2017 G.O.L.D. by Phi Delta Chi Gamma Omicron

G.O.L.D. Gamma Omicron Literary Dose

FDC University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy G.O.L.D. | ISSUE #6

TABLE OF CONTENTS Masthead..............................................................................................................2 Outgoing Worthy Officer Reports......................................................................3 New Worthy Officer Reports..............................................................................8 Scholarship..........................................................................................................13 Leadership...........................................................................................................16 Professional/Service Project...............................................................................18 Philanthropy.......................................................................................................20 Rush.....................................................................................................................22 Social Events.......................................................................................................31 Chapter Advisor.................................................................................................48 Faculty Brothers..................................................................................................51 Alumni Outreach................................................................................................52 School Events.....................................................................................................54 Graduating Brothers..........................................................................................62 UMES-SOP Hooding & Awards Ceremony..................................................63 UMES-SOP Awards Ceremony......................................................................66 PDC Annual Awards Banquet.........................................................................67 Photographs........................................................................................................71 Travel...................................................................................................................77 Year in Review....................................................................................................84

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MASTHEAD Editing and Arrangement

Matthew Smithmyer (Worthy Correspondent ’17-‘18, Former Worthy Chief Counselor ’16-‘17)

Jessica Wearden (Former Worthy Master-at-Arms ’16-‘17)

Contributing Authors Donghoon Namkoong Matthew Smithmyer Dr. Fred Tejada Truptiben Sindhi

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Jessica Wearden Vu Nguyen Alexis Smith Seth Weinstock Elaine Gilfillan Divya Vepuri

Shahrzad Barzin Eric Barbye Shelby Holstein Michelle Sebok Aneesha Garg

OFFICER REPORT A message from our outgoing Worthy’s Worthy Chief Counselor – Matthew Smithmyer I became WCC after the previous WCC stepped down from his position. I chose to step up and lead a Chapter that was struggling with leadership and communication. I worked closely with my Executive Committee to plan the year’s events. Our Chapter, at the time, only consisted of 10 Brothers who were on/near campus; the rest were out on their APPE rotations. We had a lot of work to do if we were going to get things done. I also wanted our Chapter to grow; I knew that if there were more Brothers, we would not be struggling as much as we were. New Brothers would bring new ideas, friendships, and leadership. I am proud to say that together with my WMA, Jessica Wearden, we were able to initiate 14 new Brothers in the Fall of 2016, including a faculty member! The Executive Committee of Gamma Omicron helped so much this year. We were truly a team and together we accomplished a lot. Our 4th Annual Halloween Party was the most successful to date. Our St. Jude Walk/Run Fundraiser was the most successful fundraiser our Chapter has done for St. Jude. The WKF, Shadow Spiers, came up with the idea to do a 50/50 raffle, which was a huge success. It was such a success that we decided to do it again in the Spring! I am glad to say that we had a successful year, and I could not have done it without my Brothers. I am so happy I joined Phi Delta Chi, where together, we are becoming leaders in pharmacy. However, I cannot express enough the amount of gratitude, trust, understanding, friendship, and thanks I have for Jessica Wearden. I do not believe that the Gamma Omicron Chapter would be the success that it is today without her. I am so glad she was by my side this year to help me achieve my goals. Michelle Sebok also deserves a shout out. She did an amazing job as WC and kept our Chapter in check by always submitting the reports on time. Marcus Mog, the new WCC will do an amazing job. I am proud that he was willing, and has accepted the position. I wish him and all the new Brothers the best of luck! I may be going on APPEs, but now I am the new WC! I get to continue to work with my Brothers next year! AAAE!

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OFFICER REPORT A message from our outgoing Worthy’s Worthy Vice Counselor – Amanda Lehmann Over the past year I learned about myself, Brotherhood, and being a leader while serving as the Gamma Omicron WVC. My first WVC responsibility began in May of 2016 when I began planning the annual PDC Awards Ceremony. Despite the planning and help from my Brothers, the event was a lot like herding cats! I spent the dinner practically screaming while trying to be heard so I could honor the award recipients in a crowded Hibachi restaurant with not enough seating or privacy! Despite these hurdles, the show went on as it always must, and all the guests were able to enjoy the evening. This event was an analogy to how pharmacy school, and our lives for that matter, must always go on! As a P3 while I serving as WVC, I witnessed uncertainty plague us all from time to time and months of planning result in chaos and scrambles. No one in our GO Chapter has a crystal ball to predict these struggles, but we all have help from each other and we all know how to laugh. I learned that being a P3 is not all I had built it up to be in my mind. I thought it would be a sunny, fun walk in the park compared to taking exhausting assessments and 9hour classroom days, but in actuality it was very challenging and even lonely at times. For the first time in two years I didn’t have my best friends to share lunch with every day, or my roommate to vent to about the exam material at 1am every other Wednesday night, or my Happy Hour crew to celebrate another successful assessment with every other Friday afternoon. My advice to all my SP2 and SP3 Brothers and future new SP1 Brothers is to cherish every day you get to spend with your classmates while in the didactic portion of the curriculum. Never again will you be surrounded by so many people who have your same schedule, know all too well about your daily stress load, or have as many crazy mnemonics running through their brains as they are trying to keep an antibiotic spectrum or decompensated heart failure algorithm straight. I would also recommend trying to fit in some exercise at least a few days a week, keep your heart open to finding love while in pharmacy school, wear high heels in the classroom while you still can before rotations and work begin, and get an early start on studying and assignments! Thank all of you my GO Brothers for teaching me the values of Brotherhood and helping me to become a Leader in Pharmacy! AAAE!

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OFFICER REPORT A message from our outgoing Worthy’s Worthy Keeper of Records and Seals – Aneesha Garg Serving as the Worthy Keeper of Records and Seals this past year was more than just taking roll and recording minutes at our ritual formal meetings. I was given the opportunity to truly feel needed and felt obligated for being a reliable Brother. I took an active role in our fraternity by keeping us on track during meetings, organized as a Chapter, and made sure that everyone had access to the minutes I took every month. Apart from this, I worked closely with many of the Executive Brothers and our great advisor, Dr. Tejada. Although it could get hectic and provoke anxiety at times, I really enjoyed planning out our main events and fundraisers throughout the year. It was wonderful seeing our Brothers cooperating and being involved with different aspects of the Chapter. With our teamwork, we were able to have successful events; all the while bonding with all of our Brothers. I feel these experiences made not only me, but the whole Gamma Omicron Chapter stronger as the year went by. Being part of this chapter as the WKRS this year was definitely worthwhile for me, giving me a true appreciation of Brotherhood and I hope it will be even more for the incoming WKRS!

