COLLEGE OF PHARMACY A N N U A L R E P O R T 2019
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / i
CONTENTS 2.
BY THE NUMBERS
4.
RESEARCH
10. STUDENTS 18. FACULTY 23. ALUMNI 24. GIVING
WHO WE ARE Mission Create the future of health through pharmacy.
Vision Excellence through leadership
Organizational values We value: service to the local, national and global community; integrity and ethical behavior; innovation and collaboration in research; professional practice and education; personal growth through lifelong learning; diversity and respect for all individuals; cultural competence.
URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
DEAN’S MESSAGE If there is one thing you can count on in pharmaceutical science and in health care in general, it is change — in technology, in regulations, in our understanding of how chemical substances affect the human body. Pharmaceutical scientists need to be adaptable to serve their patients and help advance medical science. College campuses are also experiencing constant change. The URI College of Pharmacy is no exception as nearly 200 students graduated in 2019, and more enter our halls this fall. Nearly 50 percent of our faculty has turned over in recent years, and new, dynamic researchers and educators have come to URI looking to make an impact. And make an impact they have! Perhaps nothing better exemplifies the College’s commitment to research and innovation than being ranked 10th in the nation among all colleges of pharmacy in federal research funding. The number 10 ranking — among 142 pharmacy colleges — is a record for the College for the second year in a row, following last year’s number 11 rank. The following pages detail just some of the projects and studies our professors and students have taken on in their mission to advance pharmaceutical science. A campaign to strengthen the meningitis vaccine rate addresses a growing threat to college students. New technology aims to make vaccinations safer and more effective. Fruit flies are helping researchers find treatments for Parkinson’s Disease. Our state-of-the-art Pharmaceutical Development Institute is poised to be a leader in drug research and development. Of course, educating the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists remains at the core of our mission. Faculty members have been honored for their achievements with national fellowships and pharmaceutical association awards. Students this year brought home a national pharmacy clinical challenge championship, were honored for public service and leadership, and brought health services to countries far and wide. Two alumni received lifetime achievement awards, and another may soon be an Olympian. The achievements keep piling up. I hope you are as excited as I am to review our achievements as we look forward to another successful year. –Dean E. Paul Larrat
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By the numbers INCOMING CLASS OF 2024
200
UNDERGRADUATE Pharmacy STUDENTS ENROLLED FOR FALL 2019
B.S.P.S. by the numbers INCOMING CLASS OF 2023
113 NEW APPLICANTS FOR 2019
1153
3.47
40
AVERAGE SAT
AVERAGE GPA
ENROLLED STUDENTS
SCORE OF INCOMING CLASS
OF INCOMING CLASS
OF INCOMING CLASS
Pharm. D. by the numbers INCOMING CLASS OF 2025
574
134
NEW APPLICANTS FOR 2019
ENROLLED STUDENTS
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1281
4.05
AVERAGE SAT
AVERAGE GPA
SCORES OF INCOMING CLASS
OF INCOMING CLASS
Residency Placements The URI College of Pharmacy consistently ranks above the national average for post-graduate residency placements. From the Class of 2019, 35 students have been placed in residencies or fellowships in their first postgraduate year. The students and their placements include: Christine Albatal - CVS Health, CVS Specialty Division, Lincoln, RI
Ashley Ginda - Holyoke Health Center Pharmacy, Holyoke, MA
Elizabeth Paolucci - Walgreens/MCP Boston, Chelsea, MA
Timothy Amison - Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
Victoria Grant - UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
Devang Patel (fellowship) - Apothecare Pharmacy, Brockton, MA
Maghan Ballentine (fellowship) AstraZeneca, Wilmington, DE
Casey Hall - Greenline Pharmacy, Wakefield/Providence, RI
Alexandra Podosek - Crownpoint Healthcare Facility, Crownpoint, NM
Alyssa Capuano - VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
Rachel Hanson - Maine General Medical Center, Augusta, ME
Nicole Clemons - Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, CT
Matthew Hermaneau - Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI
Alexandra Prach - Potter’s House Apothecary/Midwestern Univ-Glendale, Peoria, AZ
Samantha Colt - Franklin Memorial Hospital, Farmington, ME
John Hoolahan - Greenline Pharmacy, Wakefield/Providence, RI
Patrick Condon - Lakeland Regional Health, Lakeland, FL
Ashley Jackson - Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA
Michael Consaga - Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
Bianca Kohler - VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT
Cassidy Delaney - Rutgers/Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Neward, NJ
Mark Lasorsa - Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Colin DeWald - Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center, Roseville, CA
Julia Law - Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Shawnee Mission, KS
Aidan Fischer - Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, MA
Renee Morin - South County Health, Wakefield, RI
Kimberly Geraghty - University of New England/Martin’s Point HC, Portland, ME
Laila Najia - Florida Hospital Orlando-AdventHealth, Orlando, FL
Alyssa Puia - Holyoke Health Center Pharmacy, Holyoke, MA Brady Quinn - University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT Taylor Sattler - Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT Maureen Seasholtz - Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA Kanya Shah (fellowship) - University of Rhode Island/AscellaHealth, Kingston, RI Andrew Webb - Mayo Clinical Hospital-Rochester, Rochester, MN Ariela Zmoira - Kroger Pharmacy/ University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
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RESEARCH Dynamic Faculty, Students fuel Scientific Breakthroughs 4 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
College Ranked 10th Nationally in Federal Research Funding The rank, among 142 colleges, is a record for the College The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy has moved into the top 10 in the country in total federal research grant funding from the National Institutes of Health after securing more than $12 million in federal research funds in fiscal 2018. The number 10 ranking — among 142 pharmacy colleges in the country — is a record for the College for the second year in a row. URI is the top ranked pharmacy college in the Northeast, and the only one in the top 20 that is not part of an academic medical center (hospital and medical school), which is ordinarily a significant disadvantage to attracting research funds.
“All credit goes to our amazing faculty members, who continue to make significant scientific breakthroughs that benefit the entire health community,” said URI Pharmacy Dean Paul Larrat. “Every breakthrough, every advancement in scientific knowledge they achieve are even more incentives to fund their work. The discoveries they make every day and bring with them into their classrooms benefit not only the current scientific community, but also the next generation of dynamic researchers and clinicians roaming our halls.”
