EDUCATING LEADERS IN PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES SINCE 1886
February 2024
Welcome to the next edition of the Buffalo Pharmacy Bulletin (BPB) where we will continue to explore and discuss 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.”
A Community of Researchers Advancing Drug Delivery, Development and Evaluation: The DDDE Hub
In 2022, we began formulating a blueprint for, and a strategy to support an interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary research core, where innovative leadership and creative approaches to drug discovery, development and evaluative sciences could be further developed and nurtured. These initiatives have resulted in the establishment of UB’s Drug Discovery, Development, and Evaluation (DDDE) Hub. The DDDE Hub concept was to simultaneously stimulate growth of the school’s research and graduate education while coordinating and advancing activities throughout the university supporting the introduction of new therapeutic agents and approaches into practice.
Strategic Investment: Faculty Growth and Expanding Research Excellence
To launch and sustain an endeavor of this magnitude, it takes many strategic thought leaders to help provide a solid foundation from which to build upon. We have been fortunate to receive direction and financial support from multiple sources, including the university’s Annual Resource Planning Process, the New York State supported: Advancing Top 25: UB’s Faculty Hiring Initiative and the SUNY Empire Innovation Program. The DDDE Hub initiative has the potential to increase the number of SPPS tenure-track faculty positions by nearly 50%. In my 40 years in academic pharmacy, I have not previously observed or heard of this level and pace of new investment in an established school. It is an amazing statement of UB’s confidence in our school; we are extraordinarily fortunate to be part of a university with grand ambitions to increase its impact, and to be in a state that acknowledges the unique value of higher education in a research-intensive environment.
Launching the Hub
Over the course of this year, our Pharmacy Bulletin will chronicle the roll-out of the DDDE Hub, beginning with the arrival of the first new faculty hires next month. Much of the content will be devoted to introducing these new additions – their backgrounds, areas of expertise, and plans. It is an exciting time to be able to engage you all in these new announcements while continuing to highlight the outstanding work being done by all our faculty, staff, and students, each and every day. Their work has shaped the dynamic environment and culture that has been in place here for decades, ensuring the success of our newest faculty. We can do so much more collectively than individually, and that is the core concept underlying the DDDE Hub.
Except for the upcoming baseball season (the lament of a life-long Chicago Cubs fan), I am extraordinarily optimistic for the future, and am so, so grateful for the opportunity to serve this school. I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you.
Fusco appointed interim executive director of Interprofessional Education for Health Sciences
Nicholas Fusco, PharmD '10, division head, Division of Education and Teaching Innovation and clinical associate professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, has been appointed interim executive director for Interprofessional Education (IPE) for health sciences at UB. Since 2016, Fusco has been a driving force behind UB's IPE initiatives, serving on the Office of IPE leadership team and spearheading the development of our robust IPE curriculum at SPPS. He brings over a decade of experience and unwavering dedication to IPE, making him ideal to guide UB's continued ascent as a national leader in collaborative health care education.
Visiting physician to UB’s CIGBS examining clinical pharmacology intersection of HIV drugs, antidepressants
While HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was, those who become infected with the disease often experience high levels of depression, according to Waheed Adedeji, MD, an international visiting scholar at the UB Center for Integrated Global Biomedical Sciences (CIGBS). Adedeji has been working with Gene Morse, PharmD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of pharmacy practice and director, CIGBS to prepare for a clinical trial he plans to launch at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, in early March. Adedeji plans to explore the pharmacokinetic interaction between fluoxetine, the generic of Prozac, and the antiviral drug Dolutegravir, which fights HIV.
Fisher, director of Research Administration, retires
After more than 20 years at SPPS, Diane Fisher, director of Research Administration, has retired effective January 31. She was a dedicated staff member and previously served as assistant to the associate dean for Gene Morse, PharmD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of pharmacy practice. In her most recent role as director of Research Administration, Fisher led the establishment of this newly formed office which was one of the first of its kind at UB and served as a benchmark and model for others that followed. Fisher directed the research administration activities of our school where she provided a broad range of support and served as key contributor for both pre and post award functions for our faculty. In the past five years alone, she supported over 600 grant submissions and over $65 million in research expenditures. Fisher played an integral role in supporting our faculty and made numerous contributions to supporting our school's research activities.
