EDUCATING LEADERS IN PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES SINCE 1886
August 2023
Welcome to the next edition of the Buffalo Pharmacy Bulletin (BPB) where we will continue to explore and discuss social issues in health care and how we as academicians, practitioners and scientists can lead and support these issues. The BPB will also keep you updated on the latest school news, highlighting the outstanding work of our UB SPPS community.
“The best way to ensure we can support and mentor our future pharmacists and research scientists is to make sure we are reviewing and discussing what is currently happening in the dynamic and ever-changing world we live in.”
The Summer of Preparation and Celebration
Well, summer certainly flew by quickly, at a rate that not even someone as creative (and maybe a bit twisted?) as our old friend Harold Boxenbaum could explain.
Despite what our friends and family may believe, things do not actually come to a grinding halt once the commencement ceremony is complete (and wasn’t that just two weeks ago, anyway)? The summer that is rapidly ending was an especially busy one. A partial list, in no particular order, of our summer accomplishments includes:
- Finalizing the restructuring of our academic departments and administrative support units, the latter focusing primarily on our various degree programs.
- Continuing to recruit and hire exceptional new staff and faculty.
- Preparing to launch an updated version of our PharmD program this year, providing students with an enhanced leaning experience and integrated educational path.
- Launching a new learning and engagement community structure for our students.
- Developing coursework for an on-line version of our pharmacometrics master’s program and associated certificate options.
- Hosting multiple pharmaceutical sciences meetings, including our long-standing Buffalo Pharmaceutics Symposium. This year’s program recognized emeritus faculty members, Leung Fung, PhD and Marilyn Morris, PhD and drew record attendance. It was an absolute pleasure seeing so many old friends and hearing about the extraordinary work pursued by our alumni.
The upcoming academic year promises to be busy as well, as we continue to build and expand outstanding research and education programs at UB. We look forward to sharing the results of our efforts with you through this monthly newsletter.
Best wishes for the last fleeting weeks of the summer!
UB SPPS hosts world-renowned pharmaceutical sciences symposia
From July 26-29, SPPS hosted scientists and researchers from around the world for our Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Symposium and our Buffalo Pharmaceutics Symposium. The 2023 Buffalo Pharmaceutics Symposium was our 15th quadrennial event and brought together nearly 230 alumni, internationally recognized faculty and invited researchers to exchange valuable scientific knowledge and showcase their cutting-edge research in pharmaceutical sciences.
UB Pharmacy hosts 8th annual Pharmacy Summer Institute
From July 10-12, SPPS hosted our eighth annual Pharmacy Summer Institute (PSI), providing rising high school and college students with the opportunity to explore exciting topics and career paths in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
Jacobs receives UB Exceptional Scholar Young Investigator Award
David Jacobs, PharmD, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, has received a 2023 Exceptional Scholar Young Investigator Award from UB for his innovative research and scholarly achievement in pharmacy practice, public health and epidemiology to advance healthcare services for a wide array of populations.
UB PharmD students installed as SPSSNY officers for 2023-24
The following PharmD students were newly installed as officers for the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY) for the 2023-24 academic year:
- Rachel Romanowski, PharmD’25, president
- Sophia Osmond, PharmD’25, vice president
- Selvi Chhabra, PharmD/MBA’25, treasurer (not pictured)
- Nicole Siwarski, PharmD’25, secretary (not pictured)
The mission of PSSNY is to unite and empower the profession of pharmacy through advocacy, education, networking and interprofessional collaboration.
UB SPPS volunteers at 2023 Family Health Fair
On July 15 our SPPS faculty, students and alumni assisted Western New Yorkers of all ages with blood pressure screenings, medication counseling and prescription disposal at the annual Family Health Fair sponsored by Senator Sean Ryan and Assemblymember Karen McMahon held at the Amherst Senior Center.
Sinnett receives a 2023 UB Distinguished Alumni Award
Mark J. Sinnett, BS ’83, PharmD ’87, is the recipient of a 2023 UB Distinguished Alumni Award. This award is given to alumni who have made a significant impact on the university at-large and also to the programs and students at SPPS.
A natural leader and mentor, Sinnett has spent the last 35+ years at Montefiore Medical Center in his role as director of clinical and educational pharmacy services and was director of the PGY1 pharmacy residency program for almost 25 years. He plays a critical role in placing fourth year PharmD students from UB at Montefiore.
To support the profession of pharmacy, Sinnett and his wife Merrette created the Mark J. Sinnett Scholarship, an endowed fund to assist PharmD students in need and who also demonstrate interest in outcomes-based research.
Sinnett will receive this award at the UB Alumni Association Achievement Awards Ceremony on October 12.
Giacomini and Brim named 2023 SPPS alumni award winners
We're proud to announce the following recipients of our 2023 SPPS alumni awards. Our awardees will be honored at a ceremony at the Pharmacy Building on October 13.
2023 Willis G. Gregory Memorial Award: Kathleen M. Giacomini, PhD ’79
This is the most prestigious award given by our school, honoring an outstanding alumnus who personifies the ideals of service, integrity and the profession of pharmacy in the eyes of their colleagues.
2023 Orville C. Baxter Memorial Professional Practice Award: Karen M. (Wilson) Brim, BS ’82
This award acknowledges leadership within the profession of pharmacy, career innovation and dedication to our school and students.
UB Pharmacy Alumni Reunion, October 12-14
We are excited to welcome SPPS reunion classes ending with 2, 3, 7 or 8 back to campus this fall to celebrate reunions and the accomplishments of our SPPS alumni award winners! Special recognition will be given to those celebrating a 50th, 25th or 10th year reunion along with our alumni award winners.
SPPS New Student Orientation: August 23-26
Orientation for our incoming PharmD and Pharmaceutical Sciences students to learn about program requirements, services and resources, and to begin bonding with their peers, school and university community.
PharmD White Coat Ceremony: August 23
Our annual White Coat Ceremony symbolizes passage into the initial stages of the profession of pharmacy practice and represents a contract for excellence in providing compassionate patient care.
SPPS Continuing Pharmacy Education Events
Featuring our new UB Compounding Pharmacy Continuing Education Activity, which meets the new three hour NYS pharmacy CE requirement.
SPPS Event Calendar
View our upcoming SPPS events!
UB Alumni Webinars
Join UB alumni experts from across the globe as they share professional insights and advice during Webinar Wednesdays. Engage in upcoming webinars along with past sessions.
UB Event Calendar
View upcoming events on the UB Events Calendar!
Thank you for reading our August 2023 edition of the Buffalo Pharmacy Bulletin. Please stay in touch! Send us updates on your own personal and professional accomplishments by filling out our alumni update form.
Regards,
Gary Pollack, PhD '84
Dean and Professor