kind attention, and I hope you enjoy this issue of your alumni newsletter. My warmest wishes to you and yours for a joyous holiday season. Praised be the Incarnate Word! David F. Maize, Dean and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Education, Truth, Faith, Service, Innovation
maize@uiwtx.edu, 210-883-1010
#feikpharmily ⎯ Student Highlights LAPPE P ROGRAM O PENS R ESIDENCY P ROGRAM D OORS About a year ago, administrators at Harris Health System in Houston, TX began a conversation with Dr. Jeff Copeland, Associate Dean of Experiential and Pharmacy Technician Education, and Ms. Joanne Fazio-Gosser, APPE Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, about a longitudinal APPE program, or LAPPE. The resulting new opportunity for FSOP students began this summer. From the Harris Health Pharmacy internal website: In July 2019, the Harris Health System Department of Pharmacy and the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) launched a pilot Longitudinal APPE (LAPPE) pilot program for fourth year (P4) experiential professional pharmacy students.
The LAPPE program is designed for highly motivated students in order to maximize students’ experiential education and develop students’ interprofessional skills. This program will prepare students for the residency application process and prepare students to obtain their desired postgraduate pharmacy position upon graduation.
The following FSOP students, pictured left to right, are currently participating in the Harris Health LAPPE internship program in Houston, Texas: Ms. Krupa Bhakta is a dual degree student, pursuing both a PharmD and MA in Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. She wants to pursue a PGY1 and PGY2. Her interests lie within pediatrics and healthcare administration. Her rotations at Harris Health include acute care, ambulatory care and general medicine. Ms. Anna Bozhkova wants to pursue a PGY1 and PGY2, and ultimately obtain a position as a clinical pharmacy specialist. Her clinical areas of interest are emergency medicine, critical care and geriatrics. Her rotations with Harris Health include emergency medicine, acute care, ambulatory care, pharmacoeconomic and outpatient pharmacy. Ms. Roza Rouhani plans to pursue a PGY1 and PGY2 and practice as a clinical pharmacist. She is interested in general pharmacy, internal medicine and cardiology. Her rotations with Harris Health include advanced hospital, acute care and ambulatory care. Ms. Nicole Stephen wants to pursue a PGY1 and PGY2, and ultimately obtain a position as a clinical pharmacy specialist in an ambulatory care setting. Her rotations with Harris Health include management, ambulatory care, emergency medicine, community pharmacy and acute care. Ms. Tracy Nguyen is interested in pursuing a PGY1 that centers on ambulatory care. Her clinical areas of interest are internal medicine, mental health and geriatrics. Her rotations with Harris Health include acute care ambulatory care, general hospital and outpatient pharmacy.
N ATIONAL S CHOLARSHIP R ECOGNITION FOR FSOP S TUDENT FSOP student Claudia Zamarripa (P2) is being honored this year by the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), the philanthropic arm of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA). The NHHF mission is to improve the health of Hispanics and other underserved groups through research and education. Ms. Zamarripa has been awarded a scholarship of $5000 that will be renewed for the next two years, based on continued good academic standing. She is the first student from the FSOP to Ms. Zamarripa & Dean Maize receive this recognition. There were over 600 applicants from across the nation, with only 1520 students who are selected each year. Ms. Zamarripa will be honored publicly at the 2019 NHMA Scholarship Awards Gala at the Westin New York Grand Central in New York City on November 15th. Her travel expenses will be covered by NHHF.
NHPA I NAUGURAL S TUDENT C HAPTER The FSOP’s newest student organization, the National Hispanic Pharmacists Association student chapter, was established in the summer of 2019. The members of the inaugural NHPA UIW FSOP student chapter, pictured left, have as a goal to educate not only the members of NHPA, but also the surrounding community on the importance of advocacy for the improvement of health care throughout the minority communities. Student members advocate to positively transform and develop the image of minority health care professionals. The chapter initiatives involve Public Health, Cultural Awareness, and Social Justice. Additional committees include: Social, Fundraising, Membership, & Spanish Language. NHPA’s first goal of the semester was to create an ofrenda, for Dia de los Muertos, November 1st, to give all members of the Pharmily an opportunity to honor their loved ones who have passed.