Professor, Students to Battle Meningitis B ‘Operation Immunization’ takes on growing threat on college campuses The URI College of Pharmacy will address a serious health concern on college campuses while preparing future pharmacists to help contain a bacterial outbreak, thanks to a grant to expand its “Operation Immunization” program to tackle Meningitis B. The program recently received a $20,000 award from the NACDS Foundation Scholarship Program, which grants funding to educational institutions “to advance patient care through pharmacy education.” The URI College of Pharmacy received one of just six merit-based, $20,000 awards “to fund patient-centered, community-based coursework or other curriculum innovations.” The money will be used to establish an education and vaccination campaign to battle meningitis B, a relatively new strain of meningococcal disease that is not covered in typical meningitis vaccinations required by most college campuses. The illness commonly attacks adolescents 16-20 years old, putting college students living in close quarters at particular risk, according to URI pharmacy Clinical Associate Professor Virginia Lemay, principal on
the study and leader of the College’s “Operation Immunization.” Lemay is hoping to encourage a ripple affect across the university, and across the country. She plans a second round of vaccinations in Spring 2020 to inoculate more students, and hopes to encourage university leaders to act. The long-term goal is to generate data that will convince the university admissions offices to require meningitis B vaccines for all incoming students. ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 5
College expands Pharmaceutical Development Institute Clean lab provides custom development, contract manufacturing, training and testing services The URI College of Pharmacy’s Pharmaceutical Development Institute has expanded as it continues its mission to help meet the critical demand for professionals skilled in clean room procedures and infrastructure to support drug development and manufacturing. New Manager of Operations Cahil McGovern and Education Specialist Beth Zielinski-Habershaw have brought years of experience in clean lab technology to the PDI team. They join Senior Development Scientists Saleh Allababidi and Jie Shen, and Director of Finance and Business Catherine Curtin-Miller in leading the URI lab to the forefront of pharmaceutical development in the region. Focusing on custom development, contract manufacturing, analytical testing and certification training, the PDI team works with URI researchers as well as private scientists and drug developers, testing and manufacturing pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. The URI lab has a host of projects scheduled for the current academic year, highlighted by an upcoming clinical trial for an improved medication to treat parasitic worm infections in children ages 2-4. The PDI is gearing up to produce placebos for the trial to find a better way to treat the infection common in children in such places as Uganda and the Philippines. The lab is also preparing for a collaboration with the University of Connecticut to develop nano-particles to assist in drug delivery, and is working on a seaweed extraction with hopes of creating a natural way to treat heartburn and indigestion. Training remains a key goal of the PDI, which hosts an undergraduate class in clean room technology. And it’s not just students expanding their education. The PDI regularly hosts new scientists with biopharmaceutical firm Amgen, which has a location in West Greenwich, RI. McGovern’s team teaches clean room technique and proper use of lab equipment, certifying them for work in pharmaceutical development labs. Through its development, manufacturing, training and testing, the PDI is helping fill a critical void in the infrastructure for pharmaceutical development. For more on the PDI, visit uri.edu/pdi.
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Through its development, manufacturing, training and testing, the PDI is helping fill a critical void in the infrastructure for pharmaceutical development.
Fruit Flies Help Find Natural Parkinson’s Treatments Researchers testing natural compounds to treat the disease There has been considerable buzz around the College’s Bioactive Botanical Research Laboratory lately. That’s partly because researchers there have a new ally in their quest to find a new treatment for Parkinson’s disease — the fruit fly. Researchers — led by pharmacy Professor Navindra Seeram and interdisciplinary neuroscience Ph.D. candidate Shelby Johnson are working with the insects to test the effectiveness of natural compounds as treatments for the neurodegenerative disease. They have been administering multiple compounds to the flies — which have Parkinson’s through either genetic modification or exposure to toxins — including Equol, a gut microbial metabolite of certain isoflavones found in soybeans, maple syrup extract, and an extract from the seeds of the Mucuna pruriens, a tropical legume used in traditional medicine in India.
One method of testing a compound’s effectiveness in treating Parkinson’s is called negative geotaxis, a common technique used in fruit fly research. It involves tapping a tube containing the flies so they fall to the bottom, and then counting how many of the flies have climbed past the halfway line on the tube at different time intervals. This is especially relevant to Parkinson’s testing because it measures the flies’ mobility after being given a natural compound. There is still much to learn from the on-going study, but preliminary results of the tests have been promising. Flies with toxin-induced Parkinson’s given the Mucuna pruriens seed extract have demonstrated increased climbing ability. For more information on the study’s next steps, visit uri.edu/pharmacy/news-and-events.
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Continuing Ed, ‘Healthy’ Discussion at Seminar By the Sea Annual conference attracts health professionals from across region Health professionals from across the health care industry gathered in Newport, R.I. in March to discuss some of the largest issues affecting health care, and earn continuing education credits at the 34th annual Seminar By the Sea presented by the URI Office of Continuing Education for the Health Professions. A host of health professionals offered presentations on such topics as innovations in treatment for opioid use disorder; the importance of vaccinations and the battle anti-vaxxers wage; eating disorders; ethics in integrated health; prescription drug risk mitigation; and more. “Seminar By the Sea gives health professionals from different disciplines the chance to learn from each other and discuss the most important issues affecting health care today,” said MJ Kanaczet, director of the URI Office for Continuing Education for the Health Professions. “We have a diverse group of professionals presenting on an array of compelling topics. Plus, a whole year’s worth of continuing education credits are available for nurses and pharmacists.” The 2020 session is scheduled for March 11-13 at the Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina in Newport, RI. For more information and to register, log onto uri.edu/cehp.
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Alumnus Named Campbell Award Winner The Dr. Norman A. Campbell Award for Ethics and Excellence in Healthcare was presented to URI alumnus Paul B. Chace, owner of PBC Pharmacy Consulting, Inc., during the College’s Seminar By the Sea continuing education conference in March. Chace graduated from URI with a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1990, before becoming the director of Third Party Operations at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Pennsylvania. After a move to Maine, Chace worked on Medicaid rebate negotiation for Change Healthcare before going into business for himself. He operated Old Port Pharmacy in Portland, Maine, for five years, before returning to Rite Aid as a recruiter. At the same time, he established PBC Pharmacy Consulting, which he continues to run. Chace also served as a complaint officer for the Maine Board of Pharmacy, and served in the Maine legislature for four years.
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Nearly 200 Graduate from URI College of Pharmacy Nearly 200 graduates crossed the stage to receive their degrees during the URI College of Pharmacy commencement ceremony in the Mackal Field House Sunday, May 19. Dean Paul Larrat and the entire College congratulates the College of Pharmacy Class of 2019!
STUDENTS Prepared to be health care leaders 10 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Hooding Ceremony honors Pharmaceutical Sciences Doctorate, Master’s degree recipients URI College of Pharmacy Dean Paul Larrat urged graduates to make their mark on the history of human knowledge as he congratulated students receiving Masters of Science in Pharmaceutical Studies and Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences degrees during the college’s annual “Hooding Ceremony” in May.
