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On Friday November 14, 2014, NSU's College of Pharmacy (COP) Palm Beach Campus paired with the Diabetes Coalition for a night of community outreach. A large group of members from American Pharmacy Association Palm Beach went to the Palm Beach Outlets, where COP students provided diabetes surveys, glucose screenings, and blood pressure screenings. Over 100 completed surveys were secured from attendees. More importantly, approximately 200 glucose screenings were administered for guest attendees. It was a positive experience for everyone and people looking to get their glucose checked were more inclined to visit the COP table, where they identified the COP students and faculty wearing their professional white coats. Everyone involved in the event night were happy to take part in such a great community outreach service. The College of Pharmacy looks forward to continuing outreach to our communities to provide more events like this one.
Posted on November 21st, 2014
Yamel Yanez, College of Pharmacy doctor candidate, year 2015, has been selected to attend the 2015 National Association of Chain Drug Stores, (NACDS), ground-breaking event on Capitol Hill that will bring over 300 advocates from across the nation to Washington, DC. The purpose of this program is to educate Members of Congress about the importance of pro-patient, pro-pharmacy policy and key issues related to healthcare reform. Participants will discuss the importance of how an "issue of the day" impacts the pharmacy community. While meeting with Members of Congress, students will discuss important issues and demonstrate the dedication of pharmacy students to advancing pharmacy and quality patient services. It is important that Capitol Hill understands pharmacy and welcomes the positions of pharmacy professionals on important health policy issues.
Posted on November 20th, 2014
On behalf of Dean Deziel, Drs. Brian Hierholzer and Stacey Maravent, Dean Ambassador Students Nour Samra, Erin Mohin, and Ariel Jordon - thank you so very much for joining us during today's "alumni lunch social." We also hope you were able to personally meet our Dean's Ambassadors and were able to glean their student perspectives on the changing world of pharmacy and their goals as future alumni. Of course, we also hope you enjoyed the opportunity to network and catch up with your alumni colleagues. We appreciate your invaluable support in sharing your feedback, ideas, and thoughts on how best to outreach and stay engaged with you. For those of you who were not able to join us and would like to provide your feedback, I have attached a brief survey which you may return to me via email or fax. Our alumni play many critical roles for our College - returning to teach, mentoring and precepting students, keeping us informed of changing needs in the pharmacy profession, sharing their goals as alumni, and providing the support and involvement crucial to execute our Mission and help us develop the nation's most promising pharmacy graduates for roles as future leaders in global healthcare. Please click here to enjoy the attached photo gallery.
Posted on November 19th, 2014
The College of Pharmacy hosted an intimate Alumni Social at the Bimini Boatyard during the Florida Pharmacy Association annual meeting held in downtown Ft. Lauderdale this year. The affair provided an excellent opportunity for alumni to engage one on one with Dr. Lisa Deziel, COP Dean and several faculty. Additionally, the social provided an opportunity for the COP to give "thanks" to alumni who support us along the way by staying engaged with the College as we strive to achieve our mission.
Posted on October 16th, 2014
NSU COP Family Feud team (students): Lincy Joseph, Lan Nguyen, Daniel Pearson, Alina Cruz, Levi Morris
Congratulations to the COP Family Feud team who participated in the 2014 HPD Multicultural Affairs Family Feud tournament which took place on September 30 and October 1 in Steele Auditorium. Eight HPD College teams competed in the event including: Medical Sonography, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Osteopathic Medicine, Dental, Optometry & Pharmacy. In this interprofessional experience, our team competed against the College of Optometry on September 30 defeating them to move on to the semifinals on October 1. They successfully competed against the College of Osteopathic Medicine in the semifinals to move forward to the finals against Medical Sonography. After a competitive round we were able to successfully defeat them to claim the championship trophy. The team will receive a celebration event at Quarterdeck as well as the engraved trophy to display in the college for one year. Thank you to the students and faculty who showed up to support our team and cheer them on to victory.
Posted on October 2, 2014
Cleveland Clinic Florida has appointed Osmel "Ozzie" Delgado, MBA, PharmD, FASHP, Chief Operating Officer. Delgado will be responsible for planning and directing operations for the academic medical center, which includes a hospital and medical practices in Weston as well as practices in Parkland, West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. "Ozzie has been part of the Cleveland Clinic family in Florida for 15 years, and in that time has made significant contributions to the organization which has enhanced our ability to grow and deliver world-class care to our patients," said Wael Barousm, MD, President of Cleveland Clinic Florida. "We value his leadership as we continue to grow our services and embark on a critical period of capital expansion." Delgado joined Cleveland Clinic Florida in 1999 and has had a succession of leadership roles that have included Director of Pharmacy, Administrative Director of Clinical Operations, and most recently Senior Director of Operations. He was responsible for establishing hospital workflows for Cleveland Clinic Florida's new transplant programs, multiple construction projects across the organization, and he established an accredited pharmacy residency program. Winner of the 2012 Cleveland Clinic Caregiver Award, Delgado was recognized for demonstrating Cleveland Clinic's "patient first" philosophy. He also reflects the organization's commitment to education as an instructor with multiple academic institutions, including Nova Southeastern University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy, among others. Delgado earned an MBA in healthcare administration from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla., a Doctor of Pharmacy at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Fla., and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla. He is a fellow with American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is the immediate past president of the Southeast Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Delgado was the recipient of NSU's Celebration of Excellence Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 2013.
