College Connections
An Electronic newsletter from the College of Pharmacy

June 30, 2021
Greetings from the Dean
Greetings from the College of Pharmacy. Hopefully you are able to get out and enjoy the company of family and friends as COVID cases diminish. The College has concluded another academic year with an in-person convocation and commencement. We also honored our alumni from both 2020 and 2021. Distinguished alumni Dr. Susan Hiland (2021) and Dr. David Elm (2020) were both honored as well as our preceptors of the year, Dr. Brent Cernik (2021) and Dr. Josh Hite (2020). Preceptor site of the year, Methodist Women's Hospital (2021) and One World Community Health Center (2020) were also recognized.

The students, faculty and staff have done a tremendous job this past year working through the ups and downs of the pandemic.
We have brought our planning committee back together once again to plan for in-person classes this coming fall. We strive to return to the “new norm” and welcome all of our students back to campus.

Enjoy the summer and the opportunity to travel again. I have travelled to western South Dakota and much of Nebraska visiting some of you. Myself and others will continue to visit alumni and preceptors over the coming months. In the meantime, if there is anything the College can assist you with or any suggestions for us, please do not hesitate to contact me.
2021 Spring Honors Convocation and Commencement
The Holland Performing Arts Center was the venue for the 2021 Scholastic Honors Convocation on May 7th. Fifty-three students were vested with their doctoral hoods and took the Pharmacist’s Oath. Awards were presented to the 2020 and 2021 winners of Preceptor, Faculty Preceptor, and Site of the Year. Alumni awards were also presented for both the 2020 and 2021 Alumni of the Year. Spring Commencement was held at the Baxter Arena on Saturday, May 8th.
 
2021 Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Recipients
Daniel Ahn, Omaha
Yasmine Al-Shdifat, Lincoln
Rachel Ballard, Omaha
with high distinction
Kelli Bannon, Bellevue
with distinction
Darcy Barry, Wahoo
with distinction
Jalen Barry, Wayne
Joshua Brisco, Omaha
Lindsay Bruce, Norfolk
Bridget Bucher, Hickman
with high distinction
Ashley Campbell, Bruning
Madison Chaffin, Sargent
Ken Chen, Jiujiang, China
with high distinction
Chelsea Cipriano, Omaha
Jiayu Cui, Shijiazhuang City, China
with distinction
Feiyang Ding, Hubei, China
with distinction
Cory Durbin, Lincoln
with distinction
Madison Egeberg, Waverly
Erin Eickman, Salem, SD
with distinction
Andrew Flint, Broken Bow
with high distinction
Alyx Folkers, Blair
with distinction
Nicholas Giaffoglione, Omaha
Trevor Grace, Papillion
with distinction
Ge Gui, Ningbo, China
with distinction
Mahreen Haq, Omaha
with distinction
Ngan Hoang, Lam Dong, Vietnam
with distinction
Yan Jin, Shanghai, China
with distinction
Cheyenne Johnson, Gretna
Kelsi Junge, Omaha
Nizar Khayat, Kearney
Brandon Knapp, Hastings
Anna Kohll, Omaha
Joselyn Lemm, Neligh
Nicole Link, Maryville, TN
Erin Linnell, Omaha
Ashley Lopez, Omaha
Naznaz Majid, Lincoln
Matt Mallisee, Adel,IA
Tamehene Massaba, Omaha
Samuel Montgomery,North Platte
Matthew Moore, Kearney
Henry Omoregie, Gretna
Dianne Osiemo, Oakville, Ontario
with high distinction
Traver Pettijohn, Scottsbluff
Chelsea Phipps, Gretna
Dominic Poeppel, Rapid City, SD
with distinction
Jiajun Qian, Wuxi, China
with distinction
Matthew Schrunk, Columbus
with distinction
Sophie Sealer, Omaha
Ellie Thompson, Fullerton
Lindsay Torres, Friend
Brielle van den Berg, Henderson
Sara Voisard, Faucett, MO
Bridgette Waller, Ord
Spring Honors Convocation Awards
The College of Pharmacy Class of 2021 presented awards for Preceptor, Faculty Preceptor, and Site of the Year. Brent Cernik, PharmD, was selected as Preceptor of the Year. Faculty Preceptor of the Year was presented to Jessica Downes, PharmD, Clinical Assistant Professor. Methodist Women’s Hospital took home the Site of the Year Award. The Alumni Council also presented their award for the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus Award to Dr. Susanne Hiland, PharmD, MBA.
Dr. Brent Cernik
Dr. Jessica Downes
Dr. Susan Hiland
Dr. Cernik practices at Saunders Medical Center in Wahoo, NE. Dr. Cernik was praised for going above and beyond to ensure that students were engaged in their learning. Students also noted this rotation was an incredibly unique learning experience as students were exposed to both acute care and long-term care pharmacy.  
Dr. Downes practices at One World Community Health Center in Omaha. Students spoke of the high expectations that she holds students to, because they know that she wants the best for them and works tirelessly to ensure that they receive the best opportunities to learn.
Dr. Hiland proudly served as an enlisted member of the Nebraska Army National Guard during pharmacy school and upon graduation was commissioned in the U.S. Navy Reserve serving on active duty at Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida. She joined Walmart in 1989, and today serves as Sr. Director, Business Strategy.
Methodist Women’s Hospital received honors for the 2021 Preceptor Site of the Year. Dr. Joshua Hite, Dr. Joe Nekola, and all of the pharmacy staff and preceptors at Methodist Women’s Hospital were praised for their continued excellence in providing students with a first-class educational experience. Dr. Hite, the 2020 Preceptor of the Year winner, was noted for his extensive one-on-one learning opportunities throughout the course of the rotation.  
Senior Awards
Rho Chi Achievement Award
Dianne Osiemo
 
