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SCRIPT ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL 2017 THE PRIVILEGE TO PROVIDE Comprehensive medication management positions clinical pharmacists as keys to the success of new models of care. A NEW HOME FOR THE EUTECTICS The opening of the Recreation and Student Center marks a homecoming for the Eutectics. A FOCUS ON PHARMACY ANALYTICS Organizations are integrating comprehensive pharmacy data analytics to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

SCRIPT...practice, Steffany Nguygen, Pharm.D. ’17, Amanda Bultas, Pharm.D. ’17 and P4 student Nicholas Greenwald received the 2017 Virtual Poster Symposium Best Poster Award for

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Page 1: SCRIPT...practice, Steffany Nguygen, Pharm.D. ’17, Amanda Bultas, Pharm.D. ’17 and P4 student Nicholas Greenwald received the 2017 Virtual Poster Symposium Best Poster Award for

SCRIPT

ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY ALUMNI MAGAZINE FALL 2017

THE PRIVILEGE TO PROVIDEComprehensive medication management positionsclinical pharmacists as keys to the success of newmodels of care.

A NEW HOME FOR THE EUTECTICSThe opening of the Recreation and Student Centermarks a homecoming for the Eutectics.

A FOCUS ON PHARMACY ANALYTICSOrganizations are integrating comprehensive pharmacydata analytics to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

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06 STUDENT PROFILEMusic and Science: A Duet

12 A NEW HOME FOR THE EUTECTICS20 OUTSTANDING ALUMNI

Spark of Interest: Gina Banks, Pharm.D. ’14Build Them Up: Eric Barker, B.S. ’88, Ph.D.Memories from a Traveling Pharmacist: Russell “Russ” Riggins, B.S. ’58

28 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION UPDATE34 CLASS NOTES

Script is published twice a yearfor alumni, students and friendsof the College. Questions orcomments may be addressedto Danielle Unzicker,director of marketing, [email protected].

UPDATE YOUR INFORMATIONUpdate your mailing addressto make sure you continueto receive Script. To changeyour address, [email protected], call314.446.8394, or go onlineto stlcop.edu/alumni.

CONTACT THE COLLEGE

Main Line 314.367.8700Script Magazine 314.446.8432Office of the President 314.446.8307Dean of Pharmacy 314.446.8106Dean of Arts & Sciences 314.446.8462Admissions 314.446.8328Financial Aid 314.446.4001Alumni Relations 314.446.8394Public Relations 314.446.8155Marketing & Communications 314.446.8393

STLCOP.EDU/SCRIPT

PRESIDENT, ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONAmy Weckman Conger, B.S. ’98, Pharm.D. ’99

CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEESKevin J. Colgan, B.S. ’77

PRESIDENTJohn A. Pieper

VICE PRESIDENT, ADVANCEMENTKathy Riggins Gardner

VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING ANDENROLLMENT SERVICESBeth Keserauskis

DIRECTOR, ALUMNI RELATIONSStephanie Mauzy

SCRIPT CREATIVE TEAM

Markie Jo CrismonJessica FeldhausKeagan KristoffCarrie LeeKaty Lynn

To learn more about campus and stayconnected, visit stlcop.edu/stories.

IN THIS ISSUEP3 student Suzie Chen is one of many students exploring their passion for music while studying at the College.

Linda MuellerBailee RontoShelene TreptowDanielle Unzicker

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FEATURES FALL 201708 SEEING THEWHOLE PATIENT College facultybrought together an interdisciplinary team ofprofessionals for a collaborative case exercisehighlighting the power of communication andrelationships to overcome obstacles, break downbarriers and improve patient outcomes.

10 A JOURNEY BACKHOME Through an unexpected connectionwith an alumnus, P3 student Dena Badran traveledback to a place she once called home and gainednew perspectives on her heritage, the profession ofpharmacy and opportunities to provide patientcare around the world.

14 THE PRIVILEGE TOPROVIDE In light of significant federal andstate legislation and the introduction ofcomprehensive medication management, clinicalpharmacists are positioned as keys to the success ofnew models of care that emphasize a team-based,patient-centered approach.

26 THE GROWING FOCUSON PHARMACY DATAANALYTICS In today’s digital age, healthsystems are embracing data analysis as a tool forsuccess. Organizations are integrating comprehensivepharmacy data analytics to improve patientoutcomes and reduce costs.

The volleyball team played the first competition in the new Eutectics gymnasium on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

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DEAR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,The academic year is underway at St. Louis College of Pharmacy! We have already marked several exciting milestones, and we arelooking forward to a productive year.

On Tuesday, Aug. 22, we held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new Recreation and Student Center (RAS). Nearly four yearsago, we broke ground on the Academic and Research Building and marked the beginning of a project that has transformed the face ofthe College. The two-phase project, which has added more than 400,000 square feet of space to campus, was the manifestation of ourcommitment to provide unparalleled opportunities for students to learn and grow.

Today, the RAS has become a hub of student activity, and it has been thoughtfully designed to support student life. Students haveone-stop access to study space, academic and personal support resources, dining, and fitness and recreation facilities. The RAS is alsothe new home to the College’s intercollegiate athletic programs and offers student-athletes a competition gymnasium and trainingfacilities. I hope you will visit campus for a tour of the new building or come see the Eutectics compete in the new gym.

As we have watched these physical changes on campus unfold, our faculty have taken steps forward in order to make a difference in thelives of patients through collaborative research. The recently established Center for Health Outcomes Research and Education, led byDirector Scott Micek, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, associate professor of pharmacy practice, is the College’s latest research initiative thatwill place particular emphasis on optimal use of medications to improve health outcomes.

The center will bring together faculty across campus to focus on six key areas for improvement – nonadherence, delayed evidence-basedtreatment practice, antibiotic misuse, medication errors, suboptimal generic use and polypharmacy. The effort was made possible by agenerous contribution from the Express Scripts Foundation, which in part, provided funds for the establishment of the center.

The Center for Clinical Pharmacology, led by Director Evan D. Kharasch, M.D., Ph.D., and Co-Director Karen Seibert, Ph.D.,continues to make progress toward fulfilling its vision. On May 1, the center welcomed its first two faculty researchers,Ream Al-Hasani, Ph.D., and Jordan G. McCall, Ph.D. Recruitment is underway for three more researchers, who will hold academicappointments at both the College and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

This is an exciting time at the College! With your support, engagement and leadership, we have made great progress toward achievingour vision. Thank you for all you do to support our students.

I hope you will visit campus and see all that we have accomplished.

Sincerely,

John A. Pieper, Pharm.D., FCCP, FAPhAPresident and Professor

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STLCOP TEAM WINS BEST POSTER AWARDKatie Tellor, Pharm.D., BCPS, associate professor of pharmacy practice, along withcoauthors Abigail M. Yancey, B.S. ’02, Pharm.D. ’03, FCCP, BCPS, professor of pharmacypractice, Anastasia Armbruster, Pharm.D. ’09, BCPS, associate professor of pharmacypractice, Steffany Nguygen, Pharm.D. ’17, Amanda Bultas, Pharm.D. ’17 and P4 studentNicholas Greenwald received the 2017 Virtual Poster Symposium Best Poster Award fortheir abstract and presentation “Evaluation of Warfarin Requirements in Hospitalized,Obese Patients Admitted with a Therapeutic INR.”

The group was one of 230 teams to present abstracts at the symposium. Winnerswere invited to present their research at the 2017 Annual Meeting held Oct. 7-10in Phoenix.

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STLCOP NAMED GREATCOLLEGE TO WORK FORSt. Louis College of Pharmacy has been named a2017 “Great College to Work For” by The Chronicleof Higher Education (The Chronicle), a leadingpublication for colleges and universities. TheChronicle’s 2017 “Great Colleges to Work For”survey represents the largest and mostcomprehensive workplace study in highereducation.

This is the seventh-consecutive year that theCollege has received the “Great College toWork For” designation.

“We are honored to have once again beenrecognized,” said John A. Pieper, Pharm.D., FCCP,FAPhA, president of the College. “Our faculty andstaff members are among our most valuableassets. We take pride in providing our employeeswith an outstanding work environment.”

ADVANCING THEPROFESSION IN CHINAIn conjunction with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy(ACCP), John M. Burke, Pharm.D., FASHP, FCCP, BCPS,professor of pharmacy practice and associate dean forpostgraduate education, recently traveled to Shenzhen, China.

As part of ACCP’s professor-clinician visit that ran Aug.25-Sept. 2, Burke had the opportunity to work one-on-onewith individual clinical pharmacists and provide severalpresentations to the pharmacy department at The University ofHong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, sharing his experience andexpertise to advance the practice of clinical pharmacy.

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RECREATION AND STUDENTCENTER GRAND OPENINGOn Tuesday, Aug. 22, the College marked the grand opening of theRecreation and Student Center with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony.The opening of the 193,000-square-foot building marks the end of atwo-phase construction project that has added more than 400,000square feet of space to campus.

Built to meet LEED standards, the new, seven-story RAS providesone-stop access to academic and personal support resources, diningoptions and fitness and recreation.

The ceremonial ribbon was cut by (left to right) John A. Pieper,Pharm.D., FCCP, FAPhA, president of the College, P3 student PaulLuebbers, president of the Student Government Association, and KevinColgan, B.S. ’77, chair of the Board of Trustees.

VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TOMATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINEAlicia Forinash, B.S. ’00, Pharm.D. ’01, FCCP, BCPS, BCACP,professor of pharmacy practice, served as a coauthor on therecently published Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A ReferenceGuide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk, 11th Edition.

The updated edition lists more than 1,200 commonly prescribeddrugs taken during pregnancy and lactation and includes detailedinformation regarding known or possible effects on the mother,embryo, fetus and nursing infant.