Posted on August 25, 2014
Left: From left to right - NSU Student Pharmacists Sheila Montalvo and Elizabeth Lessmann presenting the signed proclamation to Mr. Michael Jackson at the February 2014 BCPA meeting. Right: From left to right - NSU Student Pharmacist Sheila Montalvo, NSU College of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Lisa Deziel and Student Pharmacist Elizabeth Lessmann.
It has been a busy year for NSU College of Pharmacy Students Elizabeth Lessmann and Sheila Montalvo! Ever since their very first semester of their first pharmacy school year, these two women have been inspired to make a difference in their profession. Sheila Montalvo and Elizabeth Lessmann have been heavily involved in several professional organizations, traveling throughout the state and the country to various meetings and conferences where they have had the opportunity to meet many influential people in the pharmacy profession. One of the most inspirational people they have met would be Mr. Michael Jackson, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Florida Pharmacy Association (FPA). His passion and drive to promote and protect the pharmacy profession really resonated with these two women and further cultivated their drive and passion to make a difference in the pharmacy profession. Ms. Montalvo was elected as President-Elect of the NSU Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) in her second year of pharmacy school moving to President of APhA-ASP for the 2013-2014 school year. She is currently the Immediate Past president of the Academy. Ms. Lessmann has held several APhA-ASP officer roles throughout her 3 years of pharmacy school as well. The journey to getting a signed proclamation began with several phone calls made by Ms. Lessmann. She was able to set up a meeting with local Florida State Senator, Eleanor Sobel, to discuss current pharmacy related issues and to present a proclamation. On a rainy Wednesday evening in a local coffee shop, Ms. Lessmann and Montalvo met and drafted the very first Student Pharmacist Proclamation in the state of Florida. The original proclamation was presented to the Senator during the scheduled meeting in November, 2013 and the Senator agreed to sign. The signing of the proclamation was a major accomplishment not only for the NSU College of Pharmacy, but for all pharmacy students in the state of Florida. The students had the opportunity to present the signed proclamation to Mr. Michael Jackson at the February 2014 Broward County Pharmacists Association (BCPA) meeting. Mr. Jackson was taken by surprise and later said, "This was indeed an honor to accept this copy of the proclamation as presented by your student group during the BCPA meeting. Over the years I have become fascinated by the excitement that students at NSU have shown towards their profession. We had the pleasure of mentoring a number of students as interns here at the FPA. We are proud to say that many of these interns are doing great things in health care. Even though I am a FAMU graduate and a diehard 'Rattler' I have been bitten by the 'Shark' and proud to tell my colleagues in other state pharmacy associations throughout this great nation what wonderful things are going on in Davie, Florida." It seems as though things have come full circle for Ms. Montalvo and Ms. Lessmann. The person who inspired them their very first year of pharmacy school was able to witness, first hand, what he inspired them to do. Without a doubt, these women are passionate about their profession and will continue to have a positive influence on the pharmacy profession. The Proclamation was presented to the membership of FPA by Mr. Jackson at the Legislative Affairs function in Tallahassee.
2014 recipient Allen Nichol with APhA President Steve Simenson
The Daniel B. Smith Practice Excellence Award, in honor of the first president of the American Pharmaceutical Association, is APhA's premier practice award to recognize a pharmacy practitioner in any practice setting, who has distinguished himself/herself and the profession by outstanding performance. The NSU College of Pharmacy is very proud our alumni, Allen Nichol, Pharm.D., '93 has been awarded for distinguishing himself and the profession of pharmacy by sustained outstanding performance and achievement. Dr. Nichol is the COO/VP Clinical Operations CeutiCare Inc.
Posted on August 22, 2014
NSU College of Pharmacy Alumni, Richard Ashworth, Pharm.D., '99. has been named president of retail and pharmacy operations for Walgreen's as part of a revised operational structure. He will assume the new post September 1 and will oversee the field organization to implement a single customer plan as well as oversee the delivery of customer care across Walgreens' community locations. He was featured in Chain Drug Review e-NewsBreak on 8/15: Walgreens realigns leadership team. Click here to read the story.
Catalina Acosta, PharmD Candidate; Raquel A. Caporella, PharmD Candidate; Nicole Y. Derisma, PharmD Candidate; Federica H. Hulett, PharmD Candidate; Melissa Santibanez, PharmD Candidate from the NSU College of Pharmacy Class 2015 and their faculty mentor Joshua Caballero, PharmD, BCPP, placed first with their research poster "Assessment of atypical antipsychotic agents as a treatment modality in elderly Parkinson's psychosis". The research poster competition took place at the SNPhA 41st Annual National Conference in Arlington, Virginia July 25th, 2014. The research posters, which included students as well as pharmacists, were chosen based on topics that highlighted contributions regarding pharmaceutical care for medically underserved populations. Competing against other research posters, NSU COP student pharmacists demonstrated their knowledge and passion for the pharmacy profession. They were highly recognized by several judges not only on their poster but the level of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and oral presentation displayed during the competition. One judge commented, "This poster is the quality of a faculty member. The level of critical thinking was extremely high." The students were excited to win a cash prize but more importantly have the opportunity to compete at a national level and represent the NSU College of Pharmacy in a positive light.
