Community Students Public Health
Based on the expressions from the elementary students in the room it looked like all fun and games. But as lighthearted as the event was, becoming a '"Pharmacist for a Day” held a serious message.
The best part about being a student at CU Pharmacy is the ample opportunities we are granted through school. We have access to renowned preceptors and diverse experiences for our Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations. I was lucky enough to have my elective APPE rotation with Gina Moore, PharmD, and Emily Zadvorny, PharmD, legislative chair/past president and current Executive Director of Colorado Pharmacists Society (CPS), respectively. This rotation was certainly unconventional being that it was not clinical at all, but rather policy and advocacy focused.
During their fourth year, all CU Pharmacy students participate in a series of six-week Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE). P4 Chase Allen spent his APPE working in an underserved rural hospital in Trinidad, Colorado. Listen to Chase share his experience from helping to redesign the new in-patient/out-patient pharmacy to lots of free minor league baseball and the best fajitas in the state!
As a second-year pharmacy student, we complete our first hospital health system experience of our pharmacy career (as part of the CU Pharmacy Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience, IPPE). I am very passionate about rural pharmacy and so I matched to do this rotation experience in Salida, CO at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC).
The University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy announced that it is joining the RAPID Alliance Medications 360 Study, with a goal of transforming how medications and vaccines are delivered in the US from 2022 – 2031. The RAPID Alliance is a multi-stakeholder research consortium founded in the University of Louisville Center for Health Organization Transformation (CHOT), a National Science Foundation-funded research center.
Research Faculty Pharmaceutical Sciences
It's been said that two heads are better than one. That adage is especially true when it comes to scientific research and harnessing some of the most brilliant minds in the field. That collaborative spirit of discovery is the inspiration behind the Skaggs Scholars Program established in 2011.
Assistant Professor Ashley Glode, PharmD, BCOP, was named a 2020 Advocacy Champion by the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) during the Association’s 2021 Advocacy Summit in April. Advocacy Champions are ASCO volunteers who have made meaningful contributions to ASCO’s advocacy activities throughout the year to ensure that every patient with cancer has access to high-quality, high-value cancer care, no matter who they are or where they live.
Former employee of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Thomas G. Arthur, passed away April 3, 2021. Arthur joined the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy in 1979, as the Clinical Externship Coordinator, where he worked for the School until leaving the position in 1987. Aurthur, along with Dean Robert Piepho, PhD, helped pave the way for what is now the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the School of Pharmacy.
A new study by R. Brett McQueen, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, supports expanding coverage of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to pregnant women less than 35 years of age.
When I decided to pursue a career in pharmacy, I didn’t anticipate that policy would be a significant part of this path. However, nearly every national pharmacy society has an operation focusing on policy, and we are often reminded how important it is for pharmacists to advocate for their profession and their patients. That is why I signed up for a day at the Denver capitol building with fellow pharmacy, nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, public health, and other healthcare professional students for CU AMC Advocacy Day.
Sara Azimi comes from a family of medical professionals and CU alums who have helped her determine a career path that is right for her. While both of her parents and sister are in the physical therapy field, and her brothers are physicians, Sara has chosen a different healthcare path. She will be entering CU Skaggs' PharmD program in the fall of 2018 to pursue her dream of becoming a pharmacist.
Sue and Tim Mead (CU Pharmacy alums '79 and '75 respectively), together with their daughters, have built a strong family bond by building houses for others. "In addition to learning how to roof, stucco and cut wood, the experience taught us how to give back, to see that we are part of a bigger world, and to reflect on how much we have," says Sue Mead.
In the far southwest corner of Colorado sits the charming and mountain-encased town of Durango. The breathtaking landscape and friendly residents alone warrant enough enticement to rank this location as a rotation site, but the experiences I have gained at Rivergate Pharmacy and Animas Internal Medicine were the most fulfilling aspects.
The building seemed more exquisite up close than it was from the long distance that I was used to seeing it. The many walls of glass were a vision of innovation, and the renaissance-like structures dotting the exterior landscape of the building paid a respect to tradition. I'd like to think that the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is innovative, yet values tradition.
February 22-24 marked the 2018 Colorado HOSA State Leadership Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Stapleton, CO. The annual event attracts high school students interested in healthcare careers and encourages them to participate in a variety of educational sessions to improve their skills regarding the healthcare setting.
Our talented faculty are working to solve some of the country's most pressing health issues, including the widespread opioid epidemic. In the U.S. last year, more than 63,000 people died of a drug overdose, with opioids involved in 75 percent of those deaths. the crisis also hits close to home,, with at least 504 deaths in Colorado caused by opioid overdose.
Faculty Pharmaceutical Sciences
Faculty member Manisha Patel, PhD, has joined the Board of Directors of the American Epilepsy Society (AES), a medical and scientific society with 4,000 members. Dr. Patel assumed her new position at the end of the society's annual meeting, December 1 -5, in Washington, D.C.
Skaggs numbers soar
Pharmacy school celebrates high-quality programs, successful recruitment
There’s good news to share from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CU Pharmacy). Applicant numbers at CU Pharmacy rose 30 percent for the incoming class of 2017, even as applications to pharmacy programs nationwide are down 3 percent.
Faculty member Jacci Bainbridge, PharmD, together with Clinical Neurology Research Fellow Matt Makelky, PharmD, are currently studying cannabis and its effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions including back pain, Parkinson’s tremor and seizure disorders in children.
Some of the first prospective cannabis trials on the Anschutz Medical Campus “Will hopefully help determine the cannabis’ effectives in treating these types of disorders, side effects and dosing levels,” says Jacci Bainbridge.
At the CU Anschutz 5th Annual Block Party, pop rock bands Wildermiss and iZCALLi blasted their tunes from the center of Bonfils Circle into the ears of hundreds of people swarming 20 food trucks and 130 booths. Students, faculty, parents, and kids flocked to the Skaggs School of Pharmacy booth, lured by the sweet scents of essential oils, and the promise of custom-scented hand lotion. From the classic scents like lavender and patchouli, to the more exotic scents like Tobacco & Rum and Pancake Syrup, attendees left with a self-compounded jar of lotion, big smiles, and a better understanding of what pharmacists actually do.
Many people have rushed to the aid of Houston citizens in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, including many UCHealth employees. One such volunteer is pulmonary nurse Rachel Kuker who was featured in Katie Kerwin McCrimmon's article, CE helps nurse during Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
For Nigerian pharmacists Titilayo Fakeye and Omolola Nwokoma coming to America to participate in the FIP foundation's Pharmabridge program at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy for one month has been "without reservation -- great."
Used in Native American healing, some compounds in pungent plant stronger than available pharmaceutical treatments.
