We broke ground for the new School of Pharmacy! PHARMACY Now we need your help to make this vision a reality! Your commitment to help fund the construction of the new building, future home of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, will help assure the school’s key role as the focal point for pharmacy education, professional practice and scientific discovery programs. Naming opportunities are available. PERSPECTIVES Please join us! University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy | summer 2008 Checks may be made payable to the University of Colorado Foundation and noted for the School of Pharmacy Building Fund.

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Sheldon Steinhauser Director of Development University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy C238-L15 P.O. Box 6511 Aurora, CO 80045

If you wish to use a credit card or if you’d like to make a multi-year pledge, please call Sheldon Steinhauser at 303-724-2632 (phone); 303-596-9062 (cell); or e-mail at [email protected].

Thank you for your commitment to the School of Pharmacy!

University of Colorado Denver Nonprofit Organization School of Pharmacy U.S. Postage Mail Stop C-238-L15 PAID P.O. Box 6511 Denver, CO Aurora, CO 80045 Permit No. 2378

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The new home of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ContentS

Groundbreaking opportunities Milestone Software AlumnA 1 6 8 12 15 Groundbreaking held Community health First commencement Software takes phar- Alumna recognized for new building fairs offer students held on Anschutz macists to next level for pioneering service learning opportunities Medical Campus in diabetes research in the Navy School of Pharmacy breaks ground on 165,000 sq. ft. building New building will help prepare pharmacists for a changing society

As drug therapies become more com- the school to expand its pharmaceutical plex, as our understanding of disease biotechnology program and create a pathology grows and as health care drug-development center to focus on evolves, the University of Colorado new medications. Both programs are Denver School of Pharmacy is prepar- already under way but there is cur- ing future pharmacists for a profession rently no room to expand. that is changing dramatically. These realities point to the increasing demand When the new facility is completed, for pharmacists who are highly skilled the school will be renamed the Skaggs and well prepared to manage complex School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical drug-therapy regimens and to provide Sciences in recognition of the Skaggs direct patient care for a wide variety of family and The ALSAM Foundation for medical conditions. To meet the increas- their long-standing support of the school. ing health care needs of a changing and In late 2006, the Foundation committed rapidly aging society, the School of $10 million for the construction of the Pharmacy is constructing a new $59.5 new building – the largest gift in the million, 165,000 square-foot building. school’s history. This was followed by a grant of $1 million in 2008. The new building will be a sustainably- built, collaborative center of learning, Sam Skaggs and the Skaggs family are Breaking ground on a new school preparing students for their roles nationally recognized as pioneers in the From left: Lou Diamond, past dean of the School of Pharmacy; Ralph Altiere, dean of the as pharmacists and pharmaceutical retail drug and grocery business and as school; M. Roy Wilson, University of Colorado Denver chancellor; Claudia Skaggs Luttrell, scientists. The site of the new building generous philanthropists. The ALSAM Foundation; Bruce Benson, University of Colorado president; and Ed Tauer, is located to the west of the campus “As the school looks forward to many mayor of Aurora, Colorado library across a beautiful and inviting great accomplishments in the future, quadrangle that will serve as the north accomplishments that to a large extent entrance to the academic campus. will be facilitated by this new building, It is projected to be ready for occu- we will stay true to our mission and pancy in late 2010 and will allow the focused on who we are and what we school to increase faculty size by 50 will bring to health care in the 21st percent and class size by 25 percent, century—discovering new knowledge, to 160 students a year. The contractor breaking new ground in clinical care is Mortenson Construction Company and preparing students for lives of pur- and the architects are Root Rosenman pose and service who will make a differ- Architects in association with HOK. ence for all of us,” said Dean Altiere.

“The prospect of a new building to house For information on how you can help the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and with the completion of the building that Pharmaceutical Sciences begins an excit- will house the new Skaggs School of ing new era for pharmacy education, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, research and patient care in Colorado,” please contact: said School of Pharmacy Dean Ralph Sheldon Steinhauser, Director of Altiere. “With a state-of-the-art facility Development to take us into the future, we can build University of Colorado Denver upon our tradition of excellence and Faculty lend a hand in the groundbreaking School of Pharmacy strengthen our position as one of the Dennis Petersen, vice chairman, pharmaceutical sciences; David Ross, chair, 303-724-2632 – office phone nation’s top pharmacy schools.” pharmaceutical sciences; Raj Agarwal, professor, pharmaceutical sciences; Cathy Jarvis, 303-596-9062 – cell phone assistant dean, Office of Student Services; Jacci Bainbridge, associate professor, clinical Three floors of the four-story building [email protected] pharmacy; and Doug Fish, interim chair, clinical pharmacy. will be dedicated to research, allowing

Holden Lecture School of Pharmacy Dean Ralph Altiere and Peggy and Jack Holden present a gift of art to Jann Skelton, RPh, MBA, the featured speaker at the annual Holden Lectureship held April 18. Skelton’s talk was titled “Thinking Outside the Vial.” Skelton is president of Silver Pennies Consulting Inc.

The Holdens have been long-standing supporters of the School of Pharmacy. After graduating in 1946, Peggy practiced both hospital and community pharmacy. Jack Holden, a 1948 graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, received the first Distinguished Alumni Award from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the spring 2008 graduation ceremony. He is the retired publisher of the Loveland Reporter-Herald and has served on the journalism school’s advisory board for nine years. Message from the dean

the largest PharmD class in the school’s and preparing students for their roles activities that their class helped to make history. as pharmacists and pharmaceutical such an integral part of their education scientists. The building is projected to at the school. Their goal is to have 100 A groundbreaking ceremony was held be ready for occupancy in late 2010, percent participation by the class and to June 10 for a building that will be the prior to the school’s 100th anniversary start a tradition of giving back to support future home of the school. The new in 2011. In late 2006, The ALSAM the school that they feel gave them great building will be our fifth home since our Foundation committed $10 million for opportunities for learning and experi- founding at the University of Colorado construction of the new building—the ential training. To recognize the legacy Boulder where we spent our first 81 largest gift in the school’s history. This that the 2008 class is leaving for future years. The school then moved to the was followed by a grant of $1 million pharmacy students, a plaque honoring Ninth Avenue campus in 1992, and now in 2008. The ALSAM Foundation is them as the founding class of the new we are located in temporary quarters named after Aline and Sam Skaggs who University of Colorado Denver School at AMC until our new building is com- have been longtime benefactors of the of Pharmacy Alumni Association was pleted. We look forward to a long and school. Mr. Skaggs and the Skaggs fam- presented to them at the annual awards prosperous era at AMC when we open ily are nationally recognized as pioneers banquet. the new building under the school’s in the retail drug and grocery business new name—The Skaggs School of and as generous philanthropists. To receive additional information or Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to share your ideas about the alumni in recognition of the Skaggs family and Soon we will be launching the school’s association, send us an e-mail at These past few months have marked an The ALSAM Foundation for their gen- first official alumni association. More [email protected]. exciting time in the 97-year history of erosity and support of the school. The information will be forthcoming. The the School of Pharmacy. In May, the site of the new building is just west of class of 2008 made the decision to give Best wishes for an enjoyable summer. first pharmacy class to graduate on the the campus library, across to what will something back to the School of Phar- Sincerely, new Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC) be a beautiful and inviting quadrangle macy that would have a lasting impact. received their diplomas in a ceremony formed between the two buildings that Their gift to the school will establish a held on the front lawn of the campus. will serve as the north entrance to the fund to purchase medical equipment for The school awarded 174 PharmD academic campus. future pharmacy students to use at com- degrees this year to graduates of both munity health clinics and fairs. This gift Ralph J. Altiere, PhD the traditional PharmD and the nontra- The new building will be a sustainably- will support the community health care Dean, School of Pharmacy ditional PharmD programs representing built, collaborative center of learning 14th annual food drive helped fill shelves A defining characteristic of the The School of Pharmacy’s students, staff and University of Colorado Denver faculty collected more than 560 items for a School of Pharmacy’s alumni, faculty food drive to benefit The Gathering Place, a and students is a desire and ability daytime shelter for women and their children to make a positive difference in the experiencing homelessness or poverty. world. The results of the school’s Charlotte Klaus organized the faculty and education, research and community staff collections and third-year pharmacy service have a significant impact student Kelli Frame chaired the student and often drive progress in im­port­ collections. Winner of the food drive was the ant ways. P3 class. This inclination toward meaningful achievement is highlighted in the stories you will find in the Students and faculty redesigned issue of Pharmacy Perspectives. The articles presented here represent just a few examples attend APhA reception of achievement by alumni, faculty and students. We hope you will enjoy this new publication and we thank you for your interest and support of the School of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy Perspectives is published three times a year for alumni and friends of the University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy. We welcome your comments, news and story ideas.

University of Colorado Denver School of Pharmacy Academic Office 1, C238-L15 12631 E. 17th Ave. P.O. Box 6511 Kassandra Bankovich, Lam Nguyen, Greg O’Malley, Catherine Jarvis, PharmD, Aurora, CO 80045 and Vanessa Rogers are all smiles at the breakfast reception co-sponsored by the [email protected] School of Pharmacy and the Colorado Pharmacists Society. The reception, held Sarah Carson, P4 class president, www.uchsc.edu/sop March 16, was for pharmacists and pharmacy students who attended the American accepts an award on behalf of her class Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego. This event from Dean Ralph Altiere, recognizing provides Colorado APhA meeting attendees a chance to connect with fellow the 2008 class as founding members of Coloradans. the alumni association.