The American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) offers Student Societies of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHPs) nationwide the opportunity for official "ASHP-SSHP Recognition". Criteria for recognition encourage SSHP activities that: - Promote membership in local, state, and national health-system organizations; - Stimulate interest in health-system pharmacy careers; - Encourage career development and professionalism among students aspiring to careers in health-system pharmacy. Congratulations to NSU COP Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy for being among the 126 Student Societies of Health-System Pharmacy who have earned official recognition from ASHP for 2014-2015.
Dr. Nathan Unger, Assistant Professor of pharmacy at Palm Beach Campus, works closely with Dr. Borrego at St. Mary's Medical Center on research to swab sharks' teeth and determine which bacteria are most common in different species. The goal is to develop more targeted antibiotics to treat victims of shark bites. The two researchers were highlighted on Discovery Channel Canada during Shark Week.
Posted on August 19, 2014
In both photos: From left to right Paras Patel, Nishant Talati, Neelam Gazarian, Darshan Masalawala, Harshal Desai and in the center Tania Jackson (wife of Micheal Jackson).
With a close competition and only 0.7 points separating 1st place from 2nd place, the COP Class of 2015 students Jigisha Bhagat, Harshal Desai, Neelam Gazarian, Darshan Masalawala, Paras Patel, and Nishant Talati, under guidance of their advisor, Dr. Elizabeth Sherman, PharmD, secured 2nd place at the Florida Pharmacy Association (FPA) 124th Annual Meeting and Convention for their poster presentation, "Antiretroviral Therapy and Risk Of Polypharmacy," The main objectives of the research were to establish trends of polypharmacy causing drug-drug interactions among HIV-infected patients and to develop a drug interaction tool for prescribing clinicians. The FPA held a poster presentation competition in Fort Lauderdale earlier this month with six Florida pharmacy schools competing, in which the NSU pharmacy seminar 2014 award winners competed and performed extremely well and represented NSU with pride. Thank you to everyone who participated in the competition and a very special congratulation to our NSU team who won. Their research will be published in the upcoming issue of the FPA journal.
Posted on July 28, 2014
Silvia E. Rabionet, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Socio-behavioral & Administrative Pharmacy has been selected as one of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Academic Research Fellow 2014-2015 Cohort List. The year-long leadership program is designed to expand the capabilities of established faculty research scientists and administrators to cultivate collaborative team research and graduate education within and across institutions. Specifically, participants will gain experience in research-focused leadership development; team building; and the development of innovative research strategies to secure funding from federal and other public and private sources. Participants will also gain insight into the dynamics, management, institutional structures and policies that affect research teams; and have the opportunity to network with successful research leaders and advocacy groups. In addition to sessions in residence, Fellows will participate in a team-based project development. Dr. Rabionet has engaged in widespread academic research and its relation to: teaching; practice; science; and graduate professional education in the health sciences. Dr. Rabionet earned her Ed.D. in administration, planning, and social policy in higher education from Harvard University Graduate School of Education. At NSU, she is part of a faculty team responsible for developing a research unit, infrastructure and scholarship in socioeconomic and behavioral factors related to medication access and use. She is currently involved in three areas of scholarship: HIV/health disparities research development and mentoring; socio-behavioral aspects of pharmacy; and history of the health sciences. Congratulations, Dr. Rabionet!
Posted on July 25, 2014
NSU faculty, Syed A. A. Rizvi, Ph.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., M.B.A., M.S., MRSC., was recently asked by one of the most prestigious and old scientific society, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) to provide an expert opinion on a paper published by Harvard University and MIT scientists in their journal "Chemistry World". ..."Chiral resolution, especially during drug discovery, requires tedious method development by an experienced scientist to achieve efficient separation,' says Syed Rizvi, a chiral separations and pharmaceutical analysis expert at Nova Southeastern University in the US. 'The MagLev technique however is quite simple, inexpensive and has great potential to become a routine method for chiral separation.'...
Jennifer Gershman, Pharm.D., assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, Jason Gershman, Ph.D., associate professor in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, Andrea Fass, Pharm.D., assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, and Ioana Popovici, Ph.D., assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy recently published a study in the Journal Pain Medicine, the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. The study researched Florida physicians' attitudes and knowledge toward accessing the state's prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). Florida's PDMP collects and stores controlled substance dispensing information to prevent prescription drug abuse. Medical doctors and osteopathic physicians licensed in Florida were randomly selected for a voluntary and anonymous self-administered survey. The study revealed that a majority of participants believe that Florida's PDMP is a useful tool for monitoring patients' controlled substance histories. Click here to read the article.
