WINTER 2024

Welcome to the start of the Winter 2024 semester. A new year brings a new start and I look forward to all we can achieve in 2024. We begin with a renewed dedication to academic success and integrity. The Pharm.D., Ph.D. and M.S. programs continue to attract qualified applicants and I am proud to announce that the college was recently given the approval to award a B.S. in Pharmacy Studies to qualified students (see section below).

One of the highlights at the end of 2023 was the official dedication and naming ceremony of the college by Dr. Barry and Judy Silverman and President and CEO Dr. George L. Hanbury III. The ceremony was well attended by many members of the community along with NSU students, faculty, and staff. We look forward to our partnership with the Silverman family and the opportunities this gift will provide to the college and its students.

The faculty continue to make great strides in research and scholarship, and our students shine on the national stage giving presentations, serving the community, and representing NSU Silverman College of Pharmacy. The newsletter highlights some of our many recent achievements and activities. The college continues to create new opportunities and our accomplishments are updated regularly on our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages. I wish you all a successful Winter 2024 semester and encourage you to reach out for any assistance you need from faculty advisors, administrators, and staff, and I invite you to visit, like, and follow us on social media to see all our activities and accomplishments as they occur throughout the semester.

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Michelle A. Clark, Ph.D.

On November 28, 2023 we had the opportunity to formally recognize and celebrate Dr. Barry and Mrs. Judy Silverman for their transformational gift which resulted in the renaming of the college. This gift will enhance growth and continue to impact NSU’s pharmacy program not only in Fort Lauderdale/Davie, but also at our Palm Beach and San Juan, Puerto Rico campuses. The sun shone down brightly on the crowd of more than 300 guests as a banner that hung from the roof of the building was dropped, revealing the Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy name on the south side of the building. The dedication ceremony, which was also live streamed, featured remarks from George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., Harry K. Moon, Ph.D., Barry J. Silverman, M.D., Michelle A. Clark, Ph.D., and Olivia Hanna (‘25).

It was wonderful to see the students integrated into this memorable event. In addition to Olivia Hanna addressing the crowd to emphasize the impact of her scholarship, Deanna Henry (‘25) and Won Que Park (‘25) showcased their musical abilities on the keyboard and violin, respectively, at the start of the event. It was fun to see them engage in a passion of theirs outside the classroom and their pharmacy studies. 

The Silverman’s commitment to giving back is truly inspiring and we look forward to this next chapter in our college’s history. Please visit College of Pharmacy Named for Barry, Judy Silverman – SharkBytes for more information about the event.

Recently Florida Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), under the direction of their President, Tricia Gangoo-Dookhan, Pharm.D. (‘00), clinical assistant professor at NSU’s Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, presented the college with a very generous scholarship in support of academic excellence. This donation helps to support Florida AMCP’s mission, to serve the membership in the state of Florida with opportunities for networking, education, and advocacy. It also supports our college mission, to educate and develop inclusive leaders.

The presentation of the scholarship check coincided with a faculty development activity, where the CEO of AMCP, Susan Cantrell, spoke with faculty about the future of pharmacy from a managed care perspective. She also discussed how the organization strives to improve patient health by ensuring access to high-quality, cost-effective medications and therapies. We are very thankful to Florida AMCP for this donation and their support of our students’ educational activities.

Jean J. Latimer, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the NSU AutoNation Institute for Breast Cancer Research and Care at NSU’s Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy was interviewed by South Florida PBS about her research focused on investigating DNA damage in human breast tissue caused by environmental factors, including toxins found in South Florida drinking water. Through the institute, Latimer oversees research initiatives aimed at developing innovative methods for cancer prevention and treatment. Check out the South Florida PBS video for more information.

