School of Pharmacy Publication - Rx Times

Over the past several years, the School of Pharmacy has made significant progress in achieving its mission. We have been deliberate about providing patient-centered care, engaging our community to address various health issues, and creating an environment that fosters discovery and research.

We continue to collaborate with our community partners to improve the quality of life of the patients we serve. Our longstanding relationship with Peninsula Regional Medical Center and Apple Discount Drugs has been fruitful. Our faculty have played key roles in developing a new service line in mental health, an ambulatory care practice model, and optimizing medication use in acute care and community practice settings.

Dean’s Message

The School has remained committed to engaging our community to raise awareness and funds for epilepsy research and those with developmental disabilities. We also recently partnered with the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, to host a Summit on health equity. The Summit was the first of a series of events that the School will sponsor to address conditions that disproportionately affect patients in rural communities.

Our faculty have had six patents approved since 2016. The patents have shown promise as potential treatment modalities for epilepsy and prostate cancer and as companion cancer diagnostics. We also launched our graduate program in pharmaceutical sciences offering a master’s degree and a doctor of philosophy degree.

We are extremely excited about the progress we have made during the design and planning phase of our new building. The pictures shown below are renderings of the front and back of the building. The first phase creates 65,000 sq. ft. for the School of Pharmacy and also includes spaces for the other departments. We plan to move into our state-of-the-art facility in fall 2021.

Lastly, at the heart of our mission, we aim to develop exemplary pharmacy professionals and scholars. Our students and graduates continue to excel as leaders in their community. We hope that you will enjoy the stories of their achievements and those of the faculty and staff who have supported them.

Warm Regards,

Rondall E. Allen, B.S., Pharm.D. Dean and Professor

List of Administrators Dr. Heidi M. Anderson President Dr. Kimberly Whitehead Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Rondall E. Allen Dean, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions Dr. James Bresette Associate Dean for Development and External Relations, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions Dr. Timothy Gladwell Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Assessment

Dr. Sean Vasaitis Interim Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Dr. Victor Hsia Department Chair, Pharmaceutical Sciences Dr. Miriam Purnell Interim Department Chair, Pharmacy Practice and Administration

3 Salisbury University, UMES Forge a New Academic Partnership Agreement 4 Student Seth Weinstock Completes APPE Rotation at Eli Lilly & Co. Pharmacy Student Government Association Presents Check To UNA 5 Student-Sponsored 5K Raises Funds for Epilepsy

UMES SNPHA Named Regional Finalist

6 Class of 2018 Residency Matches

Pharmacy Students Volunteered at the KEY Symposium

7 Community Partner - PRMC

8 The People Part of Pharmacy Apple Discount Drugs

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Dr. Lana Sherr Assistant Dean for Professional Affairs Dr. William Harbester Assistant Dean for Experiential Education

2 Walgreens Awards UMES a Grant

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9 New Hope for Prostate Cancer and Other Diseases

Faculty Member Will Serve as CIEE Presidential Fellow 10 Rural Health Inequities Students Give Vaccinations at Flu Clinics 11 UMES Professor and Alum Secure U.S. Patent for New Drug 12 Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program 13 News From The Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty 14 Alumni Spotlight 15 Staff Highlights 16 UMES Pharmacy Program Opens Simulated Pharmacy

This magazine is a publication of the School of Pharmacy. To update your mailing information, send an email to pldouglas@umes.edu or call 410-651-8327.

The School of Pharmacy Celebrated its Sixth Hooding and Awards Ceremony

For more information about the School, visit our website www.umes.edu/shp.

17 Faculty Accomplishments

Publication design: Debi Rus, Rus Design, Inc.

C ontents

Walgreens awards UMES a grant to support diversity education

UMES’ Doctor of Pharmacy program received a $12,000 grant this summer from Walgreens to promote diversity among student pharmacists and to assist minority students with financial aid.

The grant will set aside $2,000 for development of a Walgreens Diversity and Inclusion Award which will be given to a student who, through actions and a competitive essay, promotes diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus.

A $3,000 Walgreens Diversity Scholarship will also be awarded to a student from an underrepresented minority group with an interest in community pharmacy. The remainder will be used to develop, implement and support programs that enhance diversity among the student body.

“Walgreens has consistently shown a strong commitment to programs and initiatives that foster diversity and inclusion within the pharmacy profession and the community,” said Dr. Jim Bresette, UMES’ associate dean for development and external relations, who noted in the past 10 years “Walgreens has donated more than $1 million annually to support diversity initiatives at schools and colleges of pharmacy.”

(L-R), Mid-Atlantic Walgreen executives Matt VenDouern, Dennis Bower, UMES pharmacy school dean Rondall Allen, Dr. Vinnie Madaline and Mike Zajac.

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The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Salisbury University have formed a new academic partnership capable of producing pharmacists in six years.

The agreement creating a “cooperative undergraduate/professional program” will streamline instruction by as many as two years and subsequently save students the comparable cost of extra tuition.

“We are excited about our partnership with Salisbury University and look forward to working with them to fully implement this agreement,” said Dr. Rondall E. Allen, dean of the UMES School of Pharmacy and Health Professions.

Chemistry majors at Salisbury University who meet the requirements and have strong academic credentials may gain preferential admission to UMES’ professional degree program after just three years of undergraduate study.

UMES’s pharmacy program, one of 15 in the nation that offers yearround instruction, enables students to earn a doctorate in three years instead of the traditional four.

Salisbury University students who opt to pursue the UMES pharmacy

evaluative information on outcomes of the program with the goal of continual improvement.”

Ashley Gosseline, a Wicomico High School counselor, predicts “this agreement between two local colleges our student population highly desires will find much success and a high level of interest.”

“Even in high school, students who have definite career plans, especially those that require more than four years of schooling, are very eager to learn about programs that can help cut down the number of years required of them,” Gosselin said.

UMES has produced 284 pharmacists – including six during the December 2017 commencement exercises – since its first class enrolled in 2010. The university is among the nation’s top 10 institutions producing African-American pharmacists.

Gosselin, the Wi-Hi counselor, said she finds students and their families increasingly are cost-conscious, especially those considering in-state options for college and career choices that lead to graduate-level training.