Forinash was recognized by the American College of ClinicalPharmacy Women’s Health Practice and Research Network,receiving the Vital Contributions to Women’s Health Award. Theaward recognizes her contribution to women’s health throughdistinguished teaching, clinical practice and advocacy.

RAISING AWARENESS FOR MEDICATION ADHERENCESt. Louis College of Pharmacy was named as a finalist for the sixth annual “Script Your Future” Medication Adherence TeamChallenge, presented by the National Consumers League and its partners — the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy,National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation, National Community Pharmacists Association and AmericanPharmacists Association.

The challenge was established to educate future health care professionals on how to help patients understand why failing touse medication as prescribed is detrimental to treatment. The College was one of six finalists recognized out of 66 participantsfor promoting medication adherence in the local community through programming and events.

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MALLINCKRODT DONATION WILLSUPPORT STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMSIn an effort to expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)education programs to serve high school students in St. Louis City and northSt. Louis County, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals has generously supportedSt. Louis College of Pharmacy’s STEM Health Science Academy.

The academy’s mission is to equip high school students with education,on-the-job training and soft-skill development to prepare them forSTEM-based careers, with an emphasis on pharmacist and pharmacytechnician training. The grant will provide support for 30 students and helpexpand the program’s reach from Jennings High School to students inFerguson and other areas of north St. Louis County and St. Louis City.

PROFESSOR ELECTED ACCPRESEARCH INSTITUTE TRUSTEEScott Micek, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, associate professor of pharmacypractice and director of the Center for Health Outcomes Research andEducation, was elected to serve as a trustee for the American Collegeof Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Research Institute.

“ACCP has provided me with the opportunity to work with talentedcolleagues, mentors and leaders,” Micek said. “It is my hope that I cancarry forward the lessons I have learned in this new role.”

Micek has been involved with ACCP for more than 15 years. He has servedon several ACCP committees and task forces and served as chair of thePublications Committee and vice chair of the Task Force on PracticeInnovation. Micek began his three-year term on Oct. 1.

PROFESSOR FEATURED INTALK ON RECENT PUBLICATIONAs part of the College’s Black History Month programming, Dennis Doyle, Ph.D.,assistant professor of history, gave an on-campus talk on his latest publication,“Psychiatry and Racial Liberalism in Harlem, 1936-1968.” The book explores thehistory of those who worked to make psychiatry more available to Harlem’sblack community in the early civil rights movement.

During his talk, he encouraged others to build coalitions of like-minded peopleto affect change.

“Implementing change may mean having conversations that are difficult, butthose conversations will create a more cohesive culture that includes everyone,”Doyle said.

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At St. Louis College of Pharmacy,students have opportunities to explorethe full breadth of their passions.Through engagement in cultural andartistic activities, students grow asprofessionals and people. While theacademic curriculum at the Collegeis demanding, excelling inside theclassroom by day and as a musician bynight is typical for some of the College’smost promising students.

One group of students caught the eyes offaculty in the School of Arts and Sciencesafter showcasing a wide range of theirtalents in a single day. On the night ofFriday, April 21, P3 students Suzie Chen,Benjamin Spitznagel and JohnathanYockey performed in a concert featuringthe College’s Royal Chorale, Jazz Bandand Concert Band. Early the nextmorning, they were presenting atthe annual meeting of the MissouriAcademy of Science.

“As a music person and a science person,I found it striking that we had studentsbeing so successful at these verydifferent events within 24 hours,” sharedAmy Reese, Ph.D., associate professorof microbiology. “These multitalentedstudents who are musically inclined areoften stronger academically becausethey have learned how to effectivelymanage their time and be successful inboth academic and musical pursuits.”

The link between studying music andacademic success has long been a pointof interest for academic researchers.

“There are numerous studies that showstudents who train in music performbetter academically by a lot of metrics,”noted Jeramia Ory, Ph.D., associate

professor of biochemistry. “Part of it isthe practice and discipline — learningyou have to keep at something tobecome accomplished at it.”

Students also find parallels betweentheir work in the classroom and theircollaboration with peers in academic andpractice settings.

“There are definitely teamwork aspectsin a musical ensemble,” Ory added. “It isthe same concept at work in a medicalsetting, with each member contributingtheir own expertise to the health careteam.”

Music is an avenue for students toexplore their interests outside the scopeof the sciences while building the skillsthey need to be successful in practice.

“Participating in our music or theateropportunities enriches our students’learning experiences,” Reese said. “Beinginvolved in a group pursuit teaches themto be more purposeful with their timeand allows them to connect with a groupof people who will support them in theirstudies. And down the road, when theystart interacting with patients, music isjust one more aspect of their personalitythat can help them relate to people —and maybe even a way to connect.”

Through Liberal Arts Convocations,musical groups and theatricalperformances, students benefit fromreceiving a health care-focusededucation paired with liberal artsexperiences. Students are free to exploretheir many interests while gaining aneducation that prepares them to betomorrow’s health care leaders.

SCIENCE AND MUSIC:

A DUETHow a health sciences foundation enriched by liberalarts experiences is helping students explore their passions.

Meet thePERFORMERS

SUZIE CHEN is from Vernon Hills,Illinois, and attended Vernon Hills HighSchool. She began playing flute atthe age of 10. Suzie plays piano, fluteand piccolo as a member of ConcertBand and the pit orchestra, and shesings in Royal Chorale. She also playswith the Washington UniversitySymphony Orchestra and is a vocalistin the Cathedral Choir at the CathedralBasilica of Saint Louis.

BENJAMIN “BEN” SPITZNAGELis from St. Louis and attended MetroAcademic and Classical High School.He began playing trombone in sixthgrade. Ben is a member of ConcertBand and Jazz Band, and he also playsguitar and drums.

JOHNATHAN “JACK” YOCKEYis from St. Louis and attended ParkwaySouth High School. He is a foundingmember of Jazz Band and a memberof Concert Band. Jack studied jazzdrums under Joe Buerger at Mozingo’sMusic and also plays guitar and bass.

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Johnathan Yockey, P3

Benjamin Spitznagel, P3 Suzie Chen, P3

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SEEING THE WHOLE PATIENTAN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH FOR OPTIMAL PATIENT CARE

Too often, health care practitioners get only a snapshot of their patients’ conditionsand find themselves working in silos. Through an interdisciplinary approach, providers canshare knowledge, form a more complete picture of a patient and achieve better outcomes.

Left to right: Melanie VanDyke, Ph.D., Amy Drew, Pharm.D., BCPS

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The value of interdisciplinary teams is well documented andaccepted, but the implementation of this approach is notwithout obstacles. Professional boundaries, communicationbarriers and patient cases rife with multiple diagnoses makethe process of moving toward interdisciplinary care morecomplex than it appears.

Melanie VanDyke, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychologyat St. Louis College of Pharmacy and licensed psychologist,is always eager to share the opportunities for psychologists,pharmacists and other heath care professionals tocollaborate on patient care. VanDyke sits on the PublicEducation Committee for the Anxiety and DepressionAssociation of America. Part of her role is developingeducational tools to address common questions. Afterthe success of a webinar she organized addressingpatient medication questions and opportunities forpharmacists to provide support, VanDyke proposed aroundtable discussion to bring even more providers into theconversation. She, along with Amy Drew, Pharm.D., BCPS,associate professor of pharmacy practice at the College,coordinated and led a collaborative case exercise at theAnxiety and Depression Conference held in San Francisco.

VanDyke chose the case of a patient suffering fromobsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, irritablebowel syndrome and diabetes. VanDyke recruited healthcare professionals from a wide spectrum of disciplines,including pharmacy, psychiatry, psychology and socialwork, to each provide their perspective on treatment. Drewrepresented the role of the pharmacist.

“We cannot practice in a vacuum,” Drew explained. “Weneed to work with different disciplines and understandwhat our goals are to facilitate effective treatment. Mygoal, as a pharmacist, is to be involved in both thedecision-making about which medications are prescribedand also the patient education part.”

The roundtable provided a platform for the representativeof each profession to make observations on the case andcontribute to the treatment plan. The exercise highlightedthe intersections between scopes of practice and the valueof each team member.

“Research supports that you are providing more optimalcare when you are collaborating and talking to otherprofessionals,” VanDyke said. “Even on an individualpatient level, if you are supporting the treatment of anotherprovider, it provides additional credibility to each aspect ofthe treatment.”

Despite the success of the collaboration, there were severalbarriers the team encountered during the exercise —namely, communication and availability.

Representatives of each profession had differingpreferences on how to communicate. To accommodatethese preferences, the team focused on provider-relevantinformation, sometimes taking the form of a conceptualnarrative or a brief breakdown of medication-relatedinformation. Preferred methods of sharing informationalso vary. Phone conversations may be better for thepsychiatrist, while the pharmacist may prefer medicalrecords over a secure system. The team found theseobstacles were difficult to overcome but not impossible.

“We all see the value in communication, and we all see howit can improve patient care, which is ultimately what weare all trying to do,” Drew said. “Different disciplines anddifferent settings might work within the same network, butin the case of a private clinic or different health system,communication gets more complicated.”

Accessing the whole picture of a patient may not alwaysbe easy for health care professionals. With patience,openness and a commitment to providing optimal care, aninterdisciplinary team can bring blurry images into focus.

“We have overlapping roles, but we all have our specificscope of practice in which we can provide expertise,”VanDyke added. “The relationship between disciplines iscritical to support an effective therapy.”

ADVANCING INTERPROFESSIONALPRACTICE AND EDUCATION

Two years ago, a unique partnership between threeindependent institutions established the Center forInterprofessional Practice and Education at WashingtonUniversity Medical Campus. Goldfarb School of Nursingat Barnes-Jewish College, St. Louis College of Pharmacyand Washington University School of Medicine inSt. Louis established the center with the goal ofimproving patient safety and quality in health care.