Worthy Alumni Liaison – Lincy Abraham Being Worthy Alumni Liaison (WAL) this past year was such an amazing opportunity! My duties to the fraternity were to solidify the bridge between students and alumni and to update them on what we were up to throughout the year. I enjoyed being a connection between these two groups with the added bonus of talking to more of our alumni near and far. Not only did I get to meet more Brothers, I really saw and appreciated the value that the alumni place for our Chapter. Whenever we had meetings or fundraisers, I was the go-to person to send the news to the alumni. And in those times, there would be alumni Brothers who were always willing to participate or help. They taught me how strong "AAAE" is and that the Brotherhood really is with you until the end. Without our alumni, our Chapter would not be where it is today. And for that, I’m so happy to have had this opportunity in the past year to really connect with them but I know it’s just the beginning! G.O.L.D. | ISSUE #6

OFFICER REPORT A message from our outgoing Worthyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Worthy Correspondent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Michelle Sebok Being WC for the Gamma Omicron Chapter of Phi Delta Chi was a rewarding and challenging experience. I stepped into the position aware of the importance of WC, and the monthly responsibilities it entailed. I had an amazing mentor in Keesha Kline, the out-going WC, and she helped me transition into the position. After watching and assisting her do the March and April reports, I was set to tackle the May report, including the publication. I received a lot of help from my Brothers, and was extremely proud of our 2016 GOLD publication. The rest of the monthly reports went similarly, but the reports and projects, while challenging at times, were not the most important part of my WC experience. The Mid-Atlantic region has monthly conference calls to assist with the reports, and through them I got to know different Brothers throughout our region. Michael E. Plazak was an amazing regional correspondent that helped me tremendously. I found myself looking forward to the monthly calls with my regional Brothers. The most rewarding aspect of being WC was how close it brought me to my Brothers in my Chapter. I was always close with Brothers from my class, and knew Brothers from the lower classes, but not that well. While APPE year usually makes it harder to see and communicate with Brothers on campus, my role as WC brought me closer to them than I expected. I got to spend more time with them, and get to know them on a deeper level. I am truly glad I took on the role of WC this past year, and have grown as a Brother and a person because of it

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OFFICER REPORT A message from our outgoing Worthy’s Worthy Prelate – Alexis Smith This year I had the opportunity to be Gamma Omicron’s Worthy Prelate, and although I was unable to attend various events due to work conflicts, I can honestly say being our Chapter’s Worthy Prelate was a great experience that I am thankful to have had. You see, one of my jobs as Worthy Prelate was to keep the spirits of our Chapter up and help facilitate brotherly love. But, I can tell you that while that was my job, I truly feel like my Brothers showed me more love than I ever could have tried to foster. Being Worthy Prelate showed me just how much the Brothers of Gamma Omicron truly care and desire to help one another. From sending study guides, texts, get well cards, thank you cards, and just reaching out to check up on one another, our Chapter truly aced the category of brotherly love. Having the opportunity to step back and watch our brothers grow, it is amazing to see the lifelong relationships that have been formed just in this year between newly initiated brothers, current brothers, and our amazingly involved alumni. That being said, I love my Chapter, Gamma Omicron. We may be small, but together we are fierce. Alterum Alterius Auxilio Eget; Phi Dex for life!

Worthy Master-at-Arms – Jessica Wearden Over the past year, it has been a pleasure to serve as Worthy Master-at-Arms. This position provided me with a unique opportunity to learn more about myself, my fellow Brothers, and our fraternity. I truly enjoyed the opportunities and challenges that this position provided. I undertook tasks ranging from organizing outreach and social events, fundraisers, initiations, meetings and various ceremonies, to teaching our pledges. My favorite part of this past year has been watching our Brothers and our fraternity grow and seeing how the hard work of my fellow officers has paid off as we reflect on all our accomplishments. Through each step of our journey our motto rang true as none of our achievements could have been met without the help of another. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve and work with my Brothers this past year; it has truly been an amazing experience.

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OFFICER REPORT A message from our new Worthy’s Worthy Chief Counselor – Marcus Mog Brotherhood is paramount to our success as a fraternity, and when I see my Brothers at events or just around school it is reassuring that they’re always people around I can rely on. Being a part of PDC has made me realize how valued we all are to each other and how much we can do to help the community that surrounds us. Throughout this year, I have learned so much from the Classes before us and from my fellow Kappa Class brothers. I wanted to be WCC because I want to retain what PDC has been to me and be able to offer this amazing organization to upcoming brothers of this fraternity. Matthew Smithmyer and Jessica Wearden have done so much for this fraternity; organizing events and promoting brotherhood throughout the fraternity. This feeling of belonging and inclusion must continue to persist and grow so that this Chapter of PDC can become the best Chapter of PDC. As the WCC I plan to continue to implement the values of this fraternity. I would like to continue to grow our membership while helping the community and promoting brotherhood from alumni to potential pledges. In the upcoming semester, I hope that as the WCC I can facilitate in the planning and execution of events that exemplify PDC’s pillars of brotherhood, service, scholarship, and leadership. I also hope to increase the amount that each member is involved within the fraternity by involving every member in the work that it takes to carry out these events. It means a lot to me that I was elected WCC and I hope I can make effective decisions to lead PDC in the right direction and foster a productive and exciting environment. AAAE!

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OFFICER REPORT A message from our new Worthy’s Worthy Vice Counselor – Seth Weinstock The decision to join PDC was one of the first major decisions I made after coming to UMES, and it’s a decision that I’m so glad that I made. Being elected as Worthy Vice Counselor of this organization means so much and I’m excited to help our Chapter grow in many ways throughout the coming year. One of my major goals as an officer is to help find more opportunities for our Chapter to serve our community. We do a great job when it comes to fundraising for St. Jude, but I would love to have our Chapter of PDC get out and work with those in need to make a direct impact on the people in our area who need help the most. We have plenty of opportunities to make a real impact in our community and I hope that during my year as WVC, the Gamma Omicron Chapter can earn a reputation in our community as a group of people who can be counted on when our service is needed.

Worthy Keeper of Records and Seals – Peter Awad As the Worthy Keeper of Records and Seals, I plan to fulfill all the duties that my role entails. For the upcoming year, I would like to fully maintain the minutes and proceedings of all meetings. I also want to maintain any other documents of the Fraternity including the Constitution, National bylaws, and Chapter bylaws. I plan to give insight and feedback on any major decisions that our fraternity is experiencing. As an officer, I hope to encourage more pharmacy students to join the Phi Delta Chi in order for the fraternity to grow. Lastly, I plan to help set up social events, fundraisers, and anything else that will work to improve PDC.

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OFFICER REPORT A message from our new Worthy’s Worthy Keeper of Finance – Vu Nguyen As the Worthy Keeper of Finance, I hope to accomplish a number of things during the upcoming year. Aside from the usual record keeping and collecting dues, I would like to be involved in the planning of rush and fundraiser events. My goal is to help recruit as many new brothers as we possibly can. In order to supply new members with adequate clothing and materials, we must come up with better fundraising events. Monetary funds will keep PDC alive and we will need to all work together as team to reach that goal. More importantly, I would like to keep a big balance in the bank when I pass down the officer position.

Worthy Alumni Liaison – Shelby Holstein As Worthy Alumni Liaison, I would like to be able to execute a successful event for Chapter Alumni, future alumni, and even with another Chapter. My goal is to bring Brothers together and rekindle our Fraternal Spirit in those who are not always able to be near, and enjoy time with Brothers. Also, included in my goals are to find better ways to communicate with alumni, to make sure they know we are here, reaching out. Through better communication, and a successful event, I would like to make this event an Annual Alumni Tradition. As a Chapter, I would like for us to be more involved with service to our communities, and leadership. Brothers made the most of their time during our Annual Retreat, and I think we will be able to accomplish what we set out to this year.

