NATIONAL WESTERN Pharmacy Students Provided Free Flu Shots, As Well As Health Screenings to Nearly 2,500 Attendees at This Year’S National Western Stock Show
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WINTER SPRING 2018 Pharmacy P E R S P E C T I V E S School Wins National Weaver Award CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was selected as the winner of AACP’s Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award. Presented annually, the award is bestowed on a school that has demonstrated a commitment to its community through the development of programs that go beyond the traditional role of academic pharmacy. In addition to bragging rights, the school will receive $5,000 to be used to support community partners/programs, along with a commemorative sculpture. The award will be presented at AACP’s Annual Meeting in July. Kudos to Dr. Gina Moore for her commitment in prepar- ing the application submission and coordinating site visits, as well as to the faculty and students who perform these community services throughout the year and those who participated in the site visit presentations. In This Issue 2-4 Fourth-year pharmacy student Megan Student Life Wary vaccinates a Stock Show attendee. 6-9 Pharmacists Tread Carefully Into the World of Medical Cannabis NATIONAL WESTERN Pharmacy students provided free flu shots, as well as health screenings to nearly 2,500 attendees at this year’s National Western Stock Show. Health screenings included height and weight measurements, BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose, 10 vision and an oral health screen. In addition to helping the community, the students get a chance to work with other health Car-T Therapy May be Cost professions students and provide health education and information to people who may not otherwise have access to care. Effective 11-13 Tackling the Opioid Epidemic 14-16 Alumni Corner Welcome : DISCOVERING HERBY DANA BRANDORFF FUTURE ara Azimi comes from a family that pharmacists work closely with and of medical professionals and encouraged her to explore the field of CU alums who have helped pharmacy. her determine a career path Working at the Apothecary, beginning that is right for her. While her junior year at CU-Boulder, helped so- both of her parents and sister are in the lidify her pursuit of a career in pharmacy. Sphysical therapy field, and her brothers Under the tutelage of her pharmacist su- n this edition of Pharmacy Perspectives, you are physicians, Sara has chosen a different pervisors, “I saw how they interacted with will celebrate our school’s achievements and health care path. She will be entering CU patients, answered their questions, and I recent awards including the AACP Lawrence C. Skaggs’ PharmD program in the fall of became advocates for them. I saw how Weaver Transformative Community Service Award, 2018 to pursue her dream of becoming their open communication reassured the which recognizes our school for programs that go a pharmacist. patients about taking their medications. beyond the traditional role of academic pharmacy; Her interest in pharmacy was affirmed This really inspired me.” learn about our alumni and how they are impact- at a young age. In addition to her exposure to the ing the world through volunteering; discover “My favorite subject in high school was field as an assistant at the Apothecary, how pharmacists are treading into the medical biochemistry,” says Azimi, “AP Biology Sara drew on her brothers’ knowledge marijuana landscape nationally; and uncover the taught me about this microscopic world and experience, too. According to Azimi, research that that our faculty are conducting on of molecules and how medications can be “They both mentioned how awesome the value of a new cancer therapy. used to interact with this world in order their pharmacists are and how much they You will be transported to Cambodia to experi- to cure diseases and eliminate ailments.” depend on them as practicing physicians.” ence a service learning opportunity that one of our Azimi recalls sharing her enthusiasm Having shadowed and worked with clin- pharmacy students participated in during summer for the subject with her siblings. Her ical and retail pharmacists, Sara was also break, and see pharmacy through the eyes of high brother, Ehsan, who was a medical stu- able to experience firsthand the value of school students interested in health care careers. dent at the time, said that was something a pharmacist on the health care team. We encourage you to learn more about our school and the people who make it a success. For those who have graduated and those who, work, study and learn here, there is much to celebrate. And remember, keep in touch as we want to hear from you. Make sure to check out our blog site at www.cupharmacyperspectives.org and remember to follow the school on our social media channels listed below: @CUpharmacy | @cupharmacy /15098479 | @cupharmacy UCDSchoolofPharmacy Sincerely, Ralph J. Altiere, PhD Dean, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Sara Azimi Pharmaceutical