Florida Pharmacy Association (FPA) President Suzanne Kelley has appointed NSU College of Pharmacy faculty/alumnus, Richard Finkel, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, to FPA's Professional Affairs Council as the College's faculty representative. Finkel received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Southeastern College of Pharmacy in 1992 (Southeastern merged with Nova in 1994 to form Nova Southeastern University). Finkel is a consulting pharmacist for Vitas Hospice in Miami, has served as president of Prescription Drug Foundation Pharmacy in North Miami Beach for more than 40 years, and has been a clinical assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at NSU's College of Pharmacy for nearly 20 years. He began his career in the retail pharmacy chain field. Finkel has received numerous honors and has been recognized extensively by NSU. He was an Outstanding Teacher finalist for NSU's College of Pharmacy in recognition of his excellence and innovation in teaching. He received the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence seven times in the past 14 years and earned NSU's Celebration of Excellence Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 2004. Finkel has actively participated on numerous committees for the College of Pharmacy and is a member of the Florida Pharmacy Association. He has also been an integral team member and participant for the College of Pharmacy's annual alumni campaign.
During her time at Nova Southeastern University, Hoda Masmouei, PharmD, aimed to impact the field of pharmacy through leadership and technology innovation. The 2013 Next-Generation Pharmacist Future Pharmacist of the Year award winner created the first student group for pharmacy informatics in the nation to be recognized by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists—the Pharmacy Informatics Special Interest Group. Initiated in the spring of 2012 as part of a professional development project within the student chapter of the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the group focuses on creating awareness, training, and opportunities in pharmacy automation and informatics.
Posted on July 23, 2014
Click on the image above to watch the video on YouTube. Click here for the June 2014 Newsletter of APhA Pharmacist Provide Care Campaign Update
Timothy P. Gauthier, Pharm.D., BCPS, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
William R. Wolowich, Pharm.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
In May 2014, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Timothy P. Gauthier, Pharm.D., BCPS presented the original research project Colistin-Associated Nephrotoxicity in Critically Ill Patients and Simulated Colistimethate Sodium and Colistin Levels at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases' (ESCMID) 24th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain. This invited platform presentation described novel findings regarding the use of last-line antibiotic colistin, a drug more commonly used in practice today, as antibiotic misuse leads to antimicrobial resistance and moves the world closer to a post-antibiotic era. NSU Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice William R. Wolowich, Pharm.D. significantly contributed to this research. Additionally, in September 2013, Dr. Gauthier presented the research project Free Antibiotic and Vaccination Programs in Community Pharmacies and Associations with Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status at the American Society of Microbiology's (ASM) 53rd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Denver, Colorado. This invited platform presentation described a previously unrecognized initiative related to antimicrobial use in the community, finding multiple opportunities to enhance appropriate drug use in this setting. NSU COP students David Harriman and Jenny Pham contributed to this research. Both research projects represent inter-professional collaborations with co-investigators from other institutions including University of Miami, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee and Jackson Memorial Hospital. We are excited to continue our work in these important areas within the specialty of infectious diseases.
Dr. Goar Alvarez appointed to Florida Board of Pharmacy by Governor Rick Scott. Dr. Alvarez, of Cooper City, Florida is the director of pharmacy services for Nova Southeastern University. Alvarez received his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Florida A&M University and his Doctor of Pharmacy from Nova Southeastern University. He succeeds Albert Garcia and is appointed for a term beginning May 23, 2014, and ending October 31, 2017. Dr. Alvarez is past speaker of the FPA House of Delegates and past president of the Florida Pharmacy Association. He is also the 2002 recipient of the James H. Beal Pharmacist of the Year award. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The NSU College of Pharmacy 2014 Golden Apple Award goes to Richard Finkel, Pharm.D. Congratulations Dr. Finkel! We truly believe that your contribution to our students' knowledge is a significant component of their pharmacy education and plays a major role in their professional success.
NSU College of Pharmacy Palm Beach student Daniela Valencia has been accepted to participate in the Veteran's Affairs Learning Opportunity Residency program at the West Palm Beach Veteran's Administration (VA). Valencia was awarded one of two positions for which many other pharmacy students from the state of Florida had applied. The VALOR program gives outstanding students an opportunity to gain experiences in clinical pharmacy at a VA healthcare facility. Valencia will be involved in didactic experiences, pharmacy based clinical conferences, and clinical practice with a pharmacist preceptor during the program. Valencia was honored as the College of Pharmacy's Student Pharmacist of the Month for March 2014 in recognition of her being an outstanding leader, exceptional peer mentor, exemplary representative of the college within her community involvement, and a remarkable student in academic excellence.
