The PulseNews from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences April 2012

Relay for Life 5

Graduation came early this December for fi ve students in the bachelor’s program in biomedical technology. Marisa Dagostino, Emily Rapasadi, Christopher Wasacz, Elecia Woodard, and Jennifer Woodard completed their degrees in 3 ½ years, paving the way for direct entry into Albany Medical College’s (AMC) Physician Assistant program this past January.

The students are the benefi ciaries of a joint program between ACPHS and AMC. Under the terms of the arrangement, students are interviewed by both an ACPHS admissions counselor and a representative from AMC prior to enrolling as freshmen. If they successfully pass the interview, there is a seat reserved for them in the

New Policy Puts “Fresh Face” on Academic Integrity

Graduates Transition into Physician Assistant Program

Earlier this semester, the College instituted a new Academic Integrity Policy (AIP) to replace the former Honor Code. The AIP governs a range of academic related issues including: plagiarism, unauthorized assistance with assignments or exams, communicating false or dishonest information, and falsifi cation of records or identity. As with the Honor Code, the AIP applies to all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at ACPHS.

The origins of the AIP date back to fall 2010 when the College administered a survey on academic integrity to students and faculty. Over the course of the next year, a task force made up of faculty and students evaluated the survey results and recommended revisions to the existing Honor Code. The new Policy proposed by the task force was approved separately by students and faculty in December 2011 and instituted in January 2012.

Under the Honor Code, each alleged violation was reported to a Committee comprised of fi ve students and two faculty members. Under the AIP, the faculty member who is responsible for the course will conduct the initial review, and in the case of a violation, decide the punishment.

“The Honor Code was more student driven,” says John Denio, Dean of Students. “The AIP gives the faculty a stronger role to play in reviewing alleged violations. Based on the comments we received in reviewing the process,

Spring Break Trip Offers Insider’s Look at NIH, FDAFor 12 students and two advisors from the College, this was no ordinary spring break. The group traveled to Washington, DC, to tour the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over three jam-packed days from March 14-16.

The visit began at the NIH Clinical Center where Pharmacy Director Robert DeChristoforo met with the group and gave them a tour of the nation’s largest hospital devoted entirely to clinical research. Over the next two days, the students visited the FDA’s main campus

Students gather in front of the FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. Associate Professor Andy Zheng (far right), Career Services Director Kristen Felthousen (not pictured), and Lindsay Davison ’09 (far left) helped coordinate the visit.

PA program, provided they maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 for each semester and accrue 1,000 direct patient contact hours by graduation.

With just 42 students in the incoming class of AMC’s PA program, the fi ve ACPHS students represent a sizeable contingent, and one that is ready for their next challenge. “The faculty at ACPHS were great. They made sure you were learning what you needed to know along the way,” says Chris. “As a result, we have a great foundation for this program. There are lots of people in class stressing out, but we’re saying, ‘we can do this.’”

in Silver Spring, MD, and its satellite campus in Rockville, MD.

The group heard presentations from more than ten offi cers at the FDA on topics that included OTC drug regulation, the unapproved drugs initiative, medical devices, drug information services, and generic drugs.

Beyond listening to the presentations, the students were also able to have personal conversations with each of the presenters and received valuable

advice on career and professional development.

“I really enjoyed visiting NIH and learning about all the wonderful and innovative things the Center does,” said Mona Nassiri, one of the students who attended the trip. “It was a great pleasure to be accompanied over the course of our visit by some of the brightest and most elite of our profession. I hope that we can keep growing this relationship between our school and the FDA and NIH for years to come.”

Associate Professor Andy Zheng and Career Services Director Kristen Felthousen accompanied the students on the visit, which was organized through the assistance of Lindsay Davison, ACPHS Class of ’09. Lindsay was hired by the FDA as a Consumer Safety Offi cer following a two-year fellowship at Purdue University where she concentrated in regulatory science.