Located on the St. Louis College of Pharmacy campus,the center brings together students, faculty, cliniciansand researchers across seven professions to buildrelationships, break down barriers, and promoteinterprofessional and interdisciplinary care. The centercontributes to curricula at each institution and providesdevelopment opportunities for professionals andstudents.

To learn more about the center and see upcoming events,visit cipewumc.org.

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As a student in the Doctor of Pharmacy program,Badran learned of the commonalities she shares withanother member of the College community — SamihDarwazah, M.S. ’64, Hon. D.Sc. ’10, founder of HikmaPharmaceuticals. In addition to their relationship withthe College, both share Palestinian roots, a connection toAmman, Jordan, and a deep desire to make a differencein pharmacy.

Over the years, the Darwazah family has made an impacton pharmacy education. Samih Darwazah worked closelywith President John A. Pieper, Pharm.D., FCCP, FAPhA,to provide guidance in the development of a pharmacyprogram at Birzeit University in Birzeit, West Bank. Hisson, Mazan Darwazah, executive vice chairman and chiefexecutive of MENA and emerging markets at Hikma,serves on the Board of Trustees at the College.

“There are successful pharmacists all over the world, andit is the most amazing thing to me when I hear aboutsuccessful Palestinians in pharmacy,” Badran said. “Idiscovered my passion for industrial pharmacy afterlearning about the Darwazah family’s accomplishmentswithin the profession.”

Inspired by their accomplishments and with someencouragement from Pieper, Badran informed MazanDarwazah of the many similarities she shares withhis family and her desire to learn more about thepharmaceutical industry in Jordan. After meeting MazanDarwazah while he was on campus, Badran was offereda summer internship.

“I always knew that the two years I spent in Amman asa child shaped who I am and helped me have a clearunderstanding of my culture,” she said. “Being able toreturn and learn more about something I’m passionateabout is an experience that will remain with me.”

While at Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Badran worked in avariety of departments such as engineering, supplychain, validation, calibration, research and development,medical affairs and research, and marketing.

At the age of 7, Dena Badran moved from St. Louisto Amman, Jordan, for two years to learn Arabicand gain a better understanding of her family’sculture. Years later, Badran yearned to travel backto the place she once called home. As a P3 studentat St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Badran wasoffered the opportunity to return through aninternship with Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC.

A JourneyBack Home

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“I always saw myself pursuing community pharmacybecause I have had such fulfilling experiences servingpatients,” she said. “Now I see myself being moreglobally minded. I see myself as a global citizen in aglobal industry.”

Badran’s experience provided her with a view of theworld that she never dreamed possible. After seeingthe value placed on maintaining a positive patientexperience in the pharmaceutical industry, herperspective as a student pharmacist changed.

“Traveling to other countries expands the way you viewthe world, and you can learn something new from everyperson you come across in life,” she said. “At Hikma, Isaw that every decision made — every step forward — isfocused on bettering the patient experience.”

Upon returning to St. Louis, Badran reflects on howmuch her outlook on the profession and her plans for thefuture have been influenced by her time in Jordan. Aftergraduation, she plans to pursue a career in industrialpharmacy because of her experience atHikma Pharmaceuticals.

“As future pharmacists, it’s so easy to be focused onhelping one specific community or patient population,but pharmacy also offers the opportunity to thinkbroader on a global scale,” she said.

HIKMA PHARMACEUTICALS PLC WAS FOUNDED IN 1978in Amman, Jordan, by Samih Darwazah, M.S. ’64, Hon.D.Sc. ’10. Today, its operations span 50 countries.Hikma Pharmaceuticals is focused on providing genericmedications to patients across the globe.

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For more than a century, athletic activities have been atradition at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. As early as1912, the College’s students and graduates competedin city bowling leagues, with teams sponsored bylocal pharmacies.

In 1958, the College introduced an intramural sportsprogram, which included bowling, basketball andsoftball. Teams consisting of members of differentclasses, fraternities or groups of classmates competedduring the school year for their league’s championship.

By 1963, the College basketball and bowling teamscompeted at the intercollegiate level. Intercollegiatecompetition ended during the 1980s, but intramuralsports remained popular with students. In 1993,intercollegiate sports returned to the College whenit became a member of the National Associationof Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and introducedwomen’s volleyball and men’s basketball teams.

Today, student-athletes compete in 12 NAIA Division Isports, and the Eutectics add to the college experiencefor both athletes and non-athletes.

Until 2014, the Cartwright Student Center housedthe College’s athletic facilities, and the competitiongymnasium became known as “the Pill Box.”

After the demolition of the Cartwright Student Center,the College’s Department of Intercollegiate Athleticshosted competitions and practices at athletic facilitiesacross St. Louis through partnerships with neighboringinstitutions.

The opening of the new Recreation and StudentCenter (RAS) marks a homecoming for the Eutectics.The RAS provides new facilities for student-athletesincluding a competition gymnasium, conditioningfacilities, a Hall of Fame room and event spaces.

Like the Academic and Research Building, the RASincludes reclaimed materials that honor the College’sproud history. Throughout the RAS, the old gym floorhas been repurposed to create design accents, andeven the old “Welcome to the Pill Box” sign will be ondisplay in the Hall of Fame Room.

A NEW HOME FOR THE EUTECTICS

At St. Louis College of Pharmacy, student-athletes strive for success on and off theplaying field. In August 2017, their achievements were recognized. The NationalAssociation of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) named 10 Eutectic teams NAIA ScholarTeams. For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team Award, it must have acollective minimum GPA of 3.0.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, in what was billed as the “AMC Match of the Week,” the volleyball team played the first competition in the new Eutectic gymnasium.Visit eutecticsports.com to find game schedules and join us on campus to cheer on the Eutectics!

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JOIN THE EUTECTIC BOOSTER CLUB

To show your support for the Eutectics, join the Eutectic Booster Club and access a variety of member benefits.Your contribution will provide recognition for student-athletes at the annual sports banquet, support theestablishment of the Eutectics Hall of Fame, establish an endowed scholarship for student-athletes in financialneed and help cover the cost of unbudgeted post-season competition expenditures.

Visit stlcop.edu/booster to become a member.

* All material benefits included and received are deducted from eligible tax credits.** Subject to availability.

Annual contribution* $25 $30 $60 $100 $250 $500 $1,000

BASIC MEMBERSHIP LEVELS PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

Young Alumni(<10 years)

Family(up to five)Individual Captain MVP Champion All-American

Eutectic window decal

Reserved parking on game nights**

Hall of Fame Room access**

Eutectic Athletics commemorative gift

Free admission to all homegames and tournaments

Subscription to the booster club’sfall and spring newsletter

Invitations to special athleticevents and promotions

Schedule magnets for fall,winter and spring sports

All-access livestreaming passfor home games

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, in what was billed as the “AMC Match of the Week,” the volleyball team played the first competition in the new Eutectic gymnasium.Visit eutecticsports.com to find game schedules and join us on campus to cheer on the Eutectics!

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“Consistent provision of pharmacy practice isbecoming ever more crucial for the advancementof our profession,” said Stephanie Crist,Pharm.D. ’11, BCACP, BCGP, assistant professorof pharmacy practice at St. Louis College ofPharmacy and clinical pharmacist specializingin geriatrics at Mercy Clinic Internal Medicine.“Having a pharmacist take an active role on ahealth care team should no longer be a luxurybut instead a requirement for all patients in allsettings.”

Defined as a formal partnership betweena pharmacist and physician that allows thepharmacist to manage a patient’s drug therapy,collaborative drug therapy management (CDTM)sets the stage for clinical pharmacists to beintegral in delivering holistic patient care. Withinthe practice model of CDTM, there are differentapproaches to delivering service in supportof care. Medication therapy management(MTM), incorporated into the 2003 MedicarePart D legislation, is broadly described as anyservice provided by a pharmacist to a patient.Comprehensive medication management (CMM)builds on these principles of service to addresscollaborative care settings.

In 2003, the American College of ClinicalPharmacy (ACCP) updated its position on CDTMand integrated the practice framework of CMMinto its strategic plan, organizational policy andadvocacy agenda, professional developmentinitiatives, and research agenda.

“CMM puts the pharmacist — the drug therapyexpert — in the position of being the medicalteam member who is responsible for ensuringthat all of a patient’s medications are optimallyused and meeting their intended purpose,”explained Terry Seaton, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS,professor of pharmacy practice at the Collegeand past president of ACCP.

ACCP endorses CMM as an ideal supplementto the practice of CDTM. By definition, CMMsupports the collaborative relationship betweenprescribers and pharmacists promoted inCDTM. Though keenly complementary, theimplementation of CMM and CDTM has itsobstacles, namely in reimbursement andappropriate privileging. With reform, educationand research, the moving parts of medicationmanagement will click into place, promoting anapproach to interdisciplinary health care that isour inevitable future.

THE PRIVILEGE TO PROVIDEHow comprehensive medicationmanagement expands the scope ofclinical pharmacy in team-based care.Medication is often the common link across care transitions and thecontinuum of care. According to a QuintilesIMS Institute for HealthcareInformatics report, prescriptions dispensed in the United States are estimatedto approach 5 billion by 2021, reflecting an increase of about 1 billionprescriptions over 10 years. This projection is echoed in the Patient-CenteredPrimary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) report that shows medications to beinvolved in 80 percent of all treatments, impacting every aspect of a patient’slife. The evidence points to the growing need to increase the presence ofpharmacists in patient care.

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A CONTINUUM OF CAREThough nonadherence is often cited as the primary concern

with patients’ medication use, evidence supports that inadequatetherapy — underdosing, different or additional medicationneeded or wrong medication — carries the weight of medicationmanagement issues.