“I think you’ll find many students creating definite plans that include

SALISBURY UNIVERSITY, UMES FORGE A NEW ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

track and successfully complete the “3 + 3” program will earn two degrees, one from each institution.

“Salisbury University has a strong Chemistry Department,” said Dr. Michael Scott, interim dean of SU’s Henson School of Science and Technology.

“The new agreement will benefit its majors wishing to become pharmacists, particularly those who may find it financially practical or have other reasons to stay longer in the region.”

“To earn an undergraduate degree and a professional doctorate in six years has obvious benefits in costs and employment,” Scott said. “We are grateful that collaborations like this work well for students and programs at each institution.”

The partnership’s goal, Allen said, is “to encourage academic and administrative coordination between the institutions and the exchange of

(Salisbury and UMES) early on in their junior and senior years,” she said.

“This is an amazing opportunity for us to share with our students and help them think about and solidify their long-term goals.”

Faculty at both institutions, Allen said, will collaborate to ensure courses and student performance meet rigorous academic standards, and that Salisbury University students have access to advising about how to qualify for early admission to UMES. Collaboration between UMES and Salisbury University faculties in crafting complimentary academic agreements dates back to 1990, when the two institutions created a rigorous dual degree program in sociology and social work. That long-standing program since has been followed by two more dual degree options for undergraduates; environmental science (UMES) and biology (Salisbury) as well as physics (Salisbury) and engineering (UMES).

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SP3 student Seth Weinstock found himself 600 miles from home at Eli Lilly & Co. in Indianapolis, IN to complete one of his APPE rotations. He was lucky to be mentored by two great preceptors in Regulatory Policy. Working with those preceptors allowed Seth to focus on regulatory policy issues in the US and world-wide. The work started right away, and he was taken into a conference call regarding an upcoming company communication with the FDA. This set the pace for the remainder of his rotation, where he was privileged to be included on many confidential meetings. One of the other great things he was able to do at Lilly was to meet with pharmacists in various roles within the company. There were prescheduled student meetings, where pharmacy students across the company came together to hear presentations from pharmacists on what they do in their departments, as well as endless opportunities to set up one-on-one meetings to learn more about each person and their role. Many of the pharmacists in the company are former fellows, so this was also a prime opportunity to learn about the Lilly Visiting Scientist Fellowship Program! Despite being so far from home, Lilly employees and the other students there became Seth’s family for 5 weeks. Seth is very thankful for what he was able to learn at this rotation.

Students of the Pharmacy Student Government Association present a check to Mr. Mike Dyer, CEO of United Needs and Abilities (UNA), from the proceeds of the 5th Annual 5K Strides for Epilepsy, held on March 24th 2018 at the Salisbury Park.

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Student-sponsored 5K raises funds for and students of UMES’ School epilepsy Staff of Pharmacy gather with 5K Strides for Epilepsy participants.

UMES’ Pharmacy Student Government Association held its 5th annual 5K Strides for Epilepsy on March 24th at the Salisbury City Park.

“This year, we had about 50 registered runners, which included Mayor Jake Day of the City of Salisbury,” said Gerald W. Tchatchoa, president of the Pharmacy Student Government Association. “The mayor read a proclamation declaring it Epilepsy Awareness Day in Salisbury and also finished second in the race.”

Proceeds totaling $1,437 were presented to Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE) and United Needs and Abilities (UNA), a local non-profit based in Salisbury. UNA is dedicated to serving those with developmental disabilities, including epilepsy, while CURE is a

Emily Biskach

leading non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for epilepsy by identifying and funding epilepsy research.

Epilepsy is a serious, chronic brain disorder that produces seizures. It affects some 65 million people worldwide, 3 million in the U.S. and well over 60,000 people in Maryland.

“We thank the participants and sponsors for their generous donations and the staff and students of UMES’ School of Pharmacy for coming out strongly in support of the event,” Tchatchoa said. “Also to CURE and UNA for the work they do in these communities and their assistance with the race.”

UMES SNPhA Named Regional Finalist for Walmart/Sam’s Club Prescription for Service Competition

Emily Diseroad

The UMES chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association was awarded one of five national Walmart/Sam’s Club “Prescription for Service” grants. Student pharmacists Emily Biskach, Emily Diseroad, Tori Hearn, and Seth Weinstock will use a $2,500 grant they won to implement Eastern Shore Opioid Abuse Prevention (ESOAP), their grassroots Tori Hearn

community service project.

Seth Weinstock Rx TIMES > UMES

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Class of 2018 Residency Matches

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Scott Baker, Pharm.D. is one of the current PGY-1 Pharmacy Residents at The Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury MD, pharmacy residency program.

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Alexis Smith, Pharm.D. did an APPE rotation at Christiana Care Health System, Christiana DE, and is one of the PGY-1 residents for the year.

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Lincy Abraham, Pharm.D., past MPhA rotation student, was selected to be the 20182019 National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation’s Executive Fellow.

Careen-Joan Franklin, Pharm.D. is the current PGY-1 Community Pharmacy Resident at The University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy – Apple Discount Drug, Princess Anne MD, community residency program.

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Tola Adebanjo, Pharm.D. is one of the PGY1 Practice + HSPA residents at The University of Kansas Health System, Kansas City, KS.

Jessica Wearden, Pharm.D. is one of the PGY1 pharmacy residents at Bayhealth Hospital, Milford DE. Her professional interests include cardiology, internal medicine, and academia.

First year and second year pharmacy students volunteered at the KEY, Kidney: Evaluate Yours event hosted by the National Kidney Foundation in Salisbury, Maryland. They performed blood pressure screenings, measured heights and weights of patients, and provided prevention of diabetes and kidney disease education to patients.

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Community Partners Sarah Luttrell

Pharm.D., BCPS, BCPP As Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s (PRMC) mental health service line had not worked with a clinical pharmacist before, there was ample opportunity for new services, and growth of pharmacy services for mental health patients.