Marisa Dagostino, Chris Wasacz, and Emily Rapasadi are three of fi ve ACPHS graduates who enrolled this semester in the PA program at Albany Medical College.Continued on Page 3

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2 The Pulse April 2012

CommunityService Day

On Saturday, March 24, more than 120 students, faculty, and staff from the College participated in the school’s fi rst-ever Community Service Day. Beginning at 8:00 am and continuing until 4:30 pm, volunteers offered their assistance at a variety of local organizations, including: Boys and Girls Club of Albany, Habitat for Humanity, City Rescue Mission, Colonie Senior Service Center, and Delmar Place (a senior assisted living facility). ACPHS also hosted a “Field Day” on the campus for students and families in the ACPHS Academy program, which featured a range of outdoor sports and activities.

“Be a Piece of Something Bigger”

April 2012 The Pulse 3

As the College’s fi rst exchange student from Switzerland, Benji Berger, 26, enjoyed an experience that he will not soon forget, and he made a similar impression on those whom he met at ACPHS. Benji arrived at ACPHS from Basel, Switzerland on November 1 and stayed through the end of the fall semester.

“Amazingly friendly” was how Benji described the students and faculty at ACPHS. “I met

Swiss Exchange Student Not Neutral about His ACPHS Experience

Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, will be the featured speaker at the College’s 132nd commencement exercises on May 12.

“I am delighted to join this year’s graduates and their parents as they celebrate such a special milestone,” said Ms. Kennedy. “Our world today is one of many challenges, but just as many opportunities, and I look forward to speaking with these talented young people about the future they will help create.”

Ms. Kennedy started working in the fi eld of human rights in 1981, when she investigated abuses committed by U.S. immigration offi cials against refugees from El Salvador. Since then, her life has been devoted to the pursuit of justice, to the promotion and protection of basic rights, and to the preservation of the rule of law. She established the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights in 1988.

In addition to her role with the RFK Center, Ms. Kennedy is Chair of the Amnesty International USA Leadership Council and serves on the boards of directors of Human Rights First, Inter-Press Service, and the United States Institute for Peace.

Kerry Kennedy Named 2012 Commencement Speaker Continued from Page 1

The direct entry option held great appeal for the students, particularly given the competitive climate for admissions into PA programs. But getting to this point involved a lot of hard work. In addition to the GPA requirement, the students were responsible for fi nding their own clinical sites in order to accumulate the required patient contact hours (which must be paid hours; volunteering does not count).

Marisa worked for two years at Guilderland Pediatrics. Chris served as a patient companion at St. Peter’s Hospital, working with patients suffering from psychiatric illnesses. Emily worked at St. Peter’s as a delivery room technician.

In addition to providing insights into the practice of medicine, the experiences also confi rmed the students’ decisions to pursue careers as physician assistants. “I’ve never talked to a PA who didn’t like his or her job,” says Emily. Marisa adds, “I didn’t want to specialize, which would likely be the case as a physician. Being a PA offers greater fl exibility to move between different areas of a hospital or clinic, something not possible as a physician without doing additional residencies.”

There are 2 ½ more years of schooling ahead of them, but these students are excited for the future. “I feel like Doogie Howser because I’m 21, and I’m dissecting a cadaver. It’s great!” says Emily.

“Ms. Kennedy will bring an international perspective to the ceremony at a time when more of our students than ever before are seeking out, and taking advantage of, the global opportunities available through the College,” said Dr. Gozzo. “I have no doubt that her remarks will serve as an inspiration for not only our graduating class, but for all of those in attendance.”

Ms. Kennedy is the daughter of Robert F. “Bobby” Kennedy, former New York State Senator and U.S. Attorney General, who was killed in 1968 at the age of 42 while campaigning for President.

a lot of absolutely wonderful people.”

“The time Benji spent here was great,” said Ryan Orlando, 19, a second year Pharm.D. student and suitemate of Benji’s. “It took only a few days before we all got along famously. He was a really nice guy, and it was a lot of fun just picking each other’s brains about different cultural quirks. He was fascinated by Walmart, which I found amusing.”