The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) held their annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona from April 27th through April 30th, 2014. In attendance representing Nova Southeastern University's College of Pharmacy (COP) were Jose Rey, PharmD, MS, BCPP, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Joshua Caballero, PharmD, BCPP, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice. Jose Rey, PharmD, MS, BCPP presented on long acting injectable antipsychotics to over 300 attendees while Joshua Caballero, PharmD, BCPP was the keynote speaker for the student programming and presented on tips and insight into securing residencies to over 50 students across the country. Joshua Caballero, PharmD, BCPP was also appointed Editor-in-Chief to the Mental Health Clinician, CPNP's peer-reviewed journal which recently signed a contract with a national publisher. Also in attendance were, Jose Valdes, PharmD, NSU's PGY-2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice Resident, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Jennifer Thomas, PharmD, NSU's neurocognitive fellow who presented four research posters about personality disorders and depression, respectively. Additionally, COP student pharmacists Stepan Uhlyar P3, Shaun Michael P3, Katerina Tagaras P4, and Noor Daghistani P4, presented three additional research posters on long acting injectable antipsychotics. The poster session was attended by over 600 professionals of multiple disciplines, a growing number each year. Overall, NSU was one of the best represented Colleges of Pharmacy at the annual meeting. As NSU stands as the first collegiate chapter of CPNP for students in the nation, the future of psychiatric and neurologic pharmacy education and mentorship shines brightly at NSU, with growing student interest each year. Click for more pictures
Memorial Hospital Pembroke recognized pharmacy student, Orlando Alvarado from the College of Pharmacy Ponce Campus with the "Patient First Award." Orlando was recognized for his outstanding achievements and commitment to providing a healing environment that is safe, efficient, customer focused, and of superior quality. While on his Emergency Department clinical rotation at Memorial Hospital Pembroke a patient presented to the ER with a chief complaint of difficulty speaking starting 25 minutes prior to arrival. The patient also had mild left -sided facial droop. Due to these symptoms, a stroke alert was called. During the stroke alert, administration of t-PA was being considered by the ED physician and neurologist. During the stroke alert, College of Pharmacy student, Orlando Alvarado (Ponce Campus) reviewed the patient's home medication at the direction of a pharmacist. Upon reviewing the patient's medication, Orlando noticed a medication for acid reflux that did not list how often the patient takes that medication. Upon inquiring with the patient, he denied taking this medication. As a result of this Orlando contacted the patient's pharmacy to obtain a complete list of home medications. During reconciliation of the medication with the pharmacy, it was identified that the patient was taking Xarelto, a blood thinner, which would preclude this patient from receiving t-PA. Additionally, the patient had denied taking blood thinners several times upon questioning. When Orlando found out that the patient was taking Xarelto, he immediately brought this to the attention of the ER nurse and ER physician. As a result, the ER physician and neurologist discussed the case again and decided not to proceed with prescribing t-PA. Due to the follow through by Orlando, this patient was treated appropriately for a stroke and did not receive a high-alert drug that could have resulted in an adverse event such as intracranial bleeding.
NSU's College of Pharmacy received a warm, heartfelt letter of praise from a patient treated by one of our pharmacy students at Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston. The letter highlighted our Palm Beach Campus student, Melissa Wagner, 2014. The patient stated that "Melissa was very informative and caring during her visits with me." Melissa does remember this patient quite well, and said that the patient was very happy to have pharmacy to talk to so she could have a better understanding of the medications she was receiving in the hospital. Melissa truly enjoyed her two rotation experiences at Cleveland Clinic during her P4 year. She had an anticoagulation rotation with Espinoza Friedman, PharmD, BCPS, and a critical care rotation with Lori Milicevic, PharmD, BCNSP. Melissa said that she was very lucky to have these rotations, and that she recommends this site to P3's when they are asking for APPE suggestions. She said being a "pharmacist extender" gives her the time to listen to patients and help them with their fears, questions and understanding of their medications. Melissa said that the preceptors at Cleveland Clinic teach in a way that make students feel comfortable to approach, educate and help patients. She said that on her two rotations at Cleveland Clinic Florida, she had an opportunity to participate in grand rounds, lectures, and daily communications with her preceptors. She feels that these rotations have helped enable her to go out and practice her skills and training after graduation. This is what her preceptor, Lori Milicevic, PharmD, BCNSP, has to say about Melissa: "Melissa always had a caring demeanor and genuine concern for the patient's well-being. During critical care rounds she would always be cognizant of the patients' feelings and emotions, as well as the medical and pharmaceutical care that was being provided to them. During her medication reconciliations and discharge counseling sessions, she always took the time to make sure the patient felt comfortable with all the medications they were receiving and provided additional drug information to them when she felt it was necessary. Being a preceptor for a student like Melissa Wagner validates the rewarding experiences that I have as a preceptor and my continued commitment to my future students." Melissa Wagner is ranked 13th in the College of Pharmacy Class of 2014 overall. She is a member of Rho Chi and she is the top student in her class at the College's Palm Beach Campus. Melissa is one of those rare individuals that is a high academic achiever, but also very caring and helpful with her peers. She always has a smile and a positive attitude. She also worked hard to tutor her peers as well as take advantage of opportunities that were offered to interact with patients whenever possible. Her passion and professionalism has always shown through during her time at the College. Melissa is planning to work for CVS in Boynton Beach once she receives her license. We will miss her very much at NSU's College of Pharmacy when she graduates, but she will make us very proud representing our College, the University, and the pharmacy profession.
Congratulations to Ms. Mislady (Millie) Velez, Director of Alumni Development & Professional Affairs for winning the Administrator of the Year STUEY Award. Ms. Velez possesses a tremendous commitment to the core values of NSU. She is an integral part of the College of Pharmacy's administrative team. She is always eager to plan and implement programs designed to engage the members of the college, the university, and the broader community of our alumni. She puts tireless effort into each directive and is known for her innovative ideas and initiative. As an administrator, she has a clear sense of her own unique purpose which energizes her to enthusiastically pursue the vision and mission of the college and NSU. In her seven years within her current position, she has proven her ability and talent as well as her dedication to the college. She demonstrates her creative abilities within the projects that she develops and cultivates students centered scholarship through programs such as the Dean's Ambassador Program. The program serves to further engage student pharmacists in representing the college and University amongst alumni, preceptors, students, constituents, affiliate organizations, their respective professional communities, and the public in general. The focus of the program is to further develop the selected ambassadors' professionalism through leadership, networking, presentation and teamwork. Ms. Velez continually strives to foster a spirit of harmonious communication and positive energy within her interactions with students, faculty, staff and the broader community. Her attention to detail is evident within the polished appearance that she portrays through her work of showcasing and highlighting the strengths, goals and accomplishments of the faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the college. This award is recognition of Ms. Velez for her outstanding contributions to the college and the university.