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OFFICER REPORT A message from our new Worthy’s Worthy Prelate – Benjamin Farwell As an officer, I have been given the blessing from my Brothers to become the Worthy Prelate. As the Worthy Prelate, I would like to take over as the leader of organizing the “Boo Gram” fundraiser, and try to make that as successful as the previous year. I would also like to help other fundraising ideas and be of assistance to my Brothers. More specifically, I would like for our Chapter to donate more money towards our philanthropy, St. Jude’s Hospital, than previous years. I want to be instrumental in each of those endeavors, and be of assistance wherever I may be asked to help.

Worthy Master-at-Arms – Divya Vepuri My first impression of PDC was of a previous WMA. She reached out to me before I started my first year at UMES and made me feel welcome. I decided to join PDC because once I started meeting everyone, I could feel the Brotherhood and sense of belonging during rush events and at school. As the incoming WMA, I hope to make the new students feel just as comfortable coming into a new school and new environment as I did. One of my goals for this year is to help PDC stand out in a sea of organizations within our small campus. Hosting new and refreshing events, engaging with the new class, and promoting what Phi Delta Chi believes in, will help us accomplish that goal. I am beyond excited to work alongside the other officers and help grow the Gamma Omicron Chapter!!

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OFFICER REPORT A message from our new Worthyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Worthy Inner Guard â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Donghoon Namkoong It is very important that the officers, especially as Worthy Inner Guard, to establish a plan of action for the year. The plan should include goals for our fraternity, scheduling for pledge meetings, fundraising and social events. As the newly-elected Worthy Inner Guard, I was able to accomplish protecting the secrets of Phi Delta Chi and assist the Worthy Master-at-Arms and Worthy Master-at-Arms-elect. I was capable of helping the WMA with the pledging process and fill in if the WMA was absent. Additionally, I hope that I was able to help with recruiting more Phi Delta Chi brothers throughout the spring semester. I will continue to work together with the WMA next year to accomplish the goals of the Chapter!

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SCHOLARSHIP Rho Chi Induction Spring 2017

Alexis Smith Mesay Teklu

Shoghag Aktavoukian, Michelle Sebok, Geoffrey Saunders, Alexis Smith

Chapter Advisor, Dr. Fred Tejada, Mesay Teklu, Geoffrey Saunders, Shoghag Aktavoukian, Michelle Sebok, Alexis Smith

Rho Chi Members Shoghag Aktavoukian Amanda Lehmann Geoffrey Saunders Michelle Sebok

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SCHOLARSHIP • In 2017, Dr. Geoff Twigg along with Sara El-Baff published an article in Innovations in Pharmacy on “Interprofessional approach to increase Billable CareEvents in Rural Community” • Shoghag Aktavoukian obtained a 2-year multidisciplinary fellowship with Novo Nordisk. • Results of the ASHP Phase I match: o Dr. Keesha Kline, alum – PGY-2 Critical Care, Charleston Area Medical o Dr. Andrew Lee – PGY-1, VA Roseburg Healthcare System • At the 2016 ASHP Mid-Year Conference, several PDC brothers (collegiate and alum) presented as main authors: o Andrew Lee (Presenter) and Greg Hayes (Co-Author) – “Cannabinoid use for chronic neuropathic pain treatment” o Vu Nguyen (Presenter) – “Characteristics of Bicalutamide-Induced Neuroendocrine Differentiation of Prostate Cancer Cells in vitro” o Amanda Lehmann (Presenter), Javaria Alvi (Co-Author) – “Evaluation of varenicline as a smoking cessation aid in a medically underserved population” o Michelle Sebok (Presenter) – “Descriptive analysis of the relationship between midpoint evaluation scores and final grades for advanced pharmacy practice experience year student pharmacists” o Dr. Geoff Twigg, Gamma Omicron Colony Advisor (Co-Author) – “Effects of pharmacist-directed motivational interviewing on behavioral change in patients with diabetes in a medically underserved rural community pharmacy setting” o Dr. Donald D’Aquila, alum (Co-Author) - “Methadone, an option for complex refractory pain syndromes with a neuropathic component” o Dr. Robert Freeman, Faculty Brother (Co-Author) – “Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats with associated Cas genes (CRISPR-Cas) system and insurance coverage if it obtains orphan drug or humanitarian use device status”

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SCHOLARSHIP • Publications from Brothers: o Dr. Madan Kharel, Faculty Brother & Dr. Fred Tejada, Chapter Advisor (authors) - Side Effects of Drugs Annual Vol 38 “Drugs Used in Tuberculosis and Leprosy” o Dr. Patrice Jackson-Ayotunde, Faculty Brother, co-authored stories about African American Pharmaceutical Scientists for the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) • Colorado Alphaherpesvirus Latency Symposium (CALS): o Shelby Holstein, Worthy Alumni Liaison (co-author) “Lexicon of Alphaherpesvirus Latency: The Words Used by Students, Experts, and Authors” which was presented at the Colorado Alphaherpesvirus Latency Symposium (CALS) in Colorado, May, 2017. This is an annual meeting, devoted exclusively to alphaherpesvirus latency, for scientists and healthcare professionals. • MPhA Award at Mid-Year Meeting: o Shelby Holstein, Certificate of Recognition, Pharmacy Technician Network

Brother Vu Nguyen with colleague Yoon Jung Kwon G.O.L.D. | ISSUE #6

LEADERSHIP Brothers with leadership roles in other organizations American Pharmacists Association (APhA-ASP) Amy Chen – Operation Diabetes Chair Shelby Holstein – International Chair; Official APhA-ASP Delegate at the 11th Annual PARS Rodney Lumor – Communications Vice President Marcus Mog – Generation Rx Chair Divya Vepuri – President; Outgoing Fundraising Chair Jessica Wearden – Vampire Cup Chair; Outgoing International Vice President Seth Weinstock – Policy Vice President

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) Lincy Abraham – Outgoing Treasurer Amy Chen – Treasurer Joseph Deen – Secretary Stephen Southern – President

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Shelby Holstein – Secretary

Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) Alexis Smith – Outgoing President Stephen Southern – President

Industry Pharmacists Association (IphO) Marcus Mog – Vice President Truptiben Sindhi – Outgoing Communications Officer Divya Vepuri – Communications Officer

Maryland Pharmacists Association (MphA) Shelby Holstein – Co-founder/Co-chair of the Pharmacy Technician Network

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LEADERSHIP Brothers with leadership roles in other organizations Pharmacy Student Government Association (PSGA) Joseph Deen – Outgoing Secretary Matthew Smithmyer – Outgoing Vice President Jessica Wearden – Vice President

Class of 2018 Student Representatives Lincy Abraham – PSGA Representative Shahrzad Barzin – Treasurer Alexis Smith – Secretary

Class of 2019 Student Representatives Divya Vepuri – Treasurer; Outgoing Treasurer Seth Weinstock – Outgoing PSGA Representative

Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) Amber Benitez – Outgoing President Elaine Gilfillan – Treasurer Shelby Holstein – President Alexis Smith – Outgoing Secretary

Rho Chi Michelle Sebok – Outgoing President Alexis Smith – Secretary

Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) Joseph Deen – Fundraising Chair Marcus Mog – Secretary Seth Weinstock – Legislative Chair