Benji is a licensed pharmacist in Switzerland, who this January enrolled in a Ph.D. program in clinical pharmacology. It’s a three and a half year program, and after obtaining his degree, he plans to continue in research.

Despite his own education and experience, Benji was impressed by the academics at ACPHS. “I was amazed at the way professors conduct their classes, lots of one-on-one and face time. As a student here, a lot more is expected of you, and the opportunity to learn is greater,” he said.

Equally surprising was the difference in U.S. pharmacies compared to those in his homeland. “Pharmacies here have so many over-the-counter medications. In Switzerland, you need to talk to a technician and explain your symptoms before they will even dispense a small bottle of ibuprofen,” he said. “I was also shocked to see that you could buy beer and snacks and all these unhealthy things in a pharmacy!”

Benji’s experiences off campus stretched far beyond a trip to a pharmacy. He went on a hiking trip with the Outdoors Club to the Catskill Mountains and enjoyed dinners and sightseeing

with members of the faculty including Associate Professor Kevin Hickey and Associate Professor Gail Goodman-Snitkoff.

When asked what he will remember most about his time here, he responded, “I was just so pleased with how very friendly and helpful American people are. I felt very welcome all the time, not like an outsider. I never had to eat alone.”

Suitemate Jonathan Rine was happy to see Benji integrate into the group so easily and surprised by how close they became so quickly. “We just had a lot of fun together. A lot of laughs,” he said. “They are actually some of my best memories from ACPHS.”Exchange student Benji Berger (front row, far right) hiked

in the Catskills with the Outdoors Club.

Kerry Kennedy: “I look forward to speaking with these talented young people about the future they will help create.”

Benji Berger (center) with his ACPHS suitemates.

4 The Pulse April 2012

Carmen Mojica, Pharm.D., M.S, is an instructor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice on the Albany Campus. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and attended school at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston.

What prompted your move from Puerto Rico to Boston?

I had friends from high school who were attending college in Boston, and I wanted to try it. I was happy and doing well in Puerto Rico, but I thought it would open doors for me and afford me different

For more information on the Academic Integrity Policy, please visit the AIP Blackboard page: My ACPHS > My Organizations > Academic Integrity Policy.

both students and faculty prefer to have problems decided within the course rather than outside of it.”

Accused students who disagree with the faculty member’s decision or sanctions may request review of the case by the Academic Integrity Committee, which is comprised of four faculty and four students who are drawn from the College’s different schools and campuses. Students may appeal the decision of the Committee to the Provost, who will make the fi nal determination.

To help support the successful rollout of the AIC, a new student group has been formed – the Student Coalition for Academic Integrity. The group already has 30 members who have expressed an interest in a range of activities to promote the Policy, from proctoring exams to creating informational posters to participating in new student orientation.

“Our Honor Code was around for a long time. The Academic Integrity Policy gives it a fresh face,” says Dean Denio. “The initial feedback from both students and faculty has been very positive.”

Continued from Page 1

George Saliba, a Professor of Arabic and Islamic Science at Columbia University, treated members of the campus community and a number of people from off campus to a presentation on the Islamic origins of Modern Medicine on April 5. Dr. Saliba’s visit was the fi rst in the school’s new Science, Culture, and Medicine Speaker Series.

Jake Nichols, a pharmacist and recovering prescription drug addict, gave an unforgettable talk about his 15-year story of abuse and his current efforts to put his life back together. Nichols was invited to speak by the APhA-ASP as part of the Gen Rx outreach initiative, which conducts educational programs to prevent the misuse and abuse of prescription medications.

opportunities if I went to the United States. I was lucky to have support from my parents in my decision.

What were some of the struggles you faced as a student and how did you overcome them?

Being a student in the U.S. defi nitely had its challenges for me, but I liked the school, and I loved Boston. I had been used to small classes so lecture style teaching was a big change, and I found it intimidating to ask questions. I would go to my professors one-on-one or tutors to help me when it became too diffi cult. They were instrumental in my success as a student. I really loved my years in Boston, but I never lost track of the goal or the sacrifi ces my parents made.

