PHARMACIST SUMMER 2015 | Volume 37 | Issue 3
A Lab Future for the
IN THIS ISSUE | A Lab for the Future | Pharmacy Access | Congratulations Graduates
IN THIS ISSUE 10
A Lab for the Future
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Pharmacy Access
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Congratulations Graduates
A generous gift from the Foglia Family Foundation will modernize the College’s compounding lab.
UIC Researchers’ study shows how “Pharmacy Deserts” create barriers to medication adherence.
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A photo essay on the graduation of the Class of 2015.
IN EVERY ISSUE From the Dean
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Rising Stars
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Faculty Fanfare
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Class Notes
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Obituaries
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Editorial Credits Summer 2015 Publisher Jerry L. Bauman,bs ’76, pharmd Dean Editors Chris Gummert Editorial Writer Christopher J. Shoemaker, med, mba, cfre Assistant Dean for Advancement & Alumni Affairs Contributing Editors Sonya Booth Hugh M. Cook Sam Hostettler Daniel P. Smith Photography Joshua Clark Barry Donald Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Richard Foertsch Guido Pauli Designer Kimberly A. Hegarty College of Pharmacy Administrative Officers Department Heads William Beck, phd Biopharmaceutical Sciences Judy Bolton, phd Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy Janet Engle, pharmd ’85 Pharmacy Practice
Find us online pharmacy.uic.edu
Glen Schumock, pharmd, mba ’94, phd ’12 Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes, and Policy
facebook.com/UICCollegeofPharmacy
Vice Dean, Rockford Regional Program David W. Bartels, pharmd
twitter.com/uicpharmalumni
Executive Associate Dean Janet Engle, pharmd ’85 Associate Deans Clara Awe, phd, edd Diversity Affairs Marieke Schoen, pharmd ’88 Academic Affairs Joanna Burdette, phd ’03 Research
Our digital edition find at www.issuu.com/uicpharmacy
Thomas TenHoeve III, phd Student Affairs Assistant Deans Debra Agard, pharmd ’92, mhpe Student Affairs Rosalyn Vellurail, pharmd ‘04 Academic Affairs UIC Pharmacist 833 S. Wood St. (MC 874) Chicago, IL 60612 Phone: (312) 996-7240 Fax: (312) 413-1910 E-mail: pharmacy@uic.edu ©2015. All rights reserved
Nicholas Popovich, bs ’68, ms ’71, ’73 Office of Professional Development phd
UIC Pharmacist would like to hear from you and welcomes your letters:
UIC Pharmacist (MC 874) 833 South Wood Street, Room 184KA Chicago, Illinois 60612-7230 E-mail: pharmacy@uic.edu
Letters are edited for length and clarity. All reader correspondence to the magazine and its editorial staff will be treated as assigned for publication unless otherwise specified.
Correction Our last issue correctly noted that the former head of UIC’s department of Pharmacy Practice, Avery Spunt, was selected as the honorary president of the IPHA. However, we incorrectly reported the IPHA as the Illinois Public Health Association rather than the Illinois Pharmacists Association. Spunt was selected as the honorary head of the Illinois Pharmacists Association. We apologize for the error.
FROM THE DEAN
On Residencies I completed two residencies: one at the University of Illinois Hospital after my BS degree at our college of pharmacy and one at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City after my PharmD. Both were transformational experiences in my career. The first one created a passion for clinical pharmacy practice and the second prepared me for a career in academics and cardiology clinical practice. In both experiences I was fortunate to acquire not only the skills needed to succeed but also lifelong mentors and role models. The University of Illinois Hospital began its pharmacy residency in 1969 under the direction of Director of Pharmacy Herb Carlin and it blossomed into a program of national and international stature under Dr. Richard Hutchinson’s leadership. Today we have 31 postPharmD training experiences: 16 PGY1 (12 hospital, 3 community and 1 international), 12 PGY2 in a variety of areas and 3 research fellowships (genomics and infectious diseases). In 2015, we had about 15 applications for each open residency position. We have a total of 572 alumni of our training programs, many of whom are in extremely prominent positions nationwide and some around the world. Whether or not a residency should be considered mandatory for practice is currently a controversy within our profession. Both ACCP and ASHP have adopted position statements favoring a residency for those with a majority of their practice in direct patient care. Others oppose this position. In my mind, the debate is centered on the definition of “direct patient care”. Pharmacy students are applying for residencies in greater and greater numbers and I imagine this trend to continue so, in some ways, the argument is moot. UIC pharmacy students are searching for ways to distinguish themselves in a competitive marketplace and, because of our clinical education programs, often find their passion in clinical practice like I did. This year about one-half of our graduating class sought additional training experiences or dual degrees (e.g., PharmD, MS or PhD). But there is a problem: there are not enough residencies to go around. From 2015 ASHP data, 4358 pharmacy graduates participated in the match and only 3081 PGY1 positions were available. Many highly qualified students want to do residencies – but can’t. For us, 57 (of 189 graduates or 30%) students found residencies through the match (some who didn’t match did find residencies in the post-match scramble). This places us 5th highest among the 132 US colleges of pharmacy. But, similar to nationwide data, some very well qualified UIC students could not find residency experiences. Under the leadership of Drs Jan Engle, Frank Paloucek, John Garofalo and other clinical faculty, we have substantially expanded our post-PharmD experiences to meet demand (despite the fact that we only receive some CMS passthrough monies for PGY1 residencies). I encourage all our alums in leadership positions to do the same. We will help you if you need assistance. We will help you for our students!
