2013-14 SBU Class Representatives Elected

Student Body Union (SBU) class representatives for the 2013-14 school year were elected the last week of April, including class presidents Sonalie Patel, Drew Steppleman, Jeffrey Pasucal, and Ana Simonyan.

Ana Simonyan	Jeffrey Pasucal	Drew Steppleman	Sonalie Patel

SBU serves as a liaison between the College’s student, faculty, staff, and administration. Its purpose is to promote the wishes of the student body, initiate such activities as are deemed necessary to fulfill the social and professional needs of students, and ensure a system of student governance.

Patel, who retains her position as the class of 2015 president, is also president of Phi Lambda Sigma Leadership Society, the Student Alumni Association, and the Health Professions Student Leadership Council, an interprofessional council made up of students from Washington University School of Medicine, Goldfarb School of Nursing, and STLCOP. In addition, she is an orientation leader.

As president of her class, Patel says she’s most excited about improving the College for future classes. “I have the opportunity and great privilege to promote student advocacy and create change that future classes can benefit from,” she says.

Also elected for the class of 2015 was Puja B. Patel as vice president; Francisco Franco as secretary/treasurer; Jordan Powell as programming liaison; and Molly Howell, Heather Kindermann, Julie McGinley, Aaron Plaster, and Allison Wegrzyn as representatives.

Steppleman was chosen as the class of 2016 president. He takes over for Greg Sneed, who will move on to serve as executive president of SBU. Steppleman also serves as SBU executive treasurer and is an orientation leader.

Steppleman says he’s honored to be elected class president and excited to see where the next year will lead his class.

Logan Randolph was elected as vice president of the class of 2016, while Alex Cline was elected as secretary/treasurer; Josh Loesche as programming liaison; and Landon Conrad, Melissa Green, Atit Parikh, Ela Poznanski, and Faith Slaton as representatives.

Jeffrey Pasucal will serve as the class of 2017 president. Pasucal is also high gamma (secretary) for Lambda Chi Alpha.

“To be chosen as the 2017 class president is a real honor - I can’t wait to represent such an amazing class and hope that my contribution really helps leave a mark on this school,” he says. “I have a great group of classmates to work with, and I can’t wait for what the next year holds."

Shefali Barot was chosen as vice president of the class, while Sarah Samuel will serve as secretary/treasurer; Jessie Merlo as programming liaison; and Nana Byun, Alex Davis, and Nick Potter as representatives.

Ana Simonyan was chosen as the class of 2018 president. Simonyan is also a student liaison for the Student Affairs Committee.

“Representing my class as president has been such an honor. I've had the privilege of meeting and working with so many talented and influential people-students, staff, and faculty-at the college. As a first year, I think one of the most important responsibilities you have as president is to make sure your classmates feel assimilated into their new environment. That's what I hoped to do for the first year students, is make their experience so much more enjoyable,” Simonyan says. “Representing your class means being constantly attentive and proactive, communicating ideas and concerns, and making sure that you always have your classmates in mind when you're making decisions. After all, they look to you to keep them informed and be their voice. I am constantly humbled and grateful for this opportunity.”

Taylor Smith will serve as vice president of the class, while Kaylin Rau will serve as secretary/treasurer; Joanna Huang will serve as programming liaison; and Michael Kim, Jerrett Marcuson, Sumit Sethi, Salia Richard, and Pakou Vang as representatives.

STLCOP Students Win National Award

A team of students at St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine was chosen as one of three winners of the national Script Your Future Award, a campaign to raise awareness about medication adherence. The team also received the Creative Interprofessional Team Event Award - one of three special distinctions. More than 80 colleges of pharmacy across the country were involved in the event.

"We’re teaching students the importance of interprofessional collaboration," says group advisor Gloria Grice, Pharm.D., associate director of experiential programs and associate professor of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. "All health care professionals, including pharmacists, physicians, and therapists, are working together more. Studies show this type of care is in the best interest of patients."

The collaborative group effort was led by St. Louis College of Pharmacy fourth-year student Sonalie Patel. Fellow St. Louis College of Pharmacy students Libby Herman and Patrick Hyatt joined her on the organizing committee. Students studying medicine, physical therapy, and occupational therapy at Washington University rounded out the committee. Faculty members from both St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University assisted the team in their efforts.

"This is an incredible honor," Patel says. "I’ve been blessed to work with some excellent students from both St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University. Forming these bonds now will help all of us and our future patients." 

During the month of February, more than 48,000 St. Louis residents received the group’s message: "See it, Hear it, Write it, Understand it, Share it." The group won the Creative Interprofessional Team Event Award for their phrase and for ensuring that each profession had a unique adherence message for the patients. Student pharmacists stressed the importance of using pill boxes and medication lists. Physical therapy students talked about appropriate exercises based on medications and conditions. Occupational therapy students educated the public on how to remember to take medications, such as setting alarm clocks or smart phone reminders. Medical students ensured that patients understood their medical conditions and the importance of taking medications.

"I could not be more proud of Sonalie and all of the volunteers," Grice says. "Students have precious little time outside of class, and they used every moment to improve the health of St. Louis."

As part of the victory, team members will travel to Washington, D.C., this summer to accept the award at the national Script Your Future Meeting.

More about the Script Your Future campaign can be found here.

The award-winning team by the numbers:

- Events conducted: 24
- Volunteers: 186
- Script Your Future medication list wallet cards handed out: 2,458
- Patients reached during all activities: 48,404
- Patients directly counseled about medications: 2,191
- Social media followers and engagement: 4,000

Annual Recognition Luncheon Honors Faculty and Staff

Expressions of joy and jubilation could be heard at this year’s Faculty and Staff Recognition Luncheon, held on May 8 in the Cartwright Student Center.

The centerpiece of the annual event was the presentation of the Byron A. Barnes Excellence in Education Awards. The awards, including the President’s Staff Excellence Award, the College Enhancement Award, and the Student Enrichment Award, were created in 1998 to recognize outstanding service to the College community. Funding for the Byron A. Barnes Award Program is provided by the BCES Foundation, which was established by the late L.G. Cunningham ’50.

President John A. Pieper introduced each award by recognizing past winners and listing this year’s nominations before renaming the winner.

Kristine Bryant, administrative assistant in the Office of Marketing and Communications, received the President’s Staff Excellence Award, which is presented to a staff member whose work consistently exceeds expectations and who has provided exceptional service to the College. Bryant walked to the podium to thunderous applause and gave a short acceptance speech in which she said her co-workers were the best “work family” she’s ever had.

Jarrod Kincaid, director of prospective student services, received the College Enhancement Award for improving the College atmosphere to benefit the students’ college experience. He received a similar ovation before speaking to the audience. Kincaid said he was riding quite a high, as his second child was born earlier in the week.

Tricia Berry ‘94/’95, Pharm.D., professor of pharmacy practice, director of experiential programs, and assistant dean, was honored with the Student Enrichment Award, which is presented to a faculty member whose interaction with students outside the classroom goes above and beyond the call of duty. Similar to the two recipients before her, Berry was visibly moved by the honor.

Berry was also selected as the 2013 Joe E. Haberle Outstanding Educator Award recipient. Each year, the Alumni Association recognizes a faculty member for his or her commitment to educational excellence. The selection committee looks for educators who are enthusiastic about their work, show a positive attitude toward student learning, and are innovative in teaching.

Each of the Byron A. Barnes Awards consists of a special plaque, recognition on another plaque displayed in the lobby of Jones Hall, a $1,000 cash award, and a reserved parking space for one year.

Employees with five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service were also recognized at the luncheon.

Over 16,000 Pounds Collected in Record-setting Effort to Dispose of Medication

Rain didn’t deter anyone in St. Louis looking to safely dispose of unwanted and expired medication at this year’s St. Louis Medication Disposal Initiative on April 27. A record 16,311 pounds of medication from the metropolitan area was discarded as part of the effort.

St. Louis College of Pharmacy, the city of St. Louis, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) partnered to safely dispose of unwanted medication. During the week of April 22, STLCOP students and faculty, DEA agents, and city officials reached out to the community. Disposal events were held at churches, community centers, and senior housing facilities.

This year’s initiative emphasized disposing of unused prescription pain medications.

“Medication abuse often starts with teens stealing from the homes of family and friends,” says Amy Tiemeier, Pharm.D., assistant professor and director of professional affairs at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. “Unfortunately, prescription pain medications act as a gateway to narcotics like heroin or cocaine. Removing unwanted medications from your home helps protect not only your family, but also the entire community.”

There were 97 disposal locations in the metropolitan area, including four at Walgreens in the city of St. Louis. Nearly 800 pounds of medication was turned in at those four sites.

This year’s metro-wide collection of 16,311 pounds is a 30 percent increase over last year. In the three years the Medication Disposal Initiative has been underway, the DEA has collected more than 52,000 pounds of unwanted medication in the St. Louis area. This year, the DEA collected 742,497 pounds of medication across the country.

Pharmacy Leader Speaking at 2013 Commencement

International pharmacy leader Henri Manasse Jr., Ph.D., Sc.D. (Hon.), FFIP, will be the featured speaker at St. Louis College of Pharmacy’s 2013 Commencement ceremony, which will be held May 5 at 2 p.m. at the Peabody Opera House in downtown St. Louis. Manasse directed the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) as executive vice president and chief executive officer from 1997 through 2012. He is currently professor and dean emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy.

In 2012, Manasse received the ASHP Donald E. Francke Medal for his contributions to international pharmacy advancement, and he currently serves as the professional secretary of the board of pharmaceutical practice for the International Pharmaceutical Federation. Manasse has received honorary doctoral degrees from six American universities, and he was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 1996. He was the 2007 recipient of the Harvey A.K. Whitney Lecture Award.

Tricia Berry ’94/’95, Pharm.D., professor of pharmacy practice, director of experiential programs, and assistant dean of the division of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy will also be speaking at the ceremony. She received the 2013 Joe E. Haberle Outstanding Educator Award. Each year, the College’s Alumni Association honors a faculty member with this award in recognition of his or her commitment to educational excellence.

This year’s Commencement is the 145th in the College’s history. The more than 180 candidates for graduation come from 11 states and South Korea.

Initiative Encourages Public to Dispose of Medications Responsibly

On April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents of the St. Louis region can take unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medication to a designated disposal site as part of the St. Louis Medication Disposal Initiative. The College has once again partnered with the city of St. Louis and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to bring the event to the public.

By dropping off medication, residents will ensure it stays out of the wrong hands and out of our water supply. In St. Louis, unwanted medications can be disposed of at four Walgreens locations. In surrounding communities, disposal locations will be located at police stations and other community locations. A full listing of sites can be found at

www.stlcop.edu.

The four Walgreens disposal sites are:

4218 Lindell, St. Louis, MO 63108;

3822 S. Kingshighway, St. Louis, MO 63109;

1530 Lafayette, St. Louis, MO 63104; and

3720 N. Kingshighway, St. Louis, MO 63115

Beginning April 21, College faculty members, students, and DEA agents will visit several senior housing and recreation centers in St. Louis. The College is also partnering with two churches to hold disposal events during Sunday services. They will visit Senior Living at Cambridge Heights: McCormack Baron Ragan, located at 728 Biddle St., on Monday, April 22; McCormack House at Forest Park Southeast, located at 4575 Cadet, on Tuesday, April 23; Monsanto Family YMCA, located at 5555 Page, on Wednesday, April 24; Wohl Recreation Center, located at 1515 N. Kingshighway, on Thursday, April 25; and Park Place Apartments, located at 4399 Forest Park, on Friday, April 26.

“This is a unique partnership,” says Amy Tiemeier, Pharm.D., assistant professor and director of professional affairs at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. “By increasing access to disposal sites, we know more medication will be turned in safely.”

A survey by a federal government agency found that each day, nearly 3,000 teenagers abuse a prescription drug for the first time.

“Medication abuse often starts with teens and young adults stealing from the homes of family and friends,” Tiemeier says. “Unfortunately, those medications act as a gateway to narcotics like heroin or cocaine. There’s a mistaken belief among young people that because a medication is prescribed or is available over-the-counter, it is safer than street drugs. Easy access does not equate to less harm.”

Tadrus ‘63 Honored at Mortar and Pestle Dinner

Alumnus Sam Tadrus ’63 was honored with the College’s Distinguished Service Award at the annual Mortar and Pestle Society Dinner on April 19 at Norwood Hills Country Club. Established in 1990, the Distinguished Service Award honors exemplary leadership and philanthropy in support of the College and is the highest honor presented to Mortar and Pestle Society members.

Tadrus, owner and manager of Sam’s Health Mart Pharmacy-which has two locations in his hometown of Moberly, Mo., and another location in Fayette, Mo.-is a pillar in his community, according to Brett Schott, vice president of the Office of Advancement at the College.

“He built his career through innovation and forward thinking in growing the pharmacies he has owned and managed,” Schott adds. “A remarkable man and an ardent supporter of the College, Sam is truly an asset to the College and our community."

The Mortar and Pestle Society, the premier giving society at the College, recognizes those who support STLCOP with annual contributions that total $1,000 or more, lifetime giving of $10,000 or more, or through a planned or deferred gift of at least $20,000.

More than 180 of the College’s top donors attended the event.

STLCOP Sponsoring First-ever St. Louis Symphony Music Therapy Showcase

St. Louis College of Pharmacy is sponsoring St. Louis Symphony’s first-ever SymphonyCares-Music Therapy Showcase.

The concert, set to take place at Powell Hall on Wednesday, April 10 at 7 p.m., is a chance for the St. Louis Symphony to showcase its SymphonyCares music therapy outreach. SymphonyCares began two and a half years ago.

The concert will feature three performances. The first performance will showcase a monthly program that the symphony does at the Saint Louis University Cancer Center. As part of the program, a duo of musicians from the symphony perform in the center’s fusion rooms, playing to patients receiving chemotherapy treatment.

Maureen Burn, director of community programs at the symphony, says the musicians will take time to talk about what it’s like to play to chemotherapy patients and why the outreach is important to them. “They love playing for these patients,” she says.

The second performance will be a collaboration performance between symphony violinist Angie Smart and Circus Flora’s Claire the Clown. Claire is the clown conductor for Clowns on Call, a program that brings clowns and the circus to children in St. Louis area hospitals.

Smart and Claire the Clown perform once a month at Mercy Children’s Hospital for children in the hospital’s playroom, and they make the rounds for children in isolation. “It takes kids’ minds off the pain and boredom of being in a hospital,” Burn says.

Burn calls the third and final performance of the evening “much more participatory.” The performance is a collaboration between symphony musicians and music therapy professors and students at Maryville University, which has been offering courses in music therapy since 1972. Together the musicians, faculty, and students work with adults with disabilities from St. Louis Arc, a nonprofit United Way agency. More than 3,000 St. Louis area adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families receive support from St. Louis Arc.

“Six musicians will spend time before the show building a program with participants from St. Louis Arc,” Burns says. 
The free event will last about an hour, with a reception afterward. Complimentary cupcakes and wine will be served. Casual attire is expected.

Burns says she’s excited to showcase the music therapy outreach that the symphony is doing, especially since the public might not be aware of it. “It’s the first time we’ve put all of our music therapy outreach programs into one showcase. Not many people know about the work the symphony is doing,” she says. “What a wonderful way to showcase it.

“The performances themselves are delightful. It will be very entertaining,” she adds.

The concert is just one of many ways the College partners with the St. Louis Symphony. For information on upcoming concerts and events, contact St. Louis Symphony Campus Coordinator Jerry Hu at jerry.hu@stlcop.edu.

STLCOP SNPhA Has a “Prescription for Service”

Using paper bag puppets and a little creativity, the College’s Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) chapter won a $2,500 grant from Walmart.

The grant will be used to create a mobile service initiative in which pharmacists and student pharmacists travel around St. Louis, providing blood pressure, blood glucose, and medication reviews for free. The services will be provided at the Saint Louis Science Center on Wednesday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; the Walmart Superstore in Ferguson on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and True Runner in Brentwood on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The STLCOP chapter of SNPhA won the grant through the Prescription for Service Competition, a national scholarship competition established in 2012 to grant SNPhA student teams the funds needed to make an impact in underserved communities. The STLCOP chapter was one of five chapters to win a $2,500 grant.

As part of the competition, SNPhA chapters were asked to create a three-to-five minute video explaining how they would advance the profession of pharmacy and reach underserved populations. The STLCOP chapter, including fourth-year students Dainielle Fox, Kelly Plach, and Britteny Keller, and fifth-year students Bethanne Carpenter and Annie Rogers, filmed a five-minute clip featuring paper bag puppets they created from construction paper, ribbons, pipe cleaners, and a little ingenuity.

Fox says they got their video idea from the movie ticket site Fandango, which has made several commercials that reenact famous scenes from movies using paper bag puppets instead of actors. The five students “camped out” in the Residence Hall conference room for hours shooting the video, she adds.

The video explains the students’ outreach idea – dubbed “RX Express” – in which pharmacists and student pharmacists travel to underserved areas in St. Louis to give health screenings. The idea for RX Express came to Rogers at work one day. “We saw it as an awesome opportunity to give back,” Fox says. “That’s part of SNPhA’s purpose – to represent the poor and less privileged.”

The STLCOP chapter of SNPhA will bring its results and findings to the NPhA National Convention in New Orleans in July, where it will be in the running for an additional scholarship of $10,000. According to NPhA’s Web site, the team that has the greatest impact in their community will be awarded the scholarship to aid in their education as future pharmacists.

“We’re going for gold,” Fox says. “Our whole goal for the project is to serve as many patients as we can. Outreach and hands-on patient care are what we want to do.”

Click here to watch the STLCOP chapter of SNPhA’s grant-winning video.

STLCOP Student-Athlete Selected for Red Cross Leadership Training

Donated blood helped save Samantha Bryant’s brother. Now she is working on saving more lives.

Bryant, a second-year student-athlete that stars in basketball and track and field at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, was one of just 14 student-athletes from across the country selected to attend the Red Cross NAIA Collegiate Leadership Program. She’ll travel to the Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, D.C., in June. There, Bryant will take part in coaching, mentoring, and professional leadership training.

For Bryant, the opportunity is a chance to give back.

“It is vital for me to promote the importance of giving blood, after blood transfusions helped save my brother’s life during cancer treatments,” Bryant says. “I’m proud to be working with the Red Cross. It was a big surprise to be selected to attend the leadership program.”

