Category: SOP News

For UW School of Pharmacy alumnus Ryan Oftebro, independent pharmacy is personal — a practice of community, humility and learning when to get out of the way.

Ask Ryan Oftebro about his success, and he will almost inevitably begin talking about someone else.

A mentor who believed in him before he fully believed in himself. A professor who pushed him beyond his comfort zone. A classmate who became a lifelong friend, co-worker and business partner. His father, whose example still shapes the culture of Kelley-Ross Pharmacy decades later. The employees who show up every day to care for patients. The patients themselves.

It is a revealing habit. Because while Oftebro serves as CEO of Kelley-Ross, one of Seattle’s most enduring independent pharmacies, he rarely tells his story as a story about individual achievement. Instead, he tells it as a story about relationships, responsibility and the quiet obligation to leave something better than he found it

“My goal has been to make myself irrelevant,” he says.

It is a striking thing to hear from a CEO. But for Oftebro, a 2003 graduate of the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, the line is not a throwaway. It is a philosophy of leadership, learned over time from mentors, colleagues, patients and family. The best leaders, he believes, do not make themselves indispensable. They build a culture strong enough to keep growing without them — one rooted in trust, service, imagination and the steady work of putting people first.

A Community That Stayed With Him
When Oftebro thinks back on his time at the UW School of Pharmacy, he does not begin with a single course, rotation or lecture. He begins with people.

“The thing that sticks with me is that sense of community and relationships and friendships,” he says. “My classmates became my best friends, and they became my co-workers and eventually my business partners.”

Those relationships became part of the architecture of his life. So did the faculty members who helped shape his understanding of pharmacy and leadership: Nancy Murphy, Sid Nelson, Karan Dawson, Mickey Karski, Gary Elmer, Jackie Gardner, Don Downing and others. They were teachers, but also mentors — people who noticed potential, offered encouragement and helped him imagine a wider version of what a pharmacist could be.

That mentorship extended well beyond the classroom. Through student leadership, professional conferences, legislative advocacy and involvement with the Washington State Pharmacy Association, Oftebro began to step into roles he had not pictured for himself. He learned how to speak up. How to participate. How to take a place in the profession rather than simply enter it.

“I learned to step out of my comfort zone,” he says. “These folks helped inspire me and ignite the passion in pharmacy that drives me in everything I do today.”

For Oftebro, that lesson has only become more important with time. Pharmacy, he says, often attracts people who like clarity — people who are analytical, careful, evidence-driven and drawn to the right answer. The profession needs those qualities. But patient care does not always arrive in neat categories. Neither does leadership. Neither does public health.

“There are going to be times when, in order to serve that patient, you may not have that black-and-white answer,” he says. “You need to become a decision maker. You need to be comfortable dealing with risk.”

The Work of Meeting People Where They Are
That comfort with uncertainty has become essential at Kelley-Ross, where the work has never been limited to dispensing medications.

Over the decades, the pharmacy has moved into compounding, long-term care, specialty pharmacy, clinical services, overdose prevention and public health. It has served patients during the HIV/AIDS crisis, responded to vulnerable communities during COVID and continued to look for gaps in care where an independent pharmacy could make a meaningful difference.

The phrase often used for this kind of work is “meeting patients where they are.” Oftebro remembers first hearing it from Micki Kedzierski during a UW elective on substance use disorder. At the time, he says, he did not fully understand the depth of the idea. But he recognized it later in the people around him — especially his father, John.

For Oftebro, meeting patients where they are is not a slogan. It is a daily discipline. It means asking what someone needs before deciding what the system is willing to offer. And it means being creative, practical and humane all at once.

“It’s a responsibility to bring your very best to every patient experience without judgment of the person that you’re serving,” he says. “It’s also an opportunity to be creative and innovative and problem-solve.”

That kind of service, he says, is an expression of servant leadership — a phrase that can sound formal until you hear Oftebro describe it. In his telling, servant leadership is less about posture than practice. It is about staying close enough to the work to understand it, humble enough to listen and confident enough to let others lead.

A Father’s Example
Much of that, Oftebro learned from his father.

“Working with my dad has been the highlight of my career,” he says.

John Oftebro is no longer formally at Kelley-Ross every day, but Ryan says his influence remains everywhere. Many longtime employees were hired by him. His standards helped shape the pharmacy’s culture: strong customer service, a can-do attitude, a willingness to innovate and take risks, and a belief that the right thing is worth doing even when it is difficult.

“He set the tone here,” Oftebro says.

That tone has mattered in a business where longevity is anything but guaranteed. Independent pharmacies operate in a challenging healthcare landscape, often squeezed by market forces far larger than themselves. For a small business in healthcare to last a century, Oftebro says, is humbling. But what matters most to him is not simply that Kelley-Ross endured. It is how.

Kelley-Ross celebrated its 100th anniversary last year — a milestone Oftebro describes with pride, but also with humility. As CEO, he is proud of the company’s longevity. As a pharmacist, he is proud of the way the pharmacy has continued to serve its community.

“We put people first,” he says. “The people we serve, our community — that’s why we exist. When we do that, when we put people first, the business success follows.”

The Strength of Being Independent
As an independent pharmacy, Kelley-Ross has the ability to respond quickly and locally. It can see a need, try something, learn from it and adapt. It can build services that reflect the neighborhood rather than importing a model from somewhere else.

“We can create a service that reflects the community that we live in,” Oftebro says. “It’s organic. It really is purpose-built to the needs of our community.”

That, he believes, is the particular strength of independent pharmacy. No two communities are identical, so no two independent pharmacies should be exactly alike. Each is shaped by the needs around it, the people inside it and the willingness to keep adjusting.

Oftebro does not pretend to have a rigid 10- or 15-year map for Kelley-Ross. The work, he says, is more responsive than that. Opportunities arise. Needs become visible. Sometimes survival forces creativity. Sometimes passion follows opportunity rather than the other way around.

“If an opportunity comes along that fits with our mission of caring for our community, and we can find a sustainable business case, then we will pursue it,” he says.

For Oftebro, the mission is not preserved by standing still. It is preserved by paying attention — to patients, to public health, to the profession and to the community just beyond the pharmacy counter.

Building What Comes Next
Oftebro sees significant opportunities ahead for pharmacists, especially in public health and community-based care. He also sees real challenges. Graduating students, he says, are entering a complicated landscape. But they are also entering a profession with the training, trust and accessibility to fill gaps that other parts of the healthcare system cannot.

His advice to the next generation is direct: figure out what your community needs, and be willing to fight for it.

“Nobody’s going to hand anything to the profession of pharmacy on a silver platter,” he says. “We’re going to have to go out and build it.”

That means refusing to be confined by the way things have always been done, advocating for patients,  being nimble, taking risks and applying pharmacy training in new ways.

In Washington state, he sees particular promise because pharmacists have a strong scope of practice. But opportunity, he says, only matters if pharmacists are willing to step into it.

“We’ve got to be advocates for the people we care for and for our profession,” he says.

That sense of responsibility is also why Oftebro has remained closely connected to the UW School of Pharmacy through teaching, precepting, advisory service and campaign leadership. He sees his continued engagement as a way of honoring what was given to him.

“What I received from the School of Pharmacy was a gift,” he says. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without people who invested their time and care in me.”

Mentorship, he has learned, is not a simple transfer from one generation to the next. It gives something back to the mentor, too. His work with the School and with students renews the same sense of purpose that first drew him deeper into pharmacy.

“I get so much back from the time and energy that I put back into the School and into the profession,” he says.

Learning to Let Go
That may be the clearest throughline in Oftebro’s story: the idea that a meaningful career is not built by holding tightly to what you know, but by giving enough of it away that others can carry the work forward.

He has seen leaders cling to authority. He understands the temptation. But he has chosen a different approach.

“The more I let go, the better this place does,” he says. “I just need to, as I learned from my dad, attract great people and then get out of their way.”

For Oftebro, the future of Kelley-Ross is not about preserving the past exactly as it was. It is about carrying forward the values that made that past matter: compassion, imagination, service, courage and a deep attentiveness to community need.

He wants Kelley-Ross to keep doing “Kelley-Ross things” long after he is gone. He wants UW-trained pharmacists to keep finding new ways to use their skills, and he wants the profession to recognize that its future may not arrive as a clear invitation. It may appear as a gap, a need, a person standing in front of you who has nowhere else to go.

“We may not have the luxury of chasing our passions,” he says. “But we can chase opportunities and bring our passion with us.”

That is the long game Oftebro is playing. Not to be remembered as the person who held everything together, but as someone who helped build a culture where other people could lead, serve and imagine what comes next.

It is a lesson that began, in many ways, at the UW School of Pharmacy — in the relationships that formed him, the mentors who pushed him, and the community that helped him see pharmacy not only as a profession, but as a way of showing up for people.

And then, when the moment is right, getting out of the way.

*Ryan served as Guest Speaker at the 2026 UW School of Pharmacy Graduate Recognition Ceremony.

At the UW School of Pharmacy, older adults from University House Wallingford and Era Living help students build confidence, strengthen communication skills and better understand what matters most in caring for older adults.

The room may look like an ordinary classroom, with students seated at tables and conversation rising in a low, steady hum. But on Patient Interview Day at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, the atmosphere feels more personal than instructional. There are no mock cases or scripted scenarios here. Instead, older adults from University House Wallingford, one of Era Living’s seven Seattle-area Retirement Communities, sit down with student pharmacists to talk about their lives, their health and what matters most to them.

For students completing the Plein Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy, the experience offers something difficult to teach through lectures alone: the chance to practice care as a human relationship.

According to organizer and Plein Center for Aging Assistant Director for Outreach and Associate Teaching Professor Abby Winter, the event, now in its second year, is designed to help students build confidence before they begin clinical rotations, while deepening their understanding of what it means to care for older adults with skill, empathy and respect.

“The goal is to give students an opportunity to speak with and interview older adults so that, when those conversations become part of clinical practice, they feel familiar and natural,” she said.

Another primary purpose for the program, says Winter, is helping students understand that communication is central to good care.

“We work so much on the intricacies of each medicine and how things work in the body,” she noted, “but I think one of the most important things is the communication. If you can’t communicate all that knowledge you have, or understand someone else’s concerns, you’re not going to be a great practitioner.”

Learning beyond the medication list

At the heart of Patient Interview Day is a simple but important idea: caring well for older adults begins with listening. Winter encourages students to focus not only on medications and medical histories, but also on the rhythms and priorities that shape a person’s daily life — family, friendships, independence, favorite routines and the things they most want to preserve.

The goal is not simply to collect information. It is to understand that good care begins with knowing who a person is and what matters to them.

In a profession that asks students to master complex science and clinical decision-making, Patient Interview Day makes space for something quieter, but no less essential: presence, curiosity and trust. It reminds students that expertise matters most when it is paired with the ability to connect.

A partnership that invites older adults into the classroom

For University House Wallingford, the partnership carries meaning of its own. Phyllis Fischer, executive director of the community, said many residents are drawn to the experience because they value hands-on, real-world learning and welcome the chance to contribute to the education of future pharmacists.