The pharmacist has changed from a product-centered expert to a more global patient care health professional. In the past, pharmacists were required to learn about the medication, how to prepare it and how to educate the patient. Currently, there are a number of skills to acquire in order to be a proficient clinical pharmacist. These include: critical thinking, ethical decision making, literature analysis, communication skills, cultural sensitivity, inter-professional collaboration and a sense of continuous professional development.
The generations have also changed. Millennials (born 1982-2002) are asking a lot of questions and require a cause to be motivated.
At the age of 17, it's not easy deciding on a career pathway. At that time, I was interested in finding out about medications, though. I wanted to be somewhat like my mother who is a physician in Egypt. I liked the way she knew what she was doing when anyone was sick. She would provide advice and make decisions when it was related to us getting sick or anyone else in the family or neighbors.
I entered pharmacy school (which in my country only requires a bachelor's degree). I asked so many questions and nothing motivated me.
"Ever since I was 16 I wanted to go to med school," says second-year pharmacy student Miya Holley. Being diagnosed with Type I diabetes at 16 allowed Holley to see more of the system, "especially from a patient's perspective and it interested me."
Like many undergraduate students, Holley fumbled around with a variety of majors and finally settled on microbiology.
It's hard to believe that recent CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy graduate Adam McHenry was ever a problem child. As an eighth grader, McHenry was a handful. "I didn't care if I was in class or not. I hung out with the wrong crowd," says McHenry.
One day, the school called his parents and told them that they had not seen him for a while. "The next month, my parents enrolled me in a Lutheran school. It turned my life around."
"Having my daughter and I obtain doctorates at the same time is a seminal moment," says Maumi Villarreal. She and her husband, Daniel, are both first generation college graduates and have modeled a college education to their daughters -- Sarah and Chelsea. "Our parents are very proud of us," says Villarreal.
Villarreal passed on her love of pharmacy to her eldest daughter, when Sarah would help her mom at the local ASHP meetings.
Thousands of high school students interested in health care careers descended upon Disney World and became more acquainted with pharmacy during International HOSA's (Health Occupations Students of America) annual conference in Orlando. CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy featured prominently in various activities, including a popular interactive exhibit and five workshops.
Can you imagine total silence or hearing only muffled conversations? "You adapt," says recent CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy graduate Lauren Kirchner. "But there is an advantage. Patients think I am really engaging with them because I am concentrating on their lips and hearing what they have to say."
And in a career that requires patient interaction, being attentive is a plus.
Creator and host of the Talk Pharmacy podcast, Ahsun Babalmorad is a natural when it comes to interviewing his subjects. The program, which airs on iTunes, provides listeners with interviews of students and faculty, offering insights into the world of pharmacy and the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy.
Of Iranian heritage, Babalmorad comes by his ability to talk -- and more importantly to listen -- naturally. His father worked for an American oil company prior to the Iranian revolution in the 1970s and was sent to study engineering in the US. While here, the revolution broke out back home, so his father and mother decided to stay and raise a family. "At that time, my parents saw more opportunity in the US than in their home country," says Babalmorad, a first generation American and Colorado native.
After attaining his bachelor of biomedical sciences from Western Michigan, Ross Osgood took some time off to figure out what he really wanted to do.
“I was kind of on a pre-med track,” says Osgood.
“I bounced around between med school, dental and PA programs – not really feeling like any of them were the right fit.” So, he shadowed dentists and worked in a nursing home, but still was unconvinced that any of those allied health care careers were right for him. “But when I started doing research, it just clicked.”
During the year between undergrad and grad school, he missed the deadline to sign up for dental school, so he joined Americorps instead.
Whitney Pittman's career path seems pre-ordained.
When she was 10 years old, a classmate and friend was diagnosed with a brain tumor. At age 15, her friend died. "It was the first time I had ever heard the word cancer and that really left an imprint on me," says Pittman.
"Since high school I knew I wanted a career in health care, specifically pediatric oncology," says Pittman.
Today, the University of Colorado Anschutz celebrated graduating its 10,000th student in the health and health care disciplines since relocating to its present campus in 2009. And, brothers Jonathan and Jefferey Chheuy, who graduated from CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences were two of them.
Born just 13 months apart, the Chheuy brothers are very close, and that's a good thing since the two have been confused with each other their entire lives.
MaLaura Creager has experienced quite a lot in her life. She and her brother are the first in their family to obtain bachelors’ degrees. And, MaLaura will be the first to attain her Doctor of Pharmacy degree when she graduates from CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy later this week. “My family is so, so proud,” says Creager, who will have her own cheering section at Commencement when 20 family members descend on Colorado to share her excitement. “They are so impressed that I will be a pharmacist.”
For Creager, the mantra “it’s not if you go to college, but when” that many families embrace was not reality.
The state of Colorado and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are joining forces to fight prescription drug abuse and the opioid epidemic, with the state allocating $1 million to the university to create a new center that will focus on the crisis.
The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is the result of Senate Bill 17-193, which Gov. John Hickenlooper signed on May 18.
$1 million from marijuana tax cash fund establishes the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Anschutz Medical Campus
At my internship I shadow a lot of people. Many of them pharmacists, but some of them are researchers like James Griffon. I was in Dr. Simberg’s research laboratory shadowing James and I watched him go about his daily duties. The lab is a very different environment compared to some of the other settings I have shadowed. I always find my lab experience to be fun and relaxing. James is always doing something , so consequently, I'm always seeing something. Whether it be old or new, I find the lab work to be interesting. This time James was working with mice skin and freeze it on dry ice so that later they can slice it and get pictures of cells. He also transferred some cancer cells into new media, which kills an enzyme that attacks and kills the cancer cells.
I am Joshua Lucero and I want to be an educated drug dealer. Okay, so what I mean is that I want to be a pharmacist. I recently had the opportunity to participate in an executive internship program through Pickens Technical College and my high school in Aurora -- Rangeview. Because of my interests in pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and bioengineering I was paired with the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. In my internship I learned that there is a lot more to being a pharmacist than just counting pills.
James Roede among five early career scientists selected as ONES to watch
Recently, five researchers from universities throughout the country were selected as recipients of the competitive NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) Outstanding New Environmental Health Science (ONES) awards. Faculty member James Roede was part of this illustrious group.
According to Roede, “This award gives me the opportunity to become truly independent and carve out my own niche in environmental health sciences.”
On April 8, CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy hosted its Spring Interview Day, titled Hire CU Pharmacy. Twelve employers representing industry, retail and hospital environments were on site interviewing 80 students and alumni for a variety of positions. Two-hundred and five interviews were conducted in six hours and five offers were extended on-the-spot! Employer surveys indicated that 80% plan to extend an offer to a candidate they interviewed.
Fourth-year student Anna Zhou, recalls her latest rotation experience. And as she notes, sometimes "rural" in Colorado, is an upscale ski town.