Once her training is complete, she’ll be organizing and promoting blood drives on campus and across the region. Bryant is from Baring, a small community in northeast Missouri.

“This is a big honor for Samantha,” says Athletic Director Jill Harter. “She’s the first Eutectic to be selected for the leadership program. We are very proud of her.”

“In my time at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, I’ve seen how pharmacists positively impact the community,” Bryant says. “I know I’ll come back from this training with a deeper knowledge that will make me and my classmates stronger health care leaders.”

Berry Named Outstanding Educator of the Year

Tricia Berry ‘94/’95, Pharm.D., professor of pharmacy practice, director of experiential programs, and assistant dean, has been selected as the 2013 Joe E. Haberle Outstanding Educator award recipient. Each year the Alumni Association recognizes a faculty member for his or her commitment to educational excellence.

“What a great surprise,” Berry says. “It is an amazing honor. Dr. Haberle is such an integral part of the history of the College. To be associated with him is a privilege.”

The selection committee looks for educators who are enthusiastic about their work, show a positive attitude towards student learning, and are innovative in teaching.

“Dr. Berry is an excellent model of a reflective professor in action,” says Robert Salter’70, president elect of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.  “She impressed the selection committee with her philosophy of teaching through role modeling and innovative techniques used in raising student achievement while preparing them to be leaders in the profession.”

The association would also like to congratulate finalists Richard McCall and Bob Zebroski.

STLCOP Faculty Discuss Pharmacy Education at Conference in Saudi Arabia

A contingent of faculty from the College presented at a pharmacy conference in Saudi Arabia in late February. The trip was part of the College’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with the kingdom and improve its global outreach.

College President John A. Pieper, Pharm.D., Thomas D. Zlatic, Ph.D., professor of English, Patrick Finnegan, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice, and William Call, Pharm.D., PGY-1 resident and clinical instructor, spoke at the conference.

The conference, called “Optimizing Pharmacy Education & Training,” was organized by Adulkareem Belkairy from King Saud bin Abdulaaziz University for Health Sciences and Michael Maddux, Pharm.D., executive director of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and former division director of pharmacy practice at STLCOP.  Six hundred pharmacists from Saudi Arabia enrolled in the conference.

According to Zlatic, the Saudi Arabian government is working to transform pharmacy education in the country. The conference was an effort to bring in some highly prominent educators from America to give an overview of current and best practices in pharmacy education.

Pieper and Zlatic joined internationally-recognized educators such as Alan Lau, Joseph DiPiro, John Murphy, Michael Rouse, Janet Teeters and Stephanie Phelps in providing overviews of trends in pharmacy education and training. Finnegan and Call participated in a panel on mentoring residents. In addition, Zlatic and Rouse consulted for two days with the Saudis regarding curriculum development and accreditation.

Zlatic, who has been to Saudi Arabia three times on behalf of the College and ACCP, said the conference was a chance to lead a conversation about pharmacy education on the global stage. In January 2013, under the direction of President Pieper, the College welcomed four students from Saudi Arabia, and College officials are investigating other forms of collaboration. “We have developed a relationship,” Zlatic said. “There’s potential for collaboration. I look forward to working with them some more.”

STLCOP Students March on Illinois State Capitol

STLCOP student pharmacists joined their colleagues from schools of pharmacy in Illinois at the seventh annual Illinois Pharmacy Legislative Day on March 13 at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. The event was sponsored by the Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA) and the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP).

The day began in with a legislative orientation session in the Hoogland Center for the Arts.  STLCOP students listened intently as Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon gave sound advice on approaching legislators in the Capitol building.

After Simon spoke, Garth Reynolds ’00, executive director of IPhA, and Scott Meyers, executive director of ICHP, took the stage. They asked the student pharmacists in attendance to lobby against House Bill 2730-Pharmacy Practice-Lot Numbers, sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), and Senate Bill 1934-Pharmacy Practice-Biosimilars, sponsored by Sen. Antonio Munoz (D-Chicago).

HB2730 makes a very simple change to the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act and prescription labeling, but, according to a handout provided by IPhA and ICHP, prescription labels must already contain a wealth of information: the name of the pharmacy, address of the pharmacy, date the prescription was filled, name of the patient, last name of the prescriber, directions for use of the medication prescribed, and quantity of the medication prescribed.

“As you can see, there’s not much room left for the manufacturer’s lot number,” the handout reads.

SB1934 creates special requirements for the interchange of biosimilar products that have not been implemented for other types of medications. According to the handout provided by IPhA and ICHP, “This bill is a premature attempt to regulate a drug product category that has not yet been defined by the United States Food and Drug Administration.”

The handout also calls the bill unnecessary and costly.

Following the legislative talking points discussion by Reynolds and Meyers, the student pharmacists were split into groups based on their voting districts. Reynolds led a handful of students, including several from STLCOP, on a tour of the Capitol. The group visited legislative offices, talking to several legislators about its opposition to SB1934 and HB2730.

The day wrapped up with a legislative reception at the Illinois State Library.

STLCOP student pharmacists said the event was informative and taught them a lot about the legislative process in Illinois.

Presidential Community Service Honor Roll Recognizes STLCOP

The College was recently named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which is the highest honor a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.

“The recognition acknowledges the hard work everyone at the College does to improve the health of and well-being of those living in the St. Louis region,” said College President John A. Pieper, Pharm.D. “Through our community work with area organizations, we’re demonstrating how pharmacists are medication experts and an integral part of the health care team.”

The College was commended for the thousands of hours of community service performed over the past year, including advocating for the removal of unwanted, unused, and potentially dangerous medication from home medicine cabinets. The effort surrounding the St. Louis Medication Disposal Initiative resulted in the safe disposal of thousands of pounds of medication. The next medication disposal day is coming up on April 27. For more information about the initiative, please go to stlcop.edu/medicationdisposal.

Other service events include the College’s signature student outreach day, STLCOP C.A.R.E.S. (Community Awareness Reaching Everyone in St. Louis). Each fall, students spend the day volunteering at a variety of locations around the region. In the five years the event has existed, students, faculty, and staff have contributed more than 5,000 hours of community service to the St. Louis region.

Additionally, students from the College work in the Science Center’s Life Science Lab Classroom as part of their fourth-year introductory practice experiences. They engage visitors, mainly children, in a variety of activities related to health and pharmacy. Student pharmacists also regularly hold screening events at businesses and pharmacies in the community, where they check blood pressure and blood glucose levels and conduct medication reviews.

“Communities are strengthened when we all come together, and we are encouraged that these institutions and their students have made service a priority,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

For more information about the Honor Roll visit NationalService.gov/HonorRoll.

Alumnus Receives Highest Honor in Pharmacy

St. Louis College of Pharmacy alumnus Dennis K. Helling ’71 recently received the 2013 Remington Honor Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). The organization selected Helling in recognition of his innovations and advancements to the profession of pharmacy.

Helling, born in Olney, Ill., received his Bachelor of Science degree from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1971 and his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati. He recently retired as executive director of pharmacy operations and therapeutics for Kaiser Permanente in Denver, Colo.

Helling has received numerous awards for his work including the 1988 St. Louis College of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumnus Award for Service to the Profession and the 1997 Health Care Executive of the Year Award; the 2002 American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Paul F. Parker Medal, the 2002 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Best Practice Award, the 2003 APhA-Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management Distinguished Achievement Award in Specialized Pharmaceutical Services, the 2004 APhA Daniel B. Smith Practice Excellence Award, and the 2010 ACCP Distinguished Achievement Award in Ambulatory Care.

The Remington Honor Medal is named for Joseph P. Remington, a community pharmacist, manufacturer, and educator. The medal was established in 1918 to recognize distinguished service in the profession of pharmacy.

STLCOP Students Welcome Adherence Challenge

Students at the College have teamed up with Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine (WUSTL) students to participate in Script Your Future’s second-annual Student Pharmacist Adherence Challenge. The month-long outreach project was created to engage student pharmacists in raising awareness about medication adherence.

The STLCOP/WUSTL team is planning more than a dozen events in February as part of the challenge. Events scheduled so far include blood pressure screening and medication counseling at Maritz LLC on Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to noon; medication adherence counseling at Walgreens locations throughout St. Louis on Feb 16. and 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., medication adherence lunch talks around the Central West End from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, and from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 21; and an appearance on KSDK Channel 5’s Show Me St. Louis from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. on March 11.

More than 80 schools of pharmacy participated in last year’s challenge, with more than 40,000 student pharmacists educating more than 250,000 individuals nationwide. Together, teams hosted health fairs, chronic disease education, and medication management counseling and even assembled creative flash mobs and videos to help share the message with their communities.

“One of the best hopes we have for changing our culture of non-adherence is to train the next generation of health care professionals to be proactive about engaging their patients,” said Rebecca Burkholder, Script Your Future spokesperson, in an interview for the organization’s Web site. “Pharmacists are among the most trusted patient resources for information about medication and often the most visible and accessible members of the health care team. From this position, they have a unique perspective on issues like medication adherence and a unique ability to reach patients.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for the STLCOP/WUSTL team is asked to e-mail fourth-year student and team coordinator Sonalie Patel at sonalie.patel@stlcop.edu. And don’t forget to “Like” the STLCOP/WUSTL team on Facebook. More information about the challenge can be found on Script Your Future’s Web site.

Former Trustee Wins Renowned United Way Award

Mike Hogan, a former member of the College’s Board of Trustees, has received the United Way of Greater St. Louis’ 2013 Freeman-Kortkamp Award. The award honors outstanding service and performance of a United Way of Greater St. Louis Board member.

While a member of the College’s Board of Trustees from 1995-2000, Hogan sat on the investment committee and nominations committee. He has served on the boards of more than 20 nonprofits in St. Louis and has been an officer on more than half of those, according to the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

New Administrative Appointment Announced at STLCOP

John A. Pieper, Pharm.D., president of the College, announced that Sheldon G. Holstad, Pharm.D., professor of pharmacy practice, will assume the title of interim dean of pharmacy effective Jan. 1, 2013. Holstad succeeds Wendy Duncan, Ph.D.

Holstad has been with the College since 1987. He earned both his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Iowa. He also completed a post-graduate Psychopharmacology Research Fellowship at the University of Iowa prior to joining the College. Holstad has served in teaching, clinical, research, and administrative roles within the pharmacy practice division. Since 1999, he has been clinical pharmacist and faculty coordinator of DrugDigest.org, a collaboration between the College and Express Scripts.

For Tenth Year in a Row, Pharmacists Rank Among Top Three in Gallup Survey

Alexandria, Va. – Pharmacists ranked second only to nurses in this year’s Honesty and Ethics survey, an annual poll of professional careers conducted by Gallup. According to its Web site, Gallup provides data-driven news based on U.S. and world polls, daily tracking and public opinion research. Pharmacists also ranked immediately ahead of doctors, who moved up two spots from last year’s poll.

The survey, released on Monday, Dec. 3, gauged the public’s trust of professionals across a variety of careers, including healthcare.

“Their second place ranking this year illustrates that pharmacists are highly-trusted medical professionals, with a minimum of six years of professional education to receive their degree and license.  Not only do community pharmacists dispense prescription medications,” National Association of Chain Drug Stores President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, was quoted as saying in a write-up about the survey on the NACDS’s Web site.

Alumna Receives Renowned Residency Award

Elizabeth A. Neuner ’06, Pharm.D., BCPS, AQ-ID, has been named the recipient of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) Research and Education Foundation’s 2012 Pharmacy Residency Excellence New Preceptor Award.

The award recognizes a pharmacy residency preceptor who has excelled in the training of pharmacy residents in the first three to five years of serving as a preceptor. It also seeks to foster innovations in pharmacy residency training.

Neuner is an infectious diseases clinical specialist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

“I am truly honored to be selected by the ASHP Foundation to receive the new preceptor award,” said Neuner. “I am thankful for the preceptors who mentored and trained me and the past, present and future residents who continue to inspire and engage me. I look forward to being a part of shaping the next generation of pharmacists through residency training.”

In just four years, Neuner has transformed the pharmacy residency program at the Cleveland Clinic. As a clinical specialist, she led the development and implementation of the pharmacy vancomycin dosing service and a Staphylococcus aureus screening and eradication protocol. She also co-authored the Guidelines for Antimicrobial Usage Handbook, which outlines the appropriate antimicrobial usage criteria and guidelines for the treatment of various infectious diseases. Neuner has contributed to the improvement of pharmacy staff training with innovative modules, such as “Antimicrobial Jeopardy” and a primer on empiric antimicrobial therapy. To date, she has acted as a preceptor to 21 residents for 51 resident months.

Neuner, as well as the rest of the Pharmacy Residency Excellence Awards recipients, will be formally recognized during the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas. A reception will be held in their honor on Dec. 1 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

College Celebrates American Pharmacists Month with White Coat Rally               

Students at St. Louis College of Pharmacy marked American Pharmacists Month by passing out health literature near the College’s campus. During the event - dubbed the White Coat Rally – students handed out hundreds of flyers to passersby.

“Pharmacists use the month of October to showcase their contributions to health care and their commitment to serving patients,” says Kilinyaa Cothran, director of professional student affairs.  “Since St. Louis College of Pharmacy is located at the heart of one of the finest medical complexes in the world we hope to make an impact today.” Cothran organized this first-ever rally, and she hopes to continue it for years to come.

Theresa Prosser, Pharm.D., BCPS, professor of pharmacy practice also volunteered her time at the event. “Pharmacists can play a key role in helping patients take their medicines correctly to receive the full benefit,” Prosser says. “Events like this provide practice for student pharmacists in effectively communicating important educational messages to real patients.”

The flyers handed out stressed the importance of taking medication as it is prescribed and included a chart to help patients keep track of their medication.  

STLCOP Team Makes it to Sweet 16 in Clinical Pharmacy Challenge               

A team of three students representing the College made it to the Sweet 16 of the American College of Clinical               Pharmacy’s Clinical Pharmacy Challenge. The team, comprised of sixth-year students Silvio Flaim, Sarju Panchal, and Paras Vakharia, was moderated by Zachary Stacy, Pharm.D., BCPS, associate professor of pharmacy practice. They advanced to the fourth round, which is the highest ever finish for a team from the College in three years of competition.

Teams of students from pharmacy schools across the country compete in the “quiz bowl”-style challenge. Each round of the challenge includes questions in three distinct formats: the trivia/lightning round, clinical cases, and Jeopardy-style questions.

The remaining rounds of competition will be held at the ACCP’s Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Fla., on Oct. 20-22. 

Volleyball Tailgate Returns to College Bigger and Better Than Ever             

On Thursday afternoon, you can expect the Quad to look less like the Quad and more like the parking lots around Busch Stadium on game day. From the smell of brats and burgers being grilled, to the claps of congratulations after a winning washers’ toss, the College will be alive with tailgate classics at the annual Volleyball Tailgate.

               

The tailgate has received a massive overhaul this year, according to Heather Kinderman, fourth-year student and director of Student Body Union-Programming (SBUP), which is organizing the event. “This year, we wanted a real tailgate experience complete with trucks, the smells of a grill, lawn games, fraternities, etc.,” she says. “We have about 10 organizations involved, and each is doing something to add to our event.”

Tailgating activities start at 4:30 p.m. and go until the women’s volleyball team takes on Blackburn College in the Pillbox at 7 p.m. In addition to tailgate food staples like burgers and hot dogs-grilled by Phi Delta Chi and Delta Sigma Theta-SBUP will provide nachos and cookies. Eric Chu, fourth-year student and budding DJ, will provide music for the event, while a number of student organizations will have yard games on hand.

Alpha Zeta Omega will have mini golf; Lambda Kappa Sigma will have a root beer pong tournament; Lambda Chi Alpha will have a whipped cream pie throwing contest, which promises to be messy; Kappa Epsilon will have washers; Kappa Psi will have balloon darts, the Student Alumni Association will have a poster making contest and face painting; Campus Crusade for Christ will have bags, the Chess Club will have chess; and the Student National Pharmaceutical Association will have “Minute to Win It” games.

In addition, students who attend the volleyball game will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a number of prizes to be raffled off after the game, including Beats by Dr. Dre earbuds and an iPod nano. You must be present at the end of the game to claim your prize. Tailgate T-shirts will be given to the first 150 students who attend the game.

Student-athlete Competes in Half Ironman           

Yang Pan might claim he’s not talented, but he sure is tough.

On Sunday, Sept. 23, the humble third-year student-athlete completed the Half Ironman 70.3 in six hours, 26 minutes and 15 seconds (6:26:15). The Half Ironman is a triathlon that includes a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile pedal, and 13.1-mile run.

“It was an experience I’ll probably never forget,” says Pan, who runs for the STLCOP men’s cross country team. “I did it on the same date as my 21st birthday.”

Pan, a native of Chesterfield, Mo., started running competitively for the cross country team when he was a freshman at Parkway Central High School. “I was actually really bad,” Pan says with a laugh. “Freshman year of high school, I couldn’t finish a mile. My mile time was like nine or 10 minutes.”

By his sophomore year, Pan had increased his stamina and decreased his mile time. He starred for Parkway Central’s cross country team and began running track, as well. He took time off his last two years of high school to concentrate on studies, before he joined the STLCOP men’s cross country team his first year of college.

Although he had been running for years, Pan didn’t become addicted to endurance races until he ran the 2011 Go! St. Louis Half Marathon in the second semester of his first year at STLCOP. “I think that’s where I got hooked,” he says. “It was like a gateway drug, except with endurance sports.”

Pan came back the second semester of his second year and ran the Go! St. Louis Marathon before really stepping up his game with the Half Ironman this semester.

To prepare for the 70.3-mile triathlon, Pan ran 12 to 18 miles through Forest Park almost every Saturday morning during the summer, biked 50-mile plus distances from his parent’s home in Chesterfield, and swam 20 laps at a time at a local gym.

Pan says he only had minor jitters the morning of the race. “I was pretty confident,” he says. He woke up at 5 a.m. to get ready for the race. Pan says it was a cool morning, and there was a chill rolling across Table Rock Lake, where the first leg of the race, a 1.2-mile open water swim, was to be completed.

He had never competed in an open water swim, and he was a little surprised and scared when the race started and all of the competitors in his age division were diving on each other trying to get a good start. “People were jumping on each other; people were getting kicked; it was all cramped up together,” he says. “I lost my breathing pattern and choked four or five times at the beginning. It was a little scary because my heart was beating really fast.” To get his breathing corrected, Pan started swimming the backstroke.