CMM in tandem with CDTM has the potential to highlightthe unique expertise the clinical pharmacist has to offer. Withincreased influence in team-based care, the clinical pharmacistis a key piece to decreasing inadequate therapies.

ACCP outlines in their 2016 publication, “ComprehensiveMedication Management in Team-Based Care,” four keycomponents within the process of CMM:

1. Assessment of the patient2. Evaluation of medication therapy3. Development and initiation of an individualized care plan4. Follow-up and medication monitoring

These four components may seem like common practicefor many clinical pharmacists, but defining the specific scopeand responsibilities of the pharmacist within the context ofteam-based care reinforces the impact the clinical pharmacist hason patient-centered medication management and the possibilitiesof care when pharmacists are granted privileges that expand theirscope of practice.

Assessment of the Patient

To assess the whole patient, a thorough review of the medicalrecord using a problem-oriented framework, referencing bothsubjective and objective information, is used to determine thepatient’s clinical status. The patient’s complete medical historyis also taken into account, when prioritizing patient problems andmedication-related needs.

CMM recognizes the pharmacist’s ability to see the wholepatient and all treatment modalities. Pharmacists are positionedas the most accessible health care providers, offering a breadthof knowledge on the patient that informs the assessment.

“As pharmacists, we have a real opportunity to increase ourpresence in medication counseling,” explained Scott Griggs,Pharm.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacy administrationand assistant director of the Center for Health Outcomes Researchand Education at the College. “To achieve this, we need to makesure that pharmacists are allowed the time they need to spendwith patients to ensure they are taking the medications properly,and if and when they have questions, that the pharmacist be theone that they look to for help.”

Evaluation of Medication Therapy

An evaluation of the patient’s medication therapy involvesassessing the therapeutic goals of each medication andwhether the patient’s current medications are appropriate. Thisevaluation incorporates not only the evaluated effectiveness ofthe therapies, but also the safety and affordability, which oftenlends itself to medication adherence. After each medicationis evaluated, the clinical pharmacist is able to identifymedication-related problems and collaborate on the need forintervention.

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Pharmacists are the link between prescribers, patients andpayers, and their unique perspective allows them to evaluatemedication therapies from a variety of perspectives.

Develop and Initiate an Individualized Care Plan

Before a personalized care plan can be developed, anindividualized assessment of the patient’s active medicalproblems is conducted. This process is followed by the formulationof a comprehensive medication management assessment and aplan to optimize therapies and identify patient-specific outcomes.

Patient and caregiver commitment is integral to thedevelopment and initiation of their individualized care plan.For the individualized care plan to be considered a success, thepatient and caregiver must understand, agree and actively pursueadherence to improve therapeutic outcomes. Once the plan isinitiated and agreed upon, measurable parameters and timeframes are established for monitoring and follow-up.

Follow-up and Medication Monitoring

Interdisciplinary collaboration is key to the success of the finalphase of the CMM process. As the clinical pharmacist and otherproviders coordinate and align patient follow-up, medical recordsare revisited and ongoing assessments are conducted to optimizemedication therapy. As CMM functions more as a continuum ofcare, the patient’s care plan is continually monitored, modifiedand documented.

THE PATIENTS THAT BENEFIT MOSTCMM has the potential to benefit many patients, but as defined

by PCPCC, there are several patient populations at a greater riskof missing the mark when it comes to their intended therapy goal.Patients who are often readmitted to the hospital, experienceadverse effects from their medications, suffer from multiplemedical conditions and are, therefore, taking a greater numberof medications are among those that benefit the most from CMM.

With increased individualized attention to medications, theimpact on a patient’s daily life is without question. ACCP alsooutlines the benefits CMM can provide to providers, especiallypharmacists.

“CDTM expands the pharmacists’ scope of practice byestablishing formal partnerships between clinicians that empowerthem to practice at the top of their license,” Seaton said.

When the clinical pharmacist is permitted to manage drugtherapies, physicians and other members of the care team areable to dedicate more time to the diagnostic and treatmentselection process, ensuring the patient receives the highestquality of care.

REIMBURSEMENT, TRAININGAND THE PROPER PRIVILEGES

Legislation pertaining to CDTM has expanded considerablysince 2003. Though integral in the process of standardizingthis interdisciplinary approach, current legislation still leavesreimbursement and privileging of clinical pharmacists to provideCMM under debate.

Reimbursement is complicated by payer and regulatorperspectives on how the clinical pharmacist impacts quality of

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care in the CMM process. According to the Centers forMedicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), payers evaluatequality measures of health systems, and employers andconsumers evaluate quality measures of health plans.These metrics are then used as an indication of qualityand may determine or influence reimbursement fromboth private and governmental payers. As summarizedby CMS, quality measures include factors such asappropriateness of treatment, timeliness of treatment andcommunication with patients about their medications.

The involvement of the clinical pharmacist in patientcare through CMM not only improves quality of care butsafety measures often associated with reimbursement aswell. Research documenting this improved quality of caremay be just what payers and regulators need to demystifyreimbursement.

“Our health care delivery system is at a point where theprovision of evidence-based medicine is highly valuedand even demanded, particularly by third-party payers,”Seaton said. “It’s essential that CMM, a complex clinicalintervention, is supported by high-quality and rigorousevidence before it can be justified as a covered benefitfor patients.”

There are several billing codes commonly associatedwith CMM that are specific to clinical pharmacists andmedication management, but the need for research andreform specific to legislation on billing methods andclinical pharmacists’ services are imperative for reframinghow clinical pharmacists are viewed in team-based care.

An Expansion of Privilege

Privileging is the method by which health careorganizations authorize an individual to perform aparticular clinical activity within a defined scope ofpractice. For many years, privileging pharmacists inhospitals and critical access hospitals was not mandated,but 2012 brought a CMS amendment that broadened theconcept of “medical staff” to allow these organizationsthe flexibility to include pharmacists on the list of thoseable to practice in hospitals in accordance with state law.

“CMM helps enable the means by which the pharmacistis recognized as a lead role in the health care team whichultimately helps to engage the patient for optimizedcare,” said Crist.

With more pharmacists partaking in CDTM agreementsand providing CMM, it is essential that health careinstitutions understand and apply the appropriateprivileging process.

Preparing Students to Provide CMM

Building the skills to effectively deliver CMM and workin collaborative settings is a critical part of pharmacyeducation. An understanding of the pharmacist’s growingrole and ways to maximize a pharmacist’s value on healthcare teams are foundational lessons for students beforethey enter into practice settings.

“Pharmacists are problem solvers,” explained Griggs.“Students need to learn early on that when you don’tknow the answer to a patient’s question, don’t just look

it up, but access your network of knowledge. When youwork in a collaborative practice, you are on a team ofproblem solvers. You have to use the team’s synergisticinteraction — so 1+1+1 does not equal three, but it equalsfive or six — because you are helping one another andsharing your knowledge to make sure the patient isgetting the best outcomes.”

After graduation, residency training significantlyexpands skills and abilities in providing CMM.

“Helping patients achieve their medication-relatedgoals by learning how to develop drug therapy regimensand titrate drug doses best occurs in the structuredenvironment that an accredited residency programprovides,” said John M. Burke, Pharm.D., FCCP, FASHP,BCPS, professor of pharmacy practice and associate deanof postgraduate education. “Residency training can beextremely valuable in providing a pharmacist with thetraining and experience needed to provide CMM in ateam-based practice.”

Residencies are not only recommended in order

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to practice CMM but also support the personal andprofessional growth of a pharmacist.

“As undergraduates, students participate in communityoutreach programs and gain some exposure to thedifferent scopes of practice,” said Sister Mary LouiseDegenhart, B.S. ’60, ASC, MBA, FASHP, special assistantto the president at the College. “But beginning withtheir first professional year, student pharmacists havethe opportunity to truly explore pharmacy and identifyan area or specialty that they would like to continue toexplore with a residency. Residencies are a bridge fromstudent to practitioner.”

OPERATIONALIZING CMMThe successful delivery of CMM demands that many

interlocking pieces be in place. Making progress towardovercoming barriers, such as regulation, reimbursementand privileging, is key to ensuring CMM’s success andvalue.

Collaborative Practice Agreement

Closely tied to appropriately privileging pharmacists inorder to deliver CMM, collaborative practice agreements(CPA) allow physicians and clinical pharmacists to setscopes of practice and responsibilities when providingteam-based care. A CPA works in tandem with approvedclinical privileges. According to ACCP, a CPA permits theclinical pharmacist to assume professional responsibilityfor performing patient assessments, orderingmedication-related laboratory tests, administeringmedications and selecting, initiating, monitoring,continuing and adjusting medication regimens. ACCPreinforces this definition by adding that privilegingprocesses, together with the applicable state pharmacypractice act, confer certain authorities, responsibilitiesand accountabilities to the clinical pharmacist andcontribute to the improved efficiency and effectivenessof team-based care. However, the effectiveness ofteam-based care may be easily undervalued without theresearch to support it.

Continuing Research

In 2015, ACCP and the ACCP Research Instituteawarded a $2.4 million grant for the study of the impactof implementing CMM. Then-President of ACCP JudithJacobi, Pharm.D., FCCP, MCCM, BCPS, emphasized theimportance of research into CMM in an October 2015press release published by ACCP.

“CMM holds significant promise as an effective,patient-centered practice to optimize medication use,”Jacobi commented. “The practice of CMM is gainingincreasing support from policy-makers, medical and otherprofessional organizations, and primary care providers.To advance this meaningful approach to medicationmanagement and ensure its widespread uptake andsustainability in primary care medical practices,well-designed research that comprehensively examinesthe implementation and impact of CMM on patients’medication-related outcomes is needed.”

LOCKING THE PIECES IN PLACEAmong the barriers of payment and regulation, ACCP

sees the potential of CMM to reduce inadequate therapy,while providing optimal team-based, patient-centered care.

