DiscoveRx Magazine – Spring 2022

DiscoveRx Spring 2022 masthead, featuring images of alumni Gabrielle Winston-McPherson, Kymberly Ludwig, and John Weitekamp

Advancing Practice

Julie Bartell, Luke Beirl, Michelle Farrell, and Ellina SeckelPharmacist Provider Status: What’s Next in Wisconsin

Through 2021 Wisconsin Act 98, Wisconsin pharmacists are now recognized as non-physician providers under Medicaid. Alumni and pharmacy leaders around the state share what that means, how it elevates the practice of pharmacy, and what’s happening next.

Student leaders

Impactful Outreach

Two PharmD student-led initiatives to improve heart health and immunization access are being celebrated by the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists.

A PharmD student preparing a COVID-19 vaccine dose

Investigating CBD Labeling

PharmD student Owen Miller leads an analysis of CBD-infused items, ranging from beverages to chocolate bars, and found that few products are accurately labeled, which has important implications for dosing.

CBD Oil

From the Advancement Team

Dave’s Corner

In 2021, the School of Pharmacy had more than 300 alumni and friends volunteer their time to improve our students’ education. Associate Dean for Advancement Dave Mott shares more about this impact and how even more alums can get involved in the 2022 Day of the Badger.

Read his message > 
Dave Mott

Community Care

Kymberly Ludwig, Zoua Yang, Aaron and Tim Gehrke, and Beatriz Jimenz Cadilla.
Hometown Alumni

Pharmacy Badgers find careers around the nation, but some choose to return to their hometown to serve the communities they grew up in. From rural Wisconsin to Puerto Rico, see why Kymberly Ludwig (PharmD ’19), Zoua Yang (PharmD ’09), Beatriz Jimenez Cadilla (PharmD ’19), and father-son duo Aaron Gehrke, PharmD student, and Timothy Gehrke (BS ’92) are taking their expertise back ‘home.’

Day of the Badger logo with Bucky

2022 Day of the Badger

On April 5 & 6, share your Pharmacy Badger pride and give back to support students. Request a free Pharmacy Bucky photo prop by March 26 to join in on the fun, and stay tuned on social to see where Bucky turns up.

Get your Bucky >

Leading Research

Slowing Alzheimer's Progression

New research by Professor Jeff Johnson and the research team finds that boosting one gene in the brain’s helper cells can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, opening the door to new therapeutics.

Professor Jeff Johnson

Gamifying Cancer Prevention

Built on years of focus groups and student feedback, Assistant Professor Olufunmilola Abraham is developing a new game to teach teens about cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

CROME Research Lab Team

Inhalable Nanomedicine

Professor Seungpyo Hong and collaborators are working on a groundbreaking treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A new grant will help them cross the 'valley of death' to bring their technology to the clinic.

Professor Seungpyo Hong

Watch

How Pharmacists Can Reduce Health Disparities

In a panel discussion, alumni Yolanda Tolson (BS ’95), managing pharmacist at the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy in Madison, and Dimmy Sokhal (PharmD ’13), chief clinical officer at Hayat Pharmacy in Milwaukee, share approaches for pharmacists to tackle health disparities.

Rising Alums

Five of the Future Returns

It’s nearly time again for our annual feature, Five of the Future, highlighting recent alumni, graduating within the last 15 years, from each of our programs who have already begun to influence and improve practice, research, or patient care.

Your network is invaluable in helping us identify rising recent alums, so if a name comes to mind, please share it for our consideration.

Share your alum suggestions  >

Upcoming Events

Naltrexone Injection Administration

April 18, 7:30 pm | Free Webinar

Assistant Professor Jay Ford moderate a panel featuring pharmacists Thad Schumacher, John Lemke (PharmD ’15), and Eric Jachthuber discussing how pharmacists increase naltrexone access.

Learn more and register >

PharmD & PharmTox Research Symposium

April 19, 12 pm | Health Sciences Learning Center

Visit the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and view posters showcasing PharmD and PharmTox student-led research projects.

Learn more >

Alumni & Friends Milwaukee Reception

April 26, 6 pm | Maggiano’s Little Italy

Join us in Milwaukee for dinner and conversation. After the meal, hear from local alumni innovators in pharmacy in a series of TED-style talks.

Learn more and register >

From the PAA

PAA board members Kim Lintner, Jason Bergsbaken, Nate Menninga, Jason Lau, and Heather Stoner, with PAA PharmD student liaison Maria Hill

PAA Corner

Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) President Michael Nagy (PharmD ’16) shares what the PAA has planned, from providing support for student pharmacists, nominating Alumni of the Year, recruiting new PAA Board members, and more.

Read the PAA update >

Class Notes

Christina Nguyen, Kassie Foellinger, Morgan Platta, Kavish Choudhary, Rebecca Augustyn, and Michael and Joan Minerath

SPRING 2022 CLASS NOTES

Find all the latest updates from your School of Pharmacy alumni peers in our latest edition of class notes, including national recognition, growing families, published books, new jobs, and more.

READ WHAT’S NEW >
SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTE >

Professional Development

Second-Annual UWMadison Psychedelic Symposium

The 2022 Psychedelic Symposium will be held October 27 & 28 at the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery on the UW Campus.

More information and registration coming soon!

Short courses for Pharmaceutical Scientists

Stay Connected

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DISCOVERX STAFF

Editor-in-Chief  |  Katie Gerhards
Photographer
  |  Sally Griffith-Oh
Contributing Photographers | Ingrid Laas, Lucy Hawthorne
Contributing Writers  |  Katie Ginder-Vogel, Nicole Etter, Jenny Price
Editorial Intern | Emma Gran, Stuti Bhardwaj
Editorial Advisors  |  Alyson KimDavid Mott

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

HAVE AN ALUMNI UPDATE OR A STORY IDEA?

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