Jerry L. Bauman
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RISING STARS
Ebony Brooks Wins Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Ebony Brooks received a Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship program was established in 1985 at UIC to recognize underrepresented students who have demonstrated high academic achievement and have shown a commitment to civil rights and social justice through community service. In an effort to keep Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.’s dream alive, these awards are given to undergraduates, graduates and professional students. At the award ceremony Ebony spoke about her passion to support the healthcare needs of underserved communities and also helping to reduce violence in the black community.
Three Rockford Students Honored by the Rockford Health Careers Foundation The Rockford Health Careers Foundation (RHCF) awarded $800 scholarships to three UIC Pharmacy students: Jingjing Dale, Manar Kandil and Adam Hood. Established in 1954, the RHCF was formed to promote health care education in Winnebago County. Each year, RHCF grants scholarships to students in many health related fields, including medical and nursing schools, radiography, pharmacy and more. Congratulations to Jing-jing, Manar and Adam!
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Student Group Holds Glucose Screening
The Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) student group hosted a blood glucose screening at Catholic Charities. The 13 CPFI members were able to perform screenings on roughly 30 grateful patrons. The event was such a success that the CPFI was invited back to do a presentation to the group on diabetes.
Nashrah Maryum Recognized by Walmart and The Pharmacy Times A Nashrah Maryum was the May 2015 RESPy award winner. The RESPy, which stands for Respect, Excellence and Service in the Pharmacy Profession, is awarded by Walmart and the Pharmacy Times magazine to people in the field who exemplify those traits. Nashrah, who was nominated by Dr. Nick Popovich, received a $1000 scholarship, a one of a kind mortar and pestle, and a full-length article in the May issue of the Pharmacy Times. Nashrah’s article was published on May 20th and was titled “Altruism and Education.” Nasrah said, “I am so excited, humbled and grateful to be the recipient of the RESPy award.”
Yang Yang Wins Thesis Award
Yang Yang, a graduate of Dr. Seungpyo Hong’s lab, was awarded the Outstanding Thesis Award from the Graduate College. The award is only given to one graduate student in each of the four areas of research. Yang won for the Life Sciences category. Yang’s thesis was titled “Interactions of Dendritic Nanomaterials with Skin Layers and Their Applications in Topical Drug Delivery.”
Two Pharmacy Students Named Dean’s Scholars Graduate Students Hao-jui Hsu in the department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Wan-Ju Lee in the department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy were honored with a Dean’s Scholar Award. The Dean’s Scholar Award is a one-year, non-renewable award presented by the Dean of the Graduate College in recognition of a student’s scholarly achievement. The award is intended to provide the most distinguished, advanced-level graduate students with a period of time dedicated solely to the completion of their programs. Recipients of the Dean’s Scholar Award receive a fellowship stipend of $22,000 for a twelve-month academic year and a tuition and fee waiver from the Graduate College.
Ellie Juhn Admitted to St. Jude National Graduate Symposium
Biopharmaceutical Sciences PharmD/PhD student, Ellie Jhun has been selected to participate in the 2015 St. Jude National Graduate Student Symposium (NGSS). From the 1,815 students invited to apply for the 2015 NGSS, only 44 students were selected. She will be presenting her work on sickle cell pain pharmacogenetics. The NGSS is an all-expenses-paid event held each spring on the St. Jude campus in Memphis, Tennessee. This competitive academic and professional development event allows PhD-level graduate students from U.S. institutions to present their own work in addition to learning about the cutting-edge research and facilities at St. Jude. Neither the symposium nor the application process is advertised; thus, students can only apply if they have either received an invitation from St. Jude, or are nominated by a faculty advisor.
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FACULTY FANFARE
A Flip of the Coin Brings a Career Studying Ribosomes The UIC Distinguished Professorship recognizes scholarship, creativity and leadership. SAM HOSTETTLER
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lexander “Shura” Mankin’s decision to study the ribosome and its molecular makeup was predicated on a coin toss. Two positions were open in the laboratory of renowned Russian scientist Alexej Bogdanov at Moscow State University. Mankin and a friend, Andrei Vartapetian, were both interested. But there was only one spot available to study ribosomes. The two decided to flip a coin. “I guess you can say we both won,” says Mankin, professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy in the College of Pharmacy. “Andrei began working on the encephalomyocarditis virus and is a very successful scientist. And I was stuck with the ribosome, and since then, I have never stopped loving working with this fascinating molecular machine.”
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Throughout his career, Mankin has done extensive research on the functions of the ribosome and how it can be inhibited by drugs. His laboratory has established modes of action for several important classes of antibiotics. “We’re studying how the ribosome, which is responsible for churning out all the proteins in a cell, works, and how antibiotics interfere with its function,” Mankin says. “We also investigate mechanisms of drug resistance and are trying to develop new, superior antibiotics.” Mankin is studying how the ribosome deals with the newly formed polypeptide, how drugs affect this process, and how microbes become resistant. He has published more than 100 papers in leading journals. His research has been supported by
the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and other funding agencies. In 2009, he received the first UIC Researcher of the Year Award. Last year he received the Paul R. Dawson Biotechnology Award from the American Association of the Colleges of Pharmacy. This year he was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. As for being named a distinguished professor, Mankin says, “I am deeply touched that my colleagues and the leaders of the College of Pharmacy considered me of worthy this distinction. This award would never have happened if not for the amazing team of graduate students, staff members and senior scientists I am so lucky to work with.”