After graduation, where did your degree take you?

I worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative for a company named Mead Johnson Pharmaceuticals in Western Massachusetts. In 1986, my husband’s job brought us to Albany, and I took a part-time pharmacist position with a

community pharmacy while raising my two children. I went back to school to earn my Master’s in Health Services Administration and was offered a position at the NYS Department of Health’s AIDS Institute. My role was to develop and implement programs and educate pharmacists. I worked there for fi ve years, went back to Puerto Rico for one, then returned to Albany to work at St. Peter’s Hospital. I left St. Peter’s and came to ACPHS in 2010.

What do you like most about being at ACPHS?

I like being able to give back to students and the community, and this job allows me that. Any opportunity I have to help someone I gravitate towards it. Traveling to Guatemala with our students last fall to help bring healthcare to underserved areas was one of the highlights of my professional career. I think I live a privileged life, and I feel it’s so important to stay connected, not only to my heritage, but to the world around me.

Q&A with Pharmacy Practice Faculty Member Carmen Mojica

Teams from the Albany and Vermont Campuses competed in the national Student Pharmacist Compounding Competition (SPCC) in Gainesville, FL. The competition featured three phases: a compounding classic, a regulatory challenge, and a poster session. The Vermont team – which placed third in the regulatory challenge – was made up of Miral Patel, Alex Vondracek, Vidhi Patel, and faculty advisor Rick Weingarten. Jennifer Lamb, John Lyons, Adam Burman, and faculty advisor Lee Anna Obos represented the Albany Campus. This was the fi rst time the College has participated in this event.

Student Compounding Competition

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April 2012 The Pulse 5

The ACPHS athletics program took another step forward with the announcement that it will join the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) beginning with the 2012-13 academic year.

With a history dating back to 1966, the USCAA has more than 80 members from Maine to Washington. Members typically have enrollment fi gures that range between 500 and 2,500 students.

“Membership in the USCAA will provide our teams and student athletes with more opportunities,” says Ryan Venter, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “We’ve had discussions with the student athletes about joining the USCAA, and they are extremely excited about challenging themselves and seeing how they match up against other schools from around the country.”

The College’s fi fth annual Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society took place on April 13-14 at the New Scotland Avenue Armory. This year’s event included 33 teams, 310 participants, and raised an estimated $36,500. The ACPHS-Vermont Campus participated in Relay for Life at the University of Vermont Campus on April 21-22. They expected to reach and hopefully exceed their fundraising goal of $5,000.

New Athletics Conference Expands Opportunities for Student Athletes

The proposed athletics fi eld renovations would include synthetic turf, lighting, and a new track.

USCAA members have the opportunity to compete for national championships in six sports – cross country, golf, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball (ACPHS currently fi elds teams in cross country, soccer, and basketball). Student athletes from member schools are also eligible for individual honors such as National Player of the Week and Academic All-American.

Joining the USCAA will not affect the school’s membership in the Hudson Valley Athletics Conference (HVAC). “We’ve been looking for a national affi liation for the past year or two to help increase recognition for teams and student athletes, as well as the overall visibility of the College,” says Jose Rodriguez, Vice President of Campus Life and Global Initiatives. “We’ve done very well in HVAC for the past four years and will continue that relationship, but joining the USCAA now allows us to take that next step and compete at the national level.”

The decision to join the USCAA is the latest development in the growth of athletics at

ACPHS. Two years ago the College added cross country as a sport, and there have been enhancements to the marketing of ACPHS athletics through the development of a new logo and dedicated web site (www.acphsathletics.com).

As part of the “Moving Forward” Capital Campaign, the College is also fundraising to build a new athletics fi eld which would add synthetic turf, a new track, lighting, and additional seating. UNITED STATES COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

Molly Trayah, a P2 student on the ACPHS-Vermont Campus, is one of just 12 pharmacy students across the nation to receive a 2012 ASHP Student Leadership Award. The award is given to students with an interest in pharmacy practice in health-systems who have demonstrated leadership ability. In addition to serving as a founding member of the ASHP student chapter in Vermont, Molly has organized groups of students to participate in targeted outreach in rural communities.

