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ALUMNI NEWS
EDITOR
Megan Davis WRITER
John Backman PHOTOGRAPHER
Kris Qua
FEATURE STORIES 06
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College Hometown Pharmacy Opens its Doors
On March 30, the College made history when it opened New York State’s first ever student-operated pharmacy in Schenectady, NY. College Hometown Pharmacy is one of ACPHS’s two pharmacies launching in medically underserved areas in the Capital Region.
Alumni Feature
Recent graduate Stephen Ziter ’14 sat down with Alumni News to share what he’s been doing since graduating with his Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
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Growing Interest in Public Health
With broader awareness and accelerating career opportunities in public health, the College will be adding a new degree program in the fall: a Bachelor of Science in Public Health.
AT A G L A N C E 04 President’s Message 18 Student Scope 20 Commencement
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Campus News Class Notes Friends We’ll Miss
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE We have a primary care crisis in this country. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that in 2013, 8.4% of primary care physicians would not accept new patients. The acceptance rate of Medicaid patients is even more severe with 35% of physicians not taking new Medicaid patients. Lower income areas with predominantly Medicaid populations are simply not getting the primary care they need. Despite these great unmet needs in primary care, our health care system has not tapped into one of its largest resources—the pharmacist. Pharmacy is the nation’s third largest health profession, and pharmacists possess the education and skills required to address many of our primary care needs. So if we have a shortage of primary care and pharmacists can fill a gap, why aren’t they being used? The answer is not so simple and lies in the structure of the health care system, its policies, and its reimbursements. The National Governors Association recently wrote a paper titled “The Expanding Role of Pharmacists in a Transformed Health Care System” in which they concisely outlined the three main challenges confronting pharmacists:
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Laws and regulations governing Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPAs) Every state gives “scope of practice authorities” to certain medical entities that can delegate these authorities under supervision to different health care professionals. We need more extensive CPAs between providers and pharmacists.
Provider recognition in state laws and regulations that enable compensation for pharmacists Each state delegates some level of traditional provider responsibilities to health care professionals. Not only do we need pharmacists to take on more in terms of diagnosing and prescribing, but we need them to be reimbursed for it.
Access to health IT systems The electronic health record is a central ingredient of any effective health care system. Pharmacists need access to medical records to reconcile and properly dose medications. The good news is that progress is being made on each of these three fronts. Nearly every state now offers some form(s) of CPAs, though the protocols that comprise these agreements vary substantially from state to state. In New York, for example, a Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDTM) bill was passed in September 2015 that permits CDTM to be practiced in all hospitals, where previously it had been limited to just teaching hospitals. The bill also permits CDTM in New York’s diagnostic and treatment centers, hospital-based outpatient departments, and nursing homes that have on-site pharmacies. A number of states have been progressive about broadening the scope of practice for pharmacists, with their legislative actions often spurring other states to pursue similar measures. In 1995, two Washington State pharmacists became the first in the nation to administer the flu vaccine. By 2009, every state in the country had passed a pharmacist immunizer law.
And that trend continues. In April, California became the second state (Oregon was the first) to allow pharmacists to directly provide prescription contraceptives. It’s worth noting that the new law also permits California pharmacists to prescribe smoking cessation products, travel medications, and expanded immunizations. According to the American Pharmacists Association, 94 bills were introduced at the state level in 2015 to address patient access to pharmacists’ care (that was three times as many bills as were introduced in 2014). Sixteen bills were introduced on the definition of pharmacists as providers; 53 bills were introduced addressing scope of practice issues, including collaborative practice agreements; and 25 bills were introduced on payment for services. A leading force for change in permitting pharmacists access to IT systems is not a state, but one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health plans. Kaiser Permanente’s electronic health record system (KP HealthConnect) not only provides access to patients’ records for all of their doctors and specialists, but also pharmacists. Change rarely takes place quickly in health care because so much is at stake. But change is necessary, and it is happening, and that is an encouraging sign. By creating broader CPAs, passing appropriate legislation, and opening medical records, we can accelerate the pace of change and ensure that pharmacists become key players in meeting the critical primary care needs of this country.
SPRING 2016
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
AN OPENING
FOR THE
BOOKS
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N E W S T U D E N T- O P E R AT E D P H A R M AC I E S , T H E F I R ST E V E R I N N E W Y O R K S TAT E , S E E K T O A D D R E S S H E A LT H C A R E ’ S BIG CHALLENGES.
SPRING 2016
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ON MARCH 30, ACPHS MADE HISTORY —AND TOOK ON THREE M A J O R H E A LT H C A R E CHALLENGES IN ONE F E L L S W O O P. That day College Hometown Pharmacy officially opened its doors for business. The new establishment, located on State Street in Schenectady, is the first of two student-operated pharmacies launched by ACPHS in medically underserved Capital Region areas. It is also the first student-operated pharmacy ever in New York State. And one of the very few anywhere in the U.S.
