This Week@WesternU, Nov. 25-27, 2024

Nov. 25-27, 2024

WesternU College of Dental Medicine honors longtime supporters Josephine Yeong and Dr. Kon Leung

Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Dental Medicine named its recently updated and expanded dental simulation center in honor of longtime supporters Josephine Yeong and Kon Leung, DDS.

CDM held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in WesternU California’s Health Education Center for the J & K Dental Simulation Center on Nov. 14, 2024.

“Josephine Yeong and Dr. Kon Leung, your contributions are about so much more than just a physical space. Through your support over the last 15 years, you have helped CDM transform the way we prepare future dental professionals,” said CDM Dean Elizabeth Andrews, DDS, MS. “You have made it possible for CDM to create a place where students can practice, learn, and build confidence in a safe, innovative environment that mirrors the best way to impact the future of oral health care.”

WesternU Oregon students participate in 10th Annual WesternU Oregon Research Symposium

More than 45 students from Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Health Sciences-Northwest (CHS-Northwest) and College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) participated in the 10th Annual Research Symposium on Nov. 15, 2024. This event was hosted by the WesternU Oregon Research Club in collaboration with the WesternU Department of Research and Biotechnology.

Megan MacDonald, PhD, from Oregon State University, and Nicholas Tedesco, DO, FAAOS, with Samaritan Medical Group, provided keynote presentations. Dr. MacDonald’s presentation, “The Holistic Impact of Physical Activity Behavior in Daily Living for Children for Disabilities,” examined the effects of adaptive physical therapy on children with disabilities. In Dr. Tedesco’s presentation, “Valuing Research: My Story,” he provided an overview of his experiences performing research and provided advice on how to pursue research after graduation.

CHS-Northwest news

CHS-Northwest Assistant Professor Neha Dewan, PT, MPT, PhD, in collaboration with her colleagues, published three new papers:

Liougas MP, Sommerlad A, O'Rourke HM, Chapman H, Dewan N, McGilton KS, Bethell J. Assessing social connection for long-term care home residents: A scoping review of measure content. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2024 Sep 23;10(3):e12488. PMID: 39315314; PMCID: PMC11418406. The open-access paper is freely available at https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.12488

Chapman H, Bethell J, Dewan N, Liougas MP, Livingston G, McGilton KS, Sommerlad A. Social connection in long-term care homes: a qualitative study of barriers and facilitators. BMC Geriatr. 2024 Oct 22;24(1):857. PMID: 39438797; PMCID: PMC11494782. The open-access paper is freely available at DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05454-8

Weiler, M., Whiting, A., Sajid, W., Dewan, N., & Dutta, T. (2024). Accessibility of national parks and other natural protected areas for people with disabilities: a scoping review of the academic literature. World Leisure Journal, 1–28. The open-access paper is freely available at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2024.2413069

College of Pharmacy news

Dr. Jason Wong serves as group leader for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' (ASHP) Section of Community Pharmacy Practitioner, Section Advisory Group on Education, Communication, and Training and recorded a podcast that is now officially on the ASHP website. There are very limited open-access pharmacy student resources that discuss well-being and resilience. Dr. Wong is a member of the WELSA faculty team for COP, and he was honored to have contributed with student pharmacists to advocate for this important topic at a national professional association.

"Student Well-being and Resilience: A Conversation with PharmD Candidates" featuring Dr. Wong and COP student Deema Nasla along with three students from other pharmacy schools. This podcast serves as a starting point for discussing student well-being and resilience. A panel of students from various backgrounds, geographic COP locations, and times in their pharmacy career journey discussed mental health, work/life/family balance, self-care, and support systems to improve overall well-being.

Pharmacy Practice and Administration faculty were recently very active at the recent CSHP Seminar meeting in Palm Springs:

Dr. Joelle Ayoub provided a CV Pearls Workshop for student programming.

Drs. Anthony Sengul, John Andraos and Joelle Ayoub gave a presentation on continuous glucose monitors titled "Adapting To Change: An Interactive Overview of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)."

Dr. John Andraos gave a presentation titled "Pharmacogenomics & Opioids: A Practice Using CPIC Guidelines to Understand Pharmacogenomic Considerations for Opioid Therapy” with Dr. Alexa Andraos and another presentation titled “How to Answer Weight Management Questions You’re ZepBOUND to Get” with Drs. Alexa Andraos and Shilpa Krishnan.

Dr. Rebecca Tran gave a 1-hr CE presentation: “Drugs of Abuse: Acute and Chronic Effects on the Heart.”

Dr. Jignesh Patel gave a 1-hour CE Presentation: “Updates on the Treatment of Hepatorenal Syndrome: Meet the Newest Kid on the American Block.”

Dr. Patrick Chan was senior author for two posters that included co-author Dr. Jignesh Patel and involved several COP students as co-authors as well: Sin P, Huynh D, Guevara A, Inoue T, Abdelmasih V, Patel J, Chan P. Assessment of Inpatient and Discharge Medications for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS), AWS Assessments, Counseling and Outpatient Referrals.

Huynh D, Sin P, Guevara A, Inoue T, Abdelmasih V, Patel J, Chan P. Analysis of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Medications at Discharge and Factors Associated with Alcohol-Related Readmission.

PPAD Health Economics, Outcomes Research and Managed Care Fellow Dr. Jeongmin (Hana) Kim moderated the session “Cardiovascular Conundrums - Thrombolytics for Pulmonary Embolism, the Pharmacist’s Role in Ventricular Assist Device Management, and Heart Failure Myth Busting.”