The 2019 Master’s graduates include: • • • •
Ghadah Alghaith Andrew Descoteaux Mehwish Ghazanfer Ryan Ivone
The Doctor of Philosophy graduates include: • • • • • • • • • • • •
Adam Auclair Zachary Babcock Ke Bian Nicholas DaSilva Nicole James Rohitash Jamwal Prateek Kakar Christina Nadolny Kenneth Rose Armin Sadighi Nishan Shah Qi Tang
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Pharmacy Student is Mental Health Advocate, Community Activist Nicole Schwab practices ‘human side’ of pharmacy profession Mental health is sometimes overlooked in favor of physical health, but pharmacy major Nicole Schwab will correctly tell you that it is just as important. Even before entering the pharmacy program at URI, Schwab knew she wanted to help people with their mental health. “I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a pharmacist,” Schwab said. “Pharmacy isn’t just pushing pills across the counter at someone; there is a whole other human side to it.” Schwab learned about mental health and addiction in high school in her hometown of Colden, New York. She represented Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) at a conference in Buffalo that addressed young people with substance use disorders. There, she listened to a pharmacist speak about addiction and what pharmacists can do to help people who suffer from it. “This experience helped me fully realize my passion for mental health and addiction treatment,” Schwab said. Schwab has continued to pursue that passion, centering her rotations around that area. One was at a federal correctional facility where she worked with inmates who serve as suicide watch companions for other inmates, helping rebut the societal stigma some inmates said is attached to taking medication for depression and other mental ailments.
“I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be a pharmacist,” Schwab said. “Pharmacy isn’t just pushing pills across the counter at someone; there is a whole other human side to it.” For more about Nicole Schwab, visit uri.edu/pharmacy/news-and-events. 12 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Schwab completed another rotation with the RI Department of Health, during which she attained the crowning achievement of her college career. She wrote a policy statement titled, “Patient-centered care for people who inject drugs,” which focused on harm reduction techniques for health care professionals who encounter people who inject substances in their communities. The American Pharmacists Association adopted her statement as official policy. Outside of her pharmacy work, Schwab served as a student leader for URI Service Corps’ alternative spring break service trips to Atlanta and Baltimore, both centered around the themes of poverty and community revitalization. She also is an advocate for the homeless population, volunteering with House of Hope to do direct outreach to homeless residents on the streets of Providence.
Student Recognized Nationally for Public Health Service Award recognizes role pharmacists play in promoting healthy communities Pharmacy student Patrick Condon has earned national recognition for his commitment to public health and community advocacy from the United States Public Health Service.
Students Win National Clinical Pharmacy Challenge
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Christopher Janik presented Condon with the Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award in Dean Paul Larrat’s office. The award increases awareness of the role pharmacists play in promoting healthy communities.
Team takes home college’s first championship in annual competition Which anti-coagulation medication must a pharmacist keep sealed in its original packaging until dispensing? URI College of Pharmacy student Aidan Fischer immediately rang in with the correct answer before the multiple-choice answers were even displayed, setting the tone for the three-member URI team that captured the College’s first championship in the Clinical Pharmacy Challenge Oct. 22. The team — made up of Fischer, Andrew Webb and Alex Chernov — outlasted 116 other pharmacy schools from across the country to win the national competition presented by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). The trio, along with team alternate Janine Short and with the help of coach and Pharmacy Professor Kristina Ward, pored through pharmaceutical journals, ACCP materials and their own text books to brush up on as much information as they could in the weeks leading up to the contest, which includes questions spanning 22 pharmaceutical topics. Their work paid off, leading the College to its first-ever win in the prestigious, Quiz Bowl-type competition.
Condon has taken an active role in promoting public health as co-leader of the URI Service Corps. He has led hurricane relief trips, organized immunization clinics and opioid awareness events, and mentored younger pharmacy students. He also played the role of a patient in a Department of Health event to help train professionals how to break bad news. He is an active member of the American Pharmacists Association, and has made several public presentations, including during Face of Pharmacy Day at the RI State House and during the TEDxURI series in 2017. ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 13
Student Wins National Leadership Award Pharmacy student Justin Culshaw has earned the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ Student Leadership Award. Culshaw is one of just 5 students around the country to receive the honor, which recognizes “students who represent the very best attributes and accomplishments of ASHP student members.�
Students, Faculty Promote Profession, Health Initiatives at Statehouse College students advocate for smoking cessation, birth control Dozens of URI Pharmacy students joined several faculty members and Dean Paul Larrat in bringing attention to the services pharmacists provide, and lobbying for initiatives important to the industry during the 16th annual Face of Pharmacy Day at the Rhode Island Statehouse in April. The event gives pharmacists and pharmacy teachers and students the chance to promote their profession to state leaders and advocate to legislators for or against pharmaceutical issues. Students lined the hallways of the Statehouse to present their research projects to legislators and passers-by, and some joined faculty members in a speaking program to promote two issues important to many pharmacists and other health care workers: smoking cessation and birth control. The URI contingent supported bills that would allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense tobacco cessation drugs and products, and prescribe hormonal contraceptives in the form of a patch or birth control pills.
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Pharm.D students win scholarships at annual Youngken Clinic Eight pharmacy students were awarded scholarships during the college’s 61st annual Heber W. Youngken Jr. Pharmacy Clinic. The awardees include: • Heber W. Youngken, Jr. Scholarship Endowment for Pharmacy - Patrick Condon • Arnold M. Sidel Memorial Scholarship in Pharmacy - Emily Murray and Kendra Walsh
• Rhode Island Pharmacy Foundation Scholarships - Heather Dorich, Elizabeth Paolucci, Anthony Deangelis and Angela Dansereau • Spaziano Scholarship Award - Amanda Loomis
Students compete in national Pharmacy and Therapeutics Competition, Gain Valuable Experience A group of University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy students achieved a noteworthy milestone, competing in the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Foundation’s National Student Pharmacist Pharmacy & Therapeutics Competition. In the challenging contest, students from the URI chapter of AMCP joined teams from colleges of pharmacy across the country to work through a case study of a new medication, assessing its value, comparative effectiveness and pharmacoeconomic data. The drug selected for this year’s competition was the abaloparatide (Tymplos®), which is a novel injectable therapy for women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture. The college’s team was comprised of PharmD students Cecilia Costello, Matthew Lefebvre, Rebecca Menghi, Imke Scheepers and Adam Turenne. While the students did not earn the top prize, they gained valuable experience analyzing information to support managed care decision-making. They are excited to compete (and win!) in 2020. ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 15
Students bring services to disabled in Jamaica Pharmacy students join others from Academic Health Collaborative A group of University of Rhode Island students and faculty members from across the Academic Health Collaborative, including several from the College of Pharmacy, spent winter break in tropical paradise. But instead of basking in the sun on white sand beaches, the students spent their time working with some of the most vulnerable populations in Jamaica. More than 20 students joined three faculty members in working with disabled residents affiliated with Mustard Seed, an organization in Jamaica that serves children and adults with disabilities who have been abandoned. The students lived among the patients in residential communities, working with them on managing
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their medications, caring for the symptoms of their conditions, and providing physical therapy for conditions such as cerebral palsy. They also conducted workshops for caregivers at the facility on such topics as medication administration, first aid, self-care, over-the-counter medications and proper use of medical equipment. The students were able to help caregivers improve their service, while also learning from them and each other. They also delivered 34 suitcases full of medical supplies totaling more than $10,000 in value, and each student raised about $2,000 to help fund Mustard Seed’s mission.