Phi Lambda Sigma Award
Bridgette Waller
 
Academy of
Student Pharmacists Award
Sara Voisard
 
Cunningham Memorial Award in Pharmacodynamics
Jiayu Cui
 
Kappa Psi Grand Council Scholarship Key Award
Andrew Flint

 Barbara Osborne Manchester Award
Bridgette Waller
 Bradley G. Wulf Memorial Award
Cory Durbin

Varro & Virginia Tyler Award
Andrew Flint
 
Clinical Services Award
Yasmine Al-Shdifat
 
Wolters Kluwer Award of
Excellence
Cheyenne Johnson
 
US Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice Award
Ashley Lopez
 
Joseph B. Burt Memorial Award
Matt Mallisee
Stephen A. Scholtz Memorial Award
Chelsea Cipriano

Viatris Excellence in
Pharmacy Award
Ken Chen

Phyllis Rhodes Award
Bridget Bucher

Patient Care Champion Award
Naznaz Majid
Alyx Folkers
Yan Jin

Excellence in Advanced
Practice Experience
Recognition
Trevor Grace
Ken Chen
Faculty News
Farewell to Dr. Bronich
We honored Dr. Tatiana (Tanya) Bronich, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies with a going away celebration this past month. Effective July 1st, Dr. Bronich will become the Dean at the School of Pharmacy, Bouve College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University in Boston. Dr. Bronich came to the College and UNMC 26 years ago as a post-doctoral researcher, became an assistant professor and rose to full professor and associate dean, an extraordinary rise in academia. Tanya has excelled in the classroom and her research is known the world over. We will certainly miss Tanya and wish her the best as she takes the next step in academia.
Recent Faculty Publications
Multi-color structured illumination microscopy for live cell imaging based on the enhanced image recombination transform algorithm
Zhao T., Hao H., Wang Z., Liang Y., Feng K., He M., Yun X., Bianco P.R., Sun Y., Yao B., Lei M.
Biomed. Opt. Express 2021 12:6 (3474-3484)
The Role of Pharmacies in the HIV Prevention and Care Continuums: A Systematic Review
Crawford N.D., Myers S., Young H., Klepser D., Tung E.
AIDS Behav 2021 25:6 (1819-1828)

DNA Looping Mediated by Site-Specific SfiI-DNA Interactions
Vemulapalli S., Hashemi M., Kolomeisky A.B., Lyubchenko Y.L.
J Phys Chem B 2021 125:18 (4645-4653)

Pharmacokinetic disposition of amiodarone when given with an intralipid rescue strategy
Avedissian S.N., Pham M., Joshi M.D., Scheetz M.H., Salamatipour A., Panickar J.M., Hlukhenka K., Miglis C., Chalkias A., Xanthos T.
Pharmaceutics 2021 13:4
Diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 infections
Kevadiya B.D., Machhi J., Herskovitz J., Oleynikov M.D., Blomberg W.R., Bajwa N., Soni D., Das S., Hasan M., Patel M., Senan A.M., Gorantla S., McMillan J., Edagwa B., Eisenberg R., Gurumurthy C.B., Reid S.P.M., Punyadeera C., Chang L., Gendelman H.E.
Nat Mater 2021 20:5 (593-605)

