Special congratulations to the NSU College of Pharmacy Class of 2016!
I hope all our readers spent time this summer accomplishing goals, experiencing adventures, and enjoying time with loved ones. Things have been busy and preparation of this newsletter brought forth the realization we have indeed become a college that provides amazing opportunity and growth to our family. We are seeing remarkable student successes, a significant increase in external funding, and a commitment to engaging students both in and outside the classroom. When you are on any of our campuses, you will find the college pulsating with new ideas that will transform both our curriculum and the profession of pharmacy. I could not be prouder of the progress we are making and look forward to our continued commitment to being the best.
I had a wonderful time greeting alumni at the FPA Annual Conference and encourage all of our alumni to visit with us at the FSHP Annual Meeting, our upcoming Homecoming Alumni Reunion, November 4, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale or our Alumni Reunion in Puerto Rico to be held August 12, 2016.  In Fort Lauderdale, we will be honoring our charter classes, who will be so very proud of what this college has become; a success rooted in the foundation they built as our pioneers. Please continue to be a part of our growth and success and be proud to be an NSU Shark!

NSU-College of Pharmacy is now an authorized CE provider by the Department of Health of Puerto Rico, allowing us to design programs to help educate health practitioners at all levels. The Puerto Rico Campus Continuing Education Division hosted its first CE program in conjunction with the 2016 CooPharma Expo in May at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center. During the Expo, three continuing education courses were offered, each well attended by approximately 170 participants. Courses presented included “Preventing Medication Errors in Community Pharmacy,” by Frances Colón-Pratts, Pharm. D., clinical assistant professor, pharmacy practice, “Legal Aspects Applicable to Community Pharmacy Practice” by Margarita Miranda, R.Ph., J.D., academic facilitator/instructor, sociobehavioral and administrative pharmacy, and “Pharmaceutical Ethics,” by Blanca I. Ortíz, Pharm. D., assistant dean, Puerto Rico (’03).

The College is actively expanding its research enterprise by supporting faculty who secure extramural funding through our newly developed Million Dollar Club.  Richard Deth, Ph.D., professor pharmaceutical sciences, recently secured an award of over half a million dollars as part of a larger study to treat veterans with Gulf War Illness. Extramural funding helps support NSU’s goal of obtaining $300M in funding by 2020.  To find out more about the college’s Million Dollar Club, contact Peter Gannett, Ph.D., associate dean, research & graduate education at pgannett@nova.edu.

NSU’s Clinic Pharmacy, located on our Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus, fills prescriptions and provides free monthly screenings for the South Florida community.   In addition to serving NSU and the community at large, the on-campus pharmacy provides great opportunities for pharmacy students who want to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-life situations.  A desire to do more than just dispense medications spurred the team to develop innovative clinical pharmacy services, including chronic disease management and integrative medicine clinics — and that, in addition to its collaborative practice and community engagement, is why NSU Clinic Pharmacy was named the Community Pharmacy of the Month by Drug Store News which highlights community pharmacies who are implementing patient services and programs to drive pharmacy quality. Read more...

As Nova Southeastern University matures, a part of its evolving mission is the development of its faculty. The ceremony for the 17th Annual President’s Faculty Research and Development Grant and 14th Annual Quality of Life (QOL) Awards was recently held in the Don Taft University Center on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus.

We are proud of our faculty successes winning a QOL award for Improving Quality of Life and Cardiovascular Health and Wellness of Elderly Patients in South Florida through the development of multidisciplinary intervention in the primary care setting. We are also honored by the number of faculty who received PFRDG awards: Michelle A. Clark, Ph.D., associate professor and chair, Anastasios Lymperopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor, Jean Latimer, Ph.D., associate professor, Robert Speth, Ph.D., professor, Ana Maria Castejón, Ph.D., associate professor, Malav Trivedi, Ph.D., assistant professor, Luigi Cubeddu, M.D., Ph.D., professor. We also recognize the following student recipients: Shmuel Negussie, M.S., Ph.D. candidate, Jordan Spaw, B.S., Ph.D. candidate, Omar Ibrahim, B.S., Ph.D. candidate, Katie A. McCrink, B.S., (’18), and Natalie Builes, B.S., (’18). Read more…

“My time at NSU’s College of Pharmacy was invaluable to me...the ability to interact with many students from all the health professions helped shape me for what is critical in the current healthcare landscape today. The COP has kept me informed with all of its growth over the years and I am proud to be in a position today where I can help give back to NSU everything it has done for me.”
Osmel (Ozzie) Delgado, Pharm.D., MBA, FASHP, (’02), 2013 NSU Distinguished Alumni Achievement Honoree.

“One of the most rewarding experiences from the College’s Dean’s Ambassador Program is meeting alumni at the Alumni CE Socials... I get to mix and mingle with not just pharmacists, but NSU COP pharmacists. Having the opportunity to sit with them and talk to them is very beneficial. The advice they give me is like no other. They have been in my exact shoes and are now in the positions that I strive to be in one day.
Haley Perkins, B.S., (’18), Dean’s Ambassador.