2 | sop perspectives Pharmacy’s road to success is under construction

By Kenna Bruner activities, the more they can capture that element of the marketplace. Do During a schoolwide seminar, Tom pharmacists need to own the drugs they Temple, RPh, MS, vice president and sell? Maybe not, said Temple. Perhaps CEO of the Iowa Pharmacists Associa- pharmacists only need to oversee the tion, presented his roadmap for navigat- distribution of drugs, which would ing the potholes and cone zones on the change reimbursement policies in a road to a successful pharmacy career. significant way. Temple explained what he considers to be significant challenges to health care in this country. He stressed that it’s “Our profession imperative for pharmacists to be part of the solution because the dynamics can’t survive in a occurring in health care are beginning to shape the pharmacy profession. meaningful way “Our profession can’t survive in a and will never meaningful way and will never achieve its full potential unless we reject the achieve its full status quo,” said Temple. “We talk Val Kalnins, executive director of Colorado Pharmacists Society, and Tom Temple, about what has to change, but we do it potential unless vice president and CEO of the Iowa Pharmacists Association, at a reception held after in isolation from the rest of the health Temple’s schoolwide talk on the future of pharmacy. care system. We are part of the health care system, but it’s a broken model no we reject the longer sustainable for consumers, pay- • Because of diminishing margins on • More pharmacists are finding ways ers or providers.” status quo.” prescription drugs and increasing to provide primary care in the influence of insurance plans and health care system and are being Pharmacists must focus on improving pharmacy benefit managers on reimbursed for their time. quality, according to Temple. Studies “Probably more than any other health practice, 95 percent of prescrip- • Pharmacists are providing immuni- indicate that for every dollar spent on care profession, pharmacists have the tion drugs today are paid by a zations to patients. drug therapy, another dollar is spent ability to talk directly with patients third party, compared to the 25-30 on correcting the problems that those and be a consumer advocate,” he said. percent when Temple started in the • Pharmacists are getting paid to con- drugs cause. Drugs are not being used “That’s one of our biggest strengths.” profession. duct health screenings to identify effectively and appropriately enough, diabetes, hypertension and asthma. but pharmacists have the expertise to Borrowing a line from Charles Dickens’ • There are dramatic increases in change that. Tale of Two Cities, Temple said that this is the number of prescriptions with “We’re not yet where we’re going, but the best of times and worst of times for the rising potential of medication we’re also not where we’ve been. That Reimbursement is a worn-out policy the profession. “In my 30 years in phar- errors. captures where pharmacy is right now,” that needs to change—in its current macy I don’t think I’ve seen so much said Temple. “We have to change our • Consumers are going to Canada, form it is not a survival strategy for despair in pharmacists and yet so much Mexico or online to buy cheaper focus from product distribution to the profession. Pharmacists must be optimism. It depends on who you’re talk- medications. patient care; and change the market- paid for the expertise they bring to the ing to. Is it the best or worst of times? place from cheap drugs to value of ser- health care system. It’s probably in-between times.” On the other hand, there is tremendous vices. If we’re to survive in the future, opportunity and optimism: we’ve got to deal with these issues.” The more pharmacists align themselves For pharmacists in the dispensing busi- with preventative services and wellness ness, these are difficult times:

Use of complimentary and alternative medicine on the rise

Statistics indicate that half of patients are not usually associated with medical flip side are AC M’s potential risks: being ask, they probably won’t volunteer use complementary and alternative schools or hospitals. Integrative a directly harmful treatment, being an the information. medicines and therapies, and many medicine is the coordination of CAM indirectly harmful treatment by reducing more have considered their use. therapies with conventional medical efficacy of conventional treatment and • Steer patients away from Pharmacists can find it helpful to treatments. replacing curative conventional care, potentially harmful therapies understand complementary medicine, and having high costs. and treatments, such as colonic according to Lisa Corbin, MD, medical “Pharmacists are viewed by the public enemas, megavitamins, chelation director of the University of Colorado as among the most trusted, accessible Considerations for pharmacists when therapies, IV therapies, restrictive Hospital’s Center for Integrative health care provider. Pharmacists answering patients’ questions about diets and anything used in lieu Medicine. report being asked more often about CAM: avoid harmful practices, use of proven, curative conventional CAM therapies by patients,” Corbin told evidence-based, safe therapies and treatments. The concept of optimizing wellness students and faculty in a lecture titled consider plausible, safe modalities. is the philosophy behind the services “Complementary/Alternative Medicine: • Encourage patients to use offered through the Center for What the Health?” Corbin’s recommendations: therapies that promote wellness, Integrative Medicine, which Corbin such as herbs/supplements, CAM’s potential benefits include • Ask your patients if they are stress management techniques, helped establish. Complimentary and taking any supplements or using Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies symptom control, empowerment to the chiropractic, massage and patient, lower cost and less risk. On the alternative therapies. If you don’t acupuncture.

www.uchsc.edu/sop | 3 STUDENT NEWS

School of Pharmacy Dean’s List for Fall 2007

P1 Class Kuhlman, Lauren P2 Class Kryskalla, Jennifer Lee, Aaron Larkin, Adrian Abata, Anita Alquist, Elizabeth Lintz, Lashell Luetters, Angela Adams, Matthew Blunt, Nnenne Lo Sordo, Steven Nicolarsen, Lana Bannon, Jessica Calvert, Paul Money, Amanda Paul, Jennifer Beckett, Cynthia Carlstrom, Kelley Opferman, Renee Pham, Myhao Benzing, Carol Crona, Daniel Papazoglou, Adam Singer, Brenda Block, Alexander Frame, Kelli Parke, Cade Smith, Scott Caughran, Jonathan Godfrey, Maria Puszka, Joanna Tran, Anna Chacon, Candido Johnson, Steven Reynolds, Paul Urban, Jamela Clark, Jeffrey Kanani, Zanette Schwab, Jennifer Yacoub, Basheer Cox, William Kim, Miron Sedillo, Samantha Zhen, Danna Desta, Mariamawit Krisl, Jill Smith, Emily Dietrich, Scott Smith, Stacey Ehlers, Morgan P3 Class Hanselin, Michele Stroh, Sarah Harris, Jana Finnegan, Kimberly Abramova, Stella Thoresdale, Karen Hirahara, Lynne French, Thomas Anderson, Laura Turner, Shane Holbrook, Ri Gradisar, Jeremy Attwood, Elyse Tyler, Rebecca Johnson, Bryce Graves, Cara Azadegan, Mana Vaughn, Jessica Jordan, Charles Hammond, Kyle Bankovich, Kassandra Walton, Christopher Lamarr, Brandon Henderson, Kevin Chen, Marcus Weiss, Aaron Le, Huong Hofer, Gregory Dam, Vina Zia, Emil Lindell, Samantha Johns, Ria Eckley, Darla Zielenski, Christopher Makarova, Tatiana Kanack, Alexander Egeberg, Michael Moore, Lindsy Knapp, Kathryn Farah, Lubna Moore, Valerie Garnhart, Allison Refaat, Momein Gergely, Zachary Simonovich, Sergey Gerlach, Meghan Simons, Kathleen Hall, Ashley Voitseklovitch, Nikolai Hanselin, Brittany Warwick, Cynthia

Daniel Crona was appointed vice- were treated to pizza, but most impor- chair of the National Executive Com- tantly, they got into the spirit of giving mittee of the ASHP Student Forum for and would like to repeat the activity. the 2008-2009 school year. His appoint- Special thanks to: ment began at the ASHP Annual • Lindsay Ingraffia (vice president) Meeting in Seattle last June and will for making the contacts and continue through May of 2009. scheduling He attended a regional delegates meeting • Tracey Thompson for purchasing in May in Chicago to help develop new the craft items ASHP policy issues that were discussed and voted on at the House of Delegates • Felipe Ballina, Thompson and session in Seattle in June. He will also Ingraffia for assembly of craft be the alternate voting member to the packages ASHP House of Delegates and will help represent the Student Forum at the Mid- Participants included: Myo Aung (trea- year Meeting and Residency Showcase in surer), Jessica Bannon, Kevin Barnes, December. And he will chair one of the Tori Everhart, LaSheatra Henderson, five Student Advisory Committees for the Lindsay Ingraffia, Hannah Kraft, Aaron ASHP Student Forum. Lee, Ahone Musong, Hien Nguyen, Thuy Nguyen, Joanna Puszka, Paul P1 students craft a successful Reynolds, Nicole Sheldahl, Michelle event at The Children’s Hospital SNPhA fundraiser Sherman, Tina Thai, Ella Thompson, Tracey Thompson, Brianna Toppel, P3 student Dmitri Cohen wields a ladleful of fried rice and egg rolls during a fundraiser held Twenty-two P1 students took time out Bao Trinh and Jessica Vaughn. by the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) to benefit UNICEF. Thanks from studying for their weekly Monday to the students’ cooking and organizational skills, $250 was raised for UNICEF, a United exam on April 3 to touch the lives of Book drive Nations’ organization that helps provide basic needs to children in developing countries. 30 young patients at The Children’s Hospital. The two-hour scheduled event The International Pharmaceutical Stu- Stephanie Cho, PharmD ‘08, had an The National Pharmaceutical Associa- finally ended after three hours while dents Federation (IPSF), which is part article printed in the National Pharma- tion and the Student National Pharma- the P1s helped the youngsters make of APhA, is coordinating an internation- ceutical Association Newsletter which ceutical Association partnered with the crafts at a table set up in the hospital’s al book drive. The drive is year-round, is distributed to pharmacists nationally. American Stroke Association on the atrium. Four different crafts were made and students are looking for any recent Titled “A Tale of Two Worlds,” her Power to End Stroke campaign to raise available to the children and most spent (or fairly recent) text and reference article featured two examples of stroke awareness and provide health screen- over an hour with at least two students books. The books are sent somewhere patients she saw on rotations while a ings to help patients in underserved assisting them through the craft- in the world that needs them. They’ve P4 student. The two examples were communities decrease their risk of building process. For sharing their time collected six boxes of books, a few hun- different situations and had different stroke. and artistic skills, the PharmD students dred journals and a gift card from the outcomes. were given a tour of the hospital and Tattered Cover Bookstore.

