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Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences News

Understanding the pharmacist’s role in treating HIV/AIDS

December is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month and the college wants to remind you of the important role pharmacists play in treating people living with HIV/AIDS. Pharmacotherapy Associate Professor Rustin Crutchley teaches many topics at the Yakima extension, including Therapeutics of Special Populations and Integrated Pharmacology. However, his passion is illuminating the various breakthrough therapies for people living with HIV/AIDS. Crutchley will resume a six-week rotation to Cape Town, South Africa in May 2023 where he educates student pharmacists about the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Can you tell us more about your background with treating patients living with HIV and how you became interested in … » More …

College alumnus highlights demand for pharmacists in pharmaceutical industry

Randy Legg doesn’t come from a legacy family of pharmacists. In fact, he was the first in his family to go to university, and he knew by middle school that he wanted to become a pharmacist. The class of 1988 college alumnus is now National Clinical Account Director for AstraZeneca, one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world. He says the path to his current role was not a linear one.

“I relied on mentors in the college as well as people throughout my career to help me progress,” said Legg who has worked in a variety of settings in his 34-year career in … » More …

November 2022 Updates

FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP

Publications

Pharmacotherapy Vice Chair & Allen I. White Distinguished Professor Joshua J. Neumiller and eight co-authors published, “Diabetes management in chronic kidney disease: a consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)” in Diabetes Care in October 2022.

Director for the Center for Pharmacy Practice Research and Associate Professor of Pharmacotherapy Kimberly McKeirnan and five co-authors published, “Cultures of support and resilience are associated with certified pharmacy technicians embracing new roles,” in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy in October 2022.

Josh Neumiller and eight co-authors published, “Incidence of chronic kidney disease … » More …

Q&A with college alumnus and Chief Pharmacy Officer of Portland hospital

Class of 2007 alumnus Dr. Majid Tanas’ career has spanned all aspects of inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and research services. As Vice President of Pharmacy Services and Chief Pharmacy Officer at Legacy Health in Oregon, Dr. Tanas has a world of experience in health systems. Prior to joining Legacy Health, he was Chief of Pharmacy Services at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center and worked in various administrative positions in health systems at Oregon Health and Science University after completing his Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency at University of Washington Medicine. Earlier this year, Dr. Tanas was recognized by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists … » More …

Q&A with a radiation researcher

Published October 24, 2022, on WSU Spokane Research News by Judith Van Dongen

Portrait photo of George TabatadzeRadiation is used to produce energy, power spacecraft and satellites, and diagnose and treat disease, among other uses. Exposure to radiation comes with safety risks, which are at the heart of the work done by research assistant professor George Tabatadze and his colleagues at the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries (USTUR), a Tri-Cities-based research unit housed in the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Tell us more about what USTUR does.
We study the biokinetics, dosimetry, and … » More …

Veteran, pharmacy student wants to help rural vets

By Addy Hatch, WSU Marketing and Communications

Michael Sauseda was used to providing life-saving medical care as a U.S. Army Special Forces Medical Sergeant.

When it came to his own health, however, a pharmacist was his salvation.

Sauseda had experienced traumatic brain injury during multiple combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and at one point was taking 18 medications to treat his symptoms.

A clinical pharmacist helped bring that number down to “a very manageable three” medications, Sauseda said, freeing him to pursue his dreams beyond the military.

He set aside his initial plan to pursue a medical career after he retired from the … » More …

Smiles, hugs usher in return of annual Crimson Gala

There’s no feeling quite like that of seeing an old friend after years apart. This October, Cougar pharmacy students and alums greeted one another with hugs and smiles as they came together at the first Crimson Gala since 2019. The annual Crimson Gala is a celebration of pharmacy leaders who shape the profession for future generations as well as all of those who help to pave the way for future Cougar pharmacists through their guidance and leadership. » More ...

Capitalizing on opportunities in pharmacy

As a high school student who immigrated from Russia to Los Angeles, class of 2014 alum Alex Heyfetz never would have imagined that he would become a pharmacist one day. His hobbies at the time included judo and weightlifting; advertising, construction, and personal training were the many jobs he tried on before pursuing his doctor of pharmacy at Washington State University. 15 years later, Heyfetz says that the career choice has been better than what he could have ever imagined.

“The most important thing that you need to do in life is to try different things,” he impressed on an audience of pharmacy students during … » More …

October 2022 Updates

FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP

Publications

J. Roberts and Marcia Fosberg Distinguished Regents Professor of Pharmacotherapy and Director of the Drug Information Center Danial Baker along with multiple other authors contributed to the recently released sixth version of the United States Pharmacopeia COVID-19 Vaccine Handling Toolkit Operational Considerations for Healthcare Practitioners.

Danial Baker and eight co-authors published, “Agreement of medicine and pharmacy students on quality of drug information,” in Pharmacy Education in August 2022.

Danial Baker and five co-authors published, “On the relationship between cardiovascular risk marker calcium phosphate product and health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients,” in Nephro-Urology Monthly in April 2022.

Director for … » More …

Former Interim Dean Linda Garrelts MacLean to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Crimson Gala

Leader in pharmacy practice Linda Garrelts MacLean, class of 1978, will receive the R. Keith Campbell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) on October 7. The award will be presented at the college’s Crimson Gala in Spokane attended by alums, faculty, students, and supporters of the college.

Garrelts MacLean retired from the college on July 1, 2021, after a 20-year career as a professor, department chair, vice dean, and ultimately serving as interim dean from 2018 through 2020. She is the first female to hold the position of dean at the college.

Garrelts MacLean mentored hundreds … » More …