“Many of our residents are retired teachers, professors and longtime volunteers,” she said. “Some are curious about pharmacists and the role they can play in patient care. Others are simply interested in the opportunity to spend time with students and take part in something new.”

For residents, the experience also offers something that can be unexpectedly rare: focused attention. Fischer said one of the most meaningful aspects of the day is the opportunity to have someone actually listen to residents’ stories or their concerns, and having the focus be on them exclusively for a short time.

“I also see the value of intergenerational exchange,” she said. “Older adults can help students understand concerns that may not always be visible in a textbook — independence, mobility, isolation, family, resources and the ability to continue making choices about one’s own life.”

Fischer’s hope is that students leave the event seeing older adults as “interesting and credible”, and that they will feel more comfortable approaching and engaging with much older people throughout their careers.

What students carry forward

For Katie Daugherty, a UW PharmD student, the experience offered both perspective and reassurance. She came into the event a little nervous, unsure whether she would be able to keep the conversation going. But she also knew the residents genuinely wanted to be there and wanted to talk with students, which helped put her at ease. Once the conversation began, she found that it unfolded naturally.

“Even though I didn’t talk a lot, my partner shared so much about their life and experiences,” she said. “It was incredibly valuable.”

What stayed with Daugherty afterward was the resident’s individuality — the details of a life that extended far beyond health care. She was struck by how active and engaged residents were in their community, and by the stories they shared about jazz clubs, themed celebrations and other resident-led activities. The experience reinforced something important: older adults want to be seen as individuals with interests, independence and full lives, not simply as patients.

The conversation also deepened her understanding of trust.

“Building trust starts with being present and really listening,” Daugherty said. “Once trust is there, people open up more.”

That lesson, she said, sharpened her understanding of patient-centered care — not as an abstract ideal, but as something built in real time, through attention, empathy and responsiveness to what a person values.

Perhaps most meaningfully, the day changed the way she thought about her own role.

“This experience reinforced how important it is to get to know the person and determine what matters to them, both their health and their personal life, so that we can best care for them,” she said.

One of her strongest takeaways was also a personal one: “Even as a quieter person, I could still have a meaningful and effective interaction.”

A lesson that stays with students

Patient Interview Day helps students strengthen communication skills, think clinically in the moment and become more comfortable engaging with older adults. But its value runs deeper than that. By bringing students and older adults together in conversation, the experience asks future pharmacists to practice one of the most important parts of care: making room for another person’s story.

In that sense, the lesson is both practical and lasting. Before pharmacists can help people manage medications, navigate side effects or make informed decisions about treatment, they first have to understand the lives those decisions are meant to support. Patient Interview Day offers students that understanding in the most direct way possible — by teaching them to listen first.

Larissa Robinson-Cooper, a PhD candidate in Melissa Barker-Haliski’s lab in the #SoP Department of Pharmaceutics, was recently named by #ASPET among 13 awardees to participate in the 2025-2026 Washington Fellows Program. The program offers developing and early-career scientists interested in science policy an opportunity to learn about and engage in public policy issues.

“I’m honored to be selected for the 2025-2026 ASPET Washington Fellows Cohort,” said Larissa. “Now more than ever, it is important for scientists to learn how to effectively advocate for our research and the funding that supports it. I’m grateful to have this unique and exciting opportunity to learn more about science policy, and travel to Capitol Hill to support policies that promote biomedical research.”

Dr. Melissa Barker-Haliski and her lab have been awarded a grant from the American Epilepsy Society, strengthening a new collaboration with Dr. Jeff Carroll, associate professor in neurology at the UW School of Medicine. A leader in epilepsy research, Barker-Haliski’s work focuses on developing novel therapies for drug-resistant epilepsy and age-related neurological disorders. Her lab addresses the growing prevalence of epilepsy in older adults, particularly in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This funding supports ongoing “n of 1” trials for DRPLA, furthering personalized medicine for rare seizure disorders.

Earlier this winter, UW student pharmacists headed to Olympia to push for expanded prescriptive authority, standing alongside the Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) in a powerful showcase of solidarity.

Donning white coats and a powerful message, our PharmD candidates advocated with lawmakers and elected officials to modernize the way pharmacy works in Washington State. Guided by faculty, legislators and local pharmacy leaders, our students are working to cut through red tape, empowering pharmacists to focus on what matters most – patient care.

In an era where Primary Care Physicians are in short supply, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to fill a gap in the healthcare system – one where their impact will be felt immediately, especially when it comes to preventative care and treating minor conditions. Right now, millions of Washingtonians reside in areas with lengthy wait times for medical appointments.

Here’s the good news: Pharmacists are already in our communities – right here, right now – well-established and ready to meet the need.

As highly trained, doctorate-level healthcare providers, pharmacists are the medication experts you see in clinics, hospitals and local pharmacies, managing everything from chronic conditions to vaccines to quick, everyday health needs.

In other words, pharmacists are doctors, too – professional healthcare providers with the capacity to treat everyday conditions like UTIs, strep throat, seasonal allergies and more. So why not give them the power to make healing happen? This is the question our student pharmacists brought to lawmakers in the Washington State legislature.

When pharmacists are empowered to prescribe, finding care becomes quicker and easier – especially for those time-sensitive issues that can quickly escalate from everyday ailment to all-out emergency. Rising above public policy, expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists is about our neighbors getting the care they need, when they need it. And that’s something worth celebrating.

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It’s not every day you meet someone who can throw a jab as effectively as they ace pharmacokinetics, but Michelle Nguyen – a fourth-year PharmD candidate – is anything but ordinary.

By day, she’s studying hard to master her craft as a future pharmacist. By night, she’s…

Over the summer, six eager undergrads set forth on a pilgrimage of scientific discovery at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.

The inaugural cohort of Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars has emerged on the other side of an inspiring experience rooted in cutting-edge research and providing the kind of priceless perspective shifts that only come in college – one that’s transformed their perspective on pharmacy, science and the future.

Launched in June 2024, the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program (NMP) offers undergraduate students the rare opportunity to pursue high-level research under the mentorship of first-rate faculty and researchers from the UW School of Pharmacy.

Designed to inspire the next generation of healthcare innovators and underrepresented communities in STEM, the Summer Scholars Program provides students with funded, hands-on experience in the lab as they tackle the most pressing medical challenges of our time.

Supported by a $7,500 stipend, our Summer Scholars immersed themselves in meaningful work, from developing an HIV vaccine to understanding the effects of medications on babies in utero. Before the first cohort kicked off in June, applicants submitted a statement of purpose, a resume and the names of two references to be considered for this unique opportunity.

For first-generation college students like Claire Truongdang, a biochemistry major at UW Bothell, the Summer Scholars Program was a lifeline in more ways than one: “When I found out I was selected, I was extremely happy – I even missed my bus stop that morning! My mom was laid off this summer when her company moved out of state. It gave us a lot of stress. Thanks to the Summer Scholars Program, the stipend helped us keep up with our bills during a tough time.”

Claire’s work in the lab this past summer – RNA extraction from placenta tissue – gave her a new perspective on interdisciplinary research and how it could shape her future in medicine.

“This project helped me align my interest in chemistry to the career path I’m pursuing in medicine,” she said. “I see myself doing interdisciplinary work that connects clinical and scientific questions. Through my work in the lab, I came to realize that science is rarely focused on female bodies, nor do researchers put female bodies at the center of their scientific process. I want to address these questions and the limitations of our current system.”

When you ask Vincent Chan – a biochemistry major at Seattle University – about his experience in the program, he’ll tell you it was a huge step toward his dream of earning a PhD in pharmaceutics.

“This research gave me hands-on experience with drug formulation and delivery, which is foundational for my future plans,” he said. “I applied because I was eager to get more lab experience. When I found out I was selected, I was absolutely over the moon! It felt like a huge opportunity to advance in my academic goal.”

Vincent, whose research focused on the synthesis of polymeric prodrug nanoparticles for drug delivery, found that the program pushed him to grow as both a scientist and a researcher. “I learned how detailed and innovative pharmacy research needs to be, especially when working on advanced drug delivery methods,” he said, noting that the unpredictability of nanoparticle sizes challenged him to think more critically and adaptively. Vincent added that this hands-on experience brought him one step closer to his goal of becoming Dr. Vincent Chan.

Sydney Arnzen, another biochemistry major, had a deeply personal connection to her work in the lab of Dr. Ed Kelly, which focused on the transport of nephrotoxic mycotoxins – organic contaminants in the body that can cause kidney damage.

“Kidney disease runs in my family, so research like this hits close to home,” Sydney explained. “Working in a lab that revolves around kidney health is a great source of pride for me and the people I love.”

As one who knew she was destined to help others through science, pursuing research has always been a passion for Sydney. “Through my coursework at the UW, I learned about the world of pharmacy and the breadth of research and impact happening there,” she reflected. “I committed myself to finding a niche in research that helped others and fulfilled my own passions. This led me to drug discovery, medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutics. Research has given me the opportunity to make life-sized impact through microscopic means.”

For Sarah Stone of Eastern Washington University, the Summer Scholars Program offered her the opportunity to dive headfirst into research, immersing herself fully for the very first time. “I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy research as a career because I could never focus on it during the school year,” she admitted. “Having this kind of preview into lab work really settled those doubts by allowing me to give it my full, undivided attention.”

Working in the lab of Dr. Rodney Ho, Sarah’s summer research involved pancreatic cancer cells, which required her to develop new lab skills and gave her a better understanding of the complexity of experimental design. “I asked to work with Dr. Ho because his lab seemed to be doing more chemistry-based research, and I thought it would mesh well with my lab experience,” she said “I wound up doing cell culturing with pancreatic cancer cells, then doing cell viability assays after treatment with antibodies. I’m likely going to be using similar techniques in the near future, and cell culture training can take a while since you’re limited by the growth rate of the cells.It’s an incredibly valuable skill to have that I’m fairly certain I’m going to need in my career.”

These opportunities were made possible through the generosity of Doug Mendenhall, a community-minded alumnus of the School of Pharmacy, whose own celebrated career in pharmaceutical chemistry was shaped by a similar experience.

Encouraged by his friend and fellow undergraduate, Sid Nelson – who would later become Dean of the School of Pharmacy from 1994 to 2008 – Doug embarked on a summer research internship that ignited his passion for scientific discovery. Their friendship and mutual inspiration continued to shape Doug’s journey, personally and professionally, for years to come. He made significant contributions to the development of 70 marketed products, with his innovations reflected in three patents.

“That program was very impactful for me,” remarked Doug. “I always had a significant box to check in my estate planning – I’m going to give back to the schools that allowed me to get where I am. That was always a given. It was just a question of what to do.”

Cut to today, and Doug is paying it forward. By endowing this program, he has ensured that promising students have access to the same kind of transformational experiences that launched his career so many years ago.