4 | sop perspectives Pharmacists have dramatic impact on drug therapy results

By Kenna Bruner Thompson holds dual positions at the American Society of Health-Systems The current state of health care in Pharmacists: the director for policy and this country provides unparalleled planning and the director of the divi- opportunities for pharmacists to make sion of practice standards and equality. critical contributions to patient care He is widely regarded as one of the through patient education and scholar- nation’s experts in health care quality ship, Kasey Thompson, PharmD, told and safety.

“Every patient should have access “When to a pharmacist,” he said. “When pharmacists are involved in patients’ pharmacists care, medication therapy outcomes are improved and patients are safer. Studies are involved in conducted over 60 years show this. No other health profession has been studied patients’ care, and scrutinized as much as pharmacy has, and we have the data that shows medication we improve patient care outcomes.” Pharmacists have much to offer health therapy professionals regarding medication- related issues. They can help improve Kasey Thompson, PharmD, chats with students at a reception held after his talk on outcomes are the safety of drug use, recommend medication use. equivalent but lower cost treatment improved and options and help identify the most effective medication therapies based they need. And that figure does not in numerous studies. Women are patients are on the most current and credible factor in patients who have no medical less likely to get effective medication scientific evidence. insurance. therapy after a heart attack than men. safer.” Minorities receive lower quality of care Data indicate that despite the avail- “Studies show that when pharmacists for numerous conditions. ability of effective drugs, expected are on a patient care team in the ICU, students in his talk titled “National health outcomes are not being achieved prescribing errors decrease by 56 per- “What does that tell us? That there are Initiative to Improve Medication Use in an unacceptably large number of cent,” said Thompson. many opportunities for pharmacists to Safety and Quality: Opportunities for patients. Under-utilization of medica- help,” said Thompson. “Pharmacists are Disparities in the care received by Pharmacists.” tion is a problem with 50 percent of in the best position to make a difference women and minorities are revealed patients who are not getting the therapy in the outcomes of drug therapy.”

Two students present posters at ACCP research forum

pharmacokinetics in human SLCO1B1 is a gene that encodes for a immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected transporter protein in hepatocytes (liver cytochrome P450 3A5 expressors versus cells). It is responsible for the uptake nonexpressors.” of many drugs into the liver from the blood for metabolism, or to have its She compared pharmacokinetic pharmacological effect (if it’s a drug parameters (such as: AUC, Cmax, that works in the liver such as statins). Cmin and clearance) for lopinavir His project was to genotype the DNA and ritonavir between HIV infected from a population of individuals, which subjects who expressed the protein for included 100 African-Americans and CYP3A5 (expressors) and those who 143 Caucasians. They determined the did not express the protein for CYP 3A5 frequency of the polymorphisms in the (nonexpressors) to see if there were any DNA that they were studying. differences. Lopinavir and ritonaivir are metabolized by CYP 3A5 (along with “I reiterated that the most commonly other CYP enzymes). studied variations in DNA that relate to function of this particular transporter “I wanted to know if subjects who are protein are rare in African-Americans, expressors (increased CYP 3A5 enzyme) which means that it is of little benefit had faster clearance of the drug and/ to study them in this population,” he or lower concentrations of the drug in said. “There is likely to be other more the body compared to those who were common polymorphisms that need Alyssa Walker, P3, and Charlie Foster, Posters were evaluated on 1) originality, nonexpressors (decreased CYP 3A5 to be discovered in the genome of P2, presented posters at the American rationale and significance; 2) methods; enzyme),” said Walker. African-Americans in order to have College of Clinical Pharmacy Spring 3) results; 4) discussion/conclusions; The topic of Foster’s poster was more focused research in this area of Practice and Research Forum in and 5) contribution to the research and “Interethnic comparison of SLCO1B1 pharmacogenomics.” Phoenix, Ariz. Both Walker and Foster response to the judges’ questions. haplotype frequencies and the were selected as finalists in the Best relevance to clinical pharmacokinetic- Student Poster Competition and Walker The title of Walker’s poster was pharmacogenetic studies.” was runner-up in the competition. “Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/RTV)

www.uchsc.edu/sop | 5 STUDENT NEWS

Students serve communities at health fairs An integral part of a pharmacist’s responsiblity is counseling patients on drugs and drug interactions. Participating in health fairs enables student pharmacists to become skilled patient educators while providing communities with valuable health care screenings and counseling. Students Students reach out to Russian provide critical community health care Students at the School of Pharmacy cian for several years. The student and reached out for the first time to the pharmacist were able to convince the information & Russian geriatric community in Denver. patient to make an appointment with Organized by Dmitri Cohen, P3, and his physician and to keep an open mind testing staffed by pharmacy students, a Rus- about his health care. Lab results from By Daniel Crona, P2 student sian community health fair was held in the screening test served as leverage to and chair of the 9Health Fair committee January at the Monaco Adult Day convince the patient of the severity of Care facility. his medical condition. Sixty-six students and 10 faculty members from the School of Pharmacy A variety of screening services were An elderly woman with dementia had participated in the 2008 9Health Fair, provided by the 26 students and four a fasting glucose level of 298 mg/dL, April 12-20. Responsibilities included pharmacy preceptors including a full taken twice. The students and the osteoporosis screenings and education, lipid panel, liver function tests, blood pharmacist tried to inform the patient blood glucose screenings and an Ask- Shawna Vigil-Kaciri (P2) is prepared glucose monitoring, blood pressure of the troubling test result, but realized the-Pharmacist booth that focused on to test patients with the osteoporosis monitoring, osteoporosis screening, that she was unable to comprehend the proper medication management. screening machine. diet/exercise education, alcohol educa- information. The pharmacist wrote tion and smoking cessation education. a letter to the patient’s daughter, in Students who participated in the Russian, explaining the situation and management, medication interactions osteoporosis screenings helped patients Ten of the students spoke Russian recommending a referral to her primary and various vitamins/supplements. obtain a bone density “t-score,” and were vital in establishing a bridge care physician. The letter was given to explained the benefits of calcium of communication. Preceptors were According to preceptor Shari Bohn, the caregivers at the day care to deliver and vitamin D supplementation and SOP faculty members Connie Valdez, student pharmacists helped administer to the woman’s daughter. tailored exercise and diet regimens for PharmD, Brian Hemstreet, PharmD, tests and provided education to more patients to help improve their bone Olga Gershovich, PharmD, a clinical The success of the health fair is attrib- than 1,400 patients throughout the density to stave off the development of pharmacist from Kaiser, and Ellen uted to the service and trust developed 9Health Fair. More than 40 percent of osteoporosis. Narinsky, PharmD, a community phar- by the students. Russian speaking stu- the patients screened were referred to a macist from Walgreen’s. dents also organized two lecture series. primary care physician. Students who participated in the blood Topics in the first lecture were “Why glucose screenings administered finger- Students and preceptors screened Without the participation of students Do We Need Medications?” and “Why stick blood glucose tests to help identify and provided health education to 33 and preceptors from the School of We Should Not Share Medications.” patients at risk for developing diabetes. patients. The extent of patient health Pharmacy, many patients would not The second lecture was on diabetes, In some cases, students referred indi- concerns ranged from mild lifestyle have been screened for various disease dyslipidemia and brand/generic drug viduals who potentially suffered from changes to physician referrals for imme- states, and they would be unaware of differences. Each presentation was uncontrolled diabetes. diate follow up. the need for follow-up and further diag- translated into Russian. nosis. By participating in the 9Health Students at the Ask-A-Pharmacist One of the elderly patients was non- The students plan to return to the day Fair this year, student pharmacists were booth answered patient inquiries on a compliant with his medications because care center and present the concluding able to influence patient outcomes in a myriad of subjects that most commonly he did not believe in their efficacy. A data and statistics. Patients will have an positive way. pertained to analgesic medications, anti- pharmacist and a student sat down opportunity to compare their lab results hypertension regimens, dyslipidemia with him to address his concerns. He with the group average. They will also believed that medications were harmful discuss the follow-up care they received Students participate in the and he did not understand the need to from their physicians as a result of the take medications such as aspirin. He health fair screening. National Western Stock Show had not seen his primary care physi- Health Fair Get on the Path to Wellness Health Fair provided screenings to Native Americans

