Our 2018 Awards Ceremony took place on Wednesday, April 11, at the Center for Tomorrow on UB's North Campus.

Kimberly Zammit, BS ’86 & PharmD ‘00, received the 2018 Willis G. Gregory Memorial Award, in recognition of her service and leadership as well as her innovative clinical practice.

Mark Stramaglia, BS '81, received the 2018 Orville C. Baxter Memorial Professional Practice Award, in recognition of his impact on the profession of pharmacy and his support of UB and the school.

Amy Shaver, MPH '17, PharmD '18, received the United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award in recognition of her significant contributions to public health by promoting wellness and healthy communities.

The University at Buffalo has received a $1.1 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Center to lead the training of 15 scientists from Jamaica and the Caribbean in viral infection research. The five-year grant will establish the Global Infectious Diseases Research Training Program, a research collaboration between the UB Center for Integrated Global Biomedical Sciences (led by SUNY Distinguished Professor Gene Morse, BS '80, PharmD '83), University of the West Indies, State University of New York Upstate Medical University and Jamaica Ministry of Health.

Juliane Nguyen, assistant professor, pharmaceutical sciences, received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award, the agency’s most prestigious honor for early-career faculty. The five-year grant, worth nearly $505,000, will support Nguyen’s work to develop methods that help large molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, penetrate the cellular membrane.

Nguyen also received a Bruce Holm Memorial Catalyst Fund award for $33,000 in support of her project titled “EXO-Codes: A highly Efficient Platform for Loading Exosomes with Chemical and Biological Agents.” The Bruce Holm Memorial Catalyst Fund, based in the University at Buffalo’s Office of Science Technology and Transfer, supports commercializing inventions and discoveries of University at Buffalo faculty and students.

William J. Jusko, BS '65, PhD '70, SUNY Distinguished Professor, pharmaceutical sciences, received the 2018 Oscar B. Hunter Career Award in Therapeutics from the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT). The award recognizes Jusko, an internationally renowned leader in the field of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, for his eminent career in pharmaceutical research, patient care and education.

Rachael Cardinal, '18, is the recipient of a 2018 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. She was given the award on April 10 by SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson at an awards ceremony in Albany. The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recognizes students who have best demonstrated, and have been recognized for, the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement or career achievement.

Pharmaceutical sciences student Jackie Gonya received an Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity at the University at Buffalo Celebration of Academic Excellence. Her poster, titled "Developing a CXCR4-Targeting Antibody Fragment for Specific Targeting of Cancer Cells," highlighted her research on a new fusion protein that can not only detect breast cancer cells but also deliver a small RNA with anti-cancer activity.

Pharmaceutical sciences student Nicole Jarvi also won an Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creativity for her poster titled "Biophysical Characterization of Tolerogenic Nanoparticles Containing Recombinant Acid Alpha-Glucosidase," which displayed her research on a novel reverse vaccination strategy using lipidic nanoparticles containing the tolerogenic phospholipid lysophosphatidylserine to induce tolerance to recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase in a mouse model of Pompe disease.

Nicholas Smith, PharmD '18, MS '18 & PhD '20, received a "Young Investigator Session Award" at the International Society of Anti-Infective Pharmacology meeting, and a "Young Investigator Award" at the 3rd International Polymyxins Conference in Madrid, for his research on pharmacodynamic modeling approaches to define the optimal dosing of polymyxin-containing regimens against carbapenem-resistant A. baumanii.

Olivia Dioguardi, '18, was selected for a competitive Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) headquarters in Washington, DC. She is rotating in the governance department, where she has the opportunity to sit with the leaders of APhA (including Dr. Edward Bednarczyk, President of APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science) to discuss the strategic direction and policy initiatives of the organization. 

University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences students won both main competitions at the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY) Mid-Winter Conference in Albany. The Student Poster Competition was won by Alison Oddi, '20, and Kevin Lavery, '19, for “Community Pharmacists’ Perception of Medication Indication Inclusion on Electronic Prescriptions in Relation to Patient Consultation and Pharmacy Workflow.” The PSSNY Business Plan Competition was won by Husain Ahmed, '19, Omar Marzouk, '20, Melanie Ngoc Hanh Nguyen, '20, and Mercede Siu, '20. 