C LINICAL S KILLS C OMPETITION W INNERS Please join me in congratulating the winners of this year's local UIW FSOP Clinical Skills Competition (pictured L to R): Melchor Espinosa (P4) and Ahyun Sul (P3). They have won the opportunity to advance to the National Competition at the ASHP Midyear Conference, December 8-12 in Las Vegas, registration paid, and represent the Feik School of Pharmacy in the national clinical pharmacy competition. Please wish them all the best in December. Congratulations also to our 2nd team, Gaielle Harb and Anna Bozhkova. Thank you to all who participated, and to Drs. Lucy Wilkening and Bethany Kalich for serving as judges.
FSOP S TUDENTS @ COSA F LU P ANDEMIC E XERCISE On October 16th, students Mindy Keys [P4], Kennedy Dankert [P3], Marina Milligan [P2] and Gilbert Martinez [P2], pictured here, along with faculty members Dr. Johnathan Cuevas and Dr. Mathew Garber, evaluated an influenza pandemic exercise with the City of San Antonio (COSA). This simulation sought to prepare those involved for the process of administering vaccines in a large-scale emergency situation to area residents in an organized, safe, and timely fashion. The exercise involved giving out 100+ vaccines to city employees who were moving through the system as participants. FSOP students and faculty present evaluated the exercise based on timeliness, flow through the setup, resupply at vaccination stations, vaccine safety and administration, and response to adverse events during vaccination.
AP H A S ERVES L OCAL C OMMUNITY V IA H EALTH F AIRS APhA chapter members from the Operation Immunization committee partnered with SNPhA and Walgreens to put on a vaccination clinic on October 12th. The OTC/Medication Safety Committee members served at the Bridge to Unity Health Fair at the Madonna Community Center in southwest San Antonio on October 19th. The fair was well attended, and chapter members talked with community members about medication safety and played medication safety games with the children in attendance.
Madonna Community Center
The chapter hosted its traditional bi-annual health fair at Ingram Park Mall on November 9th. Educational services, blood glucose and blood pressure screenings, and vaccinations were administered to over 100 attendees. Following on November 11th, APhA members participated in the JDRF One Walk for Diabetes Awareness Month. Ingram Park Mall Health Fair
CPFI F OCUS ON G IVING CPFI members were able to participate in a number of service activities this semester, serving in the local community. CPFI made and delivered sandwiches, fruit and snacks to the Helping Hands organization to help feed the homeless in September. A winter clothing drive is currently underway, to be delivered to Helping Hands for distribution to those in need. November is also the month for the traditional Operation Christmas Child collection of school supplies and hygiene items, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse and sent to children in crisis outside of the U.S. OCC Christmas boxes assembly
K APPA P SI C HAPTER C ONTRIBUTES Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity brothers participated in NAMIWalks, put on by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on October 5th, a fund-raising walk at Morgan’s Wonderland. Brothers raised about $800 for mental health awareness. Brothers served at the H-E-B Second Saturday clinics on September 14th and October 12th, as well as an H-E-B vaccine clinic on October 13th. Attendees were provided with free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. For the vaccine clinic, sponsored by SNPhA, brothers provided medication counseling as well as giving vaccines to attendees. NAMIWalks fundraiser participants
Brothers met together on Friday September 1st to assemble sandwiches from donations. Along with fresh fruit, the sandwiches were served to residents at Haven for Hope, a shelter for people experiencing homelessness in San Antonio, on September 2nd.
‘C RUSH THE C RIS IS ’ O PIOID T AKE B ACK D AY While on a hospital APPE rotation at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, Ms. Kim Basdeo, Class of 2020, assisted the Director of Pharmacy, Ms. Lacey Crawford, in “Crush the Crisis.” Methodist Healthcare and the San Antonio Police Department partnered to put on ‘Crush the Crisis’ opioid take-back day of Saturday, September 7th. Community members were invited to safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired prescription medications. Along with educating the residents about the dangers of opioid misuse, the drive collected a total of 130 pounds of prescription drugs for proper disposal. Ms. Basdeo assisted in the collection of 28 pounds of drugs at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital.