The anticoagulation clinic at Vail is a great rotation experience, and I would recommend it to any student looking to fulfill their underserved rotation requirement. You will be traveling between Vail, Edwards, and Eagle (all within 15-30 minutes of each other) and seeing Coumadin patients on your own.
Opening March 31, the Masterworks Exhibit showcases paintings and drawings from impressionist masters such as Monet, Cassatt, Renoir, Pissarro, as well as modern work from artists such as Picasso. The exhibit is free to the public and runs from March 31 - May 24, weekdays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Fulginiti Art Gallery on the Anschutz Medical Campus. The Mowers agreed to exhibit their art after speaking with their daughter, Robin, who is a clinical oncology pharmacist and graduate of the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
As a senior from Rangeview High School I never thought I would be fortunate enough to have the opportunity to intern at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy. I worked with Kim Wisneski from the Pickens Technical College’s Executive Internship Program to intern at the school. However, if it wasn’t for Dana Brandorff and the faculty I shadowed, there would be no way that I would have been able to participate in such a great internship.
Strengthening exemptions could boost vaccination coverage, reduce costs
States with weaker non-medical exemption policies for vaccinations can reduce the likelihood of a measles outbreak 140 to 190 percent by strengthening them, a new study from CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty member, Jon Campbell, PhD, show.
Approximately 750 high school and post-secondary students from around the state of Colorado recently participated in a state conference organized by the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). Among the 15 exhibitors representing health science related organizations was the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Christina Aquilante, PharmD, was struck by many things during a recent trip to Egypt. Foremost was the profound thirst for knowledge displayed by students and health providers who enrolled in Aquilante’s intensive weeklong course on pharmacogenomics.
“It was probably one of the best experiences of my career. The folks just wanted to learn so much,” said, Aquilante, associate professor with CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. “I could have stayed probably 10 hours a day and they would have kept asking questions. They have such dedication and passion for taking care of their pediatric patients.”
Fox 31's Macradee Aegerter reports on the pros and cons of supplements. Aegerter interviewed faculty member Gina Moore, PharmD, about this $20 billion industry, while staff member Dana Brandorff recounts her personal experience with supplements.
As reported by Jenny Brown in the Feb. 27 edition of the Denver Post, "Colorado pharmacists soon can begin prescribing oral contraceptives under a new protocol that will provide unprecedented access to birth control in this state.
"Women who are at least 18 can complete a questionnaire, blood-pressure check and a 10- to 15-minute consultation with a pharmacist, then walk out with birth-control pills or patches, under new rules set in motion by a 2016 state law with bipartisan support. Colorado is just the third state with such access, joining Oregon and California.
On January 18th, the Student Winter Symposium took place at CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The involvement of the graduate students of the three PhD programs (Pharmaceutical sciences, Toxicology, Pharmaceutical outcomes research) at the School, as well as from the PharmD program was outstanding.
In his ninth installment, P-4 Ahsun Babalmorad interviews fellow fourth-year student Adam McHenry about compounding and research he is working on.
Movers and shakers behind a new state law aimed at enhancing partnerships between pharmacists and medical providers and easing healthcare access for patients across Colorado are working hard, hoping their long hours will help ensure the progressive regulation’s long-term success.
Senate Bill 16-135, signed into law in June, took effect Aug. 10, but requires the drafting and widespread approval of highly specific statewide protocols to move forward. Surveys have gone out to pharmacists and medical providers across the state seeking their input with these protocols, designed to allow pharmacists to directly provide, and potentially gain reimbursement for, more patient services.
Faculty member Gina Moore, PharmD, joins 9NEWS at noon Feb. 14 to discuss how a new initiative will allow women in Colorado to get easier access to birth control.
Starting in March, women won't need a doctor to be prescribed oral contraceptives -- at least not at first. They can get a prescription from their pharmacist.
Ellen Fulp, PharmD, believes that CU's new palliative care program is just what the doctor ordered! Working for a hospice pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company in North Carolina specializing in geriatrics, Ellen Fulp, PharmD, sees a lot of patients who are dealing with life-limiting illnesses. These same folks are usually taking multiple medications. “I love what I do, but so much of it I learned on the job, and not during pharmacy school,” says Fulp. “As a pharmacy student, I didn’t get a lot of information on ending meds or withholding or removing therapy… and so frequently that’s what we are faced with as pharmacists specializing in geriatrics and hospice care,” Fulp laments. From her experience, the palliative care approach is “hope for the best, plan for the worst.”
“I never thought I had an entrepreneurial bone in my body. Boy, was I wrong,” says alumna Mei Tang, PharmD ’07.
As a working pharmacist specializing in hospital pharmacy and managed care pharmacy, Tang decided to pursue her PharmD through CU’s distance program and attained her doctorate in ’07. “I worked and lived in Michigan full-time, so a distance program was really the only option. It was a perfect match for my situation and the right fit for me. It was a tremendous step forward in my career,” says Tang.
Following a grueling first-year residency, some pharmacy post-graduates might seek out an opportunity to downshift and relax.
But for Skaggs alumna Adrienne Kercsak (PharmD ’14), the “downshift” from her clinical pharmacy residency finally gave her time to undergo brain surgery this past April—to remedy a brain aneurysm first diagnosed nine years ago, but now three times the size and at risk of catastrophic rupture.
Learn more about preceptors and specific rotations from our students. From local to out-of-state rotations, several fourth-year students share a variety of experiences.
Forty very enthusiastic fourth graders from Montview Elementary in Aurora were participants in the “Pharmacist for the Day” event at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy on January 10.
Fourth-year CU pharmacy student, Lindsay Case, was recently interviewed by Tony Guerra for the PharmacyFutureLeaders podcast. The following is a transcript of the interview. Click through to hear the podcast.
In December, area high school students visited CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy to learn about careers in pharmacy as part of their HOSA Future Health Professionals chapter events. HOSA is an international organization catering to middle, high school and post-secondary students interested in pursuing health care careers. Highlights of the visit included hands-on compounding lessons and talks from faculty from the School of Pharmacy. Faculty members Danielle Fixen and Peter Rice spotlighted their careers including the variety of paths that pharmacists can pursue throughout their careers including academia, research, direct patient care, in addition to the traditional pharmacy pathway.
Learn more about preceptors and specific rotations from our students. From local to out-of-state rotations, several fourth-year students share a variety of experiences.
Ryan Duong and Justin Cheung didn’t know each other at Bear Creek High School – Duong is a year older – but their educational paths have been almost in lockstep since leaving the Lakewood school. They both point to an innovative CU pre-collegiate pipeline program that exposed them to careers in health care.
Discover why CU’s Anschutz Medical Campus is leading the nation in how it educates the next generation of health care professionals. Find out how students and faculty from all disciplines learn from each other and work together to provide the best outcomes for patients. Don't take our word for it, check out what students have to say about the interprofessional education they are receiving at CU Anschutz Medical Campus.
