WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

CougaRx News

February 2024

Message From the Dean

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I trust this message finds you in good health and high spirits as we embrace the new year (both the Gregorian and Lunar!). The new year ushered in some very positive news that I’m excited to share with the community.

#1 in Washington and #1 in the Pacific Northwest

First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the remarkable class of 2023. Their dedication and hard work have led to very positive outcomes. I am delighted and extremely proud to announce that our class of 2023 graduates out-performed graduates from all other pharmacy schools in the state of Washington on the NAPLEX and the MPJE. In addition, our 2023 graduates secured the top spot in the MPJE amongst all pharmacy schools in the Pacific Northwest. These outstanding achievements are testaments to the unwavering commitment of our students and the exceptional guidance provided by our esteemed faculty.

Alumni Feedback Needed

In the spirit of continuous improvement, Associate Dean for Professional Education Megan Willson is spearheading our efforts to revise our PharmD curriculum, a comprehensive undertaking expected to unfold over the next couple of years. We are committed to staying ahead of the evolving landscape of pharmacy education. Our alums from the past 12 years and our preceptors should anticipate receiving a survey in your email soon. Your invaluable insights will shape the future of our program, ensuring we equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the dynamic field of pharmacy.

Fire, Plague, and Flood. What’s next?

Regrettably, the year commenced with some less fortunate news. Arctic temperatures in January resulted in frozen pipes on the east side of the Dean’s Suite in the Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building on the Spokane campus, causing significant flooding throughout the suite. Despite the challenges, our resilient team has adapted, and we are still operational, albeit in different locations across the WSU Spokane campus. If you plan to visit, please make an appointment so we can ensure a warm welcome. To make light of the situation, the college has endured fire back when we were in Pullman, plague (covid-19, of course), and now a flood. But we are Cougs, so I know we will weather this one too!

Upcoming Events

Please mark your calendars and RSVP for the annual APhA reception on Sunday, March 24, at the Hilton Orlando lobby bar in Florida. It promises to be an engaging gathering, fostering connections within our vibrant community, including our current students.

CougsGive Ambassador Opportunity

Our annual CougsGive fundraiser will be held on Wednesday, April 17. If you’re interested in being a CougsGive ambassador, please reach out to Development Director Kelly Sylvester, and we’ll ensure you are part of this exciting initiative to contribute to student scholarships. CPPS raised the most money of all Spokane- and most Pullman-based colleges in the 2023 version of CougsGive, consistent with our ranking as the college with the most alumni engagement within the WSU system. All donations will go to support our students and your pharmacist colleagues of the future.

Thank you all for your unwavering support and commitment to excellence. Together, we are navigating both triumphs and challenges, shaping a brighter future for our college community and the profession in the Pacific Northwest.

Sincerely,

Mark Leid, Professor and Dean
WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

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