Pharmacy students at the School of health screenings and provide patient Pharmacy provided health screenings education. and patient counseling at the Get on the Path to Wellness Annual Health Fair Activities included free health event held in Lakewood on April 19. The screening services for blood pressure, primary purpose of the event was to BMI measurements, cholesterol and Lindsy Moore checks blood glucose at the National Western Stock Show health offer access to free medical screenings glucose testing, medication evaluation, fair held in Denver in January. As in previous years, SOP students checked blood and education to the underserved education counseling on disease states pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and pulmonary function tests for visitors to population of Native Americans in management and recommendation for the health fair. In addition to running tests, students provided general lifestyle the area. follow-up screenings with health care education about hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and providers as necessary. tobacco addiction and cessation. Students also helped evaluate the data collected For the third consecutive year, the from the health fair to report on outcomes. The Student National Pharmaceutical School of Pharmacy and the school’s Zanette Kanani, PharmD candidate, Association at the SOP co-coordinated and co-sponsored this event with Area chapter of the Student National organized the students’ activities at the Health Education Center system whose mission is to enhance the delivery of health Pharmaceutical Association provided health fair. care services throughout the state. the equipment to run a variety of

6 | sop perspectives Student Awards:

NCPA Outstanding Student Member Mylan Pharmaceuticals Excellence in Perrigo Excellence in Nonprescription School of Pharmacy Professional Award Pharmacy Award Medication Studies Achievement Awards Michelle Wolke Lindsy Meadowcraft Christopher Walton Felipe Ballina, P1 APHA/ASP Mortar and Pestle School of Pharmacy Valedictorian Michelle Wolke, P2 Phi Delta Chi Pharmacy Spirit Award Dmitri Cohen, P3 Stephanie Chonka Professionalism Award Awards Tara Vlasimsky Katherine Miller Sarah Carson, P4 Phi Lambda Sigma Leadership Award The Lilly Achievement Award Lam Hoang Nguyen CPS-Academy of Health System TEVA Outstanding Student Award Pharmacists Student of the Year Award Ashley Letourneau Michele Hanselin Rho Chi Outstanding Student Award Tara Vlasimsky Student Council Presidential Award Kathleen Simons School of Pharmacy Outstanding Wolters Kluwer Health Facts and Scholastic Achievement Award Lam Hoang Nguyen Roche Pharmacy Communications Comparisons Award Ri Holbrook The Dean’s Distinguished Student Award Jessica Morris Award Jennifer Kaufman School of Pharmacy Scholastic Pharmacists Mutual Award Achievement Award Sara Stehle School of Pharmacy Clinical Practice Aaron Lee Brenda Singer Holden Community Service Award Award Student National Pharmaceutical Katherine Miller Merk Awards Department of Pharmaceutical Jeffrey Clark, Sciences Awards Association GlaxoSmithKline Patient Care Award Darla Eckley Charles Foster Sarah Carson Kelli Frame Alyssa Walker School of Pharmacy Scholarships 2008

Annibel Gardner Scholarships Erwin-Vincent Scholarship Pharmacists Mutual Scholarships Jennifer Kryskalla Dallas Hill Julie Bohm Michael Egeberg Jennifer Langer Joseph Wiezorek Lubna Farah Steven Johnson Doris Wai Shan Leung Valerie Morgan Moore The Annibel Musick Gardner and Sara Kwon Memorial Scholarship Walgreen’s Scholarships Artem Muradyan Joseph M. Gardner Fund of the Duke Cheney Solomon Asress Liliane Nkafu Pikes Peak Community Foundation Mariamawit Desta Robert and Rachael Kurita Scholarship Sarah Puckett Alexander Block Jeremy Gradisar Momein Refaat Richard Tran Lana Nicolarsen Katheryn Knapp Aden Tsegay Brenda Singer The Lefler Book Award Brandon LaMarr Jeremy Vandiver Anna Tran Lubna Farah Hannah Kraft Wal-Mart Scholarships Berim Vattappillil Burroughs Wellcome Endowment Mia Ajekwu Hailee Wilson Scholarships JM Long Foundation Scholarships Shannon Knutsen Kaiser Permanente Kent M. Nelson Kelly Carlstrom Dain Clark Xiaomeng Li Clinical Pharmacy Scholarships Charles Foster Renee Opferman Aaron Weiss Emily Arndt Danna Zhen Emil Zia Colorado Pharmacists Society Daniel Crona James L. McDowell Memorial Scholarships King Soopers Scholarships Ashley Garcia Scholarship Lam Hoang Nguyen Julius Agwe Ashley Hall Michele Hanselin Nicholas Bennett Zanette Kanani Eckerd/CVS Scholarships Ri Holbrook Sarah Chen Dominique Minjarez Kassandra Bankovich Jamela Urban Nnenne Blunt Lense Gemed Stacey Schomberg NACDS Scholarship Hanna Gurara Jennifer Paul Teresa McMahan-Shulkin Memorial Stella Abramova Kelly Herrington Basheer Yacoub Scholarship Raisa Katamova Bereket Yebiyo Brittany Hanselin Kyong Kim Practice makes perfect in patient counseling competition

The School of Pharmacy’s student chap- patient, as well as how well they deal ter of the American Pharmacists Associ- with patients on a personal level. ation-Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP-APhA) held its regional competi- The top 10 SOP finishers: tion as part of the annual APhA National Jason King Dominique Minjarez Patient Counseling Competition. As this year’s winner, Jason King represented Ashley Hall the school at the APhA national meeting Kelly Carlstrom in San Diego in March. Lam Nguyen Crystal Miller The competition rates the students Caleb Burkitt against each other on how well they Stacey Schomberg give a consultation in five minutes or Michelle Wolke less to a pharmacy resident acting as Janessa Pedroza a patient. Students must demonstrate Third-year pharmacy student Stacey Schomberg gives advice on how to use a prescribed proficiency in their knowledge of drugs medicine to Jenni Tobin, a pharmacy practice resident at the University of Colorado prescribed and their effects on the Hospital, who is playing a patient.

www.uchsc.edu/sop | 7 Congratulations, School of Pharmacy graduates!

Doctor of Jarrett Danil DeHerrera Rory Patrick Lambert Jessica Lee Morris Pharmacy Amy Catherine Dixon Loc Phuoc Le Steven Charles Musielak Tram V. Do Jaime Stephens Lee Baochau Lisa Nguyen May 2008 Andrew Julian Doniec Jessica Hale Leonard Jenny Nguyen

Oluseun Abolaji Amy Christine Easterday Ashley K. LeTourneau Xoa Thi Nguyen

Liza Ann Alarid Kenda Lee Fort Timothy Pak Lun Leung Xuan Nguyen

Derek Keith Altizer Joyce Susan Gallegos Kristen Lyn Lewis Adam Christopher Nielsen

Victoria Lee Anderson Michele Irene Bastian Garcia Adrienne Lee Light Hodan Noor

Tracie Lee Andreas Gina Catherine Haug Joshua Onze Lock Shauna Lynn Nordine

Darya Anisimova Mandy J. Hemmert Marlene Lopez Veronica Nkeiruka Ohaya

Timothy John Arnold Jessica Hoang Katheryn Louise Lumsden Audra Nicole Patten

Melanie Rose Bates Nancy Quyen Hoang Amber Lee Majors Vicki Lynn Pender

Kathryn Diane Beavers Amber Kristin Hodges Eric Manchester Heather Rachel Pentecost

Savannah J. Bennett Rebecca Jo Hoss Chad Williams Martell TiffaniT ruc Pham

Jamie Billotti Natasha Marie Hounshell Jacquelyn Elizabeth Martin Monika Joanna Piegzik

Christine Elizabeth Boberick Lily Hourshenas Lia Ann Martire Audrey-Carmel Porter

Michelle Lynn Bowcutt Patrick Thomas Hughes Shannon Marie Matsko Jacqueline Puga

Jennifer Lynn Branam Daniel Seymour Iler Patrina Elaine McCauley Michelle Ann Pulido

Benjamin David Brunner Tenesha Jacoba Jackson Stephen Charles McCrumb Mariya Rackman

Sarah Elizabeth Carr Melissa Renae Johnson Bradley Joe McGee Olivia Rapacchietta

Sarah Kaitlin Carson Sara Kay Johnson Edwin Franklin McRae Vanessa Rogers

Stephanie Eunhee Cho Jennifer Melody Jorgensen Lindsy Marie Meadowcraft Eryn Kay Roth

Lisa Marie Cicero Irina Kandinova Gloria Margaret Mendez-Greene Christopher Casey Ryan

Joshua Lomax Cluff Jennifer Elizabeth Kirkpatrick Kelly Lynn Meyer Darcie Renée Ryant

Matthew Wesley Cummin Malgorzata Ewa Kozlowski Katherine Anne Miller Michele Mahal Ordinario Sampayan

Krista Michelle Davies Gretchen Farrell Kunze Jenny Marie Mitchell Jeri Ann Sandbach