Cultural Lessons Learned in Vietnam Pair of Pharmacy students vaccinates nearly 1,000 children during overseas trip Two pharmacy students got a lesson in international injection techniques and health care in a developing nation, while vaccinating hundreds of children against common diseases during a J-Term trip to Vietnam. Students Colin Dimond and Michael Barnes spent three weeks in January at Louis Pasteur Polyclinique, a full-service medical facility in Ho Chi Minh City. The pair worked for two weeks in the pharmacy, interpreting and filling prescription orders from the clinic, and counseling patients on their medications. The students then spent a day in the hematology lab, doing blood typing, urinalysis, CBC and HIV screening, before moving to the vaccination clinic, where they injected nearly 1,000 children against such diseases as measles, rubella, HPV and rabies. Dimond and Barnes got a taste of what health care is like in a developing country, giving them a greater appreciation for the care available in the U.S. “These people are spending weeks of work to get their child this one vaccine. Then you juxtapose that with a lot of people in America; they are either arguing because they have a $10 copay, or you have the anti-vaxxer people who have access to these life-saving vaccines and they actively avoid them,” said Dimond, who wants to pursue a career in global health. “It’s moving to juxtapose these two incredibly different scenarios.” For more on the students’ trip, visit: uri.edu/pharmacy/news.
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Professor Named Fellow in National Academies of Practice MacDonnell is at forefront of inter-professional education Clinical Professor Celia MacDonnell will be inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP) in Pharmacy after being elected to the high honor by peers from 14 different health professions. Dr. MacDonnell has been at the forefront of the development and advancement of inter-professional education in Rhode Island. She has helped establish a collection of cooperative educational coursework, conducted with the URI College of Nursing and the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University. She was instrumental in the development of the new dual PharmD/PA degree program. She also coordinates and teaches in the year-long P3 Integrated Practice Skills Labs, precepts P4 Pharmacy students on an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Elective in Academic Teaching, and serves as the program’s faculty advisor. Dr. MacDonnell has presented her work on inter-professional education at annual at meetings of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, The Association of Behavioral Sciences and Medical Education and The Alliance for Continuing Education for Healthcare Professions. NAP is an interdisciplinary, nonprofit organization representing 14 health care professions. Membership is by nomination and election, “an honor extended to those who have excelled in their profession and are dedicated to furthering practice, scholarship and policy in support of interprofessional care.”
FACULTY Making an Impact on Campus and Beyond 18 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Faculty Member of the Year Announced Students vote for the award annually Clinical Assistant Professor Britny Rogala was chosen as Faculty/Staff Member of the Year by the PharmD Class of 2019 during the Senior Banquet in May. Dr. Rogala is co-coordinator of the oncology curriculum at the University of Rhode Island and serves as a preceptor in oncology for pharmacy students. She is chairwoman for the National Community Oncology Dispensing Associates’ oral chemotherapy education committee, and a faculty co-advisor for URI Pharmacy’s chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association. Rogala’s research interests lie in gynecologic oncology, oral chemotherapy, symptom management, and palliative care. She currently has grant support from the RI Foundation related to the use of oral chemotherapy.
Professor Receives Prestigious Pharmacy Award Anita Jacobson honored for ‘outstanding civic leadership’ Clinical Associate Professor Anita Jacobson has received one of the most significant awards in the profession of pharmacy. She was named the 2019 Rhode Island recipient of the Bowl of Hygeia, APhA’s annual award recognizing “outstanding civic leadership” among pharmacists. Dr. Jacobson’s main area of teaching is in the Integrated Pharmacy Laboratory, which centers around case-based learning, patient simulation activities, motivational interviewing, objective structured clinical examination and patient counseling. In addition to teaching in such areas as childhood psychiatric disorders, GI disorders, cultural competence and health disparities, Jacobson is a leader in the College in advocating for the profession of pharmacy as a whole and the impact it can have on the community. Jacobson leads the College contingent to the State House each year for Face of Pharmacy Day to promote the profession to state leaders and discuss with legislators various pharmaceutical issues. Speaking before legislators, students and fellow pharmacists in March, Jacobson urged the General Assembly to pass bills that would allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense tobacco cessation drugs and products. She also advocated for new laws to allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraceptives. Jacobson routinely presents before fellow health care professionals, advocating for the removal of barriers to medication adherence, especially among vulnerable populations, and was instrumental in establishing a program that allows pharmacists to provide on-site antibiotic treatment to reduce the chance of developing Lyme
disease. She also was recently appointed as a member of the Rhode Island Board of Pharmacy. The Bowl of Hygeia recognizes pharmacists who possess outstanding records of civic leadership in their communities. In addition to service through their local, state and national pharmacy associations, award recipients have devoted their time, talent and resources to a wide variety of causes and community service.
Speaking before legislators, students and fellow pharmacists at Face of Pharmacy Day at the Rhode Island State House in March, Jacobson urged the General Assembly to pass bills that would allow pharmacists to prescribe and dispense tobacco cessation drugs and products.
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All are grown in the medicinal garden, helping secure the college as a leader in natural medicine research and pharmacognosy.
Growing a Cure You may know that echinacea wards off colds, or that garlic reduces blood pressure. But you might not know that here at URI’s College of Pharmacy, our very own medicinal garden and greenhouse help students understand the plant/medicine connection and how to look for new medicinal uses.
and Herbal Medicines and Functional Food (BPS 203), as well as for a graduate course on natural products. It also serves as a home base for the Pharmacognosy Club, which is open to students from all disciplines who are interested in medicinal plants.
The College’s founding dean, Heber W. Youngken Jr., planted the original garden in 1957 near Fogarty Hall. In 2013, the garden was expanded and moved next to Avedisian Hall with glass frieze panels and a living art installation. Today it’s one of the largest and most established in the region, with more than 200 medicinal plants that help treat diseases ranging from anxiety to heart disease to cancer.
Take a tour with garden coordinator Elizabeth Leibovitz and you’ll find her enthusiasm is contagious as she points out different plant species and their uses. Goji berry for inflammation, cinnamon for gastrointestinal upset, foxglove for the heart medicine digitalis. Leibovitz explains that plants are used in three levels of medicine, the first being nutraceuticals, foods you eat for their benefits beyond basic nutrition, like pomegranate. Second is herbal medicinal use, like lemongrass or ginger used in food preparation for self-care. Third, there are more clinical uses for plants, where researchers dry them and isolate compounds.
