Stay in the Know: What's Happening at the Silverman College of Pharmacy

SPRING 2025

I am pleased to share that Nova Southeastern University (NSU) invested Harry K. Moon, M.D., FACS, FRCSED, as its seventh president and chief executive officer on January 31, 2025. Dr. Moon replaces outgoing president and chief executive officer George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D. who served as the sixth President from 2010 through January 1, 2025. Click on this link for highlights of the investiture activities. The Barry and Judy Silverman College Pharmacy looks forward to being part of the future with Dr. Moon as he begins his presidency.

I am excited to announce that NSU was recently designated an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. This is an elite designation given to universities with the highest levels of research activity including research funding exceeding $50 million and more than 70 doctoral degrees awarded. A big congratulations to our researchers in the Silverman College of Pharmacy who have contributed to reaching this designation. For a list of our researchers and areas of research and expertise visit our Faculty Research and Service website.

As we enter the mid-point of the Winter semester, we are celebrating our third-year students and preparing them for their first advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) starting in March. This first APPE will begin their final academic year and allow them to experience the practice of pharmacy and gain professional competencies under the supervision of pharmacy preceptors. They will practice what has been taught and simulated in the classroom and labs, applying those skills to real-life experiences in various hospitals, community pharmacies, and other pharmacy settings. I wish them well as they start this new chapter.

I invite you to read about the highlighted college accomplishments in this newsletter. Please be sure follow us on our social media pages (LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram) to see all our activities in real time.

Go SharksRx!

Michelle A. Clark, Ph.D.

Dean

PharmArts 2025: A Celebration of Creativity and Talent

This year’s annual PharmArts 2025 was a true celebration of the amazing skills and remarkable talents that exist amongst the pharmily from the San Juan Campus. The event occurred at the Colegio de Farmacéuticos de Puerto Rico, and being that it was held on February 13, the event embraced a heartfelt Valentine’s theme. The Student Government Association (SGA) organized the event in collaboration with college administration. Participants displayed their talents through singing, acting, photography, and painting, making the evening a vibrant celebration of passion and artistic expression.

Special performances were given by Jose Pomales, M.B.A., Enrique Nieves, Ph.D., Haylisse Fernandez, Pharm.D. (‘24), Marjorie Lopez, Pharm.D. (‘23), and Daniel Alvarado (’26). The energy in the room was electric, and it was a reminder of how much talent exists within the college. A huge round of applause to all the performers for their hard work and dedication — you truly made this event unforgettable!

Strengthening Community Pharmacy Partnerships

The Silverman College of Pharmacy is taking bold strides to enhance its future by strengthening key community pharmacy partnerships, fostering innovation, and bridging academia with industry leaders.

Publix and CVS, each held a job-fair style event, where they conducted interviews for those interested in obtaining a pharmacy intern job and provided a lunch and learn style presentation for all students. Their presentations were interactive and provided valuable insights into trends in community pharmacy. It was a great opportunity for current leaders to offer guidance to the next generation of pharmacists. Walgreens took a different approach with their visit, and invited students to attend a full-day program with sessions on interview preparation, professional etiquette, and career exploration. After each of the events, our students were buzzing about how valuable the sessions were and how crucial it is to build these connections with community pharmacies early on.

These collaborations come naturally and easily because academia and industry professionals both find tremendous value in fostering future talent. We are deeply grateful for the support from all our community pharmacy partners.

Jamaica Medical Mission

Shortly before the December break Robert McGory, Pharm.D., associate dean, professional program and Elizabeth Shepherd, Pharm.D., assistant dean, strategic partnerships and program development, along with students Maya Ewan (’27) and Jordan Gordon (’26) traveled to Jamaica to provide care to underserved communities on the island. The college has participated in this mission trip twice a year for the last several years and is deeply committed to the endeavor.

The mission is run through ‘Women of H.O.P.E’ an organization whose mission is to empower, develop and provide health education programs and services worldwide to underserved minority communities, to improve their quality of life. As a result of this long-standing commitment, partnerships have been established with the local community that have fostered change. While healthcare in Jamaica is free and generally accessible, there are populations that have significant barriers to overcome when trying to access care. The patients who were seen were able to address health concerns that might have otherwise required months of waiting.

The team from the Silverman College of Pharmacy worked collaboratively with physicians, nurses, medical students, and other healthcare professionals to deliver essential healthcare services. The pharmacy students shared how touched they were by the heartfelt gratitude they received from the patients. Beyond that, they said that the experience was a testament to the power of collaboration and compassion in addressing healthcare disparities in underserved areas.

Take a Moment. Color Your World.

