Excellence in Education
First-of-its-Kind Program Prepares PharmD Students for Independent Practice
Developed in collaboration with Wisconsin pharmacy pioneers like Michelle Farrell (BS ’99, PharmD ’00), lead luminary for the Wisconsin Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network, the School’s new Entrepreneurial Training and Independent Pharmacy track prepares pharmacy students to innovate for their communities. Learn how the new program meets a pressing need in pharmacy.
Wonders of Pharmacy
Led by Associate Professor Olufunmilola Abraham, PharmD students create a hands-on event to teach high schoolers what they love about pharmacy, with cameos by alumni.
5th Highest in the Nation
The School's first-time NAPLEX pass rate of 94% is more than 16 percentage points ahead of the national average. Learn more about our graduates' exceptional performance.
Enterprising Alumni
Exploring new territory
Focused on patient care, Joanne Palermo’s (BS '98) pharmacy career has spanned zoology to pharmacy, Wisconsin to Arizona, and retail to telehealth.
Scripts to Stories
Mark Putzi (PharmD '11) has followed his passions wherever they led him. He spent 35 years running a family construction business and a decade immersed in pharmacy. Through it all, he never gave up on his goal of becoming a published author.
Beyond the Counter
“I was never afraid to make a change," says alumna Terri Hix (BS '80). As life changed, she changed with it, exploring disparate realms of pharmacy, including industry, hospital pharmacy, and academia.
Masterful Mentors
Inclusive Mentorship
“As a mentor, she is outstanding. As a human being, she is outstanding. As a friend, she is outstanding.” Professor Christine Sorkness is honored by UW–Madison for her excellence in mentoring. Learn about her journey.
Building Up
As the local leader of a national trial, Professor Michelle Chui discovered a gap in mentoring. Through a new role on campus, she's overseeing the fix. “I’m really proud of this program because we uncovered something that we didn’t know existed," she says.
Inside Look
Behind the Scenes in a Cutting-Edge Lab
Assistant Professor Cody Wenthur is on the leading edge of research into psychoactive substances, such as understanding the antidepressant effects of ketamine, learning behaviors associated with PTSD, and more, all geared toward improving therapeutics for challenging mental health conditions. He invites us into his lab to see his work in action.
Improving Outcomes
Public Health & Pharmacovigilance
As an associate director of the FDA's Division of Pharmacovigilance, alum Sara Camilli (PharmD '06) helps safeguard public health. Learn how.
Opioid Ed in the ER
Associate Professor Olufunmilola Abraham rolls out her opioid safety video game at the point of prescription: the emergency room. See what they learned through the 18-month study.
Advancing Cancer Tracking
The circulating tumor cell capture technology developed by Professor Seungpyo Hong has shown to be more than 80% accurate in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Learn how it works.
From Advancement
Dave’s Corner
“As they say, it takes a village — and we have one of the very best.” Associate Dean for Advancement Dave Mott (BS ’88, MS ’92, PhD ’95) shares how alumni support impacts the School’s students and a few upcoming opportunities for alums to gather together and reconnect.
Read his message >
Meeting Community Needs
Opening a Dialogue
From patients experiencing homelessness to patients with disabilities, an event hosted by the School's PharmD students starts conversations about how to better serve patients to improve outcomes.
Pharmacies Step Up in Underserved Areas
New research from School of Pharmacy faculty and students explores how Wisconsin pharmacies expand services to meet the needs of the state's health provider shortage areas. But those enhanced services pose a challenge.
Empathy for Every Patient
The School of Pharmacy is committed to educating compassionate student pharmacists prepared to provide the best care to all patients, including low-income or rural patients, those with disabilities, and patients facing health disparities.
Alumni Experts
The Evolution of PBMs
With pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the news as targets of new pending legislation, School of Pharmacy alumni experts in the field share their take on the history of PBMs, today’s challenges, and where the industry is headed next.
Read their insights >
Leading Research
New Target for Colorectal Cancers
Assistant Professor Ting Fu has uncovered a previously unknown function of a protein that is central to gut health, unlocking the potential for new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and related colorectal cancers.
Vilas Award
For his innovations in cell therapy research — targeting cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and more — Assistant Professor Quanyin Hu receives a competitive UW–Madison Vilas Associates Award.
Making Headlines
Alumni Events
APhA 2024: Alumni and Friends Reception
Saturday, March 23
Join fellow Badger pharmacists at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. Free to attend and all are welcome.
More details >
Milwaukee Innovators
Tuesday, April 23
Hear from your Badger Pharmacy peers in Milwaukee who are on the cutting edge of their fields. This free event includes a buffet.
More details >
Madison Innovators
Tuesday, May 21
Alumni and friends will gather for a night of food and reconnection while hearing from pioneering Badger pharmacists.
More details >
Class Notes
Spring 2024 Class Notes
Our Pharmacy Badgers are always busy, meeting professional and personal milestones, getting national recognition, or just checking in to say how life has been. Keep in touch with your School of Pharmacy alumni peers through class notes.
Read what’s new >
Submit your class note >
From the PAA
PAA Corner
The Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) has big summer plans. PAA Secretary Erica Terry (PharmD ’21) shares what’s on the schedule, from alumni awards, to the annual PAA/Wisconsin Society of Pharmacy Students Golf Outing, to a brand-new event in the Duck Pond.
Read what’s planned >
Professional Development
Fourth-Annual UW–Madison Psychedelic Symposium
The 2024 Psychedelic Symposium will be held November 7-8.
More information and registration coming soon!
Short courses for Pharmaceutical Scientists
- CMC Project Team Leadership: The Science, Principles, and Practices for Successful Technical Teams
– Webinars April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23
– In person October 14-17, 2024
– NEW in 2024: Dedicated large/small molecule format - Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (PK-PD)
Webinars June 11-12 & 18-19, 2024 - Fundamentals of Solid Dosage Form Development
In Person June 3-6, 2024
Stay Connected
DISCOVERX Staff
Editor-in-Chief | Katie Gerhards
Photographer | Sally Griffith-Oh
Contributing Photographers | Todd Brown, Andy Manis, Sharon Vanorny, Paulius Musteikis, Heather Gergen
Contributing Writers | Katie Ginder-Vogel, Nicole Etter, Jessica Steinhoff, Susan Smith
Editorial Interns | Maren Stewart, Logan Underwood
Editorial Advisors | Alyson Kim, David Mott
DiscoveRx magazine is a quarterly digital publication by the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy.
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