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College Connections
An electronic newsletter from the College of Pharmacy
March 22, 2024
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Dear Alumni, Colleagues and Friends,
Spring is upon us, and we are halfway through a busy semester at the college. Our students have just returned from spring break, and we are gearing up for the class of 2024 convocation ceremony. Our college admissions committee is in the final stages of onboarding the incoming class of 2028, which is on track to be a full class. Amidst the bustling college activities, we are excited to share the recent accomplishments of our students, faculty, and staff.
In particular, we are ecstatic to announce that the NAPLEX scores for the class of 2023 have been released, revealing that our students have excelled, placing at the top among the 142 accredited pharmacy schools nationwide. Their scores, nearly 20% above the national average, are a testament to the exceptional quality of education consistently provided by our dedicated faculty.
This semester has also seen the realization of a new partnership with the Lebanese American University School of Pharmacy. As part of this collaboration, a cohort of students will travel to Omaha twice a year to complete four APPE rotations in the greater Omaha area. The first cohort of students joined us in February and are now completing their first rotation. We are excited for the opportunity to partner with LAU and look forward to strengthening our partnership through joint faculty engagement and development opportunities.
My Best,
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NAPLEX First-Time Pass Rates
The UNMC College of Pharmacy Class of 2023 excelled with an impressive first-time pass rate of 97.8% in their licensure board exams, securing UNMC's position as the top-ranked program among current accredited institutions.
Demonstrating unparalleled consistency, UNMC has upheld a stellar first-time pass rate of no less than 90% since the NAPLEX became the testing requirement of all 50 states in 2004. To put that in perspective, only five other programs can claim a pass rate exceeding 90% each of the past three years.
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New Face in Student Services
In December 2023, the Dean's office welcomed Evan Sunderman as a Student Services Associate. Evan previously worked in linguistics and intelligence as a member of the United States Air Force.
When he is not helping students, Evan enjoys listening to music, spending time outdoors with his dog, and working on cars.
Welcome to the College Evan!
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Amber Hawk Wins UNMC Gold "U"
College of Pharmacy Director of Admissions & Recruitment Amber Hawk is the latest campus recipient of the UNMC Gold "U" award. Amber's win represents the first Gold "U" for a College of Pharmacy employee since 2011.
The award is given six times a year to employees who consistently deliver outstanding performance and service to UNMC. Amber was presented with the award for her outstanding dedication to future and current students.
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For The Greater Good Campaign
Once again, the College of Pharmacy will be participating in the UNMC and Nebraska Medicine's 24-hour online giving event. Alumni, family, and friends can choose to support college scholarships, programs, and student organizations.
The one day fundraising event will take place on March 27-28, from noon-noon. However, you can start supporting Pharmacy programs today.
Support the College of Pharmacy
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UNMC COP Welcomes Lebanese American University Students
This semester, the UNMC College of Pharmacy extended a warm welcome to ten final-year students from the Lebanese American University School of Pharmacy. These students have embarked on their journey in Omaha to complete their final four Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience rotations. This partnership between UNMC and LAU not only streamlines student experiences in the United States but also fosters new collaborative opportunities for faculty at both institutions.
During orientation month, the students received thorough training in Nebraska pharmacy law, immunization administration, and point-of-care testing. The orientation concluded with a pinning ceremony and reception to mark the beginning of their first Nebraska rotation block.
The students are looking forward to learning from our preceptors and taking some time to explore the United States before they return to Lebanon this summer to graduate with their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from LAU, the only US accredited international school of pharmacy.
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Kappa Psi Takes the Polar Plunge
Eleven members of the UNMC College of Pharmacy Kappa Psi chapter braved the icy, cold water of Lake Zorinsky for this year’s annual Omaha Polar Plunge.
This year, the group raised over $650. All funds raised support the Nebraska Special Olympics.
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Student Appointed to National Committee
Carissa Wilson, a P3 in the college of pharmacy, was recently appointed as a member to the APhA-ASP National Awards Standing Committee.
In this committee, Carissa will take part in selecting and honoring outstanding pharmacy students and APhA-ASP chapters.
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Students Compete in Cross-Cultural AI Challenge
Nine students enrolled in the College's Pharmacogenomics elective had the opportunity to engage in friendly competition with pharmacy students from Yarmouk University, Jordan. Their task was to use AI to generate images representing pharmacogenomics in practice.
Dr. Chris Shaffer, the course coordinator, remarked, "I thought all of the students did a a fabulous job of sharing their vision of pharmacogenomics. It was interesting to me that the US students were focused on the patients while the Jordanian students were more focused on the science".
The entries were evaluated by faculty members from both UNMC and Yarmouk University, with the top three finishers as follows:
- Samantha Hughes- P2 UNMC
- Marten Burke- P2 UNMC
- Gabe Codling- P3 UNMC
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Anthony Podany named director of mentored scholars program
Anthony Podany, PharmD, PhD, has been named director of the Clinical and Translational Research Mentored Scholars Program.
He hopes to grow the community of researchers at UNMC through the CTR-MSP – recruiting early career faculty and developing them as researchers, serving as a mentor, connecting junior researchers to other mentors and sharing his experiences.
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Courtney Fletcher appointed to National Institute of Health
Courtney Fletcher, PharmD, has been appointed to a three-year term on the National Institutes of Health Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council.
Dr. Fletcher, professor, emeritus dean in the UNMC College of Pharmacy, and director of the Antiviral Pharmacology Laboratory at the UNMC Center for Drug Discovery, is a pioneer in HIV/AIDS drug research.
