SOP NEW SLETTER SUMMER 20 23
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLA SS OF 20 23!
Cap t ion for p hot o g oes here
Cap t ion for ot o g oe here
Sab rina DeLeon sm iles w hile receiving her hood from Dean Shah.
Raj Gup t a, Chi Hoon Kim , Korey Kend rick, Clark Kim , Teo Lazarovski eag erly aw ait g rad uat ion.
Mason Shorey st and s t all read y t o g rad uat e.
St even Sand ers sm iles aft er receiving his hood .
St ud ent s g at hering b efore t he cerem ony b eg ins.
Sab rina DeLeon ( front ) , Kelsie Kracht , Jad e McQuay p roud ly shift t heir t assels.
Korey Kend rick
Dina Mustafa, Tanya Muscatello-Davis, and Carla Woolheater await hooding.
Jade McQuay beams as she awaits graduation. Chad Davis and his fam ily celeb rat e his g reat accom p lishm ent .
Dean Shah hoods the students.
Teo Lazarovski
Allie Ring elm an
Quincy Lai
Kennedy Drew
MESSAGE FROM THE DEA N Dear st ud ent s, alum ni, friend s and colleag ues, It has b een q uit e an excit ing sum m er for us at t he Reg is Universit y School of Pharm acy ( RUSOP) as w e g et read y t o offer a 3-year Pharm .D. p at hw ay st art ing Fall 20 23. The school w ill cont inue offering t he t rad it ional 4 -year p at hw ay so t hat st ud ent s can choose t he p at hw ay t hat w ould b e op t im al for t hem b ased on t heir need s, g oals, and p riorit ies. The accelerat ed 3-year p at hw ay allow s incom ing st ud ent s t he flexib ilit y t o choose t he leng t h of st ud y t hat is rig ht for t hem , b ased on t heir need s and p rofessional/ p ersonal g oals. Int eract ing w it h hig h school st ud ent s at our second p harm acy cam p and t he Port er Billup s Lead ership Acad em y event w as a t ruly d elig ht ful exp erience. They w ere ab le t o exp lore d ifferent career p at hs in p harm acy, and w e are sincerely g rat eful t o t he d ed icat ed st aff, facult y, and volunt eering st ud ent s w ho m ad e t hese event s p ossib le. Facult y and st ud ent com m it m ent t o t he Reg is Universit y m ission shone t hroug h not just d uring t hese act ivit ies b ut also in t heir act ive p art icip at ion in vaccine clinics and ot her com m unit y init iat ives t hroug hout t he sum m er. We are t hrilled t o cong rat ulat e our est eem ed facult y for t heir out st and ing cont rib ut ions, includ ing num erous p resent at ions at t he Colorad o Pharm acy Societ y annual m eet ing and t he Int ernat ional Conference on Life Long Learning in Pharm acy ( LLLP) as w ell as m ult ip le successful g rant sub m issions t his sum m er. Ad d it ionally, t he facult y had t he p leasure of m eet ing alum ni at a sp ecial event , celeb rat ing t he m om ent ous 10 -year m ilest one of our first g rad uat ing class. We ext end sincere t hanks t o Dr. A llana Sucher for her effort s in st reng t hening alum ni eng ag em ent and org anizing t his m em orab le g at hering . Best Reg ard s,
Sam it Shah, PhD, RPh, MBA Dean, Reg is Universit y School of Pharm acy
3-YEA R ACCELERATED PHA RMACY PATHWAY A PPROVED The School of Pharm acy has received form al ap p roval from t he Accred it at ion Council for Pharm acy Ed ucat ion ( ACPE) for our 3-year p at hw ay. This new and innovat ive p rog ram enab les st ud ent s t o reach t heir g oals m uch sooner. Previously, st ud ent s w ere ab le t o ob t ain a Pharm .D. d eg ree in four years. This new t rack w ill p rovid e fut ure p harm acist s t he op p ort unit y t o st art earning t heir salaries a year sooner. ht t p s:// w w w.reg is.ed u/ acad em ics/ m ajors-and -p rog ram s/ g rad uat e/ p harm acy-p harm d
STUDENT ACTIVITIES Grad uat io n b anq uet The pharmacy graduation banquet was a grand celebration filled with joy, laughter, and a sense of accomplishment.
Cynthia Sprowl, the pharmacy valedictorian stands proudly alongside the Dean Shah and Dr. Megan Leeds, capturing the epitome of academic excellence and leadership in the field of pharmacy.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES Ted X MileHig h TEDxMileHigh TRANSCEND at Ellie Caulkins Opera House was a special edition of the TEDxMileHigh event held in Denver, Colorado. School of Pharmacy students, Hailey Murphy and Marc Catbagan with Dr. Stephanie James attended the event.