The inaugural class of Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars worked alongside top researchers at the University of Washington, building skills and making discoveries that will fuel their academic and professional futures. Doug’s vision for the program is simple – to provide students from diverse backgrounds with access to research opportunities they wouldn’t have encountered otherwise.

“I wanted to ensure our first cohort of students came from beyond the University of Washington,” he remarked, elaborating on his belief in diversity of thought for better research, and expanded career possibilities for students.

Claire, for example, discovered how even the smallest moments in the lab could have a major impact: “At one point, I realized that my sample storage methods were causing bad data. It reminded me of my fundamental chemistry coursework and how important that basic knowledge is.”

Given her family history with kidney disease, Sydney’s time in the Kelly Lab gave her a new sense of passion and purpose. “On one of my first days in the lab, I sat down with Dr. Kelly and we talked about the gene that caused my father’s Polycystic Kidney Disease. It was incredible to hear about the real progress being made,” she recalled. “I’ve never been so proud to work in this space.” Sydney plans to continue working with the Kelly Lab through the school year, building on the knowledge and skills she developed over the summer as a result of NMP.

Beyond the skill-sharpening, career-building and memory-making, the Summer Scholars Program instilled a deep sense of community for those who took part.

In the lab of Dr. Shijie Cao, Vincent described the environment as a “close-knit” space where he worked closely with graduate students and faculty. “They consistently offer insights and share their knowledge every day,” he said. “Their guidance and support was crucial to my project.” Similarly, Sydney was moved by the outreach and mentorship she received during her experience over the summer: “The Kelly Lab is passionate about nurturing future scientists, and I’ve been supported in every way,” Sydney stated. “I especially appreciate the moments spent discussing my passions and having mentors take time out of their day to put me on the path toward my dreams. I know the connections I made this summer will guide me into the next stages of my career.”

For Doug, this kind of mentorship is precisely what he envisioned when he created the program. “Pharmacy is very structured… Because there’s a good, reliable professional endpoint, there’s little reason to deviate from that path,” he explained.

Doug’s hope for the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program is straightforward: to broaden students’ horizons, open doors to research and introduce career opportunities beyond the traditional paths of pharmacy. “As a student in STEM, if you get the chance to look into some lesser known directions to take your career, you might say, ‘I want to try that.’ And that was the whole idea – opening doors for bright students to consider directions for their career they never knew existed.”

With the first year of the Summer Scholars Program in the rearview, Doug sees our success as the beginning of an impactful legacy. “This is a great seed program – money well spent,” he stated. “The hope is that it catches on and spreads.” Doug’s ultimate goal for the program is to inspire not only current students, but also alumni and friends of the University to invest in the next generation of trailblazers in pharmacy, science and healthcare.

Moving forward, our Summer Scholars have big plans ahead: For Sarah, she’s looking forward to her senior thesis on infant encephalopathy planned. “Even if none of the knowledge I gained this summer is especially relevant, I’m far more comfortable in a lab now and will be able to work more efficiently.” Claire plans to continue her research at UW Medicine in collaboration with the Wang Lab.

For Doug, giving back is a personal mission. “To me, everyone should be doing some level of giving back to inspire the next generation,” he says. And with the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program, Doug is doing just that – opening doors for curious minds, just as a few were opened for him all those years ago.

Two University of Washington researchers have been named AAAS Fellows, according to an April 18 announcement by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They are among 502 newly elected fellows from around the world, who are recognized for their “scientifically and socially distinguished achievements” in science and engineering.

A tradition dating back to 1874, election as an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor, and all fellows are expected to meet the commonly held standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity.

A reminder to join us Saturday, April 13 for a brand new, hot-off-the-presses event brought to you by the UWSoP Professional Development Program.

Our special guests will empower you with practical information and tools for success at work and at home:

Speaker #1 Tim Ulbrich (Financial)
Co-Founder and CEO of Your Financial Pharmacist
Title: “Rx for $ Wellness: Preparing to Be Financially Fit”
https://www.linkedin.com/in/timulbrich/

Speaker #2 Diane Schultz (Interviewing/CV/Resume/Networking)
Pharmacist and Senior Coach at Pharmacy Career Coach
Title: “Rx for Joy in Your Career: From the Paperwork to the Relationships”
https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-schultz-rph-cpps/

Speaker #3 Katrina Azer (LinkedIn & Personal Branding)
Leading voice in inspiring excellence in pharmacy practice
Title: “Rx for a Thriving Pharmacy Career: How to build a personal brand that brings endless career opportunities”
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-azer/

Here are the details:

Saturday, April 13 – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT
Streaming virtually via Zoom: https://lnkd.in/gZ9Y47km

Following an extensive nationwide search, the UW School of Pharmacy is thrilled to announce the appointment of Daniel Webb as our new Chief Advancement Officer (CAO).

In this role, Daniel will serve as the school’s principal fundraiser, provide strategic fundraising leadership, and oversee the development and marketing and communications teams.

Daniel returns to the UW, having previously served in the College of the Environment between 2012 and 2019, where he closed more than $15 million in current and planned gifts from environment-focused donors.

Daniel most recently worked at City Year Seattle as managing director of development. In this role, he led a dynamic development and communications team and held a hybrid role with City Year’s national development team, providing strategy support to the organization’s eight largest fundraising markets.

In addition to welcoming to Daniel, we would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Anne Fitzmaurice Adams for her dedicated service as Pharmacy’s Interim CAO over the past year. Anne’s contributions have been invaluable, and we are grateful for her steadfast leadership.

The UW School of Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) invite you to recognize exceptional School of Pharmacy alumni by nominating one or more colleagues for the School’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards. Presented annually by the Pharmacy Alumni Association, these awards recognize graduates who demonstrate excellence in the profession, are connected to the School, and have a positive impact on the pharmacy and research community regionally and/or nationally. Awards will be presented in spring 2024.

In recognition of both our professional and graduate programs at the School of Pharmacy, two awards are given to exceptional alumni each year. One award honors an outstanding graduate working in Pharmaceutical Sciences/Research, while the other recognizes an outstanding graduate working in Pharmacy Practice.

UWSOP PhD, MS, PharmD and BS graduates are all eligible for nomination.

For questions, please email rxalumni@uw.edu or call 206-616-7613

2021 Distinguished Alumni Award Presentation

Pharmacy In Focus: September 2023

University of Washington Provost Mark Richards this week announced the appointment of Jayanth Panyam as the new Dean of the School of Pharmacy beginning August 15, pending approval by the Board of Regents.

Panyam fills the position vacated last year by Sean Sullivan who returned to the faculty after more than eight years in the role. Peggy Odegard has been serving as interim dean.

Panyam comes to the UW from Temple University School of Pharmacy where he has been dean since 2019. Prior to that, he was an endowed professor and head of the Department of Pharmaceutics in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota.

“We welcome Jay’s extensive experience in discovering new therapeutics, advancing the pharmaceutical profession, broadening access to students and supporting faculty,” Richards said.

At Temple, Panyam focused on pharmacy education and research. He has extensive experience training pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, supporting faculty in their advancement, and with student recruitment and admissions.

Panyam’s research is primarily focused on investigating the mechanisms of drug delivery with an emphasis on understanding how various biological factors influence the effectiveness of delivery systems. The ultimate goal, Panyam said, is to use the knowledge derived from these studies to devise advanced delivery systems that can be effectively translated to the clinic.

“The UW School of Pharmacy has a long history of leadership in all aspects of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences — education, scholarship and practice,” Panyam said. “I am honored and excited to serve as the next dean.”

In his role as dean, Panyam has been an advocate for pharmacists and has been actively engaged in advancing the profession. His efforts, in collaboration with the deans of the other pharmacy schools in Pennsylvania, led to changes in pharmacy practice regulations in the state, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also been instrumental in exploring and creating new practice sites, shared positions and billing models for pharmacy practice faculty members.

Panyam earned his bachelor’s in pharmacy from The T.N. Dr. MGR Medical University in Chenai, India, and his master’s in pharmacy from Banaras Hindu University in Banaras, India. He earned his doctoral degree in pharmaceutical science from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb.

Each year, first-year UWSOP students complete an assignment in PHRMCY 501: Foundations of Being a Pharmacist I called the “Friends and Family Assignment.” This assignment requires students to either practice their clinical interview skills or learn how to collect medical and medication information from a patient by working with a friend or family member who takes at least 3 medications daily. We typically have a small number of students who experience difficulty finding a friend or family member to participate and are looking for alumni interested in volunteering to help these students.

We are seeking alumni who take a minimum of 3 medications daily and who are willing to support our first-year students’ learning by participating in one 60-minute interview in mid-October via Zoom or telephone. During the interview, students will conduct a comprehensive medication review and will ask questions about the volunteer’s medical and medication history. Volunteers can refuse to answer any question they are not comfortable sharing. The student will not submit any identifiable or personal health information as part of their assignment.

Alumni who are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact Dr. Jenni Bacci via email by Friday, October 14th.

UW Provost Mark Richards announced today that Dr. Peggy Odegard has agreed to serve as interim dean for the UW School of Pharmacy, effective September 1, 2022, until a new dean is selected. Richards and his team will appoint a search committee and launch a national search for a new dean this spring quarter.

Current UWSOP Dean Sean D. Sullivan announced last fall that he would step down as dean this summer and take a year of sabbatical at the London School of Economics. He plans to return to his UW faculty position at the completion of his sabbatical. Odegard and Sullivan will work closely together in the next few months to assure a smooth transition.

The Lynn and Geraldine Brady Endowed Professor of Pharmacy, Odegard also serves as the School’s vice dean for professional pharmacy education, where she has overseen the development and implementation of the School’s new PharmD curriculum.

“Peggy is a valued colleague and champion for our community,” said Sullivan. “I have had the pleasure of working with her in multiple capacities during my time as dean, and I am confident her leadership will successfully guide the School during this transition period.”

We are deeply saddened to report that our friend and colleague Tim Fuller passed away unexpectedly this week. Tim graduated from the UW School of Pharmacy in 1969 and went on to complete a residency and MSc degree in Hospital Pharmacy at Ohio State University in 1974. He also completed two residencies at the US Public Health Hospital in San Francisco and Ohio State University Hospital. Tim served as Director of Pharmacy at Seattle Children’s Hospital from 1981 to 1991 and as a Pharmacist Consultant to the Washington state Board of Pharmacy from 1992 until he retired in June 2014.

Tim enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the pharmacy community. Founder of Timothy S. Fuller & Associates, Inc., Consulting, he is recognized as the Father of Pharmacist Collaborative Drug Therapy for his extensive and continued research, advocacy, and publication on the subject. He is a Past President of the Washington Society of Hospital Pharmacists, a Fellow of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the Washington State Pharmacists Association Pharmacist of the Year in 1997.

Tim served the School of Pharmacy community as a Preceptor and Adjunct Professor for 31 years. In 2018, Tim was awarded the UW Pharmacy Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni award for his generous and illustrious service to the School.