GOING BEYOND PRACTICE READY The timing is perfect for College Hometown Pharmacy and its soon-to-be counterpart, College Parkside Pharmacy in downtown Albany, which will open for business later this year. The two will address a perfect storm of pressing issues facing the health care field, from training tomorrow’s pharmacists to serving the underserved. First and foremost, the pharmacies represent the cornerstone of President Dewey’s Beyond Practice Ready initiative. Led by a full-time pharmacist manager and a part-time pharmacist, they will give pharmacy interns invaluable hands-on
experience in every aspect of tomorrow’s pharmacy field, from traditional pharmacy disciplines to business operations. “With a student-operated pharmacy, I’ll get to see what goes on behind the scenes,” said Alyssa Hopsicker, a fourth-year ACPHS student who will intern at College Hometown in the fall. “We’ll learn what needs to be done to maintain ownership of a pharmacy, accreditation, financing, planning, employee relations—the whole business aspect, which we don’t experience much in our curriculum.” “Medical schools have operated hospitals since the 19th century, but pharmacy schools haven’t run pharmacies. Why not?” asked President Greg Dewey, Ph.D., just before the grand opening. “These pharmacies can give students a unique, forward-looking experience of being part of a community and contributing to its health care.” Even more important, the two pharmacies will equip students with the skills needed in the field’s expanding scope of practice (see article, page 22). According to David Kile, the College’s Executive Director of
SPRING 2016
Continuing Education and Professional Development, students will engage in such services as medication therapy management, medication adherence counseling, health screenings and assessments, and medication device training. “These are the Beyond Practice Ready skills that employers have told us they’re looking for when they hire a pharmacist,” he said. Perhaps the most valuable trait students will acquire is what President Dewey calls adaptability. “When you’re educating today’s students for tomorrow’s profession, you have to think not just about content but about skill set,” he said. “They will need to be comfortable with entrepreneurship, with early adoption of new ideas, with their ability to adapt to changing conditions. The student-operated pharmacies build those skills in an experiential way.”
TAKING ON HEALTH CARE’S BIG ISSUES Students will be developing their Beyond Practice Ready skills in communities that urgently need them—also known as medically underserved areas, or MUAs. These areas typically have too few primary care providers, high infant mortality, widespread poverty, a large population of seniors, or some combination of these factors. And MUAs are more common than you might think: 43 of New York State’s 62 counties include at least one, according to the American Pharmacists Association. Several factors played into the decision to site the ACPHS pharmacies in underserved areas. College officials wanted to minimize competition with existing pharmacies and chains, many of whom employ or are operated by alumni. Just as important, the locations and not-for-profit status of the pharmacies will give students experience in social entrepreneurship and diversity. “We’ll learn how to interact with patient populations that are different from what we’ve experienced in previous rotations and other situations,” Hopsicker said. The student-operated pharmacies will also fill a critical gap in primary care—an area
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of health care in which pharmacists will increasingly play a role. “Primary care is in crisis,” President Dewey said. “There are simply too many needs and too few providers to fulfill them, especially in underserved areas. We need pharmacists to step in and alleviate the pressure. With these student-operated pharmacies, students gain the emerging skills needed in tomorrow’s pharmacy, while residents benefit from those skills today.” What will this look like in practice? “Take point-of-care testing,” President Dewey said. “While patients are waiting for their prescriptions, the students can offer screenings for a variety of health issues. Then they’ll do counseling with the patients based on the results.” The counseling part requires expertise in another key skill: communication. “We want students to advocate for strategies that will make their patients healthier,” President Dewey explained, “but they can’t give a technical lecture. Students must learn to speak in a language that’s meaningful to the population they serve. If they can do that, they have the potential of enhancing the medical literacy—and hence the wellbeing—of an entire area.”
INTO THE FUTURE Plans call for the pharmacies to make an impact well beyond their walls, according to Kile. In the future, ACPHS students may complete ambulatory care rotations at Hometown Health Center, the clinic that houses College Hometown Pharmacy. Students in both the pharmacy and the clinic will be involved in population health initiatives for the local community—possibly to include the unique education and distribution program for naloxone (Narcan™), an opioid antidote, proposed by ACPHS students in the Pharmacy Administration course. The College will seek partnerships with community-based organizations to improve local health via education and other means. Contributions from members and friends of the College community will fund the pharmacies for up to the first five years, after which they will be selfsustaining.
With the grand opening, ACPHS becomes one of the few U.S. colleges to host a student-operated pharmacy. The College adapted the model pioneered by Duquesne University, and the two schools collaborated closely in the details of the Capital Region pharmacies.
for Hopsicker they are a chance to fulfill a childhood dream. “Both my parents are in the pharmacy field, and I grew up hearing their stories,” she remembered. “Having the student-operated pharmacy will help me improve all the skills I’ll need as a futurepracticing pharmacist.”
While the pharmacies represent a pioneering initiative in pharmacy education,
SPRING 2016
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
C ATC H I N G U P
WITH ALUMNUS
ST E P H EN ZITER Stephen Ziter, class of 2014, from Troy, NY found his way to Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in a pretty conventional way, but the College was not initially on his radar. A serious student and naturally drawn to the sciences, Ziter had dreamt of playing Division 1 baseball and was looking at multiple colleges with that focus in mind. It wasn’t until he met an admissions counselor from ACPHS that got him thinking differently. “Science is right for me, it always was,” Ziter said. “I enjoyed tenth grade biology and eleventh grade chemistry. I was thinking I’d major in engineering or a science related field while playing baseball.” But then he began to question whether or not he’d be able to keep up with his coursework while also maintaining a demanding D1 schedule. The more he spoke to the ACPHS representative, the more excited he became about the possibility of attending the College, so figuring he had nothing to lose, he applied. While he waited to hear back from colleges, Ziter thought long and hard about his decision. “I sat down with my family and it took about two to three months of soul searching before deciding that Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences would be
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the right fit,” he recalled. “The small class sizes were very appealing, and during accepted student day, they did a great job of selling the health sciences programs.” Ziter started off in the B.S. in Health and Human Sciences program before switching to the B.S. program in Pharmaceutical Sciences in his second semester. “BSPS was the better path for me and I knew it would ultimately apply more to a medical degree program in the future,” Ziter explained, which is a goal of his someday soon. Currently, Ziter works for Scribe America where he quickly moved up to a junior project leader with 14 employees under him. In this capacity, he works closely with multiple providers at a St. Peter’s Health Partners affiliate in East Greenbush, NY. As a scribe, he and his team document patient encounters and feedback during an exam or patient procedure with the doctor. As a result, providers gain more face time and quality time with the patient. “Some patients were a bit wary of us initially, but after a brief introduction from the doctor patients become comfortable,” he said. “And if ever there is something sensitive or the patient feels uncomfortable, we step outside the room.”