“URI is one of only a handful of colleges of pharmacy affiliated with a medicinal garden in the U.S.,” said Professor Navindra Seeram. “We are well-known for our pharmacognosy leadership. In fact, the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy is planning to start a medicinal garden and they’re looking to us for guidance.” The garden is a unique resource that is an important part of URI’s prominence in natural products research as well as a resource for students and faculty. It is used in pharmacy classes such as Medicinal Plants (BPS 533),
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Meet Garden Coordinator Elizabeth Leibovitz Elizabeth Leibovitz is the medicinal garden coordinator for URI’s College of Pharmacy. Armed with an environmental studies degree and a decade of experience in commercial scale farming, she jumped at the chance to expand her knowledge of medicinal plants when this position opened up last year. Peter Morgan held the position for 23 years until his retirement last year. To Leibovitz, the most important part of the job is cultivating a space on campus that is enjoyed for both relaxation and learning. “That means both tending to the plant collection and being a resource for students interested in medicinal plants,” she said. “I use herbal medicines in my own life, so it’s great to understand on a deeper level how plants work to help us. It’s a really unique job, giving students a living platform for learning.”
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Meet the Professor: Xinyuan Chen, Ph.D. Education: B.S., 2001, Nanjing University, Jiangsu Province, China; Ph.D., 2006, Nanjing University Experience: After emigrating to the United States from his native China, Dr. Chen did his post-doc research work at Burke Medical Research Institute in New York in 2007. He then moved on to a researcher position at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he began the work on vaccination safety and improvements he continues today at URI. Teaching focus: Chen teaches in the Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences department of the College, but also teaches Pharm.D. and even engineering students. He focuses on pharmaceutical calculations, drug dispensing and compounding. He also teaches laboratory courses in molecular biology and medicinal chemistry, as well as advanced drug delivery. Research focus: Dr. Chen focuses on improved methods of vaccine delivery and novel adjuvents to boost vaccination. He has developed a novel way to deliver vaccines, using a micro laser beam to heat the skin and create “micro channels” over which a powder vaccine patch is placed to deliver the vaccine. Such delivery eliminates needle injection and stimulates the local immune system to improve vaccine efficacy. He is also working on an NIH-funded project to use radio frequency energy to help the flu vaccine work better. The radio waves, delivered to the skin, stimulate the body’s dendritic cells, which are immune cells that, when stimulated, process the flu vaccine more efficiently and induce more potent immune responses. In traditional vaccines, chemicals are added to stimulate the cells. The radio waves replace the chemicals, eliminating potential side effects and allowing for the same immunity to be induced with reduced vaccine antigen amounts.
He has developed a novel way to deliver vaccines, using a micro laser beam to heat the skin and create “micro channels” over which a powder vaccine patch is placed to deliver the vaccine.
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Alumni Recognized for Lifetime Achievement URI College of Pharmacy graduates Richard A. Yacino and Susan Sidel have been awarded the R.I. Pharmacists Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
Pharmacy Graduate Attempting to Sail onto U.S. Olympic Team Rachel Bryer was All-American sailor at URI The College of Pharmacy may soon have an Olympian among its ranks as recent graduate Rachel Bryer looks to sail her way onto the American team. Former URI Women’s A Division skipper Rachel Bryer ’17, of Jamestown, R.I., is training for a spot on the U.S. Olympic sailing team. She’s been named an Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association Women’s All-American Skipper, one of only six women nationwide to win the honor. Bryer has been sailing solo since she was 8 years old. She became one of URI’s best sailors during her time here, but, as she tells it, her collegiate career got off to a less-thanstellar start in front of sailing team Coach Skip Whyte. “I came into college with a pretty good sailing resume from high school, so Skip was kind of talking me up at the beginning of the first practice,” Bryer said. “But probably two minutes after we got on the water, I capsized. It was really embarrassing.” Clearly, her career improved from there as she sailed on to win All-American honors. Bryer adds that sailing has taught her patience, commitment, and how to work in a team, and that she expects to sail all her life.
Yacino is an advocate for RIPA, a mentor to many next generation pharmacists, and friend to all who have connected with him throughout his career. He graduated from URI in 1962 and has served as a community pharmacist, pharmacy owner of E.P. Anthony Pharmacy, Inc., Chief Compliance and Regulatory officer at the R.I. Department of Health, and Lifespan’s Quality Assurance pharmacist for Rhode Island and Miriam hospitals. He is a former Chief of the Board of Pharmacy, past president of RIPA and RIPA Treasurer for decades. Sidel has a long-standing track record of commitment to education and patient care. She earned her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from URI before practicing professionally at Moshassuck Pharmacy, Delta Drug and Brooks Pharmacy. Forty years after graduating, she returned to URI to earn her PharmD, graduating magna cum laude in 2001. Sidel has served as a consultant pharmacist for nursing homes and artificial kidney centers, and mentors young pharmacists through her commitment to the Arnold M. Sidel Scholarship program.
Alumni Making a Difference in Health Care ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 23
Investing In Education: URI Endowment
ASSET ALLOCATION as of March 31, 2019
The following graph represents the total amount of endowment-generated funds distributed to URI each fiscal year, based on the Foundation’s spending policy, for use over five academic years.
ANNUAL ENDOWMENT PAYOUT IN MILLIONS $5.0 $4.0 $3.0
3.7%
3.7%
3.8%
2016
2017
2018
4.2%
4.6%
2019
2020
$2.0 $1.0 $0
As of March 31, 2019, the University of Rhode Island’s endowment portfolio had a market value of $145.1 million. The market value for each of the past five years, on March 31, is represented below.
PORTFOLIO VALUE IN MILLIONS $150 $125 $100 $75
112
106
119
2015
2016
2017
139
145
2018
2019
$50 $25 $0
GIVING Support for College means Opportunities for all 24 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
z z z z z z z z
U.S. Equity / 26.3% Global Ex U.S. Equity / 17.5% Emerging Markets Equity / 9.6% Marketable Alternatives / 18.8% Private Investments / 3.1% Real Assets / 3.1% Fixed Income & Cash / 18.8% Global Equity / 14.3%
THE INVESTMENT OF URI’S ENDOWMENT URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement (URIFAE) spending Policy: The current endowment spending rate that will be applied for use in the 2019-2020 academic year is 5.05 percent, which contains both the University distribution and the Foundation management fee. For fiscal year 2020, the payout remains the same as the prior year at 3.5 percent of the market value of the endowment (calculated on December 31, 2018). The management fee is 1.55 percent. The dollar value of the payout to the University to support gift purposes this year will increase from $4.24 million to $4.57 million. Find a complete listing of endowed funds at urifoundation. org/endowmentfunds.