Hour-long medication education group sessions for the inpatient and partial hospitalization program (PHP) encompassing common indications, side effects, contraindications and counseling points for psychotropic medications are done three times a week. Information is given through informal discussions, as well as games such as Jeopardy, crossword puzzles, Who Wants to be a Millionaire or trivia-based games. All patients discharged from the inpatient unit, as well as any patients requesting counseling at PHP, are given the opportunity to meet and discuss medications with the clinical pharmacist to ask more specific questions. Each patient is given a handout created by the pharmacist with brand/generic name, directions including dosing, indication, side effects, when to seek medical attention, and any other pertinent information such as last trough level or important drug interactions.

Opportunities for staff development were also available.

Nursing staff have been trained on more appropriate drug information resources to utilize when providing patients information on medications. In addition, quick reference “flashcards” for psychotropic medications are in the process of being approved for utilization by nursing staff to ensure all nurses are providing similar information regardless of baseline psychiatric medication knowledge. A formal training presentation for performing medication reconciliation has been approved through clinical nursing education, and has been rolled out with individual nurses over the last few weeks.

Psychiatrists have also benefited, as they’re able to consult Dr. Luttrell for complicated cases, and assisting with clozapine REMS patient enrollment, lab verification and documentation.

Additional resources have been created to assist psychiatrists with drug-drug interactions, missed doses with long-acting antipsychotic injections, best recommendations regarding receptor binding profiles, and antipsychotic choices for bipolar disorder. Pharmacy consultation services for mental health medications are also available throughout the floor to assist with medication recommendations, monitoring and medication reconciliations.

Nkem P. Nonyel

Pharm.D., MPH, BCPS Dr. Nonyel is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice with a clinical practice focus in ambulatory care at Peninsula Regional Medical Group (PRMG), Salisbury, Maryland; a patient-centered medical home model. From August 2017 to July 2018, she successfully developed, implemented, executed, and piloted ambulatory care pharmacy services in one of five PRMG primary care physician offices. In this effort, she collaborated with PRMC pharmacy administration and PRMC/PRMG Information Technology in building templates for intervention documentation, patient scheduling and referrals. This collaboration resulted in the establishment of the PRMG Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Department.

Dr. Nonyel established criteria for and receives patient referrals for medication management services, consults with the patients, and provides clinical support to the primary care providers at the clinic. She also fosters a learning environment for students, and recently PRMC PGY1 Pharmacy Residents. She participates in some of the PRMG initiatives including the Carefirst Patient-Centered Medical Home patient incentive program, PRMG PCP meetings, and the PRMC Residency Advisory Council. Dr. Nonyel recently received the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Ambulatory Care PRN Academy Sponsorship. She is working on establishing a Collaborative Drug Therapy Management agreement with the providers, and setting up an ambulatory care quality dashboard.

PRMC Sahil Sheth Pharm.D.

Dr. Sheth is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. His clinical practice site is in the intensive care and cardiothoracic units at PRMC, where he actively participates in daily patient care rounds.

He is involved in multiple multidisciplinary projects to improve outcomes in critically ill patients. In conjunction with the microbiology department, Dr. Sheth is using early phenotypic organism identification in patients with bloodstream infections and impacting de-escalation of antibiotics. He is also working with the pulmonology department to develop and use low-dose intrapleural thrombolytics protocol in patients with pleural space infections to decrease their hospital length of stay and progression to surgery. Finally, he is collaborating with advanced practice providers and clinical nursing specialists to optimize dosing and duration of sedatives in patients with severe alcohol withdrawal in the intensive care unit.

His other interests include antimicrobial dosing in critically ill patients with augmented renal function and improving patient outcomes in decompensated cirrhosis.

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The People Part of Pharmacy Just like an internship would provide a rising college student the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills from their courses to the real world, the UMES School of Pharmacy does the exact same thing.

This time, however, it’s not an accounting student working for a tax firm the summer of their junior year, or the biology graduate doing research on whales in Iceland. This pharmacy student is working directly with people in the community who have needs - some big and some small, but these needs impact the individuals’ health, life and their overall wellbeing.

The Introductory Practice Pharmacy Experience, or IPPE, occurs in three week blocks while the Advanced Practice Pharmacy Experience, or APPE, requires an entire year, five weeks at a time. The different areas of pharmacy experience include ambulatory care, community setting, home infusion and direct patient care. Students actively participate in the following: • Flu/pneumonia clinics • Medication Therapy Management programs • Diabetes Self-Management Education clinics • Health Fairs (diabetes/hypertension screening) • Medicare D Open Enrollment/medication reconciliation • Assisted Living chart reviews • Interdisciplinary in-services • Assist in developing pharmacy policies and procedures In order for this to transpire, the School of Pharmacy relies on local community pharmacies to open their doors (and lab coats) to allow students to experience different patient-focused, real world, health care situations. UMES School of Pharmacy found this successful partnership with Apple Discount Drugs. Apple is a locally owned and operated “community” pharmacy based in Maryland that has been serving its local communities since 1971.

The collaboration between Apple Discount Drugs and the UMES School of Pharmacy has allowed pharmacy students to apply their didactic learning to real world experiences,” said Lana Sherr, Assistant Dean for Professional Affairs. “Apple Drugs offers a variety of services and unique learning opportunities. Numerous alumni have been hired by Apple, which shows Apple’s trust in UMES graduates.”

“Students can learn almost everything they need to know about pharmacy in a classroom setting,” said Jeff Sherr, President, Apple Discount Drugs. “What’s missing is the human element. We are in the healthcare business and by that I mean - caring for people’s health and well-being. In order to be truly successful as a pharmacist, students need to train by working directly with people. All the book knowledge in the

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world will not prepare them for the challenges and rewards of working with people.”

Before Tom Crum led Apple’s Berlin Pharmacy team, he was a UMES School of Pharmacy student who spent his days and evenings at Apple Discount Drugs being supervised and critiqued. He now understands the value of the experiential learning he received and how it gives students a broader perspective of pharmacy services, care and the human aspect.

“I realized that everything I learn doesn’t always fit in a nice square box,” said Tom. “Every scenario is different because every person is unique. You know they care about their health but they are coming to you for help. In the practicum I learned how to talk to people, communicate effectively, educate, problem solve and make good decisions. The answer isn’t always in a text book.”

Zack Sherr, Pharmacist and Assistant Director of Store Operations at Apple and UMES School of Pharmacy graduate, says it’s a two way street.

