June 2025

Welcome to the next edition of the Buffalo Pharmacy Bulletin 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 Bulletin 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.”

In the face of the ongoing and unprecedented scrutiny higher education has faced this year, it can be easy to focus on a narrow set of issues. Indeed, much of the public discourse seems designed to do just that. Yet narrowing the conversation in this way risks overlooking the broader impact that colleges and universities have on our society.

At its core, the mission of higher education is, well, education. In the 2021–22 academic year, 4.1 million students earned a four-year degree or higher; approximately 25% earned advanced degrees. Despite assertions to the contrary, holding at least a bachelor’s degree has a significant impact on the economic prospects of young adults. In 2021, workers aged 22 to 27 with a bachelor’s degree earned nearly 75% more than their peers without a degree and experienced lower unemployment rates. While it’s true that many graduates work outside their primary field of study, it’s equally true that an educated workforce—regardless of discipline—strengthens local and regional economies.

The economic contributions of higher education go well beyond individual outcomes. A sector-by-sector analysis of U.S. GDP (gross domestic product) growth shows that the work of higher education—both directly and through the graduates it produces—accounted for nearly 30% of GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2024. As an industry, higher education directly contributes more than $700 billion annually to the U.S. economy. International students—who have been particularly vulnerable amid recent policy shifts—contribute more than $40 billion. These numbers are not abstract: their impact is deeply felt in the communities hosting colleges and universities. Policies or rhetoric that diminish these institutions, including their ability to attract talent from across the globe, carry the potential for lasting regional and global consequences.

Even if we consider economic contributions alone, attempts to discredit higher education still make little sense. But the societal value of higher education extends well beyond dollars and cents. Take our own school as an example. We prepare pharmacists who are increasingly becoming the backbone of community health care and the gateway to the health care system for many patients. We train the scientific workforce that will discover, develop, and evaluate the next generation of therapies. We create new knowledge to advance human health and wellness. We engage in entrepreneurship that drives regional economic development. And we prepare every student to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. These contributions are, in my view, essential—and their loss would be incalculable.

Our newsletter will take a brief hiatus in July and return in August to welcome our newest cohort of students. Until then, I wish you a restful summer and continued optimism for a better future.

Pharmacy Practice faculty recognized by Western New York Society of Health-system Pharmacists (WNYSHP)

Several of our pharmacy practice faculty members were recently honored by WNYSHP for their outstanding contributions to advancing pharmacy practice. They were recognized at the WNYSHP Installation and Awards Banquet on June 17:

• Gina Prescott, PharmD – WNYSHP Pharmacist of the Year Award

• Robert Wahler, PharmD – WNYSHP Pharmacy Achievement Award

• Ashley Woodruff, PharmD – WNYSHP Research Award

Smith honored with UB Exceptional Scholar: Young Investigator Award

Nicholas Smith, PharmD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, has been named a recipient of UB's Exceptional Scholar: Young Investigator Award. He was recognized for his leadership on a five-year, $3.6 million research grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. His project, “Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Mechanistically Aware Phage Cocktails,” explores how to best use bacteriophages (phages)—highly specific bacterial pathogens—as a new category of safer antibiotics.

Pharmaceutical Sciences students recognized at UB Celebration of Academic Excellence

We proudly congratulate our pharmaceutical sciences students recognized at UB's Celebration of Student Academic Excellence for their exceptional research achievements:

• Mfonabasi Ette, PharmD, RPh, PhD '25: Recipient of the UB Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity Award and Third Place in the UB Sigma Xi "Companions in Zealous Research" Award for her project, "Development of a QSPR model for clinical pharmacokinetics of antibody-based therapeutics"

• Liam Hubbard, Pharmaceutical Sciences BS/MS '25: Recipient of the UB Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity Award for his project, "Biophysical Characterization of Anti-human TIM4 Antibody"

We can't wait to welcome you home to campus for a weekend of reconnecting with classmates, beloved faculty and celebrating the school that launched your pharmacy career! Join us for special recognition of our Gregory Society members, the golden anniversary celebration of the Class of 1975, and milestone celebrations for all classes ending in 0's and 5's. Want to help make this weekend unforgettable? We're still seeking class volunteers! Contact Sarah Sterzinger, associate director of alumni engagement, at sjsterzi@buffalo.edu to get involved.

Join our pharmaceutical sciences faculty to discuss contemporary approaches, challenges and opportunities for advancing the science and practice of QSP.

Featuring our new program, Pharmacist Dispensing of Self-Administered Hormonal Contraceptives Pursuant to the New York State Standing Order, which satisfies the NYS education requirement for pharmacists, along with home study options.

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.

Show your #UBTrueBlue spirit by sharing UB Pride photos, videos and stories!

Thank you for reading our June 2025 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