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Washington State University
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Top Stories

Pharmacy students to be trained in Mental Health First Aid

In any given year, approximately one in five American adults is living with a mental illness. A recent survey published by the CDC found 40% of adults surveyed in the U.S. experienced adverse mental or behavioral health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting a critical need for people trained to intervene in a mental health crisis.

With approximately 90% of Americans living within five miles of a pharmacy, pharmacists are one of the most accessible health care providers and uniquely positioned to aid patients living with mental health conditions. The Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is making sure its … » More …

How one alumnus transformed his Seattle pharmacy into a community center

You probably have never considered your local pharmacy to be a community center. But that’s exactly what class of 2008 WSU PharmD graduate Ahmed Ali wanted to create when he started his own pharmacy in the southside of Seattle three years ago. Ali’s Othello Station Pharmacy serves the predominantly East African and Somali community in Rainier Valley. It is also the community in which Ali grew up after relocating to Seattle from Somalia in 1998 at the age of 17.

“It was a completely different world and different language. I had to do a lot of learning, and my parents were the driving force for … » More …

WSU pharmacy graduates lead residency matches in Washington state

WSU PharmD students led in accredited residency matches in Washington state this year. More than 67% of fourth-year pharmacy students seeking a residency matched, according to the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) data, which coordinates the official match process for pharmacy schools nationwide. This year, 47 WSU PharmD students matched, up from 41 students last year. Residencies are post-graduate training programs which allow new pharmacists to perform as a licensed practitioner to train under the supervision of an experienced preceptor. Residencies are highly sought-after positions to help pharmacists gain experience, leadership skills, advance their growth of clinical judgement, and hone their skills as a practicing pharmacist. » More ...

Celebrating college excellence

As COVID-19 spread across the globe, colleges found themselves pivoting to distance learning experiences leaving students, faculty and staff to adapt to a rapidly changing environment while navigating the implications of a global pandemic. Though everyone in the college deserves to be recognized for persevering through this difficult year, several have been recognized by their peers for their outstanding leadership, teamwork and service. » More ...

WSU pharmacy students take APhA virtual meeting by storm

A year of virtual meetings has in no way slowed down WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences students. This year at the virtual American Pharmacists Associations (APhA) annual meeting WSU pharmacy students made waves: Carissa Teeters, class of 2023, presented and passed a resolution during the house of delegates; Zachary Coleman, class of 2022, was selected to serve as the chair of the national Policy Standing Committee; the WSU chapter of APhA-ASP (APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists) received the Operation Immunization 2019-2020 First Runner-Up Award; and second-year Kennedy Erickson was elected APhA-ASP President by her peers across the nation. This is the first time that … » More …

Nontraditional pharmacy roles that you never knew existed

Pharmacy Roles in Pharmaceutical Industry
Most PharmD students know that their degree can land them a career in the pharmaceutical industry, but what exactly do people with a PharmD degree do in these companies?

According to Pharmaceutical Sciences Associate Professor Bhagwat Prasad and Director of Industry Engagement at the college, Doctor of Pharmacy of students are highly sought-after candidates in the pharmaceutical industry. Not only do they have the scientific knowledge to comprehend how drug therapy works, but they also have the practical patient care skills to know how therapies will be delivered, whether it’s by doctors or at home. Positions for Doctor of … » More …

How summer on the lake may impact your liver

As the weather warms, daydreams of summer set in; the sounds of birds chirping, the smell of freshly mown grass, the feel of a cool swim on a warm day. But as the flowers begin to bloom so do algae unleashing a green scum across bodies of water and toxins that can affect the health of anyone exposed to too much.

Microcystin-LR is the most common and the most potent toxin produced by freshwater blue-green algae. It was first identified as a potent liver toxin in the 1980s and has since been linked to liver damage and cancer. Today, levels of the toxin are monitored … » More …

New York Times cites WSU on growing demand for pharmacists and technicians

Vice Dean of External Relations Linda Garrelts MacLean started seeing a growing demand for pharmacy students in April 2020, just two months after the COVID-19 pandemic officially kicked off in the US. First came the requests by public health officials for students to help at COVID-19 testing sites. Soon, the need for student pharmacists and their skills in being able to communicate with patients and knowledge in administering vaccines became a bright spot in a very challenging year of virtual learning.

“We are receiving requests from pharmacies and providers, big and small, for our students. They know our students have the skills they need to … » More …

Two students who found a passion for pharmacy and each other

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences would like to feature one of the many couples who found their match in pharmacy school. Ryan Nottingham and James (Jimmy) Leonard found their passion for pharmacy and each other while pursuing their Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Hear their story and what they have been up to since graduating.

In 2016, Ryan Nottingham and James (Jimmy) Leonard sealed the deal –personally and professionally. Shortly after receiving their Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Washington State University, the two committed to spending the rest of their lives together on June 25, 2016, in … » More …