The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, in collaboration with STEM Honors Cohort students from Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, was awarded first place in the national 2018 Pharm4Me Innovation Challenge. The Pharm4Me Innovation Challenge is a national competition where high school students and pharmacy students collaborate to identify medication or health-related problems in their communities and explore innovative solutions to solve those problems.

James M. Gallo, PharmD, PhD, a leader in quantitative systems pharmacology, has been appointed as an Empire Innovation Professor to lead the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ newly funded Systems Pharmacology Initiative. In July 2017, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was awarded $1 million from the State University of New York (SUNY) Empire Innovation Program, an initiative dedicated to recruiting and retaining world-class faculty. Gallo’s hire is a strategic component of this program.

A new protein analysis tool developed by Jun Qu, PhD, professor, pharmaceutical sciences, could vastly increase the speed and precision with which disease and drug effects are analyzed. The groundbreaking tool, called IonStar, is the first to provide near-perfect accuracy when quantifying and comparing the abundance of proteins in the bodies of people who are healthy and ill.

An international university collaboration provides University at Buffalo pharmacy students and faculty with opportunities to make an impact on Jamaican healthcare education and practice. Developing global pharmacy leaders is no small task, but the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS) is accomplishing its mission through a collaboration with The University of the West Indies (UWI).

The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences hosted the 2018 Infectious Diseases Fellowship Forum June 21-23. The forum featured prestigious local and national keynote speakers, and presentations by researchers and faculty members from Wayne State University, Hartford Hospital, University of Houston, University of Rhode Island, and Midwestern University. The event took place at the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences.

Our 15th Student Scholarship Golf Tournament was held on Monday, June 11, at the Lockport Town and Country Club. Over 65 golfers participated. Pictured right are our 2018 student scholarship recipients: Lukas Brightman, '19, Jess Greger, '19, Megan O'Connor, '19, Dean James O'Donnell, Ben Do, '20, Jessica Swiderek, '20, and Syed Samad, '19 (not pictured: Marissa Guszkowski).

High school students from across the nation got a glimpse of the pharmacy profession through the third annual University at Buffalo Pharmacy Summer Institute. Over 50 students were provided with a broad scope of learning experiences, including a variety of hands-on activities, visits to local clinical practices and research labs, and lectures by UB faculty.

Alumni Ashley Woodruff, PharmD '09, Tammie Lee Demler, BS '92 & PharmD '02, Nicholas Smith, PharmD '18, MS '18 & PhD '20, and Collin Clark, PharmD '17, also spoke to the summer camp students about their careers in pharmacy and the future of the profession.

University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Clinical Research Program (CRP) students presented defenses for their theses on May 2. The CRP provides an opportunity for third and fourth year PharmD students to elevate themselves for placement in fellowships and residencies via individualized research programs focused on excellent original clinical and translational research.  

Congratulations to our 2018 residency graduates (L-R):

• Dr. Amanda Zelinski, PGY1 Community Middleport Family Health Center Resident
• Dr. Kara Wilcox, PGY1 Community Middleport Family Health Center Resident
• Dr. Emily Leppien, PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Buffalo Psychiatric Resident and Chief Resident
• Dr. Katie Frieling, PGY2 Ambulatory Care Buffalo Medical Group Resident
• Dr. Christina Kim, PGY1 Pharmacy ECMC Resident
• Dr. Sarah Mietz, PGY1 Pharmacy ECMC Resident
• Dr. Ivan Alvarez, PGY1 Managed Care BlueCross BlueShield of WNY Resident

• Nicholas Smith, PharmD '18, MS '18 & PhD '20, received the Outstanding Abstract Award at the 2018 American Society for Microbiology Microbe conference for his abstract entitled "Through the Looking-Glass of Resistance: Polymyxin Exposure and the Differentiation of Mcr-1 Populations."
• University at Buffalo team ImprobaBull Victory, including pharmacy team members Justin Goo, '19, and Marco Coiro, '22, came in second place in the national Heroes of the Dorm gaming competition.
• A group of SPPS students participated in the global knowledge contest Community WorldQuest at the International Institute of Buffalo and won the Team Spirit Award.

The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences held its Annual Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 19, 2018, where 170 PharmD, BS, BS/MS, MS and PhD students were recognized. Renee Rizzo Flemming, BS '83, was the commencement speaker. Alumnus Gordon Amidon, BS '67, William I. Higuchi Distinguished University Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Charles R. Walgreen Jr. Professor of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, received a SUNY honorary doctorate of science at the ceremony and was the keynote speaker.

The SPPS Alumni Association honored the graduating class of 2018 with a cocktail reception at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery on Thursday, May 17.

Class officers Anthony Degelorm, Britni Chehovich, Brendan Begnoche and Hao-Min Chang offered comments to their classmates and presented many of them with achievement awards. Calvin Meaney, PharmD '11, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, was presented with the Class of 2018 Faculty Recognition Award.

Dr. Thomas Madejski, a 1982 graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS), who then went to medical school in Syracuse, is the new leader of the Medical Society of the State of New York.  Madejski grew up in a family of pharmacists, many of them were UB grads.

His mother, Rose Mary Madejski, and his late father, Jan Madejski, graduated from UB SPPS in 1959. His sister, Lisa Madejski Panteli is a 1983 alumnae of SPPS, as well as his cousin, Lisa Nelson, '92.

“I think it’s been helpful in terms of practicing as a physician,” said Madejski.