Professor Harry H.S. Fong Receives ABC’s Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award
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he American Botanical Council (ABC) announces Professor Harry H.S. Fong, PhD, as the recipient of the ABC Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award for 2014. Dr. Fong—a close friend and collaborator of Prof. Farnsworth for almost 60 years—is professor emeritus of pharmacognosy in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. ABC presents this award each year to a person who or an institution that has made significant contributions to ethnobotanical and/or pharmacognostic research. Throughout his long career in academia, Dr. Fong has focused his
research efforts on collaborative drug discovery from plants, particularly those with active antitumor, cancer chemopreventative, antimalarial, and anti-tuberculosis activities. Dr. Fong also has been dedicated to the quality, analysis, and standardization of herbal medicines and botanical dietary supplements worldwide, collaborating with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Traditional and Complementary Medicine Programme for 30 years and “working with the Hong Kong Health Department for the past 13 years on its ongoing setting of pharmacopeial quality standards for Chinese herbal materials commercially available in Hong Kong.”
To date, Dr. Fong has authored more than 270 scientific journal articles, co-authored nine book chapters, and edited 16 scientific publications, including multiple WHO medicinal plant monographs. “Being named the recipient of the ABC Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award for 2014 is a unique honor,” stated Dr. Fong. “To be invited to join the company of a small, select group of internationally recognized botanical medicine researchers is very humbling.”
Two UIC Professors Named in Top 25 List
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n a recent ranking on the Medical Technology Schools website, UIC professors Alexander “Shura” Mankin and Edith Nutescu were named among the top 25 pharmacy professors in the country. While discussing Dr. Mankin the site noted, “he is one of the finest teachers of Pharmaceutical knowledge and research, and has earned the Teacher of the Year Award, Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Paul R. Dawson Biotechnology
Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).” The site was equally effusive about Dr. Nutescu, noting, “she is an established clinical scientist with over 150 publications in the field of thrombotic disorders and anticoagulant medication safety. As such, she was recently appointed as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Pharmacotherapy, The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy.”
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FACULTY FANFARE
Bethany Elkington and Djaja “Doel” Soejarto Publish Book UIC College of Pharmacy researchers Bethany Elkington and Djaja “Doel” Soejarto, along with co-author Kongmany Sydara, published a book titled “Ethnobotany of Tuberculosis in Laos.” The book is available to download as an e-book from the website link.springer.com. A softcover version of the book is also available from the same website.
of Health (NIH) program in which UIC participates. The goal of the scholarship award is to foster junior faculty in a career of sickle cell research. Z. Jim Wang, Professor of Pharmacognosy, noted, “This is perfect for Ying’s career.” As part of the award, Professor He’s salary will be covered, and additional expenditure funds may also be awarded to the lab. The NIH also has dedicated career days, workshops, and other events for the scholars annually.
Chun-Tao Che Receives Scientific Achievement Award Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy professor ChunTao “C.T.” Che received a Scientific Achievement Award from the Chinese Society of Natural Resources. Dr. Che was in Nanjing, China attending the Chinese Medicines and Natural Products Resources Conference when he received the honor. The award recognizes Dr. Che’s research in herbal medicines and natural products.
Ying He Named Sickle Cell Scholar Research Assistant Professor Ying He has been named a Sickle Cell Scholar by the Sickle Cell Network. The Sickle Cell Network is a National Institutes
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Jeong Article Highlighted in Professional Journal The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) highlighted an article that was coauthored by UIC Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics Hyun-Young “Young” Jeong. ASPET is a respected journal that highlights only a few articles per publication. Dr. Bill Beck, Head of the Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, responded to the featured publication calling it, “outstanding” and a “singular achievement.” The article, titled “MolPharm Highlight: Kruppel-like Factor 9 (KLF9) Promotes Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 Expression during Pregnancy in CYP2D6-humanized Mice,” was originally published in Molecular Pharmacology, another publication of ASPET.
Greg Calip Named to Editorial Advisory Board for Journal Dr. Greg Calip, who just finished his first year in the Deaprtment of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, has been named to a 3-year term on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA). Greg joins Stephanie Crawford and adjunct faculty member Jim Shaw on this board.
Teeny Faculty and Staff News On February 20, 2015, Tiffany Bumpers, Urban Health Program Recruitment Advisor, gave birth to Jordan Harper Toney on February 20, 2015. Jordan weighed in at 6 lbs. 11 ozs.
field of comparative effectiveness research (CER). The grant, which is for $250,000 over a three year period, will be used to create a new on-line Masters degree in CER. UIC joins five other institutions funded under the Centers for Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research Education, which is sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation. Other previously funded centers are at the University of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Utah, Harvard, and the University of Maryland. Drs. Simon Pickard and Glen Schumock will lead the center at UIC.
Teacher of the Year and Teacher of the Semester Awards Announced
Dr. Brian Murphy was awarded Teacher of the Spring Semester – 2015 by the P1 Class of 2018.
2015 Awards for Teaching and Precepting Presented UIC College of Pharmacy Named Center for Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research Education The UIC College of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy is the recipient of a three year grant to create a new educational program in the emerging
Dr. Paul Pluta, BS ’70, PhD ’76, was awarded Teacher of the Year by the P1 Class of 2018.
Three individuals were honored for their commitment to instruction in the 2014-15 school year. Paul Pluta, BS ’70, PhD ’76, (fourth from left) received the Golden Apple Award for teaching. Scott Wirth, PharmD ’07, BCOP, (third from the left) was presented the UIC Preceptor of the Year award, and Joseph A. Lovato, PharmD (not pictured) won the External Preceptor of the Year Award. Congratulations to all!
Dr. Scott Wirth, PharmD ’07, was awarded Teacher of the Semester – 2015 and Teacher of the Year by the P3 Class of 2016.
Also receiving awards, but not pictured are Dr. Terry Moore, Teacher of Fall Semester – 2014 awarded by the P1 Class of 2018; and Dr. Isaac Cha, Teacher of the Fall Semester – 2014 awarded by the P3 Class of 2016.
