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Washington State University
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences August newsletter

August 2022 Updates

FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP

Publications

Pharmacotherapy Clinical Professor and Director of Quality Assurance Improvement & Accreditation Preparation Terri Levien and J. Roberts and Marcia Fosberg Distinguished Regents Professor of Pharmacotherapy and Director of the Drug Information Center Danial Baker published, “Drug evaluation – bebtelovimab: preliminary evaluation,” in Wolters Kluwer Health’s The Formulary Monograph Service (FMS) in June 2022. Wolters Kluwer Health is a drug and health information publisher, the FMS is a resource used in the formulary decision making process for hospitals and managed care systems on recently released and investigational drugs.

Drug Information Center Resident Regan Smith, Terri Levien and Danial Baker published, “Drug evaluation – pacritinib … » More …

Prominent alumnus to receive lifetime achievement award

By Kelly Sylvester

Although he originally wanted to be a veterinarian, it’s clear that WSU alumnus John Oftebro, class of 1965, found his life’s calling as a pharmacist. He began his career as a staff pharmacist for a chain in Seattle, two stints for independent pharmacies, then a short time as a hospital pharmacist, but eventually continued working in independent pharmacy where he discovered his true niche. Eventually, John purchased Kelley-Ross Pharmacy and expanded it to six locations all over the Seattle area and became one of the pioneers of clinical pharmacy and innovation. He credits his success to building relationships, taking risks, and not … » More …

Pharmacy student helps hundreds of Afghan refugees in Washington

Third-year pharmacy student Ghazal Meratnia does not particularly enjoy the spotlight. She likes to keep things low key, but in many ways she’s an everyday hero for hundreds of Afghan refugees living in Washington state. Aside from being a full-time pharmacy student at WSU, Ghazal has served as a certified medical interpreter for Washington state for the last 10 years. Most of her clients are Afghan refugees who recently arrived to the Spokane area and are receiving medical checkups.

“It’s been an amazing journey,” said Ghazal whose family immigrated more than 10 years ago to the United States from Iran, a country which shares a … » More …

Love of chemistry transforms to career in rural health

First-year student pharmacist Bradley Brown, age 22, is one of five students in the inaugural class in the rural health track. The track is part of the college’s Rural Health Initiative to recruit, educate, and embed pharmacists in rural communities across Washington state.

I was raised in Rochester, Washington the youngest of 13 children, where I grew up in a 100-year-old farm house. Rochester is a rural agricultural community with a population of about 2,500 situated between Seattle and Portland. Like many rural communities, everyone in Rochester willingly lends a hand to help a neighbor. This town has raised me as much as … » More …

Q&A with the new associate dean of external relations

Julie Akers, class of 2000, has been named associate dean for external relations at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS). In her new position, she will be managing and maintaining external relationships of the college while continuing her long-standing legislative and professional advocacy efforts.

Akers first joined the college back in 2013, when the program made the transition from Pullman to Spokane. Since then, she has taught in the Doctor of Pharmacy … » More …

August 2021 Updates

FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP

Publications

J. Roberts and Marcia Fosberg Distinguished Regents Professor of Pharmacotherapy and Director of the Drug Information Center Danial Baker published, “Drug evaluation – tirbanibulin 1% ointment (Klisyri),” in Wolters Kluwer Health’s The Formulary Monograph Service (FMS) in April 2021. Wolters Kluwer Health is a drug and health information publisher, the FMS is a resource used in the formulary decision making process for hospitals and managed care systems on recently released and investigational drugs.

Jing Wang (PharmD class of 2021), Drug Information Center Resident Brittany Craft and Danial Baker published, “Drug evaluation – relugolix (Orgovyx),” in the FMS in April 2021.

Brittany Craft and Danial Baker published, “Drug … » More …

First time on campus – class of 2024 returns for Spring 2021 in-person training

After spending most of the first year of their pharmacy education at a distance, last May class of 2024 Washington State University student pharmacists ventured onto campus in Spokane and Yakima, Washington for four days of in-person instruction and testing. These four days laid the final groundwork to prepare the students for their second year, which will be taking place in-person starting August 23. » More ...

Pandemic becomes once-in-a-lifetime lesson for pharmacy student

Though it has been a difficult year of remote learning, fourth-year pharmacy student Trevor Schultz did not miss a beat. Passionate about working with rural and underserved communities, Schultz teamed up with class of 2009 alumni Tyler Fischback at Confluence Health in Wenatchee to support COVID-19 mass immunization efforts in a largely rural and agricultural area serving the Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties in Washington state.

“I’m really passionate about giving back and serving the community. This pandemic needs to be taken seriously. It’s inspiring me because it’s a beacon of hope to end this thing. I want to educate the public about this … » More …

Target protein identified for improving heart attack treatment

By Judith Van Dongen, WSU Health Sciences Spokane Office of Research
Originally posted in the WSU Insider June 2, 2021

SPOKANE, Wash. – A new study led by researchers at Washington State University has identified a protein that could be the key to improving treatment outcomes after a heart attack.

Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the research suggests that protein kinase A (PKA) plays a role in heart muscle cell necrosis, a major type of cell death that commonly occurs after reperfusion therapy, the treatment used to unblock arteries and restore blood flow after a heart attack.

“Our study has … » More …