For the patient this means a quicker interaction and less wait times. Overall, the site Ziter manages has seen an increase in efficiency, higher revenue for the practice and greater patient satisfaction. Ziter described his first few months on the job however, as a little intimidating. “When I first started, the site was very new and providers didn’t know what to expect from us,” he explained. “We had to gain their trust right from the beginning. Those first two months were stressful. I didn’t realize just how much responsibility I would have.” He quickly learned that the key to success was communication.
“The best way to manage everyone’s expectations was to just sit down with each provider and map out the plan. Open and honest communication drove our approach and built trust early on.” Ziter works with 10 different providers across various specialties, including medical doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. “My goal is to stick with Scribe America for the next year and help them expand and set-up new sites in the Capital District,” said Ziter. “Within the last few months I was promoted to my current position and I am now responsible for setting up new scribe sites throughout the St. Peter’s Hospital network. The pilot site that I was responsible for setting up went so well that they are now offering the scribe program to every provider in the St. Peter’s network.” In the future, Ziter has his sights set on medical school. “If I had it my way, I’d like to pursue a residency in sports medicine and be a consulting physician for a sports team.”
SPRING 2016
AROUND THE COLLEGE
NEW DEGREE
A D D R ES S ES
G R OWING IN TEREST If you need evidence that public health is a fast-growing field, consider David Clarke’s nephew. “Since he’s in high school now, I asked him about his career plans,” said the dean of the ACPHS School of Arts and Sciences, pictured here on the left. “He thought a bit and said, ‘It tracks disease…I think it starts with…an E?’ I ventured epidemiologist and he said ‘yes, that’s it!’ So even 15-year-olds have a sense of what public health is.” That broader awareness—and the accelerating career opportunities that go with it—demand new initiatives from colleges in health sciences. It’s the perfect time for ACPHS to unveil its latest degree: a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, beginning this fall. Associate Professor Wendy Parker, Ph.D., will serve as the Director of the new Public Health program. The degree consolidates diverse skills that, until now, were taught across a wide range of departments. Coursework will include not only basic science (an emphasis of the
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degree’s predecessor, the B.S. in Health and Human Sciences), but also biostatistics, social and behavioral science, health policy, and epidemiology. Students will opt for one of two tracks: community health or health analytics. “Previously, many workers who entered public health did not have formal training in the discipline,” Clarke noted. “Those who did, received it through graduate studies. As new jobs in the field have opened, the demand for education at the undergraduate level has increased.” Even on a national level, the response to that increase has been fairly recent: the Council on Education for Public Health accredited the first B.S. degrees in public health in 2008, and the first standalone programs in 2013. Public health’s rapid expansion comes from a confluence of societal megatrends: the aging population, the emphasis on preventive health care, intense media scrutiny of related issues, and the Affordable Care Act, among others.
IN PU BLIC H EALTH As a result, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting double-digit percentage increases in most public health careers through 2024—far above the average growth rate for all careers of 7%. Graduates of the B.S. in Public Health will be prepared for jobs in community health education, public health data analysis, health advocacy, communications, and other fields. The new degree will take up residence in a new department: the Department of Population Health Sciences, which will also host the current M.S. in Health Outcomes Research. “The Health Outcomes degree is a specialty within public health,” noted Tarun Patel, the College’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, pictured above, right. “Its curriculum represents a seamless transition from the health analytics track in the new bachelor’s degree—so it made sense to house both programs in the same department.”
The new department makes sense for other reasons too. “The structure of the new department will serve to bring together faculty from our School of Pharmacy and School of Arts and Sciences making it easier for them to collaborate on research,” Patel explained. Meanwhile, the M.S. in Health Outcomes provides an ideal platform to launch online certificates in subspecialties like health informatics and pharmacovigilance—which students could complete to become even more competitive in the job market. While other schools have launched public health programs, the College’s initiative is distinctive in at least one area. “Our core strength—in this program and as a college— is that all our degrees have to do with health care,” Clarke said. “Every program, and every student, contributes to the study of human health and the provision of health care. Such a focused environment provides fertile ground for both this new degree, and our existing ones, to excel.”
SPRING 2016
AROUND THE COLLEGE
FIRST
ACPHS-WADSWORTH
V ENTURE TACKLES A SC O URGE O F H E ALTH CAR E Any research collaboration between ACPHS and its distinguished neighbor, the Wadsworth Center, would represent a bold new direction. A collaboration focused on a scourge of health care institutions— MRSA—could be historic. To think it all started with a form of speed dating. ACPHS and the Wadsworth Center, New York State’s public health reference laboratory, have granted four investigators (two from each institution) $375,000 to study if the genetic steps that MRSA takes to become resistant can be slowed with the right dosing of antibiotics. This is the first time the two institutions have come together on a research project. The “speed dating” idea arose from conversations between ACPHS President Greg Dewey and Director Jill Taylor of the Wadsworth Center. Rather than stage a formal symposium to exchange ideas, the two hosted an evening reception with researchers from both institutes. Each researcher gave a two-minute summary of her or his research, and attendees had plenty of time to mingle and ask questions. This prepared the ground for the announcement of the grant, which came with one key stipulation: any application had to cross not only institutional boundaries, but multiple disciplines as well. “They wanted individuals who had never worked together to take a fresh, collaborative look at a big problem,” said Amit Pai, Pharm.D., ACPHS professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice. “It was the combination of specialties that made our application successful.”
