National Honors
Jeanine Abrons Honored with Pinnacle Award
Getting sick during a hike in Dominica changed the trajectory of Jeanine Abrons’ career and launched a decades-long collaboration to get more student pharmacists immersed in global health and reaching underserved populations. For her myriad outreach efforts, at home and abroad, Abrons (MS ’07) is being recognized by the American Pharmacists Association.
Rising Leaders
Adeola Coker (PhD '98) and Fred Doloresco (MS '08) are the latest Pharmacy Badgers to be join a selective fellowship for academic pharmacy leaders.
#1 Student Team
Fourth-year PharmD students Justin Ferek, Kelsey Brasel, and Thomas Lofy triumph over 107 teams in a national competition hosted by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
Innovating Care Models
For all they have both contributed to patient care and the profession, Erika Smith (PharmD ’06) and Melissa Ortega (MS ’12) are honored as 2021 ASHP Fellows.
Improving Patient Care
Vaccination Training
Motivated by images of polio patients in iron lungs, Lawrence Lernor (BS '76) has administered nearly 20,000 vaccinations to date. During the rush to deliver COVID-19 vaccines, Lernor's interprofessional impact earned him an unexpected award.
More Effective Treatment for Substance Misuse
“Counseling and medication are going to help treat this chronic condition for most people, but only if they have access to them," says Assistant Professor Jay Ford. His newest project aims to help facilities expand their treatment options.
ASHP Best Practice
COPD CARE, a primary care service created by Assistant Professor Ed Portillo (PharmD '14), is receiving a national honor for its impact on patients, including reducing re-admissions by more than half and doubling access to care providers.
Renowned Research
Scholars from Abroad
In 2021, the School hosted five researchers from around the world who came to study cancer diagnostics, pharmacy history, and antimicrobial resistance with our preeminent faculty.
Top Analytical Scientist
For the third year, Professor Lingjun Li has been named one of the world's most influential analytical scientists. Learn about her most meaningful contributions.
Advanced Probiotics
New research by Assistant Professor Quanyin Hu addresses one of the biggest limitations of probiotics: how to keep them from getting obliterated in the gut before they can be helpful.
Media Gallery
2021 & 2020 Citation of Merit
Dinner & Awards
The School of Pharmacy celebrated the careers of eight pharmacy innovators with Citations of Merit across 2020 and 2021. See the ceremony to commemorate their achievements and watch their acceptance speeches.
View the gallery >
From the Dean
DEAN’S CORNER
As the year comes to an end, Dean Steve Swanson reflects on how despite the tremendous and historic challenge of a world-wide pandemic, the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy has continued to thrive due to the talent and hard work of our faculty and staff, the resilience and determination of our students, and the support of our alumni.
Learn how >
Toxic Talk
In the Poison Lab
With a breadth of colorful experiences as an emergency medicine clinical pharmacist and consultant clinical toxicologist at Wisconsin’s one and only poison center, alum Ryan Feldman (PharmD ’14) launched a podcast to dissect unusual patient presentations and the mechanisms behind toxic substances to educate practitioners.
Photo Gallery
Alumni Tailgate & Viewing Party
For 2021, the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Alumni Association’s most popular alumni event made a comeback, after a year away during the pandemic. See who made it and what transpired for the Badgers v. Wolverines game.
See the gallery >
Industry Impact
New HIV Therapeutics
Rattavut Teerakapibal (PhD ’18) is working on next-generation treatments for a challenging lifelong disease, but his career started on the other side of the same coin: reverse-engineering products for generic brands.
Groundbreaking Grads
The first students in the School's new Applied Drug Development master's degree program have officially graduated — and it's already taken their careers to new levels. Learn how and why the training elevated their work.
Psychedelic Research Talks
Psychedelics as Catalysts for Change
Assistant Professor Cody Wenthur, Pharmacy Practice Division
Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances
Professor Paul Hutson, Pharmacy Practice Division
Pharmacy History in Wisconsin: Science, Society & Psychedelics
Associate Professor Lucas Richert, Social and Administrative Sciences Division
Promoting Inclusivity
Pharmacist Support for Religious Fasting
Fasting can be dangerous for patients with certain health conditions. Instead of cautioning against religious fasting, alum Mohamed Amin (PhD '13) has created a tool to help pharmacists support patients safely through their fast.
New Master's Program Scholarships
“No matter how useful a degree program is, its utility is diminished if only a small group of students are able to participate." Two new scholarships support students showing strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, or financial need.
Alumni Community Groups
Reconnect with Classmates
Alumni, we’ve created communities just for you!
Join fellow alumni in our private Facebook groups to reconnect, network, ask questions, share open positions, or just reminisce.
Upcoming Events
COVID-19 VACCINE DEVELOPMENT & MECHANISMS
The Wisconsin Channel – 12/15, 9 pm & 12/17, 4 pm
PBS Wisconsin – 12/21, 4 pm
See Pharmacy Practice Division Professor Mary Hayney discuss the differences and similarities of COVID-19 vaccines, their development, and how they work.
Reducing Health Disparities in Vulnerable Populations
Tuesday, January 25
In a free webinar, School of Pharmacy alumni and friends will share approaches for pharmacists to tackle health disparities in a panel discussion led by Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Lisa Imhoff.
Learn more and register >
Virtual Alumni & Friends
Trivia Night
Thursday, February 3
Come test your Badgers, Pharmacy, and general trivia knowledge in our third annual trivia fundraiser for student scholarships, hosted by the School of Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Alumni Association.
Learn more and register >
PAA Corner
TRIVIA: Which holiday is closest to World Pharmacist Day?
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- Independence Day – July 4th
- Halloween – October 31st
- Christmas – December 25th
- Labor Day – 1st Monday in September
In the Winter 2021 note from the Pharmacy Alumni Association, learn about an upcoming event and see speeches from the PAA’s 2021 Alumni of the Year honorees: Professor Beth Martin (BS ’90, MS ’03, PhD ’06) and Berook Addisu (PharmD ’10).
See the speeches (and the trivia answer) >
Making Headlines
Class Notes
WINTER 2021 CLASS NOTES
State and national recognition, new jobs, published books and pseudonyms, retirements, and reflections — keep in touch with your School of Pharmacy alumni peers in our latest edition of class notes.
READ WHAT’S NEW >
SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTE >
Professional Development
Psychedelic Symposium Enduring Program
A series of lectures recorded during the inaugural UW–Madison Psychedelic Symposium include updates on the use of MDMA in PTSD treatment and psilocybin for depression and substance use disorders, as well as racial and ethnic disparities in clinical research. Intended for researchers and clinicians in the areas of clinical psychology, psychiatry, pharmacy, nursing, and social work, this program offers continuing education hours.
Registration opens December 15 >
Short courses for Pharmaceutical Scientists
- CMC Project Team Leadership: The Science, Principles, and Practices for Successful Technical Teams
– Webinars April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 2022
– In person October 3-6, 2022 - Principles of Solid Dosage Forms
Webinars April 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10,16, 2022 - Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (PK-PD)
Webinars May 17, 18, 24, 25, 2022
DISCOVERx STAFF
Editor-in-Chief | Katie Gerhards
Photographer | Sally Griffith-Oh
Contributing Photographers | Todd Brown, Ingrid Laas, Abdul Sulayman
Contributing Writers | Katie Ginder-Vogel, Nicole Etter
Editorial Intern | Emma Gran, Stuti Bhardwaj
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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