“You also have to learn how to listen and engage the patient, while understanding their barriers. It could be financial, communication, transportation, or a combination of so many other things. We don’t just slap a label on a bottle, ring them up at the register and send them on their way. There’s a lot more going on in a patient’s world today.”

Since 2011 with the inaugural class of Student Pharmacists, Apple Discount Drugs has taken two students at a time, amounting to up to twenty in a year who come from across the country, as well as overseas. Six of the students have stayed with Apple Discount Drugs upon graduation to start their careers in pharmacy.

Dr. Sean Vasaitis, an Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, has the distinction of being the only current member of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore faculty to bring two U.S. Patents to the university..

The latest came in early February for the development and use of “novel compounds (that) are potential agents for the treatment of all forms of prostate cancer and other diseases that depend on functional androgen receptors.”

Vasaitis is part of a team that includes five other long-time collaborators originally at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who earned a previous patent regarding this technology breakthrough in 2016.

“It’s been very rewarding work, and something I take quite seriously,” said Vasaitis, a 1996 UMES alumnus and the pharmacy school’s Interim

New Hope for Prostate Cancer and Other Diseases Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.

His co-inventors listed on both patents are: Dr. Vincent C.O. Njar (lead inventor), Lalji K. Gediya, Puranik Purushottamachar, Abhijit Godbole and Andrew Kwegyir-Afful. The research team has additional patents pending in more than 30 countries around the world.

Vasaitis, who joined the UMES faculty in 2010, said the research is motivated by the sobering statistic that “prostate cancer is the (nation’s) second-leading cause of cancer death in men, with a one-in-nine lifetime risk of being diagnosed with the disease.”

Vasaitis said he and fellow researchers focus on finding compounds capable of disrupting the action of multiple pathways in the body that fuel

prostate cancer growth.

“Prostate cancer progression is often driven by natural chemical messengers called androgens,” he said. “Androgens are steroids, the hormones that help muscle growth and drive the maturation of boys to men.”

“Androgens must bind with a protein called an androgen receptor (AR) to work,” Vasaitis said. “It is similar to a key and a lock; the androgen – the key – must bind with the androgen receptor – the lock – in order to work.”

“When a man develops prostate cancer, androgens bind with receptors (ARs) in the cancer cells, and may cause the cancer to grow,” he said.

“Androgen removal is a method doctors use to treat prostate cancer, but it is difficult to eliminate all sources of androgens. Advanced prostate cancer eventually becomes resistant to current therapies.”

The research team Vasaitis works with believes a more effective treatment is “directly reducing the amount of the androgen receptors in the body.”

The compounds – or novel inhibitors – that won patent approval “are able to reduce the amount of the normal androgen receptors, and mutated forms of those receptors that (can) make prostate cancer grow without androgens,” Vasaitis said.

“Some of these compounds have the additional benefit of being able to reduce the body’s ability to make androgens, as well as directly block (them) from activating” their receptors, he said. “In this way, our single agents are able to disrupt prostate cancer growth at multiple target sites.”

The new compounds that received patent approval also may find uses in treating cancers originating in the ovaries or the breasts, or in reducing non-cancerous enlarged prostates, he said.

Faculty member will serve as CIEE Presidential Fellow Dr. Yen Dang, an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at UMES, has been named a Project Passport Presidential Fellow by the Council on International Educational Exchange.

Project Passport is an initiative of the Council and the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions to develop study abroad programs at those institutions. Through Project Passport, training opportunities are provided for college presidents, faculty and students dedicated to expanding international exchange on their college campuses.

As a Presidential Fellow, Dang attended “ELEVATE,” a three-day workshop for “enriching learning, enhancing visibility and training educators” in June at the Penn Center.

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The University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the state health providers, the university stands to play a crucial role in guiding dadepartment cohosted a “Health Equity Summit” April 20 at the Henson ta-driven policy decisions that address public health concerns, he said.

Center that attracted some 140 participants.

“There’s a familiarity with the issues and factors that people in Inspired by rural commuNational Minority nities deal with Health Month, and if we do our the day-long analysis carefully, event was a joint this expertise project of UMES’ can help us School of Pharshape solutions,” macy & Health Brathwaite said.

Professions and Dr. Lennox the state agency’s A. Graham, chairOffice of Minoriman of Howard ty Health and University’s health Health Disparsciences and ities. management Dr. Noel department, Brathwaite, delivered the director of the day’s keynote minority health address, where disparities office, he outlined his said his agency views on “Essenis looking to From left, Ms. Erica White, Dr. David Mann, Ms. Karen Gutierrez, Dr. Lennox Graham, tials in Successful tap into faculty UMES’ Dr. Rondall E. Allen, Dr. Noel Brathwaite, Ms. Kim Hiner, Ms. Stephanie Slowly, and Sustainable expertise by Community Dr. Hoai-An Truong, Dr. Buki Alonge partnering with Engagement.” the university to identify and address health disparities unique to rural Dr. Yen H. Deng from UMES’ pharmacy school, Dr. William Talley, communities. chair of the university’s rehabilitation department, and Voncelia Brown, “I believe in listening to (local) health officers and constituents, a Salisbury University nursing department professor, were among those who can provide us with a road map in dealing with the specific issues who spoke about “Public Health Activities in Partnership with Local people face on the lower Eastern Shore,” Brathwaite said.

Health Departments.”

The summit was the first of its kind and organizers say they’re Five UMES students – Que’ell Cobb, Emily Diseroad, Medora Frahopeful it will lead to other gatherings elsewhere in Maryland. It zier, Bernard Jordan and Alexis Smith – were afforded an opportunity attracted public health professionals from the state and local health to make presentations on academic projects they’ve been working on departments, UMES and Salisbury University faculty and staff, graduate outside the classroom, including a student-organized event at UMES in and undergraduate students as well as state and local elected officials.

2016 to provide information about opioid abuse and offer solutions to By working with local health department officials and health care those who know someone coping with the addiction.

Rural health inequities focus of UMES summit

APPE students Divya Vepuri and Raliat Ola-Dauda giving influenza vaccinations at one of Apple Discount Drugs’ many flu clinics.

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Dr. Miguel Martin and student Adaobi Egwuagu, who graduated with a M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences in May 2018.

