Fall 2023 Newsletter

This issue kicks off with the White Coat Ceremony, initiating the latest Pharm.D. class into the professional program. We introduce our four 2023 faculty hires, who bring expertise in neuropharmacology, health outcomes research, and medication therapy management. Our longstanding experiential education director has been promoted to the Associate Dean level, and has already played a key role in alumni relations in addition to his experiential work. The College is also growing new leaders via the AACP Leadership Fellows Program, Pharm.D. student organizations such as SNPhA, and novel mentorship programs. Our M.S. and Ph.D. students are making a name for themselves while advancing their research fields, and our faculty have reached unprecedented heights in extramural funding. The College continues to be recognized nationally for its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and volunteerism. Thank you for your continued interest in and support of the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati.

The Class of 2027 was the latest to be ushered into the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy professional program during an August 2023 ceremony. Each year the incoming class of Doctor of Pharmacy students achieve their first milestone on their journey to becoming a pharmacist during our annual White Coat Ceremony. During the ceremony, each student receives an alumni-sponsored white coat. The coat is a symbol of caring, compassion and service. Every time a student puts on their white coat, they are one step closer to becoming a pharmacist. While everyone takes a different path to get to our program, all have the same goal of becoming a pharmacist. This is showcased throughout the ceremony and is represented when students wear their white coats. 

New Faculty

Dr. Anna Kruyer, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Anna is originally from West Chester, OH. She completed her PhD in New York City at the Rockefeller University, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Most of Anna's research to date has focused on transcriptional, epigenetic, electrophysiological and morphological adaptations within neurons to understand drug addiction and relapse. Dr. Kruyer and her lab use single cell approaches to characterize astroglial subpopulations within the basal ganglia, the collection of brain nuclei that orchestrate motivated behaviors, including drug seeking. Her research is supported by a recently awarded NIH K01 grant.

Dr. Davide Amato, Research Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Davide combines a broad number of methods including in vivo imaging and ex vivo electrophysiology to study the molecular and neural mechanisms of psychotropic drugs (specifically psychostimulants and antipsychotic medications) and to understand how glutamate-dopamine co-regulation at cortico-accumbal synapses impacts D2 receptor medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) and contributes to pre, post and perisynaptic plasticity to alter behavior. His most significant contributions in this field include: 1) individuation of a subpopulation of accumbens core D2-MSNs that actively promote cocaine and antipsychotic cross-sensitization. These data are relevant to understanding precise mechanisms of a critical side effect following chronic antipsychotic treatment, behavioral supersensitivity. 2) Development of an animal model of deficient extinction learning and enhanced relapse using a classic instrumental behavioral protocol, revealing a new potential side effect of abrupt discontinuation of antipsychotic treatment. 3) Individuation of new molecular mechanisms underlying antipsychotic efficacy and failure, describing the dopamine transporter as a therapeutic target to rescue antipsychotic failure. His current work describes the basic functions of D2-MSNs, their regulation by different inputs, and their relevance for drug addiction, neurological disorders and psychiatric conditions. 

Dr. Amber Lloyd, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice​

Amber is from St. Louis, MO. She received a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Missouri-Kansas before earning her PharmD at the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy. After graduation, she completed a community-based pharmacy residency in Dallas then completed her PGY2 residency in ambulatory care at UC Health. Amber has a strong passion for serving the underserved and mentoring, fulfilled through her community outreach involvement as well as the patients she has provided care for during her residencies. In her spare time, she loves spoiling her 7-month-old daughter Ava and spending time with family and friends. 

Dr. Xiaomo (Shawn) Xiong, Assistant Professor of Administrative Science

Shawn's primary area of research centers on health outcomes research using real-world data (RWD) and Big Data, as well as economic modeling for cost-effectiveness analysis. Specifically, he has extensive proficiency in handling a wide spectrum of RWD, including data from insurance claims, survey responses, and electronic health records (EHRs). His enthusiasm currently lies in the integration of machine learning and deep learning models into the field of health outcomes research. This enthusiasm stems from his ambition to create rigorously validated models that can improve the quality of life in health-related contexts and optimize medication therapy management. Before joining the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, he earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes from the University of South Carolina. Additionally, he holds a master's degree in pharmacoeconomics and a Bachelor's degree in economics, with a focus on pharmaceutical sciences, from the China Pharmaceutical University.  