“One of the greatest benefits of adopting CMM isthat it standardizes the process of care for medicationmanagement and sets clear expectations for theservice provided,” Seaton said. “Those expectationsare consistently shared by patients, other clinicians andhealth care payers.”

Unified in reaching the same goal, patients, providersand payers are empowered to implement reform thatwill make CMM more widely available to patients. Asthe pieces lock into place, the possibility of providing allpatients with optimal care becomes less an ambition andmore a reality.

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This would not be the first challenging academic programBanks had taken on. Her impressive career in healthsciences and academia had already taken her places shehad only dreamed of as a child.

Growing up with childhood asthma, Banks was often at thedoctor’s office. She was intrigued by careers in health careearly on, noting the great skill and teamwork displayed bythe doctors and nurses who cared for her.

“I was always grateful to my pediatrician and her office stafffor making me feel better,” she recalled. “It was amazingto me that I could come in feeling so miserable, and after afew hours I would feel so much better. That’s when I knew acareer in health care would be the best way for me to makea big impact in people’s lives.”

After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology atWashington University in St. Louis, Banks went on to pursuea Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at Saint LouisUniversity and a Master of Science in Psychology Researchand Evaluation at Walden University.

As she was evaluating patient data in her role as a researchcoordinator at Northwestern University School of Medicinein Chicago, Gina noticed a spark of curiosity within her thatwould change the course of her life along with her careeraspirations.

Banks was intrigued by the patients enrolled in the clinicaltrials she was working on, and she noticed stark differencesin how medications affected seemingly similar patients.

“I wanted to uncover why patients had such differentresponses to drugs — to better understand how drugsmetabolize in the body, and how different types of dosagescan be beneficial or harmful to certain patients,” she shared.

SPARK OFINTERESTWhen Gina Banks, Pharm.D. ’14, M.S., MPH, wasaccepted into the Doctor of Pharmacy programon her birthday, she took it as a sign that shewas headed in the right direction and eagerlyaccepted the new challenge ahead of her.

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After a colleague suggested she attend pharmacy schoolto explore some of those questions, that’s exactly whatshe did.

“I wanted to go to a well-established school with a goodreputation that was close to my hometown of Florissant,Missouri,” Banks said. “St. Louis College of Pharmacy isunique because it is nestled next to prominent academicand research centers focused on health care. It givesstudents opportunities to interact with different disciplinesof health care and showcase the expertise and value ofpharmacy as an integral part of patient and communityhealth care.”

As a lifelong learner, it was important for Banks to paysome of that knowledge forward. For the past nine years,Gina has been an adjunct instructor at several colleges anduniversities, teaching a wide range of courses.

Banks drew upon her teaching experience as a pharmacystudent, co-teaching the Rx 101 course of the BEStPharmacy Summer Institute along with two pharmacistsfrom Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Banks continues to giveback to the BESt program today, supporting its missionto prepare talented multicultural students for careersin pharmacy by offering advice on choosing the rightcareer path.

“I had the opportunity to serve on the career panel for theBESt program in the past and recently spoke with studentsabout my educational and career paths,” Banks said. “It wasrewarding to see some of the same students I had taughtyears before and to address their specific questions aboutfinding the right career path.”

In her current role as a medical science liaison for BayerUS, Gina provides scientific and clinical data to health careproviders on Betaseron, a medication used to treat multiplesclerosis (MS). She works closely with health care teams toaddress some of the challenges related to patient care andMS treatment. With her combination of skills and education,Banks has a unique appreciation for each member of theinterdisciplinary care team.

It is Banks’ drive to help others and her quest for knowledgethat has stayed with her all these years and led her to thefield that continues to challenge and inspire her.

“Just as the pharmacist’s role on the health care teamcontinues to evolve and grow over time, the treatmentlandscape for many diseases continues to evolve andchange,” Banks observed. “Pharmacy is an ever-evolvingfield. It challenges you to stay current and continually seeknew information and that’s what I like most about it.”

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S DEAN OF PURDUE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY,

a role Barker assumed July 1, he is embracing newopportunities to celebrate the accomplishments of others andcontribute to the future of the profession.

What drew you to a career in academia?When I started at St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1983, Ithought I would go into the business side of pharmacy. As afreshman, I began working in a small, community pharmacy inGranite City, Illinois. That experience made me want to learnmore about medications. I would read package inserts and labelsto try to learn more about drug actions.

Through conversations with mentors and the opportunity toteach while attending graduate school, I decided to join thefaculty at Purdue in 1998.

How has educating future pharmacists changed?Today, we see a different type of learner. Today’s learner iscoming straight out of high school, has taken multiple onlinecourses and is accustomed to using technology in the classroom.We are in an information age. You can look up drug informationon your cell phone. With all of this information for prescribers,patients and health care providers, the foundation of knowledgefor students relies on problem solving skills.

We are on the cusp of a big shift in automation, and pharmacistsare becoming providers of care rather than just purveyors ofinformation. Learning how to use information to manage patientswill be the key to success for pharmacists moving forward.

What is the greatest challenge and opportunity for studentsentering the profession?The uncertainty surrounding health care at the state and nationallevel is a challenge for students across many disciplines, but alsoleaves room for opportunity. In pharmacy, the legislative pushtoward true provider status coupled with changes in technologywill allow us to shift the scope of practice. Pharmacists will beable to shift from distributors to deliverers of care.

How did your experience at the College make an impacton your career?Faculty at the College influenced me in a positive way. Professorsand administrators like Evelyn Becker, Leonard Naeger, JoeHaberle, Sumner Robinson, Terry Martinez, and John and PeggyGrotpeter all came from different disciplines and helped shapemy career path. My wife, Loretta, is also an alumna, and she madean impact as well.

Some of my best memories are participating in plays like“Oklahoma,” “Hello, Dolly!” and “My Fair Lady.” It was atremendous opportunity, and I built relationships that stillexist today.

After graduating, my education prepared me for my doctoralprogram at Vanderbilt University. I felt I had a betterunderstanding than some of my peers because of my backgroundin pharmacology.

What has been your greatest achievement?My motto for educating is bring them in, build them up and send

Eric Barker, B.S. ’88, Ph.D., has built a career that has allowed him to develop his passion forbuilding up others. In each role he has played – award-winning professor, neuropharmacologist,pharmacist and academic leader – he has faced different challenges and opportunities. Onething, however, has remained the same. He has a passion for helping others achieve success.

BUILDTHEM UPA

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them up. Watching students have successful careers as they leavePurdue has been rewarding. Thinking that in some small way I havecontributed to their success is the thing I find most encouraging.

prior to his appointment as dean, barker served as

professor of medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacologyand as associate dean for research at Purdue College of Pharmacy.His research on molecular actions of drug abuse received grantsupport from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NationalInstitute of Mental Health, Brain & Behavior ResearchFoundation (formerly known as the National Alliance forResearch on Schizophrenia and Depression), Lilly ResearchLaboratories, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Barker earned his Bachelor of Science at St. Louis College ofPharmacy and completed his Doctor of Philosophy inPharmacology at Vanderbilt University. He is a member of theAmerican Pharmacists Association, Society for Neuroscienceand The American Society for Pharmacology andExperimental Therapeutics.

ALUMNI IN ACADEMIC LEADERSHIPSt. Louis College of Pharmacy alumni are achieving success inacademia and hold top leadership positions at universities andcolleges across the nation.

In August 2016, Rick Schnellmann, B.S. ’80, Ph.D., wasappointed dean of University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

In September 2016, Evan Robinson, B.S. ’88, M.S. ’93, Ph.D.,was named associate provost for academic affairs at Western NewEngland University where he has served as founding dean of theCollege of Pharmacy since 2008.

In May 2017, W. Thomas Smith, B.S. ’93, Pharm.D. ’94, J.D., wasnamed dean of pharmacy programs at Manchester UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, Natural and Health Sciences in NorthManchester, Indiana.

Photo courtesy of the Purdue University Office of Marketing and Media

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MEMORIES FROM ATRAVELING PHARMACIST

AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR II,Russell “Russ” Riggins, B.S. ’58, returned home withplans to use the GI Bill to pursue an engineering degree.Midway through his studies, it was projected that by thetime Riggins graduated, there would be more engineersthan jobs available. Riggins needed a new plan. Withlittle interest in becoming a medical doctor or educator,he settled on pharmacy as a career that offered theopportunity and mobility he wanted.

“I wanted a method of making a living that would allowme to go anywhere I wanted and still find a job,” Rigginsmused. “Pharmacy was the answer.”

Amid a flood of applicants returning from the war,Riggins began applying to pharmacy schools. When hewas accepted into St. Louis College of Pharmacy, heleapt at the offer. Though originally from Tennessee,Riggins was no stranger to St. Louis. With the draw oflocal family connections, the College’s prestigiousreputation and Cardinals baseball, Riggins confidentlytook the next step on his journey.

Life at the College in the mid-1950s was markedlydifferent from what students today may experience,but faculty support remains a cornerstone of thestudent experience.

Riggins fondly remembers the instruction and friendshipof two legendary professors, Frank Mercer and JamesThayer. He recalls the rigor of Mercer’s classes withdelight, as he explains how Mercer would not only writewith both hands at the same time on the chalkboard, butwould simultaneously erase his notes on the board as hewrote new ones.

“Dr. Mercer expected his students to stay engaged,”Riggins said. “Really, you had no choice or you would getleft behind. He was also a great storyteller.”

Mercer was not the only great storyteller at the College.Riggins recalls how Thayer commanded a room with hiswarm presence and humor.

“Now Dr. Thayer — he could have made a living as astand-up comic,” Riggins continued. “He wasn’t abovespending time with students outside of the classroom.He might buy you a drink, and you might buy him a drink— as if it were anyone you would meet at the bar.Thayer was also a great teacher. Of course, you weremore willing to do what he told you because he wasso personable.”