His troubles continued as his goggles fogged up, and he got off course at every other buoy. “I probably added about 400 meters to my 1.2-mile swim,” he says. Pan finished the swim in one hour and 56 seconds (1:00:56) for a division rank of 34th out of 39.

After the swim came a 56-mile bike ride through the hills of the Branson countryside. Pan had heard rumors from race organizers that the Branson bike course was the hardest of all the courses in the Half Ironman series. Riding the course made him a believer. “It was just hills and hills and hills. I was burnt,” he says, explaining that each hill was about one mile straight up and 800 meters down.

Pan says he started the bike race strong, even though his legs were worn out from the open water swim. “The first 10 miles of the ride went by pretty fast, but then it got exponentially slower,” he says. “At mile 20, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I just want to get out of here.’” To stay focused, Pan just thought about the task at hand – finishing the 56-mile pedal. He completed the bike race in three hours, 31 minutes, and 41 seconds (3:31:41), averaging 16 mph, for a division rank of 30th. “Throughout the entire ride, I was just praying for the race to be over,” he says.

By the time he transitioned to the 13.1-mile run around Branson, Pan’s legs were dead and he was mentally drained. “But, as a runner, I told myself I could finish,” he says.  “The first two miles went by OK, but then it got slow. I could manage the distance but was just running out of mental stamina. The last 5K felt like forever.” Pan finished the run in one hour, 48 minutes and six seconds (1:48:06) for a division rank of 23rd. Overall, he finished 25th out of 39 competitors in his division. His overall rank was 386 out of 882.

After the race, Pan says he felt “pretty good.” In his mind, the competition was much more of a mental than physical leap over any of his previous endurance races. He says that anyone with the willpower can complete the Half Ironman. “I think anyone can do it,” he says. “You don’t have to have talent. You just have to want it.

“I do recommend this event for everyone to put on their bucket list,” Pan adds. Next on his bucket list: the Ironman. “It’s double what the Half Ironman is, so it might take about 14 hours,” he says, with a chuckle.

“My parents think I’m pretty crazy.”

Students Promote the Profession of Pharmacy              

 

Four St. Louis College of Pharmacy Students recently appeared on KSDK (Channel 5) to promote the profession of pharmacy and American Pharmacists Month.                

Alyse Battles served as the group spokesperson, and Danielle Fox, Brandon Luong, and Annie Rogers accompanied her.

During the brief interview, Battles stressed the importance of getting to know both your pharmacist and your medication. “Since pharmacists are the most accessible health care providers in the community, it is important that you stop by your local pharmacy to get to know your pharmacist,” she explained.

Because Battles was so natural in delivering her message, the show host asked her how long she’d been practicing. “Oh, just a few minutes,” Battles said with a smile.

College Hosts Residency Showcase

The College held a Residency Showcase from 10-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 9. The event, hosted by the Division of Pharmacy Practice, welcomed dozens of pharmacy students from across the St. Louis metropolitan area, including many students from STLCOP.               

Hospitals and health care centers represented at the showcase included Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Cox Health Systems, Deaconess Health System (Evansville, Ind.), Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Saint Louis University Hospital, VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Luke’s Hospital, St. Mary’s Health Center, The Nebraska Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, and University of Missouri Health Care. Pharmacies on-hand included Schnucks Pharmacy and Walgreens Pharmacy.

Statue Dedication Highlights 2012 Alumni Weekend

Although he was small in stature, Dr. Leonard L. Naeger ’63/’65 always seemed to be larger than life. During Reunion Weekend 2012, his life and legacy were celebrated at the BBQ on the Quad on Friday, which included the dedication of a statue in Naeger’s honor. Former friends, colleagues, and students could imagine they were at one of his legendary garage parties and not this year’s Reunion BBQ on the Quad, as some of Naeger’s classic hot rods adorned the walkway around the Quad, and his favorite garage band, The Facts O’ Life, played.

The statue dedication ceremony opened with a welcome by College President John A. Pieper, followed by words of remembrance by Naeger’s best friend, Sam Tadrus ’63; his sister, Sue Bussen ’70; his colleague, Tom Zlatic; and Kappa Psi brother, Bob Schwartz ’61. “The College has existed for over 150 years. [There have been] a couple of thousand faculty members. And there’s one statue. So either Leonard had some major accomplishments in life or a lot of good friends. And, of course, for Leonard it was one in the same,” Zlatic said. “Leonard’s primary contribution to the College, of which there were many, was creating an environment of friends that existed here.”

After the dedication ceremony, friends, family, and colleagues posed with the statue, which included Naeger’s signature touch: the fluffy puppy slippers he used to wear when teaching.

The celebration continued with class parties for the class of ’62 and the class of ’87 at locations around campus and a Young Alumni celebration at Bar Louie. In memory of Naeger, the Kappa Psi brothers held a party at his garage in Dogtown.

Saturday brought the President’s Reception in honor of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients and the Reunion Dinner, which included a State of the College address by Pieper. This year’s award winners included W. Thomas Smith ’93/’94, who received the Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement; C. Patrick Tharp ’61/’62, for Outstanding Service to the Community; Michelle Dyer ’98, for Outstanding Service to the Profession; and Garth Reynolds ’00, for Outstanding Service to the College. Arthur Perry ’72, received the Loyalty Award, which is given to an alumnus who has made significant and meritorious contributions to the College and who has consistently demonstrated exceptional loyalty, commitment, dedication, and service to the College. Laura Butkievich ’06, received the Young Alumnus Award, which is presented to a STLCOP alumnus who has graduated within the past decade and demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership.

Other highlights of the weekend included a trolley tour of St. Louis on Saturday and a Cardinals baseball game on Sunday.

To view the statue dedication in its entirety, please click here.

St. Louis Ranks Among Best College Cities, According to New Report

St. Louis ranked 13th among major metros in the American Institute for Economic Research’s 2012 College Destinations Index of the top towns and cities in the country for college students. St. Louis beat out the likes of San Diego and Los Angeles among major metros (cities with populations of more than 2.5 million people). This is the first year St. Louis has been named among the top 15 major metro areas for college students.

The major metro rankings were part of the index’s larger evaluation of the country’s 227 metropolitan areas with student populations of more than 15,000. Along with naming the major metro areas, the index listed the top 20 mid-size metros (1 to 2.5 million residents), top 20 small metros (250,000 to 1 million residents), and top 20 college towns (under 250,000 residents).

In creating the index, a dozen factors were evaluated using the most current data available from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, National Science Foundation, and Small Business Administration, including: student diversity, research capacity, degree attainment, cost of living, arts and leisure, city accessibility, creative class, earning potential, entrepreneurial activity, brain gain/drain, and unemployment rate.

Universities and colleges in the St. Louis metropolitan area include Washington University, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Webster University, Lindenwood University, University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Fontbonne University, Maryville University, Harris-Stowe State University, The Principia, Barnes-Jewish College, and St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Founded in 1933, the nonprofit American Institute for Economic Research conducts independent, scientific, and economic research.

College Reaches Out to Community Through STLCOP C.A.R.E.S.

Armed with shovels and sterile gloves, more than 300 St. Louis College of Pharmacy students, faculty, staff, and alumni spread across the region on Saturday for the annual STLCOP C.A.R.E.S. (Community Awareness Reaching Everyone in St. Louis) event. Each year, the Student Pharmacists Association (SPA) organizes this day of community service that turns into one of the biggest College events of the semester.

Students in the professional program were at a number of community pharmacies educating patients on

immunizations, checking blood pressure, and emphasizing ways seniors can prevent falls.

“Throughout the year, students are constantly doing some kind of community service project with their organizations; but once a year, the College gets together for the day to make a bold impact on St. Louis and really show what student pharmacists have to offer,” says fifth-year student Brandon Luong, president of SPA. “STLCOP C.A.R.E.S. has grown dramatically since my first year of involvement. It’s great to see students eager to volunteer in clinical settings and at sites where they can get their hands dirty. Student pharmacists’ skills are very diverse, and with this event we are allowed to showcase all of those skills to the community.”

First- and second-year students worked with a variety of community organizations, including Gateway Greening and Operation Brightside, to help landscape and clean areas around the city. Students also volunteered their time at a number of social service agencies.

For the first time this year, College students joined forces with the Health Professional Student Leadership Council at Washington University to serve more people in the community than ever before.

Third Friday Party on the Quad Comes to Campus

As part of the College’s strategic plan to improve the culture on campus, the Culture Change Committee has organized Third Friday Party on the Quad events throughout the fall 2012 semester.

The first-ever Third Friday Party on the Quad will be held Friday, Sept. 21, from 4 to 7 p.m., and will feature music by Slam, “STL’s Freshest Dance & Party Band.” The party will also welcome three local food trucks: Holy Crepe!, Go! Gyro! Go!, and Hot Aztec. Food truck tickets will be on sale Monday through Friday at the Residence Hall front desk. The first 300 tickets will be $7 through Wednesday; after that, the price will go up to $10. With the purchase of a meal ticket, you get two tacos and either a gyro or crepe.

“The idea was really about creating an atmosphere where students, faculty, and staff can interact outside the walls of our respective buildings,” says Andrew Waithaka, Network Systems Manager and member of the Culture Change Committee. “The goal is to provide a regular event for people to relax and enjoy being at STLCOP.”

First-ever CE Program on Providing Medication Therapy Services Held on Campus

On Sept. 8 and 9, more than 120 pharmacists from across the state were on campus for the first-ever CE program on providing medication therapy services. This program permits pharmacists to obtain a “certificate of medication therapeutic plan authority” from the Missouri Board of Pharmacy that enables them to enter into a collaborative practice with a physician. The new Missouri rules went into effect on Aug. 31 and are the most dramatic and empowering amendments ever made to the Pharmacy Practice Act in the state. Future implications for the College, Missouri pharmacists, and Missouri patients are meaningful and unprecedented. Erika Michalski, director of the office of continuing professional development, coordinated the CE program. “Dr. Terry Seaton was instrumental in the design of the program and served as its moderator,” said Jack Burke, director of pharmacy practice. “His experience during the development of the original legislation and regulations was evident.” Additional pharmacy practice faculty who provided their expertise included: Drs. Amie Brooks, Matthew Pitlick, Erica Pearce, Theresa Prosser, Scott Vouri, and Amy Drew.      

St. Baldrick’s Head Shaving Event an Overwhelming Success

The College’s 2012 St. Baldrick’s Head Shaving Event, co-sponsored by Kappa Psi and Lambda Chi Alpha raised more than $5,000 and had 27 participants. Lawrence “Clinton” Martin, a third-year student and member of Kappa Psi, said the event exceeded its fundraising goal. The money raised will go to St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises

awareness and funds for childhood cancer research.       

The event, which took place on the Quad from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, featured Anne Brackett, Residence Hall Coordinator, who agreed to shave her head if the Student Affairs department could raise $1,000 on her behalf. Just hours before the event, Student Affairs was short of its fundraising goal. However, with one last promotional push, the department exceeded its goal by nearly $500.

Last year, the Head Shaving Event raised about $5,000 for a total of $10,000 over two years.

First Week Features Bevy of Events

From new homes to new white coats, it has been a busy first few days of fall semester 2012 at the College.       

The whole campus transformed on move-in day as 250 first-year students brought what seemed like nearly that many mini-refrigerators to the Residence Hall. The highlight of their first weekend on campus was the dance put on by Orientation Leaders.

The parking garage filled up early Monday morning as classes began. Tuesday brought many to the Quad for the Resource Fair. Fraternities, organizations, clubs and administrative offices introduced themselves to all students. Many walked away with more free shirts, candy and pens than they could stuff into their free bags.

The culmination of the week came with the White Coat Ceremony on Friday night.

“It is an honor and privilege to enter a health profession,” said Wendy Duncan, Ph.D., dean of pharmacy and vice president of academic affairs. “While challenging, assuming the responsibility of caring for others, of doing everything in your power to better the lives of your patients assures a life full of meaning and reward.”

Class president Gregory Sneed led 230 students in the Pledge of Professionalism in front of family, friends, and faculty.

Morty the Eutectic Ranks Among Top-25 Cheesiest Mascots

In a fun twist on the AP Top 25 fall college football rankings, Frito Lay's Chester Cheetah released his inaugural "Top-25 Cheesiest Mascots" rankings in a press release on Monday, Aug. 20, ranking St. Louis College of Pharmacy's Mortimer “Morty” McPestle, the Eutectic, 20th on the list. With rankings based on "cheese factor" and all-around silliness, "The Fighting Pickle" of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts topped the list. Other notable mascots included "The Boll Weevil" of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, "SuperFrog" of Texas Christian University, and "Gladys, the Fighting Squirrel" of Mary Baldwin College. When asked for comment, Morty simply gave his trademark "cheesy" grin.

To see a complete list of Chester Cheetah's official Top-25 Cheesiest Mascots, click here.      

College welcomes 17 postgraduate pharmacy residents

St. Louis College of Pharmacy is pleased to announce the addition of 17 postgraduate pharmacy residents for the 2012-13 year. These residents will join the College’s faculty as full-time clinical instructors of pharmacy practice.        

Pharmacy residencies are organized, post-graduate training programs that build upon the abilities gained from professional pharmacy degree programs. Postgraduate Year One (PGY-1) programs enhance knowledge in managing medication-use systems and support optimal medication therapy outcomes for patients with a broad range of disease states, while Postgraduate Year Two (PGY-2) programs enhance knowledge in medication therapy management and clinical leadership in an area of focus.

This year’s residents include:

Rebecca Bragg, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Drake University and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Her residency program director is Dr. Julie Murphy.

William Call, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from St. Louis College of Pharmacy and PGY-2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Resident at the St. Louis VA Medical Center-John Cochran Division.  His residency program director is Dr. Patrick Finnegan.

Mia Davelis, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Creighton University and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Schnucks Pharmacy. Her residency program director is Dr. Nicole Gattas.  David Chism is the program site coordinator.

Cassidy Domagalla, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Belmont University and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Health Priorities, Inc., in Sikeston, Mo. Her residency program director is Dr. Nicole Gattas. Dr. Sandra Bollinger is the program site coordinator.

Tre’Von Elam, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Howard University and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Walgreens. His residency program director is Dr. Nicole Gattas.  Dr. Clark Kebodeaux is the program site coordinator.

Samuel Grimm, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Sullivan University and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at the St. Louis VA Medical Center-John Cochran Division. His residency program director is Dr. Travis Linneman.

Danielle Hebel, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Butler University and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Mercy Hospital St. Louis.  Her residency program director is Dr. Julie Murphy.

Kalee Kleinhesselink, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Drake University and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at the St. Louis County Health Department. Her residency program director is Dr. Amie Brooks.

Kathryn Krei, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from the University of Iowa and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Mercy Hospital St. Louis.  Her residency program director is Dr. Julie Murphy.

Michael Lorenz, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from St. Louis College of Pharmacy and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at the St. Louis VA Medical Center-John Cochran Division. His residency program director is Dr. Travis Linneman.

Lyndsi Meyenburg, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from St. Louis College of Pharmacy and PGY-2 Internal Medicine Pharmacy Resident at the St. Louis VA Medical Center-John Cochran Division. Her residency program director is Dr. Patrick Finnegan.

Arezo Noormohammadi, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Texas Southern University and PGY-2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident at SSM St. Mary’s Health Center. Her residency program director is Dr. Alicia Forinash.

Aaron Null, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from St. Louis College of Pharmacy and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at the St. Louis VA Medical Center-John Cochran Division. His residency program director is Dr. Travis Linneman.

Kelsey Postma, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from South Dakota State University and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at the St. Louis VA Medical Center-John Cochran Division. Her residency program director is Dr. Travis Linneman.

Gillian Powderly, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from Midwestern University in Chicago and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at the St. Louis VA Medical Center-John Cochran Division. Her residency program director is Dr. Travis Linneman.

Sara Richter, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy graduate from St. Louis College of Pharmacy and PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at Mercy Hospital St. Louis. Her residency program director is Dr. Julie Murphy.

Elaine Speed, Pharm.D., a Doctor of Pharmacy Graduate from the University of Florida and PGY-2 Medication Use Safety Pharmacy Resident at the BJC Healthcare Center for Clinical Excellence. Her residency program director is Dr. Paul Milligan.

St. Louis College of Pharmacy Named a “2012 Great College to Work For” By The Chronicle of Higher Education

For the first time, St. Louis College of Pharmacy has been named a “Great College to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

“On behalf of everyone at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, it is an honor to receive this prestigious designation,” said College President Dr. John A. Pieper. “Our faculty and staff work tirelessly to ensure our graduates become strong pharmacy leaders who make a positive impact on the lives of patients and in the community. It’s wonderful to see the College’s commitment to our faculty and staff, and their commitment to the College, recognized nationally.”      

The results, released in the chronicle’s fifth annual report on The Academic Workplace, are based on a survey of more than 46,000 employees at 294 colleges and universities nationwide.

The College was recognized for its fairness of compensation and the ability of benefits to meet the needs of employees. The College works diligently to recruit and retain the best faculty and staff available. Each year compensation and benefits are compared locally, statewide and nationally in the public and private sector.

Great Colleges to Work For is one of the largest and most respected higher education workplace-recognition programs in the country. For more information and to view all the results of the survey, visit the Chronicle’s Web site at http://chronicle.com/academicworkplace.

ATTENTION FALL 2013 PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

You may have recently received a letter from our admissions office introducing the ACT and SAT writing tests as requirements for admission. The information in that letter was incorrect. Applicants for admission to the freshman class of 2013 do NOT have to complete the writing portion of the ACT or SAT. We sincerely apologize for any confusion or inconvenience caused by the initial letter. If you have any questions, please contact our admissions office at 314.446.8334 or admissions@stlcop.edu, or visit our Prospective Students page here.        

Professor Clark Kebodeaux Receives Inaugural NACDS Distinction

Clark Kebodeaux, Pharm.D., assistant professor at the College, was one of five professors of pharmacy from across the country named to the inaugural class of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation’s Faculty Scholars Program.       

The Faculty Scholars Program is designed to educate assistant professors from schools and colleges of pharmacy in the U.S. about designing, implementing and publishing community pharmacy-based patient care research. As a participant in the program, Kebodeaux will receive advanced educational opportunities through in-person meetings,

regular conference calls, individualized mentoring, web-based lecture material, and online discussion forums. He will also be eligible to receive a research grant to launch a community pharmacy-based patient-centered care project.

