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College of Pharmacy News

WSU leads in expanding scientific knowledge on natural products

Part 1 (of 3)

Dietary supplements. Natural remedies. Botanicals. Energy drinks. Wellness boosts. Health foods. Vitamins.

There’s a lot out there when choosing whether or not to use dietary supplements or other natural products. There are also many questions about the value of these products and how beneficial they are, or are not. They often tout claims such as “all natural” ingredients, but that doesn’t necessarily make them safe for you. Natural products are not required to go through the same rigorous research and clinical trial process that pharmaceuticals do prior to marketing, so many potential health … » More …

College names new members of advisory council

SPOKANE, Wash.—The Washington State University College of Pharmacy recently named Sunil Wadhwani and Leon Alzola to the advisory council for Dean Gary M. Pollack.

It is important the college stay connected to key thought-leaders and experts within the professional and scientific community in order to stay apprised of the ever-evolving health care landscape. The Dean’s Advisory Council convenes twice a year to provide external perspective and insight on the strategic direction of the college and its initiatives. The council was established by the dean in order to ensure the college’s educational and research focus remain aligned to develop practice-ready graduates who are well-equipped to tackle … » More …

WSU pharmacy faculty joins national scholars program

Julie AkersSPOKANE, Wash.—Julie Akers, Pharm.D., has been selected for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation Faculty Scholars program.

Akers will receive a $2,500 research grant from NACDS and is currently working on a research proposal. According to the program outline, each faculty scholar will design and implement a patient-focused research project conducted in a community pharmacy setting during the next year.

“Community pharmacy patient-care focused research will lead to better access to care and health outcomes for our patients, which is always my primary focus,” Akers said.

Akers is a clinical assistant professor in … » More …

Online Continuing Education Center

By: Danial E. Baker, pharmacotherapy professor, director of the Drug Information Center

The Washington State University College of Pharmacy now has an Online Continuing Education Center hosted by The World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA). All pharmacists can access online pharmacy continuing education though the college’s education portal at wsu.wcea.education.

It is quick and easy! The first step is to go to the college’s education portal and register. This will require you to enter your NABP e-Profile number and your birth month and day (MMDD format). If you have forgotten your NABP e-Profile number you can go to www.MyCPEMonitor.net to … » More …

Champion compounders

WSU student pharmacists earn top prize in national compounding contest

Three student pharmacists from the Washington State University College of Pharmacy competed in the national Student Pharmacist Compounding Competition March 17-18 in Aventura, Florida.

WSU student pharmacists Shauna Leggett, class of 2018, Katie Cashman, class of 2019, and Megan Baker, class of 2020, made up one of 20 teams from pharmacy programs across the country.

The WSU team won the competition. They took home trophies, a check for $1,000 for the WSU compounding lab, and gift certificates for training opportunities for each student member and faculty mentor … » More …

Retired Washington legislator to speak at pharmacy commencement May 3

Linda Evans Parlette SPOKANE, Wash.—Linda Evans Parlette, a former Washington state senator and WSU pharmacy alumna, will be the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony of the Washington State University College of Pharmacy at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 3, at the Martin Woldson Theater.

Parlette’s selection as the commencement speaker for pharmacy maintains the college’s practice to bring thought leaders to campus. Her record in state government is in alignment with the college’s position as a leader in advancing, promoting and protecting human health.

In 2015, legislation sponsored by Parlette was passed in Washington requiring insurance carriers … » More …

Richard Okita to present 2018 Allen I. White Lecture March 13

SPOKANE, Wash.—Richard Okita, Ph.D., a program director with the National Institutes of Health National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), will present the 2018 Allen I. White Lecture at noon on Tuesday, March 13, in the Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building Walgreens Auditorium on the WSU Spokane campus.

The lecture titled, “Navigating your life in the biomedical sciences: one person’s perspective,” is hosted by the Washington State University College of Pharmacy in Spokane to provide an opportunity to discuss the scientific, social or political aspects of pharmacy or related matters.

The lecture is open to the public. People planning to attend are asked to click … » More …

College of Pharmacy name change

In November 2017, the WSU Board of Regents voted to approve a change to the official name of our college from the College of Pharmacy to the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Updating our name was important in order to better communicate our balanced mission to advance human health through excellence in collaborative research, scholarship and clinical education, and develop outstanding health care professionals and scientists.

The college communications office is coordinating a gradual roll-out of our new name to accommodate the logistics of redesign and reprinting of materials. We are already beginning to use the new name internally and with some external processes. … » More …

WSU pharmacy faculty joins research scholars program

kimberly mckeirnanKimberly McKeirnan, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy at WSU, has been selected for the Translational Research Scholars Program (TRSP) through the Institute of Translational Health Sciences.

The institute is a program funded through the National Institutes of Health and is administrated through the University of Washington. TRSP provides early-stage faculty investigators with targeted and structured translational science career development. The program includes research funding up to $10,000, mentoring, peer-to-peer networking, and grant review services.

McKeirnan will be using the grant to develop ways to use smart phone technology to improve patient medication adherence.

… » More …

2018 WSU Compounding Competition

Compounding CompetitionThe local Washington State University Student Pharmacist Compounding Competition was held on Saturday, January 20.

Drug companies produce medicine in standard doses. Compounding is when pharmacists customize prescriptions to better fit the individual. Not all pharmacies provide compounding services, which makes it an ideal niche for pharmacy entrepreneurs interested in owning their own stores.

Basic compounding is taught in the first year of the Doctor of Pharmacy program. For students who are interested in developing further skill in customized medicine, they can also participate in the college’s compounding club where students can further develop their skills. … » More …