Mitochondrial dysfunction in vulnerable neurons in the brain can be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain misunderstood. 

Ying Xu, MD, PhD, research associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, has received a $3.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health National Institute on Aging to deepen the understanding of how phosphodiesterases (PDEs), in particular PDE2A, regulate cognition.

• Nicholas Fusco, PharmD '10, clinical associate professor, pharmacy practice, received the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Pediatric Practice and Research Network (PRN) Chair Award. This award is given annually to a member of the PRN who has made sustained contributions to ACCP and the Pediatric PRN.
  
• Brian Tsuji, PharmD, Professor and Associate Dean, Clinical and Translational Sciences, received the Editor’s Choice Award from Pharmacotherapy for his paper International consensus guidelines for the optimal use of the polymyxins. Recipients of this award are selected by the editor-in-chief of Pharmacotherapy and has the support of the scientific editors and board members. 
  
• Nicholas Smith, BS ’15, PharmD ’18, MS ’18 and PhD ’21, assistant professor, pharmacy practice, is the recipient of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for his project titled “Establishing Next Generation Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Incorporating Special Patient Populations and Mechanism-based Pharmacodynamics."
  
• Nicole Cieri-Hutcherson, PharmD '10, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, was re-elected as the New York State Council of Health-System Pharmacists (NYSCHP) Director of Education and Professional Development.
  
• Robert Wahler, PharmD '00, clinical associate professor, pharmacy practice, was elected to the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists (SPPCP) Executive Officers as the incoming treasurer.
• Amanda Foster, postdoctoral associate, pharmacy practice, Christopher Daly, PharmD/MBA '12, clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, and David Jacobs, PharmD '11, PhD '18, assistant professor, pharmacy practice, had their abstract “A Novel Social Determinant of Health Program Integrated into Community Pharmacy Settings” accepted for presentation at the Annual Research Day of the UB Community Health Equity Research Institute. 
  

On August 26, eighty-eight PharmD students took their first step toward becoming pharmacists when they participated in the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Annual White Coat Ceremony, in Slee Hall.

The school’s new dean, Gary M. Pollack, PhD ’84, was the invited speaker and offered encouragement to the future pharmacists. “There is no better time to be entering the profession of pharmacy or the sciences that compose pharmacy right now,” he said. 

PharmD and Pharmaceutical Sciences students also attended a variety of orientation programs to learn about school policies, spend time with student organizations representatives, and meet with faculty and staff who will help support their academic journey.  

• Ali Zahid, PharmD '22, was appointed Member-at-Large for the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) National Student Network Advisory Committee. Members of this committee have an integral role in the development of new programs and services for student members.
• Aleksandra Lomakina, PharmD '22, and Drake Meaney, PharmD '22, won the local Student Society of Health System Pharmacists (SSHP) Clinical Skills Competition. They will go on to represent UB SPPS at the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear National Clinical Skills Competition.
• Olivia Denny, PharmD '22, received a Kruse Memorial Scholarship Award. This scholarship is awarded to eligible Allied Health Professional applicants in their final year of training who have rotations scheduled/completed at Cleveland Clinic.

The classes of 1960, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 1995, 2005, 2006 and 2011 were warmly welcomed back to campus to celebrate their reunion with highly anticipated in-person events. The weekend kicked off with guided tours of the Pharmacy Building and UB’s South Campus, followed by UB’s Homecoming football game. The festivities concluded with a cocktail reception. 

• Clark Potter, BS '52
• Irwin Woldman, BS '55
• Paras Parekh, BS '96

• Joseph Twist, BS '75, gave a presentation entitled Career Opportunities for Pharmacists in the Pharmaceutical Industry on October 27, as part of the UB SPPS Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO) fall speaker series.
  
• Heidi Polek, BS '89, was recognized by Drug Store News as a Top Woman in Health, Wellness and Beauty. Polek is a clinical subject matter expert at Dr. First and has 30 years of experience in the retail pharmacy sector and pharmaceutical industry.

Thank you for reading our Fall 2021 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.

Regards,
Gary Pollack, PhD '84
Dean and Professor