We're #1! Two University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences students took top honors in the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacist (ASHP) Clinical Skills Competition in Las Vegas, Nev. With gold finishes in 2014 and 2016 and a silver finish in 2015, this is the third year in a row that students from CU's program have proven themselves to be among the best in the nation.
Jillian Bishop and Chelsea Mitchell, both fourth-year students, bested 130 teams of student pharmacists in the largest competition since the events inception in 1996.
CU PharmD student, Than Thai, discusses what led her to a career in pharmacy.
Did you know that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime? University of Colorado (CU) scientists have developed a lotion that prevents and repairs sun damage.
“Most of us have damage just from being in the sun,” says Tom Anchordoquy, CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences professor.
First-year CU pharmacy students Jennifer Wang and Marci Stovall recently placed first and third, respectively, at this year’s Rocky Mountain Public Health Case Competition.
On Saturday, Nov. 5, students from CU’s Student National Pharmacist Association (SNPhA) hosted a health fair at Paris Elementary that served more than 100 families living in the Aurora area. The fair was free and open to the public.
The annual CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Seminar Research Poster Session put third-year students in the hot seat on Nov. 1 as they presented on topics they had been researching since their P2 year.
On Saturday, CU’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Anschutz Police Department teamed up for the DEA’s Drug Take Back Day, collecting more than 155 pounds of old or unused medications from the community. Statewide, more than 18,000 pounds of unwanted, unused and expired drugs were collected.
Greetings! My name is Ryan, and I am a P1 student fresh from Hawaii, by way of Seattle, and I am writing to give all prospective students an idea of what there is to do in Colorado when you aren’t buried in books or studying for the next big exam. Here are my top 5 things to do in Colorado when going to SSPPS!
Over the summer, I was fortunate enough to take part in an eye-opening learning experience at Kaiser Permanente Central Support Services. I applied for, and was accepted to participate in, a six-week-long managed care independent study worth two elective credits.
In his eighth installment, Ahsun Babalmorad interviews Laurie Zrenda, a pharmacist who owns a medical marijuana dispensary in Connecticut.
University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy Professor Robert L. Page, PharmD, was the lead author on an American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement cautioning patients and physicians that many commonly used medications and nutritional supplements may cause or worsen heart failure. Dr. Page was highlighted in many news outlets including CBSradio, CBS morning news, MedPage Today, the Daily Mirror and 9News.
CU Pharmacy students Casey Barrett, Phuong Nguyen and Kelvin Pham from APhA-ASP are teaming up with students in SNPhA to participate in this year’s Tour de Cure, an annual cycling race dedicated to creating support for the American Diabetes Association and finding a cure for diabetes. The race is set for Sept. 24.
It all started back in 2008 when I attended pharmacy school in Grenoble, France -- straight out of high school. The French program is a bit different than the U.S. It is six years, followed by four years of residency. My fellow students and I were lucky enough to get exposure to the teachings and practice of clinical pharmacy, with several of our professors who imported the concept from Canada. It was a very special training that no other school in the country was able to offer at that time.
Assistant Professor Dmitri Simberg and his wife, Elina, moved to the United States in 2004 and became American citizens this year. It was a long journey, but one that would be well worth it.
I don’t have one of those stories where I knew since elementary school exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. In fact, I didn’t decide on pharmacy school until I was three years out post-master's. In 2011, I graduated with a degree in toxicology and a plan to work as an environmental scientist. Things changed abruptly when the grant for that position fell through. My faith tells me that when things like that happen, it’s wise to step back and reevaluate. I had a niche degree, 5 years of college and no idea what to do with it….sooo, I traveled.
CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy Professor Pete Anderson, PharmD, and lab manager Lane Bushman, together with colleagues, developed a technique that estimates an HIV-negative patient's adherence to drugs prescribed to prevent HIV transmission. The test is being used in research internationally and could have widespread application for other drugs that require objective measurement of patient adherence to dosing.
Recently, P3 Eric Yang and nine other CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy students completed the Colorado Ragnar Relay, a two-day, two-man, 200-mile relay race from Copper Mountain to Aspen. It was no doubt an experience that would last a lifetime.
Orientation week for the Class of 2020 culminated in the great marshmallow challenge, the White Coat ceremony and annual barbecue. With 162 P-1 students, this year's class was the largest in the school's history. In addition to being presented to their family and friends as pharmacy candidates, the students were led by fellow P-1 Ryan Sutherlan in reciting the Oath of Professional Pharmacy Student, which they created during orientation week. According to Drs. Kari Franson and Laura Borgelt, "This was the best oath ever." Check out the oath below.
Hello! My name is Kristen Haeger, and I am an incoming P1 student at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. I am a Colorado native, born and raised in Arvada, a suburb of Denver. I recently graduated from the University of Denver (DU) with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to work in the medical field, with a focus on helping patients overcome their illnesses and injuries.
On Saturday, Aug. 6 eight third-year pharmacy students and one second-year student staffed a booth during the inaugural Art of Aging Expo, and plied their recently acquired knowledge in the classroom on unsuspecting attendees.
A new rotation based out of Guatemala gave P-4 students Matthew McClure, Melissa Laub, and Chandler Follett the experience of a lifetime.
Over 50 metro-area high school girls recently got an inside look at several centers operating on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, including the Skaggs School of Pharmacy. The day-long program, "Exploring Careers in Health Care," is hosted by the Center for Women's Health Research and UCHealth.
Fourth-year student Aubrey Jones and Kaiser Permanente (KP) preceptor Roberta Shanahan were highlighted in the August 1, 2016 edition of the Douglas Digest, a national communication of KP pharmacy staff and created for Kaiser Permanente Outpatient Services Vice President Joe Douglas. Read the article here.
So, let me tell you my main goal in the next few years. My grandparents are both 83 years old, and are moving down to Denver so they can be closer to more of our family. My goal is to make these years, if not the best years of their lives, years’ worth remembering. Maybe I'm shooting myself in the foot here, since it's not related to pharmacy—not directly, at least, but the lessons I've learned in Dr. Linnebur's class as well as the overarching philosophy of my long-term care pharmacy's consultant have educated me tremendously in my perspective on geriatrics. It is a small goal of mine in the next few years to try to become a pharmacy consultant as I feel a lot of good can be done.
Driss Gaieb comes from a family of pharmacists. Growing up in Tunisia where his father and uncle were rural pharmacists, he learned first-hand the role they play in their communities.
In his seventh installment, Ahsun Babalmorad interviews P-4 students Josh Sanchez and Cameron Phillips about what is was like completing a rotation in the Office of Student Services.
Christina Tulk of Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada, came of age during the Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi and Ralph Machio craze of the 1980s. She was 9 years old when the movie hit theaters. “That’s when I got bit by the karate bug. I am 40 years old and still at it,” says Tulk.
Our students are happy with their education, according to the first-ever system-wide survey sent to alumni.
