Dear Silverman College of Pharmacy and Community,

As we close out another remarkable academic year, we do so with strong momentum, much like a shark in motion; propelled by purpose, resilience, and the collective energy of our pharmily. This season invites us to pause and reflect on the many achievements that have defined this year, while also looking ahead to the opportunities on the horizon.



This issue highlights many of those achievements, from the launch of the NACDS Foundation supported Shark360: Well-Being Initiative, which strengthens the future of pharmacist well-being, to the recognition of our community members at the 28th Annual STUEY Awards. Our commitment to well-being, innovation, and connection remains a defining strength of our college. We also celebrate the impactful work of our faculty through teaching excellence, scholarship, and national engagement, as well as the remarkable accomplishments of our students. From national research presentations to residency placements and internships, their success reflects the strength of our programs. Commencement 2026 was a powerful milestone, as we proudly welcomed a new class of graduates into the profession.

Beyond our college, we are inspired by the broader impact of Nova Southeastern University. Through its leadership in marine research and reef conservation, NSU has been designated by NOAA as the home of the Atlantic Reef Research Coordination Institute. This achievement reflects more than 15 years of collaboration with Panza Maurer and key stakeholders to advance national priorities in marine science. Their work in aligning policy, building partnerships, and driving progress underscores NSU’s growing national influence and commitment to meaningful change.

As summer begins, I encourage each of you to take time to recharge and reflect on the meaningful role you play in our collective success. Thank you for being an essential part of what makes our pharmily so special.

With appreciation and pride,

Michelle A. Clark, Ph.D.

Dean

We are proud to announce that our college has been awarded a scholarship from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation to support innovative programming that builds awareness of and enthusiasm for careers in pharmacy. As one of only six pharmacy schools selected, this recognition highlights our commitment to inspiring the next generation of pharmacists. Dean Michelle A. Clark, Ph.D. accepted the award at the NACDS Annual Meeting in April.

The funded initiative, The Shark360: Well-Being Initiative, empowers the college to implement a comprehensive, holistic wellness framework that engages learners across the entire pharmacy pipeline. The program introduces high school and pre-pharmacy students to the vital role pharmacists play as accessible community wellness leaders, while showcasing the diverse career opportunities within the profession. It also strengthens well-being education for Pharm.D. students by promoting early adoption of habits that support safer practice environments, improved health outcomes, and a more resilient healthcare workforce.



Together, these efforts cultivate strong personal well-being practices among future pharmacists and enhance their ability to deliver patient-centered self-care counseling throughout their careers. Elizabeth Shepherd, Pharm.D., assistant dean of strategic partnerships and program development, and Rochelle Nappi, Ed.D., director of professional well-being and engagement, serve as the primary leads for The Shark360: Well-Being Initiative and are guiding its implementation.

The Golden Apple Award remains a cherished tradition at the Silverman College of Pharmacy, honoring faculty who exemplify excellence and innovation in teaching. Each year, students recognize those educators who make a meaningful impact through their ability to communicate complex concepts, foster engagement, and support student success. The selection process begins with each class nominating a faculty finalist, followed by a final vote by a representative group of students to determine the award recipient. This year’s finalists were David Gazze, Ph.D., representing the Classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028, and Mamta Pansuria, Pharm.D. (’03), representing the Class of 2029. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Gazze was selected as this year’s Golden Apple Award recipient and was recognized at the May Faculty Development Program. His dedication to teaching excellence and commitment to student success truly embody the spirit of this distinguished honor.



In May, faculty gathered for two engaging days of professional development, an annual tradition that brings together colleagues from both the Florida and Puerto Rico campuses. This year’s theme, What Excellence Looks Like, guided a program centered on meaningful dialogue, innovation, and collaboration. The event provided an opportunity to exchange best practices, explore emerging ideas in education and practice, and align priorities for the year ahead. Just as importantly, it reinforced the sense of connection and shared purpose that defines our pharmily, strengthening the relationships that support our continued growth and success as a college.

The program opened with an engaging keynote by Margarita DiVall, Pharm.D., M.Ed., who delivered an insightful session on advancing assessment practices to support excellence. Her presentation sparked thoughtful reflection and discussion, encouraging new approaches to enhancing student success and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This session set the stage for afternoon workshops focused on the development of the new Pharm.D. curriculum. Additional highlights included visits from Ronald J. Chenail, Ph.D., NSU provost, and Candice Sareli, MBBCh, NSU vice president for human research affairs and associate dean of research at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, who shared perspectives on the university’s continued growth and future direction.