Vaccine clinics Students and faculty from school of pharmacy volunteered to provide vaccines in conjunction with Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice (CAHEP). Pictured to the right are Regis University faculty and students who provided vaccines to children at East Middle School in which over 130 families were vaccinated. Pictured below are nursing and pharmacy students and faculty during a 2-day vaccine clinic held at the Vega Collegiate Academy in Aurora. Alumni also served as preceptors at both events. Thank you to Drs. Kyra Navia and Curtis Theard!
STUDENT ACTIVITIES Fu lt on Clin ic Exper ien ce: Collabor at in g f or Bet t er Healt h Ou t com es In a recent collaboration between Dr. James, the Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice, and Fulton Clinic, a remarkable initiative unfolded. The dedicated team of volunteers showcased their remarkable abilities, not only administering vaccines but also ensuring patient comfort and safety. These clinics have proven vital, particularly for non-compliant individuals lacking insurance or access to healthcare providers. Supported by state resources, these clinics offer a gateway to vaccination through the compassion and expertise of pharmacy students. Witnessing the heartwarming sight of smiling children and parents leaving the clinics reinforces the belief that meaningful work is underway to advocate for improved health outcomes in underserved communities.
Rho Chi Ho st ed a ?Tip s fo r How t o Be a Successf ul Pharm acy St ud ent ? Virt ual W eb inar Dr. Allana Sucher and Rho Chi members Charlie Huynh, Mitch LeRoy, Andrea Robles, and Kendra Swanson led a virtual workshop sponsored by the Office of Admissions. Over 25 incoming first year pharmacy students attended. The presentation included information on navigating a team-based learning (TBL) curriculum, participating in student organizations, and ensuring appropriate self-care while in pharmacy school.
Por t er Billu ps Leader sh ip Academ y even t The Porter Billups Leadership Academy event at Regis University is a transformative program designed to empower young individuals through mentorship, leadership development, and academic support. The event aims to cultivate character, integrity, and resilience in participants, fostering their growth as future leaders in their communities. Dr. LaToya Braun, Director of the Pharmacy Lab, facilitates a session with participants.
FACULTY ACTIVITIES NIH f und ing Advocating for scientific progress and funding, Dr. Stephanie James takes her mission to the heart of decision-making in Washington, D.C. Armed with knowledge and passion, she lobbies for increased NIH grant funds, paving the way for groundbreaking research and advancements that will shape the future of healthcare and innovation.
Canvas and Co ckt ails Capturing a moment of artistic delight and camaraderie, this photo showcases a Dr. Leticia Shea and a pharmacy student, Carla Anderson beaming with joy as they proudly display their auction item from Canvas and Cocktails? an opportunity to paint and unleash their creative spirits. With paintbrushes in hand and a canvas filled with vibrant colors, they embark on an artistic adventure, nurturing their bond beyond the academic setting. This shared experience not only fosters a sense of artistic expression but also strengthens the connection between faculty and student, bridging the gap between mentorship and friendship.
CPS A NNUA L MEETING Regis University School of Pharmacy had several pharmacy faculty present at the annual Colorado Pharmacists Society Meeting in Black Hawk at the Monarch Casino Resort and Spa.
Pharmacy student, Hailey Bailey (third from the left) was inducted as president of the Academy of Students Pharmacists.
Dr. Cassandra Hanna presented on tips for challenging students during rotations.
Dr. Marta Brooks presented on the opioid crisis.
Dr. Dan Berlau presented on the benefit of kindness.
Kennedy Drew, Class of 2025 was recognized as the student pharmacist of the year!
Dr. Emily Clement presented on the summer camp for high school students.
Drs. Dan Berlau and Jeff Lalama enjoy lunch during the meeting.
A lum ni Event The School of Pharmacy joyously organized its inaugural alumni celebration, aiming to establish it as an annual tradition. This year 's event honored and expressed gratitude to the esteemed faculty, dedicated staff, and accomplished alumni , with a particular emphasis on commemorating the 10-year milestone of the first graduating class. Please stay tuned for details about next year ?s event!
Current school of pharmacy dean, Dr. Samit Shah, former Regis Unviersity Provost, Dr. Pat Ladewig, and former school of pharmacy dean, Dr. Rod Carter pose for a photo.
Alumni, Dr. Shannon Wang catches up with Dr. Megan Leeds during the event.
J.P. Op io id A lliance Aw areness The Alliance held its 8th annual Save-a-Life golf tournament to raise funds for student scholarships and continue its efforts to raise awareness about the ongoing opioid crisis and the dangers of mixing medications. For more information about the Alliance, visit their website at https://www.jpopioidalliance.org/.
Dr. Marta Brooks, Dr. David Hymel (alumni), Dr. Jayden Tumbga (alumni), and Dr. Chris Malarkey take a break from golf .
Drs. Marta Brooks and Chris Malarkey pose for a photos after their round of golf.