Last semester, faculty members from the Department of Pharmacy Practice, Tina Benny, Pharm.D. and Melissa Santibañez, Pharm.D. (‘15), hosted a virtual residency preparation bootcamp for third- and fourth-year students in the Pharm.D. program. The 1-day bootcamp program, conducted over Zoom, provided an overview of the residency process, application components, a critique of mock applications, and offered insight into the application review process. Many were involved in the development and implementation of the bootcamp, and the number and variety of participants contributed to its success. We would like to recognize contributions from Karen Berger, Pharm.D, assistant professor, Stacey Maravent, Pharm.D. (‘02), director of experiential education, Nayeli Montes, Pharm.D. (’17), PGY1 residency coordinator at Memorial Hospital West, and Kirsten Ohler, Pharm.D., PGY1 residency director at University of Illinois Chicago. The icing on the cake were the perspectives and advice shared by current residents and alumni: Maria Albornoz, Pharm.D. (’23) PGY1 at University of Miami Hospital, Andy Fernandez, Pharm.D. (’23) PGY1 in community pharmacy at NSU, Ivanna Lugo Zamora, Pharm.D. (’23) PGY1 at Memorial Regional Hospital, Karla Medina, Pharm.D. (’23) PGY1 at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, and Fenil Patel, Pharm.D. (’23) PGY1 at Ascension St. Francis.

A collaboration with faculty and students from three NSU colleges resulted in the university having a large presence at the Southeastern Neurodegenerative Disease Conference (SENDCon) meeting held in Atlanta, GA. SENDCon is a regional meeting under the umbrella of the Alzheimer's Association USA, that aims to build a network of collaboration among early career dementia researchers, scientists and students who work on Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, frontotemporal dementias, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury and other neurodegenerative disorders. Benedict C. Albensi, Ph.D., chair, department of pharmaceutical sciences and professor, along with Robert Speth, Ph.D., professor at Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy; Lisa Robison, Ph.D. and Mohammad Sabbir, Ph.D., both assistant professors from the College of Psychology; and Mayur Parmar, Ph.D., assistant professor from the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine represented NSU and presented posters showcasing their research. Approximately 2400 people attended the hybrid meeting, with 2200 attending in person, and another 200 online.

Ioana Popovici, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of sociobehavioral and administrative pharmacy recently presented research in collaboration with faculty from George Mason University and the University of Virginia. The presentation was made at the 20th Annual Southeastern Health Economics Study Group, hosted by the University of Miami. In addition to providing evidence-based research on reproductive choice, the project shows that states with policies mandating employers provide paid sick leave help women balance family and work responsibilities, as well as facilitate their reproductive choices through the use of family planning services such as contraceptive use. The paper is posted as a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper: Does Paid Sick Leave Facilitate Reproductive Choice?.

Genevieve Hale, Pharm.D. (‘13), associate professor in the department of pharmacy practice and Alexandra Perez Rivera, Pharm.D. (‘05), associate professor in the department of sociobehavioral and administrative pharmacy, collaborated with students Emily Puchades (‘24), Gema Jacomino (‘24), and Layall El-Mcharfie (‘24) to publish an article in the Journal of Hypertension. The article is entitled “Use trends of chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide among United States adults with hypertension: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2018". The data extracted focused on those patients who were at least 20 years old and diagnosed with hypertension and on either of these diuretics. This study found that despite the benefits of chlorthalidone regarding its higher potency and cardiovascular benefits, it continues to be underutilized. Sociodemographic factors, health care access and use, clinical factors, and medical conditions did not appear to sway the choice in thiazide diuretic but rather the elderly, and those with abnormal potassium were more likely to be on chlorthalidone. To access the article please visit Journal of Hypertension.