Sierra Hill's path to pharmacy has been unconventional. After receiving her bachelor's degree in Molecular Cellular & Development Biology (MCDB) from CU Boulder, she went to the U.K. where she worked for the Royal College of Radiologists in England and then the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. "I wanted to be a citizen of the world. And, ultimately, my global work experience helped to mold my career path," says Hill.
Cameron and Pallavi McElroy have been sharing their love for pharmacy and research since 2008 when they first met in their master’s of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Pharmacology and Toxicology program at the University of Toledo.
For many students, the path to pharmacy is clear. They graduate high school, go on to college, and eventually continue on for four more years in pharmacy school. But for Robert Minchin and Daniel Saltzman, their paths were a little less traditional, having enlisted in the military prior to pharmacy ever crossing their minds.
Quoc Ho came to America when he was eight years old. The Vietnamese native arrived in California with his parents and two older sisters in 1996. As a third grader, the only language he knew was Vietnamese. "It was sink or swim, so I learned English quickly," recalls Ho. And that's been his modus operandi ever since -- learn the lay of the land quickly, and use the knowledge to propel forward.
Last week, 10 CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy students and staff members boarded a plane to the HOSA International Leadership Conference with seven suitcases, multiple carry-ons, and a goal of talking to as many high school students interested in health care as possible.
I admit I am a big fan of the pathos of writing—while I do ultimately strive to balance the logos of my arguments as well, I do think the rhetoric of writing—that is, making the narrative come to life—is an important and neglected part of the scientific writing community. George Orwell wrote six basic rules of writing in "Politics and the English Language":
We all need someone like Patricia Meyer in our lives: someone to keep us pointed in the right direction; someone to consider all the details and make things happen; someone to keep track of all the things we forget; and someone to offer a smile and a friendly greeting.
Taylor Alford always knew she had a doppelganger. But few people at the Anschutz Medical Campus knew.
Her identical twin, Naomi Willden, was enrolled in the School of Dental Medicine Doctor of Dental Surgery program while Taylor studied pharmacy. During their three years on campus together, fellow students and faculty would often ask Taylor, "Where's your scrubs? Why did you change your clothes? Why are you wearing a lab coat?"
Michael Carpenter’s experience at CU’s School of Pharmacy has been vastly different than most. As part of CU Peru, Carpenter has gained a unique global experience unlike any other.
We know the amazing impact our preceptors have on our students’ lives. Here’s a look at this year’s Annual Preceptor Dinner winners.
The Class of 2016 is known for being involved. From service learning projects to community fund-raising events to holiday drives and health fairs, the Class of 2016 has been actively involved with the community since the day students arrived on campus. And that involvement has been paying off in terms of national recognition.
On June 6, 2016, Governor Hickenlooper signed Senate Bill 16-135 into law while sponsors of the bill (Representative Joann Ginal), and representatives from the Colorado Pharmacists Society, CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Regis University School of Pharmacy watched. The bill amends both the Pharmacy Practice Act and the Colorado Insurance Code to expand practice opportunities for pharmacists, and provides a pathway for reimbursement of pharmacy services.
When life closes a door, you sometimes need to smash open a window. I've learned this the hard way, but you cannot simply expect the window to open itself for you. You must be the one to instigate that change—force it open, throw a brick through it—whatever it takes, you are the one that drives that miraculous window to open, even if you have to crawl over broken glass to do so.
“I was going to go to prison or die,” says Anastasia Sosa Vozza Bell.
A childhood fraught with family dysfunction, clashes between mother and daughter, homelessness, and exposure to the seedier side of life, Bell says her life was “full of chaos and drama."
Hats off to the CU Pharmacy Class of 2016! This year, 149 students from the entry-level PharmD program and 63 from the distance degree program received their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees. Eleven students received their Doctor of Philosophy.
Michael Cobretti’s got grit. At least, that’s what Dr. Christina Aquilante says.
Cobretti graduated from CU’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy in 2015 with a dream of doing a residency. But when it came time to match, the Walgreens pharmacy manager didn’t make the cut.
Excitement was in the air during the 2016 Scholarships and Awards Convocation on Friday, April 29, when students and faculty were recognized for their achievements throughout the year.
By Michael Chan
I remember a year ago sending an email to Director Brunson at the School of Pharmacy asking a rather simple, but rather absurd question: Would I get in trouble for working in a marijuana dispensary? Would I get kicked out of school? Yes, I seriously did contemplate it, and in some regard, I like to dream and think of strange possibilities. Who knows, maybe 20 years from now students will be doing cannabis rotations. Odder things have happened in this world, like the discovery of vaccinations, sliced bread, or beta-blockers for HFrEF. Isn't it weird how, once upon a time, these were considered contraindications in heart failure but are now standards of care? Or how about bread— seriously, who thought it would be a good idea to add fungus to flour dough?
From coffee cans to briefcases filled with expired and unused medications, students from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences assisted law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with its annual prescription drug take back event Saturday, April 30 at a variety of locations throughout the state.
Few people can say that they have attended elementary, junior high, high school and graduate school together and remained friends throughout. But Trevor Juth and Lydia Hebbert can.
When 16-year-old Hari Sowrirajan says, “You can’t just buy nanoparticles at the supermarket,” you realize quickly that this down-to-earth high school student is doing some out-of-this-world science.
What you don’t know is that Sowrirajan has been working with researchers at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences since he was a 13-year-old middle schooler—too young to step inside a CU Anschutz laboratory—all because he wrote a single email to a researcher he had never met.
There’s a lot to be said about your achievement thus far. The first three years of pharmacy school were far from easy, and I’m pleased to inform you that all those long nights of studying have finally come to fruition. The sleepless, caffeine-fueled nights are finally paying off. I’m talking, of course, about your fourth-year rotations. You will now have the opportunity to take all the knowledge gained over the past three years of training and implement them in ways you never realized. However, I can assure you that you will continue to impress not only your preceptors and fellow healthcare providers, but also yourself.
Congratulations on completing your first two years of pharmacy school! The transition from the P2 to P3 year was the most exciting for me as a pharmacy student. It’s the point where I began to feel confident in my knowledge of the material I learned and the ability to counsel patients. It’s also the point that I realized that I was really going to graduate pharmacy school and have a career as a pharmacist. This may sound silly to some, but for me it was a turning point.
Congratulations! You have made it through your P1 year, the “Year of Firsts” – your first verbal exam, the first time you may have stepped foot in an actual pharmacy, the first time you’ve counseled a patient (whether real or standardized), etc. All of these firsts make it a challenging, yet very exciting and quick-paced year. The P1 year was a year to really get your feet wet and discover what being a pharmacist really entails. So now you may be wondering what to expect for P2 year…
Before you know it, you will be where I am. It may seem hard to fathom now, but soon you will be nearing graduation. And even though four years of learning separate you and I, we both will be pharmacists in the blink of an eye.