Lana Shaiba, a graduate student in the Master’s in Biotechnology program, was awarded third place out of 26 competitors for the graduate student/post-doctoral Neurotoxicology Specialty Section poster competition award at the 51st Society of Toxicology meeting in San Francisco. Her presentation “Biphasic effects of lead on angiogenesis (AG): Implications for developmental neurotoxicity” was co-authored with Professors Hassan El-Fawal and Shaker Mousa.

The New York State Department of Education recently approved a concentration in Nephrology as an option for students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. ACPHS has the largest pharmacy faculty group dedicated to nephrology (the study of the kidneys) of any college in the country. Members of the group include: George Bailie, Katie Cardone, Darren Grabe, Darius Mason, and Amy Barton-Pai.

Associate Professor Michael Pittman’s book, Classical Spirituality in Contemporary America: The Confl uence and Contribution of G. I. Gurdjieff and Sufi sm, has been published by Continuum International.

Lisa Vines, Associate Professor of Humanities, had a selection of her drawings and oil paintings exhibited in February at the Bethlehem Public Library. The exhibit, titled “Sketches from years of academic life. . .”, featured a collection of ACPHS faculty and students whom she has drawn over the years.

Martha Hass, Susan Ludeman, Yuri Kholodenko and David Clarke of the Department of Basic and Social Sciences received a Society of Pittsburgh Memorial College Grant award in the amount of $10,000 toward the purchase of an automated polarimeter. The device will be used for additional experiments in existing courses, newly proposed chemistry courses, and in research.

Vice Provost for Research Shaker Mousa received the Medal of Honor for Scientifi c Distinction from the Saudi Society of Hematology “in recognition and appreciation of his pioneering contributions leading to the advancement of science and improvement of the practice of hematology in Saudi Arabia.”

Karen Glass, in collaboration with Tamer Fandy, both of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences on the Vermont Campus, received a one-year, $15,000 grant from the Vermont Cancer Center/Lake Champlain Cancer Research Organization Massive Parallel Sequencing (MPS) Program for their project entitled “Genome-wide targets of the MOZ HAT in hematopoietic progenitor cells.” The research will explore whether modulation of MOZ HAT enzyme activity could be an effective therapeutic strategy for leukemia patients.

6 The Pulse April 2012

Spring Calendar

Checking The PulseA roundup of ACPHS news and notes

www.facebook.com/acphs

April April 22 - Continuing Education Event: The Barbara M. DiLascia Lecture Series - Men’s and Women’s Health Symposium April 26 - ACPHS Academy Graduation and Science Fair April 27 - Classes End April 28 - Medication Takeback Event April 30-May 4 - Final Examinations

May May 12 - Commencement May 14-18 - Continuing Education Event: NYS Board Review May 15 - Pharmacy Legislative Day (Albany) May 17 - CDPHP Workforce Challenge May 21 - First Summer Session Begins

June June 1 - Friends of Noah Sorensen and Mario Zeolla

Memorial Golf Tournament June 1-3 - Reunion Weekend June 10 - Continuing Education Event: Pharmacy Practice Update June 29 - First Summer Session Ends

July July 2-6 - College Closed July 9 - Second Summer Session Begins July 30 - President’s Cup Golf Tournament

August August 17 - Second Summer Session ends August 21-26 - Orientation - Albany Campus August 27 - Fall Semester Begins

Renovations have begun to the Microbiology Lab on the second fl oor of the O’Brien Building. The lab, which is scheduled to be completed in August, will be a state of the art teaching and student research facility, which will include separate tissue culture and molecular biology labs, as well as an expanded prep room. Plans for the new lab include implementation of iPads at each workstation, which would allow students to retrieve and annotate labs electronically and to capture real time visual data.

Renovations Underway in Microbiology Lab