Faculty then traveled east to the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center in Dania Beach, located within the Dr. Von D. Mizell–Eula Johnson State Park. The state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facility offered a breathtaking setting and supports cutting-edge marine science. The group enjoyed lunch followed by a presentation from chair and professor, J.R. Kerfoot, Ph.D., who highlighted faculty from the department of marine and environmental sciences and their respective research areas.

The afternoon concluded with an interactive tour, offering a behind-the-scenes look at ongoing research and the vital work being done to study and protect coastal ecosystems. As we look ahead, these moments of connection and learning underscore our ongoing dedication to innovation, excellence, and the success of our students and faculty.



We are proud to recognize Narasimman Gurusamy, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of pharmaceutical sciences, for his continued national recognition and impactful contributions to cardiovascular research. Dr. Gurusamy has been named a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) by the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences, an esteemed honor that reflects his significant contributions to research, education, and service, as well as his commitment to advancing innovation in heart health. In addition, he has received the Bench Research Excellence Award (Junior Faculty) from the Biological Sciences Section of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), recognizing his meaningful scholarly contributions to pharmacy education and the advancement of the biological sciences. Together, these achievements underscore Dr. Gurusamy’s dedication to scientific discovery and his valued contributions to the research community at NSU and beyond.



Elizabeth Sherman, Pharm.D. (’07), associate professor in the department of pharmacy practice continues to advance education and innovation in HIV care through both scholarship and professional engagement. Most recently, she co-authored a publication in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association exploring workflows for administering long-acting antiretroviral therapy in community pharmacy settings. This is an important step toward expanding access and optimizing patient-centered HIV care. Her contributions reflect a commitment to improving treatment delivery models and supporting pharmacists as key providers in the evolving HIV care landscape.



In addition to her research, Dr. Sherman has been highly active in professional education, delivering multiple continuing education programs in early 2026. She presented on foundational and advanced topics in antiretroviral therapy at regional AIDS Education and Training Center conferences, as well as contributed to multidisciplinary panel discussions on updates to Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Through these efforts, she is helping to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to adapt HIV treatment strategies in a rapidly changing clinical environment.

Faculty recently traveled to Philadelphia, PA, to present their research at the 2026 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Annual Meeting, highlighting critical issues in health outcomes and healthcare utilization. Jun Wu, Ph.D., professor and interim chair of the department of sociobehavioral and administrative pharmacy, presented work examining hospitalization costs and potentially preventable readmissions among older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Patrick W. Sullivan, Ph.D., professor, and Haifa Alharbi, Ph.D., (‘25), also shared research on healthcare access, utilization, and expenditures among adults with diabetes and cardiorenal comorbidities. Faculty mentorship was further demonstrated through student-led presentations. Under the guidance of Dr. Sullivan, Ph.D. students presented research on cost-effectiveness in asthma and obesity treatments, as well as real-world outcomes associated with migraine.

Under the mentorship of Alexandra Perez, Pharm.D. (‘05), associate professor, students explored the relationship between gout, uric acid, and osteoporosis risk. Together, these efforts highlight the college’s strong faculty leadership in health economics and outcomes research, as well as their commitment to mentoring future scholars.

On May 8 we had the distinct honor of celebrating the commencement of our graduating students at the NSU Rick Case Arena. It was a day filled with pride and joy as we recognized the achievements of our newest alumni. This year, we conferred degrees upon an exceptional group of graduates, including 196 from the Pharm.D. program, 11 Ph.D. recipients in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and 29 graduates from our Pharmaceutical Affairs and Pharmaceutical Sciences programs. The energy in the arena was powerful, and the Silverman College of Pharmacy made its presence known, loud, proud, and full of spirit. Genevieve Hale, Pharm.D. (’13), served as Grand Marshal, leading the academic processional with distinction and carrying the university’s ceremonial mace, a symbol of academic authority.