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A Lab Future for the
A $1 million gift from the Foglia Family Foundation is bringing contemporary enhancements to the College of Pharmacy’s current compounding laboratory
BY DANIEL P. SMITH s a 1970 graduate of the UIC College of Pharmacy, Paul Pluta learned some critical tools of pharmaceutical science in the College’s compounding lab, a space nearly every alumni of the College encountered during studies on the West Side campus.
Now thanks to a $1 million gift from the Foglia Family Foundation, the College of Pharmacy’s compounding lab will receive a renovation that will modernize the academic laboratory and lay the groundwork for generations of new pharmacists to learn in a setting that reflects the contemporary pharmacy world and its prevailing needs.
Today, as an associate professor of biopharmaceutical sciences in the College of Pharmacy, Pluta’s life has come full circle as he oversees compounding courses in that same lab, one that has dutifully served students for more than six decades.
“This renovation project will bring us forward considerably, better representing the current standards of pharmacy practice and preparing our students for evolving trends,” Pluta says of the new Foglia Family Foundation Formulation Laboratory scheduled to open in fall 2016.
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Building a contemporary space The current 3,200-square foot compounding laboratory, where students learn how to develop and test combinations of active pharmaceuticals and delivery systems for new formulations, looks much as it did when the pharmacy building opened in 1953, including furniture and lab benches surviving from the Eisenhower era. While the lab enjoyed modest updates over the years, including new flooring and the addition of electricity to lab stations, the space still largely reflected
a bygone era. Until recently, in fact, lab benches even sported rotary dial telephones. “We have 62 years of graduates who can look back at this facility with nostalgia, but it’s time for an update,” says College of Pharmacy Dean Jerry Bauman, himself a 1976 alum who notes that some graduates have even contacted the College about purchasing the lab’s current stations and equipment before renovations begin next summer.
days will end in 2016 when the new lab opens, subsequently delivering adequate workspace representative of modern pharmacy practice.
The Compounding Lab: Reflections on what was and hopes for what will be
“This should give everyone more elbow room and result in greater student-faculty interaction,” Pluta says.
“Pharmaceutically Elegant” Before retiring in 2012, longtime College of Pharmacy faculty member Ron Koch BS 1970, Ph.D. 1976, spent the final 20 years of his career teaching the art of compounding in the “old lab.”
The new lab, however, promises to launch a new era for the College, its faculty and students.
The new lab will also feature the installation of new technology, such as IT capabilities for students to quickly access reference information and video technology for teaching applications and monitoring student techniques. In addition, it will enable comprehensive attention to both sterile dosage forms, such as IV solutions, chemotherapy drugs and hazardous drugs, as well as non-sterile dosage forms such as capsules, liquids and semisolids.
Alongside infrastructure work, such as reconfiguring the plumbing and addressing structural needs related to flooring, walls and ductwork, the new laboratory will feature compounding stations for 40 students and modular elements to encourage greater collaboration among students and faculty.
The new multi-functional laboratory, one that will soon be mirrored on the Rockford campus as well, will better prepare all College of Pharmacy students for the industry’s current realities and help them become more aware of critical real-world pharmacy practice details.
“That shows what kind of special connections our students and alumni have to this lab,” Bauman adds.
“This lab will place a big focus on modern formulations and where pharmacy is going,” Bauman says. The compounding lab will continue to be used as a training facility for pharmacists working in the UIC Medical Center, Bauman adds, while the renovated space also has the potential to draw other industry groups seeking a comprehensive training space. “With such a modern facility, there are just so many more possibilities for the College and our students,” Bauman says.
Paul Pluta
Currently, Pluta says it’s not uncommon to see three students inhabiting a single sterile laboratory space alongside a faculty member. Those satisfactory, but not optimal
Decades in the making The Foglia Family Foundation is headed by Vince Foglia, co-founder of Sage Products, a health and personal care company based in Cary, Illinois, and a long-time friend of the College.
“My mentor in compounding was Dr. Frederick P. Siegel (UIC faculty member, 1958-1992). He always said that when a pharmacist is asked to make something special for a patient in compounding that it was really important that the final product be accurately compounded and look ‘Pharmaceutically Elegant,’ right down to the ‘pig tail’ left at the top of an ointment jar, for instance. When I took over lab courses in 1992, I always stressed to students that they take pride in what they made and dispensed. I thought this not only inspired a sort of professional pride, but also helped the patient feel confident in what he or she was about to use. I can only hope that this new facility truly meets the needs of the College and the State of Illinois. [The Foglia Family Foundation’s gift] is greatly appreciated by me and I know it will be greatly appreciated by the many students who will be trained in the new lab to create a ‘Pharmaceutically Elegant’ product.”
“Exceed the Expectations” A 2012 PharmD graduate, Nishant B. Thakar is a full-time retail pharmacist and part-time instructor in the College of Pharmacy’s Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences. “In the compounding lab, I learned the art and science of pharmaceutical compounding as well as the practical aspects of dispensing, counseling and real simulations that could occur in practice. This helped me develop a degree of confidence as a student, but also sparked my interest in teaching. As the frequency of compounding continues to increase in our profession, we need to arm our students for pharmacy’s modern era. This generous donation to renovate our compounding laboratory will greatly benefit our students and fulfill our College’s desire to exceed the expectations sought in pharmacy practice today.”
“Immensely grateful ” Upon earning his BS from the College of Pharmacy in 1974, Ed Meyer spent eight years as a TA and instructor in the compounding lab alongside other professional duties. He is now a regional executive director for a long-term care pharmacy based Charlotte and an alumni board member for the College. “As a student, I was quite interested in compounding, but heard from a few retail pharmacists I was working with that I’d never see most of the formulations again. Just one year later, though, I was working in a pharmacy at Misericordia and doing plenty of compounding, immensely grateful I received such training. As a practicing pharmacist today, I’m compounding on a daily basis, so every day I’m calling upon the lessons I learned in that lab as a student and, later, as an instructor and taking advantage of that valuable knowledge.”
