Pharmacy News and Stories

Doctor of Pharmacy Jacob Beyer reflects on his journey to becoming the critical care clinical pharmacist he is today and his continued pursuit of excellence with a passion for making a positive impact on patient well-being. Traversing various roles in critical care since the completion of residency, his honed skills have deepened his understanding of the intricate dynamics within this specialized field. The result is a career showing commitment to optimizing patient outcomes and ensuring the highest standards of pharmaceutical care.

Jaron Bryant | March 31, 2024

For 10 years in her role at a specialized pharmacy focusing on Oncology, Dr. Kris O’Malley, PharmD ’14, has actively engaged in assisting patients with the management of oral medications.  The scope of her work emphasizes the profound influence pharmacists can have on patients' lives, reinforcing the belief that impactful pathways exist when healthcare professionals invest time and effort in compassionate care.

Jaron Bryant | March 04, 2024

Over the course of a decade, Christine MacBrayne, PharmD '14, has found a fulfilling and enriching life experience in balancing her career and family. Dr. MacBrayne reflects on her student days and the valuable lessons she learned that have contributed to her growth as a thriving pharmacist, both personally and professionally.

Jaron Bryant | December 21, 2023

It was a tremendous year with a variety of activities that kept alumni returning back for more. In addition to alumni featured in spotlights each month, a robust schedule of events drew alumni back to their alma mater. Here's what 2023 had to offer:

Jaron Bryant | December 04, 2023

2018 alumnus Richard Dziallo joined the Alumni Association Board in 2022. As one of its newest leaders, Dr. Dziallo recalls his years as a student, leading up to his career today as a Pharmacy Manager.

Jaron Bryant | October 01, 2023

When entering the lobby of the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2018 alumnus Lee Amaya can be found immortalized in rap video he created while a student in the PharmD program, representing the diverse talent among the CU Pharmacy Alumni. Now just a few years later, Dr. Amaya recalls his student experience and those moments that impacted his learning and contributed to his success as a pharmacist today working in the specialty area of Infectious Diseases.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15^th, we celebrate Dr. Amaya and other CU Pharmacy alumni of Latina/Latino descent for their significant contributions in the field of Pharmacy and to the community.

Jaron Bryant | September 01, 2023

The alumni association for the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences recently selected it newest board member to begin a three year term this July. As a member of the Class of 2003 and a faculty member, Dr. Monika Nuffer brings a broad perspective to help direct the goals of the association.

Jaron Bryant | July 30, 2023

The Alumni Association for the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is proud to unveil the recipients for the fourth annual alumni awards. This year's honorees are Susan Finstrom, RPh '86, Kristin Holmes, PharmD '13, and Paul Limberis, RPh '79. The awardees will be honored Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 during the 4th Annual CU Pharmacy Alumni Awards as part of Homecoming weekend. 

Jaron Bryant | July 30, 2023

2014 alumnus Norman Fenn recently joined the Alumni Association Board. As one of its newest leaders, Dr. Fenn explores his career since graduation and the lessons learned in that time.

Jaron Bryant | July 30, 2023

Dr. Andrew Webb, a 2013 alumnus of the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, is an example of excellence and innovation in the field of pharmacy. Since graduating, Dr. Webb has embarked on a remarkable journey marked by his unwavering commitment to patient care and health informatics. This month's alumni spotlight provides a glimpse into his career path, highlighting his growth as a professional. 

Jaron Bryant | June 30, 2023

The journey from small-town roots provided 2007 alumnus Robert Willis an opportunity that not only directed and shaped his career as a pharmacist but also provided him the road map to self-discovery, making him the person he is today. In celebration of Pride Month this June, Dr. Willis reflects on his college experience that launched his Pharmacy career and brought him to the realization of his identity as a gay man.

Jaron Bryant | June 01, 2023

Giving up has never been an option for 2003 graduate Hien Pham. Not even a cancer diagnosis could disrupt her goal of becoming a pharmacist and living life to the fullest.

Jaron Bryant | April 30, 2023

In celebration of Arab-American Heritage Month this April, we feature 2016 CU Pharmacy alumna Lana Al-Omar as the Alumni Spotlight. Lana reflects on her time as a student on campus, catching us up to date on where she is today, along with sharing pearls of wisdom to guide future pharmacists.

Jaron Bryant | April 03, 2023

2003 alumna Hilda Bi Ndikum has experienced several transitions in the growth of the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. As a student in the Doctor of Pharmacy program, she first took pharmacy courses when the School was located on the University of Colorado campus at Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. She joined the faculty when the School relocated to the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, operating out of the Academic Office Building. She continues in her faculty role today with the School now in its own dedicated building at Anschutz.

Jaron Bryant | March 03, 2023

CU Pharmacy alumnus Harold Okocha, PharmD ‘12, recently discussed his pharmacy career. As a board member of the CU Pharmacy Alumni Association and a member of the School’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Dr. Okocha stands as a leader and role model for future pharmacists.

Jaron Bryant | February 03, 2023

CU Pharmacy 2016 alumna Kelsey Schwander returned to her alma mater as a Clinical Assistant Professor, practicing out of the Marcus Institute for Brain Health to provide assessments and medication recommendations for patients who have suffered from brain injury. Her body of work serves to fulfill her personal mission of empowering patients, providers, and businesses to create healthcare solutions.

