College Connections
An Electronic newsletter from the College of Pharmacy
January 29, 2021
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It is hard imagining that a year has gone by since we first heard the words coronavirus and COVID-19. Many things have changed in how we educate our future pharmacists.
During the month of January, we have conducted our classes remotely, but as February approaches, we are brining students back to campus to resume our on-site learning.
With the vaccine roll-out in late December, the college received numerous requests for our faculty and students to participate in
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the administration of the vaccines. We have been active participants at Nebraska Medicine vaccine clinics and in a number of long-term care facilities in eastern Nebraska.A big shout out to Amy Pick, PharmD for coordinating all of these requests and actively participating in vaccine administration.
We are so thankful for our alumni and preceptors who stepped forward to help the College during the pandemic.
Best wishes for a fantastic 2021!
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College of Pharmacy
Advisory Board
During the first week of December, the College virtually hosted our inaugural Advisory Board. The Board consists of distinguished alumni ranging from clinicians, entrepreneurs, to business and professional organization executives. The Board was formed to assist the College in preparing for the next generation of pharmacists and provide insight and direction to research enterprise.
Board members include:
Joni Cover -Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at NASPA
Mitch Deines -Owner of Deines Pharmacy
Carla Frye -Long term care consultant in Hebron, NE
Susanne Hiland -Senior Director, Patient Safety Organization and Growth at Walmart
Paul Jarosz -Owner of Jarosz Consulting
Scott Knoer -EVP/CEO American Pharmacists Association
Robert (Bob) P. Marshall -Former Executive Director of the NPA and CPhA
Ken Phelps -President, Co-Founder at Camargo Pharmaceutical Services
Varner Richards -Owner of Intramed Plus
David Warner -Director, Center on Practice Development and Senior Consultant at ASHP
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College of Pharmacy participates in annual Adopt a Family Program
As in years past, the College of Pharmacy participated in Nebraska Medicine's Adopt a Family program. The program, run by Nebraska Medicine's Social Work Department, provides support to families in need during the holiday season. Those in need range from families with several children with financial challenges to individuals who are ill and/or alone.
This year, students, faculty, and staff donated more than $550 to support our adopted family!
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Drs. Ronning and Li receive Team Jack Award |
Drs. Don Ronning and Rongshi Li along with their collaborator from UNMC have received a Team Jack award to better understand the mechanism of action of a drug developed by Dr. Li. This compound shows remarkable activity against aggressive childhood brain tumors and this work will help us to better understand that anti-tumor activity. The support from Team Jack also affords additional pre-clinical studies to support advancement of this compound to clinical trials. |
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Distinguished Teaching Award |
Paul Dobesh, PharmD, was named the 2020 winner of the College of Pharmacy’s Distinguished Teaching Award. It is voted on annually by P2s, P3s, and P4s. In a video tribute, several students cracked open aluminum cans in celebration. The gesture was nonalcoholic; it's a running joke that Dr. Dobesh will kick off a lecture by opening the first -- of many to come, no doubt -- of his trademark Diet Mt. Dews.
"In a year of a lot of disappointments, this is a very bright moment for me," said Dr. Dobesh, who accepted the award without ceremony, or an applauding crowd. Like many things in 2020, the trophy presentation was virtual-video and socially distant.
"This year has been full of unprecedented challenges," said P4 class president, Matt Mallisee. "Each and every one of us has had to face a combination of personal, professional and academic problems. Through it all, Dr. Dobesh continued to connect and educate as he always has.”
"It's very humbling," Dr. Dobesh said. "There are so many great educators in this college. Thank you to everyone that I work with who makes me better."
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Recent Faculty Publications |
Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship study of novel urea compounds as FGFR1 inhibitors to treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
Ashraf-Uz-Zaman M., Shahi S., Akwii R., Sajib M.S., Farshbaf M.J., Kallem R.R., Putnam W., Wang W., Zhang R., Alvina K., Trippier P.C., Mikelis C.M., German N.A.
Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2021 209
Dexamethasone prodrug nanomedicine (ZSJ-0228) treatment significantly reduces lupus nephritis in mice without measurable side effects — A 5-month study
Zhao Z., Jia Z., Foster K.W., Wei X., Qiao F., Jiang H., Jin Y., Li G., Chen N., Zhao G., Thiele G.M., Medlin J.L., O'Dell J.R., Wang D.