UMES professor and alum secure U.S. Patent for new drug Dr. Tawes Harper, a 2013 UMES pharmacy program graduate, and Dr. Patrice JacksonAyotunde, his mentor in a research project, were awarded a U.S. Patent for a new drug to treat epilepsy.

A medical research project Dr. Patrice Jackson-Ayotunde began seven years ago has earned the University of Maryland Eastern Shore pharmacy professor a U.S. Patent.

Jackson-Ayotunde received word April 3 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that it officially acknowledges her discovery of a chemical formula for new medication to treat epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurring seizures, which can be debilitating. Some patients experience multiple episodes daily.

Jackson-Ayotunde, an associate professor in the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, shares discovery credit with Dr. Tawes Harper, a 2013 UMES pharmacy program graduate who assisted her with the research.

She is the second faculty member in the past 20 months to be a primary recipient of a U.S. Patent assigned exclusively to UMES. Engineering professor Yuanwei Jin earned one in mid-2016 for his “smart structure” sensing device capable of detecting metal fatigue.

“I was overjoyed,” Jackson-Ayotunde said, adding “I could feel a large weight had been lifted. It was gratifying to know that a lot of hard work was being recognized.”

An estimated one in 26 people will develop epilepsy in their lifetime, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Worldwide, an estimated 65 million people have been diagnosed with the condition.

How quickly her idea for a new medication can make its way to the marketplace depends on whether pharmaceutical companies see promise in it and are willing to invest millions of dollars into years of clinical research. Jackson-Ayotunde and UMES stand to benefit financially, should it someday land on pharmacy shelves.

Moving a patent-worthy medicinal finding safely from lab-to-patient, however, can take 15-to-20 years.

Nonetheless, Jackson-Ayotunde and Harper provided a road map for a

prescription drug their research shows can reduce or eliminate the onset of seizures in people who have not been helped by other medications.

“It’s an honor to be a small part of a bigger picture scenario,” Harper said. “I haven’t gotten to the place where I think about my role. I’m very excited, though, for Patrice because she has devoted an unbelievable amount of time to this effort, and I’m glad it’s paid off for her.”

Since joining UMES’ faculty in 2010, Jackson-Ayotunde’s research has focused on designing and producing anticonvulsant analogs as agents for the treatment of therapy-resistant epilepsy. She and Harper initially identified a dozen compounds that showed anti-epileptic properties in multiple animal models with limited-to-no-observed neurotoxicity.

Jackson-Ayotunde has found nine more compounds with similar characteristics since initially applying for a patent.

“I am extremely proud of Dr. Jackson-Ayotunde,” pharmacy dean Rondall E. Allen said. “She has done a great job in identifying new compounds to treat seizures. Her research efforts have come to fruition.”

The patent award marks the culmination – at least for the moment – of 18 years of trial-and-error work dating back to Jackson-Ayotunde’s days as a doctoral candidate in medicinal chemistry at Howard University, where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Kenneth Scott.

“It’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” she said.

“It’s the journey I’m on. I’m just a scientist in the field looking to find a cure for epilepsy.”

Jackson-Ayotunde’s grad school mentor at Howard also did research on epilepsy and she has continued to build on the foundation he laid. She also was inspired by a nephew who had a related neurological disorder but has since grown out of it.

A preliminary application was submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark office in 2013 and in the ensuing years, Jackson-Ayotunde fielded a barrage of questions through a vetting process she said is exponentially more grueling than defending a doctoral dissertation.

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Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program

By Dr. Mark Simmons Director, Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program

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The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences has established a graduate program that offers Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program (PSGP) is a research-oriented program that offers training focused in the areas of Drug Design & Discovery (DDD) and Drug Delivery & Clinical Pharmacology (DDCP). These two areas of specialization were created to develop a curriculum that is interdisciplinary and at the vanguard of the ever-advancing field of pharmaceutical sciences.

The DDD track offers students the ability to gain knowledge and conduct research in the areas of drug design and synthesis, biosynthesis of natural products, neuropharmacology and immunology. The DDCP track offers the students the ability to gain knowledge and conduct research in the area of drug delivery systems with a focus on the use of nanotechnology in targeted drug delivery. The DDCP track also offers the opportunity for students to train in clinical pharmacology by acquiring advanced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis skills and through the use of modeling and simulation techniques.

Students in the program Did you know that complete core and elective the UMES SPHP course work that provides them now offers M.S. with a scientific foundation in the and Ph.D. degrees Pharmaceutical Sciences. While not in Pharmaceutical in the classroom or studying, the Sciences? students conduct experiments in faculty research laboratories. Once their course work is completed, the students can devote full time to research. Students are required to carry out an original research project that culminates in a thesis for the M.S. or a dissertation for the Ph.D. The results are also presented at scientific conferences and published in peerreviewed scientific journals. The program is expected to take about 2 years for the M.S. and 5 for the Ph.D. The goals of the PSGP are: 1) To provide the best training for students interested in pursuing careers in biopharmaceutical drug development; to conduct high-quality research relevant to pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; to offer innovative educational programs; and to support the biopharmaceutical industry, especially in Maryland.

2) For students to attain a high level of scholarship, research and leadership skills that contribute to the pharmaceutical sciences; for students to engage in the conduct of original research focusing on contemporary issues facing the pharmaceutical industry; to provide students with training at the highest level in life sciences pertaining to pharmaceutical sciences; and to prepare students for professional careers in academia and advanced scientific research in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Graduates from the PSGP will be prepared for careers in academia, government and advanced scientific research in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Students are accepted into the program primarily in the fall of oddnumbered years. The first cohort of students entered the program in Fall 2015. Currently, there are 6 Ph.D. students and one M.S. student enrolled in the program. Two M.S. students have already graduated.

We are currently recruiting students to join the program in Fall 2019. Entering students must have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in the biological, chemical, or pharmaceutical sciences and meet other admissions requirements (www.umes.edu/pharmsci). Generous financial support, including tuition, stipend, and health insurance, is available to US citizens on a competitive basis.