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THE “NEW MRSA” FROM EVERY ANGLE The need could hardly be more pressing. Most MRSA infections occur in people who have recently been in hospitals or other health care settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. Staphylococcus aureus, the bacterium behind the disease, has evolved to resist numerous antibiotics since the middle of the last century. (This includes methicillin, which gave S. aureus its popular name: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.) As a bloodstream infection, S. aureus can lead to endocarditis, a life-threatening heart condition. Most recently, the antibiotic of choice for these bloodstream infections has been daptomycin—but daptomycin resistance is now cropping up in some patients. Such a complex, multifaceted problem was perfect for the team behind the grant, which spans several disciplines and multiple levels—“from [DNA] base pair to bedside,” according to Meenakshi Malik, Ph.D., associate professor in the College’s Department of Basic and Social Sciences. Wadsworth researchers Kathleen McDonough, Ph.D., and Janice Pata, Ph.D., hold expertise in infectious disease microbiology, genomics, and biochemistry, which enables them to investigate which genetic changes in S. aureus are causing the daptomycin resistance. Malik’s research involves fundamental questions about the microorganisms behind infectious diseases. Pai has developed a novel and promising model to identify proper daptomycin dosage for critically ill people.
The project’s procedure follows a bioreactor model that, according to Malik, is a new direction in MRSA research. Her lab will grow S. aureus in plates containing various dosages of daptomycin; daily sampling will enable her to pinpoint when the strains reach a certain level of resistance. Resistant strains go to McDonough and Pata for genomic sequencing—and, if all goes well, the mutated genes that contribute to resistance will be discovered and their individual contributions determined. Subsequent phases will seek to determine the cause of the mutations and then, using Pai’s daptomycin model, translate the findings into proper dosages for overcoming resistance. The research may also point to the need for developing new drug compounds. From there, the research could take several directions. The $375,000 serves as seed money for what the team hopes will be a larger grant for similar research from the National Institutes of Health. And the benefits may extend beyond MRSA. “If we
can identify the mechanics of resistance for MRSA, we can possibly do the same for other bugs,” Malik noted. Whatever the ultimate outcomes, the research represents a promising step forward for both the researchers and the institutions that host them. “The close proximity, complementary expertise, and shared public health science interests of the Wadsworth Center and ACPHS make it natural for us to collaborate in ways that benefit both institutions while moving the science forward on particularly challenging problems,” Pata said. “Collaborations like this one are exciting,” McDonough added, “because our combined effort is so much more than any one of us could accomplish alone, and it allows all of us to widen our areas of expertise.”
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VERMONT STUDENT SCOPE The Alumni News recently caught up with a few sixth year students while on the Vermont campus to hear how they became interested in pharmacy, what drew them to ACPHS Vermont, where best to go for some good eats and other fun little morsels of information.
Cassandra Mathers
Venkatesh Satram
Age: 25
Age: 25
Hometown: Cassadaga, NY
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
What do you love about ACPHS Vermont?: The area. The community. The people. Everyone in Vermont is so nice, laid back and welcoming. It’s beautiful here. But the faculty are the best part of ACPHS VT. I’ve met some of the smartest people I’ve ever known. They are all willing to help you out and go the extra mile for the students.
What do you love about ACPHS Vermont?: The people. The vibe of the campus is more akin to that of a family. We all know and care for each other and that feeling and sentiment comes from the top down, through the administration and staff.
Why did you choose pharmacy?: My brother was a member of the first graduating class, my cousin is a pharmacist. I went to Nazareth College and thought I was going to be a vet. I shadowed my cousin and visited the VT campus when my brother was a student and it was a great fit, it ended up being more of what I wanted. I was fascinated. Favorite hangout in town: McGillicuddy’s or El Gato. Best study tip: Figuring out your best way to learn early and figuring out your preferred study techniques. I write everything out. Some people make charts. I find that studying with likeminded individuals really helps. Find a study buddy who is compatible with you. Favorite activity: I play volleyball and coach the Burlington Waves, a minor softball team, girls ages 8-11. After graduation: I signed with CVS in Burlington. I’ll be starting there in October.
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Why did you choose pharmacy?: I studied Allied Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut. I knew I wanted to go into health care, but pharmacy wasn’t even on my radar. I realized after graduation that I did not want to go into medical school. I had actually worked for a CVS for about two years as a pharmacy technician. Every one of the pharmacists I worked with encouraged me to pursue this profession, so I looked into it. Now I know I’d like to go into industry at a top pharmaceutical company working in drug development. Best place to grab a bite in town: East West Café has top notch Thai food. I would recommend the Khao soi, which is a coconut based curry noodle soup. I also highly recommend the Mule Bar in Winooski. They always have numerous local beers on tap and their cheese plate is packed with all locally sourced farm-to-table cheese. Best study tip: Start early, stay caffeinated. Favorite winter activity: Sledding and ripping donuts out on the lake, but not in my car.
where we were studying penicillin, I was hooked from there. Best study tip: Don’t procrastinate. Try to do something everyday so it doesn’t build up.
Audreanna Williams Age: 24 Hometown: Schodack, NY
Favorite Activity: Malletts Bay for kayaking, paddleboarding, pond hockey and swimming. My ultimate favorite place though is the Colchester Causeway – old rehabbed railroad tracks. It’s a very popular spot. There’s a bike trail surrounded by water, it’s stunning. In the winter I love snowshoeing and hiking at Hunger Mountain.
What do you love about ACPHS Vermont?: The community we have here. Anytime I have an idea for an event everyone is so very helpful, encouraging, and supportive. I love the camaraderie between students and faculty. Professors are helpful and accommodating, inside and outside the classroom. Why did you choose pharmacy?: I actually got a job with Rite Aid pharmacy the day I turned 18. After working there and seeing the interaction between the pharmacist and the patients, and realizing the impact that they had and the difference they made within the community, I was sold. Best place to grab a burger in town: Farmhouse. Favorite winter activity: Snowboarding at Smuggs (Smugglers’ Notch).
