SUMMER 2022

As the 2021-2022 academic year closes, we celebrate the commencement of our Class of 2022. Congratulations to our students who have adapted and persevered under never-before-seen circumstances. These challenges have prepared you to go out and conquer whatever new obstacles are placed before you. Our faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to ensure an engaging and active year for our students including seminars, workshops, pinning ceremonies, white coat ceremonies, and support of our 19 organizations and their activities around the community and the university.

A "big thank you" to our alumni and preceptors who continue to provide our students with Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences. Our dedicated team of preceptors provide training to our students. Our alumni and community partners give back by sponsoring student scholarships and sharing their expertise about the broad scope of the profession through speaking engagements to student organizations, Dean’s Hour, and special events.

Our researchers continue to improve health through discovery and innovation. Dmitriy Minond, Ph.D., is developing new treatments for Melanoma, a top Florida research priority, and recently received funding for his research from the Florida Department of Health. Jesús Sanchez, Ph.D., and Alexandra Perez, Pharm.D. (’05), were recently funded by the FDA for research to understand the unmet needs regarding COVID-19 outreach from minority community members that will guide the development of a culturally-tailored playbook and implementation strategy.

I am honored to have such a dedicated team in the NSU College of Pharmacy.

Our work continues through the summer as we prepare for the upcoming fall visit of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). I appreciate all the hard work that has been done and will continue to ensure a successful visit. We are also ready to accept our incoming students in Summer (Advanced Standing Pharm.D.) and Fall (Entry Level Pharm.D., Ph.D., and M.S.). In addition, our M.S. in Pharmaceutical Affairs program has expanded to include online delivery to students, regardless of location.

Finally, for academic year 2021-2022 the college awarded over $637,000 in scholarships to 104 students across all programs and campuses. NSU held a "Big Thank You" event to recognize donors and recipients to support students. To continue to support pharmacists and researchers of the future contact Carla Luque, Pharm.D., assistant dean, student services to learn more about our levels of giving.

As you will see in the excerpts below, our students, faculty, and alumni have achieved many successes, and are representing the College well. I invite you to visit, like, and follow us on social media to see all of our activities and accomplishments.

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Michelle A. Clark, Ph.D.

The Student Life Achievement Awards, affectionately known as the “STUEY’s”, celebrates the best in Academic Excellence, Student Centered, Integrity, Innovation, Opportunity, Scholarship/Research, Diversity, and Community. This year’s finalists represented the college well. Congratulations to all the finalists, especially to Dr. Rey and Jeremy Espeut ('23) who were the overall winners in their categories across the university.

The Winners

• Co-Curricular Adviser of the Year: Jose A. Rey, Pharm.D.
• Student of the Year: Jeremy P. Espeut (’23) – Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus

The Finalists

Each year students in the College of Pharmacy recognize incredible preceptors who make a positive impact on their future and career goals. This year we are pleased to recognize the following preceptors who demonstrate high standards of professionalism and a commitment to teaching students and encouraging them to use their in-class knowledge in an out-of-classroom experience.

• IPPE Community: Lisa Northcraft, Pharm.D., CVS #17339, Coral Springs
• IPPE Health System: Jonathan Richardson, Pharm.D., Broward Health Medical Center
• APPE: Naydeli Cordova, Pharm.D., BCGP (‘10), Leon Medical Centers, Doral
• APPE Faculty: Yarelis Alvarado, Pharm.D., BCPS (‘09), Hospital Interamericano de Medicina Avanzada (HIMA), Caguas

Golden Apple Award

This year NSU College of Pharmacy conducted its 2022 commencement ceremony at the Rick Case Arena on the beautiful Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus. This is the first time since 2019 that the event has been held on campus. Two hundred and thirty Pharm.D. candidates participated in activities along with 7 candidates in the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences; 4 candidates in the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences; and 11 candidates in the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Affairs. Among the Pharm.D. candidates, more than 30 have completed, or will soon complete, a concurrent Master of Business Administration or M.S. in Biomedical Informatics.

Current students and alumni were successful in placement in competitive fellowships and residences. This year alumni from classes of 2019, 2020 and 2021, and students from the class of 2022 received 5 fellowships and 56 PGY1 or PGY2 residencies.

"Pharm Arts - A night with our Stars” is an annual event where students at the College of Pharmacy Puerto Rico Campus can exhibit their artistic abilities in singing, photography, painting, drawing, poetry, and crafting. Funds raised are donated to a person in need from the local community. This year Almarie Maldonado, a 17-year-old patient diagnosed with Mandibular Osteosarcoma received all the funds obtained from Pharm Arts towards her care. This year’s winners are:

Photography - Angelica Arroyo (‘24)
Drawing - Jonás Rivera (‘25)
Painting - Yarelis Suarez (‘23)
Crafting - Haylisse Fernández (‘24)
Singing - Gustavo Deliz (‘25)

Students from the Palm Beach campus are actively engaged in giving back to the local community and philanthropic activities. On March 23 members from the Class of 2024 visited Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach for a beach clean-up event. The students said it felt great to be outside on a beautiful day and give back to their local community.

Additionally, students from the Psi Chapter of Alpha Zeta Omega (AZO) pharmaceutical fraternity held a pie in the face fundraiser on April 1 to support the Lustgarten Foundation (Pancreatic Cancer Research). Students had a fun time participating in this event, just one of many that AZO hosts, which exemplify true brotherhood.