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Dr. Skiermont Takes New Role at Nebraska Medicine
Kyle Skiermont, PharmD, and assistant dean for clinical affairs in the College of Pharmacy, has been promoted to senior vice president of operations. His experience as a pharmacist, a health system leader, and in the business world make him ideally suited for this new role.
In addition to leading the Genetic Insights Project, this expanded role will allow Dr. Skiermont to continue leading Pharmacy and Cancer and will take on leadership responsibilities for Ambulatory, Diagnostic and Procedural services.
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College of Pharmacy Spotlight | |
Highlighting college alumni, students, and/or faculty members! | | |
Today, we highlight Dr. Yimei Huang, a Class of 2015 alumnus, and Marco Pinto, a P4 student graduating in May. | |
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Yimei Huang, PharmD, PhD
Class of 2015
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Where were you born and where did you go to high school?
Chengdu, China
Chengdu Experimental Foreign Languages School
Where did you complete your undergraduate requirements for pharmacy school?
West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University
What is your favorite memory from pharmacy school?
Our Class of 2015 was like a family. The most memorable experience, once clouded by bitterness but now cherished like sweetness, was the pervasive atmosphere of binge-studying before the exams. I am also deeply fond of varieties of professional and personal activities after class, such as IPPE activities under professional organizations (APhA, ASHP), classmates’ weddings, annual Ugly Sweater Party, and campus chorus group.
Describe your career path since you graduated.
As the first pharmacy graduate sponsored by China Scholarship Council, following her graduation from UNMC, Yimei accepted a position as a clinical pharmacist and assistant professor at West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University.
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During that time, she was appointed as adjunct instructor for UNMC College of Pharmacy to set up an APPE acute care international rotation site at her institution. She also served as the liaison and translator for a number of international academic exchange activities.
A few years later, to expand her dimension of professional skills in precision medicine, she pursued a PhD study at University of Florida (UF) College of Pharmacy. Her research was to leverage the power of large-scale clinical, genomics, and proteomics data to improve the precision understanding of heart failure. While pursuing her PhD degree, she maintained her clinical practice at UF Center for Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine, as well as UF Health Shands Hospital. She graduated with PhD in 2023 and continues to be a clinical pharmacist in cardiovascular and neuromedicine field at UF Health Shands Hospital.
Please list any honors or recognitions you have received during your career.
In her role as clinical pharmacist/Assistant Professor at Sichuan University, the Drug Information Service course that she participated in teaching was recognized as Sichuan University English-Taught Signature Course. The clinical pharmacy program at Sichuan University won the Teaching Achievement Award of Sichuan Province.
She was admitted into the PhD program at University of Florida on a Graduate School Preeminence Award, and was the top winner of UF College of Pharmacy 2022 Annual Research Showcase Graduate Student Oral Competition.
She has received travel awards to present her work at several national and international conferences, including American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, American College of Clinical Pharmacy Global Conference, and American Society of Hospital Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting, etc.
If you could give one message to future pharmacists, what would it be?
Opportunities and risks always coexist, every choice comes with a cost, so learn to navigate a time of uncertainty.
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Marco Pinto, PharmD Candidate
Class of 2024
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Where were you born and where did you go to high school?
I was born in Lincoln, NE and attended Lincoln Southeast High School.
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Where did you complete your undergraduate requirements for pharmacy school?
I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I received my degree in biology with a minor in gerontology.
What is your favorite part of pharmacy school?
My favorite part of pharmacy school has been going on rotations and applying the knowledge I’ve learned in the classroom.
Have you decided where you might like to practice when you graduate?
Currently my interests include critical care and psychiatrics. After graduation, I'll be moving to Chicago to complete a PGY1 residency with Swedish Hospital.
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 am thankful for the generosity of all the donors. UNMC consistently trains great pharmacists, and I am proud to become an alumnus in May of next year.
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Recent Faculty Publications | |
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Pharmacist impact on evidence-based prescribing of diabetes medications in patients with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Trueman C., Shin E., Donovan A., McAdam-Marx C., Coan C.
J. Manag Care Spec Pharm 2023 29:12 (1275-1283)
The evolution of small molecule enzyme activators
Dow L.F., Case A.M., Paustian M.P., Pinkerton B.R., Simeon P., Trippier P.C.
RSC. Med. Chem. 2023 14:11 (2206-2230)
Antimalarial Dibenzannulated Medium-Ring Keto Lactam
Ren R., Wang X., Leas D.A., Scheurer C., Hoevel S., Cal M., Chen G., Zhong L., Katneni K., Pham T., Patil R., Sil D., Walters M.J., Schulze T.T., Neville A.J., Dong Y., Wittlin S., Kaiser M., Davis P.H., Charman S.A., Vennerstrom J.L.
ACS Infect. Dis. 2023 9:10 (1964-1980)
Pyrophosphorylated-Cholesterol-Modified Bone-Targeting Liposome Formulation Procedure
Liu Y., Jia Z., Ma L., Wang D.
Methods Mol Biol 2023 2622: (207-220)
Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibitors Enhance Microtubule-Stabilizing and Microtubule-Destabilizing Drugs in Taxane-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells
Souchek J.J., Laliwala A., Houser L., Muraskin L., Vu Q., Mohs A.M.
ACS Pharm. Transl. Sci. 2023 6:12 (1859-1869)
Recent advances in drug delivery and targeting for the treatment of pancreatic cancer
Pramanik N., Gupta A., Ghanwatkar Y., Mahato R.I.
J. Control. Release 2024 366: (231-260)
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Interested in becoming a Preceptor? Contact the OEP office for more information! | | | | |