Students at the CU Anschutz Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences continue to impress. While one group was recognized for its work with underserved residents of Aurora, another was continuing a strong tradition in the Medisca Student Pharmacist Compounding Competition.
I bet you didn’t know that in Program Assistant Patty Meyer’s spare time she coaches Thunder Ridge High School Boys Junior Varsity tennis team. Comprised of 12 teenage boys, three of whom had never held a tennis racket before, the team was in need of a patient leader and teacher. And Meyer fit the bill.
As a pharmacy student, it is crucial to have a sound work/school/life balance, and any break is a good one. After a week of presentations and exams, Spring Break 2016 finally arrived. I quickly packed up all of my backpacking gear and hit the road with my sister. Our week’s schedule was simple, but busy; hike the Grand Canyon, spend a day in Las Vegas, and backpack Zion National Park. Check out my trip in pictures from the start in Boulder to a beautiful moonlit night in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area.
Having just nabbed second place at the Medisca Student Pharmacist Compounding Competition, CU School of Pharmacy students have proven once again they’re among the best for the third year in a row.
While many students were taking it easy over the winter break, CU’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy fourth year students were adding some extra value to their learning.
This year, the School launched Intersession 2016, a new mid-winter program that focusses on re-engaging, cultivating, and energizing fourth-year pharmacy students before they graduate and head out into the real-world.
Edward and Karen Skaff recently established an Endowed Scholarship Fund to help promising students achieve a rewarding career through their studies at the highly regarded Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Cody Scott loves going to various sporting events and working out at the gym – when he has time, of course. Scott is not only completing his PharmD, but also pursuing his Master’s in Business Administration at Regis University while working at Walgreens and completing his advanced Interprofessional Pharmacy Experience at the University of Colorado Hospital.
In early February 2016, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy students Kyle Troksa (P-3), Eric Yang (P-2), Rupa Parikh (P-2), Jenn Tunoa (P-2), Niko Kovacich (P-1), and Laura Becker (P-1) visited Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to lobby for pharmacy provider status.
“I never thought I’d be working with and teaching fourth graders during pharmacy school, but I can see how it’s helping me learn and understand the material,” says first-year pharmacy student Adam Link.
Eduardo Ramirez had no idea his life would change so dramatically in September 2013 when he was jumped by four men and brutally beaten. The incident would leave him needing brain surgery. Anticipated to cost thousands of dollars, it was an operation the construction worker simply couldn’t afford.
If you were to ask a person walking down the street what pharmacists do, the most likely response would be, “They count pills and dispense prescription meds.” While that is part of what happens in a pharmacy, that is not the entire picture.
From helping to build not one, but two school of pharmacy buildings -- one on the 9th Avenue campus and the other at the Anschutz Medical Campus -- to encouraging collaborative research between seven Skaggs institutions through the unique Skaggs Scholars Program that is centered at the University of Colorado, The ALSAM Foundation has been, and continues to be, a tremendous supporter of our school.
Three University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy second-year students -- Steve Henke, Megan Wary and Andrea Jones -- compete for a spot in the Red Bull Challenge, where 165 student teams from 50+ countries across the globe will have seven days to travel across Europe using only cans of Red Bull as currency. Similar to the hit TV show the Amazing Race, it’s a journey of adventure, charm and strategy.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment has been revolutionized by the recent approval of direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapies. These all-oral DAA therapies achieve high levels of HCV cure when taken as directed, but with a cost of $80,000+ for an entire course of treatment, the cure is expensive. So, who deserves the treatment?
Viruses and bacteria aren’t the only things that grow in labs. Love does, too.
Doing a pharmacy residency may not sound terribly romantic, but for Danielle Rhyne and Cy Fixen, it was the perfect setting.
After a long career celebrating diversity, Executive Director of Development for the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Shelly Steinhauser retired in June.
A new study, conducted by faculty members from our school and published online ahead of print in the January edition of Pharmacotherapy, reveals that patients diagnosed with migraine headaches saw a significant drop in migraine occurrences when treated with medical marijuana.
Fourth-year pharmacy students Jillian Dann and Kailynn DeRonde represented our school during the ASHP Clinical Skills Competition in New Orleans and did us proud!
If you're interested in getting a fellowship, then this is the Talk Pharmacy edition for you.
Considering a career in pharmacy, or do you already have your PharmD and want a change of scenery? Since Jan. 12 is National Pharmacist’s Day, here are 12 jobs you can do with a PharmD:
“I love it. I just love it. I don’t worry about her any more. She can still live on her own,” says Rachel Ramirez about the care her 80-year-old mother, Eva Romero, receives from Assistant Professor Emily Kosirog and the Salud Clinic in Brighton.
Professor Peter Rice discusses food and medicines during the holidays and how interactions can occur and what to do about them.
With more than 2,000 items collected and donated by faculty, staff and PharmD students for the Colfax Community Network, this year's Holiday Drive was tremendously successful. Socks were the clear gift of choice with more than 685 pairs collected, which will definitely warm many feet and hearts this holiday season! Teams consisted of each PharmD class pitted against each other and a team of faculty/staff.
Graduates of the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences are capturing some of the most sought after residencies in the nation. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reported that in 2015 4,358 candidates competed for only 3,006 PGY1 (Post-Graduate Year 1) positions. Despite there being more candidates than residencies, our students are finding themselves competitive, with students placing in top programs at University of California Davis, Johns Hopkins, Stanford University, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Chicago, and Mayo Clinic Health System.
CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy Professor Rob Valuck was invited to testify today before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions about Colorado's efforts to stem the opioid epidemic. Read his testimony below.
CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences associate professor, Dr. Sunny Linnebur, recently spoke to MedPage Today on the topic of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising. The story highlights recent news that the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates voted Nov. 17 that DTC advertising "should be banned in order to reduce the demand for expensive, unnecessary drug treatments," MedPage Today reports.
Pharmacy Practice News recently published an article about antibiotic resistance and the dangers of over-prescribing medications. Dr. Cindy O’Bryant talks to us about why it matters.
The value of university. Where's the best? New federal data reveal which colleges do most for their graduates' pay-packets. They are not the ones you might expect. Take away: College grads who studied pharmacy have the "safest routes to the upper-middle class in America today."
CU’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy’s annual research poster presentation featured great research from nearly 200 P-3 students on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The exhibit, which is a collaborative effort between the Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, allows students the opportunity to conceptualize research ideas and create practical pharmaceutical solutions to real-world problems. Forty groups presented posters on topics ranging from substance abuse to cancer.
In his fourth installment, third-year CU pharmacy student Ahsun Babalmorad interviews P-3 student Kimberly Uweh, president of CU’s Student National Pharmaceutical Association.