Madejski this spring became president of a society that represents roughly 20,000 physicians. It is charged with defending patient rights and advancing evidence-based public health policies with lawmakers in Albany and residents across the state.

• Susan Ksiazek, BS '82, was elected president of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
• Matthew Hamed, PharmD '09, was promoted to the position of director of pharmacy for Tops Markets LLC
• Deanna Scibilia, PharmD '10, started a new position as Pharmacist at BryLin Behavioral Health System
• Amy Wojciechowski, PharmD '12, started a new position as Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship Coordinator at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
• Courtney Kelchlin, PharmD '14, started a new position as Registered Store Manager at Walgreens
• Samantha Mattison, PharmD '14, started a new position as Vice President, Quality at Avella Specialty Pharmacy
• Zackery Bulman, PharmD '15, was awarded a Center for Clinical and Translational Science 2018 KL2 Clinical and Translational Science (CATS) Scholars Award for his project “Tailored Aminoglycoside Therapy: New Strategies to Circumvent Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae.”
• N. William Bartz, PharmD/MBA '17, was promoted to Associate Manager, Compliance Monitoring and Auditing at Novo Nordisk
• Keith Dolcy, PharmD/MS '17, started a new position as Specialty Pharmacist at Walgreens
• Victoria (Wronski) Hickman, PharmD '17, was promoted to Pharmacy Manager/Supervising Pharmacist at Rite Aid

• Charles Wickes, '31
• Edward Briggs, BS '53
• Sherman Woldman, BS '53
• James Cole, BS '55
• Joseph Giglia, BS '55
• David Kass, BS '57
• Joseph Saccomanno, BS '58
• Phyllis (Wickes) Betzler, BS '60
• Joseph Rutkowski, BS '61
• Timothy Collins, BS '64
• Margaret Yang, BS '75

Karl Fiebelkorn, BS ’78 & MBA '88, Senior Associate Dean for Student, Professional and Community Affairs, was inducted into the PAWNY Hall of Fame to honor his lifelong work in the profession and the community. Christopher Daly, PharmD/MBA ‘12, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, was recognized as Pharmacist of the Year by PAWNY, for his unswerving devotion and service to the profession.

Rebecca Brierley, EdM, Assistant Dean Office of External Affairs, has been selected to receive a 2018 State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service recognizes consistently superior individuals who transcend the normal definition of excellence by repeatedly seeking to improve themselves, their campuses, and ultimately, the State University.

Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Nicole Paolini Albanese has been selected to receive a University at Buffalo 2018 Award for Teaching Innovation. The UB Teaching Innovation Award recognizes faculty members who have contributed significantly to engaging students with new methods and approaches to teaching that have enhanced student-learning outcomes.

Karl Fiebelkorn, BS ’78 & MBA ’86, senior associate dean for student, professional and community affairs, received the 2018 Cardinal Health Generation Rx Champions Award at the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY) Annual Convention, held in downtown Buffalo on June 22. He was honored for his work in fighting prescription drug abuse.

Peter Brody, BS '01 & PharmD '02, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, and Director of Experiential Education, received a $10,000 State University of New York (SUNY) Innovative Instruction Technology Grant (IITG) for his project, Examining the Validity and Reliability of a Measurement Tool to Track and Assess Experiential Education Activities.

Robert Wahler, PharmD' 00, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, is the recipient of a $20,000 SUNY IITG for his project, Development of a Micro-Credential on the Newly Developed Pharmacist Patient Care Process for Use in Pharmacy and Health Profession Programs: Promoting Patient-Centered Care.

The 10th Annual UB SPPS Preceptor Recognition Social was held on June 21 at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery. Congratulations to these exceptional preceptors:

• IPPE Outstanding Contribution Award
  Jamie Keller, PharmD '11 (Tops Pharmacy)
• Professional Practice Elective Preceptor of the Year
  Matthew Hamed, PharmD '09 (Tops Pharmacy)
• J. Fred Bennes Outpatient Care Preceptor of the Year Award
  Jill Pogodzinski, BS '99 (Kaleida Health – High Street Prescription Center)
• Inpatient Care Preceptor of the Year
  Lisa Voigt, BS '99 & PharmD '02 (Kaleida Health – Buffalo General Medical Center)
• Pharmacy Practice Faculty Preceptor of the Year
  Calvin Meaney, PharmD '11 (SUNY Buffalo / Erie County Medical Center)

William A. Prescott, Jr., PharmD ’02, clinical associate professor and interim chair, pharmacy practice, has been appointed to the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (the Journal) is the official scholarly publication of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Its purpose is to document and advance pharmaceutical education in the United States and internationally. 

Donald Mager, BS ’91, PharmD ’00 & PhD ’02, professor and vice-chair, pharmaceutical sciences, has been elected president-elect of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP) Executive Committee. Mager’s research focuses on identifying molecular and physiological factors that control the pharmacological properties of drugs, with a focus on anti-cancer and immunomodulatory agents. He has contributed to over 130 peer-reviewed publications.

• David Jacobs, PharmD '11, PhD '18, was hired as Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, effective July 1, 2018.
• James M. Gallo, PharmD, PhD, has been appointed as an Empire Innovation Professor to lead the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ newly funded Systems Pharmacology Initiative.
• Edward Bednarczyk, BS '84, Director, Center for Health Outcomes, Pharmacoinformatics and Epidemiology, was interviewed by WGRZ-TV to get his take on what New York State's marijuana report means for the public's health and safety.

Thank you for reading our Summer 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 fall.

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