Growth and success continue to sustain the upward trajectory of NSU College of Pharmacy. I know you, as an important stakeholder of the college, are very proud of the many student, faculty, and alumni achievements highlighted in this newsletter.  
This semester has been a whirlwind of activity, including the opening of NSU’s Center of Collaborative Research (CCR), expanding research opportunities for all of our students. Several of our faculty have been recognized across the university for their amazing achievements, and our students are embracing the opportunity to be active professionally. We continue to grow our scholarship funds for students and sincerely appreciate the philanthropic support we have received from corporations, alumni, and friends. We are showcasing our many innovative projects nationally and internationally, increasing visibility for the college.   
I appreciate the support we receive from our alumni and encourage all of you to engage with us. You can make a difference in the lives and careers of our students by helping to mentor the next generation of NSU pharmacists through our Career Development program.  Although our college is unrecognizable from the early years in North Miami Beach, those years set a very strong foundation for what we have become and where we will go from here. We will be honoring our first pharmacy graduates at the November 4 reunion and I hope to see all of our alumni at the celebration.

Publix is committed to the community and supporting non-profits focused on supporting youth and education.  Through its partnership with NSU COP, Publix has provided $100,000 in funds towards the Publix Pharmacy Endowed Scholarship fund.  The fund awards up to five $1,000 scholarships to P2 – P4 students interested in pursuing careers as community pharmacists, experiencing financial hardship, and demonstrating academic excellence.  NSU COP is proud of its partnership with Publix, and their ongoing support of our students.

Supported by a NSU Quality of Life Faculty Community-based Applied Research Grant and in collaboration with Accountable Care Options, LLC, MMR Healthcare, and Cambridge Medical Group, all from Boynton Beach, FL, and Juicery Rx, Coral Springs, FL, faculty members from the College of Pharmacy and the College of Health Sciences, provided expertise to patients on how to self-manage heart disease through diet, exercise and medication adherence.  The event was aimed to improve quality of life in patients with two or more chronic conditions and provided information, inclusion, opportunities for community engagement, and other life-enhancing endeavors.

P4 Pharm.D. student Christopher Daniel Pearson was selected to serve on the National Executive Board for the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA).  As Region II Facilitator, Pearson facilitates the largest region which includes 23 pharmacy schools from North Carolina to Mississippi.  Pearson is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve, and will use his experience as College of Pharmacy SGA President, an active member of Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Honor Society and Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, to maintain excellent communication between the chapters and the national office, be a source of encouragement and motivation for chapters, and promote collaboration.  His mission is to ensure there are no barriers preventing chapters meeting their full potential and help establish SNPhA chapters outside the USA.

Congratulations to Kaitav Shah (’17) who was awarded the NCPA Foundation’s Presidential Scholarship.  The scholarship recognizes NCPA student members on the basis of leadership qualities and accomplishments with a demonstrated interest in independent pharmacy.  Shah has served as both vice-president and president of the NCPA Student Chapter at NSU, as well as student representative for Broward County Pharmacy Association.  In addition to being heavily involved in leadership activities at NSU COP, Shah is an honor student. Shah was recognized during the foundation’s Awards Ceremony in October, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

APhA- ASP of Palm Beach teams up with Diabetes Coalition of Palm Beach County during Diabetes month to conduct the American Diabetes Association risk assessment questionnaire and measure blood glucose levels. Last year over 20 students and faculty advisor Sarah Alameddine, Pharm.D. participated in the event serving over 100 community members.  This year’s event is November 12 at Palm Beach Outlets.

Congratulations to Ph.D. Class of 2016 graduates Mansour S. Almetwazi, Ph.D., Sirnath Muppalaneni, Ph.D., Abdullah A. Alfaifi, Ph.D., and Abdullah U. Althemery, Ph.D.  Muppalaneni is now Senior Research Scientist at Sancilio & Company, Inc. in West Palm Beach.  Almetwazi, Althemery and Alfaifi have returned to Saudi Arabia where they are teaching at national universities - Almetwazi at King Saud University and Althemery and Alfaifi at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University.

Each month the college celebrates students who exemplify the college's mission, vision, and values.  For more information on our outstanding students click here
 

Congratulations to Appu Rathinavelu Ph.D., professor, pharmaceutical sciences, who was awarded NSU Professor of the Year.  The award is conferred on a full-time faculty member who has served the university for a least ten years, achieved national and/or international prominence, and has earned a distinguished reputation through significant contributions to research and scholarship and exceptional instructions.  Evidence of excellence is judged on scholarly productivity and in teaching/instruction.  Rathinavelu joined NSU in 1992 and is the Executive Director, Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research.  Read more

In recognition of his significant contributions to Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Robert C. Speth, Ph.D. was named the recipient of the Sixth Annual Provost’s Research and Scholarship Award.  Speth is a researcher and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at NSU’s COP. “This is the greatest honor that has ever been bestowed upon me,” said Dr. Speth. What makes it even greater is the fact that there are so many other incredibly talented faculty members in the NSU family who are also deserving of this recognition. I dedicate this award to my mentor Hank Yamamura who taught me to always make the best interests of my students my highest priority, and it is those very same students who paved the way for me to receive this honor.” Read more

Jean Latimer, Ph.D., associate professor, pharmaceutical sciences, was named Director of NSU AutoNation Breast & Solid Tumor Cancer Institute.  The institute is focused on developing and advancing improved methods of prevention and treatment for various forms of cancer. Connect with NSU’s research at TRED talks (left).
Read more

Sara M. Eltaki, Pharm.D., BCPS, assistant professor, pharmacy practice, leads a practice site which currently bills for transitional care management (TCM) services.  Eltaki and fellow APhA-APPM Transitions of Care SIG member Hannah Davis, Pharm.D., M.S., University Health System, Texas, led a webinar in the “Billing for Services in Transitions of Care” series.  “Billing Fundamentals: Walking the walk, talking the talk” focused on basic payment structure, Medicare billing, how to generate revenue for services, and opportunities for pharmacy services under MACRA.