Kebodeaux expressed his excitement for receiving the distinction.

“I would like to thank the NACDS foundation for the opportunity to become one of the inaugural 2012-2013 NACDS Foundation Faculty Scholars,” he said. “I am truly honored and excited to work with nationally recognized faculty and research mentors to learn and create effective, meaningful community pharmacy-based research to advance the pharmacists’ role in healthcare.  It is a privilege to represent St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Walgreens and I believe this program will be of great benefit to all involved.”

Kebodeaux was selected from a pool of 27 applicants. Other schools represented by the program include the University of Mississippi and Virginia Commonwealth University.

“This highly accomplished and energetic team of Faculty Scholars really captures the excitement surrounding the program,” said NACDS Foundation President Kathleen Jaeger. “The NACDS Foundation created the Faculty Scholars Program with the confidence that this type of research can make a meaningful difference for patients’ lives and public health, and this is an ideal group to live up to those high expectations.”

College Announces New Seven-Year Doctor of Pharmacy Program

The St. Louis College of Pharmacy Board of Trustees approved a plan recommended by the faculty to expand the Doctor of Pharmacy program from six to seven years, beginning in 2014.  Dr. John A. Pieper, president of St. Louis College of Pharmacy says the move is important to ensure that our students continue to be the best prepared pharmacists entering practice.

“The profession of pharmacy is evolving and it’s our goal to lead, starting with enhancing both pre-professional and professional programs and curricula,” says Dr. Pieper. “Our new expanded program will offer students the enhanced knowledge, skills, and attitudes for those changes in the practice of pharmacy. We want our graduates to continue to improve patient and health system outcomes through advanced pharmacy practice, and to be leaders within the pharmacy profession and the community.”

The new structure will allow students to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree after four academic years. The College will maintain its direct admissions policy, allowing students to enter directly from high school, but will also welcome students who have completed sufficient prerequisite coursework or degrees to transfer into the program prior to the first professional year of the program.

Students will also gain more time for practical experience through volunteering or service projects, and traditional campus activities like theater and athletics. The new curriculum surpasses the recently updated standards set by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

Since 2006, 39 percent of U.S. schools of pharmacy have extended their pre-professional programs to a minimum required three years or a bachelor’s degree prior to entry into a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program.

“St. Louis College of Pharmacy has a great opportunity and obligation to educate a new generation of pharmacists, ensuring they carry the profession into the future,” says Dr. Pieper.   

For more information about the College's new seven-year Doctor of Pharmacy program, please follow this link to the program's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.

Program Offers Safe Way to Dispose of Unused Medicines

Four out of five patients leave their doctors’ offices with at least one prescription. As these medications expire or go unused, they accumulate in medicine cabinets, along with unneeded over-the-counter medicines – creating an abundance of unwanted drugs.     

The Missouri Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal (P2D2) program offers the public a safe way to dispose of these unused medicines at secure collection boxes in local police stations, protecting public health and the environment.

Metal lock boxes are permanently located at the following St. Louis County police department stations: North County Precinct (11815 Benham Road, St. Louis, MO 63138, 314.355.1200), Affton Southwest Precinct (9928 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO 63123, 314.638.5550), South County Precinct (3031 Telegraph Road, St. Louis, MO 63125, 314.892.1510) and West County Precinct (232 Vance Road, St. Louis, MO 63088, 636.225.0425). The drop boxes will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The program is sponsored by Missouri American Water, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, the St. Louis County Police Department and St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Inaugural Middle School Summer Pharmacy Academy Takes Hands-On Approach

It didn’t take long for the 30 students from McKinley Classical Leadership Academy participating in the inaugural Middle School Summer Pharmacy Academy to make a mess on the first day of the program.

The middle school students were taken to a laboratory to try an experiment with corn starch. David Mount, a former pharmaceutics instructor at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, showed the students how to make a sort of “silly putty” by mixing the corn starch with water, starting a chemical reaction. The students ran the putty through their hands and fingers and tried to make small balls out of the starchy mix.

As she tried to find the perfect balance between corn starch and water, Mar-naye Whittaker, an eighth-grader at McKinley, said the compound was “really hard to work with.”

“It plays with your mind,” she lamented.

Kate Cooper, a seventh-grader at McKinley, said she learned a lot during the first day of the week-long program. Most importantly, she said, that “corn starch and water makes the best thing ever.”

As part of the program the students took a trip to the Missouri Botanical Garden, toured Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and participated in many more hands-on experiments.

Mount returned to the program on Friday to show the students how to make their own lip balm and calamine lotion using pharmacy compounding techniques.

“This and the other programs that St. Louis College of Pharmacy sponsors to encourage young people to choose pharmacy as a profession need the support of the St. Louis community,” he said.

Director of Diversity Freddie Wills, who helped organize the program, was also impressed with the students. “I’m amazed at the level of intelligence these students possess,” he said.

He considered the program an overwhelming success. “The students enjoyed an interactive (week) of learning by doing. It was great to see young people learn about science while being introduced to pharmacy,” he said.

Both Wills and Mount said they would like to see the program continue.

The program originated from a conversation between College President Dr. John A. Pieper and St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Adams. “This is an exciting first step in what I know will be a long and productive relationship between St. Louis College of Pharmacy and St. Louis Public Schools,” said Dr. Pieper.

College Wins Awards for Excellence in Communications and Institutional Relations

The Office of Marketing and Communications at STLCOP was recently honored with two awards from the Council for Advancement and Education (CASE) District VI. The College received a bronze award, in the category of Excellence in Communications–Periodicals–Magazine–Four or More Colors, for the spring 2011 issue of Script alumni magazine. In addition, STLCOP received a silver award, in the category of Excellence in Institutional Relations–Institutional Branding Campaign, for its 2011 Medication Disposal Initiative with the city of St. Louis and the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

This is the first time STLCOP has won a CASE award. CASE is a leading resource for educational institutions and offers the premier awards program for marketing, communications, fundraising, alumni relations, and fundraising activities of CASE members. More than 200 colleges, schools, and universities are members of CASE District VI, whose eight-state region includes Missouri, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

FDA Considers Moving Some Drugs Behind the Counter

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is debating whether to increase access to prescription-only medications. A new class of drugs is being considered, which would not require a prescription but would be more restrictive than over-the-counter drugs.

Under the proposal, the new set of drugs would only be dispensed after consulting with a pharmacist ot taking a diagnostic test. The FDA is also considering whether to require a return visit to the doctor to obtain a refill. Drug categories under consideration include treatments for diabetes, asthma, migraines, high cholesterol, and blood pressure. 

The issue of creating a behind-the-counter (BTC) category of medication is not a new one. Hearings began on the issue in 2007. Each time it has been called up, the FDA decided there was need for further review. The latest round of interest began after Dr. Janet Woodcock, the director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research brought it up at the 2011 Food and Drug Law Institute's annual conference. 

St. Louis College of Pharmacy Professor of Pharmacy Administration Dr. Ken Schafermeyer co-authored a paper on the subject for the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). In the paper, he called the implementation of a BTC model "probably feasible." The paper goes on to assert, "Because pharmacists have the training and knowledge to provide certain interventions, they may be able to ensure that patients meet the conditions for use and educate patients on appropriate use of the drug product."

Public hearings recently wrapped up on the issue with strong debate. During the hearings to the FDA, Thomas E. Menighan, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the APhA said, "APhA sees this as a significant and important opportunity for pharmacists to improve public health and increase access, much as we've done with immunizations." Doctors at the American Medical Association (AMA) say the proposed rules would bypass physicians at the patient's peril.

Pharmacy Ranked Among Top Careers

A career in pharmacy is one of the top careers in the country, according to rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. "Pharmacist" is ranked third in the annual listing of jobs across the nation, and second in the health care category.

"This verifies what I have always thought was the case," says Dr. John A. Pieper, president of St. Louis College of Pharmacy. "I think it speaks to the fact that pharmacy is viewed nationally as an exciting, challenging profession."

The report stated, "Job prospects should be excellent in the field in the years to come, and the earnings potential remains relatively high." According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow 25 percent by 2020 and add nearly 70,000 new jobs.

STLCOP Collects Expired and Unused Medications for Disposal

On Saturday, April 28, St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) partnered with the city of St. Louis and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the Medication Disposal Initiative at four designated Walgreens locations in the city. The effort resulted in the collection of over 220 pounds of expired and unused prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and unknown capsules and pills.

At the Walgreens on Lindell Blvd., there were four people standing in line as soon as the event started, ready to dispose of their unused or expired medications. "It's very fortuitous, I took these pills in to my pharmacist yesterday, and he told me about the event today," said one of the participants.

Amy Tiemeier, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice, was at the Walgreens on Lindell Blvd. answering questions about medication safety and disposal. She says making sure your medicine cabinet is cleaned out regularly is important because the potency of medications can change.

"It could be ineffective and delay a person from getting appropriate treatment," says Dr. Tiemeier. "Some medications also become toxic and can be very harmful after they have expired."

During the week leading up to the event, Dr. Tiemeier and STLCOP students volunteered at designated senior centers in the city, talking about the importance of removing expired medications from their medicine cabinets. They also talked with seniors about keeping medicine from being flushed down the toilet, which can cause water contamination. Law enforcement officials were on hand to collect nearly 90 pounds of unwanted pills at the senior centers.

Overall, the DEA collected 11,472 pounds in the St. Louis region as part of its National Prescription Drug Take-back Day. The medications were set to an incinerator for proper disposal.

Fourth-year Students Win at National Compounding Competition  

St. Louis College of Pharmacy fourth-year students Alexis Bylina, Alyssa Griepentrog, and Zenia George, as well as their faculty advisor, Dr. Rasma Chereson, took second place at the second annual National Student Pharmacist Compounding Competition (SPCC) held in Gainesville, Fla. The event, which took place March 17 and 18 at the University of Florida, tested teams on their knowledge of compounding pharmacy. Over the course of two days, teams participated in three challenges: a compounding challenge, a regulatory challenge, and a quality challenge.

Judges scored the competitors on each challenge, and the STLCOP team earned the second highest overall score, placing above 12 other schools of pharmacy, including University of Connecticut, University of New Mexico, University of Florida, Texas Tech, and University of Oklahoma. This was the first time the College had participated in the national competition. “Participating in the national SPCC was a privilege because I felt I personally contributed to the ‘rebirth’ of compounding pharmacy as a niche in the pharmacy field,” says Alexis Bylina. “Whether in light of the competition or not, the 14 teams of student pharmacists compounded, debated, and presented its significance with a passion  that is very much alive.”

Also included in the two-day competition were opportunities for the students to meet and interact with several notable individuals in the specialty area of compounding.

The STLCOP team earned the chance to participate at the national competition by participating in a school-wide competition at the College. “Participating in the national compounding competition was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had,” says Zenia George. Alyssa Griepentrog agrees, saying, “I am extremely proud of how our team performed throughout the competition. I think that our consistency really speaks to our compatibility and synergy as a team.”

St. Louis College of Pharmacy Runner Claims Second All-American Title  

Fifth-year student-athlete David Baker took sixth place in the one-mile run at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Indoor Track & Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio, on March 3. With a finishing time of 4:08.30, he claimed his second NAIA All-American title. He became STLCOP’s first All-American athlete at the 2011 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships where he finished the one-mile run with a time of 4:13.50 – a STLCOP record. Baker’s 2012 finishing time makes him the fastest collegiate athlete in Missouri. 

Baker’s journey to the national meet began at the first indoor track and field meet of the season in December, where he finished the mile with a time of 4:17.27. He then competed in local meets to prepare him to run at the championships in March.

During the preliminary heat on March 2, Baker ran the mile in 4:14.68, the sixth fastest time overall, to qualify for the finals. On March 3, he claimed his second All-American title by claiming the sixth-place spot. His finishing time of 4:08.30 broke his own STLCOP record.

“I somehow lucked out,” Baker said. “I was in seventh or eighth place around the third lap and the guy on the outside of me didn’t close the gap between us, so I was able to pass on the inside. I could definitely feel it in my legs – I just had to hang in there.”

STLCOP's first outdoor track and field competition will be March 30 and 31 at the Washington University Invitational.

Alumni Association Recognizes Distinguished Alumni at African-American Heritage Celebration  

Performer Fannie Lebby impersonates standup comedian Jackie "Moms" Mabley.

On Feb. 25, St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) alumni, students, and friends of the College gathered at Third Degree Glass Factory to celebrate African-American Heritage Month at the Alumni Association’s second annual Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? event. The festive evening featured live performances, tributes to historical African-American figures, and special recognition of two STLCOP alumni.

The program began with a cocktail hour and music performed by CEE Jazz Soul. Guests were then treated to a riveting tribute to Michael Jackson and a fire dance troupe, followed by musical performances honoring renowned African-American artists, including Etta James, Whitney Houston, and John Coltrane. In addition, STLCOP students paid homage to pioneers in the pharmacy profession by recounting the achievements of Ella P. Stewart, the first female African-American pharmacist, and James McCune Smith, the first male African-American pharmacist. “Our intent is to bring our minority students and black alumni together in a social setting,” said Necole Powell, director of alumni relations. “This event is an opportunity to discuss the College’s commitment to diversity and to introduce our alumni to today’s students.”

During the festivities, the Alumni Association recognized Pam Marshall ’90 and Richard Watkins ’90, the 2012 recipients of the Black Heritage Alumni Achievement Award. Both Marshall and Watkins were honored for their outstanding leadership and their service to the community, the pharmacy profession, and the College, and both alumni were honored with student scholarships established in their names.

Attendees were given the opportunity to support the recently established Black Heritage Scholarship. This scholarship will provide financial support, mentoring opportunities, and professional resources for African-American students, while also creating relationships with the communities in which they serve. For more information or to make a gift to the Black Heritage Scholarship, please visit the STLCOP giving page.

Description: Attendees recounted achievements of influential African-American figures in the pharmacy profession and had the opportunity to learn about STLCOP’s Black Heritage Scholarship.

STLCOP Students Provide Guidance to Families Affected by Diabetes     

On Feb. 25, the St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) chapter of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) volunteered at an event to help families affected by diabetes. During the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Annual Retreat, held at the Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis, 13 STLCOP students guided children through various workshops while parents and caregivers attended sessions on juvenile Type 1 diabetes management. Workshops were individualized by age group, and students entertained kids at stations featuring everything from arts and crafts to bounce houses. Throughout the festivities, students paid careful attention to the children and watched for symptoms of hypoglycemia. If any of the kids exhibited symptoms, the students chaperoned them to blood glucose monitoring tables and, and they were given a healthy snack.

As part of Operation Diabetes, a patient care project of APhA-ASP, volunteering at the JDRF retreat provided a great opportunity for student pharmacists to increase awareness of diabetes and promote pharmaceutical care in the community. 

“Our goal is to provide information to the public in order for them to become more knowledgeable about the disease and to be able to recognize signs and symptoms of diabetes,” said fifth-year student Ricky Patel, chair of Operation Diabetes at STLCOP. “We also hope that the program will increase awareness of the role pharmacists play in preventing and managing the effects of diabetes.”

In addition to the annual retreat, STLCOP also partners with JDRF each year to host Boo Fest, a safe Halloween event for St. Louis-area children with diabetes.

STLCOP Celebrates Black History Month with Two Campus Events  

Ernest Green and Cheryl Brown took the time for a Q&A session following their presentations.

On Feb. 8 and 9, St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP), held two events to kick off the celebration of Black History Month. The events were an opportunity for students, alumni, and the St. Louis community to gain insight and knowledge about current health issues facing the African-American community, as well as understand significant events in our nation’s history that have directly impacted the education system.

On Feb. 8, STLCOP alumni and pharmacy practice faculty members gathered to hear Dr. Michael Railey ’72, associate dean/associate professor of multicultural affairs at Saint Louis University, speak about metabolic syndrome and its impact on the African-American population. The event educated pharmacists about the causes of metabolic syndrome, the clinical implications and risks associated with the diagnosis, and the ways culture can affect diagnosis and outcome.

“Dr. Railey offered practical applications for practitioners and explained ways pharmacists can support individuals’ healthy choices, as well as identify choices that develop into symptoms of the disease,” said Erika Breedlove, director of the office of professional development. “Metabolic syndrome is prevalent within the African-American population, and we wanted to offer our alumni an applicable education on the topic.”

Recognition of Black History Month continued on Feb. 9, when STLCOP hosted two historical figures, Cheryl Brown and Ernest Green. In 1954, Cheryl Brown and her sister were denied admission to an all-white school based on their race. This discriminatory act led to a class action lawsuit that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In Brown vs. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme court ruled separate schools based on race was unconstitutional. This ruling ultimately affected Ernest Green and eight other high school students, known as the Little Rock Nine, as they became the first African-American students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., despite heavy opposition.

Both speakers shared their personal stories, recounting their struggles and praising their parents for helping them overcome the obstacles they faced. For third-year student Gabby Safford, the speakers’ stories made a powerful impact. “Growing up, I heard many stories about how their moments shaped my ability to obtain an education,” she said. “Their words made me much more appreciative of where I am at this moment, and also helped me gain a better understanding about what my parents and grandparents had to endure during that era.”

The event, sponsored by the multicultural student services department, was attended by about 150 people, including students, alumni, and members of the St. Louis community, including Virvus Jones, former St. Louis City comptroller, and Jim Buford, executive director of the Urban League.

Resident Learning Workshop Hosted on STLCOP Campus    

Dr. Amie Brooks (center) reviews residency materials during the workshop with Drs. Sue Bollmeier (right) and Pat Rafferty (left).

Nearly 85 participants signed up to attend the Resident Learning Seminar (RLS) Workshop on Friday, Jan. 6 at St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP). Led by William “Bill” Miller, professor emeritus at the University of Iowa and lead surveyor for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the group of pharmacy residency program leaders and preceptors learned how to improve their pharmacy residency programs from the ground up, starting with a review of the foundational concepts of their programs. Participants also had the opportunity to review and revise materials for their residency programs and assist peers in the residency program review process.

From the onset of his presentation, Miller stressed the importance of having quality preceptors that residents can emulate. “I ask residents, ‘Who’s your hero?’ And they describe the preceptor they want to be like,” he said. Miller advised participants to make talking with their residents and developing relationships with them a priority. “You must provide great feedback,” he said. “If you have one or two weak links, they affect the whole.”