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PROFESSIONAL/SERVICE PROJECTS Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy: Pharmacy and Dentistry Come Together Author: Don Namkoong & Matthew Smithmyer The Brothers of the Gamma Omicron Chapter of Phi Delta Chi had the esteemed privilege to participate in the Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy on March 9th and 10th, 2017. The Mission of Mercy (MOM) is a free adult dental clinic provided by volunteer dental professionals and a volunteer staff of several hundred people. Well over 1,100 patients were treated and over $1.126 million dollars worth of services were provided! The University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy pledged its support by allowing its students to take the day off and volunteer On Thursday, March 9, 2017, the Mission of Mercy “Packaging Day” was conducted by Alumni Brother Dr. Barbye at Community Pharmacy in Salisbury. The purpose of Mission of Mercy was to provide a free adult dental clinic to underserved areas of the community where there are not enough dental practitioners. We were able to assist Dr. Barbye with packaging and labeling of antibiotic and pain medications. The total of 11 Brothers and 3 pledges were involved in this event. PDC Brothers who participated were Haroon Amir, Peter Awad, Ben Farwell, Shelby Holstein, Rodney Lumor, Don Namkoong, Vu Nguyen, Marcus Mog, Stephen Southern, Divya Vepuri, and Elaine Gilfillan. Other PDC pledges were Amy Chen, Alexia Pinto, and Subha Veerapaneni. The Packaging day provided us a good time and enjoyable experience. My fellow Brothers and I were able to make connections with Community Pharmacy staff. We appreciated the opportunity of being able to provide health oriented service for Mission of Mercy, which helped develop our health professional experience as well. The Brothers of Gamma Omicron worked as a family and we put all our efforts together. This event was one of the most memorable times of our first year. We have realized how we can work as a team to help and support our community. Collaboration among our Brothers advanced both of PDC as wells as the community.

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Brothers from our Chapter volunteered to help the pharmacy department, where the medications were being dispensed. Under the supervision of 4 pharmacists, the student pharmacist volunteers counseled patients on the medications they were receiving. Of the 4 pharmacists participating in the event, 3 are alumni Brothers; Eric Barbye, Melissa Buff, and Matthew Balish. This was a great learning experience; teaching Brothers the importance of philanthropy, as well as proper counseling techniques. The Brothers of Gamma Omicron, both alumni and collegiate, are dedicated to serve and provide for the communities on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Brothers in attendance included: Lincy Abraham, Amber Benitez, Aneesha Garg, Alexis Smith, Matthew Smithmyer, Shadow Spiers, and Jessica Wearden.

Alumni Brothers Matthew Balish, Melissa Buff, and Eric Barbye (back) Brothers Aneesha Garg, Jessica Wearden, and Matthew Smithmyer (front)

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PHILANTHROPY St. Jude Baltimore St. Jude Walk/Run Fundraiser Author: Truptiben Sindhi PDC kicked off the 2016 year with a solid philanthropy event, hosting a team for the St. Jude Walk/Run in Baltimore, MD on Saturday, September 24th, 2016. It was a successful event for our Chapter as we raised $1,545 in two weeks, and there were 16 University of Maryland Eastern Shore students who actually participated in the walk/run (both P1 and P2). Some of them also brought their parents to participate in the event. The price for joining the team was $10 and students also received community service hours for participating. The success of this fundraiser partly depends on numerous reminder emails that were sent out to faculty, staff, students and alumni, prior to the event. A flyer was created to attract the numbers of participants (see next page). PDC brothers were also urged to post the St. Jude Walkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s link on their social media accounts. Two separate links were created on St. Jude Walkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s site: 1) for registering to be part of the team and 2) donating to support the cause.

Gamma Omicron Brothers, together with Brothers from Iota, as well as students from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy, at the St. Jude Walk/Run | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

Location: Patterson Park 27 S. Patterson Ave, Baltimore, MD 21231 _________

Registration Fee:

St. Jude Walk/Fun Run

Ages 6 and up- $10 __________

September 24th, 2016

Our Team:

Baltimore, MD

Phi Delta Chi- Gamma Omicron

To end childhood cancer

Did you know September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month? St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other lifethreatening diseases. Their mission is to advance cures and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Come join Phi Delta Chi in helping St. Jude!

http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Walk/Wa lk?pg=team&fr_id=57388&team_id=191004

_________

Event Schedule: Registration: 8-9 AM Opening Ceremonies: 9-9:30 AM Walk/Run Start Time: 9:35 AM __________ Donation for the team: http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Walk/Wa lk?px=4127185&pg=personal&fr_id=57388

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RUSH Q: Why did you decide to join Phi Delta Chi? A: “I joined PDC because I had an immediate connection with both the WCC (Matt Smithmyer) and WMA (Jessica Wearden) during the first rush event. I needed a family away from home and I knew they would be able to support that.”

Vu Nguyen (Kappa Class)

A: “I joined Phi Delta Chi in hopes to establish new, lasting relationships while attending pharmacy school. I wanted to learn more about what it means to be a Brother and how I can be a better person through Phi Delta Chi.”

Benjamin Farwell (Kappa Class)

A: “Sometimes, participating can provide a lifetime of opportunities. I have joined PDC to improve my professional development and advance my career through networking.”

Donghoon Namkoong (Kappa Class)

A: “I joined PDC because it was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people that had the same interests as me. I also joined the fraternity because I liked the fact that all the Brothers are willing to help each other out in order to succeed.”

Peter Awad (Kappa Class)

A: “I believe that in pharmacy school, making connections are as important as doing well academically. It’s much more interesting and fun to go through a tough curriculum together and (future hardships) with friends and “Brothers”. The reason why I joined Phi Delta Chi is to have my Brothers back me up as I will do for them.”

Amy Chen (Lambda Class)

A: “I joined PDC this year because I liked its standing affiliation with St. Jude and that it was founded upon Pharmacy and Chemistry.”

Elaine Gilfillan (Kappa Class)

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RUSH Q: Why did you decide to join Phi Delta Chi? A: “I had some exposure to Phi Delta Chi before even receiving my acceptance letter to pharmacy school. My cousin, Jessica, is now also my Brother. Throughout my academic endeavor, she was always there to help guide me in the right direction. I was able to see Jessica throughout her time in Pharmacy School, and the bonds she built with her Brothers were what I also wanted for myself. Seven years have passed since Jessica graduated (Iota Chapter), and those relationships she formed with Brothers are still present today. After spending some time with Brothers of the Gamma Omicron Chapter, there was no doubt that this was a “match.” From the very beginning, the warmth and welcoming that my class received from everyone was just what the Pharmacist ordered. Involvement in a variety of things is important to me, and demonstrates how wellrounded we are. My Brothers at UMES make their presence known around school, and within our communities, with the goal to make a good impact. Why did I join PDC? It is simple: I joined PDC to do what I love, with people I love, who love the same things. AAAE!”

Shelby Holstein (Kappa Class) A: “When I came to UMES I didn’t plan on joining any organizations. My plan was to go to class, study, and focus on academics alone. Shortly after starting the fall semester, I realized that this was not going to work and that I needed to find organizations to help me make the most of my time in pharmacy school. When I first met the Brothers of the Gamma Omicron Chapter, they were immediately so welcoming and, though I didn’t know them, I felt like it was somewhere that I belonged. During rush, I got to know the Brothers better, and learned what Phi Delta Chi was really all about. The more I learned about the organization and all that PDC stands for and represents, the more it seemed like a good fit for me. Thankfully I made the decision to pledge, because I can’t imagine what my P-1 year would have been like without the support of all of my Gamma Omicron Brothers.”