“The older I get, the more I think about legacy. It’s hard to have an impact after you’re gone. This is one way to do that.”
Making an Investment in an Aging Population Library book returned 50 years later spurs alumnus’ donation to fund scholarship, charitable gift annuity A library book left unreturned for almost 50 years is giving a boost to senior care pharmacy, thanks to a recent gift from an alumnus to the College of Pharmacy. William Simonson, who graduated from URI in 1970, was rummaging through a box in his office at Oregon State University when he found The Druggists Handbook of Private Formulas, which he had checked out of the URI library in 1970. For fun, he calculated the estimated fine for a 50-year overdue book. The fun turned serious when he multiplied the presumed annual fine by 50. Even though the library was not actually charging him the fine, he decided to donate that amount (and, of course, he returned the book). He also decided to establish an endowed scholarship through charitable distributions from his IRA. The scholarship will help support a full-time PharmD student who has a demonstrated interest in advancing senior care pharmacy practice. Simonson also established a charitable gift annuity, which provides him with a charitable gift tax deduction and small income stream for the remainder of his life. The scholarship is also included in his estate plans. “I know how expensive college is and how deep in debt students get, so even if it helps a little bit, it’s worth it,” Simonson said. “The older I get, the more I
think about legacy. It’s hard to have an impact after you’re gone. This is one way to do that.” “Senior care is a growing, yet often overlooked specialty in pharmaceutical science, Simonson said. Older adults tend to have multiple medications, which may interact with each other, making senior care pharmacy more complex and complicated”, said Simonson, who has specialized in older adult care since his first pharmacy practices at Rhode Island Hospital, Roger Williams Hospital, and for the last 45 years as a pharmacy practice professor at Oregon State. “I often say I’ve worked in geriatrics so long, I became one,” Simonson said. “It’s a little more challenging, but I would like to think pharmacists are up for that challenge. That’s what we go to school for and work all these years for — for our work to make an impact on health care. If I can get a student, or a couple of students, interested in senior care pharmacy, that’s a success.” Should a student specializing in senior care not be identified, the College would award the annual scholarship to a student with a demonstrated interest in the clinical practice of pharmacy, which Simonson said pharmacists now embrace. “Now you see pharmacists working alongside nurses, hospitalists and other health care professionals directly in a variety of patient care environments. Clinical pharmacy practice was essentially unheard of at the time of my graduation from URI but has evolved as the role of pharmacists in health care has become increasingly recognized,” Simonson said. “The whole profession has really expanded and it’s very gratifying to see.” ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 25
College’s Development Team Grows The University of Rhode Island Foundation & Alumni Engagement has appointed Tim Babcock as Director of Development for the Academic Health Collaborative. Working under the leadership of Eric Schonewald, Managing Director of Development, Babcock works closely with College of Nursing Dean Barbara Wolfe, College of Pharmacy Dean E. Paul Larrat, and College of Health Sciences Dean Gary Liguori. Babcock comes to URI after a 23-year career at the Ocean Community YMCA in Westerly, RI. His final seven years were in the role of Vice President of Operations with oversight of three branch YMCAs, a large day camp and a community ice skating rink. In this capacity, Babcock also managed the development initiatives for the organization, which completed two successful capital campaigns to renovate their Westerly and Mystic branches. The YMCA also significantly increased its annual support program under his leadership.
COMMITTED BY PURPOSE
Total Commited by Purpose FY18 $2,286,286
z Endowed Gifts / 73.7% z Operating Gifts / 20.9% z Annual Fund / 5.3%
2018 $121,427
$125,182
Endowed Gifts
$1,685,857
$1,561,755
Operating Gifts
$478,802
$316,302
GIVING ALLOCATIONS
URI’s Academic Health Collaborative, launched in 2016, serves more than 5,000 students in nine health disciplines. The Institute for Integrated Health and Innovation serves as a hub for innovation, providing cross-disciplinary opportunities in education, research, entrepreneurship, and service. Its work engages external health agencies, including hospital systems, and other universities and colleges in the state. “Pharmacists are an integral part of the health care team and are among the most trusted and accessible health care professionals,” Babcock said. “Additionally, pharmaceutical scientists are instrumental in discovering and developing innovative drugs that save lives and improve quality of life. Philanthropy is essential to the advancement of pharmaceutical research and education. The College of Pharmacy thrives in its support of our students, attracting top faculty and competing with peer institutions in an increasingly competitive environment.”
Annual Fund
Total Commited to College FY18 $2,286,286
z z z z
Outright Gifts / 77.7% New Documented Pledges / 18.8% Matching Gifts / 0.1% New Planned Giving Activity / 3.4%
For more information about giving to the College of Pharmacy or any disciplines in the Academic Health Collaborative, contact Babcock at tbabcock@uri.edu or 401-874-4909. An honor roll of donors is published online at uri.edu/pharmacy/college-of-pharmacy-honor-roll/
26 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Flexible funding Annual Fund gives dean options to best impact College Unrestricted philanthropic support is the life-blood of higher education, and we are fortunate that most College donors provide such funding through the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund sustains the College by providing the Dean with an immediate, flexible means to respond to the most urgent opportunities and challenges.
Total Commited by Purpose FY19 $2,587,454
In the past year, the College of Pharmacy Annual Fund touched lives in meaningful ways: z z z z
Endowed Gifts / 73.7% Operating Gifts / 20.9% Capital Improvements / 5.7% Annual Fund / 5.3% 2019 Annual Fund
$113,162
$116,832
Endowed Gifts
$1,859,911
$1,840,811
Operating Gifts
$467,481
$329,230
Capital Improvements
$146,900
$146,900
Total Commited to College FY19 $2,587,454
z z z z
It addressed personal hardship by helping a student access urgent medical treatment and another receive financial aid in the wake of unanticipated job-loss. The Annual Fund also allowed students to participate in national meetings, including the global ACCP conference where URI’s team become national Clinical Pharmacy Challenge champions. The Annual Fund seeded innovative and creative ideas that led to rapid development of our Pharmaceutical Development Institute, impressive research advances in the Ryan Neuroscience Institute, and collaborative approaches to developing compounds that diminish cravings in people with addiction disorders. “The Annual Fund is a tremendous benefit to the College,” Dean Paul Larrat said. “You never know where or when additional funds are going to be needed, and it permits us to be nimble and responsive to those opportunities. It makes a big impact.” To donate to a College’s annual fund, visit urifoundation.org.