Kimberly Treier Age: 27 Hometown: Colchester, VT What do you love about ACPHS Vermont?: The close community. By the end you feel like a family. Why did you choose pharmacy?: I’m very detail oriented and I like to understand why things happen. After a microbiology class
Cody Russell Age: 26 Hometown: Plattsburgh, NY What do you love about ACPHS Vermont?: The class size is smaller which makes it easy to have a close knit group of friends. I love the faculty-student interaction. Everyone knows you and that has its benefits. Why did you choose pharmacy?: Because many of my family members have had cancer, I knew early on that I wanted to go into the medical field. Also, I had a great relationship with our local independent pharmacist, Skip Maggy, who would invite me into the pharmacy as a kid and as I got older, he let me shadow him. He was a staple in the community and respected by everyone. I looked up to him. I started leaning toward pharmacy as I got closer to choosing a college and went in with the intent of practicing pharmacy. Best place to grab a bite in town: Vermont Pub and Brewery Best study tip: Make drug charts Favorite winter activity: Snowboarding Favorite summer activity: Bass fishing on Lake Champlain SPRING 2016
COMMENCEMENT 2016 On Saturday, May 14 in a first of its kind combined ceremony, the College welcomed the Class of 2016 from both the Albany and Vermont campuses at the 136th Commencement at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. This year there were 275 graduates representing 17 states and 9 countries. Commencement speaker and alumnus, David Stack, ‘76, gave an inspirational sendoff to the students.
Bachelor’s degrees (47): B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences – 4 B.S. in Biomedical Technology – 2 B.S. in Health and Human Sciences – 14 B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences – 22 B.S. in Chemistry – 1 B.S. in Microbiology – 4 Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Vermont: 56 Albany: 153 Total: 209 Bachelor’s and Master’s Dual degrees B.S./M.S Biotechnology/Cytotechnology – 1 B.S./M.S Clinical Lab Sciences – 5 B.S./M.S Pharmaceutical Sciences – 1 B.S./M.S Cytotechnology/Molecular Cytology – 3 Master’s degrees M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences – 5 M.S. in Health Outcomes Research – 4
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SPRING 2016
W H AT W ILL
TO M ORR OW’ S
P H A R MACY LO O K L IKE ? What’s the difference between a pharmacist and a health care provider? Increasingly, nothing at all. As pharmacists have expanded into a range of clinical services—from point-of-contact screenings to immunizations to medication management—the push for formal recognition of their provider status has gained steam on both the federal and state levels. With the numbers crunch in today’s health care, that recognition cannot come soon enough. The American Pharmacists Association has made provider status its top legislative priority on both the national and state levels. Federally, the goal is passage of the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act (H.R. 592/S. 314), which would provide for Medicare coverage of certain pharmacist services. Coverage would extend to services provided in
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underserved areas and legally authorized by the state in which the practice does business. That one little phrase—“legally authorized by the state”—sets the priority for statewide action: to expand the list of services that pharmacists can legally provide and thus receive reimbursement for.
A NATURAL PROGRESSION The campaign for provider status is the natural extension of a trend that started some thirty years ago, says Robert DiCenzo, interim dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “In the eighties, the scope of practice expanded into health care institutions,” he recalled, “and pharmacists began to develop subspecialties to work with specialized health care teams. So an infectious disease team would include a pharmacist who knew infectious
diseases. Now this is happening in primary care: primary physicians are starting to see the value of pharmacists on their teams, and they’re reaching out to pharmacy schools in search of pharmacists to share a practice.” The critical shortage in primary care physicians has added urgency to the push for provider status. A report from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortage of 6,400 medical professionals—and more than 20,000 primary care physicians—by 2020. Overall population growth, the expanding senior population, and the Affordable Care Act are swelling demand beyond the ability of the primary care network to tend to it. To make matters more challenging, medication use is rising steadily. As reported in a paper from the National Governors Association, the percentage of Americans who used two or more prescription drugs increased from 25 percent in 1999 to 31 percent in 2008. The average number of prescriptions per capita stood at an eye-popping 12.6 in 2009.
STEPPING INTO THE GAP In response to these trends, pharmacists have begun offering an expanded array of services, perhaps none more important than medication therapy management, or MTM. “With so many drugs prescribed by different doctors at different stages of care, the potential for error is great,” DiCenzo said. “There is a serious need for medication reconciliation: someone who knows what the patients are taking, what new medications they’ve been prescribed, and how all that works together. The pharmacist is clearly the person to fill that role.” MTM is only one of the services in the expanded scope of practice, however. Immunizations through pharmacies have become commonplace. Medication adherence counseling has become more important as medication use has proliferated, since failure to adhere to regimens can have serious consequences. Point-of-contact screenings for a wide range of health issues—from obesity to diabetes to blood pressure—can have a substantial impact on community
health when offered through pharmacies, where these screenings are more easily accessible than through a doctor’s office. DiCenzo emphasizes that pharmacists will never replace primary care professionals, hence the need for teams. “The doctor’s domain is still properly the differential diagnosis and the initial plan of therapy,” he said. “The pharmacist is charged with optimizing that plan. And with their knowledge of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and other specialties, pharmacists can add vital knowledge that primary care physicians simply don’t have.”
MEANWHILE, NORTH OF THE BORDER… Sanjay Gandhi, ’95, doesn’t have to imagine what tomorrow’s pharmacy might look like— because he’s operating one today. Rolling Hills Pharmacy, which Gandhi and his wife Ursula founded in 2005, specializes in several areas that qualify as “expanded scope of practice,” including medication reviews and private consultations. In fact, “our patients rely on our input so much that the actual act of filling prescriptions is no longer our main duty,” Gandhi said. Rolling Hills’ location in Orangeville, Ontario, has a lot to do with that. “The [provincial] government and pharmacy regulatory bodies have produced a system to reimburse pharmacists for patient consultations,” Gandhi explained. “So now we are able to deliver diabetic medication reviews, home medication reviews, smoking cessation counseling, and similar services. This is a very big step forward, and pharmacy in Ontario continues to forge a strong path towards compensation for other professional services too, such as minor ailment prescribing and injection services.” As Gandhi sees it, these expanded capabilities enhance not only patient care, but competitive position. “Because of these landscape shifts, we at Rolling Hills Pharmacy have adapted our practice model to thrive in the new environment,” he said. “By providing niche specialty and consultation services, the independent pharmacy model can still be a successful and viable option for pharmacists.”