Seth Weinstock (Kappa Class)

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RUSH Q: Why did you decide to join Phi Delta Chi? A: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joining Phi Delta Chi was one of the best decisions I made during my early pharmacy student life. After meeting the Brothers and observing the Brotherhood among them at the rush events my first year, I immediately wanted to become part of the fraternal bond. During my first year as a Brother, I was welcomed with a large pledge class and helped our Chapter host an incredibly successful MARC in Ocean City, MD. Feeling an overwhelming sense of Brotherhood and pride among my PDC Brothers, I decided I wanted to dedicate myself more to the Chapter the following year by becoming more involved as an officer.â&#x20AC;?

Aneesha Garg (Iota Class)

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RUSH Fall Rush Author: Jessica Wearden To start off the fall semester we had a few rush events to allow our UMES student pharmacists the opportunity to get to know the Brothers of Phi Delta Chi! Our first rush event was an after class snacks and social where we had approximately 15 interested students join us for pizza. For another rush event, we had over 10 Brothers, including both alumni and collegiate, join together with 2 prospective students and 3 prospective faculty pledges at a local restaurant for trivia night. Both of these students are now Brothers and one of them shared that, for him: The trivia night was one of the first times I was able to meet the Brothers of PDC outside of school. It was a great experience, not only because it was a fun event, but because I felt like I got to know the Brothers on a more personal level, which allowed me to see how I could potentially fit in with this organization and its existing members. We also hosted a paintball rush event but due to scheduling conflicts, no first year students were able to attend. Two collegiate Brothers and two alumni Brothers joined two prospective pledges for paintball and had a great time playing and getting to know each other. Our final rush event was a bowling night, and for one our new Brothers he said: This was by far my favorite rush event. It was our chance to get to meet with everyone who are current PDC members as well as classmates that we didn’t get a chance to talk to. Jessica Wearden and Matt Smithmyer did a great job with the recruitment process. Without them I would not be in PDC right now…. Some alumni were there for the event which was surprising to me. It’s amazing to me how the alumni can still have such a close bond with PDC. Even though this was my only rush event, it was great because I could instantly feel the family and ‘Brotherhood’ atmosphere. As a result of this rush period and pledge process we initiated 14 collegiate Brothers and one graduate Brother! | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

Alumni Brother Eric Barbye at Trivia Night

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Vu Nguyen, Keesha Kline, Alexis Smith, Jessica Wearden, David Patterson, and Ryan Hines

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our first event at O C Paintball & Sports Inc. was a rush event that was attended by two graduate Brothers and two collegiate Brothers, along with our students that were rushing. This rush event was great fun as we got our competitive spirit going and topped off our evening with dinner at a local seafood shack in Ocean City, MD.â&#x20AC;? Jessica Wearden

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RUSH Fall Initiation

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RUSH Spring Initiation

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RUSH Spring Initiation

Gamma Omicronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attempt at making a FDC formation

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SOCIAL EVENTS Organized by Gamma Omicron Beach Bash Author: Vu Nguyen The Beach Bash was held on the 19th of August in Ocean City, MD. It was opened to everyone who was interested. Both PDC and Kappa Psi Brothers put together this event, welcoming the School of Pharmacy to come out and have a fun time. Carpooling was available to anyone who needed it. Some of the games that we got to enjoy was flag football, 31risbee, soccer, and corn hole. Everyone was encouraged to bring snacks and drinks, so there was plenty of food at the event. The timing and location was a great choice; it was held on a Friday of non-assessment week and it was sunny all day long! The purpose of the event was to get everyone together to get to know the Brothers from both Professional Fraternities. It was also a chance to talk with the SP2 and SP3 students about the program and what we should look forward to in the curriculum. Alumni and the PDC Faculty Advisor showed up and participated in the various games and activities. Right before it got dark, we all met up at a local restaurant, Fager’s Island, where we had dinner and continued to socialize. Overall it was a very fun experience for everyone.

Testimonials “The beach bash was one of the deciding factors of why I wanted to join PDC. I saw the level of connection and brotherhood between the members and this spurred me to join as well as encourage others to join. We had a great time on the beach playing games getting our feet wet and taking pictures together.”

Marcus Mog “The Beach Social that was done in the fall semester with Kappa Psi was an incredible opportunity to get to know the Brothers more. We played various games, told stories, and ultimately had a great time.”

Peter Awad

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Kappa Psi Brothers Phuong Luong and Britteny Brooks-Grey (left) enjoying a few laughs with Phi Delta Chi Brothers Aqsa Malik and Aneesha Garg (right) | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

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Boograms Author: Alexis Smith Boograms. Where to begin? During one of our initial planning meetings our officers were discussing ways to promote the annual Halloween Party as well as raise more money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. After many ideas being tossed around, we collectively came up with the idea to make Boograms! The idea was to foster brotherly love within our Chapter as well as within our school in general. We would make some type of treat with messages attached to them. For $3 students, faculty, and staff would be able to send a Boogram to whomever they wished on campus with a friendly message. Our Chapter also decided that we would raffle off two Halloween party tickets for those who bought Boograms to promote both the fundraiser and party. After “Pinteresting” and making sample Boograms, our Chapter voted on which one we liked best. The candy filled scarecrow won, so it was time to hit the ground running. We bought burlap bags, googly eyes, felt for the noses, paint for the mouths, scrapbooking paper for the messages, and candy for the bags. Then, we got to work. After all the painting, cutting, gluing, filling, and writing was all said and done, Gamma Omicron ended up selling 135 Boograms! Students bought them for one another, teachers bought them for their students, and staff members even bought them for faculty workers on campus. At the end of the day we made a profit of $405 dollars from selling Boograms, promoted our Halloween party, spread kindness throughout our school, and raised money to donate to our philanthropy St. Jude’s. This fundraiser showed me just how much can happen when our Brothers come together and work together for a common cause! This small idea at first turned out to be a great thing that I hope our Brothers continue in the future.

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4 ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY Organized & Hosted by Gamma Omicron Author: Matthew Smithmyer The 4th Annual Halloween Party hosted by Phi Delta Chi was a huge success; thanks to Vu Nguyen, who sold the most tickets. His efforts truly made a difference. We were able to raise enough money to pay for the event, donate $300 to St. Jude, and still have money left over! The Social Committee was in charge of planning the event, with the help of our Chapter Advisor, Dr. Tejada, and our WMA, Jessica Wearden. The Social Committee members included myself, Matthew Smithmyer, and Aqsa Malik. Together we were able to find a location and DJ. We came up with appropriate pricing for the event, and decided that we would donate some of our proceeds to St. Jude. It was decided that the location of the party would be at Main Street Gym, in Salisbury, MD. This was an interesting location, it had a boxing ring in the middle, so we decided this would be a fun theme to go with. The owner of the gym was kind enough to help us plan some of the details, and he even let us use the boxing ring for the costume contest. The turnout was great, and everyone had a great time! I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to see what our Social Committee plans for next year!

Chapter Advisor Dr. Tejada, Alexis Smith, Eric Barbye, Keesha Kline, Jessica Wearden, and Melissa Buff | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

“This Halloween party was LIT. It was really cool seeing the faceoff of Chu Chi vs Vu with their breakdancing skills. I’m also happy I got to dress up as Will Ferrell from Semi Pro.”