Scott Kjelson, Pharm.D. C.Ph., (’14), joined the college in August as Director of Student Transitions, and assistant professor, pharmacy practice. Kjelson started his medical journey as a US Navy Corpsman where he worked as a surgical medic and completed his Pharm.D. degree at Nova Southeastern University. He will support the college’s mission by overseeing the seamless transition and participation of pharmacy students throughout the college experience.

Congratulations to alumnus Armando Bardisa, Pharm.D. (’97), on being awarded our 2016 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. The honorees were selected from a pool of over 70 nominations by the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Selection Committee, and confirmed by President Hanbury. Distinguished alumni have made outstanding contributions to their professions and/or community, have great pride for their alma mater, and are committed to advancing NSU’s values and goals. Bardisa is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, and founder and CEO of SMP Pharmacy Solutions. SMP Pharmacy Solutions was recognized for the eighth time in Inc. magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America and an entrepreneurial leader for its three-year sales growth of 396%. Read more

Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Kiosks are now available at nearly 300 Pharmacies in 21 States.  The initiative leads the fight against orescription drug abuse. “Walgreens has taken an important first step to curb the misuse of medications throughout the country and continues to make progress in offering easy and convenient medication disposal,” said Richard Ashworth, Pharm.D. (’99), Walgreens president of pharmacy and retail operations. “Everyone has a role to play in minimizing prescription drug abuse, and we are committed to being part of a comprehensive solution to reverse this epidemic.” Read more

Alumna Kimmi (Le) Stultz. Pharm.D., ’07) opened up Juicery Rx in Coral Springs, FL which was recently named one of the top 10 juice bars in Broward and Palm Beach Counties by the Broward Palm Beach New Times (September 2016).  The juice bar creates custom made juice cleanses and a healthy menu for the entire family.  Congratulations to Stultz on her entrepreneurial venture.  We are proud of you!  Read more

Jose Valdes, Pharm.D., BCPP, assistant professor, (3rd from left front row) participated in the 8th annual neurological mission with the International Neurology Foundation – Centro Internacional en Neurociencias in July, 2016 as the program’s first clinical pharmacist. Read more

Plans are underway for the 2017 Travel Study programs at NSU COP.  For the first time NSU COP will be offering three concurrent travel study programs:  Travel Study Slovakia/Italy, Travel Study Puerto Rico, and Travel Study Argentina.  Programs will be open to both NSU and non-NSU students.  Applications will be accepted in January and applicants from colleges of pharmacy across the United States are encouraged to apply for these unique study experiences.  Alumni and friends of the university interested in joining the program should contact phss@nova.edu for more information.  Updated Information will also be posted on the NSU COP website.

Times Higher Education and World University ranked NSU as one of 20 universities in the world and one of only nine universities in the U.S. that “could challenge the elite” universities and become globally renowned by the year 2030. Read More

The College is proud to be a part of the CCR which is home to several distinguished COP faculty from the department of pharmaceutical sciences and students conducting research in the facility.  Jean Latimer, Ph.D., associate professor, was named Director of the AutoNation Institute for Breast and Solid Tumor Cancer Research, located at the CCR.  Appu Rathinavelu, Professor and Executive Director of the Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research and his team continue their efforts in discovering new therapeutic targets and novel drugs for cancer treatments.  Richard Deth, Ph.D., professor, and Malav Trivedi, Ph.D., assistant professor are conducting research investigating the influence of nutrition and dietary peptides on mediating epigenetic changes. – Read More

Help support the College of Pharmacy student scholarships and research.  To find out more about what the college is doing click here.
To donate to the College click here, and remember to select College of Pharmacy for your donations.  For more information on how to donate or be involved, contact us at copalumni@nova.edu.

• November 3, 2016 – Fort Lauderdale Preceptor Fair - for information contact Carmen Kunstmann
• November 4, 2016 – Puerto Rico Fair - to register and for information contact Julie Marin, Pharm.D.
• November 4, 2016 – SharksRx Alumni Homecoming Reunion- Click to register
• November 5 & 6, 2016 – NSU Fall Classic 2016 CE for Pharmacists - Click to register
• November 5 & 6, 2016 – NSU Fall Classic 2016 CE for Pharmacy Technicians - Click to register
• November 9, 2016 – Palm Beach Preceptor Fair - for information contact Carmen Kunstmann
• November 10, 2016 – Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards - Click for more information
• November 11, 2016 – Career Development Pathways – Click for more information
• February 11 &12, 2017 – 5th Annual Integrative Nutrition CE Event –  PharmCE@nova.edu
• March 18 & 19, 2017 – Initial Consultant Pharmacist License CE Event - PharmCE@nova.edu

Alumni Calendar of Events