8 | sop perspectives Tomas Benito Sandoval Ashley Elizabeth Toombs

Melissa Eleanora Sanz Hung Khanh Tran Doctor of Philosophy

Jennifer Ray Scott Thu Suong Tran August 2007 Marion Del Carmen Molina Salinas, Pharmaceutical Sciences Erin Nicole Severt Jennifer M. Trask December 2007 Brandy Kay Shalberg Jessica Ashley Trujillo Chirag Kariya, Toxicology Amber Lee Panella Simpson Trang Khanh Van Heather Pangburn, Toxicology

Bridget Kathleen Slevin Tara Behring Vlasimsky May 2008 Shujun Bai, Pharmaceutical Sciences Sara Ann Stahle Steven Mark Weis Jr. Srirupa Roy, Toxicology

Lindsay Catherine Stansfield Tasheba Lara West Rebecca Joy Staton Colene Anne Wiese Doctor of Pharmacy Angela Bernadette Stevens James Mathew Wiezorek Nontraditional Program - 2008 Charli Jayne Strebig Christopher Glen Wilson

Kimberly Adrian Strube Christy Lee Wilson Christopher Arendt Peggy Lu

Sarah Beth Summer Linda Awdischu Suri Mayer

Shannon Cherisse Castillo Sundita Kimberly Boberschmidt Julie Moeller Jovana Budisin Johnny Nicely Doctor of Pharmacy Susan Cubelic Tejal Patel Nontraditional Program - Deepali Gaitonde Dwight Paulson December 2007 Carole Goodine Susan Pfoertner John Hogge Dawn Renouf Khaloud Al-Silmi Ike Kim DeeAnn Johnson Gwen Smith Lisa Bishop Jesus Martinez Nancy Junker Vida Stankus Brandee Butt Tamera McFarren Kathleen Kenny Rei-Lan Tang AgathaChing Niranjan (Raj) Pai Michael Koloscha Kathy Vu Hejon Chung Eileen Peng Kori LeBlanc Lynn Wilson Kimberly Duggan Salma Satchu Rebecca Liggon Jo Ann Yacko Deborah Forzese Tracy Lovejoy Deborah Yoong

www.uchsc.edu/sop | 9 FACULTY NEWS

Preceptors of the Year honored

Roche Preceptor involved in the Pharmacy and Thera- peutics Committee, staff development, John Flanigan, PharmD, BCNSP, is clinical involvement in hospital rounds the lead clinical pharmacist at Exempla and as a preceptor to School of Phar- Good Samaritan Medical Center in macy students. Lafayette, Colo. He is a 2003 graduate of the School of Pharmacy. She received a bachelor of science in biology from the University of Denver Flanigan is the residency program in 1997, a bachelor of science in phar- director at Exempla as well as the chair macy in 2000 and a PharmD in 2001 of the Nutritional Support Committee. from the University of Colorado School In addition to being the primary precep- of Pharmacy. She completed a pharma- tor for P4 students on their institutional cy practice residency and an infectious rotations, he also is a site preceptor for disease/critical care specialty residency the P3 students and is a preceptor for at the University of California-Davis the Nontraditional PharmD program. Medical Center in 2002 and 2003. He provides educational materials and presentations for the Lafayette Seniors Ambulatory Preceptor Center, answering medication questions From left, Claire Avante-Swartwood, Institutional Preceptor of the Year; School of A native of Colorado, Robert Beitschler, of the elderly patients in the community. Pharmacy Dean Ralph Altiere; John Flanigan, Roche Preceptor of the Year; Bob Beitscher, RPh, received his pharmacy degree Ambulatory Preceptor of the Year. Institutional Preceptor from the University of Colorado in 1976. While he was in pharmacy Claire Avante-Swartwood, PharmD, school, he purchased his first house in 1980, the couple opened their second Since 2005, Beitscher has been phar- is a clinical specialist/medication use Breckenridge, Colo., and in 1979 he and store, Rarities and Remedies. They macy manager at Kremmling Mercan- specialist at Denver Health Medical his wife Jeanne bought the started a pharmacy temporary place- tile where he serves as a preceptor to Center. She evaluates new drug addi- Breckenridge Drug Store. He has ment service, opened a third store, numerous P4 students. tions to the formulary, coordinates owned and managed numerous busi- Essentials Food and Drug, in 1986 and medication-use evaluations and is nesses during his pharmacy career. In in 1987, opened a consulting business.

Celebrating at awards banquet Distinguished Awards were presented to pharmacy students, faculty and practitioners during Coloradan the annual awards banquet held May 22. Students, faculty, friends and families were on hand to celebrate with award recipients who were honored for excellent Award performance in academics and service. • Chancellor’s Teaching Award: Connie Valdez, PharmD presented to • President’s Excellence in Teaching Award: Doug Fish, PharmD Mary Newell • Leadership Award recipient: Catherine Jarvis, PharmD • Distinguished Coloradan Award: Mary Newell, RPh In addition to working full time in • Roche Preceptor of the Year: John Flanigan, PharmD community pharmacy practice, Mary • Institutional Preceptor of the Year: Claire Avante-Swartwood, PharmD Newell is involved with numerous • Ambulatory Preceptor of the Year: Bob Beitscher, RPh pharmacy related volunteer activities. Mary Newell and SOP Dean • Alumni Award: Sarah Carson on behalf of the Class of 2008 A 1971 graduate of the School of Ralph Altiere Pharmacy, Newell is a member of the board of directors of Peer Assistance Soopers to provide drugs at wholesale Services and the Colorado Pharmacists cost, which is paid by the union, as well Recovery Network; serves as the leader as personally delivering the medications of the King Soopers and Safeway to the clinic. pharmacists unions where she is a Affectionately known throughout the strong advocate for patient safety pharmacy community as Mama Mary, and pharmacists’ working conditions; she nurtures, guides and is genuinely organizes the free medication supply interested in the life, welfare and future to Doctors Care, an indigent clinic for of every pharmacist, pharmacy student children in southwest Denver; and has and pharmacy technician she encoun- been an active member of the Colorado ters, all while lovingly reminding them Pharmacists Society Board of Directors of their responsibility to be actively for many years, serving as president in involved in their profession and hold- 2004-05. ing them accountable by directly and Her commitment to the pharmacy unabashedly asking for some of their profession, however, goes beyond the time, money or both. exemplary care she gives her patients The independent pharmacy where she on a daily basis and the extra time she worked while in high school in Wray, contributes to pharmacy organiza- Colo., was purchased by her brother Joe tions. She increased the Colorado Foltmer about 12 years ago. Newell occa- Pharmacists Society membership by sionally works there to give her brother nearly 20 percent after rolling the soci- a few days off and she enjoys seeing the ety’s membership dues into the union people she grew up with in Wray. membership dues for each pharmacist. She established a program to provide Newell touches many lives in the phar- medications for a pediatric indigent macy community and beyond and is a care clinic and coordinated with King role model for all pharmacists.

10 | sop perspectives Rajesh Agarwal, PhD, professor of In his other NIH-funded research on Pharmaceutical Sciences, serves as the in realizing the full potential of the ever- pharmaceutical sciences at the School of milk thistle, Agarwal is studying how publication’s associate editor. expanding Human Genome Project. Pharmacy, has been appointed associ- the extract helps treat burns caused The journal is published quarterly, fully Vasiliou received his PhD in biochemical ate editor of Cancer Research, the most by mustard gas—a toxic, chemical peer reviewed and directed by a panel pharmacology from the University of prestigious journal for cancer-related warfare agent. of leading experts acting as editors and Ioannina, Greece, and then carried out research, published by the American referees. “I am pleased and honored by this his postdoctoral training in molecular Association for Cancer Research. appointment. Cancer Research is the most toxicology and pharmacogenetics at Doug Fish, PharmD, FCCM, FCCP, Cancer Research publishes significant, frequently cited cancer journal in the the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. BCPS, has been appointed to the edito- original studies in all areas of basic, world and papers submitted to it are His research interests include cellular rial board of the American Journal of clinical, translational, epidemiological stringently reviewed,” said Agarwal. responses to oxidative stress induced by Health-System Pharmacists. He is a and prevention research devoted to the physical agents and the metabolism of professor with the School of Pharmacy, The 2008 Hematology Oncology Phar- study of cancer and cancer-related bio- both endogenous and foreign chemicals, a clinical associate professor of medicine macy Association (HOPA) Award of medical sciences. Its publication scope functional and comparative genomics, and a clinical specialist in critical care/ Excellence was awarded to Assistant covers all subfields of cancer research. genetic polymorphisms and etiology infectious diseases at the University of Dean of Postgraduate Professional As associate editor, Agarwal will recruit of complex diseases and molecular Colorado Hospital. Education Carol Balmer, PharmD. peer reviewers and oversee the review evolution. The award recognizes a HOPA member For more than a decade he has served process for the manuscripts in his area who has made a significant, sustained Ross received his PhD in pharmaceuti- as director of an advanced residency of expertise that report the results of contribution to or provided excellent cal chemistry from the University of program in critical care pharmacy. His novel, timely and significant research leadership in improving or supporting Aston in Birmingham, England, and research interests include antimicrobial which meet high standards of scientific hematology/oncology pharmacy. did postdoctoral work at the Karolinska pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynam- merit. Institute in Stockholm and the Univer- ics, the use of antimicrobials in critically Assistant Professor Cindy Agarwal has been appointed to the sity of California, Berkeley. His research ill and immunocompromised patients O’Bryant, PharmD, was elected pres- editorial board of Cancer Research for his interest focuses on understanding the and antimicrobial resistance. ident-elect of the Hematology Oncology distinguished contributions to the study mechanisms underlying toxicity, genetic Pharmacy Association. Laura Hansen, PharmD, FCCP, of various natural products and agents polymorphisms, molecular pharmacol- BCPS, associate professor in the depart- in terms of their applications in treating ogy and antitumor drug development. Vasilis Vasiliou, PhD, a professor ments of clinical pharmacy and family and preventing several cancers. His at the UC Denver School of Pharmacy Human Genomics focuses on the applica- medicine, participated with the Vicks basic research is funded by the National and director of the school’s toxicology tion of genomic approaches to improve Comfort CAREvan team providing Institutes of Health. He discovered the graduate program, has been named understanding of human disease, drug information on preventing and treating compounds in the milk thistle extract to Human Genomics editor of . David Ross, discovery and variable drug reaction. It colds and flu in Thornton, Colo., on be effective in the prevention and treat- PhD, a professor of toxicology and brings together academics and industry Jan. 14-16. She also was filmed for a ment of skin and prostate cancers. chair of the school’s Department of practitioners who are actively interested segment on osteoporosis for WebMD.