Outright Gifts / 68.9% New Documented Pledges / 24.6% Matching Gifts / 0.2% New Planned Giving Activity / 6.1%
The College of Pharmacy is grateful for the alumni, friends, corporations and foundations whose generosity supports students, faculty and essential College initiatives.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 27
TIME + TALENT Our College of Pharmacy community is indebted to a vast network of alumni, partners and friends who dedicate their time and expertise to support our mission. BSPS ALUMNI MENTORS
Meav Ainley
Todd Brothers
Matthew Alcusky ’14
Chirene Albatal
Amy Brotherton
Kelsey Albuquerque
Courtney Brozik
Tarick Ali
Robert Brunault
Edward Allie
Lakshmi Buddhineni
Nicole Allie
Nelson Caetano
Stephen J. Allen ’76 Richard Bianco ’86 Jeffrey E. Cehelsky ’87 Susan Johnson ’81
Dana Amore
Scott Candon
David F. Ludwig ’80
Myla Anderson
Steven Cano
Sarah Marchand ’09
Kristyn Anderson
Joseph Cao
Robyn Peters ’86
Valerie Anselmo
Paul Capuano
Kim Queren ’83
Brittany Arrighi
Nicole Cardarelli
Nicole Asal
Rebecca Carlson
Ifeoma Asoh
Tonya Carlton
Amina Ayub
David Caron
Jose Badillo
Paulette Carvalho
FRIENDS OF THE YOUNGKEN GARDEN
Rita Baglini
Linda Carver
Jaspal Bains
Bob Cattan
Joan Lausier
Ryan Baker
Vivianne Celario
Amey Larrat
Julie Barber
Camille Charbonneau
Muriel Benjamin
Joanna Barnas
Randy Charlska
James Beaulieu
Maggie Charpentier
Joanne Hoffman Beechko
John Chesarek
Zelalem Bekele
Gregory Cianfarani
Carl Symenco ’94 Joe Tuazon ’03 Chris Yun ’88
Hiroko Shimizu Yusuru Shimizu Robin Rodgers
Kelly Belviso
Vincent Cinquemani
Richard Youngken
Ilanit Berger
Nicole Clark
Kenneth Rose
James Berghelli
Kathleen Cleary
Victoria Leyden
Erica Bernardes
Vanessa Coelho
Julia Law
Andrea Bianco
Travis Coffey
Stephanie Blais
Lisa Cohen
Jeremy Blais
Christine M. Collins
Stephanie Bleau
Chandra Cooper
Jared Borowik
Erin Corica
Christine Borowy
Lesley “Nicky” Corkum
Phil Boshar
Kenny Correia
Carol Botelho
Erica Correia
Jennifer Boyle
Katherine Corsi
Jeffrey Bratberg
Jackie Costantino
PRECEPTORS Shawn Ackerman Kathleen Adams Ethan Adams Cyrus Agarabi Edward Agopian Scott Ahern David Ahern
28 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Adam Coutu
Michela Fiori
Mark Hertz
Robert Crain
Paul Florio
Tara Higgins
Megan Crete
Michael Ford
Catherine Hope
MaryAnne Cronin
Donna Fortin
Kayla Huggins
Becky Curtin
Rachel Fortin
Anne Hume
Mark Curtis
Keith Foster
Justin Huynh
Sally Cushnie
Brian Fournier
Robert Iacobucci
George D’Agostino
Nan Fournier
Anita Jacobson
Jaclene Dabbour
Shawn Francey
Sahil Jain
Melissa DaCosta
Gilles Fraser
Whitney Jandreau
Tim Dambach
Angelo Frasiolas
Jacqueline Jankins
Erica Dankiewicz
Kayla Friend
Kirsten Jenkins
Ruth Dapaah-Afriyie
Alyssa Gaglione
Jimmy Johnson
Eric Deane
Elyse Gagne
GaEun Joung
Kevin Dehner
Linh Gagnon
Bonnie Judd
Jeffrey Del Ricci Jr.
Julia Galea
Rubiya Kabir
Christopher DeLucia
Carolyn Garland
Jina Kang
Noemi DeSimone
Marc Gentile
Sonya Kara
Jennifer Dien
Henry Gialanella
Amanda Kelley
Lucy DiMase
Peter Godbout
Patrick Kelly
Tyler DiMenna
Mauricio Gonzalez
Thomas Kelly
Alex Dozier
Robert Goris-Kolb
Mary Kate Kelly
Kristen Driscoll
Karen Gradischer
Kaitlin Kennedy
Robert Dufresne
Sarah Green
Thomas Keogh
Victoria Dunford
Rebecca Greene
Lyza Kho
Jessica Dunn
Justin Gregoire
Melissa Kilsey
Russell Dunn
Cory Grevenitz
Hana Kim
Chris Durigan
Barbara Gross
Shawna King
Courtney Durkin
Joshua Guerin
Brittany Kirker
Christine Eisenhower
Michael Guida
Elizabeth Korah
Kent Ellis
Cynthia Haggarty
Dylan Krawczyk
Paula Ellison
Erienne Hanna
Erica Kubik
Erica Estus
Cindy Har
Kathleen Kundrat
Maria-Ausilia Evans
Britt Harrington
Gary Lam
Michael Facente
Anthony Harrison
Peter Lambrechts
Alexander Fairhurst
Heather Hatem
Holly Lang
Erika Fallon
Susan Hauf
Kristina LaPerriere
Natalija Farrell
Keith Heim
Kerry LaPlante
Dawn Feret
Joshua Hendrickson
Joe LaRue
Eric Ferro
Alan Hendrickx
Michele LeBlanc
Jennifer Fiebert
Michelle Hersey
Jinhee Lee ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 29
Daniel Lefkowitz
Rachel McGarty
James Olszewski
Anthony Leggio
Gerald McGaunn
Carmen Oquendo
William Lehault
Kristina McGill
Angela Orr
Ginger Lemay
Melanie F. McGuire
Laura Orwe
Brian Leung
Donald McKaig
Maria Osundele
Maria Lewis
Shawn McKallagat
Susan Otocki
Keith Lewis
Christine McLellan
Janet Owen
Joseph Lewis
Shannon McNeill
Donna Paine
Justin Liauw
Steven J. Meadows
Paul Parchesky
Susan Lim
Krista Mecadon
Diane Parente
Rebecca Limauro
Susanna Meyer
Keyur Parikh
Denis Lipovac
Edward Misto
Angie Parseghian
Cheuk H. (Michael) Liu
Ralph Misto
Vimal Patel
Riley Lizotte
Sejal Modi
Neeta Patel
Nicole Lomeli
Amanda Molchanow
Yesha Patel
Christina Luisi
Maricelle Monteagudo-Chu
Komal Patel
Karl Lussier
Stephanie Morais
Jayne Pawasauskas
Daniel Lyktey
Melvin Morales Jr.