Tim’s UW graduating class (’69) was the first class in the history of the University of Washington to endow a scholarship fund in honor of their class. Should you want to make a donation in Tim’s memory, you can support the Class of 1969 fund here.

On behalf of the UW School of Pharmacy, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Tim’s wife Karli and the entire Fuller family. Our thoughts are with them during this very difficult time. Details on funeral arrangements will be shared as they’re made available.

Katterman’s Pharmacy immunizes hundreds of children against COVID-19.

Even a cold, rainy November morning in Seattle can’t dampen the enthusiasm of volunteers on hand at Katterman’s Pharmacy for its inaugural pediatric COVID immunization clinic. According to Katterman’s co-owner and UWSOP alumna Bev Schaefer ‘70, the event showcases both the strength of local volunteerism and how integral neighborhood pharmacies are to the health and success of the communities they serve.

“This is something that has a huge effect on our community and really enhances the ability for people to recognize that pharmacy plays a vital role in staying healthy,” she said. “To pull this off requires an army of volunteers and a lot of planning. Luckily, we recruited students from the UW School of Pharmacy, retired physicians, neighbors and parents – it’s a wonderful event.”

If the line of parents and children stretching around the block well before the clinic’s 9 a.m. opening is any indication, all that effort paid off in spades.

“We’re expecting about 350 kids coming through,” said Katterman’s pharmacist Lisa Garza. “We’re very experienced in vaccinating children of all ages, so when the COVID vaccine for kids was announced, we knew we had to have it available here. The sooner we can get kids vaccinated, the sooner families can go enjoy the holidays, the sooner schools will be safer.”

In an effort to ease any anxieties for both children and parents, Bev and her team have created a welcoming environment, complete with a bevy of lollipops for the successfully vaccinated and a purple “badge of courage” that reads “Ready To Hug Grandparents! – I Got Vaccinated.”

Operation Immunization, an initiative UWSOP Clinical Professor Don Downing helped pioneer as a training program for students to provide vaccines to local communities, also played a part in Sunday’s festivities. First-year Pharmacy student Zoe Amaris was among the first batch of volunteers on hand to help prepare vaccines and witness the initial wave of satisfied customers trot out the door fully vaccinated with lollipops in hand. Zoe was inspired to volunteer for the clinic due to her background and interest in process development.

“Before attending UW, I was working in pharmaceutical development, so it’s great to see the manufacturing side come into practice in terms of application and giving vaccine doses to patients,” she said. “Just seeing kids being able to get their vaccinations – that’s really awesome. I’m so happy to help and give back to the community.”

Watch the new Pharmacy Frontline video on the pediatric COVID immunization clinic, hosted by Katterman’s Pharmacy.

The UW Pharmacy Alumni Association proudly recognizes Dr. Dawn Ipsen, PharmD ’01, and Dr. Han Kiat Ho, PhD ’05, as the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. Started in 1973 and originally presented at Commencement, the Distinguished Alumni Awards have a rich history of honoring UW School of Pharmacy graduates who demonstrate excellence in the profession, are connected to the School, and have a positive impact on the pharmacy practice and research community. Over the years, we have honored more than 50 deserving alumni, granting them the status of Alumni Legend.

2021 Awards Presentation

Dr. Dawn Ipsen’s contributions to the education of future Husky Pharmacy leaders transcends precepting and her lifelong professionalism has impacted students, peers and the Puget Sound community in far-reaching ways. A Washington State Native, Dawn is the owner of Kusler’s and Clark’s Compounding Pharmacies, where she precepts PharmD students on their APPE rotations. In addition to providing custom compounded medications, pharmaceutical supplements and consultations for people, their pets and health care providers, Dawn and her teams seamlessly and rapidly transitioned to provide COVID-19 vaccines across Snohomish County starting on January 2021. In all, over 50 volunteers have provided 500 hours of service, administering over 4,000 doses to community members, health care providers and educators across the county.

In 2020, Dawn established the WSPA’s Compounding Special Interest Group, dedicated to legislative action and expanding opportunities for new, compounding professionals both within Washington State and across the nation. Dawn’s dedication to compounding pharmacy practice extends, too, through her service on the national Advisory Council for the Professional Compounding Centers of America, where she works to increase patient health and access, and to amplify pharmacy business health and vitality.

The UW School of Pharmacy and PharmD program are grateful to Dawn for her many years of service on the Student Preceptor Experiential Advisory Committee, working with faculty and students to develop student engagement activities through precepting. Dawn’s commitment to the next generation of Husky Pharmacists is evident in her 15 years of service as a preceptor at Kusler’s Compounding Pharmacy.

Dawn’s Award Video

A 2005 PhD graduate of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Dr. Han Kiat Ho, PhD ’05, is currently the Deputy Dean of Students and Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy at the National University of Singapore. Also the Vice President of the Toxicology Society of Singapore, Han has published over 90 papers, which have been sited more the 3,000 times. He has been recognized with numerous honors as the 2020 Outstanding Educator Award by the National University of Singapore; the six-time recipient of the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award at the National University of Singapore; and the Liew Weng Chee Scholarship recipient through the Institute of Drug Safety Sciences at the University of North Carolina.

Inspired by the passion and dedication of former UW School of Pharmacy Dean and Professor Dr. Sid Nelson, Han has dedicated his career to educating students. In his current role, Han oversees academic and residential activities for all 40,000 students at the National University of Singapore while maintaining rigorous academic research exploring various aspects of liver diseases, including the management of drug-induced liver toxicity, liver fibrosis and liver cancer. Before his appointment as Deputy Dean of Students, Han served as the Deputy Head of the Department of Pharmacy, where he oversaw the creation of the Pharmaceutical Science bachelor’s degree program. Han is instrumental in ensuring the efficacy of pharmaceutical research by serving on the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore’s Advisory Panel, which facilitates the decision for approving the use of specific medications, including those for COVID-19 cases.

Han’s Award Video

NAPLEX (Basic Science and Clinical Skills Examination)

Our class of 2020 graduates achieved a first-time pass rate of 97.94%, which is well above the national first-time pass rate (88.43%) and roughly on par with our pass rates for the previous two graduating classes (98.72% & 98.8%, respectively). The pass rate for our graduates ranks #8 nationally and puts us at #1 (out of 7) in our region¹ and #4 (out of 11) in our national peer comparison group².

MPJE (Washington State and Federal Law Examination)

Our class of 2020 graduates achieved a first-time pass rate of 96.25%, which is also well above the national first-time pass rate (84.59%) and represents a marked increase over the pass rates for the previous two graduating classes (87.3% & 85.5%, respectively). The pass rate for our graduates ranks #10 nationally and puts us at #1 (out of 6) in our region³ and #2 (out of 9) in our national peer comparison group⁴.

¹ Regional Schools: Idaho State University, Oregon State University, Pacific University Oregon, The University of Montana, University of Wyoming, Washington State University

² National Peer Comparison Group: The Ohio State University, The University of Arizona, The University of Iowa, The University of Texas at Austin, University of California San Diego, University of California San Francisco, University of Kentucky, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Wisconsin-Madison

³ Idaho does not require the MPJE

⁴ Graduates who elect to practice in California take a modified version of the MPJE

A statement from our SOP leaders.

Roberto Rodriguez, a 4th-year UWSOP PharmD student, has been nominated to be a part of the 2nd Annual Latino Center for Health (LCH) Student Scholars Fellowship program. This program recognizes outstanding students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting the health and well-being of Latinx communities in Washington State.

“This fellowship program empowers students like me to continue making a difference in Latinx communities,” said Roberto, who grew up in a small agricultural town just outside of Yakima, WA, and began working in fields and warehouses when he was 13 years old.

“Most of the people I worked with were Hispanic, and my community was predominantly people of Latin descent,” he said. “As I grew older, I realized that there were many disparities in Latinx communities. These experiences directly influenced my commitment to promote the holistic well being of Latinos.”

For his Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE), Roberto returned to Yakima so he could serve the community in which he grew up. This turned out to be an extremely rewarding experience.

“Because the patient population was predominantly Hispanic, I was able to use my Spanish to provide vaccinations and medication counseling to patients,” said Roberto. “As a future Latino health care provider, I believe it’s my responsibility to give back to my community, and I hope my efforts and commitment will continue to positively impact future generations.”

The LCH Student Scholars Fellowship program includes a stipend of $6,000 distributed throughout both winter and spring 2021 quarters.

UWSOP alumna Bev Schaefer, co-owner of Katterman’s Sand Point Pharmacy in Seattle, has received the Sharlea Leatherwood Memorial Trailblazer Award from the National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation.

The Trailblazer Award – named in honor of Sharlea Leatherwood, former NCPA and NCPA Foundation president – recognizes an outstanding pharmacy owner whose practice has set the standard for the current and future generation of independent pharmacy owners.

“It is an incredible honor to be chosen as the inaugural recipient of this new award,” said Schaefer. “Community pharmacy is my passion and keeping our entire neighborhood healthy is my goal. I am always looking for ways pharmacy can be a resource for helping people lead healthy lives and I continue to make changes in my practice to meet that goal.”

Named Distinguished Alumnus by the School in 2000,  Bev was presented with the UWSOP Alumni Legend Award earlier this year. In 2007, she was named NCPA Willard B. Simmons Community Pharmacist of the year.

Katterman’s Sand Point Pharmacy is an urban neighborhood pharmacy offering many patient care services, including immunizations of all kinds to all ages. Schaefer is a clinical community pharmacist with prescriptive authority for 30 legend drugs, including most drugs prescribed for use while traveling. In 2015, Cardinal Health chose Katterman’s as their Retail Advantage award winner for the wide array of innovative travel services and goods offered in the pharmacy.

Schaefer is a 40-year member of NCPA. She has served on many NCPA Steering Committees, provided numerous hours of continuing education to NCPA Annual Convention attendees, and mentored pharmacy students participating in the annual Good Neighbor Pharmacy NCPA Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition.

With Schaefer’s leadership, Katterman’s Sand Point Pharmacy continues to blaze trails, providing appointment-based patient care services, educating customers about smart choices for long-term health, and helping people embrace a healthier lifestyle. Schaefer and her team are a valued source of education, advice and products, and serve as an essential health safety net in their community.

The first year students are currently completing a Friends and Family Assignment for PHRMCY 501: Foundations of Pharmacy I. Through this assignment, the students are working with a friend or family member who takes at least 3 medications daily to practice their clinical interviewing skills. We have a number of students who are experiencing difficulty finding a friend or family member to participate and are seeking alumni volunteers to help students.

Alumni should volunteer if they are taking at least 3 medications daily and are willing to support our first-year students’ learning by participating in two, 60 minute encounters. The first encounter will take place the week of October 19th. During this first encounter, the students would be conducting a comprehensive medication review and would be asking questions about their past medical and medication history. The second will be a follow-up interaction during winter quarter (late Feb/ early March). Volunteers are only asked to answer questions with which they feel comfortable and students will not submit an identifiable or personal health information to us as part of their assignment.