Among participants from across the region were several groups of STLCOP faculty who represented several residency training programs. 

“Working with other preceptors from my program, we were able to apply the content from the presentation directly to our materials and update some of them during the session,” said Amie Brooks, associate professor of pharmacy practice at STLCOP and program director for the St. Louis College of Pharmacy/St. Louis County Department of Health PGY1 residency program. “I think the workshop will allow us to better respond to resident needs by customizing the program when possible and to be better at providing high quality feedback to residents.”

With a goal of developing new residency training programs and expanding current programs, an important aspect of the College’s strategic plan, STLCOP’s residency program leaders hope that the RLS workshop will contribute to a teaching model for residents that helps broaden specialty areas recognized in the pharmacy profession. 

Ken Schafermeyer Featured on KTVI’s Fox 2 News in the Morning    

Watch Schafermeyer's complete interview.

Ken Schafermeyer, director of liberal arts and administrative sciences at St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP), recently appeared on Fox 2 News in the Morning to provide insight into the use of Surescripts, a secured Web site that enables doctors to e-mail prescriptions directly to the pharmacy.

In the past year, the use of e-prescribing has tripled, although there has been some skepticism surrounding the security of prescriptions sent online. Schafermeyer explained that the benefits of e-prescribing far outweigh the risks noting that, similar to online banking and bill pay, Surescripts is a secured Web site.

A recent study found that patients who have their prescriptions sent directly from a physician’s office to the pharmacy are more likely to both pick up and take their medications. “It’s a lot more convenient,” Schafermeyer said. “If a patient leaves their doctor’s office and their sick, want to go home, or have a screaming child with a fever, they can just stop one time and get the prescription rather than having to come back or wait.” Schafermeyer went on to highlight that direct communication with the physician’s office allows the pharmacist to make sure that prescriptions are written for drugs covered by the patient’s insurance plan, eliminating the need for a prescription to be changed after it has already been received by the pharmacy.

Watch Schafermeyer’s full appearance.        

Associate Professor Talks with Fox 2 News About Birth Control Concerns  

Watch Forinash's complete interview.

Dr. Alicia Forinash ’00/’01, associate professor of pharmacy practice, appeared on Fox 2 News in the Morning to address concerns surrounding new birth control medications being targeted by the federal Food & Drug Administration. Targeted medications include Ortho Evra, a birth control patch, and the oral contraceptives Yasmin, Yaz, and Beyaz, which are all newer products on the market.

Studies that analyze the medications show mixed results. “Overall, they’re concluding that these medications do increase the risk for blood clots. However, the overall risk is fairly low,” Forinash said during her interview. “The newer drugs increase the risk about 1.5 times higher compared with older contraceptive medications.”

Forinash went on to explain how the increased risk for blood clots compares with a woman’s chances of developing blood clots during pregnancy. She noted that the estimated rate of a blood clot during pregnancy is 50-200 cases per 100,000 treated compared with 40 cases per 100,000 treated (Ortho Evra), 30 cases per 100,000 treated (Yasmin, Yaz, and Beyaz), or 12 cases per 100,000 treated (older birth control pills).

Forinash advised women to continue taking their birth control medications until they have had the opportunity to talk with their doctor or pharmacist. “At St. Louis College of Pharmacy, we teach our students how to educate patients about what to watch for and warning signs of blood clots as well as your own personal risk.”

Watch Forinash’s complete interview.

Students Participate in Compounding Competition  

Compounding Competition participants. Back row: Alexis Bylina, Tracey Nguyen, Mason Stewart, Eric Weldon, Griffin McNamara, Belma Muharemovic, Nathan Koentz, Ashley Donnelly, Jeana Walton-Day Front Row: Alyssa Griepentrog, Zenia George, Margaret Riley, Melissa Palausky, Connor Jones, Nick Simaku

Fifteen STLCOP students participated in the first-ever Student Pharmacist Compounding Competition on Nov. 17 and 18. The competition, sponsored nationwide by Medisca, a supplier of compounding ingredients and equipment, and the University of Florida (UF) College of Pharmacy, aims to raise awareness and increase understanding of pharmaceutical compounding among pharmacy students. The coordinators of the STLCOP competition were Rasma Chereson, professor of pharmaceutics, Rhonda Bilger, pharmacy laboratory manager, and Noha Salama, assistant professor of pharmaceutics.

Working in teams of three, third- through sixth-year students participated in the two-part competition—a practical portion and a written portion—to evaluate the students’ knowledge of compounding. The practical portion included formulation development and preparation of three dosage forms: a cream, oral suspension, and a lollipop. During the written portion, students were tested on their knowledge of regulatory compliance and standards of practice in relation to compounding. 

“I had a blast and I learned a lot,” said fourth-year student Alyssa Griepentrog. “It was a great opportunity to work together and problem solve with colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere. We were able to pool our knowledge and individual backgrounds to prepare medications and answer questions about the theory and regulations behind quality compounding.”

“This competition was a unique and fun experience,” added fourth-year student Zenia George. “The environment was relaxed for the practical portion. We were able to depend on our colleagues to check our calculations and procedures.”

The winning team included fourth-year students Alexis Bylina, George, and Griepentrog, all of whom will represent STLCOP at the National Compounding Competition at the UF College of Pharmacy in March.

Students, Faculty, and Staff Go Bald for Baldrick’s  

Dr. Margaret Weck gets her head shaved during a fundraiser for children's cancer research.

On Nov. 4, students, faculty, and staff of St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) came together to raise funds for kids battling cancer by hosting a head-shaving event on campus. The fundraiser benefitted the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity that funds grants for childhood cancer research.

At 3 p.m. supporters gathered on the Quad to watch 38 “shavees" lose their locks for charity. Among the participants was Margaret Weck, director of basic and pharmaceutical sciences. Weck was one of three faculty members, along with Pat Rafferty, associate professor of pharmacy practice, and Tom Zlatic, professor of English, who participated in a faculty head-shaving competition. Whoever raised the most money had the honor of getting their head shaved; Weck received the honor.

“My mom had multiple myeloma,” Weck shared. “She went through chemo and kept her head hidden. I have been personally affected and have empathy for the people who do not have a choice as to how long their hair is; this seemed like a small thing to do.”

Weck, who is part of the Knit ’n Nosh group at STLCOP that knits hats for chemotherapy patients, added, “I haven’t done anything very wild in a long time, and no one could give me a compelling reason not to do it. The experience has been liberating.”

The event was spearheaded by Kappa Psi fraternity and raised more than $5,300 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

St. Louis College of Pharmacy Hosts Fourth Boo Fest on Campus  

For the past four years, St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) has partnered with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Saint Louis Science Center to create Boo Fest, a safe Halloween event for St. Louis-area children with diabetes. This year, about 100 kids wore their Halloween costumes to the carnival-like event. STLCOP students provide fun activities and offer education information to kids and parents. Activities included the science center’s “Creepy Chemistry Lab,” a costume contest, bounce house, face painting and temporary tattoos, and sugar-free snow cones.

“Our JDRF families see their pharmacists more often than they see their doctors,” said Marie Davis, executive director of JDRF. “We all rely on our neighborhood pharmacists to help make the maintenance of diabetes less daunting.”

STLCOP students created 16 activity booths that gave children the opportunity to have a fun Halloween without the pressures of having to say “no” to candy.

STLCOP’s Rebecca Jones, associate director for student services and coordinator of the event, recently talked about the success and impact of Boo Fest. “It’s important for our STLCOP students to work closely with the kids and their families who are affected by diabetes,” she said. “It makes the disease more real for them and will hopefully help them develop more compassion for their patients.  It also shows our students how important it is for them to be involved with organization like JDRF.  We hope our students will grow to be leaders in the community who will give their time and talents to better the lives of others.”  

STLCOP Awarded NACDS Grant for the Creation of a New Residency  

St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) has been awarded a $50,000 educational grant from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation through its Community Pharmacy Residency Expansion Project (PREP). The College will use the grant money to support the development of a new community pharmacy residency in Sikeston, Mo., in partnership with Health Priorities, Inc., Medical Arts Pharmacy, and L&S Pharmacy.

“When evaluating a site for a residency, it is important to identify locations where pharmacists are already engaged in patient care activities,” said Jack Burke, director of pharmacy practice at STLCOP. “Residencies are structured post-graduate learning experiences and require that the resident is precepted by an individual who is interested in developing a resident and can instruct, model, coach, and facilitate them in the practice environment. So, we are working with interested individuals to assess whether or not the practice site is ready for a resident or if additional site or preceptor development is needed before placing a resident.”

 Burke will guide the creation of the new residency in partnership with Nicole Gattas, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at STLCOP, who will serve as the residency program director, and Sandra Bollinger, Pharm.D., owner of Health Priorities, Inc., who will serve as the residency site coordinator.

“The College’s Strategic Plan, STLCOP 20/20, calls for expansion of both post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) and post-graduate year 2 (PGY2) residencies,” said Burke. “We are currently identifying individuals in a variety of settings who might be interested in partnering for new programs. We hope to contribute to the growth of residency programs that is needed to meet the needs of pharmacy graduates and the profession.”

The NACDS PREP project will award grants to 30 non-profit and public academic institutions in support of community pharmacy residency expansion. For a list of academic institutions that will receive funding, and to learn more about the project, visit the NACDS Web site.

More Than 500 Medications Collected at STLCOP’s Drug Take-Back Event  

A sampling of medications collected during the Oct. 27 take-back event.

Utilizing two access points on the St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) campus (one for walk-ups at the northwest entrance to Jones Hall and another for drive-ups at the parking lot adjacent to Whelpley Hall), more than 600 pounds of unused and unwanted medications were collected during the St. Louis Medication Disposal Program.

In total, 631 pounds were collected during a nine-hour period on Thursday, Oct. 27. Much of it resulted from the delivery of 18 boxes of old medicine by a St. Louis-area pharmacist.

Included in the 631 pounds were 500 medications; the majority was dropped off by people in the Central West End and employees of health care organizations in the area. All of the collected medications will be incinerated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  

During the event, STLCOP students and volunteers from Express Scripts’ program integrity unit, which monitors prescription drug fraud and abuse, identified and processed the collected pills, capsules, and liquids. The information was entered into the Pharmaceutical Collection Monitoring System, which keeps data on medications collected during take-back events.

The disposal program, sponsored by STLCOP, the city of St. Louis, and the DEA, focused on encouraging people to clean their medicine cabinets and properly dispose of unneeded or expired medications. The issue of medication disposal has become increasingly important because studies indicate the storage of unused and expired medications can lead to accidental misuse and dangerous interactions (especially among seniors), and to prescription drug abuse by teenagers.

STLCOP’s event was held in conjunction with the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; it included dozens of drop-off locations throughout the St. Louis region.
           
To learn more about the proper disposal of medications, visit our medication disposal Web page.

Record Attendance for STLCOP’s Family Weekend  

During the weekend of Oct. 21-23, families of St. Louis College of Pharmacy students were invited to participate in the 10th Annual STLCOP Family Weekend. Seventy-five families and 225 participants came to campus for a weekend of festivities, breaking the attendance record for Family Weekend.

On Friday evening, families joined alumni and friends of the College for a barbecue and live band on the Quad. “Events on the Quad proved to be a wonderful way for current students and their families to connect with alumni and learn more about pharmacy from their perspective,” said Necole Powell, director of alumni relations. “In turn, alumni were excited to learn more about the present state of their alma mater from current students.” Following the barbecue, many attendees transferred to Whelpley Auditorium to watch student thespians in a production of Blithe Spirit.

Events continued on Saturday morning with breakfast and a review of STLCOP’s 147-year history with President Pieper and Associate Professor of History Dr. Bob Zebroski. Families were also invited to cheer on the Eutectic women’s volleyball team during their last home game of the season, and go on a cruise of the Mississippi River. Saturday evening activities included a bingo night, sponsored by the student organization for drug and alcohol awareness, and the option to attend a movie night or watch the St. Louis Cardinals’ third World Series baseball game. Families were sent off on Sunday morning with a farewell brunch and a question and answer session with the student affairs team.

“Family weekend seemed to be a great success this year and families really seemed to enjoy themselves,” said Erin Boswell, student life coordinator. “It is always great to see families reuniting and enjoying a fun-filled weekend with their student. I hope they had as much fun as I did.”

STLCOP Community Learns about Crisis Planning   

From left: Cody Steele (fifth-year student), Lindsay Rippelmeyer (fifth-year student), Pat Curtis, Brandon Luong (fourth-year student), and Jaimin Patel (fifth-year student).

Members of St. Louis College of Pharmacy’s Student Pharmacists Association (SPA) got a first-hand opportunity to learn about ongoing statewide efforts to ensure public safety if a large-scale health crisis or natural disaster were to occur in Missouri or the St. Louis region.

About 100 SPA members attended a recent presentation in Whelpley Auditorium by Pat Curtis, an emergency preparedness planner for the city of St. Louis Department of Health.

Curtis shared information about the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI), a program aimed at enhancing preparedness in the nation’s largest cities and metropolitan statistical areas where more than 50 percent of the U.S. population resides. It focuses on the dispensing of antibiotics using open pods (distribution sites that will be open to the general public) and closed pods (distribution sites operated by an employer to dispense medication to employees and their families).

Curtis explained how antibiotics will be received in the St. Louis region through the Strategic National Stockpile and administered through the pod system. She pointed out that traditional modes of medication distribution, such as at hospitals, public health clinics, urgent care centers, and community health clinics, will not be sufficient for the entire population in a short period of time. Curtis said the objective of the CRI is to ensure that antibiotics are provided to St. Louis residents within 48 hours.

“We need lots of help,” she said. “This is my biggest plea when I speak to companies and community organizations – sign up and be part of what we’re trying to accomplish in the event of a crisis. Your service, time, and efforts will be very much needed.”

Curtis said students can volunteer through Show-Me Response, the Medical Reserve Corps, and the city of St. Louis Department of Health.

After meeting with students, Curtis brainstormed with a handful of STLCOP faculty members and local pharmacy leaders about ways pharmacists can assist in emergency situations.

STLCOP Students Appear on KSDK to Promote American Pharmacists Month  

Watch STLCOP student pharmacists on KSDK.

On Oct. 4, St. Louis College of Pharmacy students were “window guests” on KSDK’s “Show Me St. Louis.” They were joined by Nicole Gattas, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, in promoting American Pharmacists Month and the American Pharmacists Association’s theme: Know Your Medicine, Know Your Pharmacist.

Participating students included Jaimin Patel, a fifth-year student; Brandon Luong, a fourth-year student; Alyse Battles, a fourth-year student; and Lindsay Rippelmeyer, a fifth-year student. Speaking on behalf of the group was Battles, who had about 30 seconds to share information regarding the annual observance with KSDK viewers. She encouraged viewers to talk to their pharmacists about their health and any medications they’re currently taking.

Luong said the appearance was an opportunity to educate the public about the role of pharmacists and reinforce the fact that pharmacists play a big role in helping people to maintain their health and quality of life.

“Having an opportunity to be on KSDK and communicate with the general public really helps put into perspective the importance of pharmacists in our community,” Luong said. 

The Achievements of STLCOP and Pharmacists Recognized by St. Louis’ Board of Aldermen     

From left: Alderman Joseph Roddy, Dean Wendy Duncan, Dr. John Pieper, Dr. Jack Burke, and President of the Board of Alderman Lewis Reed

On Sept. 30, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen presented an aldermanic resolution to St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) President John A. Pieper. The recognition highlighted the contributions of pharmacists in the city of St. Louis as well as the College’s impact on the health and wellbeing of people in the region.

“STLCOP and pharmacists throughout the City of St. Louis are honored by this special occasion,” Pieper said while addressing the Board of Aldermen. “We take tremendous pride in promoting American Pharmacists Month and the important theme: know your medicine, know your pharmacist. The annual observance provides an opportunity for the College and pharmacists in our community to take the lead in promoting good health and educating people about their medicines.”

The resolution was sponsored and presented by Alderman Joseph Roddy, who represents the 17th Ward, including much of the Central West End.

Professor Clark Kebodeaux Talks About Allergy and Flu Season  

As a recent guest on KTVI (Channel 2), St. Louis College of Pharmacy’s Clark Kebodeaux, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, discussed allergy and flu season. Kebodeaux, a community pharmacist who practices at Walgreens, talked about the importance of people getting their annual flu shot. He also shared information about a few over-the-counter flu and allergy medications.

“It’s important for everyone to get the flu shot,” Kebodeaux said. “Everyone should get immunized – especially those with diabetes, asthma and other chronic diseases.”

View Kebodeaux’s appearance on Channel 2.

STLCOP Alumni Provide Health Services to Senior Citizens at Busch Stadium  

Tom Meyer ’71 provides medication-related information to a health fair attendee.

As the “Salute to Seniors Day at the Ballpark” culminated, St. Louis College of Pharmacy graduates Jonathon Anderson ’11, Nathan Brockmeier ’09, and Brian Orlando ’98 estimated they’d spoken to well over 100 senior citizens and provided immunizations to about half as many people.

The event was sponsored by Walgreens, where all three pharmacists are employed. By their standards, it was a successful day of community service at Busch Stadium. Just as gratifying was the opportunity to share information with people who welcomed and benefited from their knowledge and services.

“Participating in events like this makes the role of the pharmacist known to the community,” Anderson said. “It keeps us in the front line, which is where we need to be and should be.”

Jonathon Anderson ’11 prepares to immunize a patient.

Assisting three full-time Walgreens pharmacists with flu and pneumonia shots and blood pressure examinations was STLCOP alumnus and Board of Trustees member Tom Meyer ’71, who retired from the St. Louis VA Medical Center and now works part time at Walgreens. Meyer said health fairs like the salute are beneficial for senior citizens and provide an opportunity for older adults to talk about health and medication-related issues. For example, Meyer had a conversation with a woman who complained of medication-related side effects. In addition to discussing the problem, he advised that she immediately follow-up with her pharmacist and doctor.

Meyer said talking to people about their health and listening to their concerns greatly reinforces the importance of pharmacists in society.

“It’s important for people to have good relationships with their pharmacists,” he said. “We answer a lot of questions and are able to point patients in the right direction.”