Attracting 60 people including current and prospective pharmacy students, alumni and friends, the Oct. 17 annual Homecoming and tailgate, hosted by the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences' Alumni Association, was a fun experience. For alumna Julia Rawlings (BS '85, PharmD '04) ), "I look forward to coming back to Boulder this time of year. It's a wonderful event where I can mingle with students and fellow alums from the program." Attendees were treated to food, beverages, free Homecoming t-shirts and discounted tickets to the game.
Third-year pharmacy student, Aubrey Jones, presented at Collaborating Across Borders V IPE Conference Oct. 1 in Roanoke, Virginia. And according to Associate Dean for Professional Education, Kari Franson, PharmD, PhD, "She rocked her presentation, generating a ton of questions."
“The Career Exploration Seminar was extremely eye-opening to a new and developing field of pharmacy that goes beyond the typical work of a pharmacist.” ~ P-2 Danielle Pilgreen.
According to students, the Sept. 29th Career Exploration Seminar, hosted by the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Alumni Association, was one of its best yet.
Pharmacy students who participated in the KEZW radio Veterans Fair learned that age is just a number. A 91-year-old WWII veteran was proof of that. With blood pressure numbers and bone density readings that were the envy of people half his age this WWII veteran made all the students shake their heads in wonder. "Every year that I have done this event, I have met the nicest people," says P-3 Jimmy Mitchell. "Their attitudes are amazing." With hundreds of attendees, this year's fair was another successful event.
Students from the CU Student National Pharmaceutical Association (CU-SNPhA) joined together for a 5K at Denver’s Washington Park Sunday, Sept. 20, in support of finding a cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease, an inherited disorder in which of cysts develop primarily within the kidneys. Several of the CUSNPha members volunteered at the registration table, while others, like Felicity Burke, participated in the walk.
This Saturday, students and faculty from CU’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will participate in the seventh annual KEZW Veteran’s Fair, one of the state’s largest resource events for veterans.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, together with CU Denver Police Department, participated in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Take Back Initiative. The CU Anschutz Medical Campus collected just under 300 pounds of medications. Pharmacy students also helped collect medications in Loveland, Salida and Buena Vista, Colorado (824 pounds, 84 pounds and 72 pounds respectively).
This year, about 140 faculty, trainees and lab personnel from the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences attended the 2nd annual school-wide research retreat at Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge. The retreat, held Aug. 5-7, featured a variety of sessions and programs ranging from genetics and genome packaging to vaccines and bioinformatics. Presentations were given by faculty, post docs and graduate students from the school including speakers from outside the school.
For preceptor Dan Scales, “Pharmacy is more than putting pills in a bottle. We can shape patient care especially if we slow down, spend time with our patients and focus on educating them about their diseases and how to manage them.”
Specializing in HIV and hard to manage chronic illnesses at his Denver area pharmacy, Dan takes a case management approach to pharmacy. “I sit down and get patients to open up and tell us what is really going on in their lives.”
After my last struggle with dehydration that landed me in the ED, I wanted to share my experiences living with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) at altitude. Also, September 3, 2015, is PKD awareness day, so it seems fitting to share a little about my experiences with PKD!
Thanks to Tagawa Gardens, CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy students last week received a first-hand look (and taste!) at common herbs in their plant and root forms.
Wheezing. Coughing. Inability to catch one's breath.
These are all symptoms of asthma. And for years those with asthma have relied upon inhalers and steroids to help reduce those symptoms and make breathing easier. But medications may be only part of the solution, especially in children with poorly controlled asthma.
From white marshmallows to white coats, first-year PharmD students got a taste for what the next four years would hold with their fellow classmates. The Class of 2019 spent orientation week getting acclimated with the program and acquainted with their cohort.
“I felt so far behind,” says 21-year-old Deedee Romo about her chances of getting into graduate school.
Now, this first generation Mexican-American is on her way to a very impressive med school application thanks to the Colorado Undergraduate Research in Environmental Health Sciences (CUrehs) program.
Third-year CU pharmacy student Ahsun Babalmorad hosts the third podcast episode of Talk Pharmacy and interviews Dr. Joseph Saseen, a pharmacist and professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy. Their talk focuses on the ACCP/AHA cholesterol guidelines, the IMPROVE-IT trial, and PCSK9 inhibitors.
By Trevor Juth and Geremi Boom
Over the past six weeks we had the opportunity to participate in a unique elective rotation focusing on leadership and education in the Office of Student Services. Before embarking on this journey our perceptions of what happens in an academic setting were virtually non existent. This rotation changed our minds.
Last week, high school students from all over Denver were on campus to gain a first-hand experience of what it could be like to be a pharmacist.
The Bugs and Drugs Summer Camp brings students ages 14-18 to the Anschutz Medical Campus for a one-week camp about infectious disease.
By Michael Kazanjian and Lisha Bustos
Since CU's iPharmD® program relies heavily on electronic communication between students and faculty, it understands the online community well. With nearly 20 years’ experience in this realm, the program and its staff have developed tips for effective online communication that students and faculty alike will find helpful. The following offers a common sense guide to effective online etiquette.
Area high school students spend five weeks in the shoes of health care professionals.
Over the past two weeks, we have had the opportunity to participate in the Pre-Collegiate Health Careers Program (PCHCP), held on the Anschutz Medical Campus. During the pharmacy portion of the program, we have seen the remarkable transformation and increased interest amongst these high schoolers in the profession of pharmacy. The students' pharmacy education was tailored to highlight infectious disease as well as sterile and non-sterile compounding. They were exposed to a wide variety of pharmacy practice settings and gained experience making both oral solutions and hand sanitizers.
According to a recent article in International Educator, "Pharmacy schools on university campuses are balancing various options to deliver the best solutions to influence local and global health." Writer Karen Leggett interviewed several representatives of U.S. pharmacy schools and current students including our very own Dr. Kari Franson, associate dean for professional education, for a piece titled "The Right Prescription for Internationalization."
The piece highlighted seven programs and how pharmacy education is becoming a global affair. The following is an excerpt of the interview with Dr. Franson.
Have you ever wondered how to get a job with the FDA, NIH, CDC, or any federal agency for that matter?
Cameron LaChappelle discovered the answer to that question his first year of pharmacy school when Capt. Berry from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was invited to speak during the Professional Development course.
Faculty member and athlete extraordinaire, Dr. Laura Borgelt, was recently interviewed by Women's Running magazine regarding the top questions female athletes ask about running, sex and one's menstrual cycle. Here’s the top questions that the magazine asked and Dr. Borgelt's answers:
Take one look at Suhair Shawar and you know she’s not average. From her Middle Eastern looks to her age to her accent, she’s unusual.
Maybe it’s growing up the middle child of seven. Maybe it’s being born a girl in a culture that cherishes boys. Maybe it’s living in war-torn Jerusalem and immigrating to California as a child that has molded her. “I’ve always had to fight. Fight to be heard. Fight to be noticed. Fight for my place,” says Palestinian American Suhair.