Alpha Zeta Omega (AZO), College of Pharmacy fraternity, NOVA Southeastern University's Psi chapter attended the 2014 semiannual National Alpha Zeta Omega Convention which was held at the West Palm Beach Marriott. Events at the convention included social activities, community events, a CE presentation for the RPh Brothers and a visit to the Palm Beach Zoo. The Convention was a great way for the local PB COP brothers to catch up with old friends, relax and represent the NSU COP Psi Chapter by reporting their 2013 fraternity endeavors which included community service events such as the annual 'Adopt-A-Highway' Roadside cleanup and Habitat for Humanity project; the American Heart Association walk in which the professional college fraternity teamed up with NSU's Palm Beach Student Government Association (PB SGA) and American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA – ASP) to help raise $1,300; and plans to support the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for research and education. Community events included a scenic 2-mile walk around West Palm Beach in order to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald Charities; and local AZO Psi chapter, in support of the convention, organized a beach clean-up that was held at Palm Beach Island. Over 20 brothers from the Psi and Nu chapters, NSU AZO Psi Chapter faculty advisor, Feroza Sircar, PharmD; and AZO officers including the Supreme directorum Steve Brooks, RPh. from the National Organization and their families participated in the event. Through dedication and collegiality the beach clean-up team collected several bags of trash, including cigarette butts, bottles, and tons of Styrofoam which would otherwise harm the sea turtles and other wildlife in our area. The beach cleanup was a great success with lots of fun and sun. PB COP AZO Psi Chapter brothers felt a sense of pride, satisfaction and fulfillment in assisting the success of their National Organization 2014 semiannual convention. Click for more pictures
Alpha Zeta Omega (AZO) - Psi chapter, NOVA Southeastern University, College of Pharmacy, Palm Beach Campus participated in the 23rd Annual Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure. Over 25 students and faculty, Feroza Sircar, PharmD teamed-up to support and enjoy the 2014 5K walk in Downtown, West Palm Beach. A fundraiser was held on January 25, 2014 at Chili's in honor of the event. It was unanimously supported by PB COP students, staff and faculty. Chilis donated 10% of the day's sales to AZO 'Give Back Event' to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of Chili's and our race supporters' donations, a total of $845 was raised to support the 2014 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The funds will go towards breast cancer research, education, and treatment programs.
What better way can you spend your Valentines than dancing with angels? On February 15th families came together at Café Iguana in Pembroke Pines to celebrate with individuals that have Down Syndrome. NSU's College of Pharmacy's (NSU COP) Beta Lambda Chapter of the Professional Pharmacy Fraternity Phi Delta Chi (PDC) participated in the 3-2-1 Dance 2014 charity event. Through the coordination efforts of pharmacist Gordon Garland of Memorial Regional Hospital, pharmacy student Natasha Decal along with numerous other PDC members, were able to help advertise the occasion, provide flowers, greet / register guests, assist in running a food / beverage service, engage participants of all ages through the fun spirit of dancing, and raise money through t-shirt sales for the Broward County Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization [www.bgcdownsyndrome.org]. This marks the fourth straight year that NSU COP's PDC chapter has been a part of this wonderful event. As 3-2-1 Dance continues to grow year after year, the brothers of PDC are proud to support the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) sponsored We're More Alike than Different public awareness campaign [www.ndsccenter.org]. The vision of the NDSC is a world with equal rights and opportunities for people with Down syndrome. The PDC students further noted their appreciation for the presence of NSU COP faculty, Sandra Benavides Pharm.D. and Devada Singh-Franco, Pharm.D. For more information, contact Devada Singh-Franco, PharmD, CDE; Phi Delta Chi, Beta Lambda Faculty Advisor, College of Pharmacy at singh@nova.edu.
St. Mary's Medical Center and Palm Beach Children's Hospital is pleased to announce an exciting collaboration with faculty from Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy (NSU-COP). Nathan Unger, Pharm.D., Assistant Professor with NSU-COP, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Florida and subsequently completed two years of post-graduate residency training specializing in infectious diseases. Read the full article in the Physician Newsletter of St. Mary's Medical Center
Dr. Goar Alvarez, PharmD, instructing the students on proper administration techniques (left) and Drs. Robert McGory, PharmD, Goar Alvarez, PharmD, addressing the students (right).