Read more...
Share your testimonials with us at copalumni@nova.edu

Farima Raof (’17) was the first student ever to be inducted into the prestigious Florida Pharmacy Association #1 Club. The club recognizes those members who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to increasing membership in the FPA, as well as increasing the strength and influence of the entire pharmacy profession. She has been extraordinarily involved in leadership positions in several pharmacy associations and organizations and serves as a member of the Florida Student Affairs Council.

Congratulations to our amazing Self-Care Team for winning the OTC Jeopardy. The game tested participants’ knowledge in various categories of OTC medications. Teams competed for the big title with answers being evaluated by a panel of judges. Through a fun game of jeopardy, students learned and clarified information concerning OTC medications to help counsel patients. Participants also practiced communication skills working in teams and rationalizing their answers to judges.
Congratulations are also in order for Jessica Greenwood (’18) and Farima Raof (’17) for their first and second place performances respectively in the patient counseling competition at the FPA Annual Conference.

The Beta Lambda chapter of Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity chapter presented a donation of $3,448 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during its End of Year Banquet.
Read more...

The Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) has volunteered over the past six years to help the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, participating in the Foundation’s annual fund raiser: Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis in Huizenga Park.  Read more...

This spring, third year students in the College took part in the inaugural ShaRx Tank, the pinnacle of their Pharmacy Seminar course.  Students presented posters followed by presentations and demonstrations to a distinguished panel, who judged them on originality, practicality, and innovation.  Dean Deziel commended students who “displayed professionalism, energy, passion, and knowledge, while presenting ideas that were innovative.”  Presentations ranged from the PharmBox: Good Health Delivered Monthly to the Impact of Virtual Pharmacist on Patient Outcomes, and many creative ideas in between.  Students performed at the highest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy and opportunities like this   enable our students to create new career opportunities and move the profession forward.  Our students are truly “breaking free from the status quo.”

Each year the college acknowledges our senior students who have excelled in service, leadership, research, advocacy, and academics. Awards were offered to 37 students in 33 different categories including awards from national agencies such as the USPHS Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice award which was presented to Chloe Tamargo (’17) as shown with USPS CDR Paul T. Michaud, Pharm.D., NCPS, and Elizabeth Shepherd, Pharm.D., assistant dean.

For a list of all awards and recipients during the "2016 Senior Award Ceremony" click here.

Ana D. Vega, (’16), Paul P. Meola, (’16), Julio Ramón Barcelo, Jr., (’18), and Heidi M. Pérez Ruiz (’17) collaborated and published an article in conjunction with dean’s advisory board member, Taeho Oh, CPO, US Rx Care and Health Care Consultant, “Commentary on Current Trends in Rising Drug Costs and Reimbursement below Cost” in Managed Care Magazine, a publication for health plan executives and physicians. Read more...

The college recognized 231 Pharm.D.graduates at this year’s commencement ceremony at the Don Taft University Center in Fort Lauderdale. The event was attended by family and friends and streamed live across the U.S. and over 32 countries worldwide. Senator Joe Negrón, Florida Senate President-Designate, delivered the keynote address and was honored by NSU Board of Trustees with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree.

This year’s graduating class included 39 students who were successful in the ASHP Resident Matching Program and will continue to hone their practice and clinical skills in diverse settings such as the VA System in Puerto Rico, Nebraska, and Florida; and hospital and managed care systems from Arizona to Oregon.  We are proud of all our graduates and look forward to seeing them excel as professionals.

Stephanie Gernant, Pharm.D., M.S., assistant professor, pharmacy practice, was elected as the New Practitioner Officer of the American Pharmacist Association-Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA–APPM). “This is an amazing achievement and wonderful for both Dr. Gernant and the College, helping us increase our national visibility,” said Dean Deziel. Read more...

The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching recognizes professors for their contributions to building a stronger, better-educated society. The Golden Apple winner, Young Kwon, Ph.D., assistant professor, pharmaceutical sciences, and finalists were nominated and voted on by our students as deserving of the award by their contributions to the profession. Congratulations to our 2016 Golden Apple recipient winner and finalists and thank you for all you do to educate and develop practitioners and transform the profession of pharmacy. 2016 Golden Apple Award Finalists: Young Kwon, Ph.D , Winner-Class of 2019, Jennifer Steinberg, Pharm.D., Finalist - Class of 2018, Nathan Unger, Pharm.D. - Class of 2017, and Andrea Levin, Pharm.D. - Class of 2016.

Research led by Nathan Unger, Pharm.D., assistant professor, pharmacy practice, Palm Beach Campus, was featured on the international television series “Chasing Monsters” (aka “Wild Catch,” aka “Fishing Adventurer”).
Unger with his 2015 Pharmacy Practice Seminar group who dubbed themselves the “Unger Ninjas.” Read more...