Marcus Mog

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Jessica Wearden, Matthew Smithmyer, and Aqsa Malik setting up for the Halloween Party! | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

SOCIAL EVENTS Organized by Gamma Omicron Phi Delta Chi Founderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day November 2, 2016

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“This year, the newly initiated Kappa class helped Gamma Omicron celebrate Phi Delta Chi’s Founder’s Day by arranging a taco bar to give our Brothers a fun way to celebrate that also doubled as an opportunity to get everyone together one last time before the end of the semester. After a few weeks of arranging, we all gathered in Somerset Hall on November 2nd to honor PDC. We were even surprised with a beautiful cake supplied by our Brother Shelby Holstein that featured our colors, Old Gold & Dregs of Wine, our Founders’ names written along the sides, and a beautiful message to celebrate 133 years of Phi Delta Chi. This celebration of our Fraternity was a great unofficial welcome to the new Kappa class and helped show us what the spirit of PDC is truly about.”

Seth Weinstock

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SOCIAL EVENTS Organized by Gamma Omicron PDC Thanksgiving: Author: Elaine Gilfillan The Thanksgiving event hosted by PDC alumni Eric Barbye and Melissa Buff was a great Brotherly bonding occasion. It was a pot luck dinner that involved 11 Brothers, 2 alumni, and our Chapter advisor. Thanksgiving is a holiday to express what we are especially thankful for. To have so many Brothers to attend and share our gratitude for our Brotherhood was a great demonstration of Brotherhood bonding, especially since this was during a break in our semester. Many of our Chapters PDC Brothers had to drive over 2 hours to attend this event and this shows dedication to our Chapter.

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SOCIAL EVENTS Organized by Gamma Omicron PDC Secret Santa: Author: Divya Vepuri The Gamma Omicron gift exchange invitation was sent to current Brothers as well as our alumni and advisor. 25 Brothers, 3 alumni Brothers and our Chapter advisor participated. This was a way for alumni and current Brothers to connect and get to know each other. Brotherhood plays a huge role in our Chapter because we spend almost seven hours a day together in class and during co-curricular activities on campus. Since each of us are randomly assigned to someone to buy a present for, Secret Santa urges us to get to know more about your Brother in order to buy them a thoughtful gift. With our rapidly growing Chapter, I believe this will continue to be a successful event in the future!

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SOCIAL EVENTS Organized by Gamma Omicron Spring Socials Author: Jessica Wearden For our spring rush, we hosted two social events to give all of our student pharmacists a chance to get to know our Brothers and take part in our events. Our first social was a game night on campus where our Brothers got together to eat and play games. We had over 10 Brothers join us to play Mario Kart, poker, card games, and charades and it was such a blast to get together, have fun, and take a break from studying. Our second event was an evening of laser tag as our Brothers competed 5 v. 5 to win the competition at our local sports center. The sports center also featured arcade games which gave us the opportunity to catch up and socialize.

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SOCIAL EVENTS Organized by Gamma Omicron

“While speaking with the owner of O C Sports and Paintball we learned of an amazing opportunity to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as he was willing to donate a portion of the equipment rental fees to the hospital on our behalf. Thus, at our second event, we hosted a pharmacy face off fundraiser and had a great attendance of 17 students, 12 of which were Brothers! From this event we were able to raise $85 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”

Jessica Wearden

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before this event I had never paintballed before. It was so much fun getting together with brothers and getting sweaty and sandy at OC paintball. I really hope that we have this event again either as Kappa Psi vs Phi Delta Chi or P1 vs P2. All in all this event was awesome. Also, sorry Divya!â&#x20AC;?

Marcus Mog

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SOCIAL EVENTS Organized by Gamma Omicron Gamma Omicron’s Founder’s Day Author: Shahrzad (Sherri) Barzin Lethal Lambda’s (aka Spring Pledge Class of Gamma Omicron) decided to hold an Ice Cream Social for the Brothers of our Chapter on May 01, 2017 in celebration of our Chapter’s 6th Birthday on April 30th. As with any party planning we first had many brainstorming sessions regarding potential locations for the event and what type of event we wanted, prior to choosing Ice Cream Social at Somerset Hall. We had ideas such as picnic at a nearby park with a light lunch, however with it being allergy and rain season, and exam week it did not work out. Once we had our minds set on what we wanted to do, we had to come up with items on the menu. We decided on 3 basic ice creams (chocolate, vanilla and, strawberry) and lots of different toppings. Different types of candies, cherry syrup, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, and of course, for our fruit lovers we had to include strawberries, blueberries, maraschino cherries, and bananas. Amy Chen volunteered to bake a cake, so that was also added to the menu. I decided to add jelly poppers to the menu last minute. After deciding on the menu and supply needed we divided the items needed between us; Eunice Fokuo and Mesay Teklu oversaw ice cream, Amy Chen baked the cake, Alexia Pinto Marin had the syrups and candies, while I (Sherri) brought in the fruits and jelly poppers. Amber Cheema and SubhaVeerapaneni took care plates, bowls, drinks, and utensils. I then reserved the room and sent out the invite. About 15 people showed at the event which was mostly due to the fact that it was on an exam week. We, the Lethal Lambda’s, had a lot of fun organizing and participating in the event and hope everyone else Cake baked by Amy Chen enjoyed it too! AAAE See photo on page 71

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CHAPTER ADVISOR Dr. Fred Tejada Tejada Completes Fifth Year of Service as Advisor Author: Eric Barbye, PharmD (’14) Our Chapter Advisor, Dr. Fred Tejada (Gamma Gamma), is completing his fifth year serving in that role. He became Advisor in 2013 when founding Advisor Dr. Tom Sisca (Epsilon) voluntarily stepped down. Over the past five years, he has unwaveringly supported the efforts of the Chapter. He actively participates in rush events, regularly attends pledge and Ritual meetings, assists with Initiation, and truly embodies our motto, “Each Needs the Help of the Other”. Fred is a great liaison between the Chapter and the School of Pharmacy, and works hard to make sure the Chapter has the resources it needs to not only function but thrive and flourish. Annual Chapter Retreats are always a surprise, with Fred coming up with new and creative locations on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Retreats have been held at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Paul S. Sarbanes Coastal Ecology Center in Berlin, Maryland – just across the Sinepuxent Bay from beautiful Assateague Island – and Janes Island State Park on the Chesapeake Bay in Crisfield, Maryland. In addition to suggesting locations for the retreats, Fred actively participates in the retreat sessions to ensure that the Chapter is consistently and successfully moving forward. Continued on Page 49

Fred (left) with former UMES Faculty and Co-Advisor Dr. Jayesh Parmar at the 2013 Chapter Retreat at the UMES Sarbanes Center in Berlin, MD | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

In 2016, Fred attended Phi Delta Chi’s Leader Development Seminar (LDS) in St. Louis, Missouri. During the 2016 LDS, Fred completed the Fraternity’s first ever Advisor Track, which was designed to bring together Chapter Advisors from around the country to exchange ideas and attend workshops that would enable them to return to their respective Chapters with tools to help them succeed. The trip was not all business though; Fred was able to meet and network with some of the biggest names in Phi Dex. Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” If the sustained success and strength of the Gamma Omicron Chapter has

Fred (back row, right) with Gamma Omicron Brothers at their ChEQ Visit in April 2015.

