March 2026

Welcome to the latest Buffalo Pharmacy Bulletin. We examine key issues in health care and how our academicians, practitioners and scientists drive progress, while also sharing updates from UB’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to highlight the outstanding work of our 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.”

I committed to using this space throughout 2026 to reflect on the unique and uniquely valuable role of higher education in American society, and how our school fits within that broader landscape. That commitment was shaped by the significant, and at times damaging, challenges the sector has faced over the past year.

This month, I want to take a brief detour to consider something more introspective: where higher education as a sector may have fallen short and what we, as individuals and as institutions, can do to address it.

My thinking has been influenced recently by two very different works: Nicholas Lemann’s essay “The Unmaking of the American University” and Leif Enger’s novel “I Cheerfully Refuse.” Lemann argues that, in the decades following World War II, American universities—particularly elite private institutions, though public research universities are not exempt—became increasingly dependent on federal research funding. That dependence, in turn, requires maintaining public trust, since government priorities ultimately reflect the will of the people.

Enger’s novel does not address higher education directly, but its title offers a useful lens. It suggests both a diagnosis of our current predicament and a possible path forward: as a sector, higher education has not done a good job of “cheerfully refusing.”

We have not been especially cheerful, at least not in ways that are visible to the public. This stands in contrast to our lived experience: the satisfaction of helping a struggling student succeed, the pride in former students’ accomplishments and the fulfillment that comes from research and service that make a tangible difference. When that sense of purpose and joy is not communicated outwardly, we risk appearing insular, detached or unresponsive to the communities we serve.

At the same time, we have not effectively countered the narratives that have come to define us in recent years, from critiques of diversity initiatives, to questions about the stewardship of research funding, to skepticism about the value of a college education itself. These narratives have gained traction in the absence of a collective response. Many of these claims can be rebutted with both data and individual experiences. Yet, too often, we have allowed others to tell our story for us. In many cases we have left a vacuum, and vacuums rarely remain unfilled.

Our school has extraordinary stories to tell. We educate talented students who go on to lead meaningful and impactful lives. Our faculty conduct research and scholarship that advance knowledge and improve public health. We contribute in measurable ways to our community and our state. And, every day, I see the genuine pride and satisfaction our faculty and staff take in their work. We should not keep those stories to ourselves.

It is time to be openly, even unabashedly, cheerful about what we do, and equally willing to push back on inaccurate or incomplete portrayals of our work. That does not mean being dismissive of criticism. It means engaging it confidently, with evidence, clarity and a firm sense of our own narrative.

If public trust is essential to our future, then telling our story is not optional. It is a responsibility we all share. And it may be the most important step we can take right now.

Musical coda: artist Keala Settle performs "This Is Me."

UB researchers use AI to develop new class of HIV-fighting antibodies
Through a collaborative effort with the National Institutes of Health, a team of UB and SPPS researchers recently used artificial intelligence (AI) analysis to uncover a promising new class of antibodies to treat the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Their findings may help patients and health providers manage the virus, which affects nearly 40 million people worldwide. Researchers and authors from the Department of Pharmacy Practice include Nicholas Smith, PharmD, PhD; Qing Ma, PharmD, PhD; Raymond Cha, PharmD; Gene Morse, PharmD; and Brian Ho, PharmD.

Meaney promotes kidney assessment that provides accurate, equitable care
Calvin Meaney, PharmD, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice, recently co-authored a commentary promoting the 2021 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a more accurate and equitable assessment of kidney function. The updated eGFR removes race from its calculation, helping address long‑standing disparities in the staging and treatment of chronic kidney disease. Meaney's commentary encourages clinicians to move away from outdated tests that can lead to inconsistent or inaccurate medication dosing.

Jacobs honored with 2025 Clinical Research Achievement Award
David Jacobs, PharmD, PhD, associate professor of pharmacy practice, has received the 2025 Buffalo Translational Consortium Clinical Research Achievement Award from the UB Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, recognizing outstanding clinical research in the Buffalo Niagara Region. Jacobs was honored for the study, “Implementing a Community Health Worker Model to Address Health-related Social Needs in a Community Pharmacy Network: A Pragmatic Evaluation,” led with Christopher Daly, PharmD, MBA, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice, and additional Department of Pharmacy Practice researchers.

Belize trip gives UB PharmD students global health perspective
Over winter break, a group of UB PharmD students traveled to Belize to support local health clinics and gain firsthand experience caring for underserved communities. As part of a short-term global health experience with the UB School of Nursing, the interprofessional team conducted community health assessments and delivered care at local clinics alongside Belizean providers. 

Join your international pharmaceutics colleagues and expert faculty from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences for a series of pharmacometrics workshops open to students and professionals. 

Join the UB Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences community for this celebrated event dating back to 1980. Together we’ll gather for research talks and lectures, time to reconnect and social events around Buffalo. We’ll also honor the remarkable legacy of Dr. William Jusko. 

Calling all alumni from class years ending in 1 or 6! We're seeking volunteers to help shape an exciting SPPS Reunion 2026. Opportunities include planning class-specific events, reconnecting with classmates, contributing programming ideas or assisting with day-of coordination. Your involvement—big or small—makes a difference! Interested? Contact Sarah Sterzinger, associate director of alumni engagement, at sjsterzi@buffalo.edu to learn more and sign up.

Featuring our annual Lunchtime Continuing Education Series, presented by our SPPS postgraduate residents and fellows various dates throughout the spring semester. Each activity is accredited for 1 contact hour of continuing pharmacy education. Please note all activities will be administered through our new CE platform, CE21. You will be prompted to create a CE21 account when registering.

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 March 2026 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 or submitting your SPPS news, including recent research, publications and awards.

Regards,
Gary Pollack, PhD '84
Dean and Professor