Rifabutin pharmacokinetics and safety among TB/HIV-coinfected children receiving lopinavir/ritonavir-containing second-line ART
Rawizza H.E., Oladokun R., Ejeliogu E., Oguche S., Ogunbosi B.O., Agbaji O., Odaibo G., Imade G., Olaleye D., Wiesner L., Darin K.M., Okonkwo P., Kanki P.J., Scarsi K.K., Mcilleron H.M.
J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2021 76:3 (710-717)
College of Pharmacy Spotlight
Highlighting a college alumni, student, and/or faculty member!
Dr. Scott Knoer, MS, PharmD, FASHP
This round, we celebrate Scott Knoer, UNMC College of Pharmacy Class of 1996.

Where were you born and where did you go to high school?
Right across the river in Council Bluffs, IA. Thomas Jefferson High School.

Where did you complete your undergraduate requirements for pharmacy school?
Creighton University, BA Psychology 1988.

What is your favorite part of pharmacy school?
The Lilly trip was a lot of fun…

Describe your career path since you graduated.
Jim Dube, Director of Pharmacy at UMMC, at the time suggested completing a combined PGY1/PGY2 residency with a concurrent MS degree in Hospital Pharmacy. I matched with Harold Godwin at the University of Kansas Medical.

After graduation I was recruited to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston as an Operations Manager from 1998 – 2001. I then went to the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview as Assistant Director of Pharmacy Operations. I was promoted to Director of Pharmacy about a year later and stayed there until I was recruited as Chief Pharmacy Officer at Cleveland Clinic where I led the pharmacy enterprise consisting of an annual drug budget of $1.4 billion and 1,558 pharmacy FTEs at eleven hospitals in the Cleveland area, five hospitals in Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the Cleveland Clinic sites in Abu Dhabi, UAE and London, England.

After nine years at the Clinic I was recruited to be the Executive Vice President and CEO at APhA where I have been since May, 2020.

Please list any honors or recognitions you have received during your career.
 
John W. Webb lecture Award- This award recognizes a pharmacy practitioner who has fostered excellence in pharmacy administration. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). November, 2019.
ASHP Board of Directors’ Award of Excellence- For advocacy in the national press and with Congress related to unsustainable drug price increases. June, 2017.
Evlyn Gray Scott Award for Excellence in the Practice of Pharmacy- Cleveland Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP). May, 2017.
Harold N. Godwin Leadership Legacy Award- December, 2016. In recognition of outstanding leadership and contributions to the profession of pharmacy by alumni and friends of the University of Kansas residency training programs.
ASHP Award for Outstanding Advocacy- December, 2015.
Distinguished Service Award- ASHP Section of Pharmacy Practice Managers. December, 2015
Honorary Past Resident- University of Wisconsin Pharmacy Residency Program. August, 2013
Fellow American Society of Health-System Pharmacists- June, 2012.
Hugh F. Kabat Award- In recognition of leadership and innovation in Minnesota pharmacy practice. Presented by the Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists, April 17, 2009.
ASHP Executive Vice President’s Award for Courageous Service- Awarded to the Pharmacy staff at the University of Minnesota Medical Center for their response to the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse. Presented February 18, 2008.
University Health-System Consortium (UHC) Excellence in Quality and Safety Award -September, 2005. Project Leader for Fairview Health System.
Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists (TSHP) Pharmacists Recognition Award -“In recognition of continuing efforts to improve the role of the pharmacy technician”. April 1, 2001.
TSHP 2000 Research and Education Foundation Award- “On-Site Continuing Education for Pharmacy Technicians". April 2001.
 
 
If you could give 1 message to future pharmacists, what would it be?
 
We are part of an amazing profession because of the visionary leaders and trailblazers who have gone before us. These clinicians and leaders moved our profession from its humble beginnings in drug distribution to today’s profession of harnessing data and information, direct patient care, and population health management. 
 
We all have a professional obligation to give back to pharmacy and to relentlessly improve patient care. I challenge you to never view your career as a job, to never have a “punch the clock” mentality. I challenge you to embrace the practice of pharmacy as the amazing opportunity that it is and put the patient at the center of every decision you make.
 
Our profession does not advance without advocacy. I encourage you to support your local, state and national pharmacy organizations as they are your voice to drive practice forward for our patients. Without advocacy organizations, laws will not change and practice will be stifled. Together we can keep moving forward. 
Interested in becoming a Preceptor? Contact Dr. Amy Pick for more information!