Please express interest to Professor Jenni Bacci by Wednesday, October 21st. Questions can also be directed to Dr. Bacci.

Volunteer

Students in the Unified Professional Pharmacy Organizations of Washington (UPPOW) have opened their annual gear sale. Purchases of UW School of Pharmacy t-shirts and sweatshirts support student conference reimbursement and the annual Red Square Health Fair. Items can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. and sales are open until October 19th.

On August 27, UW School of Pharmacy Dean Sean D. Sullivan, Washington State Senator David Frockt and other UW Health Sciences deans took part in the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Health Sciences Education Building. The state-of-the-art facility, scheduled to be completed in May 2022, will serve as an interdisciplinary environment for pharmacists, doctors, dentists, nurses, social workers and public health experts to learn and work together.

“This new facility will enable our students across the full range of health sciences to work in a setting that better mirrors the way they’ll be engaging in patient care as professionals,” said UW President Ana Mari Cauce. “This will result in better care for the patients they serve, because we’ve seen the benefits that come from coordinating various health disciplines, rather than keeping them siloed.”

Visit the HSEB website for more information on the project: https://lnkd.in/eqQvakn

This week the #UW debuted a website devoted to the construction of the new $100M+ Health Sciences Education Building, one of the few structures nationwide created to intentionally foster collaborative teaching and learning. Once completed, the building will be shared among the UW’s six health sciences schools and is expected to catapult those programs to the forefront of interprofessional education. Groundbreaking will take place August 27, 2020, with the finished building scheduled to open two years later.

After 39 years of distinguished service to the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Professor Allan “Al” Ellsworth retired June 30, 2020.  Over the course of his career, Professor Ellsworth made many notable contributions to the Department, School, University, profession and community. He has been an outstanding educator and colleague, devoted to providing exceptional clinical instruction to the many students and residents he has trained. We are sincerely grateful for his years of service to the Department and School of Pharmacy.

A graduate of Brigham Young University, University of Utah, and the University of Washington School of Medicine, Professor Ellsworth earned Bachelor of Science degrees in the fields of Zoology (1972), Pharmacy (1975) and a Masters of Clinical Health Services degree through the MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program (2002). Following graduation from the University of Utah, Al went on to complete his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1977 at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. Additionally, he completed internships as a pharmacy intern at Payless Northwest in Portland, Oregon (1974), the Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah (1972 – 1975), and served as a Commissioned Officer (COSTEP) at the Seattle Public Health Service Hospital (1974.)  His career in education as a faculty member begin at the Cedar Rapids Medical Education Program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1977, where he concurrently served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the University of Iowa’s College of Pharmacy through 1981. Upon relocating to Washington state, Al joined the University of Washington as an Assistant Professor in the School of Pharmacy in 1981, and progressed to Associate Professor in 1989. He was promoted to Professor of Pharmacy in 1997. While at the University of Washington, Al also maintained appointments with the UW School of Medicine and Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska as an Assistant Clinical Professor (1985- 1989), Associate Clinical Professor (1989-1996) and Professor (1997-2016). He has also recently retired from medical practice as a Physician Assistant with the EvergreenHealth Primary Care, Sultan group, which was originally Sky Valley Family Medicine.

In the area of scholarship, Professor Ellsworth has made many contributions to our understanding and treatment of altitude sickness, diabetes and hypertension.  He has served as the Principal Investigator (19) or co-investigator (3) of 22 clinical trials, the results of which have been the subject of numerous publications including 27 peer-reviewed articles.  In addition, he has contributed to the publication of over 50 clinical trial reports and authored 12 books and six book chapters.

Over the course of his tenure at UW, Professor Ellsworth has received numerous awards including: 1994 Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists; 1994 UW Department of Family Medicine Teacher of the Year Award;  1995 Bristol-Myers Squibb Family Medicine Research Award; 1997 Fellow of The American College of Clinical Pharmacy; 2000 Clinical Practice Award from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy; the 2007 Golden Apple Award from the UW School of Medicine MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program; 2009 MEDEX Northwest 40th Anniversary Program Award from the UW School of Medicine MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program.

Throughout his noteworthy career, Professor Ellsworth served the University, School, Department and Community with distinction, and played an integral role in the education of the next generation of healthcare providers including his leadership of the PharmD-PA concurrent Program. Most recently, Al served as Co-Course master of Pharm 558, and Lecturer in Pharm 301, 560, 561 and 562, providing valuable instruction with focus in Therapeutics, Contraception, Diabetes, Rheumatology and Men’s Health. Additionally, Al served as Preceptor for PharmP 573 Advanced Practicum. In his role as a clinical mentor, Professor Ellsworth has mentored 11 Pharmacy Practice Residents in Family Medicine and served as an advisor to six Family Medicine Residents. He has also been actively engaged in mentoring the research projects of six PharmD and five Medical Students and served as a supervisor to 22 Physician Assistant Capstone Projects.  Through this work, Professor Ellsworth’s legacy as an educator and mentor will be felt for decades to come.

In service to the Pharmacy Community, Al is currently a member of the Washington State Pharmacists Association and Washington State Medical Association, and his previous appointments include Chair (1995) and Vice Chair (1994) of the Primary Care Pharmacy Practice Special Practice Group of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and President (1975) and Vice-President (1974) of the Student Chapter of the American Pharmaceutical Association. Al has also served as a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy over the course of his career.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Ellsworth on the tremendous impact he has made as an educator, scholar and valued colleague throughout his career.

Dear UW Health Sciences Community,

Our country is once again experiencing the tragic realities of the racism present in our society.

The slaying of Ahmaud Arbery while jogging in Brunswick, GA; the shooting death of Breonna Taylor by police in Louisville; the false and racist accusation of violence against Christian Cooper in New York City; and most recently, the tragic killing of George Floyd as he was restrained by a police officer in Minneapolis.

These are only the most recent manifestations of the racist ideologies we all need to confront and eliminate.

All this is happening in the context of the coronavirus pandemic that is disproportionately impacting the health and economic well-being of Black families and communities in our state and country.

These events are terrifying and exhausting for our Black colleagues, who are more likely to have experienced the loss of someone in their family and community, and to feel the very real heightened threat of racism.

This isn’t something that only happens in other parts of our country.  Our Black colleagues and students here at UW experience racist behaviors in their daily lives here in Seattle that are heartbreaking and wearing.

In times like these, we want to affirm all of the feelings you are experiencing. They are real and valid. It is important that all of us, and in particular our White leaders and members of our community, express and show support for our Black colleagues by standing against these continued injustices.

Each of us needs to consider how best to do this within the context of our own roles and circumstances, but we all need to engage in action to create the healthy, equitable and inclusive community we desire.  And we must urgently address law enforcement violence and inequities in our criminal justice system as public health issues.

We hope you will join us for a virtual community meeting on Wednesday June 3rd to further discuss what it means to be part of an institution that lifts up anti-racism as a core value and how the UW Health Sciences community can come together to best support Black students, staff, and faculty through these difficult times.

Please look for an announcement in a special email to be sent early next week.

In solidarity,

Paul G. Ramsey, M.D. CEO, UW Medicine Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine, University of Washington	Hilary Godwin, PhD Professor and Dean University of Washington School of Public Health	Edwina S. Uehara, PhD, MSW Professor and Ballmer Endowed Dean in Social Work University of Washington School of Social Work
Azita Emami, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, FAAN Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Executive Dean UW School of Nursing	Gary T. Chiodo, DMD, FAACD Professor and Dean University of Washington School of Dentistry	Sean D. Sullivan, BScPharm, PhD Professor and Dean University of WashingtonSchool of Pharmacy

The U.S. News and World Report today released the 2021 edition of its Best Graduate Schools rankings, and UWSOP has been named the No.7 pharmacy program in the nation.

The report, which is released every four years, ranked the school No. 9 in 2017.

“To see our program evolve the way it has over the last four years, and to continually garner the respect and admiration of our peers is inspiring,” said Sean D. Sullivan, professor and dean of the School of Pharmacy.

Sullivan noted that though he’s proud the program has consistently ranked in the report’s top 10 over the last decade, this year’s designation is particularly meaningful. The global threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a call to arms for the School – from faculty and researchers to students and alumni – and they have taken up the challenge head-on.

“I am extremely proud of our entire school community,” said Sullivan. “With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping our communities and introducing new challenges to our health care systems, our stellar team of faculty, students and alumni are pooling their talents and expertise to care for our patients and inform the public.

“Whether it’s utilizing the potential of the virtual classroom, or exploring innovative solutions in the research lab – or in the field – our team is leading and inspiring one another in the face of this new challenge with compassion and conviction.”

ROGER WOOLF, ’85, is passionate about the leadership role pharmacists can have in the U.S. health care system. Growing up, many of his family members were in healthcare professions, including pharmacy. “My uncle was a pharmacist in Yakima,” he reflected. “Talking with him about his work helped me to see the potential impact pharmacists could have when they can be patient-focused.”

In his position at Virginia Mason Medical Center, Roger provides leadership for a broad scope of pharmaceutical services within the Center’s integrated health care system. But he doesn’t stop there. He works diligently to teach and mentor student pharmacists to become leaders in health care and has been very committed to training UWSOP APPE/IPPE students and interns. “I always encourage students to get involved in leadership opportunities while in school. If we are to continue to advance the practice, we need people who can lead with passion, and not be afraid to try new and innovative ways for pharmacists to impact patient care.”

“I am very appreciative of the training I received at the UW and am a strong advocate for the quality of education for which the School of Pharmacy is well known. To be personally recognized in this way is a real honor.”  –Roger Woolf, UWSOP Alumnus

He has maintained his connection with the UWSOP since completing his PharmD degree in 1985. “From the moment I was accepted to the UWSOP, I knew I was part of something special,” he said. “The faculty challenged us to be innovative and push a progressive practice. It was at UW that I really started my passion for advancing the practice.”

He has collaborated with UW faculty and WSPA leadership for years to educate Washington state legislators on the benefits of having pharmacists as paid providers. “There were so many barriers to getting pharmacists credentialed. Working with Don Downing, Jeff Rochon, and many others, we were able to show the benefits to patients that come from having pharmacists as providers.” Now the team travels the U.S. sharing with providers and legislators how Washington led the way in advancing patient care by establishing pharmacists as full members of the health care team.

Interested in earning your PharmD degree at the UW? Click here to learn more.

Link to Department of Pharmacy archived news

Provost Ani Mari Cauce announced the appointment of Dr. Sean D. Sullivan as our next Dean of the School of Pharmacy, effective September 15, 2014.

Sean came to the University of Washington in 1992 and was promoted to full professor in 2001 and associate dean for research in 2010. A pharmacist by training, Sean has held numerous leadership roles, including his most recent role as the Stergachis Endowed Director of the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program (PORPP). Sean has a strong vision for the School, building on its strengths as we go forward together.