The research article "What Is Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) Doing in and to the Mitochondrion?" by Benedict C. Albensi, Ph.D., BCMAS, CRQM, Chair, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor, has gone viral. The paper has key information and important ramifications for Alzheimer's disease, memory, and processes of aging and inflammation. So far, it has been viewed 85,458 times and has been cited 108 times - as of end of April, 2022. The article has more views than 99% of all of Frontiers articles (publisher of the journal). It has also been downloaded 7,251 times.

Tricia A. Gangoo-Dookhan, Pharm.D. (‘00), Clinical Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice, is the President Elect of AMCP Florida Affiliate Chapter. Dr. Gangoo-Dookhan brings her leadership and knowledge to lead the chapter when she takes over as President.

Dmitriy Minond, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, secured a $573,000 research grant from Florida Department of Health. The grant was awarded for a 3-year research project Spliceosomal Modulation for Regulation of Melanoma Immunogenicity.

Faculty members from the Sociobehavioral and Administrative Pharmacy Department, Alexandra Perez Rivera, Pharm.D. and Jesús Sanchez, Ph.D., are a part of team studying "Hispanic, black and pacific islandeR perspectives on COVID-19 oUtreach Strategies and patient centered outcomes (HeAR US)". They are working in collaboration with faculty from Queen's Medical Center in Hawaii and have been awarded $968,834 from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support their research.

Silvia E. Rabionet, M.Ed., Ed.D., Chair, Sociobehavioral and Administrative Pharmacy, Associate Professor, recently published the book Historia de la Medicina Tropical en Puerto Rico en el Siglo XX in collaboration with Raúl Mayo Santana and Ángel A. Román Franco. In May she celebrated its launching in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Anastasios (Tassos) Lymperopoulos, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, was invited to serve on the American Physiological Society Conference committee for the next 3 years.

Goar Alvarez, Pharm.D., Assistant Dean, Pharmacy Services; Director, NSU Clinic Pharmacy; Director, Pharmacy at South Florida State Hospital, was recently promoted to Associate Professor, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Alvarez has been with the College of Pharmacy for over 23 years and serves as the Director of the NSU Clinic Pharmacy and the Director of Pharmacy at South Florida State Hospital. He received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Florida A&M University and his Doctor of Pharmacy from Nova Southeastern University in 1994.

Tina Joseph Benny, Pharm.D., BCACP, Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice, was promoted to Associate Professor, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Benny is an integral member of the ACO Research Network Services and Education (ACORN SEED) team focusing on integrating pharmacists in value-based care models and providing innovative opportunities for students within ACOs. She serves as the Residency Program Director for the PGY2 Ambulatory Care Program at NSU College of Pharmacy. Her research interests include transitions of care, accountable care organizations, anticoagulation, and diabetes.

Nedra Geddes-McCarthy (’23) was published in Pharmacy Times Effective Studying Habits for Success in Pharmacy School. Geddes-McCarthy is a peer tutor in the college providing tutoring for students in second- and third-year classes.

Nadine Walker (’23) was recently featured in PharmaSis, a magazine celebrating women in Pharmacy. The article titled It’s Never too Late: Lessons on Living Your Dream” describes her journey as an adult learner who overcomes obstacles to achieve her dream.

Juhi Saxena (‘23) was nominated for NSU 2022 Wonder Woman by the NSU Center for Academic & Professional Success in partnership with H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement and The Women's Success Series 2022.

Alecia Muwonge ('23) presented at the APhA Annual Meeting  with faculty member Trisha Gangoo-Dookan, Pharm.D. on “A Novel Approach to Telehealth in Transitions of Care (TOC) through Student Pharmacist-Led Services at NSU College of Pharmacy in Collaboration with Regional Accountable Care Organizations".

Homood As Sobeai, Ph.D. (’17) started a new position as Acting Dean/Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at College of Pharmacy at King Saud University. Dr. Sobeai was recently promoted to Associate Professor.

Ethan Gohari, Pharm.D. (‘14) started as Senior Pharmaceutical Sales Professional at Eli Lilly and Company.

Diana Kirste, Pharm.D. (‘18) recently published “Journey to Pharmacy Residency” (available on Amazon), a practical guide to help pharmacy students through the residency application process.

Julia Gonzalez, Pharm.D. (’18) joined the Broward Health Ambulatory Care pharmacy as Clinical Coordinator serving people living with HIV.

We regret the passing of our alumnus and past president of FPA, Eric Alvarez, Pharm.D. (’94). Eric was passionate about health care and ensuring, through legislation, that the pharmacists were recognized as Health Care Providers in Florida. Our sincerest sympathies to our colleague and his brother Goar Alvarez, Pharm.D. (’94), assistant dean, pharmacy services, and the entire Alvarez family.

The SharksRx Alumni Society created the legacy fund to support the College through the knowledge, skills, and financial resources needed to invest in the future of pharmacy education. The Society's goal is to grow student scholarship opportunities. You can help meet this goal by supporting the SharksRx Alumni Legacy Fund. Your contributions help the next generation of pharmacists in perpetuity. For more information on the Legacy Tree contact Carla Luque, Pharm.D., assistant dean, student services. To purchase an engraved leaf with your inscription click here.

Email your updates and stories to copalumni@nova.edu.
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