allowed its Brothers to truly “see further” – that is, to develop as Leaders in Pharmacy, to live and understand the motto of Phi Delta Chi, and to embody the true meaning of Brotherhood – it is surely due to standing on the shoulders of our Chapter Advisor, Dr. Fred Tejada. The Gamma Omicron Chapter is grateful for Fred’s continued support, wisdom, and guidance. | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

CHAPTER ADVISOR Dr. Fred Tejada

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FACULTY BROTHERS Dr. Robert Freeman, PhD

Dr. John Jordan, PharmD, BCPS

Dr. Patrice Jackson-Ayotunde, PhD

Dr. Fred Tejada, PhD

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ALUMNI OUTREACH Eric Barbye Current Position: Clinical Pharmacist, Community Pharmacy, Salisbury, MD Grad Year: 2014; Gamma Class Update: Melissa and I bought a house in Fruitland, MD in March 2016. In December 2016, I was hired at the national level as the Assistant Executive Director for Phi Delta Chi. My responsibilities include, among other things, representing Phi Delta Chi at APhA Annual Meetings and ASHP Midyear Meetings, assisting with the Chapter Excellence and Quality (ChEQ) Program, and coordinating efforts to charter new Chapters or reactivate inactive Chapters.

Matthew D. Balish Current Position: Pharmacist Pemberton Pharmacy and Gift Grad Year: 2014; Gamma Class Update: A little summary of what I have been doing since graduation: I am a community pharmacist serving both Salisbury and St. Michaels Maryland. At both pharmacies I precept students from UMES, and University of Maryland Baltimore. Working with the Health Department, I was able to get our Salisbury store outfitted with a mediation disposal box. I have also started an ask the pharmacist YouTube channel. Outside of my current pharmacy practice I have been involved with pharmacy legislation in Maryland for the last two years. In both years, I have worked with Delegate Chris Adams to get pro-pharmacist legislation submitted for consideration. Also, I have been active in MphA on both the legislative action committee and with Maryland Pharmacy Coalition for legislative day. Also I am serving as co-editor of the MphA law book. | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

ALUMNI OUTREACH Brandy Inkrote Taylor Current Position: Staff Pharmacist, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Pocomoke City, MD Grad Year: 2015; Delta Class Update: Got married April 16, 2016 and I reside in Salisbury with my husband. We enjoy traveling and I enjoy the fact that I’m no longer in school now that I’m finished. I’m always available for questions or advice so please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

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SCHOOL EVENTS The Brothers of Phi Delta Chi were able to participate in many events hosted by the School of Pharmacy. Brothers took the time out of their busy schedules to volunteer to help plan, participate, and manage many events. The Annual Health Fair provided the opportunity for our Brothers to engage with the campus community to educate them on various topics relating to pharmacy. Matthew Smithmyer and Kamal Patel participated in educating students on the importance of the use of sunscreen. Brothers Aneesha Garg, Divya Vepuri, Seth Weinstock, Marcus Mog, and Vu Nguyen educated students on breast cancer screening. Brothers Jessica Wearden, Alexis Smith, Amy Chen, and Eunice Fokuo provided education about polio. Brothers Shahrzad Barzin and Aqsa Malik were giving flu shots.

Alexis Smith, Jessica Wearden, Matthew Smithmyer, and Aneesha Garg | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

Amber Benitez, Shadow Spiers, Oluwakemi Irinyenikan, Aneesha Garg, Jessica Wearden, Matthew Smithmyer, Alexis Smith, and Aqsa Malik

Shahrzad Barzin administering a flu vaccine | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

Vu Nguyen and Vu Nguyen!

Aneesha Garg and Shadow Spiers providing education on heart disease

Aqsa Malik providing education on smoking cessation to Faculty Brother Dr. Jackson-Ayotunde

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SCHOOL EVENTS P.O.D. DRILL Author: Shelby Holstein On Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center on the UMES Campus, Brothers Alexis Smith, Trupti Sindhi, Shahrzad Barzin, Lincy Abraham, Kamal Patel, Shadow Spiers, and Amber Benitez volunteered in guiding a school-wide Points of Dispensing (P.O.D.) Drill. P.O.D. is where the community receives designated survival assets in public health emergencies. This is where Pharmacists can serve at their city/county level. This drill was extended to UMES School of Physical Therapy, and to Salisbury Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nursing Students. This was an interprofessional exercise, giving students the opportunity to work with students from other health professions. The athletic center was set up to simulate a real-life public health emergency, and all SP-1 Brothers participated in serving at different operational stations throughout the process including Registration, Triage, Dispensing, Special Needs and Consultation.

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SCHOOL EVENTS S.O.A.A.R. Author: Matthew Smithmyer This spring the UMES School of Pharmacy, together with our Chapter of APhA, and student volunteers, started the 1st Annual Substance and Opioid Abuse Awareness Response (S.O.A.A.R.). As stated by one of the organizers, Khoa Nguyen: This event was organized because in March 2017, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed an executive order declaring a State of Emergency in response to the heroin, opioid, and fentanyl crisis ravaging Maryland. As student pharmacists, we've already dedicated ourselves to fight for our patients, and in order to arm them and their families in this war against opioid overdose deaths, we've invited members of the local community to come to UMES to be trained in recognizing overdoses and administering naloxone. Not only did we providing training and NarcanÂŽ kits, but we also put our neighbors in touch with community resources by hosting organizations from around the Eastern Shore to provide counseling and information on overcoming addiction and drug abuse. Our hope was that by enabling the people of Somerset and Wicomico counties to connect with the resources they need, we could strike a decisive blow against opioid overdose deaths on the peninsula. Many of our Gamma Omicron Brothers participated in planning and participating in this event. Matthew Smithmyer was the Finance Committee Chair, working together with Elaine Gilfillan and Jessica Wearden, Jessica Wearden also helped acquire local art from middle and high school students about the opioid epidemic from the United Way. Marcus Mog, Alexis Smith, Divya Vepuri, and Shelby Holstein were on the Promotion Committee. Lincy Abraham was part of the Outreach Committee. Shahrzad Barzin helped train the community how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and how to properly administer NarcanÂŽ. Brothers Seth Weinstock, Aneesha Garg, Lincy Abraham, Jessica Wearden, and Shahrzad Barzin volunteered the day of the event.

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Jessica Wearden showcasing art at the S.O.A.A.R. event

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State Senator, Jim Mathias, awarded the University of Maryland Eastern Shore with an official citation congratulating the organizers of a successful event.

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SCHOOL EVENTS Legislative Day Author: Matthew Smithmyer This past January, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, along with the two other pharmacy schools in Maryland, University of Maryland Baltimore, and Notre Dame University, traveled to Marylandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capitol, Annapolis. This event was organized by the Maryland Pharmacists Association (MPhA) and the Maryland Pharmacists Coalition (MPC). Every Brother of Gamma Omicron participated in this event. We were divided into small groups with other Student Pharmacists from the other schools. These small groups then separated and went to different State Senators and State Delegates to speak to them about different legislation affecting pharmacy. This was a great opportunity to network and see how pharmacists can make a difference in policy

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GRADUATING BROTHERS Javaria Alvi Javaria has accepted a job at Rite Aid here on the Eastern Shore, where she is currently an intern!

Shoghag Aktavoukian Shoghag obtained a 2-year multidisciplinary fellowship with Novo Nordisk!