Sciences 2 CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences WINTER SPRING 2018 CU Connections BY DEVIN LYNNE n 1976, Yolanda Azimi graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy, starting a family tradition of attending CU. Yolanda was a The Azimi Family first-generation college graduate and has in- Istilled the importance of a high-quality education in her children. Now, her sons, Ehsan (’06) and Hassan EHSAN (’09), and daughters, Mariam (’14) and Sara (’18), 2006 CU Boulder summa cum laude in have all attended CU. biochemistry with distinction “Without the support of the Williams Family 2010 Medical College of Wisconsin Foundation, I would not have attended college be- Practices medicine in Boston, MA cause my parents could not afford to send me,” said Yolanda. She was driven by her desire to become a physical therapist and give back to her community. HASSAN Yolanda was determined to make a difference in 2009 CU Boulder summa cum laude in Morgan County, Colo., making her the perfect biochemistry with distinction candidate for support from the Williams Family 2013 CU School of Medicine Foundation. This foundation is dedicated to enhanc- Orthopedic residency at University of ing rural health. She has delivered on that promise California San Diego spending the past 40 years as a physical therapist. The Azimi Family Her career began in the Fort Morgan Community Now, Yolanda continues to practice PT as the Hospital (FMCH) as a physical therapist. After she director of rehab services at Eben Ezer Lutheran MARIAM was married, she worked for three years at Lutheran Care Center. She is also working with CU to help Western State College bachelor’s degree Medical Center in Denver before returning to foster a new generation of health professionals. “I in exercise and sports medicine Morgan County to raise her family while continu- enjoy staying connected to the school that made 2014 CU Physical Therapy Program, ing to practice physical therapy (PT) in the area my career possible and has inspired my lifelong doctor of physical therapy hospitals. Yolanda served as the director of rehab learning,” said Yolanda. In addition to mentoring Practices physical therapy in services at FMCH for another six years, then at physical therapy students, she is giving back to Fort Worth, TX East Morgan County Hospital for 20 years. She also CU Anschutz. helped design the first warm water therapy pool and “To give to CU Anschutz is the best way to be aquatic therapy program in the rural community. To part of moving health care forward in a constantly SARA help recruit and retain physical therapists in rural changing environment. I became a physical ther- CU Boulder neuroscience communities, Yolanda helped develop the PTA apist because I wanted to help people. Giving to Accepted to CU Skaggs School of Program at Morgan Community College and was CU Anschutz is the best way that one person can Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences a clinical instructor for PT/PTA students. help many people.” class of 2022 INVEST IN STUDENTS. TRANSFORM THE FUTURE. Stories similar to the Azimi family’s are made possible by generous supporters. By giving to scholarships, you are helping students realize their dreams and focus on their education. These students will soon become leaders in pharmacy, transforming the field. When you give to the School of Pharmacy 100th Anniversary Scholarship Fund, you invest in the future of pharmacy. To support scholarships at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, visit giving.cu.edu/pharmacyscholarships or call 303-724-8227. www.ucdenver.edu/pharmacy 3 Student Life: P-3 Pulkit Jain, standing second from left, pictured with fellow volunteers in Cambodia. nstead of taking some time off living in a country where we don’t have to walk between his second and third-year, several miles to get medical treatment,” he said. CU Pharmacy student Pulkit Jain During his time there he said he observed turned his summer vacation into a a healthcare system that is in need of some learning opportunity. reform, specifically when it comes to medica- He volunteered in Cambodia, tions. “A lot of the doctors were prescribing Iassisting medical teams under the supervi- antibiotics. They weren’t checking signs and sion of physicians. His cousin, a physician symptoms or if they had an infection.” He and founder of an organization called Save worked with physicians to set up a better pro- Each One, made the opportunity possible. cess to determine what a patient really needs. The organization provides care to rural, un- Jain says the communication skills he’s I KNOW WHAT derserved areas. Jain was the only pharmacy learned as a student at CU Pharmacy came in student in the group. handy during his time in Cambodia, “One of The locations where they provided care were the things I was able to do there was improve YOU DID LAST so remote that Jain and the other volunteers how doctors interact with patients.” would travel up to 14 hours per day just to Even though Jain was there for only two SUMMER reach patients.