With expertise in pharmacy and graduate education, federally funded biomedical research and training, and pharmacy practice, he has the breadth of knowledge and skills to lead the School. We are excited that he brings into this important leadership position a passion and commitment for the UW, pharmacy, science, and the student experience. Please join us in congratulating Sean on his new role as Dean.

We are grateful to and thank Dean Baillie for his service and leadership over the past six years.

Link to SOP news archive

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At the UW Medical Center Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute event on January 16th, a UW School of Pharmacy project will receive a Community Volunteer Recognition Award. The award-winning project is a diabetes-education program for homeless and low-income populations at UW Medicine Harborview Medical Center. It has been led by pharmacy students Paige Mathew, John Eckstrom and Steve Erickson (pictured in that order at left), pharmacy faculty members Nanci Murphy and Skye McKennon DeCato and multiple community partners.[/one_half_last]

This diabetes-education project kicked off in spring 2011 after then-first-year student Erickson and Associate Dean Murphy successfully secured a $10,000 Project CHANCE award from the American Pharmacists Association to implement a diabetes-care program. Project CHANCE awards help fund projects that work to promote safe medication practices and interprofessional collaboration and delivery of services to the underserved.

The UW Project CHANCE team recognized that homeless and low-income patients face additional difficulties when trying to manage their health within the constraints of unpredictable living and eating situations. So the team set out to offer diabetes-education programs tailored specifically to the needs of these populations.

Since 2011, the Project CHANCE team has worked with an interdisciplinary group of practitioners familiar with the needs of homeless and low-income patients to develop a tailored diabetes curriculum. The team implemented twice-weekly diabetes education sessions at the Jefferson Terrace Medical Respite Program/Edward Thomas House located near Harborview. The Thomas House provides recuperative care for homeless men and women who are too sick for the streets or shelters but not sick enough to be admitted to the hospital.

Session topics included “The Highs and Lows of Diabetes,” “Eating and Diabetes” and “Understanding Your Medicines.” The response to the education sessions has been overwhelmingly positive. The number of attendees has increased each week since the start of the program. Participants consistently rate the program as excellent. The participants’ healthcare providers have also remarked that the program is having a positive impact.

Members of the Project CHANCE team plan to continue to expand their health education efforts for the homeless and low-income patients. For starters, they will be offering new education sessions focused on tobacco cessation and pain education, at the request of program participants. The team members will also be working on further engaging UW health sciences students and faculty as well as continuing their efforts to study the effectiveness of their programming.

Multiple UW health sciences students and faculty have contributed to this project along the way. Currently, other key team members on this project are Pioneer Square Clinic pharmacists Mary Kelly, Joong Kim and Elaine Pappas; Edward Thomas House manager and nurse Tamera Stone; UW Master of Health Administration student Tiffany Young; and Harborview nurse and diabetes educator Karen Adler.

The UW Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Volunteer Recognition Award is honoring Project CHANCE for being an example of a successful community-based project that exemplifies a commitment to community service. For PharmD student Steve Erickson, who will graduate this June, winning this award for a project he helped found as a first-year student is quite meaningful.

“It’s been wonderful to work with so many passionate healthcare students and practitioners over the years of this project,” said Erickson. “My hope is that recognition of the team’s efforts by this award will not only fuel the growth and continual improvement of the project, but will also inspire other students and practitioners to develop and sustain new community outreach and education initiatives when they see a need.”

Erickson noted that his favorite part of this project has been getting to know the patients, hearing their stories and being able to be a resource to people who don’t often have the chance to participate in health-education programs. He and several of the other team members will be on hand to accept the Martin Luther King Award at the UW Medical Center tribute which takes place annually in the UW Magnuson Health Sciences Center.

~January 14, 2014

This past weekend at its annual meeting, the Washington State Pharmacy Association (WSPA) announced its 2013 award winners — all of whom are individuals who demonstrate a commitment to the quality of patient care. Among this year’s honorees were UW School of Pharmacy faculty members Andy Stergachis and Ryan Hansen and clinical faculty members Steven Anderson, Ryan Oftebro and Steven Singer.

Andy Stergachis, UW professor of epidemiology and global health, adjunct professor of pharmacy and health services, and director of the UW Global Medicines Program, received the Pharmacist of the Year Award. A registered pharmacist, Stergachis has spent much of his career connecting pharmacists with the public health community. He is presently pharmacy adviser to the Public Health – Seattle & King County Preparedness Section and a member of the Public Health Reserve Corps. He has been instrumental in connecting local and state public health officials with the WSPA and pharmacy leaders to strengthen the role of pharmacies and pharmacists in emergency preparedness planning. He is also an affiliate faculty member with the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research & Policy Program and former chair of our Department of Pharmacy. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.

Ryan Hansen, ’03, ’12, acting assistant professor of pharmacy, and Ryan Oftebro, ’03, clinical associate professor of pharmacy, won the Cardinal Health Generation Rx Award, which recognizes excellence in community-based prescription drug abuse prevention. Ryan Hansen is vice president and director of technology at Kelley-Ross Pharmacy in Seattle, and he is an Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality/UW K12 Patient Centered Outcomes Research Scholar at the UW. Oftebro is a pharmacist and co-owner of Kelley-Ross Pharmacy. Both Hansen and Oftebro are highly involved in the WSPA and the American College of Apothecaries. Together, they led Kelley-Ross Pharmacy’s partnership with StopOverdose.org, Public Health – Seattle & King County, and the UW Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute to provide Take-Home Naloxone in an effort to prevent opioid overdose. This program provides access to naloxone as an overdose rescue kit for anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as anyone at risk of witnessing an opioid overdose.

Affiliate Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Steven Singer, ’81, received the Distinguished Leadership Service Award. His career in pharmacy practice has been diverse and has included community, hospital, managed care, long term care and now hospice. Throughout his career, he has always kept patient care as a top priority. He has served on advisory panels for pharmaceutical manufacturers and currently serves on two committees at our School. He is also a co-chair of the WSPA Community/Ambulatory Care Academy. Whether he is providing historical viewpoints or challenging the leadership to think ahead, Singer is a valued voice among pharmacy leaders. In 2009, he received our School’s Distinguished Alumnus in Pharmacy Practice Award.

Clinical Pharmacy Instructor Steven Anderson received the Bill Mueller Outstanding Mentor Award. As pharmacy manager at the Bartell Drug store in University Village in Seattle, he is deeply involved in the precepting and training of UW pharmacy students. In fact, throughout his career, Anderson has mentored and precepted nearly 80 pharmacy students. His students describe him as a passionate pharmacist who is never too busy to answer a question or offer an explanation. Understanding the importance of pharmacy’s involvement in patient care, Anderson began an immunization program at his facility in 2003 and a travel clinic in 2010. He became an American Pharmacists Association Immunization Instructor in 2012. He was awarded the Wayne Kradjan Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching earlier this year from our School.

Alumnus and former affiliate instructor Glenn Adams, ’98, was also honored by the WSPA. He won the Health System Pharmacist of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding health-system pharmacists and their services to the profession. He is the administrative director of pharmacy for Confluence Health in Central Washington.

The winners were recognized at the awards luncheon on November 9th during the 2013 WSPA Annual Meeting in Grand Mound, Washington.

~November 12, 2013

Link to SOP news archive

The University of Washington School of Pharmacy congratulates the recipients of the following endowed professorships. These prestigious professorships were made possible by the support of alumni and friends.

Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Don Downing
Institute for Innovative Pharmacy Practice (“I2P2”) Endowed Professorship

Downing is a prolific advocate for pharmacists, patients and underserved populations. He has devoted his career as a professor and practitioner to moving the profession of pharmacy forward.

His practice and training interests have included the development of the nation’s first pharmacist-provided emergency contraception program and the first pharmacist-initiated ongoing hormonal contraception services. Further, Downing and then-Professor Jackie Gardner led the first-in-the-nation charge in the 1990s to educate and certify Washington state pharmacists to provide flu shots and other vaccines to large populations of vulnerable people.

He has also created pharmaceutical care and business strategy partnerships between the School of Pharmacy and the Nisqually, Skokomish and Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribes. His close relationship with area tribes stems from his previous role as pharmacy director of the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority for more than a decade.

Downing, along with now Professor Emeritus Jackie Gardner, co-founded the School of Pharmacy’s Institute for Innovative Pharmacy Practice in 2005. He currently directs the institute. As the I2P2 Endowed Professor, he will have increased opportunities to further enhance innovations in pharmacy practice and education.

The Institute for Innovative Pharmacy Practice is a premier center for pharmacy training, research and advocacy. It draws on the School’s strengths in senior care, pharmacy management and community health programs. It prepares well-rounded pharmacists who promote entrepreneurial solutions for better health and better business. It also creates research partnerships to help practicing pharmacists implement cost-effective, health-enhancing practice innovations.

Professor of Pharmaceutics Shiu-Lok Hu
Milo Gibaldi Endowed Professorship in Pharmaceutics

Hu has established a vibrant research program in the areas of virology and AIDS/HIV vaccine development. He is currently part of three, multiyear National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases HIV Vaccine Research and Design grants, for which his collaborative contributions total more than $9.5 million.

One such collaboration, with researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and New York University Langone Medical Center, is exploring the development of protective antibodies targeting the part of the HIV virus that binds to immune cells — considered by many the Achilles heel of the virus. Hu and his colleagues are looking at how structural changes to the part of the virus that binds to the cellular receptor may impact the development of novel vaccines.

Hu is a member of the Scientific Organizing Committee for the AIDS Vaccine 2011 Conference in Thailand this September. He is also a member of the editorial board for the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses and an associate editor for Current HIV Research.

The Gibaldi Endowed Professorship will support Hu as he pursues new directions in research and teaching, such as those emerging from the impact of biotechnology on pharmaceutical sciences.

The fund was created in 2008 in honor of the late School of Pharmacy Dean Milo Gibaldi. He was dean from 1978 to 1998 and was renowned for his work in pharmacokinetics. He helped make the UW School of Pharmacy one of the nation’s premier pharmacy institutions. He passed away in 2006.

Dean Emeritus and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry Sid Nelson
Drug Metabolism, Transport and Pharmacogenomic Research (DMTPR) Endowed Professorship

Nelson is internationally renowned for his groundbreaking research in the elucidation of chemical and biochemical mechanisms of foreign compound metabolism. His pioneering translational research has resulted in 221 peer-reviewed articles and 48 invited reviews and book chapters. His studies have also led to a heightened understanding of how reactive drug metabolites are formed and how they react with cellular molecules to cause toxicities. The ultimate goal of this research is the development of safer medications.

In addition, during his 13-year tenure as dean, he helped the UW School of Pharmacy achieve national prominence in its research activities. Under his leadership, the School secured a top 10 ranking in National Institutes of Health funding among pharmacy schools

Nelson has been awarded two patents and has received the John J. Abel Award from the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. In recent years, he has held an NIH fellowship to conduct research in metabolomics/metabonomics at Imperial College London. This July, Nelson will accept the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s Volwiler Research Achievement Award.