The Silverman College of Pharmacy continues to show its commitment to providing activities which support the overall well-being of our faculty and staff. On February 14, anyone who wanted to participate was invited to meet in the employee lounge and engage in some stress relief at our newly implemented college coloring station. The station has colored pencils, markers, crayons, adult coloring books, and blank sketch pads.The intent is to provide an outlet for people to unwind, reduce their stress, and express themselves artistically.

The event which happened to fall on Valentine’s Day, included cupcakes and sweet treats, and was the perfect opportunity to be creative and connect with one another outside of usual routines. Everyone embraced the chance to color outside the lines and de-stress in a calm, supportive environment. The finished products are displayed on the bulletin board in the employee lounge and remind us of the importance of taking time for ourselves and each other.

Faculty Selected to Inaugural Class of AAPP Fellows

Jose Rey, Pharm.D., interim chair, department of pharmacy practice and professor was selected as a member of the inaugural class of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) Fellows.

The AAPP Fellows program recognizes members who have demonstrated excellence in advancing the practice of psychiatric pharmacy and have distinguished themselves in advancing the mission and goals of AAPP, thereby promoting public awareness of this pharmacy specialty. Dr. Rey met the criteria of having maintained membership in AAPP for 10 or more years, significant service to AAPP, evidence of knowledge, experience, and expertise, and demonstrated leadership in the specialty by contributing to education, research, and/or advocacy. He will be recognized at the 2025 AAPP Annual Meeting on April 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City.

Faculty Leading HIV Research Efforts

A paper written by Elizabeth Sherman, Pharm.D. (’07), associate professor, department of pharmacy practice recently received an unexpected honor. Her paper “Consensus recommendations for use of long-acting antiretroviral medications in the treatment and prevention of HIV-1” was the second most downloaded paper of 2024 from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy’s journal, Pharmacotherapy.

The purpose of paper and the recommendations outlined is to provide guidance for the clinical use of five long-acting antiretrovirals for HIV-1 treatment and prevention. This recognition reflects the relevance and the quality of the work, and the way it resonates with scholars, practitioners, and students alike. Accolades such as this celebrate Dr. Sherman’s expertise and elevate the reputation of the Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, reinforcing its role as a hub for innovative and high-impact scholarship.

Silverman College of Pharmacy Research Looks Into Space

Benedict Albensi, Ph.D., chair, department of pharmaceutical sciences and professor is taking his research efforts to new heights with the publication, “Monitoring inflammatory, immune system mediators, and mitochondrial changes related to brain metabolism during space flight”. The paper published in Frontiers in Immunology, is gaining momentum and was recently listed on the Broad Institute website.

The Broad Institute is a multidisciplinary community of researchers on a mission to improve health. This important review paper discusses the importance of monitoring inflammatory and immune system mediators such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), and mitochondrial changes related to brain metabolism.

The project, following the Broad Institute’s mission of bringing together a wide range of researchers and perspectives, includes Pharm.D. student Darcy Tocci, (‘26), alumni Gabrielle Hopkins, Pharm.D. (’24), Mohammad Sabbir, Ph.D. from NSU’s College of Psychology, a former NASA astronaut and a faculty member from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as representatives from University of Vienna and the University of Manitoba. The team has identified the possibility of impaired cognitive functions during deep space flight missions or while living on a Martian colony as a critical point of concern.

Engaging with Network of Minority Health Research Investigators

Several faculty members and graduate students from the sociobehavioral and administrative pharmacy department attended the Annual Network of Minority Health Research Investigators Southern Workshop at Florida International University in Miami, FL.

The network, which falls under the NIH/NIDDK umbrella, is a group of multidisciplinary investigators who conduct a wide range of minority health biomedical research to improve the nation’s health. Alexandra Perez, Pharm.D. (‘05) served as a planning board member for the workshop

Haifa Alharbi, Pharm.D. and Ph.D. candidate, Yasser Alharbi, Pharm.D. and Ph.D candidate, and Patrick Sullivan, Ph.D. were the presenters at the meeting. Dr. Sullivan delivered a podium presentation titled “Comparing Health-Related Quality of Life Scores of Mexican Americans in the US to Mexicans in Mexico with Diabetes or chronic kidney disease”. Dr. Y. Alharbi presented a poster titled: “Evaluation of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

by Racial/Ethnic Groups in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence from NIH all of us Database”. Dr. H. Alharbi delivered a podium presentation titled “Depression and Financial Hardship From Medical Bills Among Adults With Diabetes in the United States” and won the clinical award for the project she presented.

Attending the meeting to support their peers and network with the other 50+ faculty members from several universities in the southern states were Ioana Popovici, Ph.D., Silvia Rabionet, Ph.D., and Jun Wu, Ph.D. Dean Michelle A. Clark, Ph.D. also attended the conference and presented on research at NSU and the Silverman College of Pharmacy.

