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Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences News

Seminar Speaker discusses consulting in long-term care

SPOKANE, WASH. – On October 10 Britne Wakem spoke to Washington State University (WSU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) students about pharmacy consulting in a long-term care facility. Pharmacy consulting is when a pharmacist, such as Britne Wakem, is hired to give their expert advice on the use of medication or pharmacy services to an individual or organization on a consulting basis (as opposed to as a full-time employee).

Wakem has worked for Fred Meyer since 2008, first as a pharmacy assistant/intern then as a staff pharmacist since receiving her Doctor of Pharmacy from WSU in 2015. She has consulted for the Washington … » More …

Seminar speaker discusses pharmaceutical case study

SPOKANE, Wash. – On September 18 Sean Dobbin, regional director of pharmacy for Providence Health Care, spoke to the Washington State University (WSU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) as part of the college’s Preparing for Your Career in Pharmacy Seminar Series. Dr. Dobbin spoke about his experience with a large-scale pharmacy diversion—when a drug is diverted from its intended medical purpose and used illicitly. In this case, pharmaceuticals intended for patients, were diverted into the community illegally.

Dr. Dobbin hoped to increase students’ awareness of response, prevention and detection of diversions. Awareness of such incidents, he said, can help prevent similar incidents at … » More …

Bunch named top student member by WSPA

SPOKANE, Wash.—Washington State University student pharmacist David Bunch received the 2018 Pharmacy Student of the Year Award from the Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA). Bunch received the award on November 10, during the WSPA Annual Meeting in Stevenson, Washington. He was recognized for his consistent, sustained and outstanding contributions toward fostering student pharmacist participation in association activities on both a local and state level.

Bunch is passionate about patient care and advancing the profession of pharmacy through advocacy. He has served as the WSU liaison to the WSPA Board of Directors, American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) chapter policy vice-president, APhA-ASP regional … » More …

Two faculty receive recognition from state association

SPOKANE, Wash.—Two Washington State University faculty members received Awards of Distinction from the Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA). The WSPA is the professional trade association representing pharmacists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in all practice settings across Washington state.

Kimberly McKeirnan and Linda Garrelts MacLean were recognized during an awards luncheon at the WSPA Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 10, at the Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Washington.

Kimberly McKeirnan received the Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year Award, which recognizes pharmacists who have been licensed in the profession less than 10 years and who have been innovators in pharmacy practice and enthusiastic participants in association … » More …

WSU pharmacy program welcomes back alumna as professor

SPOKANE, Wash.—Clinical Pharmacist Megan Undeberg rejoined the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences this August as a clinical associate professor.

Undeberg’s position is co-located on the WSU Health Sciences campus in Spokane within the Department of Pharmacotherapy and at the Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital also in Spokane, Washington.

At WSU she will teach in the Doctor of Pharmacy program and work to expand rural health research, looking at transitions of care (especially to rural … » More …

WSU student pharmacists win national competition

SPOKANE, Wash. – A team of Washington State University pharmacy students demonstrated their business acumen this month as they captured the championship title in the National Community Pharmacists Association’s 2018 Good Neighbor Pharmacy Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition.

WSU has a longstanding tradition for training practice-ready pharmacists who are prepared to lead tomorrow’s health care solutions. This was demonstrated on Oct. 6 when WSU student pharmacists Frank Nenninger, Chad Schmitt and Peter Tang presented their plan to leverage technology to meet niche health care needs in Washington state to the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

The trio competed at the NCPA Annual Convention in Boston and beat finalist teams … » More …

A night to honor excellence in pharmacy education

Living up to expectations, the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) hosted its annual Crimson Gala event in Spokane on September 28. The event was part of the college’s Pharmacy Homecoming Weekend activities, which brought Cougar pharmacists back to WSU for celebration, recognition, reconnection, comradery, and to share some good old Cougar pride and spirit.

The college vision is to be a leader in advancing, promoting and protecting human health.  We do this through developing practice-ready graduates who will lead tomorrow’s health care solutions, and by contributing to the advancement of knowledge and discovery within pharmaceutical, clinical and applied sciences.

The … » More …

WSU honors two local pharmacists as outstanding preceptors

Monica Graybeal and Chris Greer, both of Spokane, were named Preceptors of the Year by the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences last Friday. Preceptors are an important part of the WSU Doctor of Pharmacy program. They supervise, teach and mentor student pharmacists at the practice sites where they complete the final year of pharmacy school.

The Preceptor of the Year Award is given annually to a WSU pharmacy preceptor for outstanding contributions to the educational development of future pharmacists through demonstrating high standards of professionalism, ethics and clinical practice. Preceptors are nominated by the student pharmacists who participate in rotations at … » More …

Robbers recognized for contributions to pharmaceutical sciences, teaching

During pharmacy school James Robbers worked as an assistant in the research lab of Professor Melvin R. Gibson at WSU. “I will always be grateful for Dr. Gibson’s generosity in mentoring me because it started me on a pathway toward a career in research and academics,” Robbers said.

Robbers, of Mukilteo, Washington, was named the 2017 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) on Friday, September 28. He was selected for his continued contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences at WSU that provide graduate students travel awards, fellowships, and research grants, as well as summer research internships for … » More …

Spokane high school, WSU students partner to address the stigma of mental health

Within the past three years, there have been a total of 13 suicides in the Spokane School District.

A team of student pharmacists from Washington State University partnered with North Central High School’s Institute of Science and Technology in Spokane to address a community-based health care issue. The students at North Central selected the topic of mental health awareness. The school has experienced three teen suicides since April 2017. The students wanted to use this initiative to prevent another one from happening.

“This program allowed the high school students to directly make an impact among their peers and experience how they can individually make a … » More …