As healthcare moves to value-based arrangements and delivery models like accountable care organizations (ACOs), the benefit of incorporating a pharmacist cannot be overlooked. Tina Joseph, Pharm.D., assistant professor and Renee Jones, Pharm.D., director of preceptor development, outlined how pharmacists can be integrated into ACOs to improve care and patient satisfaction, while reducing cost. Read more...

Elizabeth Sherman, Pharm.D., (’07), assistant professor, pharmacy practice was one of only four pharmacists from around the country, selected to author the American Society of Health System Pharmacist (ASHP) Guidelines on Pharmacist involvement in HIV care. These guidelines will be used to advocate for change and improve and standardize pharmacist care nationally. The year-long involvement of this initiative culminated in a joint endorsement by both the ASHP and the American Academy of HIV Medicine underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary care. The ASHP also identified Sherman as a section editor for a new HIV pharmacotherapy textbook that will be published next year. Sherman also contributed an article entitled Opportunities Abound for Increased Pharmacists’ Role in Treating Patients with HIV in the ASHP InterSections Magazine. “Pharmacists in all care settings are well positioned to meet the unique needs of HIV-infected patients because the cornerstone of effective HIV care is individualized and complex medication therapy,” said Sherman. Read more... and also read here.

Crislus Paulino’s journey to become a pharmacist was quite an uphill challenge. While pursuing her Pharm.D. degree at the college, she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. After successful brain surgery, she graduated with the Class of 2016 surrounded by her husband and family. Her heartwarming story was featured on WSVN TV where she told viewers that she believes God put her through this trial to prepare her to help others. Read more...

The National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit (NAIIS) asked the public to help educate adults about the importance of adult vaccines. Individuals and groups were invited to create and submit a short video which promotes adult immunization. We are happy to announce that our recent 2016 graduates Cullen Adre, Pharm.D., James Clinard, Pharm.D., Ernesto Pérez, Pharm.D., and Justin Luna, Pharm.D., won the first place award in the NAIIS national video contest in May prior to graduation and traveled to Atlanta to receive the award. Congratulations! View the video...

Congratulations to Andrea Murzello, Pharm.D., (’16), and SimfaRose resident, whose article FPA Working to Advance the Practice of Pharmacy is featured in the April 2016 issue of Florida Pharmacy Today. Read more...

Armando Bardisa, Pharm.D., (’97), dean’s advisory board member, founded South Miami Pharmacy,  (SMP), to improve the quality of life for patients through personalized pharmacy service. Bardisa was a finalist of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for his “excellence and extraordinary success in innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to businesses and communities.” SMP was also featured as one of the 2016 Best Places to Work, awarded “Highest in Customer Satisfaction” among drugstores by J.D. Power & Associates, recognized as one of the “Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America” and “ Top Companies in Florida” by INC. 5000. Read more...

The College hosted its Alumni & Friends reception at the Florida Pharmacy Association annual meeting in July at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort.  Over sixty guests attended including alumni with family and friends, faculty, and students, making this year’s reception a huge success.  Alumni from the charter class were present to stroll down memory lane and discuss our upcoming Homecoming Alumni Reunion to be held on November 4, 2016, in Fort Lauderdale, in their honor with their classmates, recent graduates, faculty, and Dean Deziel.  The event hosted a Shark Plunge Challenge and attendees participated providing valuable donations to the College which will be used to further the mission and vision of the college.  Attendees had the opportunity to network with industry professionals and focus on moving the profession of pharmacy forward. 

Students from the College participated in an inter-professional medical mission to Sumpango Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, in June with Jose’s Hands and the Emmaus Medical Mission. Students worked with Guatemalan and American health care professionals to treat orphaned and malnourished children. Gracias to students Reginald Gyapong, (‘18), Camala Murray, (‘17), Heidi Pérez Ruiz (‘17), Brandi Nichols, (‘17), Dean’s Ambassador Nour Samra, (‘17), and Dean’s Ambassador Julian Lamptey, (‘18), for their service to this important mission.

Twenty-seven students and two faculty members participated in this year’s Travel Study Program in June to Spain, an academic program providing pharmacy students the opportunity to learn about new drug development and drug research in different countries around the world.  They also toured Madrid, Toledo, Salamanca, and Granada as part of the cultural segment of the trip. The experience was both educational and divertido.

NSU President George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., recently won the Excalibur Award for Broward Business Leader of the Year and is featured in the Sun Sentinel newspaper. Read more...

The excellence and freedom of a university depend on a sufficient measure of private support by people who believe in it and, indeed, love it. Katherine Graham (First female Fortune 500 CEO in 1972, as CEO of the Washington Post): ". . . While my degree comes with the highest merit, the greatest feeling of accomplishment is realizing that I have made my family proud by achieving my dream of becoming a pharmacist."
"It is with this sense of achievement that I thank NSU for its commitment to education.” – Levi Morris, Pharm.D., (’16). Please visit the website...