Meals prep @ Haven for Hope
7 TH A NNUAL PPA T EAM T ONY B ONE M ARROW D RIVE The undergraduate Pre-Pharmacy Association (PPA) has a special dedication to educate the community on the dire need for committed bone marrow donors on the national registry. Over the years, the PPA's Team Tony Bone Marrow Drive has produced matches and saved lives. PPA held their annual Team Tony Bone Marrow Drive at the Broadway campus from Monday, Sept. 23 - Wednesday, Sept. 25, where they signed up new donors to the national registry. Thank you for making a difference, PPA! Ms. Candace Gonzalez, Pre-Pharmacy Counselor/Advisor, and Dr. Alicia Bryant, Co-Curricular Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, serve as advisors for the organization.
P HI D ELTA C HI R E PRESENTS AT C AREER F AIR Mr. Alexander Everett, Class of 2022, represented PDC at a career fair at East Central High School in San Antonio on October 12th. Mr. Everett talked to high school students about the varied paths available in a career in Pharmacy. Based on keen interest and interaction with the students, the event was deemed a success.
SNP H A O UTREACH : S ERVING THE U NDER - SERVED The Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) has had a busy start to the semester this year, with six health fairs and numerous educational outreaches for students as well as the community. Our immunization committee set up one of the largest health fairs thus far, giving over 200 vaccines and more than 100 health screenings at our annual Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church Health Fair. Thank you, Walgreens, for providing immunizations, H-E-B and our advisor Dr. Ha for providing us with health screening supplies, and to all the students and preceptors that spent their Sunday giving back to our community. Finally, thank you to our FSOP alumnus, Dr. Jane Dinh, who made this event possible.
SNPhA members and preceptors, Dr. Ha, Dr. Erickson, Dr. Cuevas, Dr. Dinh at health fair.
T URKEY B OWL W INNERS R ECEIVE T ROPHY The 3rd Annual Turkey Bowl was held on Friday, November 22nd at Olmos Park. This friendly flag football game between Kappa Psi and Phi Delta Chi is held each year. Both teams had weekly practices to try to win the prized trophy. In the end, Phi Delta Chi won 24-0. Dean Maize presented the trophy on Monday, and as part of the bet, he had to wear the team’s t-shirt for the day. Thanks to both teams for supplying a fun “Friday Night Lights event.”
MEDICAL MISSIONS TRIP BEARS FRUIT Four students and a professor spent a week in a remote city in the heart of Mexico… and it profoundly and unexpectedly altered their lives.
Oaxaca is a city in central Mexico, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It’s known for its beautiful colonial buildings, many of which are made from green volcanic stone. The central Zócalo square features the Palacio de Gobierno, with colorful murals depicting regional history. Alameda de León square faces the ornate facade of the Catedral de Oaxaca. The 16th-century Templo de Santo Domingo church has a rich baroque interior and an adjoining former convent. It is to this city and reqion that the Los Quijotes Ambassadors of Health come every year to serve. Los Quijotes is a group of healthcare providers who donate their time to give an array of free medical services, such as minor surgeries, dentures, glasses, and prescription medications to the people in select villages in this region. The medical mission trip occurs annually during the week of Labor Day. Travel dates for this group were August 31 – September 8, 2019.
Cassidy Heath, Alejandra Sierra, Mara Trejo & Alfredo DeLeon
The four P3 FSOP students selected to go on this elective APPE trip were Alfredo DeLeon, Cassidy Heath, Alejandra Sierra and Mara Trejo. They were accompanied by Professor Joanne Fazio-Gosser, Experiential Programs’ APPE Coordinator and Assistant Professor. They joined Jim Stultz, a pharmacist who has participated in this mission for the last 25 years, and the
Hundreds waited outside the clinic daily to receive help.