SPRING 2016
TAKING THE BATTLE TO THE STATES
GOING BEYOND PRACTICE READY
Back in the U.S., a patchwork of state regulations has grown up around provider status. Among the most notable was California’s 2013 enactment of a significant expansion of the state Pharmacy Law. Pharmacists in California can now:
Preparing students for this expanded scope of practice is part and parcel of President Dewey’s Beyond Practice Ready campaign. In the new student-operated pharmacies (see cover story, page 6), students will engage in MTM, counseling, and other services included in “tomorrow’s pharmacy.” Here and throughout ACPHS, an emphasis on interprofessional education—learning alongside students in medicine, nursing, and related professions—will enable students to step comfortably into integrated health care teams upon graduation. The Pharmacy Skills Lab Sequence, which once focused mainly on medications, now covers patient counseling, immunizations, and screenings as well. Student learning goals have expanded to encompass professional teamwork and leadership development.
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Order and interpret tests to monitor and manage the efficacy and toxicity of drug therapies Initiate and administer routine vaccinations Furnish self-administered hormonal contraceptives, nicotine replacement products, and prescription medications not requiring a diagnosis that are recommended for international travelers Apply for board recognition as an advanced practice pharmacist, enabling them to perform patient assessments, among other functions (Montana, New Mexico, and North Carolina have established this designation as well)
Progress in New York State has come more slowly. Pharmacists regularly provide immunizations throughout the state; on the other hand, students and interns cannot immunize patients, which “hinders them from getting the real-world experience they need in New York,” DiCenzo said. New York law does not allow for Medicaid coverage of MTM or professional services, and it restricts collaborative practice agreements— the mechanism by which pharmacists become members of health care teams— to hospitals.
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The intangibles of ACPHS make a difference too. “We are very thankful for the education we received at ACPHS, and the friends and relationships we made along the way,” Gandhi said. “These factors have been invaluable to us as we continue to evolve with the changes in the independent pharmacy profession.”
CAMPUS NEWS “Giving Day” Raises More than $43,501 in 24 Hours The College held its second annual Giving Day on April 28, with more than 200 donors contributing a total of $43,501 to support students and programs at ACPHS. The amount raised represented a more than 50% increase over the $28,000 donated during last year’s inaugural event. Giving Day Headquarters in Albany and Vermont served as the home base for activities, attracting a steady stream of visitors and supporters throughout the day. Volunteers helped answer phones, write thank you notes, and assist with online donations. Thank you to everyone who participated! For a recap of the day including photos of the event go to acphs.edu/givingday.
Eight New Students Join Provost’s Honors Circle Eight new students were welcomed by Provost Patel into the Provost’s Honors Circle during a ceremony held on April 28. The new members are: Caitlin Chauhan, Dylan Davies, Ayush Deep, David Lee, Marie Malone, Austin Morley-Sloan, Brittany Varriale, and Katharine Walker. The Provost’s Honors Circle is a three-year
Masquerade Ball Celebrates Vermont Campus Achievements The Vermont Campus SGA hosted its end-of-year Masquerade Ball on April 23 at the Sunset Ballroom in South Burlington. The annual event is an opportunity to celebrate the end of the academic year and recognize individuals and organizations on their achievements. This year’s award recipients included Marci Wood (Community Service Award), Venkatesh Satram (Mr. ACPHS-VT), Seema Jaipal (Ms. ACPHSVT), Dr. Elizabeth Higdon (Student Choice Award), ASHP-SSHP (Organization of the Year), and Carolyn Claxton (President’s Award).
Cytotechnology and CLS Students Receive White Coats Six members of the B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, nine members of the M.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and one member in the M.S. in Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology programs received their white coats at a ceremony held on April 24 at the Albany Hilton Garden Inn. Following the white coat presentation, the CLS students recited the “Pledge to the Profession,” and the Cytotechnology students spoke the “Oath of Conduct.” As in pharmacy and other health professions, the white coat ceremony symbolizes one’s transition from a student to a professional.
Faculty Members Earn Honors and Appointments
interdisciplinary experience for honors students in the College’s bachelor of science (B.S.) programs, comparable to the Rho Chi Society that exists for pharmacy students. The goal of the program is to provide enrichment opportunities to high-achieving B.S. students who are intellectually curious, well-rounded, engaged with their community, globallyconscious, and exhibit leadership potential.
Instructor Jenna Benson has been named President Elect of the American Society for Cytotechnology and will serve as that organization’s president for the 2017-18 term. She has also been nominated to serve on the Executive Board of the American Society of Cytopathology. Associate Professor Jeff Brewer was named a 2016 Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The ASHP Practitioner Recognition Program recognizes pharmacists who have excelled in pharmacy practice and distinguished themselves through service and contributions to ASHP.
SPRING 2016
Associate Professor Kevin Hickey served as co-organizer of the New York African Studies Association’s 41st annual conference held in April at The City College of New York and Columbia University. The conference was attended by 130 scholars, performers, and artists from throughout the U.S. and Africa.
Three Students Receive Air Force Pharmacist Scholarships Pharmacy students Bella Wolak (P3), Greg Correale (P3), and Steve Sullivan (P4) have been named 2016 recipients of Air Force pharmacist scholarships. This past year the Air Force awarded just ten pharmacist scholarships nationwide, so the
fact that ACPHS students received three of those scholarships is an impressive accomplishment. Under the terms of the scholarship, the Air Force pays each student’s P4 tuition, fees, supplies, books, and any special equipment that is required for their P4 year in addition to providing a monthly stipend of approximately $2,000. In exchange, students must commit to three years of service in the Air Force following graduation.