NEWS from the PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES FACULTY Ms. Isis Amaye, a Ph.D student training in Dr. Jackson-Ayotunde’s lab submitted an abstract to the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) 2018 Annual Meeting which was selected for the 2018 AAPS Best Abstract Award. The abstract titled, Early Drug Discovery and Preclinical Evaluation of Fluorinated Aromatic Enaminones as Potential Anticonvulsant Agents for Drug Resistant Epilepsy, was among the top 10% of abstracts highly ranked by AAPS Abstract Screeners. The Best Abstract Awards bring attention to the most exciting research to be found in the posters, based on abstracts that are submitted and screened before the event. AAPS will recognize the winning posters at AAPS PharmSci 360, held in November at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. In addition, Ms. Amaye and Dr. Jackson-Ayotunde are working on the following publications, “6 Hz Active Anticonvulsant Fluorinated N-Benzamide Enaminones and Their Inhibitory Neuronal Activity”; International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Special Issue “Proceedings of Research Centers at Minority Institutions (RCMI) Translational Science 2017 Conference” and Amaye, I., Whittington, Heinbockel, T., Wang, Z., Woods, J., Martin, M., Jackson-Ayotunde, P. L.; “6 Hz Active Anticonvulsant Fluorinated N-Benzamide Enaminones and Their Inhibitory Neuronal Activity.” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2018, 15, 1784; doi:10.3390/ijerph15081784.

Dr. Miguel Martin-Caraballo continues his work on the regulation of T-type Ca2+ channel expression and prostate cancer cells and had the following publication and presentations: Hall M, Todd B, Allen ED, Nguyen N, Kwon YJ, Nguyen V, Hearne JL, Martin-Caraballo M. (2018) Androgen receptor signaling regulates T-type Ca2+ channel expression and neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer cells. Amer. J. Cancer Res. 8(4):732-747. Amaye IJ, Heinbockel T, Wang ZJ, Woods J, Martin-Caraballo M, Jackson-Ayotunde P (2018) 6 Hz Active Anticonvulsant Fluorinated N-Benzamide Enaminones and Their Inhibitory Neuronal Activity. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 15:1784. Zhang QJ, Hsia SC, Martin-Caraballo M (2018) Regulation of T-type Ca2+ channel expression by interleukin-6 in ND7/23 sensory-like neurons post HSV infection.

8th Colorado Alpha Herpesvirus Latency Symposium (Vail, CO). Egwuagu A, Martin-Caraballo M (2018) Neuroendocrine differentiation-induced T-type Ca2+ channel expression alters the response to chemotoxic agents in prostate cancer cells in vitro. Annual UMES Research Symposium (Princess Anne, MD).

Dr. Adel H. Karara is currently serving as a co-editor for the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences (AAPS) Journal theme issue on “Precision Medicine.” The invited articles in the issue highlight the impact of the precision medicine initiative on drug development and the pharmaceutical sciences. Dr. Karara continues to serve on the FDA Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacology Advisory committee. Recently, he was invited to attend a FDA advisory oncology committee meeting as a voting member.

Dr. Madan Kharel was invited to write a review article titled “Recent developments in the quest for novel microbial natural products, Studies in Natural Products Chemistry, (2018) Volume 59, (chapter 4), PP 109-152. He had a podium presentation at the UMES regional symposium 2018 titled “Birnessite-Type Maganese Dioxide Nanoparticles: Eco-friendly Catalysts for Timely Remediation of Hard-to-Degrade Organic Pollutants.” Dr. Kharel, along with his student mentees, also presented a poster during the symposium “Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) Usage in the United States: What Do Consumers Need to Worry About?” Drs. Kharel, Jackson-Ayotunde and Tejada were able to secure a course redesign grant administered by the UMES Office of the Provost. In addition, he contributed as an investigator for a SU-faculty led proposal, which was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Dr. Bi-dar Wang recently received his second US patent on cancer diagnostics (US 9,968,887, entitled ‘Companion diagnostics for cancer screening methods to identify companion diagnostics for cancer based on splicing variants’) on June 5th, 2018. He also mentored his PhD students, Azah Mohanmed and Teddy Chen, for presenting posters at the 2018 Society of Toxicology Meeting and UMES research symposium. Dr. Wang continues his collaboration with his colleagues at George Washington University and University of Texas. Their research proposal was granted a NIH R01 award, and Dr. Wang currently serves as a sub-award PI for this project (renewed in March, 2018). In addition, Dr. Wang was awarded the SP-1 Faculty of the Year and Dean’s Faculty Recognition Award in May, 2018. He was recognized as one of the 14 HBCU professors receiving the 2018 BEYA STEM Innovator Award (in Medicine) in Washington, DC.

Since joining UMES’ School of Pharmacy & Health Professions in 2016, his research focus has been on cancer genomics and how the disease disproportionately impacts minorities.

Rx TIMES > UMES

13

A L U M N I

S P O T L I G H T

Dr. Francis J. Zamora, Pharm.D., AAHIVP (Class 2013) Since graduating in 2013 with a Pharm.D. from UMES

Dr. Zamora obtained board

School of Pharmacy, Francis J.

certification from the American

Zamora has found his calling

Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVP)

in clinical pharmacy with

and was recently promoted to

increasing success. The US

Internal Medicine Clinical Specialist.

Navy veteran and Philadelphia

He enjoys the daily interactions with

native, joined the SOP (School

patients and the everyday learning

of Pharmacy) inaugural class

opportunities afforded in his

in 2010. The skills he learned

practice that bring subsequent

in the US Navy and mentorship

advancement to the pharmacy

he received from the SOP faculty

profession. He has been very

about hard work and desire to

successful in integrating into a

learn, served him well as a student

health care team that provides

in the newly established pharmacy

the highest level of clinical care

program at UMES. Dr. Zamora was

to patients, as indicated by the

especially attracted to the mission of

promotions he has received since joining Yale-New Haven Medical

the SOP to develop exemplary pharmacy professionals and scholars who

Center. He is currently involved in the training of future pharmacists as an

are committed to patient-centered care, lifelong learning, discovery, and

IPPE and APPE preceptor for clinical rotations. Dr. Zamora also serves

service to diverse communities. Despite the intensive nature of the three-

as coordinator for the internal medicine residency program at Yale-New

year pharmacy program at UMES, Dr. Zamora managed to make life-

Haven Medical Center. Dr. Zamora has contributed to new knowledge in

long friends which helped him navigate the difficulties of a demanding

the practice of pharmacy with several publications on the topics of HIV,

curriculum. After graduation, Dr. Zamora completed a pharmacy

pharmacotherapy and drug interactions. This aspect of his professional

practice (PGY-1) residency at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly,

career can be traced back to his training at UMES, where he co-authored

NJ. This was followed by a PGY-2 residency at Hunterdon Medical

several scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Center in Flemington, NJ, with a specialization in pharmacotherapy. Dr.