University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences student representatives from the Student Pharmacists' Society of the State of New York (SPSSNY) and the Student Pharmacists' Association of Western New York (SPAWNY) traveled to Albany on April 17 to advocate for the profession of pharmacy. Students focused on three bills: A2857-C (pharmacy interns as immunizers), A4611-B (pharmacy technician registration) and A8664-A (comprehensive medication management).

The UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Halfway Gala was held on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery in downtown Buffalo. This annual event raises money for a charity chosen by the second-year class. This year, the class chose Harvest House of WNY to receive the nearly $1,000 raised. 

The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences held its 14th Annual Resident Project Presentation Day on Thursday, April 12. Fifty residents participated, representing SPPS, Kaleida Health, Upstate Medical University Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center (including Highland Hospital), WNY VA Medical Center, Syracuse VA Medical Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital Center/Syracuse, and Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Eight SPPS Scholars Program students, under the leadership of Erin Slazak, PharmD '04, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, also presented research posters.

The Rho Chi Honor Society inducted 28 new members at its annual ceremony, and also installed new officers. Congratulations to President Atul Dilawri, '20, Vice-President Monica Lee, '20, Treasurer Hannah Lu, '20, and Secretary Anna Mak, '20.

Class of 2019 students Yingping Li, Cynthia Mgbeojirikwe, Jingwen Zhang and Taoran Wang participated in the 2018 MEDISCA Student Pharmacist Compounding Competition. The competition provides an educational experience for student pharmacists and offer exposure to the pharmaceutical compounding industry. Student participants benefit from the unique opportunity to learn the key elements of a high quality compounding pharmacy practice, network with esteemed industry professionals, and develop essential skills in pharmaceutical compounding to meet the growing needs of the patient population.

• Sarah Dascanio, '18, accepted a two-year Global Engagement Fellowship at the University of North Carolina, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, in Chapel Hill, NC.
• The UB chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) placed in the top five in the national Operation Immunization 60-Second Video Competition for their video on the flu vaccine.

Gordon L. Amidon, BS '67, will receive a SUNY honorary doctorate of science at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ commencement ceremony on May 19. Amidon has been called a true visionary in the pharmaceutical sciences for his sophisticated research, most notably in the area of oral drug absorption. Amidon was also recently awarded the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA-APRS) Takeru Higuchi Research Prize, which recognizes the highest accomplishments in pharmaceutical sciences and is international in scope and stature.

University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences alumna Margaret McGlynn, BS '82, was one of 29 change-makers celebrated by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, as part of the organization’s 2018 Influential Leaders Challenge. Launched in 2015, the initiative honors notable alumni from AACSB-accredited schools whose inspiring work serves as a model for the next generation of business leaders.

Gayle A. Brazeau, PhD '89, a longtime pharmacy educator and former dean at the University of New England (UNE) College of Pharmacy in Portland, Maine, has been named dean of the Marshall University School of Pharmacy, effective May 12. Brazeau is currently a professor in the department of pharmaceutical sciences at UNE. Prior to joining the faculty in Maine, she was an associate dean for academic affairs at the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• Thank you to the alumni who participated in our spring pre-pharmacy panel: Kristen Fodero, PharmD '14, Deanna Scibilia, PharmD '10, Tina Fiebelkorn, BS '79, and Stefan Brand, BS '94.
• Peter Fendt, PharmD/MBA '16, was promoted to Manager, Global Market Insights, at Celgene.
• Amy Lee, PharmD '15, was appointed to the ASHP Advocacy and PAC Advisory Committee for 2018-2019.
• Ryan O'Laughlin, PharmD '15, was hired as a Staff Pharmacist at Fidelis Care.
• Alexander Schepart, PharmD/MBA '14, was promoted to Director of Medical Affairs, US Health, at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.
• Brian Salvas, PharmD '11, was promoted to Director of Customer and Colleague Strategy, Retail Pharmacy Operations, at CVS Health.
• Eliza Pei-Suen Tsou, PhD '08, was named the first Edward T. and Ellen K. Dryer Early Career Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Michigan Medical School.
• Matthew Zak, PharmD '06, was appointed by the New York State Council of Health-system Pharmacists Board of Directors as Director of Chapter Services.
• Curtis Haas, PharmD '89, was named Editor-in-Chief for the Pharmacy Times Health-System Edition.
• Tom Madejski, BS '82, was installed as president of the Medical Society of the State of New York.
• Patricia Kroboth, '71, received the 2018 American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Outstanding Dean Award.