Mohammed Anjum Gregory Hayes Danielle Krastel Andrew Lee Andrew matched with the VA Roseburg Healthcare System in Roseburg, OR to complete a post-graduate residency!

Amanda Lehmann Amanda has accepted a job at Walgreens here on the Eastern Shore!

Ashley Payne Ashley has accepted a job at CVS here on the Eastern Shore!

Geoffrey Saunders Visesh Velagapudi Visesh has accepted a job at CVS in North Carolina!

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UMES-SOP HOODING AND AWARD CEREMONY The UMES-SOP Class of 2017 Hooding & Awards Ceremony was held on May 25, 2017 at the UMES Ella Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center. The keynote speaker was Dr. Rafael Saenz, the Assistant Dean for the Virginia Commonwealth University SOP. Phi Delta Chi’s “Dr. Sisca Cup” Brother of the Year: This award is named in honor of the first UMES Chapter advisor, Dr. Tom Sisca and is presented to a Phi Delta Chi Gamma Omicron Brother who has demonstrated and excelled in the areas of brotherhood, leadership, scholarship, and service. The 2017 recipient of the Phi Delta Chi’s Dr. Sisca Cup Brother of the Year award is Michelle Sebok. Dr. Hines, last year’s Brother of the Year presented the award to Michelle. Michelle Sebok was also the 2016 “pledge of the year” recipient by earning the utmost trust and respect of fellow pledge Brothers. Few quotes from her fellow Dean Allen, Micelle Sebok, Ryan Hines Brothers: • “She is highly determined and compassionate person who loves to explore beyond sight, enjoys challenges, and brings back quality work.” • “She’s been vital to PDC's success. She has a great attitude, super-dependable and can always cheer people up with her personality.” • “She’s been reliable and is always willing to help, and responsible person with whom I am glad to call my friend.” • “She made me feel welcome and she managed to always be there to support me which helped give me confidence when I was struggling.” | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

• “She always manages to put a smile on your face no matter what is going on and I am so honored to be able to call her a friend, a Brother, and my big. No one deserves this award more than her.” • “She is a dedicated Brother. Her hard work truly kept us together as a Chapter and helped to make this year an incredibly successful one for our Brothers.” Michelle Sebok was actively involved with the planning of the 2016 PDC MidAtlantic Regional Conference which was held in Ocean City, MD. As chair of the Socials Committee she was responsible for organizing activities that fostered brotherhood among 140+ Brothers from 16 different Mid-Atlantic Chapters. She served as the 2016-17 worthy correspondent and has diligently submitted all the required AAP reports while on APPE rotations. In 2016, she won the Clinical Skills Competition held at UMES and represented UMES-SOP at the ASHP National competition. In addition, she also served as the president of the Rho Chi Honor Society and a member of the Phi Lambda Sigma. Additionally, she has been involved in numerous community service such as the Walgreens Flu clinic, Walgreens Way to Wellness Bus, and the Consulate Flu clinic for Hooper’s Island Migrant Workers and several St. Jude Fundraisers, to name a few. She has also shared her time and knowledge by serving as a student tutor and mentor and as a school ambassador. Academically, she has been on the 2015-16 Dean’s List and in May 2017 graduated cum laude. She is an active Brother of Phi Delta Chi and a role model for Gamma Omicron Brothers and her two lovely kids.

Brothers Who Graduated with Recognition Magna Cum Laude/Salutatorian: Amanda Lehmann

Cum Laude: Shoghag Aktavoukian, Danielle Krastel, Geoffrey Saunders, Michelle Sebok

Dean Allen, Dr. Nkem Nonyel, Amanda Lehmann

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Brothers who received distinguished awards: Maryland Pharmaceutical Society Award: Amanda Lehman This award goes to a graduating student who is dedicated to promoting the profession and services of pharmacy in the underserved committees throughout the state of Maryland

Merck Manual Awards: Amanda Lehman and Michelle Sebok The award recognizes outstanding scholastic achievement. To be eligible, a student must be in the top 10% of their class.

Shoghag Aktavoukian, Alexander Lee, and Michelle Sebok | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

UMES-SOP AWARDS CEREMONY April 27, 2017 Faculty of the Year, SP-1 Dr. Madan Kharel

Perfect Attendance through SP-2 Year Aneesha Garg, Matthew Smithmyer, Shadow Spiers, Jessica Wearden

CVS Bilingual Scholarship Award Divya Vepuri

Walgreens Scholarship Diversity Award Mesay Teklu

APhA-ASP Patient Counseling Award Subha Veerapaneni

APhA-ASP Excellence in Service Award Jessica Wearden

APhA-ASP 3 Year Membership Award Shoghag Akavoukian, Danielle Krastel, Michelle Sebok, Geoffrey Saunders

APhA-ASP Chapter Leadership Pins Divya Vepuri, Jessica Wearden

APhA-ASP Incoming President Recognition Divya Vepuri

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PDC ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET April 28, 2017 Awards Ceremony Author: Seth Weinstock In the spring semester, one of the first things that I had to do as the newly elected WVC was to plan our Chapter’s awards dinner. The planning process wasn’t always easy; trying to find a date that worked for everyone, as well as a restaurant that everyone liked and that could hold us, was difficult. In the end after weeks of planning with the help of my Brothers, especially Divya and Jessica, we were able to have a successful event. The awards ceremony took place at a local restaurant, Adam’s Taphouse & Grille, in Fruitland, MD with an attendance of 25 Brothers, 3 Alumni Brothers, our Chapter advisor, Dr. Tejada, and even our Colony Facilitator, Dr. Geoff Twigg. At the Awards Ceremony, we honor our Brothers with several awards that are laid out in our Chapter bylaws. Each year the new pledge class votes for a Pledge of the Year. This year, the Kappa class voted to honor Vu Nguyen. The Brother with the highest GPA in each year is honored with an Academic Achievement Award. This year our winners were Divya Vepuri (SP-1), Alexis Smith (SP-2), and Amanda Lehmann (SP-3). The Gamma Omicron Chapter also presents The Dr. Geoffrey Twigg Brother Award to the SP-2 Brother who best demonstrate brotherhood throughout their time in PDC. This award is voted upon by the entire Chapter, and this year we had a tie! The two brothers that our Chapter chose to honor with this award were Matthew Smithmyer and Jessica Wearden. This year, in addition to the awards the awards our Chapter traditionally presents, we introduced some fun SP-3 superlatives so that we could be able to give our graduates something special to remember from their last event as Collegiate Brothers. The awards and their winners were: Javaria Alvi, Best Study Buddy; Shoghag Aktavoukian, Most Artistic; Greg Hayes, Best Hair; Danielle Krastel, Best Dressed; Andrew Lee, Class Clown; Amanda Lehmann, Most Likely to be at the Bar on a School Night; Ashley Payne, Best Smile; Geoff Saunders, Most Athletic; & Michelle Sebok, Most Likely to Spend the Weekend Studying. Continued on Page 68 | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

The 2017 Gamma Omicron awards ceremony was certainly a night to remember and planning it was quite the learning experience. I already have ideas for next year and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to work with whoever becomes WVC next to plan an even more amazing event!

Vu Nguyen and Seth Weinstock | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

Amanda Lehmann, Alexis Smith, and Divya Vepuri

Jessica Wearden and Matthew Smithmyer | ISSUE #6 G.O.L.D.

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