Dr. Zamora is an adjunct professor at the Yale School of Physician

Zamora completed a teaching certificate program at the University of the

Assistant and Yale School of Nursing. At the request of Yale School of

Sciences in Philadelphia. He strongly believes that teaching and effective

Medicine, Dr. Zamora is currently working as an author of a new anti-

communication, are an integral part of pharmacy contributions, leading

parasitic chapter for a new infectious diseases book sponsored by

to better patient clinical outcomes and robust practitioner relationships.

McGraw-Hill Education. He was recently featured in the Yale University

Following the completion of the two year residency, Dr. Zamora became

quarterly bulleting for his contributions to the Sickle Cell Anemia Yale

a Multispecialty Clinical Pharmacist at Yale-New Haven Medical Center in

Clinical Team, elevating the pharmacy profession to new horizons.

New Heaven, CT.

14 Rx TIMES > UMES

S

T

A

F

F

Dr. Lynn Lang is the Assessment Coordinator in Academic Affairs. She has a B.S. in Secondary Education, a M.A. in English and graduated on May 25, 2018 from UMES with a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. She is looking forward to conducting research in the area of sensemaking and student performance as well as starting a wraparound seminar series in the SOP. She is a volunteer member with the Girl Scouts, the coordinator for the religious education program at her church, and likes kayaking and visiting museums with her husband, Robbie, and two children, Audrey and Aidan.

Mrs. Helen Branch is the Information Technology Specialist. She has a B.S. in Chemistry and is pursuing a B.S. in Computer Network and CyberSecurity. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Mrs. Branch is active in her church with the Praise Team, Choir, and Dance Ministry. She likes spending time with her husband, Kelvin, and daughters, Briana, who attends SU, and Makayla.

Ms. Pam Douglas is the Administrative Assistant to Dr. Allen in the Dean’s Office. She loves amusement and water parks, carnivals, live bands, eating crabs/seafood, event planning, and spending time at church and with family and friends. Her personal interests include business management and marketing. She is the mother of two. Her son, Jamonte, is a UMES student. Her daughter, Jada, is in third grade.

Mrs. Verné Shaw-Johnson is the Administrative Assistant in the Pharmaceutical Sciences department. She started her education at Virginia State University and plans on finishing at UMES. She is a wedding planner, likes to shop and read, and is active in her church with her husband, Jeremiah, who is an Elder. She likes spending time with family and friends.

Mrs. Diana Calcagno is the Administrative Assistant in Experiential Education. Originally from Ohio, she and her family have lived in 8 different states, moving with her husband, Mark’s, career. She has two sons, Matt who is an Athletic Trainer and interned with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Mitch who is a U.S. Marine. She also has a Chocolate Lab, Duke. She enjoys visiting the beach, working out, biking, and hiking.

Mrs. Sharon Neal-Horsey is the Admissions Coordinator in Student Affairs. She has a B.S. and M.S. in Criminal Justice from UMES. She enjoys spending time with her three children, Ky who is a UMES/SU student, Kayson, and Kaydence. She also likes reading and watching law and crime shows.

Dr. Rick Ward is the Recruitment Coordinator in Student Affairs. He is an 8 year Honorably Discharged Army Military Veteran, who served as a Combat Medic during Operation Desert Storm. His educational background includes a B.S. in Rehabilitation Services (from UMES), an M.S. in Special Education, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership (from UMES). He is an active Board member of the Community Behavioral Health Systems in Salisbury, Maryland and is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Maryland Business Roundtable Speakers Bureau. He credits his family, including wife Shanda, and daughters, Sokyra and Ahydia, and faith in God to being the anchor and the pillar to any successes in his life. His hobbies include playing golf and tennis, weight training, traveling, landscaping, fishing, and gardening. He also enjoys sporting events, going to the beach, cooking or going out to eat.

Mrs. Sheila Curtis

is the Administrative Assistant in the Pharmacy Practice and Administration department.

Mrs. Curtis received her Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Counseling and is currently pursuing a degree in Business Management. Mrs. Curtis is one of the advisors to a campus organization for young women named W.O.R.T.H., along with volunteering with the Robert Wood-Johnson Foundation’s Community Initiative for Eden and Princess Anne. She is a wife and mother of seven who enjoys singing, hair styling and family time. Mrs. Curtis has a second daughter who has chosen to attend UMES. Rx TIMES > UMES

15

UMES pharmacy program opens simulated pharmacy

By Dr. Tosin David

areas. The first is a computer laboratory that comes equipped with state of the art software system and technical equipment. This provides an opportunity for didactic lectures and allows students to practice utilizing health care-based From left are pharmacy students Vu Nguyen, Shahrzad Vasy and Harris Ngokobi. electronic systems individually. The second half of the facility in Building 934-2 behind Spaulding The doctorate of pharmacy degree program at UMES is an intense Hall includes a familiar pharmacy layout with drop-off and pick up areas, accelerated program as students learn the necessary information in three empty medication bottles and other items commonly seen in a community years versus four for most programs. With the demands of the program, pharmacy. This area offers an ideal environment for students to work in students may not have as many opportunities as their counterparts to groups to process orders and manage complex situations that occur in a work in various pharmacy settings before their graduation. Many of the community pharmacy. skills necessary for pharmacists cannot be taught via an exam but need to The grand opening was a time to showcase the simulation area to be practiced and developed. The school of pharmacy saw this need and the entire UMES community. The hope was to bring awareness that this created a simulated area where student pharmacists can train and obtain is a simulated pharmacy on campus (not a real pharmacy) and to let the required skills needed in the community pharmacy setting. individuals know there are NO medications in the simulation area. The On Friday, March 30 the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s School of Pharmacy also wanted to showcase the versatility of pharmacists School of Pharmacy had the grand opening of the Next-Level Educational by providing preventive services for the community like blood pressure Simulation Training (NEST) Center. The NEST is split into two simulation readings and diabetes risk assessments.

