Charles Krobot, PharmD, who died June 27 at 73, was so beloved within the College of Pharmacy that one of his colleagues thought it was the perfect running joke to refer to Dr. Krobot as his "arch nemesis."

The irony was obvious.

"I have never met a better man," said Joseph Vetro, PhD, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences.

It's a sentiment widely shared within the College of Pharmacy, UNMC community and beyond.

"There are some people who touch your heart just by being who they are," said colleague Ally Dering-Anderson, PharmD.

"A kind and ethical professor and a prince of a human being," said vice chancellor for external relations Bob Bartee.

"He was a mentor without even trying, just by the way he lived his life," said Tom Davis, PharmD, Nebraska Medicine's lead pharmacist, outpatient and oncology.

"A gentleman educator, a professional with integrity and purpose," said Sam Augustine, PharmD, professor of pharmacy practice at Creighton University.

"Charlie was a beloved faculty member and friend who impacted countless students in his role as the associate dean," said dean Keith Olsen, PharmD.

Dr. Krobot died June 27 following a six-month fight against cancer, according to his Omaha World-Herald obituary.

There will be no public services, but memorials in his honor can be made to the Charles Krobot Pharmacy Student Scholarship fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation.

He worked as a pharmacist for 45 years.

Dr. Krobot took a number of bold turns during his career. He already was a registered pharmacist when, at 35, he decided to go back to school and get his doctorate -- his PharmD degree, at UNMC. He then worked "on the floor" at Clarkson Hospital, overseeing a satellite pharmacy that prepared chemotherapy medications for cancer patients. He later became a part-time faculty member at UNMC and earned teaching accolades.

But in 2003, he got the call to become the College of Pharmacy's associate dean for academic affairs. Now-dean emeritus Clarence Ueda, PharmD, PhD, was pleased to have Dr. Krobot at UNMC.

"Charlie was one of the most respected pharmacists in the state," Dr. Ueda said.

Dr. Ueda's successor as dean, Courtney Fletcher, PharmD, agreed, "He was kind, caring and compassionate," Dr. Fletcher said. "He was a fine man; he was my friend -- and the college, our students and I will miss him terribly."

Dr. Krobot was a former president of the Nebraska Pharmacists Association and was instrumental in re-writing the state's pharmacy regulations in the late 1990s. He also was active in merging the old Nebraska Pharmacists Association with the former Nebraska Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Dr. Dering-Anderson said.

College of Pharmacy Faculty Promotions

Congratulations to Don Klepser, Ph.D., M.B.A., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Yazen Alnouti, Ph.D., faculty member in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences on their promotions to professor.   Yashpal Chhonker, Ph.D., research faculty member in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science and Denis Svechkarev, Ph.D., research faculty member in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences were promoted to Research Assistant Professor.

Office of Experiential Programs welcomes Shelby Bennett

Shelby Bennett joined the College on June 1st as a Clinical Assistant Professor in both the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science and the Office of Experiential Programs. Her service to the Office of Experiential Programs includes preceptor development, experiential site visits, and management of student introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs).

 

Dr. Bennett earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Creighton University. She completed a PGY-1 community-based pharmacy residency with the University of Kansas and Balls Food Stores in Overland Park, Kansas. She holds a teaching certificate from The University of Kansas Health System.

Ally Dering-Anderson selected as recipient of the Spirit of Community Service Award

Jennifer Foster, Pharm.D., saw an urgent need for hand sanitizer at her practice at One World Community Health Centers, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. So she and her College of Pharmacy colleague, Gary Cochran, Pharm.D., gathered a few ingredients and put them together using pharmacy drug compounding techniques, under Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.

In the weeks that followed, pharmacy students produced hand sanitizer for Munroe-Meyer Institute, the College of Dentistry, home care agencies, nursing homes, construction companies, dental offices, homeless shelters, rehabilitation centers, training facilities, and UNMC maintenance facilities.

It's made a difference during this pandemic.

"Here at MMI, where we still provide direct patient services, supplies such as these are especially necessary," said Karoly Mirnics, M.D., Ph.D., director of MMI. "MMI's deepest gratitude goes to UNMC's pharmacy students. Their help is essential for our activities as we continue to provide critical services to our families. Without their efforts, we could not operate safely."

The pharmacy students have a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds so the college may provide more free hand sanitizer to organizations that need it. Contributions may be made here.