 

 

 

The Inauguration of Dr. John A. Pieper, September 17, 2011  

“Whether we’re talking about interprofessional education and team-based care or about what St. Louis College of Pharmacy is doing with regard to this or anything else, or whether we’re talking about President Pieper – it’s all about relationships. And I think what he models when he talks about friends, colleagues, and important people past, present, and future for him, is he so values relationships and cultivates them, and keeps them for a very long period of time. And I think if we can help our students understand that their success is all about relationships that they will end up graduating as educated citizens and be prepared to take that into their communities.” - Lucinda Maine, executive vice president & CEO, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy “As students, we look to Dr. Pieper as a mentor, leader, colleague, and friend. His enthusiasm for the profession of pharmacy encourages each and every one of us to apply ourselves academically, socially, and professionally. The pharmacy profession is continually evolving, and with the help and guidance of Dr. Pieper, students here have a lot to bring to the future of pharmacy.” - Katie Sudkamp ’13, president, STLCOP Student Body Union “The inauguration ceremony was tremendous. I was very impressed with the tradition and pomp and circumstance. It helps in establishing and reaffirming our foundation in the St. Louis community. Dr. Pieper has done a wonderful job establishing our vision as we move forward as an institution and within the profession of pharmacy. I like his mission of unity and working with other colleges and universities in the St. Louis region. That helps with expanding our ties and relationships with other health professions. That will help with collaborating and working together for the betterment of patients.” - Garth Reynolds ’00, past president, STLCOP Alumni Association “Dr. Pieper is a quick study. He’s familiarized himself with St. Louis’ long and rich history and he has rightly concluded that our region is blessed with unlimited potential. John is a change agent.” - Don Suggs, president & publisher, The St. Louis American

September 17 proved to be the perfect day for a historical moment at St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP). A crisp fall morning greeted students, alumni, staff, family, and friends of the College community, who gathered on the Quad to witness the installation of Dr. John A. Pieper, STLCOP’s fourth president.

The ceremony began with the procession of Pieper, the Board of Trustees, the honorary inaugural committee, delegates from St. Louis area colleges and universities, and the College’s administration and faculty. Donning full regalia, the procession was a testament to the collective wisdom and experience present.

Following a contemporary rendition of the National Anthem (performed by fourth-year students Danielle Ahlfeld and Lingyu Dong), Nancy Konieczny ’77, chair of the board of trustees, welcomed attendees. She reflected on moments and leaders of the past, noting that the larger purpose for the day is the future of the College.

Several honored guests addressed attendees, including the Honorable Steven Tilley, speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives; the Honorable Joseph Roddy, 17th Ward Alderman for the city of St. Louis; Donald M. Suggs, president and publisher of The St. Louis American; Thomas George, chancellor of the University of Missouri—St. Louis; Janene Verrant ’98/’99, president of the STLCOP Alumni Association; Evelyn Becker-Meyer ’88/’93, professor of biology and faculty marshal; and Katie Sudkamp, fifth-year student and president of the Student Body Union. Each reflected on the passion, commitment, and candor of STLCOP’s new president, and thanked Pieper for dreaming big and positioning the College and the St. Louis region for greatness. Chancellor George recognized Pieper as a consummate leader, noting, “He has all the abilities necessary to be a leader at St. Louis College of Pharmacy and in the academic and greater communities.”

Pieper’s inaugural address began with a theme of gratitude and humility. “There are only a few occasions in a person’s life that equal this,” he said. “This day means so much because many of the extraordinary people that have brought me and this College meaning and fulfillment have come to share in this celebration.”

He also reflected on the theme of his inauguration, “Taking Bold Steps Together,” asking the entire community to join in committing to and contributing to the College’s new vision, which is highlighted in the strategic plan. “Over the past 12 months, our College community has developed and committed to a transformational vision, mission, set of values, and a strategic plan. Our destination is articulated in our new vision statement that we have collectively created: To be globally prominent in pharmacy and health care education, interprofessional patient-centered care, and collaborative research. This destination is the right one for this College, and our journey from St. Louis toward this vision will be exciting and challenging and will require that we take bold steps together.”

Pieper touched on each bold step, manifested in the College’s strategic plan as critical issues and strategic directions: Optimize and grow academic programs; create and sustain a nurturing and enriching culture; develop and advance a research agenda; advance the practice of pharmacy; and community enrichment through strategic engagement.
“The five bold steps, then, define the journey to our destination,” he said. “This College is a privileged and powerful place. This privilege does not ensure our success in the world. It takes a collective act of consciousness, of will, of lifting one’s eyes beyond the near hills toward our vision and our potential. We cannot, we must not, be satisfied with where we have been or where we are today.”

 

 

 

STLCOP Students Volunteer Throughout St. Louis  

While speaking to children at the Saint Louis Science Center, fifth-year student Karen Obermann offered a simple and important message – one aimed at preventing medical-related emergencies and saving lives. She adamantly told children never to put an unknown object or substance into their mouth.

“It’s a good message for kids,” said Obermann. “It’s nice and short. It’s something that kids can clearly understand.”

As a part of STLCOP C.A.R.E.S. (Community Awareness Reaching Everyone in St. Louis), Obermann was among a handful of students who volunteered at the Science Center. The community service initiative was one of several events associated with the inauguration of President John A. Pieper. Overall, nearly 500 students volunteered at various locations throughout the St. Louis region. Sites included Gateway Greening, KidsSmart, various Shop ‘n Save locations, Operation Brightside, Habitat for Humanity, Forest Park, Operation Food Search, various Walgreens locations, Santa’s Helpers, and Beverly Hills Pharmacy.

At the Science Center, STLCOP volunteers gave patrons flyers and contact information for the Missouri Regional Poison Center and taught children and their parents how to distinguish medicine from candy and how to properly dispose of unused and unwanted medications. Parents were given a bag of plaster of paris for medication disposal purposes. Meanwhile, children played a game, “Candy or Medicine,” where they picked from 32 combinations of similar looking objects. The back of each object was labeled either medicine or candy.

“The take home message to kids is: Don’t eat something if you don’t know what it is,” said fifth-year student Kristin Hagan. 

Taking Bold Steps Together: Interprofessional Education  

On Friday, Sept. 16, four of St. Louis’s most distinguished academic leaders came together to discuss interprofessional education and research as part of inauguration weekend activities at St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP). Philip O. Alderson, M.D., dean of Saint Louis University School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs; Wendy Duncan, Ph.D., dean of pharmacy at St. Louis College of Pharmacy and vice president for academic affairs; Michael L. Evans, Ph.D., dean of the Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College; and Larry J. Shapiro, M.D., dean of the Washington University School of Medicine and executive vice chancellor for medical affairs, shared their perspectives on the role of interprofessional teams in delivering patient-centered care. Lucinda Maine, Ph.D., executive vice president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, moderated the discussion.

At the core of the conversation was the need for students of all health care disciplines to learn in environments focused on collaboration. “Care is simply too complex to remain on the shoulders of any one clinician,” Maine said. “I think if we can help our students understand that their success is all about relationships, they will end up graduating as educated citizens and be prepared to take that into their communities.”

Alderson began the discussion by reflecting on the how the history and evolvement of health care necessitates interprofessional training and teamwork. “Considering how dramatically health care has changed since the post-World War II era in the 50s when a solo practitioner of medicine seemed to give the patient all they needed, it’s a new world, it’s a bigger world, it’s a more complex world,” he said. “We’re all part of it and we’re glad to be a part of it with St. Louis College of Pharmacy.”

Evans highlighted the need for communication at the early stages of health care education, noting that historically, the inability for health care workers to collaborate is the root cause of preventable errors, which affects the quality of care that patients receive. His concern was echoed by Shapiro, who talked about current collaborations between the Goldfarb School of Nursing, Washington University School of Medicine, and STLCOP, and the need to expand these efforts to include all health care education institutions in St. Louis.

Shapiro went on to suggest that translational research – approaching research as a practical science – will lead to discoveries that can be more successfully implemented by an interdisciplinary research team than by the efforts of individual disciplines. “The research mission will depend on this type of collaboration,” he said.

As the final speaker, Duncan noted that a functioning health care system requires mutual accommodation to achieve functionality and successful outcomes for patients. She stressed that patient-centered practice is a primary duty of the STLCOP faculty. “If we are educated in isolation, we are only working with our interpretation of each other’s abilities,” she said. “All curriculum will need to mutate somewhat, and we’ll have to put more emphasis on collective learning.”

Following each speaker’s remarks, audience members were invited to participate in the conversation, leading to a rich discussion surrounding the need for faculty development, national support, and possible implementation roadblocks and strategies.

On Friday, Sept. 17, Dr. John A. Pieper will be installed as the fourth president of St. Louis College of Pharmacy. The event will be webcast and can be watched live.   

2011-12 Academic Year Starts Strong with Record Enrollment  

Students took a break from classes during the Welcome Back Barbecue on Aug. 30.

Classes began on August 22 for 1,265 pharmacy students – an all-time enrollment record for the College, surpassing STLCOP’s previous enrollment record of 1,234 in 2009.

Of the total enrollment, 256 are first-year students and 41 are third-year transfer students from other colleges and universities around the country. A majority of transfer students hold undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of disciplines, bringing a new level of thought diversity to STLCOP classrooms.

“The College increased enrollment capacity for the first year of the professional program, which is the only entry point for transfers,” said Gloria Vertress, vice president of enrollment services.  “The diverse educational backgrounds of our transfer students will infuse the student body with a broader perspective of experiences.”

Students in the class of 2017 represent 15 states, with the majority hailing from Missouri (45 percent) and Illinois (41 percent). Of the total, 63 percent are female and 37 percent are male. Their average high school GPA is 3.61 and their mean ACT score is 27. 

226 Student Pharmacists Begin STLCOP’s Professional Program  

On August 25, third-year students were welcomed in to the pharmacy profession as junior colleagues and adorned with their white coats, a symbol of their commitment to professionalism. A sea of supporters watched the ceremony take place on the STLCOP Quad, including family members, friends, faculty, staff, and fellow students.

“As of today – not “someday,” or “when you graduate” – you will be expected to relentlessly pursue excellence, to do everything within your power to empower patients so that they receive maximum benefit from their medications with minimal or no harm,” said Dr. Wendy Duncan, dean of pharmacy and vice president of academic affairs. “And most of all, we expect you to face good times and bad with respect, integrity, humility, and courage.”

White coat recipients recited the Pledge to the Profession, written and led by third-year student Matthew Siu, and signed the pledge, which will be displayed on campus to remind the STLCOP community of the College’s commitment to integrity.

The class of 2015 will spend the next four years gaining knowledge and training that will enable them to affect pharmacy and patients for years to come.

Professor Terry Seaton Discusses Nation’s Drug Shortage    

According to surveys by the American Hospital Association and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, escalating shortages of vital drugs could affect nearly every hospital in the nation and force delays or substitutions in patient care.

Recently, both organizations spoke to legislators on Capitol Hill about the consequences of what’s being called the worst shortage of medically necessary and life-savings drugs in the nation’s history. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the shortages result from manufacturing problems and the stoppage and delay of production by drug firms.

As a guest on KSDK (Channel 5) and KTVI (Channel 2), St. Louis College of Pharmacy’s Terry Seaton, professor of pharmacy practice, discussed the reasons and implications of the drug shortage.

View Seaton's appearance on Channel 5.

View Seaton's appearance on Channel 2.

Alumna Amy DeWein Earns National Award    

Amy DeWein ’89, founder of the Senior RxAccess Program and adjunct professor of pharmacy practice at STLCOP, has received the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists’ (ASCP) 2011 Armon Neel Senior Care Pharmacist Award. The award recognizes DeWein’s contributions to geriatrics in pharmacy and her dedication to improving the quality of life and care for seniors.

The Senior RxAccess Program, founded by DeWein, is a medication therapy management program in St. Louis that serves older adults who are homebound and residents of community and independent-living settings. This care-based model has been recognized for contributing to comprehensive geriatric chronic care management and for improving medication use among seniors.

“I truly believe that once pharmacists establish a consistent standard of care, by working with patients one-on-one, we will be able to have the tipping point necessary to be integrated as a required member of the health care team,” DeWein said. “As pharmacists, we need to commit to a philosophy of having a true practice – as modeled by other health disciplines – where we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to modify medication therapy so patients have improved medication use.”

STLCOP Student Provides HIV/AIDS Prevention and Nutrition Education in Tanzania    

Ogweno leads a HIV/AIDS awareness class in Arusha, Tanzania.

Sixth-year student Brian Ogweno is participating in the Global Services Corps HIV/AIDS prevention education program in Tanzania. During his time there, Ogweno will work to improve the health of the local population by educating them on treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS as well as proper nutrition for people affected by HIV/AIDS.      

Ogweno’s journey began in Kenya where two of his family members came to greet him at the airport. Born in Kenya, Ogweno was happy to visit with members of his extended family after 17 years. Profiled in the spring 2011 issue of Script magazine, Ogweno commented that coming from Kenya gives him a deeper appreciation for living in the United States and attending STLCOP. “With such contrast from where I was to where I am now, it’s hard not to feel blessed," he said. "I’m very thankful. I feel an obligation to contribute as much as I can to people in poverty and people who don’t have very much.” Teaching classes in the underserved, rural town of Arusha, Tanzania enables Ogweno to fulfill this obligation.

During his first week in Tanzania, Ogweno met his host family, toured Arusha, reviewed teaching materials, and received a crash course in Kiswahili, with which he was somewhat familiar. He also visited a local person living with HIV/AIDS. Ogweno’s first training was at a vocational school with 27 students training to become primary school teachers. For a week, he worked with a fellow volunteer and translator to teach students about sexual reproduction and anatomy, HIV/AIDS progression, prevention and testing, nutrition, and gender and cultural roles in Tanzania. “I was really surprised by some of the misconceptions many of the students held, especially regarding effective prevention measures against HIV/AIDS and the importance of getting tested," Ogweno wrote in his blog. “It was great being able to talk through their beliefs and share the rationale behind the current recommendations and best practices.”

Ogweno is hopeful that spreading knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention and empowering the people of Arusha to use that knowledge will result in a decrease in transmission rates. “We teach that about 68 percent of the world’s HIV/AIDS population is in Sub Saharan African,” he wrote. “However, there have been some extremely effective efforts, like in Kagara, Tanzania, where transmission rates have been cut in half. The secret: spreading a little knowledge and encouraging people to use it. There is only so much you can do in a week, but we certainly did our best to do exactly that.”

Read Ogweno's blog and view his photos.

Dr. Amie Brooks Named 2011 Outstanding Educator  

Bill Reed ’67 (right), member of the alumni association board of directors, congratulates Amie Brooks (left) after presenting her with the Outstanding Educator award.

Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Amie Brooks loves what she does. In turn, students and fellow faculty at St. Louis College of Pharmacy love her patience, energy, and dedication. It’s a situation where you might say that what goes around comes around – in a great way.

Honored as the 2011 Joe E. Haberle Outstanding Educator, Brooks joins the ranks of the College’s most remarkable student motivators. “I had the privilege of sitting in Dr. Haberle’s classroom about 15 years ago, so having known him as a teacher provides me with a greater understanding of the significance of this award,” Brooks said. “I also feel honored to join a very esteemed group of prior recipients whom I know to be amazing educators, and many of whom I have looked up to for many years.”   

A 1999/2000 STLCOP graduate, Brooks knows first-hand how challenging pharmacy school can be and adapts her teaching strategy to accommodate varied learning styles and educational environments. “I try to avoid overly technical language when it is not necessary or may impede understanding,” she explains. “Different strategies are employed when teaching in a large classroom, small group setting, or experiential environment. For example, I try to talk to a large class as if I’m having a conversation with one student.” Her approach makes Brooks a favorite among her students.

As someone who puts relationships first, it is no surprise that Brooks thinks she may have chosen to be a therapist or a social worker had she not chosen pharmacy as her profession. Her work as a preceptor and ambulatory care clinical pharmacist at North Central Health Center in St. Louis enables her to connect with patients and engage students on a regular basis. “I think I’d always be looking for a job that allows me to have ongoing relationships with people and impact their lives in a positive way,” she said. Lucky for STLCOP, she found just the teaching gig (and education) at just the place.

Read more about Dr. Amie Brooks and the Joe E. Haberle Outstanding Educator Award.

STLCOP Graduates 188 Doctors of Pharmacy 

On May 14, 188 new doctors of pharmacy received their degrees from St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Ready to take their place in the world of health care, the class of 2011 will go on to educate patients in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, long-term care centers, neighborhood clinics, and community pharmacies.

President John A. Pieper addressed the graduates, reminding them that, while the number of pharmacy schools and new pharmacists is on the rise, STLCOP’s long and reputable history has provided its graduates with the ability to demonstrate patient care skills that exceed expectations. “It also means there are added opportunities for pharmacists who want to pursue non-traditional practices in nuclear pharmacy, consulting pharmacy, managed care, professional organizations, and yes, even as pharmacy faculty members,” he said.

Kelli Fitterling ’11 praised her fellow classmates for their accomplishment and thanked faculty and staff members for guiding them through a rigorous six-year curriculum. “We began with 252 students six years ago,” she said. “With a few gains and losses, some good times and bad, today, we are 188 students strong. This impressive progression rate exceeds the national average for four year pharmacy schools. I am proud to be a part of this class who has shown excellence in academics, athletics, and service.”

Before receiving their diplomas and celebrating the official end of their journey to becoming pharmacists, Dr. Pieper challenged each graduate to give back. “Pharmacy is your profession and your passion, but you are also citizens of this great country and the world. You are educated citizens, and it’s up to you to make our country and our society even better; day by day, week by week, and year by year. I have every confidence that you will take up this challenge and succeed beyond your wildest dreams.”

Scholarship and Awards Luncheon Unites Donors with Student Recipients  

From left: Mark Huelsing, database and application developer, Dr. Margaret Weck, director of basic and pharmaceutical science, Laine Rapp, and Dr. Bob Zebroski, associate professor of history.

During the 2011 Scholarship and Awards Luncheon, nearly $300,000 in donor-generated scholarships was awarded to St. Louis College of Pharmacy students. Donors were welcomed on campus to enjoy lunch with student recipients in the Cartwright Student Center.

“I don’t really see anything special about what I’m doing here today,” said Sarah Greco ’10 during her address to attendees. “I perceived a gap that I knew I could fill.” During her fourth year at STLCOP, Greco set a goal to create a scholarship in recognition of a campus organization that served her. “The place I could always find strength was in my fraternity,” she said. Greco created the Fraternal Good Works Scholarship to recognize community service and fraternity leadership on campus. As someone who sat in their seats less than a year ago, she challenged students to “pay it forward.”