Student Earns “Good Catch Award” for Medication Safety Ken Kausch, a P4 student on the Vermont Campus, was part of a three person team selected for a Good Catch Award by the University of Vermont Medical Center’s Patient Safety Department. The “good catch” began when one of the hospital’s nurses did a bar code scan and noticed that the drug dispensing system had been loaded with the incorrect medication. The error was the result of two drugs having similar sounding names and spellings, despite being used for different indications. Ken, who was doing a Medication Safety Rotation at the time, worked with a pharmacy technician to review how all the medications are stored and labeled
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at the hospital in order to help avoid similar situations in the future. Ken and the technician compiled their findings and recommendations and presented them to the Medication Safety Committee for their review.
Students and Faculty Participate in Pharmacy Legislative Day More than 70 ACPHS students and faculty members were part of a contingent of 550 pharmacists and pharmacy students who visited the Capitol in Albany on April 12 for New York’s annual Pharmacy Legislative Day. “Leg Day” is an opportunity for students and professionals from across the state to meet with state legislators and discuss issues of importance to pharmacists and patients. Discussions included expansion of existing pharmacist immunization laws and the need for a registration process for pharmacy technicians. It was notable that four of the six speakers who delivered welcoming remarks had direct ties to ACPHS: Assemblyman John McDonald III ’85 is an alumnus; Mike Duteau ’92, President of the Chain Pharmacy Association of New York State, is an alumnus and a member of the ACPHS Board of Trustees; Mike Zandri ’84, Co-Chair of Government Affairs for the NY State chapter of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, is an alumnus. Kate Cabral, President of the New York State Chapter of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, is an assistant professor at the College.
Vermont Students Participate in Pharmacy Advancement Week The ACPHS Vermont Campus joined several pharmacy schools in New England for Pharmacy Advancement Week. The program, which was led by the Student
Society of Health-system Pharmacists (SSHP), was inspired by the national organization’s Practice Advancement
Initiative (PAI). PAI aspires to transform how pharmacists care for patients, including the establishment of pharmacists as health care providers. On March 28, each of the schools participating in Pharmacy Advancement Week posted boards in high traffic locations that read “I support provider status because...” Students were then invited to fill in the blank (one response said “because 12 out of 14 Vermont counties are medically underserved”). Other events included hosting guest speakers Wesley McMillian and Jeffrey Schnoor from the University of Vermont Medical Center to discuss the latest legislative developments regarding provider status.
with a record of 14-4-1, won the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) regular season title and conference championship, and advanced to the national championship final in Asheville, North Carolina where they were the national runner’s up. The winter season saw men’s basketball finish with a record of 10-12. The women’s basketball team finished their season with an overall record of 21-5, won the HVIAC regular season title and conference championship, and advanced to the national championship in Uniontown, Pennsylvania where they were the national runner’s up. ACPHS also had 19 student-athletes named to the HVIAC Fall All-Academic Team. The HVIAC All-Academic Team consists of student-athletes who have reached sophomore academic standing and have earned a 3.5 cumulative grade point average or better at the conclusion of the fall semester, and participate in one of the conference’s fall sports.
Annual Vermont Pond Hockey Tourney Big Hit This past February, a few Vermont students played in the annual Pond Hockey Classic Tournament on Lake Champlain. It was a three day tournament hosting over 100 teams and over 1,000 players. “Even though we had to put up with some of the coldest temperatures of the year,” said Vermont student John Orfanidis. “The guys would all agree it was well worth it. The Colchester Grizzlies went 2-2, which was a great first run. We’ll be back and hunting for that championship next year for sure.”
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS The ACPHS Department of Athletics and Recreation saw all fall sports compete for USCAA National Championships including men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s cross country. Men’s and women’s cross country travelled to Lakeland, Florida for USCAA nationals where the men finished 12th and the women finished 4th. The men’s soccer team finished their season with a record of 11-7, and earned their first ever bid to the USCAA National Championship in Asheville, NC. The women’s soccer team finished their season
Panthers Sweep First Ever Home Track and Field Meet The ACPHS men’s and women’s track and field teams swept Bard College in the school’s first ever home meet on April 27 at the Albany Academies. The men defeated Bard by a score of 61-39; the women won
94-58. Winners on the men’s side included Christopher Hunter (400m), Dean Ostrofsky (1500m), Zachary Clarkson (100m), Kyle Guiffre (shot put), Quinn Kelly (long jump, 200m), and William Harrison (discus). Winners on the women’s side included Jessica Monzyk (3000m), Nicole Kulakowski (400m), Meghan Hagerty (pole vault), Geralyn Swald (100m and 400m hurdles), Shannon McCormick (triple jump, high jump), Dannie Griffin (200m), and Rebecca Foote (shot put).
SPRING 2016
CLASS NOTES
GIVE US A RING
(518) 694.7393
1957 The YWCA NorthEastern NY 2016 Women of Achievement Celebration in March honored alumna, Ann Parillo, for her continued dedication to the community and for making a difference in the lives of women and families throughout the Capital District!
DROP US A LINE
alumni@acphs.edu
We want to hear how you’re doing and what you’ve been up to since graduation. Keep the College, your fellow classmates and friends in the know by sharing your stories, milestones, accomplishments with the Office of Institutional Advancement.
1979 Augustine “Gus” Barranca was hired by the College to help spearhead and supervise the implementation and operations of the two student operated pharmacies in Schenectady and Albany. Gus will oversee pharmacy services and work side by side with students at College Hometown Pharmacy in Schenectady and College Parkside Pharmacy in Albany. 1983 Congratulations to St. Johnsville pharmacist and ACPHS alumnus, Tim Baumeister, who was recently names Kinney Drugs “Favorite Pharmacist of the Year” for the second year in a row!