L-R: Yael Marks, PharmD, SPPS Global Health Fellow, Stephie Ikama, PharmD ’26, Sarah Ahmed, PharmD ’25, Katherine Beikirch, PharmD ’26, Samuel Gerardi, PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident, D’Youville College, Kalpesh Desai, PharmD, assistant dean, Inclusive Excellence, SPPS.
Medical trip to Belize highlights personal growth, service
Over winter break, a group of students and faculty from SPPS and the UB School of Nursing traveled to Belize to support the needs of underserved populations. The interprofessional clinical experience allowed students to learn and explore another culture and environment while deepening their understanding of global health disparities.
In Belize SPPS and nursing students set up a clinic at an elementary school and worked together to provide primary care to patients. SPPS worked alongside a Belizean pharmacist to dispense medications and counsel patients on recommendations and use.
SPPS students elected APhA-ASP regional officers
Congratulations to our students on being elected to regional officer positions for the American Pharmaceutical Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Region 1!
- Nicole Kayrala, PharmD '26: elected Regional Delegate, Region 1
As Regional Delegate, Kayrala will coordinate the policy process open forum and contribute to the success of the APhA-ASP House of Delegates meetings on behalf of 19 schools of pharmacy in the northeast region.
- Desiree Herman, PharmD '26: elected Midyear Regional Meeting Coordinator, Region 1
As Midyear Regional Meeting Coordinator, Herman will be part of the planning committee for the Midyear Regional Meeting in Fall 2024 and will be the main contact for coordinating with schools and colleges of pharmacy in Region 1. She will also serve as a moderator for and coordinator of numerous logistics during the Midyear Regional Meeting. Additionally, she will assist the regional delegate in discussing resolutions presented during the Annual Meeting in March 2024.
Yafai named one of the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy for 2023
Congratulations to our alum Sammy Yafai, PharmD '16, on being named by the Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN) as one of the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy for 2023!
The 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy program was launched in 2021 by PPN as a way to draw attention to industry professionals whose thoughts, actions, accomplishments and leadership have helped solve clinical, customer service and financial problems. This program is designed to identify and honor people in all aspects of the industry.
Yafai is currently the pharmacy supervisor at NYC HHC South Brooklyn Hospital. In his prior role, he was a pharmacy manager at CVS where he had district-level responsibilities and was also responsible for immunization performance at a regional level. At CVS he demonstrated his influential abilities to lead the entire region of pharmacies to meet immunization target goals.
When working with a team, Yafai says his main goal is to lead an efficient team, but more importantly, to produce future leaders.
We continue to expand our teaching and research enterprise through a transformational faculty hiring initiative.
We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community.
Find out more about our Division Head and DDDE Hub Hires and join our journey of growth and discovery.
Want to take your career to the next level?
See our new online/part-time degrees and micro-credential programs beginning Fall 2024.
SPPS hosts NCPA President, Feb. 27
Join our SPPS community as we host NCPA President Lea Wolsoncroft, RPh, as she addresses current issues impacting community pharmacy. Past NCPA presidents Stephen Giroux, BS '81 and Bradley Arthur will also be in attendance.
Care for Rare: From Bench to Bedside, Feb. 29
On February 29, the rarest day of the year, join the UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and SPPS to learn from and connect with UB clinicians and researchers with rare disease expertise. The event features a symposium with guest speakers and a poster session.
Share your story: National Women's History Month project
In celebration of Women's History Month in March, University Advancement is collecting stories of UB women of impact and influence in the lives of our alumni, students, faculty and staff. If you or someone you know has a story to share, please submit a brief video sharing their impact.
Call for nominations: SPPS Alumni Awards
Each year we proudly recognize our SPPS alumni, commending those who, over the past year, have contributed significantly to our school's mission, the profession of pharmacy and scholarly achievements. Nominations are now open for our 2024 Willis G. Gregory Memorial Award and our Orville C. Baxter Memorial Professional Practice Award.
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 Event Calendar
View upcoming events on the UB Events Calendar!
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.
Share Your UB Pride
Show your #UBTrueBlue spirit by sharing UB Pride photos, videos and stories!
Since 1886, SPPS has been a leader in the education of pharmacy students and pharmaceutical sciences researchers.
We continue our progressive journey into the 21st century with innovative research led by outstanding faculty along with the initiation of progressive educational paths, preparing our students to be the clinical and research leaders of the future.
We invite you to read more about our journey and how we are improving student success and creating solutions to address society’s most pressing health care needs.
Thank you for reading our February 2024 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