Creator of the Praful and Niru Patel Scholarship Gourang Patel ’00/’01 also addressed donors and attendees, saying “you have to put back into what you produce.” Patel stressed the importance of networking and a diversified portfolio, reminding students that the STLCOP community is dedicated to helping them succeed.

The largest award presented at the luncheon, the STLCOP Faculty and Staff Scholarship, was presented to fifth-year student Laine Rapp and totaled $23,326. “Over the past five years the faculty and staff at STLCOP have worked to shape the person and professional I’ve become – something I can never repay,” Rapp said in a letter to faculty and staff donors. “It is my ambition, and sincerest hope, to never forget the lessons you’ve taught me.”

2011 AIHP Awards Recognize Two STLCOP Students  

From left: Carie Hart, Dean Kim Kilgore, Tony Sindel.

Each year, the American Institute of the History of Pharmacy (AIHP) recognizes approximately 40 undergraduate pharmacy students who have made creative and significant contributions to pharmaceutical history. This year, fourth-year student Tony Sindel and third-year student Carie Hart were among those recognized by AIHP for their outstanding academic performance in the history of medicine and pharmacy class at STLCOP. Both students were nominated by Dr. Bob Zebroski, associate professor of history, who was the class instructor.

AIHP, located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, serves as a national center for the study of the history of the pharmacy profession and hosts programs to promote interest in the history of the profession. 

 

Three STLCOP Students will Participate in Predoctoral Summer Program  

This summer, fourth-year St. Louis College of Pharmacy students Karen Obermann, Aditya Thaker, and Brett Venker were selected to participate in the TL1 Predoctoral Program at Washington University in St. Louis. During the eight-week program, Obermann, Thaker, and Venker will be paired with physician-researchers from Washington University to learn about research design and methods, data collection, data analysis, and dissemination of findings and results.  They also will complete didactic coursework: analysis of clinical data; designing outcomes and clinical research; and PICRT mentored independent research.

“Each of these students is considering the incorporation of research into their career,” said Terry Seaton, associate division director for research and professor of pharmacy practice at STLCOP. “Most importantly, they will be exposed to all aspects of clinical research at a level that will help them to determine a final career path. By interacting with fellow students in other health care professions, these students will learn about a wide array of research applications within different diseases and conditions.”

Each student trainee has been assigned an area of focus based on their interests. Obermann will partner with Dr. John Morris to research Alzheimer’s disease; Thaker will partner with Dr. Mario Castro to research asthma; and Venker will partner with Dr. Brian Gage to research pharmacogenomics in Warfarin.

Trainees will present their research methods and results at the Washington University School of Medicine’s Research Training Symposium and Poster Session, and at the TL1 Predoctoral National Meeting. They also will complete a research manuscript that will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.  

This will mark the fifth year that STLCOP students have participated in the TL1 Predoctoral Program. The program will provide participating students with a full-time stipend, and tuition will be paid for by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Go! STLCOP  

Amidst more than 11,500 participants at the Go! St. Louis Marathon fitness events on Sunday, April 10, more than 70 purple Eutectic shirts dotted a sea of runners and walkers. Despite an unusually warm, humid day, St. Louis College of Pharmacy participants proved that they were up for the Chairman’s Challenge.

Chairman of the STLCOP Board of Trustees Bret Kimes initiated the Chairman’s Challenge months before the event, encouraging students, faculty, staff, and alumni to participate in the Go! St. Louis half marathon or marathon relay, and providing weekly training e-mails and opportunities for group runs and walks. STLCOP’s involvement was made possible by a donation from Edward Jones, where Kimes is a principal.

“The best part of the challenge was the mesh of people that participated,” said fourth-year student Karen Obermann. “Faculty, staff, and students suddenly had refreshing new topics of conversation. I love how everyone congratulated each other on the days following the race. It was such a great stress relief!”

View photos from the Chairman's Challenge. 

 

 

Symposium Highlights Student Research at STLCOP  

In early April, St. Louis College of Pharmacy students and faculty gathered on campus to honor student scholarship and promote pharmacy research at the second annual Research Symposium. Nine podium presentations and 12 poster presentations provided students with the opportunity to showcase their research projects alongside faculty mentors.

“One of the roles of student research is to provide learning experiences that are different than those typically provided in the classroom,” said Dr. Peter Hurd, professor of pharmacy administration and assistant to the dean for research. “Student participation in research can increase the level of student engagement with the College, leading to a more satisfying College experience. Indeed, the Association of American Colleges and Universities includes student research as one of the best ways to increase student engagement.”

Research topics were varied and included interests such as strategy development to increase student pharmacist involvement in professional pharmacy settings; modeling of nucleotide-binding units in TDP-43, a brain protein that can unfold under certain conditions, causing Alzheimer's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, and various motor neuron diseases; perceptions of older persons by entering college students; an evaluation of education on the appropriate use of vitamin K in warfarin reversal; positive learning strategies for freshman students; and an analysis of current medication therapy management literature in relation to community and hospital pharmacy.

For students not currently engaged in research, the Symposium served to educate them about existing research opportunities, and connected them with faculty experts. “An important goal of this event is to provide a way for students to see different kinds of research as they seek out faculty and faculty projects.”

More information regarding research at the College is available in the research and scholarship section of this Web site.

View photos from the 2011 second annual Research Symposium 

 

 

 

STLCOP Sponsors Community Health Fair in Columbia, Mo.    

A group of STLCOP alumni at the event in Columbia, Mo.

St. Louis College of Pharmacy recently sponsored Spring into Health Community Day at Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia, Mo.

The health fair offered medication review; blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar screenings; spinal screenings along with a massage; confidential HIV testing; Medicare benefits information; prescription drug abuse information; and information about free and/or low-cost health care services in the mid-Missouri area.

At the event, several pharmacists talked to a diverse group of attendees about medication and health-related issues.

“This was pharmacy organized and pharmacy based,” said Steve Calloway ’78, who works at University Hospital in Columbia and also is a member of the College’s Board of Trustees. “We had pharmacists and pharmacy students doing the screenings and medication reviews.  That was an outstanding element of the program. It reinforces the fact that pharmacists are the most accessible health care practitioners in the community.” 

Other organizations that participated in the community-wide endeavor included: D&H Drugstore; Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy; the Center for Aging (Medicare Outreach); the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy; University of Missouri Health Care (University Pharmacy); Midwest Transplant Network; Columbia/Boone County Health Department; ACT Missouri; and Focus on Health Chiropractic. 

Legislative Day Teaches Students the Role of Advocacy in Health Care  

Brandon Luong (third-year), Alyse Battles (third-year), Rep. Michele Kratky (D - St. Louis), Dr. John A. Pieper, Jessica Kassing (fifth-year), and Evan Schnur (fifth-year).

In the spirit of advocacy, a group of St. Louis College of Pharmacy students, faculty, and staff attended the Missouri Pharmacy Association’s Legislative Day in Jefferson City, Mo., where they gathered with practicing pharmacists and fellow student pharmacists from across the state to meet with legislators and discuss health care policy issues.

During the first part of the day, a series of speakers educated attendees on current legislative issues affecting pharmacy. Additionally, Kimberly Grinston, executive director of the Missouri Board of Pharmacy, provided attendees with an overview of recent rulings from the board. After lunch, students toured the capitol and met with state senators and representatives to discuss health care and education.

“During our time in the capitol, we met with lobbyist Bill Gamble, who represents private colleges and universities in Missouri,” said fifth-year student Jessica Kassing. “We learned that his mother was a STLCOP graduate – one of just a handful of women in her class. He told us about the challenges that she faced as a woman in the profession, and the impact that she had on him. It was inspiring to see how STLCOP has changed a family for the better.”

Rep. Steven Tilley (R - Perryville), Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, and Dr. John A. Pieper

In addition to learning about pharmacy-related issues, students were provided with a broader perspective on the health care policy, and learned how they can influence policy. “Pharmacy is such a highly regulated profession that is hugely impacted by the laws and regulations that are made at both the state and federal levels,” explained fifth-year student Evan Schnur. “Unfortunately, legislators can’t be experts on everything, so it is important for pharmacists and student pharmacists to develop relationships with these folks to educate them on pharmacy issues. This can be as simple as sending an e-mail, or even better, meeting with legislators in person.”

For 140 first- through fifth-year students who opted to stay on campus, an hour-long lecture on health literacy, presented by speakers from Health Literacy Missouri, provided them with valuable information surrounding patient communication. Afterwards, participants immersed themselves in the theme for the day, “walk in a patient’s shoes,” by using using MetroLink and MetroBus to experience the difficulties that many patients face getting to and from health care appointments.

 

Track & Field Season Begins with New Records and an All-American Title    

On March 5, fourth-year student David Baker took sixth place in the one mile run at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Indoor Track & Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio, making him St. Louis College of Pharmacy’s first-ever NAIA All-American athlete. His finishing time of 4:13.50 was three seconds faster than his time of 4:16.91 in the preliminaries, and six seconds ahead of his 4:19.82 time at the Feb. 18 Missouri Collegiate Challenge in Columbia, Mo., where his journey to the NAIA National Championships began.  

“David is just a gutsy runner,” said Coach David Baker. “You can see the pain in his face, but his legs don’t let him down. In every race that he’s won, he’s found a way to pour it on during the final lap to either win or to move up dramatically.”

And pour it on is exactly what Baker did during the last 100 meters of the March 5 race. With two runners challenging him on either side, he knew that letting either finish in front of him would knock him out of sixth place – the last All-American spot. “I kicked it up rounding the final corner and down the home stretch. I passed two guys to get sixth place,” Baker said. “It was the greatest feeling to cross that line, knowing I'd made it.”

Teammate and fifth-year student Amr Abualnadi participated in the March 4 preliminaries as well, finishing the 1,000-meter run in 2:30.79 – less than five seconds off the time needed to qualify for the finals. He shaved three seconds off of his 2:33.32 Missouri Collegiate Challenge qualifying  time, warranting a STLCOP record.

“Amr is one of the most gifted runners I’ve ever coached in my 16 years of coaching. He’s incredibly fast on the track, and can just flat out fly,” said Coach Baker. “But ultimately what makes Amr elite is his competitive drive. He wants his competitors to be elite; he wants to run against the best. There is no limitation to how good he can be, and he knows that.”

Representing the best runners in the NAIA, Abualnadi and Baker were two of only 30 students from all NAIA schools to qualify for nationals in their events. And according to Coach Baker, they have each other to thank. “Running is generally seen as an individual sport, but these two are brothers when training and competing. They take extreme satisfaction in each others’ successes and push each other harder than they push themselves.”

Brighter than Abualnadi and Baker’s success in athletics are their futures in pharmacy. Both plan to go into community pharmacy, and Baker has plans to keep his family farm going. “The reality is that no one comes to STLCOP to become an elite runner, but it’s a lot of fun when they do,” said Coach Baker. 

Homecoming Week Celebrates STLCOP  

During Homecoming Week at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, students proved that a top-notch education is just one aspect of being a student pharmacist. Add a chili cook-off, pie eating contest, pajamas and fuzzy slippers, an Olympiad competition, tailgate food, intense basketball games, late-night bowling, and tons of purple and gold, and it’s easy to see that STLCOP students work hard and play hard. But Homecoming events were not all fun and games. Collectively, Homecoming activities raised nearly $600 for the Sunset Hills Tornado Assistance Fund. The week’s events also provided students with a much-needed break from schoolwork, and the opportunity to socialize.

“Homecoming Week provides an opportunity for students to get together to strengthen school spirit and involvement on campus,” said Tyler Dinkelaker, fourth-year student and Student Body Union programming liaison. “I also think it is a great way for students to take small breaks from the rigors of the curriculum, and have something to look forward to every year.”

Students were not the only members of the STLCOP family that got involved. An enthusiastic staff Olympiad team donned colorful outfits to compete against several student teams in “Minute to Win It” style events, including puzzles and human pyramids. The Liberal Arts and Administrative Sciences division had the most fans at the Eutectic basketball games, warranting bragging rights and a catered breakfast. Although the Lady Eutectics were not able to overcome the Logan College of Chiropractic Llamas on the basketball court, the men’s Eutectic team came through with a Homecoming victory over the Llamas.

“Many students attended the basketball games, and more than 300 students went bowling at Tropicana Lanes afterwards,” said Dinkelaker.    

Student Appointed to Member at Large Position by APhA-ASP  

In her new position as Member at Large for Region VI of the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), fifth-year student Laine Rapp is eager to facilitate communication amongst chapters in her region, which includes Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Rapp will be responsible for writing and coordinating newsletter articles, updating the Region VI Web site, and overseeing membership drives. She also will assist with collaborative efforts between APhA-ASP and the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation, an advocacy organization focused on public health, pharmacy education, and professional development.

“I would really like to see each of the chapters in our region communicate more. I think each has great ideas and instead of ‘reinventing the wheel,’ I’d like to see each chapter learn and grow from each others’ successes and failures,” said Rapp.

In addition to managing chapter communications, Rapp will serve on an adjunct committee for the APhA-ASP House of Delegates, and help plan the Midyear Regional Meeting in the fall. This summer, she will head to Washington, DC, to participate in the APhA-ASP Summer Leadership Institute, where she will have the opportunity to learn more about her leadership style and strategize with fellow officers to discuss teamwork strategies.      

Student Honored with NACDS Scholarship  

Recently, sixth-year student Davin Patel received a $3,000 scholarship from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation. He was one of 58 students nationwide to receive the award. According to NACDS, more than 500 students applied.
 
Patel was nominated by Christopher Schloss ’09, his pharmacy supervisor at Shop 'n Save Pharmacies. He strongly encouraged Patel to apply. In doing so, Patel wrote about his contributions to community pharmacy. He highlighted his advocacy and promotion of clinical services at Shop 'n Save and how he connected Shop 'n Save with STLCOP Cares, the College’s largest community service day. Each year, STLCOP students provide health care screenings at the store.
 
“It’s a really big honor,” said Patel, who received a congratulatory letter from the president of Shop 'n Save Pharmacies. “I’m very grateful. A lot of people don’t receive this scholarship. It’s good to know someone at NACDS feels like I’m contributing to society and community pharmacy in particular.”

 

Dr. Michael Daly Talks with KTVI-TV about Splitting Pills  

The next time you need to cut a pill in half, a common practice used to save money or make medication easier to swallow, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Michael Daly advises patients to put down the scissors and step away from the knife.

During a recent appearance on Fox 2 News in the Morning, Daly recommended purchasing a pill-splitting device from a drug store for $3-10 rather than opting for a seemingly convenient, albeit dangerous method of pill splitting. Daly explained that a pill-splitting device can help patients avoid mistakes that may cause injury or dosing  errors. “Talk to a physician if it’s a prescription medication,” Daly says. “Or if it’s an over the counter medication like aspirin, ask the pharmacist.”

Watch the segment.

Former U.S. Surgeon General Leads Health Disparities Discussion at STLCOP  

Dr. Satcher meets with a group of students prior to the discussion.

When Dr. David Satcher spoke to members of the St. Louis community at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, he made it clear that pharmacists can and should play a pivotal role in a comprehensive approach to eliminating health disparities in the U.S.

“The misuse of medication is one of the major problems in health care in this country. The number of people who actually follow their prescription as written is a very small percentage,” Satcher said.

Satcher pointed to the gap between disease incidence and mortality rates as evidence of health disparities, and believes that America has a responsibility to its citizens to improve health outcomes for people who are uninsured and under-insured, uninspired, and under-informed. 

Satcher believes that diverse health care teams are necessary to address social determinates of health disparities. He also is hopeful that health care reform will result in policies that make health care more accessible for everyone and address environmental factors that affect community health and safety.

Watch Dr. Satcher's full speech online.

Thanks to STLCOP Alum, There’s An App for Fat  

Stan Reents ’77, plays a game of tennis, his favorite sport.

When it comes to health, Stan Reents ’77, is in the business of looking out for others. Since launching his Web-based company, Athleteinme.com®, in January of 2005, Reents has combined his passion for health and wellness and his background in exercise pharmacology into an online resource for chronic disease prevention. “The goal of Athleteinme.com and of everything that I do is to promote exercise because it is the most powerful health-promoting tool we’ve got,” says Reents.

Recently, Reents added a mobile phone application to his repertoire of health-savvy tools, making access to exercise information and calorie counts on over 2,000 food items faster than a trip through the drive-thru. The exercise-calorie converter “app,” accessible via a smart phone or computer, helps consumers decide what to order (or not order) in three steps: step one, enter body weight; step two, select a restaurant; and step three, select a food item. The converter then displays how long someone needs to exercise in order to burn calories from the selected food item.

“It provides a practical perspective,” explains Reents. “Most consumers have a rough idea of calories. For example, if you told someone that a chocolate-chip cookie contains 600 calories, most people would have an idea of how those 600 calories would affect their daily caloric intake, right? But nobody has a feel for how long they would have to exercise to burn 600 calories.”

Reents hopes the app will help people focus on exercise first, and then a healthy diet. “If you only focus on diet, you don’t strengthen your cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. So if you compare them head-to-head, exercise alone is a lot more powerful than diet alone.”

More Than 100 Children Have Breakfast with Santa at STLCOP  

Second-year student and LXA member Carey Unthank helps a child make "reindeer food."

On December 18, more than 100 children from local underserved areas gathered on STLCOP’s campus to enjoy breakfast, participate in holiday games and crafts, and steal a moment with Santa to make their gift requests. The event was made possible through Lambda Chi Alpha’s (LXA) 100 Smiles Campaign, which offered STLCOP faculty and staff the opportunity to donate $10 to fund a child’s attendance.

Upon meeting Santa, each child was given a gift to unwrap. “A highlight of the day was watching the kids receive their presents. It absolutely made my day when they got to Santa and realized they would be receiving a gift of their very own,” said fifth-year student and LXA member Brian Ogweno.

In addition to funding the Breakfast with Santa event, the 100 Smiles Campaign collected enough money for a $1,000 donation to the St. Louis Ready Readers program, an organization that sends thousands of volunteers to schools in low-income communities to promote reading among preschool children.

STLCOP Community Members Attend ASHP Midyear Meeting  

Fifth-year students Madalyn McCarthy, Katie McCallister, and Laine Rapp were a few of the STLCOP student representatives at the meeting.