Once Riggins graduated from the College, he took amore unconventional path working in a variety ofpharmacy settings around Missouri. Akin to the travelingsalesman, Riggins would traverse the state working arelief route one day a week at different stores. He thentook a more administrative position as an inspector forthe Missouri Board of Pharmacy and was even aninstructor at hospitals and nursing schools, teachingstudents how to read and write prescriptions.

After practicing in both independent and chaincommunity stores, as well as hospital pharmacies,Riggins finished his career similar to how it began, in asmall community pharmacy in Memphis, Missouri, wherehe remained until retirement.

“Out of all of my experiences, I enjoyed the peopleaspect of the job most of all,” Riggins reminisced.

With the recent appointment of his daughter, KathyRiggins Gardner, as the College’s vice president foradvancement and chief development officer, Riggins’story seems to have come full circle. Gardner lives onlya few blocks from where her father lived almost 60 yearsago, with a balcony that overlooks the campus. AsRiggins and his daughter look out on the campus, heshares memories from years past and marvels at theincredible evolution of his alma mater.

“The new buildings are dazzling,” Riggins said. “I’m veryimpressed with the whole situation, and I couldn’t bemore proud of Kathy.”

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Kathy Riggins GardnerNamed Vice President ofAdvancement and ChiefDevelopment Officer

On June 1, Kathy Riggins Gardnerjoined the St. Louis College ofPharmacy community as vicepresident for advancement and chiefdevelopment officer. Gardner bringsmore than 30 years of philanthropicexperience with United Way ofGreater St. Louis, most recently assenior vice president for communityinvestment.

As vice president for advancement,Gardner will help the College fosterrelationships with alumni and friendsand create partnerships that will makean impact and improve patient care.

Gardner also will lead the College’scapital campaign, Preparing Leaders.Leading Change. The $25 millioncampaign, which entered its publicphase in November 2016, recentlysurpassed the $22 million mark.

To learn more about the campaign,visit stlcop.edu/campaign.

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TOPICS

The Growing Focus onPharmacy Data AnalyticsIn today’s digital age, industries are embracingdata analysis as a tool for success. This has becomeespecially evident in health system pharmacy, wherethe integration of comprehensive pharmacy analyticsis helping organizations improve patient outcomes andreduce costs.

In the health care industry, advances in technologyhave made it possible for large volumes of patientand transaction-based data to be collected and madeavailable via electronic libraries. Data gathered includespatient records, insurance billing and claims information,prescription transaction data and data from the externalmarketplace.

“When we talk about electronic health records,we’re talking about the information that gets sharedbetween entities,” said Shelly Spiro, executive directorof the Pharmacy Health Information TechnologyCollaborative. “Today, we are starting to see an increasein the capture of information into registries where thedata has been normalized. As such, the data is becomingmore usable for analytical purposes in outcomesmeasurement.”

At St. Louis College of Pharmacy, the Center for HealthOutcomes Research and Education is working to buildproject-based datasets to support community-wideinformation exchange and research capacity.

“Access to data, while expensive, is more readily availablethan ever,” said Scott Micek, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS,associate professor of pharmacy practice and director ofthe center. “From a clinical pharmacy perspective, we canuse data to find out something that hasn’t been answeredin previous studies. Our results are then provided tocurrent and future health care providers, pharmacistsand others, with the goal of helping them improve thecare they deliver.”

The work of Micek and his team at the center placesspecific emphasis on examining how the optimal use ofmedications can improve health outcomes.

“We seek to create innovation from our efforts,”noted Micek. “We hope our findings will lead to apractice change, a hypothesis for subsequent studyor an intervention – some type of model that can beimplemented at the bedside or at the clinic.”

Micek notes the use of pharmacy data analytics is agrowing trend because it is more cost-effective and saferfor patients than clinical trials.

“This methodology is changing the landscape of clinicaltrials because learning how to analyze existing dataappropriately can supplement and, in some cases replace,the need to conduct experiments,” said Micek.

Information from big data sets also examines a largernumber of patients over a longer period of time, whichgives researchers the ability to look at the bigger pictureand predict trends that can help inform health care.

“If you looked at 1,000 patients in a randomizedcontrol trial, one or two patients may experience anadverse drug event,” said Scott Vouri, Pharm.D., MSCI,FASCP, BCPS, BCGP, associate professor of pharmacypractice and assistant director of the center. “But ifyou look at a million patients, you’re going to get a fewthousand adverse reactions, and you can really see thosedifferences.”

Across the health care continuum, the use of dataanalytics is also helping to reduce costs associated withcare transitions.

“The goal is to follow the patient analytics and interveneearlier,” said George L. Oestreich, Pharm.D., MPA,principal, G.L.O. and Associates. “Chronic diseasemanagement, medication therapy management and thecoordination of care across multidisciplinary teams canall be synergized using data analytics – and that’s wherewe see a lot of costs that can be turned around.”

In his work with G.L.O. and Associates, Oestreichprovides strategic consulting on Medicaid issues andhas spent many years working with MO HealthNet,a division of the Missouri Department of SocialServices that administers Medicaid, which purchasesand monitors health care services for low income andvulnerable citizens of the State of Missouri.

“The use of analytics is important and will continue togrow,” said Oestreich. “But, in order for analytics to besuccessful to an organization, consistent handling andsupport is required. At MO HealthNet, we saw expensesgrow when the aggressive use of analytics dropped off.Commitment is key.”

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TOPICS

CENTER FORHEALTH OUTCOMESRESEARCH AND EDUCATION

The Center for Health Outcomes Research and Educationwas established by St. Louis College of Pharmacy toexamine how the optimal use of medications can improvehealth outcomes.

The center’s efforts are supported by research-orientedpartnerships with leading institutions such as WashingtonUniversity School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. LouisUniversity, BJC Healthcare and Express Scripts. United ina common goal of helping health care practitioners improvethe care they deliver, the center and its partners are engagedin a collaborative effort to build and analyze project-baseddatasets to support information exchange and researchcapacity.

The center is led by Scott Micek, Pharm.D., FCCP,BCPS, associate professor of pharmacy practice, who wasappointed as inaugural director. Also, providing leadershipas the center’s assistant directors are:

• Scott Griggs, Pharm.D., Ph.D., assistant professor ofpharmacy administration

• Scott Vouri, Pharm.D., MSCI, FASCP, BCPS, BCGP,associate professor of pharmacy practice

• Taehwan Park, Ph.D., assistant professor ofpharmacy administration

In August 2017, the center moved to the sixth floor of theCollege’s Academic and Research Building.

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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDSEach year, the Alumni Association presents awards to outstanding alumni who embody theattitudes and values that provide the foundation for exceptional patient care. The awards will bepresented during the Founders Day Celebration on Friday, Nov. 10. To learn more about this year’saward recipients, visit stlcop.edu/alumniawards.

YOUNG ALUMNUS AWARDRecognizing alumni who have graduated withinthe past decade and demonstrated outstandingachievement and leadership during this time.

Christopher LaFleur, Pharm.D. ’10, CPH, is a lieutenantcommander in the the United States Public Health Service(USPHS) and is serving as the assistant health systemsadministrator at the Metropolitan Correctional Center inChicago. He oversees the daily operations and complianceof a full-service primary care health services department,which consists of 17 civil service, USPHS and contractemployees who are responsible for providing medicalcare to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and U.S. MarshalsService inmates.

LCDR LaFleur serves on one of the five USPHS RapidDeployment Force teams as the administration/financesection chief and has been deployed to help those in needduring three separate responses. He also is a lifetimemember of the USPHS National Commissioned OfficersAssociation and a member of the National Board of PublicHealth Examiners.

Patrick Harper, Pharm.D. ’10, is a lieutenant commanderin the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) andis serving as a pharmacy officer. He is a pharmacy officerin United States Public Health Service (USPHS) and isspecifically assigned as the senior public health analyst inthe Division of Regional Operation of Health Resources andServices Administration’s Bureau of Health Workforce inChicago. He serves as the Illinois state lead for the NationalHealth Service Corps (NHSC) and ensures all 565NHSC-participating clinical care sites and 480 NHSCparticipants maintain policy and compliance standardsand assist clinicians with placement at high-need clinics.

LCDR Harper is a federal pharmacy delegate and policyreview committee member in the American Pharmacists

About the Alumni AssociationThe St. Louis College of Pharmacy Alumni Association is a non-dues-paying organization that creates opportunities for alumni tostay involved and connected to the College. The association works to support the College, current students and the profession.

To learn how you can get involved with the association, visit stlcop.edu/alumni.

Association, USPHS student officer mentor, USPHS liaisonfor the College and member of the CommissionedOfficers Association.

DEDICATED SERVICE TOTHE PROFESSION AWARDRecognizing an exceptional alumnus’ positiveimpact on the pharmacy profession.

Jill (Bot) Sellers, B.S. ’92, Pharm.D. ’93, is the chiefexecutive officer (CEO) of Sellers Communications andis responsible for developing educational content andtraining for health care professionals. As CEO, she providescontinuing education programs that highlight the valueof interprofessional, collaborative health care teams andhow pharmacists can take an active role in patient care.She also serves as the executive director of Medavera LLCin Springfield, Missouri, where she directs and managesscientific educational activities.

Sellers is a member of the American Society ofHealth-System Pharmacists and has previously servedas managing editor for the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. Throughout her career, she haspublished numerous health care and research articles.

DEDICATED SERVICETO THE COLLEGE AWARDRecognizing alumni who support the Collegeand its mission.

