DiscoveRx Magazine – Fall 2024

Fall 2024 DiscoveRx masthead featuring photos of Heidi Mansour, Morgan Platta, and Alex Yampolsky

Remarkable Alums

Nate Verhagen, Greg Sitter, Maithili Deshpande, Ashita Nair, Katherine DeSanctis2024 Five of the Future

Our annual feature is back: Meet recent alumni from each of the School of Pharmacy’s five main degree programs who are building a better, healthier future. These rising stars are harnessing AI, serving refugees internationally, using data to improve population health, and more.

From the Editor

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Leading Research

A Tale of Two Isomers

Current toxicology tests don't separate two methamphetamine isomers: one linked with sinus-clearing sprays, and one linked with the primary component of illicit meth. Assistant Professor Heather Barkholtz is aiming to tease out the difference.

Heather Barkholz in her lab

Halting Pulmonary Fibrosis

Professor Seungpyo Hong is part of an $11 million project using AI and 3D modeling to explore the biological processes behind idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and how to stop it in its tracks.

Seungpyo Hong in his lab

Patents and Progress

A senior member of the National Academy of Inventors, alumna Heidi Mansour (BS '96, PhD '03) aims to revolutionize lung and brain drug delivery, including developing patented lung surfactants used as both therapies and nanocarriers.

Heidi Mansour in her lab

Regional Outreach

Jay Ford and Cody Wenthur pose outside
Getting to WOORC

With an influx of federal aid, Associate Professor Cody Wenthur and Associate Professor Jay Ford are launching a regional center geared toward combatting the opioid crisis. The linchpin to their plan: community pharmacies. Clinics may be hours away, but pharmacies are there, ready and willing to serve,” says Wenthur. Learn about the new Wisconsin Opioid Overdose Response Center and how pharmacies factor in.

Back in Class

A collage of three photos of young attendees of Grandparents University doing hands-on compounding with their older adult attendee
College for Kids and Connections

“I saw her understanding deepen in just two days, and it made me excited for the next generation of pharmacists,” says alumna Kim Lintner (PharmD ’01). With her niece, Lintner completed the pharmacy major during the UW’s two-day Grandparents University. Through compounding and consulting, see how Lintner and other attendees got a fresh perspective on pharmacy during this annual UW alumni event.

Pharmacy Experts

Cody Wenthur in his lab

Webinar: Psilocybin, Ketamine & Behavioral Change in Mental Health Treatment

Listen to field leader Associate Professor Cody Wenthur speak about the early stages of clinical trials using psychoactive substances as treatments for challenging mental health conditions.

Watch the webinar >

Uplifting Communities

Generations of Community Care

The Dreier Pharmacy — led by three generations of Badger pharmacists — has served a small Wisconsin town for 57 years. Their tradition of innovation has earned co-owners Tim Dreier (BS '89) and Jessica Dreier-Huntington (BS '92) a national award.

Avery, Tim, and Jessica Dreier in their pharmacy

Transforming Rural Health

Morgan Platta (PharmD '21), Anna Lattos (PharmD '21), and Lindsey Hoff (PharmD '19), some of the first alumni of the School's rural health program, are using their specialized skills to revolutionize care in rural areas around the region.

Morgan Platta speaks with a woman

Pharmacy Leaders

Lee Vermeulen and Jill Kolesar pose outside
Pharmacy Power Couple

As the CEO and executive vice president of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the incoming dean of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Lee Vermeulen (MS ’92) and Jill Kolesar (BS ’90) are poised to make a far-reaching impact on the profession. And it all started on the UW–Madison campus.

Photo Gallery

Tyler Prickette (PharmD '17), PharmD student Sean Baltes, Rocky LaDien (BS '77), and Jason Lau (PharmD '01) at the annual PAA/WSPS Golf Outing.

PAA/WSPS Golf Outing

Each year, the Pharmacy Alumni Association and Wisconsin Society of Pharmacy Students hosts a golf outing that brings alumni, faculty, and students together to benefit student scholarships.

See the event >

Alumni Events

Alumni & Friends Tailgate

Join alumni and friends of the School as they get ready to cheer on the Badgers as they face the Purdue Boilermakers. At the tailgate, find a buffet, games, a buffet, and cash bar. Stick around after kickoff for a viewing party.

October 5, 2024, time TBD >

PharmSci 360 Alumni Reception

Join alumni and friends of the School of Pharmacy at the upcoming American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists PharmSci 360 conference, including hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

October 21, 2023, 5:30 pm >

From the PAA

Julie Bartell holds the PAA President gavel

PAA Corner

The Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) is always busy planning opportunities to help Badger pharmacists connect. Hear from new PAA President Julie Bartell (PharmD ’06) about their successful summer events and how alumni can get involved this fall.

Read what’s planned >

Class Notes

A photo collage of Dan Persells, George MacKinnon, Matt Mabie, Holly Altenberger, Nick Olson, and Tom Dilworth

Fall 2024 Class Notes

Our School of Pharmacy alumni are always covering new ground — getting new jobs, promotions, professional recognitions, and more. See what’s been keeping these Badgers busy and who’s just checking in with an update on life.

Read what’s new >
Submit your class note >

Professional Development

UW–Madison Psychedelic Symposium

Nov. 7 – 8, 2024 | BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute, Promega Campus, Madison

Hosted by the UW Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances and the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development, this fourth-annual symposium is intended for researchers and clinicians in the areas of clinical psychology, psychiatry, pharmacy, nursing, and social work.

Find more information and register >

Stay Connected

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DISCOVERX Staff

Editor-in-Chief  |  Katie Gerhards
Photographer  |  Sally Griffith-Oh
Contributing Photographers | Todd Brown, Sharon Vanorny, Brian Smith, Sid Hastings, Heather Gergen, Stephanie Shanks, Mike Roehmer, Mark Tade, Andy Manis
Contributing Writers  |  Katie Ginder-Vogel, Nicole Etter, Jessica Steinhoff, Susan Smith, Archer Parquette
Editorial Interns |  Logan Underwood
Editorial Advisors  |  Alyson KimDavid Mott

DiscoveRx magazine is a quarterly digital publication by the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy.

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