The DMTPR professorship will help Nelson strengthen the School of Pharmacy’s research mission and respond to critical industry needs in the areas of drug metabolism, transport and pharmacogenomics.

Created in 2003, DMTPR is a partnership between the School of Pharmacy and corporate and industry constituents. It seeks to provide the pharmaceutical industry with excellent future researchers and with training, analysis and research in drug metabolism.

Chair and Professor of Pharmacy Peggy Odegard
Shirley & Herb Bridge Endowed Professorship for Women in Pharmacy

Odegard is known nationwide for her expertise in diabetes treatment and geriatric pharmacy and for her commitment to advancing the profession of pharmacy. Much of Odegard’s career has been devoted to highlighting the important role that pharmacists play in patient care and to promoting collaboration among health providers.

Both a practicing pharmacist and an educator, she was recently named the Chair of the School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmacy. In 2008, along with pharmacy faculty members Annie Lam and Jackie Gardner, she helped found the School’s consulting pharmacy program, UW Pharmacy Cares. Odegard has been active in UW Pharmacy Cares in forming business partnerships with area pharmacies and care facilities. She is a long-time faculty member and director of the School of Pharmacy’s Plein Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy Program.

Odegard’s numerous honors include the Washington State Pharmacy Association’s Pharmacist of the Year Award and the UW School of Pharmacy Gibaldi Excellence in Teaching Award.

The Bridge Professorship helped Odegard to initially establish UW Pharmacy Cares. Now, it will allow her to further grow the program as well as the program’s medication-therapy-management training program for Pharm.D. students.

The Bridge Endowed Professorship was created in 2008 by the late Shirley Bridge, ’45, and her husband, Herb. After graduating magna cum laude from the School in 1945, Shirley Bridge became one of Washington state’s first female registered pharmacists. She continued practicing until 1982. She was a long-time supporter and friend of the School of Pharmacy.

These endowed funds represent the unwavering generosity of our alumni and the remarkable work of our faculty. If you would like to support one of these professorships, please click here. 

~June 9, 2011

Click here for an archive of School of Pharmacy news stories.

UW Takes Multiple Top Honors at AACP Meeting

Faculty, students and alumni from the University of Washington had an impressive showing at the recent American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy annual meeting in Boston. AACP, the national organization that represents pharmacy education and educators, has a membership of almost 60,000 people.

Congratulations to the following members of the UW School of Pharmacy community for their AACP honors!

• Pharmacy student Andrew Berry, ’10 (with his faculty mentor, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Jennifer Danielson), and pharmacy student Abby Frye, ’10 (with her faculty mentor, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Programs Nanci Murphy), were recognized as AACP/Wal-Mart Scholars at the meeting. The goal of these scholarships is to strengthen students’ commitment and skills for a career in academia by providing funding to attend the meeting.

• Students and recent graduates Andrew Berry, ’10, Nicole Even, ’09, and Megan Roseman, ’09, were invited to present posters at the meeting.

• Three School of Pharmacy posters — authored by Cynthia Clegg,Jennifer Danielson, Karan Dawson, Dana Hammer, Ellen Maddox,Nanci Murphy, Terri O’Sullivan, Peggy Odegard, Monica Sahn andStan Weber — were presented at the meeting.

• Three UW faculty members were installed in AACP leadership positions. School of Pharmacy Senior Lecturer Karan Dawson is now the chair of the AACP continuing professional education section. Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Dana Hammer is the secretary of the council of faculties. Annie Lam is the chair of the geriatric pharmacy special interest group.

• A team of UW students was named a finalist in the Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition, sponsored by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). The team — Alisha Fewins, ’11, Zsolt Hepp, ’12, Dana Ling, ’11, and Rachel Merrill, ’11 — will compete for first place against teams from the University of Arizona and the University of Georgia at the NCPA annual convention in October.

• Milo Gibaldi Endowed Professor of Pharmaceutics Rodney Ho accepted the AACP Paul R. Dawson Biotechnology Award. This annual award goes to a pharmacy educator who has made important contributions to contemporary teaching and scholarship in biotechnology.

• Alumnus and 2007 School of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumnus Duane Miller, ’69, accepted the Volwiler Research Achievement Award for his outstanding research and contributions to the field of pharmaceutical sciences.

• Associate Dean of Academic and Student Programs Nanci Murphy received an AACP Teacher of the Year Award. This honor stemmed from the Gibaldi Excellence in Teaching Award that she received from the Class of 2009 at the UW School of Pharmacy graduate recognition ceremony this past June.

Click here for an archive of School of Pharmacy news stories.

Click thumbnails below to view full-sized images.

(All photos by Team Photogenic, copyright 2009)

More than 130 alumni, friends, faculty and staff of the UW School of Pharmacy attended the Dean’s Recognition Reception on May 6. It was Dean Thomas A. Baillie’s first year to preside over the event since joining the School this past October. The event took place at the Seattle Asian Art Museum and honored some of the School’s most loyal supporters and volunteers.

Dean Baillie presented 2008’s Distinguished Alumnus in Pharmacy Practice award to Herbert Tsuchiya, ’55. Tsuchiya practiced pharmacy in the Seattle area for more than 50 years and has devoted his life to serving underserved populations and being an active community volunteer and philanthropist. Read his acceptance speech here.

“Herb possesses a devotion to the practice of pharmacy and to patient advocacy,” said Dean Baillie, “He has also shown a commitment to supporting students, a dedication to community service, and an understanding of the importance of global health. He represents all that is good about our alumni.”

This School has amazing alumni, indeed.

Click here for an archive of School of Pharmacy news stories.

When the UW Board of Regents chose Dr. Thomas A. Baillie as the next dean of the School of Pharmacy, it welcomed back an old friend to the UW family. Baillie served as a professor of medicinal chemistry in the School from 1981 to 1994.

Baillie left the UW for Merck & Co. Inc. because of the opportunities it offered him to pursue his research in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics. He has been with the company since he left the University, most recently as vice president and global head of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics.

Throughout the years, the School of Pharmacy has continued to enjoy a close working relationship with Baillie, as he has collaborated with faculty on research and served on the School’s corporate advisory board.

Regarding his return to UW, Baillie is excited to take the helm of what he calls one of the premier schools of pharmacy in the nation. He also looks forward to Seattle’s scenery, seafood and climate. It is a climate, he points out, that rivals that of his native Scotland.

Baillie hails from the Hebridean island of Islay (pronounced “eye-la”) on the west coast of Scotland. The tiny island may be best known for its eight malt whisky distilleries, one of which Baillie’s father managed until he moved the family to Glasgow when Baillie was 5. That is where Baillie stayed through graduate school.

Baillie first came to the United States through a faculty appointment in the School of Pharmacy at the University of California, San Francisco.

When he later joined the UW Department of Medicinal Chemistry, it was still located in Bagley Hall on upper campus. Looking back on that time, he recalls the sounds of Drumheller Fountain outside his office and of “freshman students being tossed unceremoniously into Frosh Pond by their unsympathetic senior colleagues.”

Baillie counts his years at the School among the most enjoyable of his career. “I truly appreciated the highly collegial and supportive environment provided by the School and its faculty,” he said.

As he re-enters academia amid a new climate for health care, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, Baillie knows he will face challenges. He plans to respond to these challenges, in part, by building on and emphasizing the School’s many strengths.

Dean Emeritus Sid Nelson, who stepped down last month, said that Baillie is the right choice to lead the School, especially given his work in both industry and academia.

Nelson added, “He’s a good teacher and a good administrator. Faculty and students will appreciate him.”

Baillie’s wife, Kathleen, who has her Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from the School of Pharmacy, will join the new dean in Seattle. Baillie has two grown sons — a computer animator for the movie industry in the Bay Area and a Ph.D. candidate in chemistry at Emory University in Atlanta.

In his free time, Baillie can be found flying his single-engine Commander aircraft — which he recently piloted across the country to move from Pennsylvania to Seattle. He will not, however, be found playing golf. Although he comes from the birthplace of the sport, it is a hobby that he says he just never learned.

To learn more about Dean Thomas A. Baillie, read his inaugural Message from the Dean in the Fall 2008 Dawg Scripts.

In the photo above, Dr. Baillie (right) shares a laugh with Dr. Rene Levy (left), professor and former chair of the Department of Pharmaceutics, at a conference a few years ago. Baillie has maintained a relationship with the School since he left the Department of Medicinal Chemistry in 1994. He returned to the School of Pharmacy in the role of dean on October 1.

October 20, 2008

Click here for an archive of School of Pharmacy news stories.

Dr. Nanci Murphy, associate dean of Academic and Student Programs at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, has been named APhA-ASP Outstanding Chapter Advisor for 2008. This award, established to recognize advisers who have promoted with distinction the welfare of student pharmacists through various professional activities, is a great honor and could not go to anyone more deserving than Dr. Murphy.

“Nanci makes an effort with each student on a personal level. We are but one generation of students with countless stories of Nanci’s inspiration, dedication and boundless support,” say Emily Schulze,’09, a member of a team of students to nominate Dr. Murphy for this award.

Nanci Murphy is tireless in her efforts to support, train, mentor and care for our students. In addition to her role as associate dean, Nanci spends time teaching students in both the classroom and practice settings and supporting their many extracurricular activities at the University, community, state and national level. With such a busy schedule, Dr. Murphy still finds time to attend nearly every student function, organization meeting and event and her door always remains open for students with special circumstances, in need of encouragement, or simply seeking advice.

“Nanci will always take extra time out of her schedule to listen, give support, and provide a creative solution,” says Schulze.

Nanci Murphy creates leaders. In each student, she sees great potential for leadership, high achievement and success. One student says of Nanci’s unique ability to instill confidence and bring out the best in our students: “She listens, makes suggestions, and through that opens a student’s eyes to all the possibilities that we were blind to before. It’s like turning a prism in just the right way so that a rainbow appears. She takes obstacles and turns them into windows of opportunity and that is inspiring.”

Dr. Murphy may pull these talents from her own personal drive and commitment to pharmacy. She has held leadership roles in University and state-wide programs to include co-director of the University of Washington’s Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, chair of the Faculty Council on Student Affairs, the Diversity Council, the Senate Executive Committee, the Faculty Leadership in Interprofessional Education to Promote Patient Safety, the Washington State Pharmacy Association’s Board of Directors, State of Washington Pharmacy Leadership Conference, and the Board of Pharmacy’s Task Force on Practitioner Competency.

As fortunate as we are to have Dr. Murphy, our school is not the only institution to benefit from her commitment to providing excellent resources, education and support to young pharmacists. Dr. Murphy has had a national impact as chair of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Joint Task Force on the Healthy Student Program, the Curriculum Special Interest Group, and the Student Services Special Interest Group. Dr. Murphy contributed to the development of the APhA-ASP/AACP Toolkit on Student Professionalism, the AACP Healthy Student Program Toolkit, Successful Practices in Student, Faculty and Staff Leadership, and the Pharmacy Practice CAPE Supplemental Educational Outcomes.