Patrick W. Sullivan, PhD, assistant professor in the pharmaceutical outcomes research program, has been awarded the Inter- national Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Ber- nie J. O’Brien New Investigator Award.

Criteria for the award is based on evi- dence of exceptional promise assessed While attending an international conference in Turkey, Sunny Linnebur, third from right, takes time for sightseeing with members of the by an evaluation of the nominee’s planning committee for the 2009 conference. At right is a typical pharmacy in Istanbul. emerging body of technical and schol- arly work in the fields of pharmacoeco- Sunny Linnebur, PharmD, assistant professor of clinical Congress on Clinical Pharmacy). Linnebur is serving on the nomics and outcomes research, as well pharmacy, attended the international meeting of the European committee with members from the United States and Europe to as being no more than seven years from Society of Clinical Pharmacy (ESCP) in Istanbul, Turkey, last plan the international meeting which will be held in Orlando, his/her first job in the field. year. The title of the symposium was “Community and Hospital Fla. The theme will be “Placing Patients First: a Global Per- Settings: Sharing the Experience.” She attended lectures on spective on Making Medicines Safer.” “I’m interested in combining the fields of such topics as “Clinical Pharmacy Practice: Experience from economics and medicine. With health- In May, she also participated in a falls-prevention screening Different Countries,” “Pain in Acute and Chronic Cases” and care costs rising, pharmacoeconomics program put together by the American Geriatrics Society and “Chronic Kidney Disease as a Global Public Health Problem.” is an important area to get right,” said the Foundation for Health in Aging where more than 150 Sullivan. “I’m interested in finding ways While at the ESCP meeting, Linnebur met with members of the individuals were screened. The elderly folks were screened to ensure we’re providing the best phar- planning committee for the 2009 joint meeting of the American using the “Get Up and Go” test, a simple, validated assess- maceutical and medical treatments in the College of Clinical Pharmacy and ESCP (for the International ment that can be used to measure fall risk. most cost-effective way.”

Looking back as national president tives she wanted to accomplish during CDPHE will provide to Colorado House Bill 1021 that was passed by her tenure. During the past year the pharmacists. the Colorado legislature in 2007. In her state-of-the-society presentation society: • played a major role in working with • increased participation of pharma- at the Colorado Pharmacists Society’s • sponsored emergency preparedness the government staff person to out- cists from outside of the Denver annual meeting held in June, Catherine programming at annual meetings. line and set the structure, policies metropolitan area. Jarvis, PharmD, assistant dean for the and procedures for the program Office of Student Services, commented • signed a memorandum of under- • worked on a plan to keep past on reimbursement for cognitive that it seemed like only five minutes ago standing with the Colorado presidents more involved in the pharmacy services. The society that she was preparing to start the year Department of Public Health society and they outlined a strategy also played a big role in recruiting as society president. and Environment (CDPHE) that with proposals to keep not only outlines how pharmacists will pharmacists to participate in the past presidents, but also past board It may seem like time went by quickly, participate in an emergency situa- program. This initiative is related to members, involved after their offi- but progress was made on all five initia- tion and describes training that the cial terms end.

www.uchsc.edu/sop | 11 FACULTY NEWS

In 1995, she joined the Health Care ing on a study of diabetes treatment and American College of Clinical Pharmacy, New Division of Thomson Reuters (at that a study of antidepressant treatment in American Society of Health System time, Micromedex) first serving in an primary care. Pharmacists and American Associa- Faculty: editorial capacity, and then in various tion of Colleges of Pharmacy. Prior positions of increasing responsibility He received a BA in economics from to joining the SOP faculty, Trujillo Uday Kompella, PhD, is a professor including director of product manage- Karadeniz Technical University and an was a faculty member at Northeastern in the Department of Pharmaceuti- ment and director of clinical solutions MA from the University of Colorado University where she practiced in the cal Sciences and holds a courtesy support. At Thomson Reuters, she led Denver Downtown Campus. Last sum- area of adult internal medicine. She appointment with the Department of several new product development teams mer he participated in the Department currently practices at the University of Ophthalmology. Prior to joining UC and consulted with a variety of health of Health Care Policy and Financing Colorado Hospital diabetes clinic. Denver, he served as a faculty member care organizations across the country on summer internship program. at the University of Nebraska Medical Her areas of interest include inpatient decision support initiatives. Surinder M. Singh, PhD, is a mem- Center and Auburn University, for 14 and outpatient diabetes management, ber of the research staff for Krishna years. Kompella’s research interests A graduate of the School of Pharmacy, curricular development and assessment Mallela, PhD. He is conducting are in the area of nanotechnology for Rocsanna Namdar, PharmD, and the scholarship of teaching and research in elucidation of protein fold- drug and gene delivery. His research is BCPS, joined the Department of Clini- learning. ing mechanisms using various biophysi- advancing novel delivery systems and cal Pharmacy as an assistant professor. cal techniques. Toby Trujillo, PharmD, BCPS, has therapeutic agents for treating various She is teaching professional skills joined the SOP faculty as associate disorders including diabetic retinopa- development courses. Prior to coming He earned his master’s degree in professor of clinical pharmacy and is a thy, age related macular degeneration, to the school, she worked in the internal biotechnology from Jawaharlal Nehru clinical coordinator at the University of and cancers. medicine service and the hepatitis C University, New Delhi, India, and Colorado Hospital. clinic at the University of New Mexico received a PhD in the field of high Gina Moore, PharmD, MBA, joined Hospital. throughput recombinant proteins pro- He comes to SOP from Northeastern the School of Pharmacy’s faculty as duction at National Institute of Immu- University School of Pharmacy in Bos- director of clinical affairs. She received An interest in promoting clinical nology, New Delhi, India. ton where he was clinical associate pro- her PharmD from the University of pharmacy skills globally has taken her fessor in pharmacy practice and clinical the Pacific Thomas J. Long School to Iran, where she established the coun- Jennifer Trujillo, PharmD, is an coordinator for residency training and of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in try’s first clinics for anticoagulation and associate professor in the Department academic affairs, as well as a clinical Stockton, Calif., and her masters in diabetes ambulatory care practice and of Clinical Pharmacy. She earned specialist in cardiology and anticoagula- business administration in 2002 from trained local pharmacists to work in the her doctor of pharmacy degree from tion at Boston Medical Center. the University of Colorado Denver. clinics. She also is developing a formal the University of Arizona College of She began her career in critical care patient education program for patients Pharmacy and completed a pharmacy He received his PharmD from the and nutrition support and completed a with diabetes. practice residency at Boston Medical University of California-San Francisco. nutrition support specialty residency at Emin Taflan, MA, joined the staff at Center. University of Colorado Health Sciences He and his wife Jennifer, fellow new the School of Pharmacy as a profession- Center, becoming a board certified She is a board certified pharmacother- faculty, have two fabulous kids: Anna al research assistant to Robert Valuck nutrition support pharmacist in 1992. apy specialist and is a member of the (5) and Evan (2). and Anne Libby. He is currently work-

Uday Kompella, Gina Moore, Rocsanna Namdar, Jennifer Trujillo, Toby Trujillo, Emin Taflan, MA Surinder Singh, PhD PhD PharmD, MBA PharmD, BCPS PharmD PharmD, BCPS Software takes pharmacists to next level in diabetes research