• Stanley Tefft, '24
• George Matthews, '48
• Gerald Greenspan, '52
• Seth Siskin, '52
• Hedy Ertman, '53
• Judith Cardoni, '66
• David Lalka, '74

The University of Michigan and the University at Buffalo partnered to present the Third International Conference on Polymyxins in Madrid, Spain, April 25-26, 2018. Brian Tsuji, PharmD, professor, pharmacy practice, was a co-director for the conference. He also presented “Polymyxin PK/PD: To Infinity and Beyond,” as part of the “Next Generation PK/PD/TD” session. Tsuji’s leadership at the conference supports research work in his Laboratory for Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics, where he and his team design novel research approaches to combat bacterial resistance.

Calvin Meaney, PharmD ’11, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, has received a 2018 New Investigator Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. The award is in support of Meaney’s research project titled, “Personalized Erythropoiesis in Hemodialysis Patients: The Novel PREDHICT Tool.”

Edward Bednarczyk, BS '84, director, Center for Health Outcomes, Pharmacoinformatics and Epidemiology, was sworn in to the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Board of Trustees as president of the APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA-APRS) for the 2018-2019 term. APhA-APRS stimulates the discovery, dissemination and application of research to improve patient health and serves pharmacists and those members who are involved in the pharmaceutical sciences.

Clinical Assistant Professors of Pharmacy Practice Robert Wahler, PharmD '00, and Scott Monte, PharmD '06, are co-investigators on a $35,000 grant awarded by the University at Buffalo Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development from the Innovative Micro-Programs Accelerating Collaboration in Themes (IMPACT). The grant supports a multidisciplinary proposal titled “Collaborative Drug Safety Management with Frail Elders and Caregivers for Successful Aging." 

David Jacobs, PharmD ’11, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, received the Buffalo Translational Consortium (BTC) Mentored Career Development Award for his project entitled, “A pilot study to evaluate objective assessment tools to improve medication management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.” The award provides research training and mentoring, and Jacobs will receive support for research, tuition and travel costs for up to two years.

It is with great sadness we share with you the passing of Ann Triggle, past instructor of pharmacy and wife of our former Dean, Dr. David Triggle.  Ann took a leadership role in the development and implementation of our pharmacy museum and turn-of-the-century Apothecary and was an active member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Pharmacists Association of Western New York (PAWNY) and the UB Women’s Club. She was a valued member of the UB SPPS family and she will be missed.

The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS) has formed new collaborative agreements with Onondaga Community College, Jefferson Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Cayuga Community College, and Jamestown Community College. The 2+4 agreements allow students to complete two years of undergraduate study at State University of New York (SUNY) community colleges in an associate’s degree program and then apply to UB’s PharmD program. 

• Jun Qu: Promoted to Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, effective July 1, 2018 
  
• Brian Tsuji: Promoted to Professor of Pharmacy Practice, effective July 1, 2018 
  
• Dhaval Shah: Promoted to Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, effective July 1, 2018
  
• Cynthia Acara: Staff assistant, admissions, retired May 2018
  
• Carol Fritsch: Administrative assistant, pharmaceutical sciences, retired Feb. 2018

• Jun Qu, PhD, associate professor, pharmaceutical sciences, is co-investigator on a $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study potential treatment strategies for retinitis pigmentosa. Read more about the grant.
• Dhaval K. Shah, PhD '10, assistant professor, pharmaceutical sciences, has joined the Science Advisory Board at Applied BioMath, an industry-leader in applying mechanistic modeling, simulation, and analysis to drug research and development. Read more about the advisory board.

Thank you for reading our Spring 2018 edition of Buffalo Pharmacy eNotes. Please stay in touch! Send us updates on your own personal and professional accomplishments by filling out our alumni update form.

Look for our next edition of eNotes this summer.

Best regards,
James M. O’Donnell, PhD
Dean and Professor