Skip to main content Skip to navigation
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty

Filling gaps in primary care takes creativity

By Addy Hatch, WSU News

A need to fill gaps in primary care is driving new approaches to health care workforce development in Washington, including at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Panelists discussed their organizations’ strategies at Inland Northwest State of Reform, an annual health policy conference.

Julie Akers, clinical associate professor at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said the college is preparing students for a future that may look quite different from traditional pharmacy roles.

State law in Washington allows pharmacists to provide direct patient care for uncomplicated illnesses or conditions. Akers said pharmacists are already providing that … » More …

Brain injury expert returns to WSU

Darrell Jackson wants to train a new generation of healthcare practitioners in the Inland Northwest to help people with ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases live longer, healthier and happier lives. An experienced educator who is nationally recognized for his work investigating the sometimes fatal after effects of strokes, Jackson is returning to WSU after spending nearly two decades away. » More ...

WSU representatives participate in planning forum of National Community Pharmacists Association

Spokane, Wash.— Recently College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Vice Dean for External Relations Linda Garrelts MacLean and student pharmacist Megan Baker participated in the National Community Pharmacists Association’s Steering Committee Forum. The annual two-day event in Alexandria, Va. is dedicated to wide-ranging, in-depth discussions of the role independent community pharmacies play in health care and how to best position them for the future. They were among 80 pharmacy professionals and student pharmacists who worked with NCPA staff to develop new initiatives that support independent community pharmacies and their patients for the coming year.

In communities across the nation, independent community pharmacies are a … » More …

Akers recognized with profession-wide award

Julie AkersThe American Pharmacists Association (APhA) announced that WSU’s Julie Akers will receive one of its profession-wide awards at the annual meeting later this month.

Akers, a clinical assistant professor at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS), was selected for the APhA’s 2019 Good Government Pharmacist-of-the-Year Award. She was nominated by WSU faculty colleague Jennifer Robinson for her contributions to the pharmacy community through her involvement in the political process.

“Julie has helped me see the importance of politics and policy when advocating for our profession and for our patients. Julie has had this … » More …

CPPS announces faculty promotions

SPOKANE, Wash.—The Washington State University (WSU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) is dedicated to developing outstanding health care professionals and scientists through a transformative student experience. This means the college also takes care to ensure faculty supporting its research and teaching offerings are “second to none,” that is, according to Gary Pollack, dean of the CPPS.

“Our faculty are contributing to university goals and priorities at a rate that has been simply outstanding,” he said. “As a whole our college is lucky to have faculty and staff that rival any pharmacy program in the country.”

Faculty demonstrating excellence in scholarship and teaching give … » More …

McKeirnan to receive national honors for work in pharmacy practice

The American Pharmacists Association announced that WSU’s Kimberly McKeirnan will be honored for her work and research in clinical pharmacy at its annual meeting later this month.

McKeirnan, a clinical assistant professor at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS), was selected for the APhA’s Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management 2019 Distinguished Achievement Award in Pharmacy Practice.

McKeirnan was selected for the award for her work to increase access to vaccinations, an issue very current in the state of Washington. Part of her … » More …

Meier receives $100,000 for research of fatty acid receptors

The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics announced that Washington State University’s Kathryn Meier is its 2019 David Lehr Research Award recipient.

The award will be presented at Experimental Biology 2019, a conference that brings together five national scientific societies, and $100,000 over two years to be used in support of Meier’s research. The awards ceremony will occur on April 6 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

A leader in research and academia, Meier has received international acclaim for her work on omega‑3 fatty acids. Meier submitted a proposal to investigate the impact of free fatty acid receptor agonists (which include … » More …

Spokane pharmacist, WSU professor honored by high school Alma mater

SPOKANE, Wash.— Washington State University’s Joshua Neumiller was selected for the 2018 North Central High School Distinguished Alumnus award. His picture will be added to the “Honor Hallway” at the school. Neumiller received the award at a ceremony at North Central High School in Spokane on November 30.

Neumiller was selected because of his extensive service and passion for educating people with diabetes to understand their disease and take better control of their health. His career as a distinguished educator includes research, clinical duties, and service as editor-in-chief of the journal Diabetes Spectrum published by the American … » More …