By Jenni Prosser While insulin guidance software is The mean change in HbA1c in the and how the already factored into diabetes treat- experimental group was -0.8 percent dose should be Sam Ellis, PharmD, an assistant ment, programs monitoring how indi- compared to -0.1 percent in the control changed. The professor at the School of Pharmacy, vidual lifestyles affect insulin needs are group during the first six month period. patient then presented results from research on a new concept. HbA1c is a test that measures the records informa- patient-specific insulin guidance soft- amount of glycosylated hemoglobin tion on the device ware for patients with type 1 diabetes “The national average for blood glucose circulating in the blood. Glycosylated throughout the at the American Diabetics Association levels has stayed the same for the better hemoglobin is a molecule that is formed day, which alters (ADA) meeting in Chicago and the part of a decade,” said Ellis, “which when glucose freely passes into the the prescription European Association for the Study indicates to me that it’s more of a sys- red blood cell. This glycated product to give a more Sam Ellis, PharmD, of Diabetes (EASD) meeting in tem problem relating to the fact that the persists throughout the entire lifespan accurate insulin conducts research Amsterdam. management of diabetes is far behind of the red blood cell, which is about dosage for the on technology research and technology. This software three months. The A1c value provides patient. Presenting the results in a platform in diabetes should really help diabetics control their an average blood glucose value over and poster presentation at the ADA management disease.” that three month period. Therefore, Results from conference last summer was a unique at the Barbara the higher the glycosylated hemoglobin the study have opportunity for Ellis—of the roughly To improve the technology deficiency in Davis Center value, the greater glucose expose the indicated that 2,800 research projects submitted to diabetes research, Roche pharmaceuti- for Childhood patients has encountered. building aware- the meeting, only 60 were selected for cals developed patient-specific guidance ness about vari- Diabetes. presentation. The meeting is attended software that Ellis and his colleagues The software is given to patients on a ables that affect primarily by endocrinologists and researched at the Barbara Davis Center personal digital assistant (PDA) that a patient’s insulin diabetologists, and it is rare for pharma- for Childhood Diabetes. They assessed they carry with them at all times. The intake and managing the disease with cists to be invited. several parameters, including HbA1c, physician programs the PDA with the help of technology does improve the testing frequency and glucose values. the patient’s insulin doses and when patient’s baseline blood glucose level.

12 | sop perspectives ALUMNI NOTES

“It was inspiring to see the passion 2006, and are expecting another baby Stay in (Kevin) has,” says Sundita. “My experi- in October. Heather reports that she ence at City Pharmacy helped me see loves working at Kaiser Permanente Touch that diabetes counseling is something I in the Westminster Clinic. They live in In Memoriam: really want to get into. I’m hoping to get Broomfield and classmates can contact We received notice that Dale Share your comings and goings, career a position with a pharmacy in Colorado her at [email protected]. Peters, BS ’41, passed away updates, honors, marriages, births and to continue diabetes counseling.” Jan. 19, 2007, at the age of 88. and retirements. We welcome your He had been a proud and caring comments, news and suggestions for pharmacist for 50 years when he articles. Send your news to retired at the age of 70. [email protected]. James H. Vincent, BS ’51, We received word that Avinoam National Community Pharmacist Dafni, BS ’52, turned 80 on Jan. 25 Association (NCPA) Foundation and has Alzheimer’s disease. He owned trustee and former NCPA president, a pharmacy in Denver, complete with died April 11 in Sun City West, Ariz. a soda fountain. He later sold the phar- He was 80. During his presidency macy to use his chemistry background in 1983-84, NCPA culminated a in a career with Martin Marietta, where decade-long battle in Congress he worked through retirement. He has for recognition of the dangers three children: two boys and one girl. pharmacies face from criminals He and his wife Nancy live in Littleton, seeking controlled drugs with the Colo. Jeff Meyer, PhD Pharmaceuti- enactment of legislation making cal Sciences ’01, and Candice Seth Compton Jr., BS ’56, retired such crimes a federal offense. In (Cadwell) Meyer, PharmD ’00, in 2007 and reports he is still in good response to a resolution passed recently had a new addition to the health. His new address is 391 Autumn at last year’s House of Delegates, family. Ryan David Meyer was born Creek Dr., Apt. G, Manchester, MO NCPA has renewed its effort to March 15, and joins big sister Alexis, 63088. protect members from pharmacy age two. Jeff is a principal scientist at robberies and burglaries. Zymogenetics biotech in Seattle and Candice is a hospital pharmacist. In 1951, Vincent graduated from the University of Colorado School Misty (Ehmann) Meister, PharmD of Pharmacy. He developed Shop- ’01, Colorado Springs, announces the All, Inc., a one-stop shop for all birth of a baby girl, Whitney Lillian, drug store, pharmaceutical, dry born Feb. 2. Whitney’s big brother, goods and food items. He later Nathan, is 2 ½ years old. opened Vincent Drugs. Other Jennifer Carnell, PharmD ’05, entrepreneurial projects during and her husband Gaylen welcomed his career demonstrated his wide their first child, Aidan Ryan Carnell, Michele (Pacello) Gabriel, range of interests, some of which on Sept. 15, 2007. Jennifer is working PharmD ’05, informed us that she and included banking, a radio station, a at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Lucas Gabriel were married Sept. 1, long-term care facility and a corn- She can be reached at gaylenandjen@ 2007. to-ethanol conversion plant. charter.net. Kevin Kam, Shannon Sundita and Davy To, PharmD ’06, is working as a He was also active in the Colorado Kevin’s mother, Georgiana Kam, at the floater for Walgreen’s in Phoenix, Ariz. Pharmacal Association (now the Kam’s family pharmacy in Hawaii. Classmates can contact her at to.davy@ Colorado Pharmacists Society), gmail.com serving a term as president. He received many honors and Kevin Kam, RP ’95, CDE, is a certified Sheila Scott, PharmD ’07, and her recognitions for his service to the diabetes educator and pharmacist with husband Eric announce the birth of profession and his community. his family’s pharmacy, City Pharmacy their second child. Levi Washington Among his awards are the National and Diabetes Learning Center, in Scott was born Jan. 4. He weighed Association of Retail Druggists Honolulu, Hawaii. In February, Kam 7 pounds 15 ounces and was 20 inches (now the NCPA), Commendation finished a community rotation with the long. Big sister Dara is proud of for Meritorious Service and the pharmacy’s first SOP student— her new brother. Congratulations Distinguished Coloradan Award Shannon Sundita, who graduated Heather Caryofilles, PharmD ’05, may be sent to Sheila at from the School of Pharmacy. in May. She helped teach the group and her husband Matthew welcomed [email protected] their son, Hayden Scott, on Sept. 3, diabetes education program and was We received notice that Kenneth responsible for presenting to a group “KC” Baker, BS ‘61, passed away of patients the current pharmacological Nov. 14, 2007, at his home in agents for the management of diabe- Littleton, Colo. He retired in 2001 tes. She also created a power point after working at retail pharmacies presentation and a patient brochure for in Alamosa, Monte Vista, Canon attendees. On a daily basis, she taught City, La Jara, in southern Colorado patients about home blood glucose and in the Denver area. monitoring and was involved in training for insulin starts with various brands of insulin and pen delivery devices.

Kam says, “While at our pharmacy, we wanted to expose her to the diabetes education and care that we provide. We enjoyed having her here, and it’s nice to be able to put a bit more time and effort in for a CU PharmD student!” Elaine Ripplinger, PharmD ’05, and Brian Ripplinger, PharmD ’05, wanted to share a photo of their three-year twins, Sean and Aiden. The family has moved to Billings, Mont.