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Spurred by Sage Product’s success, Foglia, a 1960 marketing graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, launched the Foglia Family Foundation more than two decades ago with a few defined philanthropic priorities, including healthcare. The Foundation’s $1 million gift to the College of Pharmacy stands a sterling example of Foglia and his namesake foundation’s generous spirit. “I’m in the mode of giving back and want to make a difference while I’m alive,” says the 79-year-old Foglia, who cofounded Sage Products in 1971 after a decade in medical sales. In fact, it was Foglia’s early experiences in the medical sales field that established his deep ties to UIC’s College of Pharmacy. “In many ways, this is a gift more than 50 years in the making,” Foglia says.
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The College was one of Foglia’s earliest clients, loyal purchasers of bottles and closures from Foglia’s Bostonbased employer. Over a decade in that business, Foglia crafted genuine relationships with a number of UIC faculty members, including a lifelong friendship with Dr. Angel S. Arambulo. “Visiting the College of Pharmacy was part of my week’s work and I got to know people throughout the college and developed close, personal ties that I’ve never forgotten,” Foglia says. So deep was Foglia’s relationship and respect for Arambulo, in particular, that a plaque will be placed in the new lab featuring a photo of Foglia and Arambulo, a native of the Philippines who earned his doctorate in medicinal chemistry from the College in 1964 and divided much of his professional life between teaching and consulting work
before passing in 2001 at age 75. “Because of the College’s role in the start of my career and my friendship with Dr. Arambulo, I’m happy to take the opportunity to leave my mark there and help UIC’s pharmacy students have a richer, more fulfilling experience,” Foglia says. Bauman calls Foglia “a noble philanthropist and giving person.” “If you know Vince, then his generosity here isn’t an immense surprise,” Bauman says. “If he’s enamored with an idea and thinks it’s worthwhile and will help a good cause, then there’s a solid chance he will consider it.” In today’s ever-evolving healthcare environment, Foglia recognizes the need for a modern compounding laboratory and hopes his gift strengthens the
College’s stature as one of the nation’s top pharmacy schools. “Compounding is one of the real arts of the pharmacy profession and it should be done with modern techniques, tools and enthusiasm,” Foglia says. “Ultimately, I hope this gift helps deliver just that and further solidifies the College of Pharmacy’s place among the nation’s best.” In recent years, the College has dedicated extensive resources into updating and modernizing its physical plant, including smart classrooms, lab renovations and technology, including tools that allow for distance learning with the College’s sister campus in Rockford. Foglia’s gift represents one of the final pieces of an ambitious and consistent modernization plan outlined by college leadership more than five years ago. “This is the only way to remain at the forefront and to continue getting the best students and faculty into our College,” Bauman says. “Our students need something that feels comfortable and represents the modern pharmacy profession and this lab accomplishes just that.”
A photo of the pharmacy building from the 1970s when the lab was already 2 decades old.
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Pharmacy Access According to groundbreaking research from assistant professor Dima Qato and colleagues, nearly 1 million Chicagoans live in pharmacy deserts BY DANIEL P. SMITH
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ima Qato suspected there was more at play. While many attempts to explain medication underutilization among minority populations circled around issues such as insurance coverage, drug affordability and socioeconomic status, Qato, assistant professor of pharmacy systems, outcomes and policy at the UIC College of Pharmacy, hypothesized there was another equally important barrier worth examining: access. Alongside fellow UIC faculty members Martha Daviglus and Todd Lee, graduate student Jocelyn Wilder and additional colleagues from Brown and Northwestern universities, Qato dug into data from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the American Community Survey, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Health Resources and Services Administration. Earnestly and carefully, Qato began mapping out the accessibility of neighborhood drug stores for residents throughout Chicago, eventually landing upon an unsettling result: nearly 1 million Chicagoans live in “pharmacy deserts,” areas in which residents have to travel one mile – if not more – to obtain their prescription medications, purchase overthe-counter medications or visit in-store clinics for healthcare assistance. “Unfortunately, I can’t say I was surprised,” says Qato, who has worked as a pharmacist in large drug store chains. “Pharmacies are thought to be ubiquitous and all over the place, but that’s simply not the case.” Amid growing national recognition that residents in segregated minority communities face difficulties in accessing primary health care services, Qato’s team extends the discussion to medications. Her team’s report published in Health Affairs last November is among the first research to link the impact of segregation on pharmacy accessibility and, ultimately, medication underutilization and health disparities. “It’s an important first step,” Qato says. Given the critical role prescription medicines play in the prevention and treatment of both acute and chronic health
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conditions and pharmacies’ growing role in healthcare – from diagnostic, preventive and urgent care to immunizations and medication therapy management programs – the dearth of pharmacies in specific Chicago communities spotlights an unnerving trend that could heighten already existing health disparities and drive unnecessary negative outcomes. “This is an issue that matters because it affects disparities and, ultimately, health,” Qato says. “Pharmacies are not only filling drugs, but also providing access to other important preventative services. If minority communities continue to lack access, it’s plausible the health disparities gap will only worsen.”