Amy (Hartley) Tiemeier, B.S. ’01, Pharm.D. ’02, isdirector of community partnerships, associate directorof experiential education and associate professor ofpharmacy practice at the College, and she coordinates anintroductory pharmacy practice experience. She also wasthe primary investigator on a Cardinal Health GenerationRx Grant to increase awareness and use of medication

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ALUMNIASSOCIATION

CAMPUS BOOKSTORENOW OPENThe College has partnered with Washington UniversitySchool of Medicine in St. Louis to open a new campusbookstore in the recently completed Mid Campus Center,just across Children’s Place from South Residence Halland Jones Hall.

The bookstore, located on the first floor inside the mainentrance, offers a full selection of College apparel, books,gifts, collectibles, course materials and more.

Campus Bookstore4950 Children’s Place, Suite 1700St. Louis, MO 63110

The bookstore is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.Shop online 24/7 at stlcop.edu/bookstore.

disposal options in the St. Louis area. She is a member ofan Opioid STR grant team working to increase access tooverdose education and naloxone distribution inMissouri pharmacies.

Tiemeier is a member of the American PharmacistsAssociation, Missouri Pharmacy Association and theAmerican Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. She was arecipient of the Cardinal Health Generation Rx ChampionsAward, Ready Readers 2010 Outstanding CommunityPartner Award and the Student Enrichment Award.

Ken Schafermeyer, B.S. ’76, Ph.D., serves the Collegeas professor of pharmacy administration and director ofinternational programs. He has arranged for more than 200students to study abroad and established partnershipswith six international colleges of pharmacy. He hasauthored or coauthored 32 books and manuals, chaptersin eight other textbooks, more than 50 journal articles anddelivered more than 150 presentations in the United Statesand 10 other countries.

Schafermeyer is a fellow of the Academy of Managed CarePharmacy and the American Pharmacists Association. Heis a former recipient of the Missouri Pharmacy Association’sBowl of Hygeia Award, a two-time recipient of the College’sOutstanding Educator Award and a recipient of theEmerson Excellence in Teaching Award.

DEDICATED SERVICETO THE COMMUNITY AWARDRecognizing an exceptional alumnus’ positiveimpact on the community.

Jason Wang, Pharm.D. ’11, is the president and co-ownerof The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Pevely, Missouri.He oversees daily operations of the pharmacy, promotesvaccinations in local school districts and assisted livingfacilities, and compounds medications for humans andanimals. He also helps underserved patients by providingfree medication delivery service and home visits formedication therapy management and by findingways to lower medication costs.

Wang is the secretary for the Pevely Lions Club and avolunteer in his local community. He also has conductedresearch to provide health care professionals with betterinformation in regards to prescribing practices andpatient adherence compared to current COPD guidelinerecommendations.

BLACK HERITAGE AWARDRecognizing a leader in the African-Americancommunity for their outstanding commitment tocommunity and health care leadership.

Robert Salter, B.S. ’70, Ed.D., MHA, is an adjunct professorof health care management at Washington Universityin St. Louis and chief executive officer (CEO) of MarketAnalytics LLC. Salter’s teaching responsibilities include

graduate and undergraduate courses ranging fromfinancial management to global health care. As CEO, he isresponsible for the development of marketing and strategicplans for health care and higher education institutions. Hepreviously led the development and building of CentralMedical Center, University Forest Nursing Care Center andRichmond Terrace Retirement Center in order to improvequality of life for patients in the surrounding communities.

Salter is a member of the Missouri Pharmacy Associationand Society of College and University Planning, and hecurrently serves as president of Pharmacists PreventingSuicide. He previously served as president of the College’sAlumni Association board of directors.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDRecognizing an exceptional alumnus’ professionalaccomplishment.

Alyssa (Stangel) Billingsley, Pharm.D. ’10, is the directorof contracting and compliance for Focus Script LLC andis responsible for managing a network of compoundingpharmacies, credentialing and accreditation programs,compliance programs, product development and clinicalconsulting. She also developed the United CompoundingCredentialing and Accreditation Program (UCAP) incollaboration with the National Association of Boardsof Pharmacy. So far, UCAP has accredited over 100pharmacies across the nation. In addition, she works toensure patients have access to necessary medications byworking with health care payers to secure compoundedprescriptions as a plan benefit.

Billingsley also is a preceptor and adjunct clinical instructorin the skills lab at the College.

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MISTY (COLLIER) FARR, PHARM.D. ’10Florissant, Missouri

Misty Farr, Pharm.D. ’10, currently worksas a pharmacy manager at Walmart inFlorissant, Missouri, where herresponsibilities include pharmacy andover-the-counter sales as well ascompliance. She also provides patientcare and participates in communityoutreach programs. From 2013-2015,Farr served as a regional immunizationchampion, overseeing pharmacist trainingand the implementation of immunizationswithin her region.

Farr received the Alumni Association’s2016 Black Heritage Distinguished AlumnaAward for her dedicated service to healthcare and her community. She is a memberof Missouri Pharmacy Association,Minority Women Pharmacists Association,Top Ladies of Distinction (St. LouisChapter), Knights of Peter Claver LadiesAuxiliary and other local organizations.

She currently serves on the College’sstrategic planning committee andserves as the liaison between her storeand the Greater North County Chamberof Commerce.

NEW BOARD MEMBERS ELECTEDThree new pharmacy leaders have joined the Alumni Association’s board of directors.The 22-member board oversees the association’s activities and programs.

LAUREN PALMIER, PHARM.D. ’14St. Louis, Missouri

Lauren Palmier, Pharm.D. ’14, is apharmacy manager at Schnucks Marketin St. Louis. She ensures the pharmacy ismeeting state and federal compliancerequirements, manages inventory,supports staff pharmacists, and assistswith the hiring and training of techniciansand students while providing customerservice to patients.

During the fall semester, Palmier serves asan adjunct faculty member at the College,leading community and clinical labmodules in an advanced pharmacypractice experience course. Sheis also a preceptor for the introductorypharmacy practice experience communitymodule, a member of the Women inPharmacy Chapter’s planning committeeand a member of the Kappa PsiPharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc. (GraduateChapter).

DAVID WALKER, B.S. ’97, PHARM.D. ’98Washington, Missouri

David Walker, B.S. ’97, Pharm.D. ’98, worksas a clinical pharmacy coordinator at MercyHospital in Washington, Missouri. Byparticipating in daily multidisciplinaryteam rounds, he works to createpartnerships between the department’spharmacists and the hospital’s inpatient careteam to make effective bedside-caremedication decisions.

For the pharmacy department, Walkeroversees education, aspects ofmedication safety and the antibioticstewardship program, as well as theoutpatient anticoagulant clinic. Hisprevious experiences include work inthe pharmaceutical industry andindependent community pharmacy.

Walker is a preceptor to pharmacystudents in acute care settings for theCollege. He is a member of the InfectiousDiseases Society of America, Society ofCritical Care Medicine and AmericanCollege of Clinical Pharmacy.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICEAs we welcome the new members to the board, we also thank those who have contributed their time and talents. As theirboard terms come to an end, we extend special thanks to Jonathon Anderson, Pharm.D. ’11, Taylor Bradshaw, Pharm.D. ’10, RobertSalter, B.S. ’70, Ed.D., and Ken Schafermeyer, B.S. ’76, Ph.D.

Thank you for your dedication to the College and Alumni Association.

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Women in Pharmacy May 6, 2017

Alumni Golf Classic June 4, 2017

PASTEVENTSGraduate Happy Hour May 4, 2017

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Save the DateFOR REUNIONAll alumni and friends are invited to attend Reunion onSaturday, Nov. 11. This event will specifically recognize classyears ending in 2 and 7. Members of the class of 1967 will beinducted into the Gold Alumni Chapter in recognition of the50th anniversary of their graduation from the College.

For more information, visit stlcop.edu/reunion.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTSReunion is a time where friends come together to reflecton their time at the College. Invite your friends, bring yourfamily and enjoy celebrating your personal and professionalachievements.

GOLD ALUMNI LUNCHEON1-2:15 p.m. | Academic and Research Building, Second Floor Lobby

During an afternoon luncheon, members of the class of 1967 willbe recognized in honor of the 50th anniversary of their graduationfrom the College.

CLASS OF 1967 INDUCTION CEREMONY2:30-3:15 p.m. | Academic and Research Building, Room 212

Immediately following the luncheon, President John A. Pieper willlead the induction of the class of 1967 into the Gold Alumni Chapter.All alumni and guests are welcome.

CAMPUS TOURS3-6 p.m. | Recreation and Student Center, First Floor Lobby

Meet student tour guides for a 75-minute tour of Jones Hall,South Residence Hall, the Academic and Research Building,and Recreation and Student Center. Tours can be modifiedto fit your interests.

REUNION RECEPTION5-9 p.m. | Recreation and Student Center, Recreation Gym

All alumni and friends are invited to this family-friendly receptionwhere we will honor alumni whose graduation years end in 2 and 7.Catch up with former classmates, look through old yearbooks, meetcurrent and former professors and more. Tickets are $15 and includehors d’oeuvres and beverages. Tickets are $10 for children ages 2 to12 and children under 2 are free.

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ALUMNIASSOCIATION

UPCOMINGEVENTSThere’s always something happening at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Attend an event to reconnectwith campus, learn something new and meet up with former classmates.

Visit stlcop.edu/alumnievents to see what’s coming up and to register.

ESCAPE ROOM AND HAPPY HOURSunday, Oct. 15, 3:30-6 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon of interactive puzzle-solving in Maplewood,Missouri, at Escape From St. Louis, co-owned by Nick Buchheit,Pharm.D. ’11. Afterward, head to Tapped, co-owned by Lindsay Reel,Pharm.D. ’06, for happy hour. Join us at one location or both!

MEETING OF THE MINDS:THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF PDMPsTuesday, Oct. 24, 6-8:30 p.m.