The School of Pharmacy celebrated its sixth Hooding and Awards Ceremony

16 Rx TIMES > UMES

FAC U LT Y AC C OM P L I SH M E N T S Dr. Rondall Allen

Appointed by Governor Hogan to serve as a member on the Board of Trustees for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. The Board oversees the “Affordable Care Act” for the state of Maryland.

Dr. James Bresette

Hosts the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Student Opportunity Conference Call Series.

Dr. Timothy Gladwell

Dr. Latasha Wade

Appointed to serve on the NPhA Board of Directors.

Invited to serve as a keynote speaker at the 2018 Regional Meeting of the National Association of Educational Procurement.

Collaborations: Drs. Latasha Wade, Hoai-An Truong, and Yen Dang

Completed recertification as a Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP).

Poster presentation at the NPhA Annual Meeting - “Assessing Intercultural Competence of Health Professions’ Students.”

Appointed as the Dermatology section editor for the APhA Pharmacotherapy First online resource.

Drs. Yen Dang and Hoai-An Truong

Dr. Khaled Hasan

“ Implementation and Impact of a Global Health Service Mission in a Rural Community in Vietnam.”

Selected by the Arabization Centre for Medical Science to be an author for a textbook titled, Clinical Pharmacy.

Dr. Victor Hsia

Poster presentations at the FIP Annual Meeting -

“Assessing pharmacy and physical therapy students’ international intercultural competency skills.”

Invited to give a seminar at the Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine on “Effects of Thyroid Hormone on the Herpes Virus Latency and Reactivation.”

Drs. Tosin David and Bill Harbester

Dr. Madan Kharel

Drs. Tosin David and Geoff Twigg

Dr. Dennis Killian

Drs. Sarah Luttrell and Richard Debenedetto

Dr. Sarah Luttrell

Drs. Hoai-An Truong, Marie-Therese Oyalowo and Lana Sherr

Published a review article in the Elsevier Journal, Studies in Natural Products Chemistry.

Completed a presentation on technology to enhance medication safety at a Baxter user group meeting in Chicago.

Published an article in Clinical Schizophrenia and Related Psychoses titled, Aripiprazole Lauroxil NanoCrystal Dispersion Technology (Aristada Initio).

Dr. Nkem Nonyel

Selected to receive the ACCP 2018 Ambulatory Care PRN Academy Sponsorship to participate in the Research and Scholarship Academy.

Dr. Miriam Purnell

Selected to be a member of AACP’s Champion Advisory Committee.

The committee provides guidance and develops new initiatives to promote pharmacy education and careers.

Mrs. Nancy Rodriguez-Weller

Elected for the 2nd year as Co-Chair for ESCIPE (Eastern Shore Collaborative for Interprofessional Education of Health Care Professionals) Committee, 2018.

Dr. Lana Sherr

Appointed by the Eastern Shore Area Health Education (AHEC) to serve on its Board of Directors.

Dr. Fred Tejada

Received NSF grant of $265,000 to support research project.

Dr. Hoai-An Truong

Appointed to serve on the AACP Strategic Engagement Committee.

Selected to write book chapter on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the APhA Pharmacotherapy First online resource.

Selected as pharmacists to engage in the American Association of Diabetes Educators’ (AADE) Pharmacists as Providers initiative.

Co-authored a book chapter on Opioid Use Disorder in the APhA Pharmacotherapy First online resource.

Poster presentation at AACP Annual Meeting - “Development, Implementation and Lessons Learned from Longitudinal Professional Development Required Course Series over 5 years.”

Drs. Miriam Purnell and Fred Tejada

Poster Presentation at AACP Annual Meeting– “Perceived Stress Comparison of Student Pharmacists with or without a Bachelor’s Degree.”

Drs. Lana Sherr, Fred Tejada, and Hoai-An Truong

Poster Presentation at AACP Annual Meeting - “Assessment of Interprofessional Activities Across a 3-year Concentrated Curriculum.”

Drs. Fred Tejada, Dana Fasanella, and Sarah Luttrell

Book Chapter - “Use of Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, and Psychotropic Drugs in Pregnancy” for the book “Side Effects of Drugs Annual.”

Drs. Dennis Klima, Tosin David, and Mrs. Nancy Rodriguez-Weller Received a Community Foundation Grant to extend their interprofessional falls prevention community outreach program.

At the UMES School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, it’s all about “the people.”

From our students, faculty and staff to our alumni, donors and community supporters. Together, we

We welcome your continued support and your first-time gifts of time and funding to advance the contributions of our alumni, students, faculty and staff.

We provide several ways you can engage with and donate to the School and the program of your choosing.

comprise a community of learners, educators,

• Alumni engagement, public relations and giving inquiries:

facilitators, trainers, clinicians, practitioners and

Dr. James Bresette, Associate Dean for Development and External Relations, School of Pharmacy & Health Professions 410-651-8372, jlbresette@umes.edu

professionals in kinesiology, rehabilitation services, physical therapy, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

As evidenced within these pages, our UMES School of Pharmacy and Health Professions is clearly making a positive impact on our community.

Positive impacts in areas of research, community service, scholarly activity and practice. Collectively, our achievements are significant not only for a school of our size, but for a school of any size.

Mrs. Chenita Reddick, UMES Division of Institutional Advancement 410) 651-8045, crreddick@umes.edu • Online donations https://iaumes.givecorps.com/ Select “Support Our Five Schools - Rx for Good: SCHOOL OF PHARMACY ” Direct your gift to a department or project in the “Additional Instructions About My Donation” field.

• Mailing address: UMES Division of Institutional Advancement | J.T. Williams Hall, Suite 2104 | Princess Anne, MD 21853

We also want to stay up to date on what you are doing, your achievements and your significant life events.

Please call, e-mail or use this link to share your news with us. https://www.umes.edu/IA/AlumniFriendsUpdateForm/ We look forward to hearing from you soon.