Varying realities for Chicago residents
Much like the highly publicized food deserts, communities lacking access to fresh produce and other healthy goods, pharmacy deserts similarly address the issue of access. Qato’s study characterized the absence of a pharmacy within a half-mile as a pharmacy desert for a low-income community with limited vehicle accessibility. In communities with adequate vehicle accessibility, the defining radius extended to one mile. According to the research, 32 percent of Chicago’s 802 census tracts were found to be pharmacy deserts with fewer pharmacies in segregated minority communities than in segregated white communities and integrated communities. The city’s pharmacy deserts were largely clustered on the South and West sides, including such historic neighborhoods as Austin, Pullman and Roseland. Though Chicago claimed some 511 pharmacies in 2012, “there were persistent differences in the availability of pharmacies across types of communities based on their racial or ethnic composition,” the study reported, highlighting the vastly different pharmacy landscape that exists in distinct Chicago communities. “This work raises awareness from an academic and health
policy standpoint that can hopefully begin to address gaps in people’s ability to access pharmacies near their homes and the positive outcomes that can potentially create,” says Todd Lee, Qato’s co-author on the report and an associate professor in the College’s Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy. While this early research solely investigates Chicago, Qato believes the findings extend to other urban major urban areas across the United States with a history of residential segregation, including cities such as Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Philadelphia. “Chicago is the city we study here, but likely not the exception to the rule,” Qato says. To Qato and many of her colleagues, the discrepancy is a rather easy one to explain, yet one that requires more effort to solve. There’s the troubling matter of the distribution of insurance among minority populations as well as the fact that pharmacies, for-profit corporations that can largely dodge accountability for public health and community needs, typically favor opening stores in locations that promise profitability. “Quite simply, they go where the business is,” Qato says. Furthermore, she notes that the idea that medications are essential to health hasn’t been fully recognized, a reality that needs to change in quick time given the projected increase in insured people under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the escalating demand that could put on pharmacies and their services. Qato’s report charges that “disparities in medication use and health outcomes may worsen if future policies continue to focus exclusively on the expansion of insurance coverage and fail to ensure the availability and geographic accessibility of pharmacies in minority communities.”
Offering solutions
As Qato and her research colleagues see it, there are two potential solutions. The first revolves around financial incentives. The paper suggests that the ACA provision that increased Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care providers practicing in minority communities should extend to pharmacies as well. In addition, the implementation of a publicly funded program similar to the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which supports projects that increase access to healthy foods in the aforementioned food deserts, could also spur positive change. Qato’s paper also proposes the idea of extending financial incentives to pharmacies that choose to locate in largely minority communities, while also urging greater governmental oversight regarding where retail pharmacies open and close stores. “We have to encourage and promote greater accountability for public health among the drug store enterprises,” Qato says. The second solution Qato’s team proposes calls for incorporating pharmacies into the ACA’s $11 billion pledge to expand community health centers in designated medically underserved areas. “Pharmacies are essential to public health,” Qato says. “They must be integrated into the public health system and, at this point, they’re not.”
Community health centers, Qato continues, are already frequently used for general healthcare needs and can provide pharmaceutical services as well. According to Qato’s research, only 18 pharmacies in Chicago were affiliated with federally qualified health centers, a number that she believes can – and should – rise. “Making pharmacies a part of community health centers is a reasonable, practical and potentially quick solution that leverages the government’s responsibility for public health to overcome challenges in the private sector,” Qato says. Absent immediate action on those solutions, Qato and her colleagues will continue to forge ahead in their research, particularly addressing the significant and still-lingering question of if increased pharmacy access will, in fact, stimulate improved medication adherence among minority populations. With chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, disregard for medication adherence often results in heavy healthcare spending and mortality; with acute diseases such as infection and pneumonia, inefficient deployment of resources and treatment of patients frequently prompts unfavorable results. Will increased access actually help curb the negative outcomes? “That’s the critical next stage of this research,” Lee confirms. “Earlier treatment can offset longer-term, high-cost events, so we are looking at ways to solve this and assess the role of prescription drugs in this chain.” Moving forward, Qato also hopes to explore the existing types of pharmacies found in these underserved communities, which could raise interesting and important questions about fragmentation as well as the role of independent pharmacies and community health centers. In addition, she looks to scale up her research on Chicago to the national level, specifically exploring the impact of these variations on medication adherence. “There’s much more work ahead,” Qato confirms.
Dr. Dima Qato, one of the authors of the report, discusses pharmacy deserts with a colleague.
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REUNION 2014
Nominations are now open for the 2015alumni awards. The Rising Star Award For up and coming members of the pharmacy community
Alumnus of the Year For distinguished alums
Jesse Stewart Service Award For Distinguished Service in The Field of Pharmacy To make a nomination visit the Pharmacy alumni website. pharmalumni.uic.edu 16
SUMMER 2015 | pharmalumni.uic.edu
If you’re a College of Pharmacy alumni, chances are, you’ve heard of Dr. Siegel. A two-time graduate of the College, Dr. Siegel served as a faculty member for nearly 35 years. During his tenure, he was voted Teacher of the Year 15 times and was the recipient of nine Golden Apple Awards in recognition of excellence in instruction. Since then, Dr. Siegel has come to represent the highest caliber of pharmacy education and is one of the most beloved professors in the College’s history. Recognized as a national expert on bringing a concept to final dosage form, Dr. Siegel aided numerous industries as a product development consultant and still actively consults at 80 years of age. For these and countless other accomplishments, the College honored Dr. Siegel with its Legacy Award in 2009.
Support the Siegel Scholarship
Thanks to you, the College is now able ensure Dr. Siegel’s lasting legacy with a fully endowed $25,000 scholarship in his name. “Dr. Siegel was instrumental in my pharmacy education, and without his teaching, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” —Andrea Wendrow, bs ’86 “I gave because Dr. Siegel was such a wonderful teacher and mentor.” —Anne Keating, pharmd ’92
Don’t let your generosity end there. Please consider a $250 gift to the Frederick P. Siegel Scholarship to increase your level of support for quality pharmacy education. Your gift, combined with those of other alumni, will continue to honor a master educator who impacted the lives of more than three decades of COP graduates. “Dr. Siegel was one of my most wonderful and cherished teachers at UIC COP and still a mentor to me today in my field of cosmetic chemistry.” —Eugene Frank, bs ’60, ms ’71 “To Dr. Siegel: Thanks for the excellent memories from my time at the UIC College of Pharmacy.” —Larry Jacobucci, bs ’77 “A fine man and a great professor. Loved going to his class.” —Ronald Symusiak, bs ’72
Give your gift today. Visit pharmgiving.uic.edu. See if your employer sponsors a matching gift program and make your contribution go even further! Learn more by visiting www.uif.uillinois.edu/matching.