Immunization is a rapidly expanding area of pharmacy practice, and NSU College of Pharmacy students have been campaigning to grant FL student pharmacists the same abilities to vaccinate as currently held by FL licensed pharmacists. Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) share a common immunization-based initiative project, and as such decided to team up and bring an Immunization Skills Seminar to NSU students. The training session took place on Friday, February 21, 2014, in NSU's Health Professions Division, Davie campus. A total of forty-two student pharmacists participated. The session was open to members of both student organizations. The workshop was conducted as a two-part session, bringing together a didactic portion and a practical portion. The didactic portion featured the facts and additional responsibilities of being an immunizing pharmacists, as well as information specific to FL certified pharmacist immunizers. Students were taught to recognize the three basic immunization administration techniques (intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal) and were also trained on the procedures to minimize needlestick injuries and prevent harm due to bloodborne pathogens. The didactic training was spearheaded by Barry Bleidt, PharmD, COP sociobehavioral and administrative pharmacy department. The follow-up practical portion allowed students to practice the techniques learned in the previous portion. Students administered intramuscular injections using normal saline to oranges (orange peel simulates the texture of human skin to mimic the actual vaccine administration process). The practical training was spearheaded by Goar Alvarez, PharmD, sociobehavioral and administrative pharmacy department, and director of the NSU Clinic Pharmacy. Special guests and NSU faculty also in attendance were Drs. Michelle Clark, PhD and Student National Pharmaceutical Association faculty advisor, and Robert McGory, PharmD, Associate Dean for the Professional Programs.
Ethics Bowl winners from the College of Pharmacy (right side) shook hands with their physician assistant opponents from Fort Myers (left side) with supporters cheering from the physician assistant program in Fort Myers (back). The NSU College of Health Care Sciences recently hosted the 8th annual Ethics Bowl. Typically, the event involves students from the Colleges of Health Care Science and Nursing, but demonstrating NSU's inter-professional focus, the Multicultural Affairs Committee this year opened the competition to all NSU Health Professions Divisions programs, including pharmacy and dental medicine. The evening began with a lovely dinner and a riveting speech on ethics by Robert Grosz, Ed.D., professor of physician assistant studies and public health. Many of the teams spent hours practicing with their coaches in preparation for the event. Teams of three to five students from each program went head-to-head against opposing teams, showing their ethical rationale and skills. Teams were presented with ethical dilemmas regarding situations that medical professionals may face in their daily practices. After four rounds, the College of Pharmacy team was crowned the winner. Second place was awarded to the physician assistant students from Fort Myers. Third place went to the nursing students from the Fort Lauderdale campus. The Spirit award was given to two teams this year: the physical therapy students from Tampa and the physician assistant students from Fort Myers for having the most program supporters. A special thanks to all the student participants, coaches, moderators, and judges! This was truly a memorable event that would not have been the same without your contributions.
... Goar Alvarez, NSU's director of pharmacy services, said the drug shortage has led many health providers to turn to compounding pharmacies for medications, especially injectables. He's concerned that some compounders don't have the highest sterility standards, especially those shipping from out of state. Riskin said her hospitals relied on compounders before the NECC scandal, but she grew leery after she realized the IV bags sold to them were supposed to last two weeks when the normal shelf life is 24 hours. "It's very scary because in the hospital, we have very stringent stability and sterility rules," Riskin said. "A lot of hospitals rely on compounders day-to-day. They were our last backup for the drug shortage, and now we can't rely on them."... Read the full article.
NSU and the College of Pharmacy join forces for a second year offering the Inter-professional Diabetes Education and Awareness initiative (IDEA), designed to educate and link South Floridians with medical care and other resources. NSU COP Alumni Faculty Member, Andrea Fass, Pharm.D. (2009), coordinated the IDEA Workshop for "Diabetes & Medication" to be held April 6, 2014 at NSU's Nursing Simulations Skills Lab at NSU's University Park Plaza. A number of free workshops open to the public have been scheduled for March and April, 2014 at the NSU Davie Campus. Read the full story here.
The Center for Collaborative Research, which will be build on the Davie campus next to the HPD Terry Building, will enhance and expand the NSU research in cardiovascular disease, anti-cancer therapies, chronic fatigue syndrome and autism. It will also house one of the state's largest "wet labs," which can store chemicals, drugs and biological materials. In addition, it will provide facilities for researchers in engineering, math, environmental science and other disciplines. It will also house a private incubator for start-up companies in the field of information security. The construction expected to be complete by early 2016. Media coverage of the event:
On the morning of Saturday February 1, 2014 College of Pharmacy (COP) students, faculty and alumni headed to the Belle Glades and Clewiston areas to serve in the 13th Annual Glades REACH and Hendry/Glades Community Health Fairs commonly known as the Reach health Fair (RHF). The COP remains committed to partner with NSU Health Profession Division (HPD) colleges to not only support NSU local medical mission to these underserved communities but more so to provide an enriching interdisciplinary learning environment for the COP students. The RHF is all about another opportunity to instill in the students the values of providing voluntarily wellness services to the communities. With the support of faculty the students did the planning and execution of services. This year the COP team Feroza Sircar, MS, PharmD; Jessica Dabady, PharmD; Zaher Hajar, PharmD; Andre Moses, PharmD and students offered bone density screenings and health education on healthy bones to both communities; and at Belle Glade a 'brown bag' service that included education on safe storage of medications and safe disposal of expired/unwanted medications. PB local FSHP-SC officers and Jessica Dabady, PharmD took charge of the 'brown bag' services. Read the full article here.