Gary Paz
Shawn Lynn
Chloe Morgan
Brittany Pelsue
Celia MacDonnell
John Morgan
Gregg Pennington
Leana Mahmoud
Peter Morgan
Alexander Pham
Tara Mainello
Angelo D. Morgantini
Domy Philip
Lauren Major
Kathryn Morrison
Andre Pierce
Kevin Mallon
Mark Morrison
Marisa Piers-Gamble
Erin Mallon
Gina Morrow
Sara Pivarunas
Janice Maniwang
Michael Muller
Michael Poirier
Cindy Margaritonda
Kelly Mullican
Raymond Poluzzi, III
Jena Marion
Nigel Musgrave
Marybeth Pomykaj
Kay Marioni
Brian Musiak
Mark Porcaro
Kerry Martin
Foster Myers III
George Porco
Corinn Martineau
Jessica Nagy
Stephen Post
Megan Masse
Safiya Naidjate
Jessica Price
Kelly Matson
Joseph Navarra
Christina Procaccianti
Sanjita Mavinkurve
Andre Neptune
Ali Pryne
Brandon Maxwell
Karen Nolan
Robert Puishys
Laura McAuliffe
Sean Nolan
Kayla Quan
Jeffrey McCarthy
James Nunez
William Quirk
Katherine McCarthy-Nowak
Nancy Nystrom
Heather Raffile
Megan McCaskill
Taiwo Oki
Craig Randall
Stacye McClay
Angela Olenik
Maggie Randazzo
Kayla McFeely
Matthew Olivier
David Rees
30 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Mark Regine
Lauren Stuczynski
Bridgit Witbeck
Amy Ricupero
Jada Taglione
Giovanna Witowski
Michael Riendeau
Angelica Taskin
Margot Wolf
Margaret Rivera
Tracey Taveira
Clifford Wright Jr.
Martha Roberts
Xia Thai
Gregory Wurl
Kassandra Rodriguez
Anne Theriault
Tamatha Yeaw
Lisa Rodriguez
Rosalba (Rose) Thiboutot
Karen Youmbi
Britny Rogala
Jennifer Thiele
Shirley Yu
Felicia Rosh
Douglas Thomas
Crystal Yu
Andrew Ross
Rhonda Thomas
Christopher Zemaitis
Ginger Rouse
Karen Thomas
Wesley Zemrak
David Rowley
Frank Toce
Christine Zeolla
Tim Roy
Christopher Toro
Patrick Ryan
Martha Torok
Robert Saba
Robert Tortolani
Vincent Salerno
Nancy Tortolani
Chelsea Sampadian
Julienne Tran
Gail Sanchez
Lily Travis
Alexandra Santamaria
Shayna Trenn
Mark Santilli
Sarah Troob
Renee Savory
Mei Tsai
Cynthia Scaffidi
Vanita Turner
Alison Schiesl
Jennifer Tynes
Ewa Dzwierzynski, Pharm.D. ’96
Amy Schuck
C. Danielle Unick
George Grandolfi, Ph.D. ’81
Megan Schwartz
Kelly Valente
Heather Larch ’99
William Schwetz
Joshua Vallee
Justina Molzon ’73, M.S. ’76
Navindra Seeram
Katherine VanWhy
Nancy C. Motola, Ph.D. ’83
Ronald Serak
Jerril Varghese
Deven Shah
William Viens
Ann-Marie Shea
Kimberly Viersma
Amy Sheridan
Karisa Villalobos
Stacie Siedzik
Mary VonButtgereit
Lynn Pezzullo ’91
Sarah Silvia
Brian Wall
Robert W. Potter Jr. ’83
Howard Simon
Kristina Ward
Edward Quinlan ’71
Sarah Simpson
Carolyn Welch
Edward M. Rudnic ’78, Ph.D. ’83
Jennifer Sineglasov
Paige Wells
Sarah Thompson
Dawn Sollee
Meghan Wilkosz
Michael Stearns
Steve Willis
Greta Steger
Beth Wilson
Gina Stenhouse
Melissa Wilson
Suzanne Stevens
Richelle Winkler
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY ADVISORY BOARD Colleen Prior Moffitt ’88, M.S. ’94, Chair Rich Krupski ’80, Vice Chair Dea Belazi, Pharm.D, ’01 Norman Campbell, Ph.D. ’57, Christine M. Collins ’90
Henrique T. Pedro ’76 Eleanor Perfetto ’90, M.S. ’88 Susan Petrovas
John Zevzavadjian ’88
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 31
The URI College of Pharmacy celebrated its out-going seniors in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program and honored the professional mentors who have helped students transition into careers in the pharmacy industry during a reception at the Alumni Center in May.
BSPS grads, mentors honored at end-of-year reception The URI College of Pharmacy celebrated its out-going seniors in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program and honored the professional mentors who have helped students transition into careers in the pharmacy industry during a reception at the Alumni Center Wednesday. Provost Donald DeHayes joined faculty members in thanking the mentors, congratulating the graduating students and handing out Excellence Awards to a select number of students. Awards recipients include: • Kelly McManus – Research Excellence Award • Michelle Lee – Leadership and Service Award • Jake Wilson – Academic Acheivement Award • Terra Marie Jouaneh – Academic Achievement Award • Justin Gold – University Excellence Award in Pharmaceutical Sciences
32 / URI COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
URI College of Pharmacy inducts first Hall of Fame class Dean Paul Larrat leads ceremony to enshrine first four members The University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy inducted the inaugural class of its Hall of Fame recently, honoring former professors and staff members for the tremendous impact they have made not just at URI but on the pharmacy profession and health care as a whole. During an emotional ceremony in Avedisian Hall Friday evening, Oct. 4, Dean Paul Larrat led the ceremony to enshrine Norman A. Campbell, professor of pharmacy administration, 1970 – 2001; Joan Lausier, professor of pharmaceutics, 1971-2012; Leonard Worthen, professor of pharmacognosy, 1957-1990; and Yuzuru Shimizu, professor of pharmacognosy, 1969-2006. “Isaac Newton once said that we stand on the shoulders of giants. In our pharmacy world, these giants are the four individuals we recognize today,” Dean Larrat said. “They have made an enormous impact in pharmaceutical science, on the URI College of Pharmacy specifically, and on me personally. I can’t imagine a stronger group of inductees to represent the College of Pharmacy in its first hall of fame class.” Plaques honoring the first four inductees now hang on the first floor of Avedisian Hall, and will be joined by future honorees.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / iii
College of Pharmacy Avedisian Hall, 7 Greenhouse Road Kingston, RI 02881
COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
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URI is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. 11/2019 1370/PHR PHOTOS: JOE GIBLIN; NORA LEWIS; PATRICK LUCE; MIKE SALERNO