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COMMENCEMENT
Congratulations, graduates! Commencement recognizes 234 graduates from the class of 2015 The class of 2015 were honored this spring at the annual commencement exercises. A total of 234 students (209 PharmD students, 9 Master’s students and 16 PhD students) received their degrees. The event featured keynote speaker Dr. Bill Fitzsimmons, bs,
’83, an executive Vice President at Astellas Pharma Global
Development. Fitzsimmons went on to Michigan for his master’s degree and Virginia Commonwealth for his PharmD. New UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis was on hand to address the graduates, as was Dean Jerry Bauman. The ceremony culminated with the reading of The Oath of the Pharmacist lead by Caroline Park, pharmd,
2005.
Degrees Awarded PharmD – 209 Masters Biopharmaceutical Sciences – 1 Forensic Science – 4 Medicinal Chemistry – 1 Pharmacognosy – 2 Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy – 1 PhD Biopharmaceutical Sciences – 5 Medicinal Chemistry – 5 Pharmacognosy – 5 Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy – 1
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CLASS NOTES 1975 Tom Temple, bs, and wife Cathy became first-time grandparents on April 29 as they welcomed Leyton Joseph Temple.
2000 Kelly (Maciejewski) Biggs, ms forensic science, and husband Brian welcomed their fourth child, Crosby Ronald, on July 8, 2014. Crosby joins big brothers Avery (9), Levi (6) and Roman (3). 2001 John McGilvray, pharmd, received the Alaska Pharmacists Association Distinguished Alaskan Pharmacist Award in 2015 for contributions in public speaking with various disease support groups, promoting education in local public schools, mentoring and precepting clinical pharmacists, students and residents, and presenting pharmacotherapy presentations over the last 14 years at the annual state pharmacy convention. 2008 Jamie (Joseph), pharmd, and Scott Benken welcomed their second daughter, Gia Patrice on December 22, 2014 at 10:38 p.m. She was 7lb 5oz, 19 inches long. Gia joins big sister Joy.
1993 Brad Cannon, pharmd, has held an academic appointment at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy for the last 20 years, where he worked as a clinician educator, as well as a Coordinator in the Office of Academic Programs. Brad joined the faculty at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science as an Assistant Professor and Director of Experiential Education in October of 2014. Shortly after leaving UIC College of Pharmacy, Brad and his wife Joan established a scholarship for pharmacy students. 1993 Norman Garges, pharmd, recently brought his friend Greg Pechous ‘61, bs, to visit the college. Greg worked in independent pharmacies and retired from the VA. Norman has worked at UIC hospital since graduating. Both are scout leaders in Western Springs, Illinois. Even though the graduates went to school 32 years apart, both were taught by Dr. Fred Siegel.
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2009 Mihaela (Popescu) Jason, pharmd, and her husband Chris welcomed their first child, Nadia Maria on November 16, 2014 at 12:08 a.m. She weighed 6lb 8oz and was 19.75 inches long.
2010 Sonal Goyal, pharmd, is a CDC Allan Rosenfield Epidemiology Fellow currently living in Thailand, and is working on conducting Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Studies in the Elderly as her primary projectcombining her PharmD and Public Health degrees. 2014 Natina Abdelfattah, pharmd, welcomed son Nouh to the world on November 3, 2015. Congratulations.
2014 Jeff Krueger, pharmd, and his wife, Julie Zhu met their son Benjamin Zhuyihong on December 10 at 8:05 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs 14 oz. and measured 20.5 inches long.Health Service.
A Serious Childhood Disease
This poster from the National Association of Retail Druggists was donated to the college. No one is certain of its vintage but it is likely from sometime in the early 1970s since the measles vaccine referred to in the second paragraph was not available until 1968.
2015 Shangwen Luo, phd, and her son An-Ju Dong after this year’s graduation ceremony. An-Ju’s father, Shi-Hui Dong, worked as a postdoc in Dr. Guido Pauli’s lab from 2011-2013.
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CLASS NOTES
College Accreditation Renewed for Eight Years
T
he college underwent an accreditation review this fall from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). This spring the college learned their accreditation had been renewed for eight year, the maximum time allowed. “I was extremely pleased that we received full eight year accreditation and were judged compliant on all standards,” said Dean Jerry Bauman. “Accreditation within pharmacy and other health professions has become extremely rigorous. The credit for our success goes to the faculty who participated in the self-study and the site team visit and the co-chairs of the self-study, Drs. [Nick] Popovich and [Rosalyn] Vellurattil. Everything was expertly coordinated by Associate Dean Marieke Schoen.” The self-study involves reviewing the numerous accreditation standards and reporting on how the college measures up against them. Then a site inspection team is sent out from ACPE to inspect the campus and interview various stakeholders. “I am very thankful to the faculty, staff, students, preceptors and alumni who contributed to the process,” said Schoen, Vice Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. “Keeping up with changes in ACPE accreditation standards is an important part of my job. I always try to make sure the college is meeting or exceeding
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SUMMER 2015 | pharmalumni.uic.edu
the current standards, but it is critical for the faculty and other constituents to take a hard look at everything we do via the self-study process so that we can continue to be outstanding and improve where we can.” In addition to approving accreditation, ACPE also prepares a report on the college’s strengths and areas that need improvement. “The accreditation team was fair, helpful and made many flattering comments about our programs,” Bauman noted. The accreditation report applauded the college for such disparate things as having a “well-respected and forward thinking” Dean to successfully creating the Rockford campus to having an “outstanding research program.” The report also positively commented on the relationships between students and teachers, and the diversity of the student body. “The site team was impressed by our achievements,” Rosalyn Vellurattil, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, added, “and I know we will continue to have many more over the next eight years. It is our strong commitment to excellence and outstanding faculty that truly makes us a cut above the rest. The feedback they provided will only continue to strengthen our already exceptional program.”