Nanomed. Nanotechnol. Biol. Med. 2021 31
Pharmacologic approaches to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders
Avedissian S.N., Dyavar S.R., Fox H.S., Fletcher C.V.
Curr. Opin. Pharmacol. 2020 54: (102-108)
Managed Care Pharmacy Research on Inappropriate Opioid Use Interventions
Hertzog L.L., McAdam-Marx C., Happe L.E.
J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2020 26:10 (1199-1202)
Coagulopathy, Venous Thromboembolism, and Anticoagulation in Patients with COVID-19
Dobesh P.P., Trujillo T.C.
Pharmacotherapy 2020:
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Pharmacy students help deliver vaccinations |
College of Pharmacy students are among those preparing and administering the first COVID-19 vaccinations to their fellow Nebraskans.
More than 40 UNMC pharmacy students have volunteered to be a part of Community Pharmacy Services' "Project HUG," an effort to immunize residents and patients at more than 140 skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living facilities across Nebraska and Iowa.
The UNMC students have played a huge role in the eventual return to normal life for these elderly Nebraskans, said Mackenzie Farr, PharmD, chief operating officer of Community Pharmacy Services, and a UNMC College of Pharmacy alumnus herself.
Student Ashley Bogus said it is especially satisfying to finally be able to make a difference during the pandemic.
"As students, it's been really hard to sit back since March," she said. "It's been hard to focus on classes when so much is going on. Now, we are able to do something about it, and show people what pharmacists can do."
Community Pharmacy Services, based out of Gretna, Nebraska, already had contracts to service the facilities, and were brought in by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state of Nebraska, to administer COVID-19 vaccines as well.
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Community Pharmacy's Wade Hoefer, PharmD, another COP alumnus, called Amy Pick, PharmD, Assistant Dean for Experiential Education in the college. And UNMC sent in the cavalry.
"It's a partnership," said P3 student Tori Cunning. "We were definitely the information relayers; it's a rapidly changing thing." Together, they coordinate that "each nursing home that needed a vaccine had adequate volunteers."
"We've learned a lot of flexibility," Bogus added. "We've had to pivot what we do, had to change our communication styles and our leadership styles."
The students also worked with each onsite supervising pharmacist to not only administer the shots, but prepare the doses. They use the Pfizer vaccine, which requires precise preparation and handling.
To in a sense come to the rescue for people during a pandemic can be emotional, Dr. Pick said.
"It's wonderful to see a sense of joy and hope in people," she said. "To see the residents have some hope in this COVID era."
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College of Pharmacy Spotlight |
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Highlighting a college alumni, student, and/or faculty member! |
Nizar was nominated to be featured in the College of Pharmacy Spotlight for the work he provided to the NPA while on rotation with Dr. Ally Dering-Anderson.
What was your role in the medical cannabis workgroup?
During my pharmacy regulation rotation, I was honored with the opportunity to work with the NPA's medical cannabis workgroup. Our goal was to explore the current laws and regulations regarding to the pharmacist's role in legalized medical cannabis states. Our hope is to establish a safe and effective algorithm that would allow specific patients access to medical cannabis in the state of Nebraska upon state approval of a medical cannabis amendment.
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Where were you born and where did you go to high school?
I was born in Haifa, Israel and moved to the United States in 2004. I attended Kearney
Catholic High school and graduated in 2014.
Where did you complete your undergraduate requirements for pharmacy school?
I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
What is your favorite part of pharmacy school?
My favorite part of pharmacy school is the ability to take my didactic learning and apply it into practice during various rotations.
Have you decided where you might like to practice when you graduate?
Throughout pharmacy school I have thoroughly enjoyed my rotations in the ambulatory care specialties, internal medicine, and transplant fields. Upon graduation, I hope to pursue a career in one of these settings.
If you could send a brief message to all of the people who donate to the UNMC College of Pharmacy, what would you say?
I would like to sincerely thank you for sponsoring an essential part of my pharmacy journey. Your support opens up many new opportunities for pharmacy students and your contributions enable us to pursue our future ambitions. I am one of many grateful students who is truly inspired by your generosity. Thank you.
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Interested in becoming a Preceptor? Contact Dr. Amy Pick for more information!
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