In 2004, Terry Viramontes joined the Illinois National Guard. A decision he has never regretted. Still in high school, Terry says, “I had options. I just preferred this one.” He could have gone into the family business. But construction wasn’t for him. “I didn’t want something handed to me. I wanted to do it on my own.”
Many of my family and friends become envious when the end of the spring semester is near and graduation is on the horizon. They imagine that I am about to embark on three magical months of fun in the sun and are shocked to learn that is not necessarily the case. “What? You work during the summer?” is a question I frequently encounter this time of year and thought this would be a great opportunity to explain what I do during my summer “vacation.”
If there is a natural cure for cancer, it may come from the laboratory of Rajesh Agarwal, PhD, professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and co-leader Cancer Prevention & Control Program at the CU Cancer Center. Agarwal has built a career dissecting the molecules inside natural products such as milk thistle, grape seed extract and bitter melon.
Sara Velotta is part of a legacy of postal workers. Her father, uncle and cousins are all life-long postal employees. It is a life Sara knows well. She even followed in her family’s footsteps.
Nearly 200 students graduated from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program on Friday, May 22. One hundred and fifty-five in the entry level PharmD program and 38 in the NonTraditional PharmD Program (NTPD). After a record breaking 21 days of rain, it finally subsided and the sun began to shine; finally peeking out as our commencement ceremony began.
This year, the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will confer 200 doctorate degrees. It’s not just about the destination, it’s about the journey and the company you keep along the way.
There is a region in Southwest Guatemala called Trifinio, which is home to a large banana plantation that employs nearly 5,000 workers a day. The people that work at the plantation and reside in the surrounding area live in impoverished conditions with extremely limited access to healthcare.
The school hosted its annual Preceptor Dinner Apr. 23 at Fogo de Chão to honor all active CU Pharmacy preceptors. This year marked the 5th anniversary of the event and several preceptors were recognized for their excellence and service to the school. A full list of preceptor awardees from the 2014-2015 school year follows.
Congratulations to our fourth-year students who recently matched into PGY-1 residency programs. To date, 39 students have matched into ASHP’s Residency Match Program including Joselyn Benabe, Andrea Boyce, Caitlin Butler, Sara Byrnes, Michael Casias, Frank Colletti. Carolyn Dahlman, Christina Davis, Nicole Dimaano, Emily Elwell, Brian Fox, Jenna Gorrell, Liane Horiuchi, Ashley Huntsberry, Natalie Kallhoff, Robbie Kattappuram, Monika Lach, Philip Leong, Mengyan Li, Kelsey Melander, Arya Mishra, Kaitlyn Moorehead, Sarah Newman, Atit Patel, Kathleen Paulson, Trang Phan, Azhin Qadir, Lindsay Rumold, Stephen Shaw, Suhair Shawar, Ankit Shukla, Hai Tran, Kellie Vanderburg, Laura Vriesman, Jarod Weidner, Kirby Welston, Cecilia Wong, Regina Yun, Renjbar Zebari. In addition, Cameron LaChappelle and Deidra Newbrough were selected for Indian Health Services (IHS) PGY-1 residencies. Also, 12 graduates from our 2014 class matched to PGY-2 residencies. We are so proud of you.
The school hosted a Career Explorations Seminar Wed., Apr. 8 to highlight unique opportunities within the field of pharmacy. Students heard from three pharmacists at this last seminar: Mark O'Neill, State Board of Pharmacy Inspector, Warren Streck, Chief Pharmacist in Mail Order Services, and Mongthuong Tran, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Utilization Management.
By Norm Fenn, PharmD, Class of 2014
Now that I've been out of pharmacy school for about a year, I can reflect on the education I received at CU and feel strongly that the quality of education I received was extraordinary and absolutely prepared me for residency.
Students and faculty members from the School of Pharmacy collected 583 pounds of medications at this year’s Drug Disposal Event. Working in conjunction with the University Police Department, our students and faculty members sorted and removed labels from all of the prescription drugs dropped off during the event, which the police then drove to a disposal site.
Selecting rotations can be a bit like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle. You are likely asking yourself: What do I need to know? Where will I fit? How do get all the rotations I want? How can I improve my chances for a residency? What if I don’t know enough? How can I be successful on rotation? It is not uncommon for students to feel overwhelmed by this process, but following these simple steps can help ease the process.
Three students – two third-year pharmacy students, Kelsey Schwander and Sierra Hill, and one second-year student Adam McHenry – traveled to Florida the end of March to represent CU's Skaggs School of Pharmacy during the Medisca National Student Pharmacist Compounding Competition. Hear about the team's experience.
As a P4 at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy, I am here to tell you what I wish had known before entering pharmacy school, like it's okay to take a day off every once in awhile! Learn more of my tips by watching the video here.
I just completed my Advanced IPPE in Steamboat Springs and it was great. This was something that was recently introduced under the new curriculum. In the past, continuous six-week rotations occurred only during the fourth year. Now, we’re being exposed to one rotation during our third year of pharmacy school and I thought the entire experience was excellent.
Experts in medications, doctors of pharmacy are on the frontlines of health care administering 20 percent of adult vaccinations, filling 3.7 billion prescriptions annually, and counseling millions of people on a weekly basis.
Seventeen years ago, Diane Van Deren underwent brain surgery at University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) to stop epileptic seizures racking her body. A golf-ball sized part of her brain was removed and the seizures stopped. Though the surgery was a success, Van Deren experienced an acute reaction to the medications she was given. She became combative, tried to escape from the hospital and had to be physically restrained. Her reaction caught her physicians off guard.
Governor John Hickenlooper announced an education effort to address the growing problem of the abuse of prescription drugs during a Feb. 24 news conference at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy on the Anschutz Medical Campus.
Adam Oderberg, PharmD, Class of 2007
Think of the last time you indulged in a refreshing glass of water. Any idea how much Cipro was in it?
The Colorado Sun
March 18, 2024
“Everybody always says, ‘This is so cool, it’s the future of medicine,’” said Dr. Christina Aquilante, the director of pharmacogenomics at the Center for Personalized Medicine. “It’s not the future. It’s the now. It’s happening.”
NBC News
March 18, 2024
Dr. Robert Page, PharmD, appears on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt to discuss cannabis use and heart problems.
AARP
February 22, 2024
What’s the best over-the-counter pain medication? It depends on what hurts — and why. “If you can target the pain with a medication that treats the underlying cause, the pain relief will be better,” says Sunny Linnebur, PharmD.
Medscape
February 13, 2024
Adults using medical cannabis for chronic pain, especially those with cancer or cardiometabolic disease, have a slightly elevated risk of developing arrhythmia, according to an editorial by Robert Page, PharmD.
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