Melissa Jimenez, Pharm.D. - Instructor/Academic Facilitator

Melissa Zonis, B.S. - Academic Program Coordinator

NSU Team Places in the Top 10 at ASHP Clinical Skills Competition

We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Olivia Hanna (‘25) and Janiel Tulloch (‘25), making NSU the only pharmacy school in Florida to place among the top 10 finalists at the ASHP 29^th Annual Clinical Skills Competition in New Orleans, LA this past December. Their dedication, hard work, and exceptional teamwork were evident throughout the competition, as they demonstrated advanced clinical knowledge, critical thinking, and strong patient care skills. This accomplishment highlights their commitment to excellence and reinforces the high standard of training they are receiving at NSU. Olivia and Janiel would like to acknowledge Jaime Riskin, Pharm.D. (‘03) for her dedication to the local clinical skills competition.

We couldn’t be more proud of Olivia and Janiel and the way they represented our program on a national stage!

Puerto Rico Holiday Health Fair

The student chapter of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) at the San Juan Campus proudly hosted a Holiday Health Fair in Patillas, Puerto Rico at the end of the fall semester. The student leaders collaborated with college administration, the Student Government Association (SGA), and the American Pharmacist Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) on this impactful event which provided valuable health services and resources to over 300 community members. It was amazing to see families, friends, and neighbors taking part in the activities, learning new information, and connecting with local health resources. Events like this are a true reflection of our college’s commitment to foster wellness, engage with the community and make meaningful connections.

Student Selected as Regional Ambassador with ASCP

Ana De Jesus (’26) was selected to serve as a regional ambassador for the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). This leadership opportunity is designed specifically for those students with an interest in geriatric pharmacy and aims to promote senior care pharmacy and ASCP to colleges of pharmacy in their region.

Ana’s interests are aligned with this role, as she has a strong commitment to advancing patient care and raising awareness of the unique needs of the geriatric population. In this role she is expected to serve as a liaison between pharmacy students and local, regional, and national organizations of ASCP with specific responsibilities including communicating information, collecting and sharing feedback, attending student chapter meetings, working with local organizations to host events, collaborating with other ambassadors/industry leaders/ASCP leadership, and supporting ASCP national committees with program development.

This remarkable achievement highlights Ana’s dedication and leadership to geriatric pharmacy, and it also sets a strong example for other students and paves the way for future leadership opportunities for Ana at the national association level.

Preparing for the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

The Office of Experiential Education has been busy preparing Pharm.D. students from the Class of 2026 for their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations. Each student’s APPE schedule consists of four core rotations: (1) Advanced Hospital Practice, (2) Advanced Community Practice, (3) Internal Medicine, and (4) Ambulatory Care. In addition, students must select three elective rotations from direct patient care and non-patient care settings. Students have the option to select an additional elective to include a total of eight rotations.

A series of lectures was provided to the students at the beginning of the APPE preparation process, focused on selecting rotations based upon career development. Additionally, PGY-1 resident Karla Rivera-Muniz Pharm.D., (’24), and current students Shemroy McCarthy B.S. Pharm. (’25), Paola Reyes Serrano (’25), Gustavo Deliz Torres (’25), and Jasmine Wade (’25) spoke to the class of 2026 about their rotation experiences and how it has shaped their career plans and goals. They further emphasized to the P3s the importance of keeping an open mind about one’s career path, exploring areas of opportunity for improvement, and prioritizing exposure to one’s preferred pharmacy practice setting. Students from the class of 2026 used this knowledge to make informed decisions when making their rotation selections as part of the APPE scheduling process. Block 1 begins on March 31, 2025, and the students are very excited to begin their final year of education in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

The Legislative Task Force (LTF) is a student-led group that advocates for health care advancement by expanding the role of the pharmacist, improving patient care, and educating students in health care advancement. Members of the LTF spend a significant amount of time learning about Florida legislature and policies related to pharmacy, as well as how to communicate with state senators and representatives. These training courses are conducted in preparation for students to attend the Florida Legislative Session and participate in the Florida Pharmacist Association Legislative Days. While in Tallahassee, students meet face-to-face with the legislators to ensure the pharmacy profession remains relevant, pharmacy jobs are protected, and patients remain safe. This year’s trip was led by LTF President, Bre-Anna Lyn (‘26) with guidance from faculty mentors Melissa Santibanez, Pharm.D. (’15) and Matthew Seamon, Pharm.D., J.D.

Members of the LTF, in conjunction with colleagues from all the Florida colleges of Pharmacy advocated to protect pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and students’ future by opposing a bill that would have allowed for technician remote dispensing of medications. If pharmacists are not physically present within the pharmacy where the technicians fill and dispense medications, there is a greater risk for increased medication errors and patient safety could be jeopardized. Another bill that was opposed aimed to prevent pharmacists and physicians from working together to improve the lives of patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease, or arrhythmias under a collaborative practice agreement. The collective group made strides in drafting a bill for reimbursement of pharmacist’s services that are already offered to the public. Our students were absolutely amazing! They showed those in Tallahassee that they are leaders, innovators, and influencers on the future of pharmacy. Congratulations to LTF on another successful year!