• Sarah Allende, B.S., Student Services Specialist, Palm Beach
• Felix Badillo Soto, Pharm.D. (’23), Instructor/Academic Facilitator, Puerto Rico
• Marjorie López Nieves, Pharm.D. (’23), Instructor/Academic Facilitator, Puerto Rico
• José Rodríguez, Pharm.D., (’22), Clinical Assistant Professor, Puerto Rico
• Rebeca Velez, Administrative Coordinator I, Fort Lauderdale/Davie

More than 50 students participated in 25 poster presentations at the 2023 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting. This is significantly more than we had in past years and would not be possible without the tremendous support students received from their faculty, preceptors, and pharmacist mentors. Presenting a poster at this meeting is a noteworthy accomplishment, and the students should be commended for it.

The posters addressed a wide spectrum of topics including administrative, ambulatory care, cardiology, community pharmacy, drug information, geriatrics, infectious disease, informatics, medication safety, nutrition support, oncology, pain management, psychiatry, telehealth, and wellness. The posters were a mixture of descriptive reports (9), evaluative studies (8), and research in progress (8). In addition to those students who attended to present posters, others attended the meeting to participate in the residency showcase and to network with pharmacy professionals from all over the globe. This memorable personal and professional development experience is surely one the students will remember as they progress to their careers.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy Student Government Association (SGA) organized the first annual 'Ballin for a Cure' basketball game. Students were encouraged to face off against faculty members while supporting this very important cause that hits close to home for too many. A student designed t-shirt and pink ribbon pin were sold at this event, with a portion of the proceeds supporting research efforts.

SGA would like to thank everyone that came out to participate, cheer on participants, and most importantly, support this cause. A huge shout out to faculty MVP Karen Fiano, Pharm.D., assistant dean, accreditation and assessment and associate professor, the lone faculty member who was brave enough to face off against the students! The student MVP was awarded to Tova Delnick (‘26) because of her resilience on the court. SGA will continue selling shirts at $15 and pink ribbon pins at $5 throughout the year. We look forward to seeing a robust crowd in October 2024 at the second annual Ballin' for a Cure!

In December students and faculty from the San Juan campus celebrated at the “Holiday Health Fair” in Maunabo, Puerto Rico. This event, attended by more than 70 people, was funded by PanSGA and led by the student chapter of the National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA) from the San Juan Campus. The health fair place at the public “Plaza” in Maunabo, and NCPA partnered with local pharmacies and municipal public administrative offices for this event. The college administrative team and members of the American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) also participated in the event. At the “Holiday Health Fair” participants rotated through stations where students measured blood pressure and blood glucose, and students provided education about different chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. The environment was one of learning, communication, education, empathy, community, and serving. It is a pleasure to see our Sharks giving back to their local community.

Student members of the pharmaceutical fraternity, Alpha Zeta Omega (AZO) gathered to uphold their pledge to the Florida Department of Transportation to keep our highways litter-free. For more than 15 years, the members of AZO have taken care of 1.8 miles of roadway on Alternate A1A, just north of Northlake Boulvard in Palm Beach Gardens. According to AZO Directorum Kenite Laurore (’25), this hands-on approach to community service creates a sense of responsibility and pride, showing the importance of maintaining a clean and sustainable environment. In addition to the environmental impacts, this eases the load of the Florida Department of Transportation, enabling them to devote more time to other road maintenance and special highway projects. It feels good to do good!

Mercy Garcia, (’24) spent the 3rd APPE block completing an elective rotation in Neurology at Baptist Hospital of Miami under the direction of preceptor, Jessica Greenwood, Pharm.D. (’18). The six-week experience was invaluable, providing the opportunity to work closely with a practitioner who places tremendous value on the patient relationship. According to Garcia, the rotation provided her with a better understanding of her role as a pharmacist within the health care environment. Please read her detailed description of and a reflection on the experience.

Irvin Alfonso, Pharm.D. (‘92) started a new position as Director of Pharmacy at Moffitt Cancer Center.

Hanaya Ali, Pharm.D. (‘22) started a new position as Clinical Pharmacist Advisor at CVS Health.

Jessica Alxan, Pharm.D. (‘22) started a new position as Clinical Pharmacist at Kroger Specialty Pharmacy.

