The University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences held its 2021 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 15. The outdoor, limited capacity event took place on the UB North Campus. 156 degrees were conferred:

• 118 Doctor of Pharmacy
• 12 Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
• 16 Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
  
• 10 Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences

• SUNY Distinguished Professor William Jusko, BS '65, PhD '70, was profiled in The Pharmacologist for his pioneering efforts in the field of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD).
  
• Professor Sathy Balu-Iyer, PhD, received an investment from the Empire Discovery Institute to develop an immunotherapy platform that could improve treatment outcomes for patients receiving gene therapy for rare disease conditions such as hemophilia and Pompe disease.
  
• SUNY Distinguished Professor Gene Morse, BS '80, PharmD '83, was featured in an article in The Buffalo News discussing how researchers in Western New York worked together to help the region--and the world--during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Clinical Associate Professor Nicole Paolini Albanese, PharmD, was commended by the ACCP Series Editors of the Ambulatory Care Self-Assessment Program for her outstanding contributions towards publication of the home-study series for ambulatory care pharmacists.
• Clinical Assistant Professor Erin Slazak, PharmD ’04, has been elected Chair-elect of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Self-Care/Nonprescription Medicine Special Interest Group (SIG).
• Clinical Associate Professor Nicole Paolini Albanese, PharmD, and Associate Director of Admissions and Advisement Sara Robinson received Honorable Mentions for SPPS Educator of the Year.
  

• Brenda Basile, PharmD '16, was hired as a Research Scientist in the Department of Pharmacy Practice on April 19, 2021.
• Edward Russak, senior research scientist, pharmacy practice, retired on March 31, 2021.
• Mary Lou Bodniak, research technician, pharmacy practice, retired on March 31, 2021.

Kathryn Gentz, PharmD/MBA '22, was chosen for the Western New York Prosperity Fellowship for the third time in a row. The Fellowship Program assists undergraduate and graduate students at UB and Canisius College who are actively preparing for careers that further economic development and growth in the Western New York area.

Gentz was also featured in a Buffalo Business First article about broadening her horizons in the field of pharmacy. In addition to working towards her PharmD/MBA degree, she became part of the WNY Prosperity Fellowship program, did a year’s graduate assistantship in UB’s Blackstone Launchpad powered by Techstars initiative, completed an internship at Circuit Clinical and is now employed at Praxis Communications as a clinical trial protocol analyst, blending the business and clinical side of healthcare.

The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, is partnering with the University at Buffalo, for a variety of free virtual alumni events June 1-6, 2021.

A Virtual Golden Reunion event for 50+ year classes is also being held on June 4, with a special breakout session for pharmacy alumni.

• Pine Pharmaceuticals, owned by Alfonse Muto, Sr., BS '83, and Alfonse Muto, Jr., PharmD '08, broke ground on an $8.6 million, 50,000-square-foot expansion, with completion expected by January 2022. The new space will allow the company to bring more quality assurance and testing back in-house that are now outsourced, which should allow for greater oversight and cost savings.
  
• Joseph Bertino, BS '78, received the 2021 ACCP Nathaniel T. Kwit Memorial Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his accomplishments in the field of clinical pharmacology.
• Michelle Lewis, PharmD '04, was appointed to the New York State Board of Pharmacy.
• Nabila Ismail, PharmD '19, joined Forbes magazine as a contributing writer. She is also the host of The GoodPharmacists Podcast, which highlights the unique skills, opportunities, and challenges of the profession.
  

• Allan Smith, BS '51
• Milner Forster, BS '52
• William John Hill, BS '53
• Anthony Barone, BS '57
• Carl Dobozin, BS '58
• Roger Emblidge, BS '59

Thank you for reading our Spring 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.

It has been a pleasure sharing our school’s successes with you these past seven-and-a-half years.

Regards,
James M. O’Donnell, PhD
Dean and Professor