The NSU College of Pharmacy Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists-Student Chapter (FSHP-SC) recently introduced its Project Vaccination outreach program to the community this fall. FSHP-SC led the joining of forces of Fighting Infectious Diseases in Emerging Countries (FIDEC) and Walgreens to develop this community program geared towards promoting vaccination awareness among minority populations of South Florida. In its inaugural year, Project Vaccination was a tremendous success as students were able to reach out to the community at multiple Walgreens locations across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Students first participated in training sessions held by FIDEC and Walgreens to learn about vaccinations, preventable diseases, and how to counsel about the importance of getting vaccinated. The training prepared students for reaching out to customers in Walgreens, specifically on the most accessible vaccinations: Influenza, Pneumococcal, and Herpes Zoster (Shingles) vaccines. The overall goal of the program is to educate as many individuals in the community as possible, address misconceptions and concerns, and increase the amount of vaccinations administered in an effort to reduce overall incidence of these preventable diseases. As a result of this program's success, FSHP-SC will continue to offer Project Vaccination in coming years.
College of Pharmacy faculty member, Anastasios (Tassos) Lymperopoulos, BPharm, MSc, PhD, FAHA, Assistant Professor Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, participated in an honorary photo session during the American Heart Association`s (AHA) Annual Conference's Scientific Sessions held at the Dallas Convention Center on Monday, November 18, 2013. Scientific Sessions is the leading cardiovascular meeting for basic, translational, clinical and population science, in the United States, with more 18,000 cardiovascular experts from more than 105 countries attending the meeting. This photo session took place as a special honor for AHA members, who are recognized as young, "up and coming" cardiovascular researchers, and who have been receiving over two years' funding from the American Heart Association for their research. Lymperopoulos, has been conducting AHA-funded cardiovascular research for over 9 years now and has also been elected Fellow of the American Heart Association (F.A.H.A.) with its Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Council, a significant recognition given to distinguished cardiovascular researchers, who are members of this Association. See more photos here.
From left to right; Anishka Gilbert, Judith Alphonse, Lauren Roper, Marlene Fernandez and Sireesha Bellam; P3 pharmacy students in front of their poster which they presented for the Therapeutics and Pathophysiology III Seminar day this past April.
Third year (now fourth year) College of Pharmacy students Judith Alphonse, Sireesha Bellam, Marlene Fernandez, Anishka Gilbert and Lauren Roper co-authored a commentary "The FDA Funding Crisis" along with their advisors Robert Speth, Ph.D. and Antonia Zapantis, MS, PharmD, BCPS. The manuscript was refined from a poster presentation "Does the FDA Have Enough Funding?" which the students prepared for the annual College of Pharmacy Seminar Day this past April. It was published online in the Journal of Pharmacy Technology in October 2013. Read the full article here.
The NSU Florida Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists-Student Chapter (FSHP-SC) held its annual Interview Workshop on November 20, 2013. The workshop served as the second step in FSHP's Professionalism track and consisted of inviting pharmacy professionals from a variety of different settings to participate in mock interviews with the students and provide fundamental advice on how to promote themselves as professionals during interviews. We had a full house this year with nearly 70 graduate and undergraduate students and 20 interviewers in attendance at our main College of Pharmacy Campus in Davie. Students were able to interact with multiple professionals from different pharmacy backgrounds including managed care, academic, community, and hospital. The annual Interview Workshop is a key event offered to all NSU students and will allow our students to further build themselves as professionals by providing them an opportunity to network with prospective employers and perfect their interview skills according to the career path they wish to pursue. Additionally NSU FSHP-SC would like to thank PAN Student Government Association and CVS Caremark for their sponsorship support for this event.
The College of Pharmacy is proud to congratulate Devada Singh-Franco, RPh, PharmD, CDE, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice for receiving credentialing as a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators in December, 2013. Amongst healthcare professionals that work with patients with diabetes, this is a landmark accomplishment. In order to become Certified, there is a challenging, multi-disciplinary examination and an extensive practice requirement. In addition to her College responsibilities, Singh-Franco practices at Broward Health Medical Center treating patients with diabetes. She is well-published in the field of diabetes and is always highly-regarded by her Doctor of Pharmacy students at NSU's College of Pharmacy and is also now recognized amongst her peers as a CDE. Congratulations Dr. Singh-Franco.
Osmel (Ozzie) Delgado (2002) is the administrative director of Clinical Operations for Cleveland Clinic of Florida, where he is responsible for 85 full-time employees and manages a $26-million, annual expense budget; seven Florida pharmacy permits; and surgical operations of eleven operating room suites and three outpatient surgical suites. During his eight years at Cleveland Clinic, he has implemented an American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP)-accredited pharmacy residency program, an epic EMR for inpatient and outpatient service. Delgado is involved with the American and Florida Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP & FSHP). In 2009, South Florida Business Journal recognized him with the "Mover and Shaker Award." He was also recipient of the Caregiver Award in 2012 from the Cleveland Clinic and the Excellence in Pharmacy Leadership award in 2011. "NSU has impacted my career by creating a network that extends beyond its university campuses," said Delgado. "I am able to work with NSU alumni to help advance the profession of pharmacy in a practice setting."