A PPE SPOTLIGHT Fin din g m y pat h in New Yor k Cit y by Malia Dustin, Class of 2024 As the time came closer to rank my APPEs, a lot of thoughts were running through my head. I'd always been interested in industry since I came to Regis but wasn't confident that I was meant to pursue industry. As doubt took over, I looked for guidance from my professors and reflected on my time in the industry certificate program that Regis offers. When I was ranking my APPEs, I wasn't sure if I was cut out to be in the industry field as I have worked at a community pharmacy for all three years of pharmacy school. It felt safe to stay in my comfort zone at CVS and continue on that path after graduation. But with much deliberation, I found myself ranking Pfizer as an APPE choice and was looking forward to the interview process. As I prepared for my interview I began to learn more about Pfizer ?s mission to help patients and was pleasantly surprised to see how so many of their core values aligned with my philosophy of care. I was chosen as one of three students taken by Pfizer for their APPE rotation and was assigned to work with the publications management team during blocks 1 and 2. I have spent the majority of this rotation working remotely but I still have gained experiences and connections that I never would have imagined. My main focus with the publications management team is in conjunction with Pfizer ?s Patient Collaborative Board which consists of patient advocates from all around the world (including members from the U.K and Canada) who are advocating for more patient involvement in pharma. I am currently working on an innovative project with members of this board that will help highlight how Pfizer is approaching patient involvement in research. I am also co-authoring a manuscript with a clinical social worker, a patient, and a publication specialist that focuses on the importance of patient inclusivity in research and publishing. This manuscript will be the first that I have been a primary author on and our team is hopeful that we can reach publication within the next year! Because I am with Pfizer for APPE blocks 1 and 2, I also am part of the Summer Growth Intern Experience which invites students from all over the United States to work in pharmaceutical disciplines such as publications management, pharmacovigilance, and medical affairs. I was even able to go to New York to meet other interns for intern day where we networked with industry professionals and attended panel discussions with Pfizer ?s executive safety team. I have also been able to participate in virtual informational sessions that range from topics such as how to make your resume stand out to how you can impact global health equity and was even able to attend a discussion with the CEO Albert Bourla! My time in New York City was short lived but seeing the amazing architecture and New York City skyline from the 66th floor of the Pfizer world headquarters building was something I will never forget! I have made some amazing connections during this APPE and it has inspired me to continue pursuing a industry job after graduation. I look forward to fellowship interviews and am thankful for the people who encouraged me to apply for this APPE and to those at Pfizer who have made my experience so positive!
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT - DR. CHRIS MA LA RKEY Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the world, and the biggest risk factor for developing gastric cancer is an H. pylori infection which is found in 90% of gastric cancer cases. H. pylori is present in approximately 40% of the world?s population, however, of this population only 1-2% go on to develop gastric cancer. Antibiotics are not always effective at eradiating H. pylori infections, therefore, development of novel treatments for an H. pylori infection is of great clinical significance. The Sox2 protein is DNA binding protein that is turned on in every type of cancer apart from gastric cancer where it is turned off. In 2020, several Regis University pharmacy students and I published our findings that the Sox2 protein can bind to an H. pylori signaling molecule called lipopolysaccharide (LPS).1 The LPS molecule contains a region that looks like the backbone of DNA, and we hypothesized that the Sox2 molecule could bind LPS and prevent H. pylori proliferation. Since 2020, we have expanded upon this research and found that a region of Sox2 contains an LPS binding motif and that a portion of the Sox2 protein is toxic to H. pylori and could be developed as therapeutic for an H. pylori infection. In June of 2023, Dr. Malarkey submitted a National Institute of Health R15 grant titled Investigation of the role of Sox2 in Gastric Cancer. The $369,000 grant would fund research for three years and employ two pharmacy students in the lab. 1.Hewitt PH, Pianim ED, DiCesare NA, Gray C, Leong TT, Sakai K, Bernal JV, Shetty SS, Malarkey CS. Investigation of the thermodynamic drivers of the interaction between the high mobility group box domain of Sox2 and bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr. 2020;1862:183106.
A PPOINTMENTS Dr. Stephanie James has been appointed as Director of Research and Health Policy for RHCHP. Dr. James has served as the Coordinator for Research and Community Health Initiatives for the college since 2019. Dr. James actively collaborates with university faculty and healthcare professionals to develop grant proposals, such as the Colorado Opportunity Now program, with the aim of expanding our programs and reaching a larger number of communities. Recently, she took the lead as the main author on a grant application worth $3 million, dedicated to providing support for underrepresented students pursuing healthcare programs. Her efforts have played a pivotal role in securing funding for the college's excellence fund, which is crucial for advancing research and scholarship initiatives, including the annual research symposium and recognition awards for both faculty and students. Notably, this year 's Regis Gives Day saw an unprecedented level of support, with a contribution of nearly $25,000 to bolster research and scholarship endeavors within the college. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. James stepped up to the role of Laboratory Director where she created and maintained the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) approved laboratory at Regis in collaboration with the Student Health Services, including all quality assurance, proficiency testing and safety protocols. Other notable projects include developing and instituting COVID and influenza vaccination clinics on the Northwest campus and in collaboration with Tepeyac Community Health on our Thornton campus. Dr. James earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Gonzaga University, her MS degree in Biology from Eastern Washington University and an MBA from the City University of Seattle. After spending years in the biotechnology industry, she returned to school at the University of Northern Colorado earning her doctoral degree in Biological Education, studying both education and zoonotic viruses, completing her dissertation on ?The Effects of TGF on Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Disease?.
FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Several pharmacy faculty members from Regis University's Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions (RHCHP) were honored with awards at the college's annual ceremony.
Dr. Megan Leeds, Professor, Dean of Students, was awarded the Leadership/Mentorship award and is pictured with Dr. Linda Osterlund, Dean RHCHP, and Dr. Martin Munoz (Counseling), member, RHCHP awards committee.
Dr. Dan Berlau, Professor, was awarded the Senior Teaching award and is pictured with Dr. Linda Osterlund, Dean RHCHP, and Dr.Stephanie Albin (Physical Therapy), member, RHCHP awards committee.
Jerry L. Baum an, Pharm D, FCCP, FACC, ed it or of t he Journal of A m erican Colleg e of Clinical Pharm acy, cond uct ed an insig ht ful int erview w it h Dr. Miki Gold w ire for t he ACCP Journals Pod cast . The conversat ion revolved around Dr. Gold w ire's research p ap er on t he t op ic of Med ical Misinform at ion, d elving int o it s im p licat ions and find ing s. ht t p s:// p od cast ers.sp ot ify.com / p od / show/ accp - jrnls/ ep isod es/ Med ical- Misinform at ion- - Ep -10 5-e24 83l8
FACULTY PUBLICATIONS Brooks MJ, W rig ht T. Eloq uent ia Perfect a: Perform ing p ub lic sp eaking t o enhance scient ific p resent at ion: Skills of p harm acy st ud ent s. Jesuit Hig her Ed ucat ion: A Journal. 20 23;12( 1) :art icle 10 . Shea L. Gold w ire MA . Navig at ing up p er resp irat ory t ract cond it ions, 2-hour CE. Pow erPak Cont inuing Ed ucat ion for Pharm acist s & Pharm acy Technicians July 20 23, exp ires July 20 25. US Pharm 4 8( 7) :4 6- 57. ht t p s:// journalce.p ow erp ak.com / ce/ navig at ing -com m on-up p er-resp irat ory-t ract Tuck K. W hat I w ish I knew - recog nizing m ent al healt h st rug g les in learners and p eers. A A PP. Accessed July 13, 20 23. ht t p s:// aap p.org / resource/ w iw ik/ 20 23/ st rug g les.
STUDENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS St eph an ie Callist e, Class of 2025 has been selected as a recipient of the 2023 NCODA (National Community Oncology Dispensing Association) International Fall Summit/Oncology Careers Symposium Scholarship. This scholarship is given to dedicated young professionals with a passion for Oncology. Scholarship recipients are expected to be leaders and promote attendee participation while at M ar c Cat agban, Class of 2025 recently attended the Kappa Psi Leadership Symposium. The event featured inspiring leadership presentations and workshops, providing valuable insights. Recognizing his outstanding commitment, Marc was appointed a Kappa Psi Leadership Ambassador. Congratulations, Marc, on this well-deserved honor! (Pictured in front on the left.)
FACULTY UPDATES Welcome to Dr. Katie Carnett! Dr. Katie Carnett, join the Office of Experiential Education (OEE) as the assistant director and the Department of Pharmacy Practice as an assistant professor. She completed her PharmD at Purdue University?s College of Pharmacy in her home-state of Indiana, and completed a PGY1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency program with Albertsons Companies and Idaho State University in Boise, Idaho. Katie stayed on with Albertsons Companies post-residency with her most recent position being Patient Care Pharmacist for the Denver Division. In her previous role, Katie supported community pharmacy teams in providing advanced clinical services including medication administrations, travel health appointments, and implementing pharmacist prescribing services.
UPCOM ING EVENTS Aug 21, Classes begin Sep 21, Mass of the Holy Spirit Sep 22, Inauguration of Regis University President, Dr. Salvador D. Acevas
Executive Editor:
Editor:
Sam it Shah, PhD, RPh
Mik i Gold w ire, Pharm D, MS, MA , BCPS
Dean, School of Pharmacy
Professor, Director of Drug Information
Regis University
Regis University, School of Pharmacy
30 3-625-130 0
mgoldwir@regis.edu