Jaron Bryant | January 01, 2023

It was life full circle in 2022 as a return to normalcy occurred and in-person activity amped up. Along with the numerous alumni featured each month, a full schedule of activities kept CU Pharmacy alumni involved. Here is just a glimpse of the year 2022 as we draw the year to a close:

Jaron Bryant | December 05, 2022

2010 alumnus Charles Foster finds value in incorporating advanced technology to move forward the work of pharmacy. He’s even gone as far as to create a website specifically designed for pharmacy professionals to network through an online community.

Jaron Bryant | September 30, 2022

2012 graduate Michaela Hasan never imagined she'd return to the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Through networking and reconnecting with faculty from her days as a pharmacy student, she found herself at the doorstep of the CU School of Pharmacy once again--this time returning as a member of the faculty at the newest facility operating out of the recently completed Health Sciences Building.

Jaron Bryant | September 01, 2022

1972 CU Pharmacy alumnus Robert Fowler wears many different hats as a pharmacist, city coroner and minister, establishing a reputation for multitasking in order to meet community needs. For anyone who has ever thought about how far you can go with a pharmacy degree, Robert demonstrates the possibilities when you use your background knowledge to think outside of the box and apply your degree to areas that most would never consider as an option with a pharmacy degree.

Jaron Bryant | July 29, 2022

The Alumni Association for the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is proud to unveil the recipients for the third annual Alumni Awards. This year's honorees are Edward Skaff, RPh '59, Kristin Speer, PharmD '12, and Laura Tydall, PharmD (RPh '82).

Jaron Bryant | July 01, 2022

2012 CU Pharmacy alumna Julia Slejko has traded places going from student to faculty with her career in academia. She had been working in biotech for about seven years before considering graduate school, taking pharmaceutical sciences courses as a non-degree student at the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutical Sciences in the early 2000s. Then she discovered CU Pharmacy's Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research (CePOR) degree program and found her fit in pharmacoenomics, the scientific discipline which compares the value of one pharmaceutical drug or drug therapy to another.

Jaron Bryant | July 01, 2022

The alumni association for the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences recently selected board members to begin terms this July. Each member brings a unique skill set and perspective to helping guide the work of the association.

Jaron Bryant | June 03, 2022

2012 CU Pharmacy alumna Renee Castilleja (née Torres) hits new stride in career as a long term care pharmacist, stepping out of her comfort zone and aligning her passion for working in geriatrics.

Jaron Bryant | June 03, 2022

As this month’s 2022 Milestone feature, Kristin Speer (nee Braschler) looks back 10 years ago since graduating from the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She offers insight and advice for the next generation of pharmacists.

Jaron Bryant | April 29, 2022

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of Rho Chi, the academic honor society for pharmacy. In special acknowledgment of the occasion, this month’s alumni spotlight focuses on a former president of the CU Pharmacy Alpha Theta chapter of Rho Chi, Laura Tyndall. Laura marks her 40-year anniversary as a 1982 graduate of CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She looks back on the last 40 years and the opportunities that have come her way in that time. Continuing with the feature on alumni milestones, Laura provides a retrospective on the changes she’s experienced in the pharmacy profession and her role in influencing those changes.

Jaron Bryant | March 29, 2022

2022 marks a milestone year for the classes of ‘82, ’92, ‘02, and ’12. All year long, we’ll be spotlighting alumni from each of these classes as they provide a retrospective on life at CU Pharmacy and their career success. ’02 alumna, Elisha DeLong Sieg kicks off the first 2022 alumni spotlight.

Jaron Bryant | January 28, 2022

CU Pharmacy alumnus Andrew Maurer, PharmD ‘10, recently discussed his newest career as a Nuclear Oncology Radiotherapy Specialist. As chair of the Nomination Committee for the School’s Alumni Association, Dr. Maurer is regularly engaged with his alma mater as a leader and role model for future pharmacists.

Jaron Bryant | December 30, 2021

CU Pharmacy Career Services Manager Laurie Sein chatted with Przemek Lott, PharmD ’19, recently about his journey to becoming a business intelligence pharmacy practitioner.

Jaron Bryant | November 29, 2021

CU Pharmacy alumna, Jennifer Kobylarczyk, ’19, describes how she created a path for herself in building a career as a consultant pharmacist incorporating her experience in compounding pharmacy (the process of combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient) and veterinary pharmacy (dispensing veterinary drugs, supplies or products and advising owners of companion animals and livestock). Career Services Manager Laurie Sein conducted the interview.

Jaron Bryant | October 30, 2021

In her own words, 2018 CU Pharmacy alumna Chelsea Sax reflects on her experience completing the PharmD program and entering the corporate sector as a managed care pharmacist with the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company Express Scripts in an interview conducted by Career Services manager Laurie Sein as part of a series on specialty careers in pharmacy.

Jaron Bryant | September 30, 2021

Career Services Manager Laurie Sein continues her conversations with CU alumni involved in new and novel fields of pharmacy. This time, Dmitriy Gekker, PharmD '20, takes center stage, discussing his role at STAQ Pharma as an intern production pharmacist.

Jaron Bryant | August 30, 2021

The Alumni Association for the CU Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is proud to unveil the recipients for its second annual alumni awards. This year's honorees are Lucas Smith, PharmD '14 and Boris Tabakoff, RPh '66, PhD '70.

Jaron Bryant | July 28, 2021