Aixa Andion Arias, Pharm.D. (‘22) started a new position as Surgical Intensive Care Clinical Pharmacist at Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida.

Claudia Arias Leon, Pharm.D. (’20) started a new position as Clinical Pharmacist at Walgreens Centralized Services.

Christian Arikape, Pharm.D. (’15) started a new position as Field Director – Eye Care MSL Team at AbbVie.

Dianexy Beltran, Pharm.D. (11) started a new position as Senior Clinical Pharmacist at Bright Health/Ascendion.

Nicole Bernhardt, Pharm.D. (‘15) was promoted to the position of Pharmacy Manager at CVS Health.

Ally Campbell, Pharm.D. (’12) started a new position as a Medical Science Liaison at KAMADA.

Marcela Castano, Pharm.D. (‘13) started a new position as Medical Science Liaison at IBSA USA.

Keishla Cortes Vera, Pharm.D. (‘19) started a new position as Pharmacy Manager at CVS Pharmacy.

Khyati Desai, Pharm.D. (‘15) started a new position as Associate Director, Regulatory Science CMC At Moderna.

Marissa Egipciaco, Pharm.D. (‘14) started a new position as Clinical Pharmacy Program Manager at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Jennifer Ghandour, Pharm. D. (‘21) started a new position as Clinical Ambulatory Specialist – Oncology at Memorial Healthcare System.

Nahla Hachmi, Pharm.D. (‘22) was promoted to the position of Emergency Medicine Pharmacist at Advent Health Altamonte Springs.

Ramona Hahn, Pharm.D. (’10) started a new position as Senior Clinical Account Executive at Elixir.

Sydney Kchao, Pharm.D. (‘14) started a new position as Director of Pharmacy, Business Operations and Finance at Emory Healthcare.

Barry Mar, Pharm.D. (‘09) started a new position as a Pharmacist at Florida Department of Health Broward County.

Diony Martinez, Pharm.D. (‘04 or 05) started a new position as Senior Manager Medicare Pharmacy Programs at Florida Blue.

Andrea Montealegre, Pharm.D. (’08) started a new position as Healthcare Supervisor at Walgreens.

Samina Mian, Pharm.D. (‘23) started a new position as Clinical Pharmacist at HCA Healthcare.

Frank Nketsiah, Pharm.D. (’20) was promoted to Pharmacy Division Officer at Naval Branch Health Clinic.

Antonia Pasvantis, Pharm.D. ('01) started a new position as Director of Pharmacy at West Boca Medical Center.

Kunal Patel, Pharm.D. (‘19) started a new position as Inpatient Pharmacist at Holy Cross Health Florida.

Parth Patel, Pharm.D. (‘08) started a new position as District Support Pharmacy leader at CVS Health.

Samantha Pina, Pharm.D. (‘17) started a new position as Market Director of Pharmacy at ScionHealth.

Alex Shaw, Pharm.D. (‘15) was promoted to Director, Medical Information and Review at Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Debbie-Ann Sterling-Smith, Pharm.D. (‘10) started a new position as Pharmacy Operations Manager at AdventHealth Daytona Beach.

Denisse Torres, Pharm.D. (‘17) started a new position as Clinical Pharmacy at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Parvathy Varma, Pharm.D. (’19) was promoted to Senior Manager, Medical Affairs at Gilead Sciences.

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.

The NSU's Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy provides a variety of training programs and workshops. Currently, the following programs are being offered:

Initial Consultant Pharmacist Licensure Course & Consultant Re-Certification Conference/ General CE Credit (February 24-25, 2024)	Initial Collaborative Practices Agreement Program (February 24, 2024)

The Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy Alumni events, the training/workshops, and Continuing Education courses are listed on the Silverman College of Pharmacy website.

The NSU Alumni Association (NSUAA) hosts a variety of programs and events to keep you involved and active throughout the year. Please check the NSUAA website.