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OBITUARIES
In Memoriam Kathryn J. Miyamoto-Wier, bs, ’75, lost her fight with cancer in February of this year. After graduation Kathy went to work at Michael Reese Hospital in the Mandel Clinic. After a short time she rose to pharmacist in charge of the clinic. Due to budget cuts the clinic pharmacy was closed. She then became the Assistant Director of Pharmacy for Michael Reese Hospital. After 13 years with the hospital she left pharmacy to pursue an art career, creating Japanese themed artwork and painting pet portraits. Kathy loved to travel, with Egypt being her favorite spot. Upon return from a trip to China in June 2014 she was diagnosed with lung and metastatic brain cancer from which she passed on February 28,2015. Her husband Dennis Wier, rph, ‘73, who she met and dated in Pharmacy school, survives her.
Eugene “Gene” Woods, FACULTY, ’87-’03, passed away January 15, 2015 at his home in Fort Myers, Florida with his wife, Pat at his side. Gene was born June 29, 1931, in Richmond, Virginia to his parents, Edward and Wilhelmina (Walker) Woods. He is survived by his devoted wife of 22 years, Patricia (Jameson) Woods; children Jan (the late Beasy), Ralph (the late Leslie), and the late Randy; 11 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. Gene is preceded in death by his 3 siblings, William, Edward, and Mary. He received his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Pharmacology at the Medical University of South Carolina and taught there from 1957-68. He moved to the Chicago area in 1975 and worked as Director of Biology & Infectious Diseases at Baxter Laboratories until 1987. In 1987, he was hired by the University of Illinois at Chicago as professor and head of the Department of Pharmacodynamics until 1990 and Professor of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics until he retired from teaching and research in 2003. Gene and his first wife, Ruth raised their family in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, where he lived most of his life. Gene loved boating and fishing the waters surrounding Charleston harbor and the outer islands. He loved playing golf and he and his wife, Pat were members of the Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida. Gene will be remembered for his incredible generosity and kindness, and his fun-loving sense of humor.
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Support the Dean Henri R. Manasse, Jr., Scholarship
If you’re a College of Pharmacy alumnus or ASHP member, chances are, you’ve heard of Henri R. Manasse, Jr., PhD, ScD. As a strong visionary and inspirational leader, former dean Manasse helped to move the college and profession forward having set an audacious goal of Doctor of Pharmacy for every graduate of the UIC College of Pharmacy. This was an early first step for a man who would go on to spend his career working to serve, represent, and rightfully elevate pharmacists who practice in hospitals and health systems across the country. Educated as a pharmacist at the University of Illinois in 1968, Dr. Manasse went on to earn a master of arts in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago and a PhD in pharmacy administration from the University of Minnesota. Through his education, training, and life experiences, Dr. Manasse developed a unique set of skills, perspective, and philosophy regarding his chosen professional. He would go on to serve a number of leadership positions, including dean and professor of pharmacy administration at the college, vice chancellor for health sciences at the University of Illinois Medical Center, vice president for health sciences at the University of Iowa, and chairman of the board of the University of Iowa Health System before serving as the executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Throughout his long and accomplished career, he was always focusing on opening new doors and redefining care models for pharmacists to use their extensive clinical knowledge to contribute at the forefront of patient care. Given his extensive and impactful career, the college hopes to ensure Dr. Manasse’s legacy of leadership with the creation of a $25,000 endowed scholarship in his name.
We need your help. Please consider a $250 gift to the Dean Henri R. Manasse, Jr., Scholarship Fund. Your gift, combined with those of other alumni, will honor a visionary leader who has impacted the lives of our alumni as well as the professional for many years to come.
Give your gift today. Visit pharmgiving.uic.edu.
See if your employer sponsors a matching gift program and make your contribution go even further! Learn more by visiting www.uif.uillinois.edu/matching.
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Chicago, Illinois Permit No. 4860
UIC College of Pharmacy (MC 874) 833 South Wood Street Chicago, Illinois 60612
n IN THE
LOOP
For the full calendar of events, visit the College of Pharmacy Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs online at events.pharmacy.uic.edu. Questions? Contact Deb Fox at (312) 996-0160 or dfox4@uic.edu.
Upcoming College of Pharmacy Events July 25-29 ASP ANNUAL MEETING AND ALUMNI RECEPTION Copper Mountain, CO Interested in serving as an alumni “coater?” Contact: Deb Fox: dfox4@uic.edu August 20 WHITE COAT CEREMONY UIC COP Campuses Contact: Deb Fox: dfox4@uic.edu September 10-12 ICHP ANNUAL MEETING Drury Lane, Oak Brook, IL Contact: Deb Fox: dfox4@uic.edu
September 24-27 IPhA ANNUAL CONVENTION Westin Lombard Hotel, Lombard, IL Contact: Deb Fox: dfox4@uic.edu November 14 ALUMNI REUNION Maggiano’s Little Italy Oakbrook, IL Contact: Deb Fox: dfox4@uic.edu