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2000 David Deloso was recently hired by ACPHS to be the staff pharmacist at College Hometown Pharmacy, the new student operated pharmacy at Hometown Health Centers in Schenectady, NY. 2012 Scott Beeman recently shared that he will be continuing his career development with Bayer Health care Pharmaceuticals Inc. and will be moving to Germany for a two year post. Scott was previously located in New Jersey within Early Product Commercialization sector at the company. 2013 Congratulations to Lucy (Cole) Austin and Garret Austin on the birth of their son Caleb Earl. Congratulations to Joseph Parisian who married Stephanie Ball in September 2015. Joseph is currently a pharmacist with Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, NY. Alumnus and member of the VT Campus Class of 2013, Hitesh Patel, keeps a $1 bill in his pocket separate from the others. “It reminds me of who we are and who I am, and it stays with me because of that,” he said. Patel and his partner, Peter Pogany are the new owners of the Farmingdale Pharmacy, which reopened on February 15 after its sudden closure a year ago. Patel earned that special dollar as a tip after delivering medication to
a Farmingdale Pharmacy customer from Plainfield. The customer was without a pharmacy after Farmingdale Pharmacy close. This is the fourth pharmacy that Patel and Pogany have opened.
Therapy Management to members of the health care team and patients of BCBSVT.
Alumna, Keri LeCompte, from the VT Campus Class of 2013, was recently highlighted by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont for her work with Medication
2015 Congratulations to Andrew Hallet and Sarah Daubenschmidt (ACPHS Class of 2013) who were recently engaged and plan to wed in October 2016. Sarah, graduated from Albany Medical College in 2015 as well and is currently employed as a physician’s assistant with Novant Health. Andrew is currently a pharmacist with CVS.
F R I EN D S WE’ L L MIS S 1939
1957
1983
Abraham Kupperberg
Angelo M. Friello
John R. Ripley
May 30, 2014
February 17, 2016
March 4, 2016
1950
Marguerite Matarrese Grego
1995
April 6, 2016
May 14, 2016
Fredrick S. Haggerty Sr. January 17, 2016
1951 James R. Boscoe February 5, 2016
1953 John A. “Jack” Monakey October 28, 2015
1958 G. Wesley Barnard October 29, 2015
1959 Jeannie Kramer April 29, 2016
1965 Kathleen Koniszewski March 5, 2016
1954 Mina May (Bishop) Bullock
Serge Shishik
1968
FAC ULTY & STA F F Richard Schmonsky March 11, 2016
David Gianuzzi
May 2, 2012
February 13, 2016
1955
1979
Charles W. Goldsmith
George Doherty
September 12, 2014
April 9, 2016
SPRING 2016
ANNUAL FUND
Raised: $196,976.16
2015 2016
As of June 13, 2016
Goal: $250,000
Your gift will make an immediate impact! Support the College by making your gift to the Annual Fund today at acphs.edu/donate
STAY CONNECTED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ACPHS has a number of social media and online resources to keep you connected to the College and your fellow alumni. Check them out and start liking, sharing, and tweeting today!
June 30, 2016
ACPHS Alumni Facebook Page www.facebook.com/acphsalumni
ACPHS Alumni Twitter Feed twitter.com/ACPHSAlumni
ACPHS LinkedIn Group www.linkedin.com/groups/1913669
RXinsider CareerTapp www.careertapp.com Search Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Alumni Council Volunteer Board The Office of Institutional Advancement, along with the Alumni Council Volunteer Board has the perfect opportunity for fellow alumni LIKE YOU who can share your insight with current students and fellow alumni. Help shape an ACPHS student’s future. Serve as a member of the Alumni Council Volunteer Board. These groups are working on a number of initiatives including career mentoring, special events, recruitment and more and WE WANT YOU to step up and join us! If you would like more information and to partner with fellow alumni please email alumni@acphs.edu today!
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EVENTS
Jul 25 Aug 19 Aug 26 President’s Cup Tournament Admissions – Pre-Med, PharmD White Coat Albany, NY Public Health & Laboratory Ceremony Science Day Albany, NY Aug 11 Albany, NY CE: Medication Safety Aug 29 Symposium & Annual Aug 24 Fall Semester Begins Preceptor Training First Year Student Albany, NY & Colchester, VT Albany, NY & Colchester, VT Move-In Day Albany, NY
Aug 12 For registration details, more Admissions – ACPHS Aug 24 information and a complete Discovery Day PharmD White Coat listing of ACPHS calendar of Albany, NY Ceremony events, visit acphs.edu Colchester, VT
3 WAYS TO GIVE BACK THROUGH ADMISSIONS Introducing: ACPHS’s Alumni Recommendation Program If you know a student that may thrive in one of our six B.S. programs or our Doctor of Pharmacy program, you can easily submit an online recommendation on their behalf with ACPHS at www.acphs.edu/recommendation. Through the Recommendation Program, the Office of Admissions can work closely with students our alumni feel would be a strong fit for the College. In addition, students who have been referred through this program and apply to the College will have their application fee waived. • B.S. in Biomedical Technology • B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences • B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences • Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Meet with prospective students near you Prospective students love meeting alumni at events both on- and off-campus! There are multiple ways to participate, including: • Serving as a panelist at an on-campus or regional ACPHS event • Speaking at a local high school about your experience at the College • Representing your profession at a career fair in your area
• B.S. in Chemistry • B.S. in Microbiology • B.S. in Public Health (New for fall 2016!)
If you would like to learn more about opportunities to give back through the Office of Admissions, please give us a call at 518.694.7221 or send us an email to admissions@acphs.edu.
Share your story We’re interviewing alumni to be featured on our website and in our new publications! Share your experience as a successful alumnus/alumna and inspire the next generation of ACPHS graduates. SPRING 2016