We were also privileged to hear a keynote address from Scott Parazynski, M.D., a Stanford-trained physician, former NASA astronaut, and U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inductee. A veteran of five space shuttle missions, Dr. Parazynski shared an inspiring message of resilience, innovation, and pushing the limits of human potential. The ceremony concluded with a powerful moment as our Pharm.D. candidates recited the Oath of a Pharmacist, led by Mike Rizo, Pharm.D. (’05), CEO of PharmCare Services and chairman of the college’s Advisory Board. This marked their transition from students to professionals, ready to make a meaningful impact in healthcare. Commencement is always a time of pride, reflection, and anticipation. As our graduates begin the next chapter of their journeys, we look forward to celebrating their future accomplishments across the evolving field of pharmacy.

We are proud to support our students who choose to pursue a pharmacy residency, a structured post graduate training program that builds on the knowledge and skills acquired while in pharmacy school. Similar to medical residencies, a pharmacy residency provides supervised, hands-on experience in a clinical setting. While not required for all pharmacy roles, residencies are increasingly expected for clinical positions in hospitals, specialty clinics, and academic medical centers. These programs are divided into two levels: a post graduate year one (PGY1), which offers broad, generalist training across multiple clinical areas and healthcare systems, and a post graduate year two (PGY2), which provides advanced, specialized training with higher expectations for independence and clinical expertise.



For the class of 2026, 74 students registered for the residency match process during Phases I and II this year. Of those participating, 41 students (60.3%) successfully matched across both phases. Notably, 18 students secured PGY2 positions, a significant increase from 10 in 2025, including 14 through early commitment, three in Phase I, and one in Phase II. These placements spanned a diverse range of specialties, including cardiology, infectious disease, critical care, oncology, ambulatory care, geriatrics, psychiatry, internal medicine, and solid organ transplant. Collectively, these outcomes reflect both continued student interest in advanced clinical training and growing success in securing competitive residency positions across a wide range of specialties.

Gabriel Beltran (’28) has been making waves both in and out of the classroom! Alongside his studies, he has traveled across the country presenting his research and serving as an outstanding representative of the college. He first presented at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) 2026 Annual Conference in New Orleans, sharing his research, “West Nile Virus in Immunosuppressed Patients and the Role of the Oncology Pharmacist.” This work examined how B cell–depleting therapies affect immune response and highlighted diagnostic challenges in immunocompromised populations. A few weeks later, he attended the 25th Cancer Center Summit in San Diego to present “Detecting Toxicity Before It Happens: Artificial Intelligence for Early Identification of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy.” This project explored how AI can enhance early detection of immune-related toxicities by integrating imaging, electronic health records, biomarkers, and patient-reported outcomes, demonstrating pharmacists’ expanding role in oncology informatics. Most recently, Gabriel presented at the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) 2026 Virtual Poster Symposium on “Pharmacist-Led Interventions for Oral Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Adherence and Toxicity Management: A Systematic Review.” This research evaluated the impact of pharmacist-led interventions on medication adherence, toxicity management, patient education, and clinical outcomes among cancer patients receiving oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors, further highlighting the expanding role of pharmacists in multidisciplinary oncology care.

Further underscoring these accomplishments, Gabriel has been selected for the prestigious President’s 64 cohort for the 2026–2027 academic year. In this role, he will serve as a university ambassador, strengthen connections between students and leadership, and contribute to the student experience at NSU. Gabriel credits his success in research, leadership, and professional engagement to the Silverman College of Pharmacy, especially the mentorship of Devada Singh-Franco, Pharm.D., associate professor. We proudly celebrate his accomplishments and can’t wait to see how he continues to make waves and leave his mark on the profession.

Joi Wanza (‘28) has been selected for the highly competitive Association of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Foundation/Pfizer Inc. Oncology Internship this summer in collaboration with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. This 10-week program, supported by Pfizer’s Oncology Organized Customer Field Medical Team in partnership with the AMCP Foundation, is designed to develop future leaders in managed care. Through hands-on experiences, interns are exposed to population health and key managed care pharmacy principles, including formulary management, benefit design, medication therapy management, and adherence strategies; all with a focus on oncology. Working alongside an interdisciplinary health care team, which includes pharmacists, she and other interns will gain valuable insight into how these principles optimize resources and improve patient outcomes. Joi has been assigned to a health care plan at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey where she will work alongside the pharmacy benefit organization and specialty pharmacy. Additionally, she will contribute to a capstone research project to be presented at AMCP Nexus, further enriching her understanding of managed care pharmacy. With this opportunity, Joi continues to dive deeper into her passion for oncology and managed care, and we look forward to seeing how she makes an even bigger splash in the profession.