Los Quijotes medical team. UIW has sent students and faculty from the schools of pharmacy, optometry, nursing, physical therapy and undergraduate main campus for the past 8 years. Students are not required to speak Spanish, but it is most helpful. The medical teams worked at a clinic every day, with patients waiting in long lines in the heat for hours and days to be seen. Yet, when it was each one’s turn, they were just so happy and grateful. The team worked together interprofessionally, functioning as an efficient cohesive unit and all focused on the good of the patient. UIW teaches students collaborative care, and it was truly put into practice here. Teamwork was pivotal in the face of best attempting
to address such a volume of needs, with clinic hours starting at 7:00 a.m. and lasting sometimes until midnight – many were 15+-hour days. A total of 2883 patients came through the clinic over that five days. 2519 prescriptions were provided, and 1151 of those patients were counseled in the pharmacy. Pharmacy was the last stop for patients who were given medications. The team was working with indigenous people who did not in many cases even speak Spanish, and yet it was their charge to ensure medication safety and compliance. The students became very adaptive with their patients when recognizing a tendency to be agreeable even without understanding or shame over not being able to read at all. Patient care went to a deeper individual level when trying to mimic how to properly use an The team worked together for each patient. inhaler, for example, or in having patients show back the instructions given to confirm understanding. Or in drawing a sun and a moon on pill bottles to make clear when meds were to be taken. Students Compounding meds in a coffee cup. were challenged to use out of the box thinking, in compounding available substitution meds using everyday materials on hand – a coffee cup and the bottom of a glass bottle, for example – and calculating appropriate dosages. They learned to strategically think through medical alternatives, making medical substitutions with limited options, to meet the needs of the patient. Professor Gosser stated that the students so well represented the school and did a tremendous amount of good work. Alfredo DeLeon writes: “What I learned during my trip was that listening to patients is key to knowing whether a patient is affected by health barriers. Being able to put the skills I have developed throughout pharmacy school to help the people of Oaxaca was very rewarding and is something that I will carry with me throughout my career.” The experience led Ms. Heath to a powerful realization, that simple gestures of service could have a huge impact on a community. She said “I can change and better others’ lives with a simple kind service! I want service to play a role in my career in a large way…”
Alumni Highlight FSOP A LUM R ECOGNIZED BY H-E-B Dr. Roberto Nava, graduating class of 2012, is the Pharmacy Manager for the H-E-B at 6818 Zarzamora in San Antonio. Dr. Nava has been with H-E-B for the past five years. He won this year’s H-E-B’s Excellence in Education Rising Star Award for San Antonio/West region, for a pharmacist with less than 10 years’ experience. He then went on to be recognized as the overall HE-B Rising Star for this year.
U pcoming Alumni Events: DECEMBER 5TH:
You and your family are invited to attend our FSOP Alumni Holiday Social at Mo's Irish Pub at The Quarry. Come socialize with faculty, staff, and friends of FSOP as we network and catch up with one another! We will also be giving prizes to the Ugliest Christmas Sweaters if you choose to dress up (not required to attend). You can RSVP for this FREE event at bit.ly/FSOPAlumniSocial. Your RSVP includes appetizers and 1 drink ticket. Happy hour prices available for the event.
JANUARY 24TH:
Friday, January 24, 2020 from 7:30-10:00 p.m. at the UIW Student Engagement Center Ballroom, with special recognitions: Honoring the Class of 2010 on their 10th anniversary & the Class of 2015 on their 5th anniversary. Tickets are $20 each, which includes dance, photo booth, appetizers, desserts, and 1 drink ticket. Cash bar available. Purchase tickets at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/U026
S
taying Connected:
If you know a fellow graduate that may not have received this newsletter, please share it with them! Also, please ask them to share their email address with us (etter@uiwtx.edu), so that we can include them in future newsletter and alumni activities announcements. We also invite you to visit the UIW Alumni Association webpage, where you can view a list of upcoming campus events and news items, read about how to get involved, and sign up for the “Cardinal’s Nest” community, at www.uiwalumni.org.
VISIT
THE
FS O P A L U M N I W E B S I T E
The FSOP web address is http://uiw.edu/pharmacy/. From the school’s home page, please visit your Alumni and Community page. We welcome your feedback and hope you will share your accomplishments and stories with us as well, in the FSOP Feedback and Alumni News box. Please visit us here often and keep in touch!
Additionally, please remember the official FSOP Alumni Facebook page. It is a great way to reconnect with your fellow graduates and keep up with the school, social events and volunteer opportunities. Joining the group is easy. Just click on this link for UIW Feik School of Pharmacy Alumni: http://bit.ly/FeikAlumni. If you run into any problems joining the group, please email Dr. Maize, at maize@uiwtx.edu. The Feik looks forward to keeping in touch and catching up with our Alumni.
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Feik School of Pharmacy ⬧ 4301 Broadway, CPO 99 ⬧ San Antonio, TX 78209 -6318 ⬧ (210) 883-1000