www.uchsc.edu/sop | 13 ALUMNI NOTES

Gathering evidence for the public good

By Kenna Bruner professor of pharmacogenetics and pharmacology, and John Thompson, Luis G. Valerio Jr., PhD ’98, a toxi- PhD, professor of medicinal chemistry. cologist with the U.S. Food and Drug In 2000, he completed his postdoctoral Administration’s (FDA) Center for research as a gastroenterology fellow Drug Evaluation and Research, didn’t with the School of Medicine. He earned envision himself an advocate for the a postdoctoral research fellowship from public at the onset of his career. the National Science Foundation to While Valerio’s early research career work in Barcelona, Spain, where he centered on basic science, his desire to focused on the enzymology and role more directly impact people’s lives with of oxidative and reductive enzymes in the science of toxicology eventually led metabolism. him to focus his work in public policy. Upon returning to the United States, As a pharmacology/toxicology reviewer Valerio wanted to change from basic for the FDA, he assesses the safety and research and try applied science. He efficacy of new therapeutic drugs for had developed an interest in consumer gastroenterology, specifically ulcerative product safety and took a position as Alumnus Luis Valerio Jr. with his children. colitis, autoimmune hepatitis and senior scientist in product safety at Crohn’s disease. Mary Kay Inc., a skin care and cosmet- He recently accepted a position as He was awarded a lifetime visiting pro- ics company based in Dallas, Texas. toxicologist with the CDER Office of fessor appointment at a private medical “I wanted to After three years of safety testing Pharmaceutical Science, Infomatics university in Lima, Peru, has authored dermatological products in a business- and Computational Safety Analysis more than 30 publications and has driven environment, Valerio was ready Staff (ICSAS). ICSAS is an applied served on the editorial board of Toxico- get closer to to return to a more science-based atmo- regulatory research unit that performs logical Reviews. He is associate editor sphere, which led him to the FDA. predictive toxicity screening of drugs of Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods the science for human adverse health effects and and was chosen to appear on a national “I wanted to get closer to the science critical endpoints in the safety evalua- multinetwork television broadcast for that goes that goes directly to the public,” he tion and regulatory approval of drugs the Department of Health and Human said. “I wanted to work at the FDA such as carcinogenicity, mutagenicity Services as a role model encouraging directly to because it’s a place where science and and reproductive toxicity—endpoints Hispanics to work in U.S. government policy come together. There, I could that cannot be tested in humans. positions. use scientific rationale with regulatory the public.” laws to approve or permit products that Valerio develops the predictions in silico His professional interests include consumers are exposed to. I felt that using advanced computer software and xenobiotic metabolism and predictive This fall, Valerio will share his knowl- was closer to the real world.” complex quantitative structure-activity modeling of the carcinogenicity, hepa- edge with School of Pharmacy students relationship modeling of drugs. totoxicity and reproductive toxicity of In 2003 he joined the FDA’s Center as an adjunct professor for special proj- drugs. In his free time, Valerio enjoys for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Valerio has served as an expert for the ects in the Department of Pharmaceuti- traveling with his family, learning in College Park, Md., as a toxicology United Nations World Health Organi- cal Sciences. “I like where I work now about other languages and cultures and reviewer for the premarket safety zation/Food and Agriculture Organiza- and want to stay there, but I also want outdoor activities such as fresh water assessment of food additives, such as tion Joint Expert Committee on Food to stay connected with the school,” he fishing. Valerio, who grew up in Rye, flavoring agents, GRAS ingredients Additives. He has served as an FDA said. “I want to give back to the school Colo., lives with his wife, Carmen, and (“generally recognized as safe” by the expert toxicology witness in federal that had such an impact on my career, their two children in Maryland, just Food and Drug Administration) and government criminal cases involving so this arrangement is perfect.” outside of Washington, D.C. super sweeteners. He then moved to unapproved food additives and drugs Valerio received his doctorate in phar- the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation supporting the agency’s enforcement maceutical sciences from the School of and Research (CDER) Office of New efforts to protect the public’s health. Pharmacy in 1998. While at SOP, he Drugs as a pharmacology/toxicology received two predoctoral fellowships reviewer assessing the safety and effi- to work with Dennis Petersen, PhD, cacy of new medical drugs. Advances in Pharmacy Practice : 2008 This headache is a winner CD available for purchase! If you were unable to attend the Advances in Pharmacy P1 students are pictured Practice educational symposium on February 23, you can still with the poster that won hear the program and receive continuing education credit as a them a pizza lunch and home study program. praise. The class poster competition focused on Topics include: legislative and practice trend update, cardiovascular updates — acute and chronic (2 programs), producing educational treatment of insomnia, infectious disease update, and new material that might be posted drug highlights. in a community pharmacy setting. Standing from left The CD will provide a maximum of 6 contact hours of ACPE- are Natasha Popowczak, accredited CE credit. The lectures will be provided as audio files with all educational materials that were distributed at the Travis Huckabee, Experiential program. The CD will sell for $65 plus $2.85 shipping and Programs Director handling. Christopher Turner, PhD, Tyler Walthall, Julius Agwe, Lauren For further information, please visit the CE section of our Kuhlman, Tosha Bowen, Petya website: www.uchsc.edu/sop/conted/3.Upcoming Programs.html Hooper, (front row) Myo Aung and Jonathan Caughran. Not Or call 303-315-5228 (option 3). pictured is Petra Lechner

14 | sop perspectives At the heart of giving Honoring a daughter’s life with a scholarship for fourth-year students

By Kenna Bruner The scholarship in his daughter’s than we can express, and I am so grate- memory provides full tuition for a ful for his kindness, generosity and When Eugene McMahan wanted to fourth-year pharmacy student to devotion to furthering education.” honor the memory of his daughter, a help realize his/her academic goals. 1976 graduate of the School of Phar- Last year’s scholarship recipient was Shulkin’s grandfather, Floy McMahan, macy, he knew that by establishing the Kathleen Simons. She plans to pursue a was a pharmacist and owned a drug Teresa McMahan Shulkin Scholarship residency and to work as an ambulatory store at the intersection of Third and with the CU Foundation to benefit the care clinical pharmacist. Elati in Denver. It was the kind of School of Pharmacy, his daughter’s establishment where vanilla cokes and generous spirit would live on. She died “To receive an award of such magnitude chocolate milkshakes were dispensed in 1993 from complications of lupus, has changed my life dramatically,” along with prescription medication and an autoimmune disease that causes the said Simons. “Receiving the scholar- health care advice. body’s immune system to attack healthy ship made me want to become a better A few months after graduation, Shulkin cells and tissues. person. To live up to this honor, I have Gene McMahan and last year’s married Randy Shulkin, a classmate been volunteering at health fairs and scholarship recipient, Kathleen Simons. Shulkin was quick to extend a helping mentoring high school students to give who also graduated in 1976. In 1979, hand to friends, colleagues and patients, back to the community. The generos- they were expecting their first child and thrived and is now married and has making a marked difference in numer- ity of Mr. McMahan has inspired me when Shulkin became ill and was even- a child of her own. ous lives. Despite her difficult 13-year to give back now and in the future. tually diagnosed with lupus. Since she battle with lupus, Shulkin remained couldn’t be treated for the disease while Scholarships (like this one) give stu- “I thought Teresa deserved recogni- optimistic and caring, McMahan said. pregnant because of the health risk dents the opportunity to focus on their tion,” said McMahan. “She loved phar- to the baby, and doctors didn’t want studies and community service and are macy and her compassionate nature “She was always thinking of others,” her to wait to start treatment, the next much appreciated by those who receive made her a wonderful pharmacist. Since said McMahan, a retired geophysicist best alternative was to deliver the baby them.” she got such an excellent education at with Shell Oil Company. “Even in her prematurely. the School of Pharmacy, I thought the final days in the hospital, she was more Brittany Hanselin, current recipient of best way I could honor her life was to concerned about the comfort of her the scholarship, stated, “This scholar- Born weighing 2 pounds, 3 ounces, establish a scholarship in her name.” family than herself.” ship means more to me and my family McMahan’s tiny grandchild, Erin, grew Alumna recognized for her Nontraditional PharmD pioneering service in the Navy program alumna

the reserves, Keating transferred to Stacy LaClaire, senior clinical content the Navy’s Medical Service Corps to specialist for Thomson Reuters and become the Navy’s first woman phar- School of Pharmacy graduate, is an macist and was assigned to head up the accomplished pharmacist in Colorado Navy’s pharmacist technicians’ school. and a PharmD alumna to be proud She served during three wars, becoming of. Not only does she contribute to the first woman to rise from the rank of the daily success of her colleagues seaman to captain. across the nation through her position at Thomson Healthcare, she’s helping One of her assignments in the Navy future pharmacists and alumni through was being assigned to a hospital ship off her efforts in the nontraditional PharmD Korea transporting wounded soldiers online program through the School of to U.S. military hospitals in Japan. Pharmacy. Assigned to the USS Haven, Keating Ret. Captain Katherine “Kay” Keating, became one of the first women officers LaClaire earned her bachelor of pharmacy degree from the Albany College of BS ’48, of Beulah, Colo., was inducted to relieve a man at sea. In 1953, when Pharmacy in New York where she went on to work as a hospital staff pharmacist. into the 2008 Colorado Women’s Hall the USS Haven was chosen to host A move to Colorado allowed her the opportunity to work at Boulder Community of Fame on March 11, in honor of her a prisoner of war exchange, United Hospital and Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center. During that time she was significant contributions helping elevate Nations officials chose Keating to be an accepted into the nontraditional postbaccalaureate doctor of pharmacy program, the status of women veterans. official witness. where she was awarded the Clinical Practice Achievement award at graduation. This award is given by the faculty to a graduating PharmD student who best exemplifies Keating, who grew up in Pueblo, Colo., In 1954, her ship carried wounded the attributes of an ideal clinical pharmacy practitioner. was attending the School of Pharmacy French paratroopers home from Viet- when World War II began. She enlisted nam after the French defeat at Dien She remained at the school to pursue an oncology pharmacy residency program. in the Navy in 1942 and was among the Bien Phu. During the Vietnam War, Following the completion of the residency, LaClaire accepted a position at the first women inducted into the WAVES, she worked in U.S. Naval hospitals University of Colorado Hospital as a clinical oncology pharmacist. the women’s branch of the Navy at the in Japan, helping treat the wounded A few years later, she made a career move to Micromedex (Thomson Healthcare) time. Because she could type, Keating American soldiers. as a senior clinical content specialist. This unique opportunity provided her with a was trained to be a radio operator and professional environment, challenging work and a chance to help other clinicians served in Hawaii listening to radio sig- After serving 30 years in the Navy, through the various Thomson products. nals and typing code translations. Keating retired in 1972, returning to her Colorado home in Beulah. LaClaire maintains a strong relationship with the School of Pharmacy as adjoint “There was a war on. It was my duty to faculty for the nontraditional PharmD program and corresponds with alumni at serve,” she said. In the 1990s, she answered the call to duty again when a group of women various continuing education programs. After the war, she returned to phar- veterans began working to establish the For more information about a clinical pharmacy career with Thomson Reuters, visit macy school, graduating in 1948. When Women in Military Service for America their website at www.thomsoncareers.com. she was offered the chance to join Memorial in Washington, D.C.

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