During the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition in Anaheim, Calif., STLCOP alumni, faculty, and students joined thousands of fellow pharmacy professionals to network and build their knowledge and skills. For students, it was an opportunity to learn about career options and residencies.

“Midyear provided me with the opportunity to make early decisions regarding which residency programs I should consider and apply for. I was running through the showcase maze interviewing my prospective residency programs,” said sixth-year student Kelli Fitterling.

Hundreds of representatives from post-graduate programs around the country were available to answer questions and provide information about residency and fellowship positions, providing students with the opportunity to learn about various programs without incurring the costs of location visits. Additionally, networking with professionals from many pharmacy practices provided students with a large-scale overview of career possibilities.

“The meeting offers a large amount of information in just a few days, but it's important to really grasp one critical concept - that there are so many areas of the profession to get involved in and work with during your career,” said fifth-year student Kyle Amelung.

View photos from the Midyear Meeting.

Movember Events Raise Awareness of Prostate and Testicular Cancers  

Members of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy community, led by the Lambda Chi Alpha (LXA) chapter at the College, donned mustaches, attended events, and donated money to raise awareness of men’s health, particularly testicular and prostate cancers, as part of Movember at STLCOP.

For 30 days, men and women were encouraged to grow (or wear) mustaches as a ribbon for men’s health. Several events throughout the month also highlighted men’s health related to testicular and prostate cancers, including a barbecue, dodgeball tournament, wristband sales, a guest speaker, banana split sales, and a mustache-shaving finale.

“Prostate and testicular cancers are very prevalent in the male population, with testicular cancer being even more common in males 15 to 35 years old.  Despite the high prevalence of these cancers, the importance of their awareness often takes a back seat to spreading awareness of other diseases,” said fourth-year student and LXA member Logan Schmitz. “ It’s important to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancers, especially among males in our age group, and to do our part in aiding in prevention and research.”

A highlight of Movember was guest speaker Dave Porter, a member of the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame and former basketball coach at Lafayette High School in St. Louis, who provided support for former team member Jason A. Struble during his battle with testicular cancer.

“The highlight of Dave Porter’s speech was when he shared the impact that one of his former players, Jason, had on the world even though he passed away many years ago,” said second-year student and LXA member Carey Unthank. “The fact that Jason wanted to spread his story to save just one life, and that they now have saved 23 lives that they know of is pretty amazing. Jason’s story definitely moved me and has impacted my life.”

Movember fundraising efforts collected more than $1,100 to support the Jason A. Struble Memorial Cancer Fund, Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Livestrong Foundation.

Make a Smile, STLCOP Style    

The members of the Lambda Chi Alpha (LXA) chapter at St. Louis College of Pharmacy are leading the way in a twofold effort that will make the holidays special for some of St. Louis's most disadvantaged youth. Their 100 Smiles Campaign enables faculty, staff, and students to sponsor a child’s attendance at the third annual LXA Breakfast with Santa event. 

At Breakfast with Santa, hosted on the STLCOP campus, children in grades K-5 will enjoy food, arts and crafts, and the opportunity to visit with Santa and receive a gift. “A lot of families in the area have not been able to afford the admission fee for the Breakfast with Santa event in the past, and they are the ones that an event like this would really impact,” said fifth-year student and LXA member Brian Ogweno.

Proceeds collected in excess of what is needed to fund the Breakfast with Santa event will be donated to the St. Louis Ready Readers program, a local organization that promotes and supports childhood literacy. LXA's goal is to donate $1,000 to the program.

 

College Presented With Top 50 Award  

Members of the STLCOP community accepted the Top 50 award at the Gala Awards Dinner on Nov. 11.

On Nov. 11, St. Louis College of Pharmacy was presented with the Annual Greater St. Louis Top 50 award by the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) and RubinBrown during the 2010 Gala Awards Dinner held at the Hyatt Regency at The Arch. Many St. Louis companies and non-profit organizations considered for the award, which recognizes entrepreneurs, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to the St. Louis region.

“We’re proud to be recognized for developing partnerships and collaborations with organizations and businesses that are focused on improving people’s health and equipping them with knowledge about medicines,” said College President John A. Pieper. “STLCOP truly exemplifies the desired traits of a Top 50 winner through our commitment to academic excellence and community awareness of health-related issues.”

As a member of the St. Louis community for 146 years, STLCOP is a top educator of future pharmacy leaders. Nearly three-quarters of the practicing pharmacists in the St. Louis region are alumni. The College is featured in the November/December issue of St. Louis Commerce Magazine alongside fellow Top 50 recipients.

2010 Fall STLCOP Athletes’ Choice Awards Presented to Five Faculty and Administrators  

From left: Dr. John A. Pieper, Dr. Brenda Gardenour, Morty the Eutectic, Dr. Patrick Fontane, and Dr. Bob Zebroski

Drs. Patrick Fontane, Brenda Gardenour, John A. Pieper, Margaret Weck, and Bob Zebroski were honored with 2010 Fall STLCOP Athletes’ Choice Awards during the final volleyball game of the season. These members of the faculty and administration were nominated and selected by student-athletes for being great Eutectic fans and supporting athletics at STLCOP. Comments on their nomination forms included:

“Patrick Fontane regularly recognizes the accomplishments of the cross country team in his classes.”

“Bob Zebroski has a long history of supporting the efforts of the athletic teams by attending athletic events and getting the College community rallied behind their efforts.”

“Margaret Weck is a regular attendee at STLCOP games.”

“Dr. Pieper not only attends all games that his busy schedule allows, he recognizes and promotes the teams regularly.”

STLCOP offers seven NAIA intercollegiate sports in addition to intramural and club sports, providing pharmacy students with opportunities for a well-rounded college experience. 

Professor Receives Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award  

Dr. John Beale, professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, has been honored with the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award in recognition of his dedication and commitment to teaching.

The award, sponsored by leading global manufacturing and technology company, Emerson, is one of the most prestigious teaching recognition programs in the St. Louis area and the only public recognition of its kind in Missouri. Honorees are selected by peers or administrators to receive the award for their exceptional efforts in shaping students’ lives. Criteria for the award include the demonstration of innovative and successful teaching practices, and leadership and high visibility in the local community.

“I found out about the award when a big yellow envelope came in the mail with a letter and a card,” Beale said.  “My initial reaction was that I didn’t believe it. I had heard about the Emerson Award before, but never imagined that I would receive it. I thought, ‘Wow, I am one of 100 educators in the St. Louis area receiving this.’  It was a great surprise.”
 
Only 100 awards are presented to educators from kindergarten through college. Beale will be presented with his award in November during an invitation-only awards ceremony. Beale also was presented with the College’s 2010 Joe E. Haberle Outstanding Educator award earlier this year.   

Watch a video of Beale reflecting on the importance of a pharmacy education:

Dr. John Beale

Click here if the video doesn't work for you

College Receives Community Champion Award  

The Institute for Family Medicine (IFM) has chosen St. Louis College of Pharmacy to receive their Community Champion Award. The award will be presented to the College on Nov. 13 at the Fifth Annual Community Champions Dinner. Nominations are accepted from the community.  

The Community Champion Award honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to health care for poor and disadvantaged people in the local community. Each year, IFM provides health care services to more than 40,000 children and families by eliminating obstacles such as transportation, language barriers, and lack of insurance. STLCOP's division of Pharmacy Practice has a longstanding relationship with IFM.

Learn more about the award and dinner.

STLCOP Alumnus Receives 50th License to Practice Pharmacy    

Daniel Blakeley ’79, CEO of Foundation Care Pharmacy, recently received his 50th license to practice pharmacy, making him the only known pharmacist licensed in 50 jurisdictions. Blakeley is licensed in Washington D.C. and all states except California. 

In order to earn and maintain 50 licenses, Blakeley took the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination®, which tests knowledge of federal and state pharmacy laws, and interviewed with the State Board of Pharmacy in several states. Blakeley must meet continuing education requirements for all 50 jurisdictions.

Blakeley has plans to obtain licenses in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam within the next several months.

Learn more.

Third-Year Students Receive White Coats and Sign Pledge of Professionalism  

On Thursday, Aug. 26, 205 third-year students were welcomed into the professional phase of their academic program at St. Louis College of Pharmacy during White Coat Ceremony on the Quad. During the ceremony, students received their white coats and signed the pledge of professionalism.

“Tonight you will join a select group of people nationally who can call themselves ‘student pharmacists’ and assume all of the obligations of professionalism, scholarship, and service that come with that title,” said Dr. John A. Pieper during the welcome address. “This ceremony is an opportunity for faculty, staff, family, and friends to share in your joy, as individuals and as a class, and to congratulate you on your accomplishments.”

The Class of 2014 will complete their professional course of study during their next four years at STLCOP.

View photos of White Coat Ceremony.

College Welcomes Students to Campus for the 2010-11 Academic Year  

On Aug. 23, St. Louis College of Pharmacy welcomed 1,218 new and returning students to campus. Of the total enrollment, 234 are first-year students representing 20 states, including top-represented states Missouri, Illinois, and California. This is the second consecutive year that enrollment at STLCOP has surpassed 1,200.

“As the new president, I’m thoroughly impressed with the quality of STLCOP students,” said John A. Pieper, who began Aug. 1. “In recent days, with students moving into the Residence Hall and starting classes, I’ve enjoyed meeting and talking to them about their aspirations of becoming a pharmacist and contributing to the health care community.”

Students living in the Residence Hall were greeted by a move-in crew comprised of upperclassmen, faculty, and staff on Aug. 19. The following Tuesday, students had the opportunity to learn about STLCOP organizations during the Welcome Back Barbecue and Campus Resource Fair.   

View photos of move-in day.
View photos of the Welcome Back Barbecue.

Dr. Ken Schafermeyer Talks With KTVI-TV About Electronic Medical Records  

On July 29, Dr. Ken Schafermeyer appeared on KTVI-TV (Channel 2) to discuss health care reform – particularly the adaptation of electronic medical records. The five-year plan will integrate patient health and prescription history from multiple doctors and hospitals to a central electronic records system. The new system will provide health care professionals with the opportunity to access the complete medical history of a patient when administering treatment.         

“They’re [the Federal Government] using a stick and a carrot. They carrot is some incentive money. They’re going to increase reimbursement for Medicare and Medicaid providers who adopt electronic medical records,” Schafermeyer said. He went on to say that providers who do not adopt the system by 2015 will see a decline in the amount reimbursed.

When asked about concerns regarding hackers and system security, Schafermeyer pointed to the fact that electronic health records already exist for billing purposes. “The thing people don’t realize is that those records are already out there. What this does is creates a systematic approach with much higher standards, so it should provide more security as well.”

Dr. Terry Seaton Appointed to the American College of Clinical Pharmacy’s Board of Regents    

Terry Seaton, Pharm.D., BCPS, professor and associate director of pharmacy practice at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, has been selected for a three-year term on the board of regents of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP).

“It’s a high visibility position and a highly respected position within the organization,” Seaton said. “I was very humbled and pleased to learn of my election.” In his role, Seaton will serve as an advocate for members and contribute to the development and implementation of a new strategic plan.

Seaton believes that the new health care reform model will provide a basis for ACCP’s strategic direction by focusing on the role of pharmacy in the health care delivery system. “The key advocacy agenda for the past several years has been provider status. Clinical pharmacists are not recognized by Medicare as health care providers. In other words, pharmacists can’t bill Medicare independently for their clinical services; they can only bill for the medication dispensed. There’s talk of moving reimbursement for all medicine towards the medical home model, which involves billing as an institution rather than individual providers. Reimbursement changes will be the catalyst for a major change in the profession,” he said.

In connection with his role as a regent, Seaton also has been appointed to the ACCP’s political action committee, which will further position him to impact legislative aspects of health care. “I completed a federal government program on political advocacy and primary care, so this fits well with my interests,” he said.

 The ACCP is a professional and scientific society focused on providing clinical pharmacists with training and development, support programs, leadership, and networking opportunities that enhance practice and research. STLCOP is home to the largest student chapter of the ACCP, with more than 200 student members.

Dr. John Pieper Named APhA Fellow     

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has announced Dr. John Pieper, St. Louis College of Pharmacy’s new president, as a 2010 APhA Fellow.

Fellows must have at least 10 years of professional experience and be members of either the APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management or the APhA Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA-APRS). Additionally, fellows must demonstrate a high level of achievement and service through service to APhA and other local, state, and national professional organizations. Dr. Pieper is a member of the APhA-APRS. In 2006, he received the Outstanding Dean Award from the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists.

Learn more about Dr. Pieper.

Byron A. Barnes Award Recipients Announced  

At the annual faculty and staff luncheon in May, three St. Louis College of Pharmacy employees received the Byron A. Barnes Excellence in Education Awards.

Margaret Weck, associate professor of physiology and director of the basic and pharmaceutical sciences division, received the Student Enrichment Award, which is presented to a faculty member whose interaction with students outside the classroom go above and beyond the call of duty. Bob Zebroski, associate professor of history, received the College Enhancement Award for improving the College atmosphere to benefit the students’ college experience. Mark Huelsing, database and application developer, was honored with the President’s Staff Excellence Award, which is presented to a staff member whose work consistently exceeds expectations or who has provided exceptional service to the College.

The three awards were created in 1998 to recognize outstanding service to the College community. Funding for the Byron A. Barnes Awards is provided by the BCES Foundation, Loren G. Cunningham ’50 and his wife, Sarah.

BESt Pharmacy Institute Promotes a Diverse Health Care Community  

In a unique collaboration, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Express Scripts are preparing multicultural high school students in St. Louis city and county for careers in pharmacy through the BESt Pharmacy Summer Institute. During a six-week program, students receive instruction in math, science, language arts, and ACT preparation with pharmacy lectures and site visits. The program consists of three levels: BESt I (rising sophomores); BESt II (rising juniors); and BESt III (rising seniors).This summer, 56 students were chosen to participate in the program’s three sessions.

In 2009, the 14 students who participated in the program all received college scholarships to continue their education in health-related fields.

Recently featured on KSDK-TV in St. Louis, participants expressed their dedication to making the most of the opportunity – even if it means sacrificing their summer. “The more knowledge, the more power you have. I’ll always have time to play video games, but it takes a real man to come [to the program], right,” said sophomore Darrin Mosely, who attends Normandy High School.

The goal of the BESt program is to provide multicultural students with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in pharmacy school. Ultimately, program leaders hope to create a larger, more diverse pool of pharmacists to serve the St. Louis area.

Learn more about the BESt program.
Watch the segment. 

St. Louis College of Pharmacy Student Saves Woman’s Life   

Danielle Graham and Laurie Harp meet for the first time since the accident.

Danielle Graham, third-year student at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, used quick thinking and her car to save Laurie Harp’s life when Harp suffered a seizure while driving home on April 27.

“I have been told my car started veering into the next lane. The young lady behind me decided to change lanes. When she moved next to me she looked over and saw I was shaking … We have since learned I was having a seizure. She said my car was going the perfect speed and at the perfect angle she was able to use her car to steer my car across four lanes of traffic to the median. Once my car hit the median it stopped and she was able to come up and put my car in park and she sat there with me holding my hand until help arrived,” recalled Harp in an e-mail to KMOV News.

The two women have been e-mailing since the incident, and met for the first time on June 14. Graham said that she did not consider her own safety when she noticed that Harp was in danger. “All I could think about was getting her to the side of the road. That’s all I thought about,” Graham said.

Watch the video and view photos.

STLCOP’s Jill Jokerst Named KIAC Athletic Director of the Year   

The Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference named Jill Jokerst Athletic Director of the Year. News of Jokerst’s

award was the icing on the cake after an exciting year for the Eutectics. Since Jokerst became athletic director at STLCOP more than six years ago, the department has celebrated many accomplishments, including a conference championship title for the women’s cross country team.

“STLCOP offers intercollegiate athletics for all the right reasons – not for championships, although that's a perk, but as a means to develop character and provide positive intangibles that help our students as they become community leaders.  It feels good to know that the 'little guy' doesn't always come in last!” said Jokerst.

Jokerst is quick to recognize STLCOP coaches and student-athletes who also have claimed their fair share of titles and awards during the 2009-10 season, noting that her award is a reflection on the entire STLCOP athletic program.

“I think I can sum it up by saying that our athletes have the right attitude about college sports.  They know that they are here to be pharmacists rather than professional athletes, and are satisfied knowing they give their sport all they've got.  Sometimes that means a conference championship, national qualification, All-Conference Teams, or recognition for being scholar-athletes. Most of all, it means they're having fun and growing as adults, which is what the college experience should provide,” she said.

Drs. Sailors and Burke Appear on Fox 2 News     

Two St. Louis College of Pharmacy professors recently appeared on KTVI's Fox 2 News in the Morning to answer questions about hot topics surrounding drug abuse and recent Tylenol recalls.

Dr. Jill Sailors, ’01/’02, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, addressed the issue of prescription drug abuse, which has more than doubled over the past decade and costs tax payers billions of dollars every year. Dr. Sailors stressed the need for parents to target prevention by talking with their teenagers and monitoring their medicine cabinets.

Dr. Jack Burke, director of pharmacy practice, discussed the Tylenol recall and FDA regulation of medications. While recent recalls of Tylenol medications have caused a media uproar, Dr. Burke highlighted the ability of pharmacists to help consumers select generic alternatives.      

View Dr. Sailors and Dr. Burke's appearances.

St. Louis College of Pharmacy Presents 178 Pharm.D. Degrees  

On May 15, members of the STLCOP community gathered at the Millennium Hotel to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2010.

Samih Darwazah ’64, founder and chairman of Hikma Pharmaceuticals, delivered the Commencement address, welcoming the newest group of pharmacy professionals into the global health care community. Darwazah was presented with an honorary doctorate in recognition of his accomplishments and contributions to pharmacy.  

Patrick Harper ’10, reminded fellow graduates that STLCOP not only shapes professional careers, but enables students to grow as individuals. “Our profession is not all that we are.  Yes, it is what we have studied for the past six years, but it is not what defines us or our time here.  We should be defined not by what we did, but by who we’ve become.  And it’s our memories of STLCOP that will continue to shape us throughout our lives.  Take note that by memories I mean ‘what we remember’ and not ‘what we memorized.’  There’s a difference.”

The Class of 2010 received an average of 1.66 job offers per student before graduation. Forty-nine percent of graduates intend to work in St. Louis upon graduation.

View photos from 2010 Commencement.