Dr. Gary Gudelsky, Professor of Pharmacology, has retired from the College after 28 years of service. For many years, Dr. Gudelsky taught pharmacology to PY1 students, offered a popular elective class on substances of abuse, and carried out research on the neuropharmacology and neurotoxicity of hallucinogenic agents, notably MDMA ("ecstasy"). 

Dr. Gudelsky is the longest-standing chairperson in the history of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Division and positively influenced the professional development of dozens of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, college staff and faculty colleagues. Gary’s leadership style was truly “management by walking around”, a feature that endeared him to his colleagues. We are fortunate that he will continue as Professor Emeritus and finish a NIH-supported research project over the next 1-2 years.

New Associate Dean

In March of 2023, Dr. Michael Doherty, BS Pharm, PharmD was appointed as the Associate Dean for Experiential Education, Academic Success and Alumni Affairs. Dr. Doherty has been a faculty member at the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy since 1999, and has served as the Director of Experiential Education since 2006 and the Academic Success Coordinator since 2022. He has also served as the APhA-ASP advisor since 2000. In his new role he will be overseeing the experiential and academic success programs, supporting Dean Surratt in the development of strategic engagement opportunities, and working to expand alumni communications and offerings.

Harshita Kumari, Ph.D.​, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, has been chosen as a 2023 ​AACP Leadership Fellow.

Dr. Kumari started at the University of Cincinnati in 2015 as a tenure-track assistant professor. She started two new programs in her first year, including an annual outreach program for underrepresented highschoolers in Ohio. The program was part of UC’s Pharmacy Leadership Initiative and was based in an expanded DEI framework known as IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-racism in a Learning environment). The workshop, “The Magic of Cosmetic Chemistry,” grew popular quickly, and Dr. Kumari was invited to the UC Board of Trustees’ meeting in 2019 where her work on this unique initiative was acknowledged. The program now receives funding from the Provost’s Office as part of UC’s Next Lives Here strategic initiative, and has recently partnered with Procter & Gamble to expand the scope of the workshop.

Dr. Kumari is an accomplished teacher, scholar, servant and rising star on our faculty. She is an innovator, evidenced by her creative program to introduce higher education opportunities, especially in the pharmaceutical sciences to URM high schoolers in the community. The goal of the Academic Leadership Fellows Program is to support leaders who contribute to the advancement of pharmacy education, higher education, and the pharmacy profession. You can read more about the the Academic Leadership Fellows Program here.

In July, six James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy PharmD students discovered the importance of teamwork and the art of leadership at the annual Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) meeting in New Orleans. 

More than 300 students and 300 pharmacists attended the event, aimed at transforming the health, education and social fabric of minority communities.

University of Cincinnati students included: 

· Dymond Robinson, who walked away with a $500 scholarship 

· Two UC teams — Andrew Appiagyei/Tumilara Adessha and Ayana Phelps/Daisy Asabere — went head-to-head in the Clinical Skills Competition 

· Myesha James, the UC representative in the House of Delegates 

We congratulate two outstanding students for being recognized for the 2023 James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy prestigious Fellowship Award & Manuscript Award for their contributions to academic excellence in research.

William Eades received the Rieveschl/Parke-Davis Fellowship award. Eades, a PhD candidate under the guidance of Dr. Bingfan Yan, is first author on a groundbreaking peer-reviewed and co-author of three additional papers. Eades’ scholarly accomplishments also include serving as vice president of the student organization: Graduate Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences Students (GAPSS). He is set to be the GAPSS president in 2023-24.   