Join our panelists as we discuss Prescription Drug MonitoringProgram (PDMP) landscape, from existing county programs toGovernor Greitens’ executive order. Learn more about the role theseprograms play in promoting the appropriate use of controlledsubstances and more. This program is worth 1.5 continuingeducation credits for pharmacists.

FOUNDERS DAY ANDALUMNI RECEPTIONFriday, Nov. 10

Join us to celebrate the 153rd anniversary of the College’sfounding. Alumni and friends are invited to campus to attendan afternoon program featuring Jeffrey P. Bonner, Ph.D., DanaBrown President and CEO of the Saint Louis Zoo, and thepresentation of our 2017 Distinguished Alumni Awards.Afterward, join us for a reception honoring the awardrecipients. The celebration will conclude with theFounders Day 5K on Sunday, Nov. 12.

For more information, visit stlcop.edu/foundersday.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA RECEPTIONSunday, Dec. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Alumni attending the American Society of Health-SystemPharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition and thosein the Orlando, Florida, area are invited to a STLCOP reception.Mingle with fellow alumni and College leadership while enjoyingdrinks and hors d’oeuvres.

RECEPTION AT GARDEN GLOWSaturday, Dec. 9, 5-10 p.m.

Enjoy the Missouri Botanical Garden’s holiday light display and afamily-friendly reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets includeadmission to the Garden’s walkthrough display from 5-10 p.m.,and access to our private room with refreshments.

WOMEN IN PHARMACYPROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPSSaturday, April 7

Save the date for a morning of professional developmentworkshops on campus. Sessions are pending CE credit.

SAVE THE DATE FOR #GIVINGTUESDAYTuesday, Nov. 28

Get involved in the global day of giving! Join us for#GivingTuesday to support the Preparing Leaders. LeadingChange. campaign. Help us continue our tradition of educatinghealth care leaders with a contribution to the College.

Follow along on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at facebook.com/stlcop tolearn more about #GivingTuesday.

ALUMNI GOLF CLASSICSunday, June 3, 9 a.m.The Missouri Bluffs Golf Club, St. Charles, Missouri

Join us for our annual fundraiser for student scholarships. TheAlumni Association is hosting a scramble-style golf tournamentthat will include breakfast, lunch and drinks. To register or tolearn more about sponsorship levels and benefits,visit stlcop.edu/golf.

REFER A STUDENTDo you know of an exceptional student interested in health care?Support the College by referring a current high school or college student to the Office of Admissions.Visit stlcop.edu/refer to submit a candidate today!

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CLASSNOTES

1990sJeannie Batson, B.S. ’91, director ofpharmacy at Ranken Jordan PediatricBridge Hospital, has been selected as afinalist for the 2017 Next-GenerationPharmacist Awards in the award categoryfor a Specialty Pharmacist.

Christian Tadrus, B.S. ’96, Pharm.D. ’97,became one of nine individuals certifiedin the use and practice of SCRIPT Version10.6, the standard for e-prescribing asrecommended by the National Councilfor Prescription Drug Programs.

2000sKristen (Komaiko) Niedblaski,Pharm.D. ’07, and Kevin Niedblaski,Pharm.D. ’14, were married on April 22,at St. Francis Xavier College Church inSt. Louis. Kristen works at L & S Pharmacyin Charleston, Missouri. Kevin works atCVS Pharmacy in Cape Girardeau,Missouri. The couple resides in Sikeston,Missouri.

1960sBill Fitzpatrick, B.S. ’65, vacationed atLog Country Cove in Burnet, Texas, withhis five daughters, their spouses and his 12grandchildren on July 4. Six of hisgrandchildren are in college. Mason andMallory are attending Texas A&MUniversity, Luke and Jake are at TexasTech University, and Ann Marie andAndrew are at Harding University. Billmoved to Texas in August to be closer tohis daughters and grandchildren.

1970sStan Reents, B.S. ’77, Pharm.D.,president and CEO of AthleteInMe, LLC,has received the spring 2017 DigitalHealth Award as a cutting-edge digitalhealth resource for his calorie convertermobile app, Athlete In Me. This is Stan’ssecond time receiving this award. Hereceived a 2012 Digital Health Award forversion 2.0 of the Athlete In Me app.

1980sPaul Milligan, B.S. ’81, Pharm.D., wasinducted as director-at-large for the Sectionof Inpatient Care Practitioners of theAmerican Society of Health-SystemPharmacists for a three-year term on June3. Paul also welcomed his son, AlexanderMilligan, Pharm.D. ’16, back to St. Louisto begin his career at St. Louis Children’sHospital. Alex completed his PGY1residency at Children’s Mercy Kansas City.

FITZPATRICK

NIEDBLASKI

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2010sMisty Farr, Pharm.D. ’10, pharmacymanager at Walmart Pharmacy inFlorissant, Missouri, has been selected as afinalist for the 2017 Next-GenerationPharmacist Awards in the award categoryfor a Patient Care Provider.

Daniel Kistner, Pharm.D. ’11, senior vicepresident of pharmacy services at VizientInc., has been recognized as a Rising Star byBecker’s Hospital Review in the June 2017issue of “Rising Stars in Healthcare.”

Hannah Renner, Pharm.D. ’15, received agrant from the Community PharmacyFoundation to complete the study “UtilizingCommunity Pharmacy PrescriptionDispensing Data to Impact Opportunitiesfor Pharmacist-Prescriber Collaboration.”Hannah is a community pharmacy researchfellow at the University of Pittsburgh Schoolof Pharmacy.

Sara (Twillmann) Lingow, Pharm.D. ’16,and Jonathan Lingow, Pharm.D. ’13, weremarried on May 27, at Immanuel LutheranChurch in St. Charles, Missouri. Jonathanworks as a pharmacist for Walmart inFestus, Missouri. Sara is currentlycompleting a PGY2 residency inambulatory care through the College andthe St. Louis County Department of PublicHealth. The couple resides in St. Louis.

LINGOW

SETTING THEEXAMPLEAlex Bryant, Pharm.D. ’07, infectiousdiseases clinical pharmacy specialistat Mercy Hospital St. Louis andMercy-system antimicrobial stewardshipcommittee co-chair has become a leaderin educating health care professionals onchanges resulting from MM.09.01.01which took effect on Jan. 1.

“I have had the opportunity to work withothers across the system to take astandardized, evidenced-based approachin employing antimicrobial stewardshipprincipals to each hospital setting,”Bryant said. “This collaborative approachhas allowed us to share best practicesacross our system as well as leverage ourhealth-record system to automate alertsand educational information to efficientlymeet new standards.“

His firsthand knowledge withimplementing changes has provided himwith the experience needed to educateothers on how to approach implementingantimicrobial stewardship. As a result,Bryant has presented at the College’sprogram, Meeting of the Minds, a varietyof continuing education workshops andUniversity of Missouri’s Sinclair Schoolof Nursing forum on antimicrobialstewardship.

WHAT’S NEW?Tell your friends and classmates aboutthe latest news in your life. Share newsabout your work, projects, new jobs,promotions, marriages, birthannouncements, awards, vacations orhobbies. To submit news, [email protected].

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In MemoriamToshiko Iwata, B.S. ’46,died Aug. 21, 2016, in San Francisco.

Carl Stoker, B.S. ’51,died June 25, in Murphysboro, Illinois.

William E. Henderson, B.S. ’52,died June 26, in Glasgow, Missouri.

Stanley C. Alper, B.S. ’54,died May 29, in St. Louis.

Howard E. Staats, B.S. ’55,died March 20, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Virginia D. Fitzmaurice, B.S. ’57,died Jan. 20, 2015, in St. Louis.

Sister Paulette (Dorothy) Elking, B.S. ’58, Pharm.D.,died May 19, in Philadelphia.

Charles Patrick Tharp, B.S. ’61, M.S. ’62, Pharm.D.,died May 19, in St. Charles, Missouri.

James T. Russo, B.S. ’68,died June 27, 2015, in Bridgeton, Missouri.

Jerry L. Bumphrey, B.S. ’74,died May 28, in Las Vegas.

William (Bill) Winham, Jr., B.S. ’74,died May 28, in O’Fallon, Missouri.

2017 GRADUATE PRACTICE SETTINGSMembers of the class of 2017 accepted positions in a variety of practice settings.

Data collected from the 2017 Pregraduation Employment Survey.

Community (Chain)

Community (Independent)

Hospital/Institution

Long-Term Care

No Position Reported

Position Accepted/Offered

Residency Program

United States Military

37%

21%

2%

4%

1%1%

14%

20%

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A LOOK BACK AT THEALUMNI ASSOCIATIONIn June 1875, a group of St. Louis College ofPharmacy graduates created a series of meetingsthat resulted in the formation of “The AlumniAssociation of St. Louis College of Pharmacy.”On July 13, 1875, the new organization approveda constitution and bylaws and elected its firstofficers.

The association’s first objectives includedadvancing the pharmacy profession, promotingthe interests of the College, fostering continuingrelationships among graduates, and sponsoringcontinuing education on pharmacy topics. Thefirst activity the association sponsored was ascientific meeting at which a paper entitled“Conium Maculatum” (Hemlock) was presentedby recent graduate Francis Hemm.

The class of 1875 remained active for many yearssince the founding of the Alumni Association. Torecognize their dedication, the Alumni Associationsponsored a special banquet in honor of the classof 1875 and celebrated the 35th anniversary ofthe Alumni Association on Sept. 21, 1910, atLiederkrantz Hall in St. Louis.

Since those early years, the Alumni Associationhas continued to work to foster the professionand the lives of the College’s alumni. Activitieslike Meeting of the Minds and Reunion supportalumni while keeping them connected to theCollege, current and future students, and oneanother. Visit stlcop.edu/alumni to learn more.

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