Mansour Almuqbil, Ph.D. (’16) has started a new position as Professor at College of Pharmacy at King Saud University.

Sweta Bhalodia, Pharm. D. (‘09) has started a new position as Sr. Manager at CVS Specialty.

Leah Bensimon, Pharm.D. (‘17) has started a new position as Director, Clinical Research Collaborations at Bristol Myers Squibb.

Juanetziel Charneco, Pharm.D. (’22) has started a new position as Pharmacy Manager at Walgreens.

Anaida Davila, Pharm.D. (‘24) has started a new position as Clinical Pharmacist at Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital.

Osmel “Ozzie” Delgado, Pharm.D. (‘02) has been appointed to Chief Executive Officer of the Florida International University HealthCare Network (FIS Health) and Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

Shreyan Dwivedi, Pharm.D. (‘19) has started a new position as a Staff Pharmacist at Walmart.

Danielle Flaa, Pharm.D. (‘20) has started a new position as PGY2 Oncology Residency Program Coordinator at Alina Health.

Sherin George, Pharm.D. (‘16) has started a new position Special Project Assignment: User Acceptance Testing at Walmart Home Office.

Nahomi Guzman, Pharm.D. (‘23) has been promoted to Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner – Acute Care at West Palm Beach VA Medical Center.

Alicia Harvey, Pharm.D. (‘13) received a 2024 U.S. Excellence Award from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Aneesh Lakhani, Pharm.D. ('04) was elected as President-Elect of the Florida Pharmacy Association.

Pablo Lapetina, Pharm.D. (‘20) has been promoted to Senior Medical Science Liaison at Karius.

Katie Lutty, Pharm.D. (‘18) has started a new position as Senior Medical Science Liaison at ViiV Healthcare.

Kaleed Mohammed, Pharm.D. (‘09) has started a new position as Interim Regional Lab Manager at Broward Health.

Irvin Molina, Pharm.D. (‘11) has been promoted to Director of Clinical Pharmacy at IPD Analytics.

Mohannad Nasser, Pharm.D. (’21) has started a new position as Infectious Disease Clinical Pharmacist at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center.

Tenim Novoa, Pharm.D. ('13) was elected as Region 9 Director of the Florida Pharmacy Association.

Emily Ortiz, Pharm.D. (’24) has started a new position as Staff Pharmacist at Amazon Pharmacy.

Grethel Pavon, Pharm.D. (‘24) has started a new position as Pharmacist at Hialeah Hospital.

Brittan Petrosky, Pharm.D. (‘15) has started a new position as Clinical Pharmacy Specialist Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Aultman Health Foundation.

Manasi Pimpley, Ph.D. (‘18) has started a new position as Senior Scientist, Field Applications Support at PacBio.

Marco Ramirez, Pharm.D. (’19) has started a new position as Clinical Pharmacist at Orlando Rehabilitation Hospital.

S. T. Sababa, Pharm.D. (‘19) has started a new position as Pharmacy Manager at Walgreens.

Ismarie Santiago Rivera, Pharm.D. (‘22) has started a new position as Pharmacy Manager at Cardinal Health.

Rayshri Sukul, Pharm.D. (‘19) has been promoted to Registered Group Supervisor at Centralized Services at Walgreens.

Parvathy Varma, Pharm.D. (‘19) has started a new position as Senior Manager, Global Medical Affairs at Gilead Sciences.

We would love to feature your professional achievements! Please email us with updates to copalumni@nova.edu

SharksRX Alumni Legacy Fund

The SharksRx Alumni Society created the legacy fund to support the College through the knowledge, skills, and financial resources needed to invest in the future of pharmacy education. The Society's goal is to grow student scholarship opportunities. You can help meet this goal by supporting the SharksRx Alumni Legacy Fund. Your contributions help the next generation of pharmacists in perpetuity. For more information on the Legacy Tree contact Carla Luque, Pharm.D., assistant dean, student services. To purchase an engraved leaf with your inscription click here.

Upcoming Continuing Pharmacy Education Programs

The Silverman College of Pharmacy provides a variety of training programs and workshops. Currently, the following programs are being offered:

Critical Care Symposium

Saturday, March 22 2025

Registration

2025 NSU Contemporary Pharmacy Issues Conference

Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4, 2025

Registration

Silverman College of Pharmacy Alumni events, training/workshops, and Continuing Education courses are listed on the Silverman College of Pharmacy website.

The NSU Alumni Association (NSUAA) hosts a variety of programs and events to keep you involved and active throughout the year. Please check the NSUAA website for more information.