Yao Xiao is the Rieveschl/Parke-Davis Meritorious Manuscript Awardee. Xiao, a PhD candidate under the direction of Dr. Yuhang Zhang, reported a novel drug resistance mechanism in melanoma. Her recently published paper highlights the pivotal role of BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi)–induced cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) reprogramming in matrix remodeling and therapeutic escape of melanoma cells. 

The James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy has now received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for six consecutive years. The HEED Award recognizes colleges and universities who demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Pat Achoe, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the College, said "I am excited that we have won the HEED award for six consecutive years. This award is a good barometer to show the progress that we have made with DEI initiatives each year."

You can read more about the HEED Award here.

The College recently established the Ruby Hill Mentorship Program, with a ceremony honoring Ms. Hill that included a tribute video:

Ruby N. Hill earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Cincinnati and became the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy's second Minority Recruiter and Counselor. Ms. Hill’s tenure was from 1975- 1992. 

During her tenure, Ms. Hill developed several pipeline programs for high schoolers to build pharmacy career awareness, including a play called “Blacks in Science.” High school seniors or promising pre-pharmacy students researched, wrote, and acted in this play over their summer break. The play was well received by the community and was pivotal to her receiving a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. 

Verneda Hawkins, a former student, said, “Ms. Hill is responsible for recruiting me to choose the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy over other colleges. At the age of 15, I had decided I wanted to be a pharmacist and we would correspond over the next 3 years via written letters until I graduated from high school. Upon graduation from the University of Cincinnati, Mrs. Hill and I have remained in touch. She is still an avid supporter and friend in my life.”

Ms. Hill wanted to ensure that the students were successful once admitted to the College of Pharmacy. To achieve this success, Ms. Hill was a mentor, advisor, counselor, and academic program designer to her students. During her tenure, The University of Cincinnati graduated 45.5% of the Black students who graduated from schools of pharmacy in Ohio from 1978-1986. 

The Ruby Hill Mentorship Program began last fall as an effort to provide mentorship to underrepresented students at the College of Pharmacy. Several years ago, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee surveyed URM graduates to determine the percentage of students who went on to complete PGY1 and PGY2 residencies. Students cited lack of mentorship as a primary reason for not pursuing post-graduate education. Alumni, community partners, and industry leaders were paired with 21 students sharing similar professional interests and backgrounds. The program sponsored two events during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Former student, Margie Eves said, "Congratulations Ruby. You are so deserving. I know how you improvised, adapted, and overcame lack of support for the minority program. You helped me and others not give up and become the type of pharmacist that saved and/or changed lives. My experience in pharmacy school was tough. You were there when I lost my mother. You were there to encourage me to keep going when I lost my confidence. I learned we must help one another regardless of the sacrifices made. I am proud of the type of pharmacist I became. So thank you for you service when I was in school and now. I appreciate you and so happy to see you receive this honor."

The Candace Kendle Scholarship was launched last year and is awarded to incoming first-generation students in the PharmD program. Last year, four $20,000 scholarships were awarded to incoming PY1 students to cover costs associated with their pharmacy education. The same will be awarded this year to eligible students who submit applications and successfully complete their interview prior to December 1^st, 2023. The Kendle Scholarship goes beyond financial support; it is an investment in future leadership that will pay dividends for the JLWCoP community and Cincinnati.

Faculty and staff recently stepped out of their traditional roles within the College of Pharmacy to give back to the community. Volunteers traveled to The Society of Saint Vincent DePaul as part of a service project to help stock shelves and guide people in need through the Food Pantry.

The Saint Vincent DePaul organization offers a wide array of services, from free prescriptions to health screenings, eyecare, dietitians, insurance navigation, and social services. A nurse practitioner is on site for immediate medical assistance. SVDP is an experiential site and longstanding partner of the College of Pharmacy. The Society recently received the national APhA 2023 Pinnacle Award in the nonprofit organization/association – public/private partnership category.

University of Cincinnati

James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy

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161 Kowalewski Hall

Cincinnati, Ohio 45229

(513) 558-DRUG (3784)

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