“I am very proud to be an adviser at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy where it is a joy and privilege to work with such inspirational student pharmacists, faculty, administrators, and staff,” says Dr. Murphy.

It is the University of Washington School of Pharmacy that is honored to have Nanci Murphy as one of its own and the school would like extend a personal thank you on behalf of generations of students, faculty and staff for her ongoing support of future pharmacists and the advancement of pharmacy. Dr Murphy will be formally recognized at the APhA 2008 conference in San Diego, March 14-17.

Click here for an archive of School of Pharmacy news stories.

University of Washington (UW) School of Pharmacy Dean, Sid Nelson, has been named APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists Outstanding Dean of the Year for 2007. Dean Nelson was chosen from a pool of nearly 100 pharmacy deans across our nation to receive this honor.

Dean Nelson is well-respected and admired by his students, faculty, and peers. His leadership has not only resulted in the UW’s #1 ranking in NIH funding among pharmacy schools, but has also provided the support for students to serve in numerous regional and national leadership positions. “In order for pharmacy students to flourish as leaders, they must have an environment that inspires them to have confidence in themselves, provides the support they need to be successful, and values student involvement,” explains UW School of Pharmacy Dean, Nanci Murphy. “I believe no one accomplishes this better than Dean Nelson.”

Dr. Nelson is a professor of medicinal chemistry and dean at the UW School of Pharmacy and chair of the Board of Health Sciences Deans at UW. He received his BS in pharmacy from the UW in 1968 and his PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry from UC San Francisco in 1974. After three years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), he returned to the UW as an assistant professor in 1977 where he was promoted to professor of medicinal chemistry in 1983. He was a visiting professor at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden from 1985-1986. Dr. Nelson became dean of the School of Pharmacy in 1995 and chair of the Health Science Deans in 2001. He teaches courses in organic medicinal chemistry and clinical chemistry and diagnostics to pharmacy students and lectures to graduate students on drug metabolism. He is funded by NIH for his research on reactive drug metabolites, structure-toxicity relationship and cytochrome P450 structure-function relationship. He received the John J. Abel Award for research from the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in 1981, and was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1986. In 1990, Dr. Nelson received the Alumnus of the Year Award from the UW School of Pharmacy, and in 1992 the Sato Memorial International Award from the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan for excellence in research. In 1995 he received the Gilbaldi Excellence in Teaching Award from the graduating class of pharmacy students. He has over 200 peer-reviewed research publications and over 40 published reviews and book chapters. In 2002 he was listed as an Institute for Scientific Information highly cited research author. The APhA Award is a great honor to add to an already very distinguished career and especially satisfying as it honors a commitment to the growth and mentorship of future pharmacy leaders.

APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists Outstanding Dean Award was established to recognize a School or College Dean who has made significant contributions to the APhA-ASP Chapter and promoted, with distinction, the welfare of student pharmacists through various community service, leadership and professional activities and represents APhA’s appreciation for the recipient’s leadership, inspiration, and outstanding guidance to APhA, the profession and pharmacy students.

“I am extremely honored to have been nominated by our students for this award and for their nomination to be supported by School of Pharmacy faculty, staff, and alumni,” said Dean Nelson. “It is all these people together who make the UW School of Pharmacy one of the top programs in the country and it is their support, and enthusiasm, along with that of my loving wife and family, that energizes me and makes me want to get up and go to work each morning.”

Dean Sid Nelson will be recognized at the upcoming APhA-ASP Awards Ceremony to be held Monday, March 19 at the APhA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Click here for an archive of School of Pharmacy news stories.

Dr. Milo Gibaldi, who served as dean of the UW School of Pharmacy from 1978 to 1995, died Jan. 13 in Chicago at the age of 67. He is remembered at the UW as a humble, warm, gracious teacher, and a visionary leader.

“Those of us who were fortunate enough to know Milo, will miss his friendship, wonderful insights and ability to inspire,” noted dean Sid Nelson.

As dean, Gibaldi played an instrumental role in making the UW School of Pharmacy a premier school of pharmacy, developing a more clinically oriented curriculum, integrating the school into the UW health sciences community, and launching the Doctor of Pharmacy program.  Although internationally honored for his accomplishments in pharmacy research and education, he once said, “I think of myself as a teacher, first and foremost. Even when I discover something in my research, I really get excited about telling my students about it.”

Gibaldi was a pioneer in the study of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug metabolism, bioavailability, bioequivalence, and transdermal drug delivery systems. He published more than 200 scientific papers and eight books, including the Drug Therapy Topics Supplement.  He served as scientific advisor to the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and several pharmaceutical companies.

Over the course of his career, Gibaldi received many honors for his work. He was one of just seven U.S. scientists honored at the Millennial World Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2000. In 1986, he became one of only two pharmacists ever elected to the prestigious Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science. The International Pharmaceutical Federation bestowed the Erik Host Madsen Medal to Gibaldi in 1991 for distinction in pharmaceutical sciences. In 1996, he was elected a fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and was a recipient of the association’s Research Achievement Award in Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Drug Metabolism.

As dean, he oversaw the planning construction of the School of Pharmacy’s long-sought permanent home in the Health Sciences Center H-Wing. Previously the School of Pharmacy had been in Bagley Hall and other locations on the UW campus.  In addition, Gibaldi implemented the two-year, post-baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program, which had been in the planning stages for some years, and graduated its first students in 1982. Combined with an American Society for Hospital Pharmacy accredited residency program, it was recognized as one of the foremost graduate programs in the nation.

Gibaldi received his undergraduate degree in pharmacy in 1960 and his doctorate in pharmaceutics in 1963 from Columbia University.  He was an assistant professor at Columbia until 1966 when he moved to the State University of New York at Buffalo. There he advanced to the rank of full professor and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutics and established a national and international reputation for research in biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics. A strong promoter of collegiality, Gibaldi’s leadership was recognized by UW appointments as associate vice president for Health Sciences (1982-1992), chair of the Board of Deans (1987-1995), and chair of the Board of Health Sciences Deans (1992-1995).

Gibaldi was dean of the School of Pharmacy for 17 years. He stepped down from the deanship on July 1, 1995 to return to the faculty as professor of pharmaceutics and dean emeritus. He moved to Chicago in 2003 to be closer to family and teach at Midwestern University and continue with his research. Throughout his tenure and much of his life he battled serious health problems, and was admired for his perseverance and courage that enabled him to still reach great heights as a scientist, leader and educator.

The Milo Gibaldi Endowed Professorship in Pharmaceutics was created in his honor in 1993, designed to focus on faculty and student research and education in advanced drug delivery systems.

Milo Gibaldi is survived by his wife, Florence, and daughter, Ann. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a condolence and memorial gift please do so with a donation to the Milo Gibaldi Professorship Endowment. Donations can be made online or by calling the University of Washington School of Pharmacy Office of Development directly at (206) 616-7613.

Click here for an archive of School of Pharmacy news stories.

 For more than a quarter century, Dr. Milo Gibaldi has shaped future generations of pharmacists with his gentle humor and engaging lectures. He has taught more than 2,500 students and inspired many more. He served as Dean of the School of Pharmacy and led the organization through its transition into a one-location School. Also, he is renowned in both academic and global industry circles as a leader in pharmacokinetic research. Dr. Gibaldi will be greatly missed by students, alumni and research partners alike

Dr. Gibaldi has imparted his vast knowledge to his final set of students in Spring 2003 and has taken a new position this July in Chicago where he will be teaching at the Chicago College of Pharmacy and continuing with his research. He will remain a part of the UW SOP in an affiliate faculty role. He and his wife, Florence, were motivated to move to the windy city because of family ties and will live close to their daughter, son-in-law and grandchild in Chicago.

Dr. Gibaldi is excited to begin a new chapter in his career. He called leaving the UW School of Pharmacy “a wrenching decision because we’re exceedingly happy here, and I am very happy with the School. We have a lot of ties here, but I do believe it is the right thing to do.”

Though he will turn 65 this December, Dr. Gibaldi said retirement is not even on the horizon right now.

“I’m not at a point where I want to retire,” he said. “I simply want to continue to have contact with students and this is a nice opportunity to do that.”

Dr. Gibaldi says his style of teaching involves reaching out to all his students in a way that draws their varied experiences into the classroom discussion.

“I try to explain things to my students in a way that provides context,” he said. “I have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, so I try to provide information that will be stimulating and satisfactory to the breadth of my students. I present some things that are on the cutting edge and then a basic context so people with less experience can be a part of the discussion.

“My students are very bright and very enthusiastic and inquisitive. I like them pressing for answers and wanting to go beyond the surface.”

Former School of Pharmacy Dean Jack Orr said Dr. Gibaldi was integral in making this School what it is today.

“Milo Gibaldi leaves an indelible footprint on the history of the School,” Dr. Orr said. “It was through his persistence that physical integration with the Health Sciences Complex was achieved. He brought to fruition 50 years of efforts to construct a ‘Pharmacy Wing.’”

Dr. Joy Plein, a professor in the Department of Pharmacy, called Dr. Gibaldi “a legacy at the School. Milo involved all the stakeholders, practitioners and faculty in the planning and the process, avoiding the resistance that many schools went through. He is a scientist who not only understands but also appreciates the role of pharmacy and the contributions of pharmacists in healthcare and society.”

Manoj Bajpai, ’96 is one alumnus who credits Dr. Gibaldi for influencing his career path and leaving a strong impression on him. While a Ph.D. student in the Department of Pharmaceutics about 15 years ago, Dr. Bajpai said he realized Dr. Gibaldi’s “humility, warmth and graciousness. Here was a world-renowned faculty member, Dean of the College, well respected in both academia and industry, and yet as approachable as an office mate to all students.” Dr. Bajpai now works as a research scientist at Amgen in Thousand Oaks, California.

He remembers his last day at the School and a very pivotal encounter he had with Dr. Gibaldi.

“As I was picking up my belongings and wrapping up last minute formalities, Dr. Gibaldi stopped by my office on his way home to wish me well. He said that I was ready, and I knew I was.”

Reaching as many students as he can is a driving force behind his Drug Therapy discussion group. Held once a week with about 150 students now enrolled, this discussion group gives Dr. Gibaldi’s students and other interested guests an opportunity to hear about new classes of drugs and learn how they are shaping the pharmaceutical industry.

His journal club gives yet another opportunity for more students to learn from this giant in pharmaceutical research in a more intimate setting.

“There is a lot of interaction with this group,” Dr. Gibaldi said.

When not teaching, Dr. Gibaldi is conducting extensive research into numerous drug therapies, something he intends to continue at the Chicago College of Pharmacy. A prolific author, Dr. Gibaldi has gained widespread notoriety for his in-depth research and leadership in the fields of pharmacy and medicine. He is considered one of the leading thinkers in medicine.

But when you ask Dr. Gibaldi what he considers himself, he answers immediately a teacher.

“I think of myself as a teacher, first and foremost. Even when I discover something in my research, I really get excited about telling my students about it.”

While teaching has earned him the respect and admiration of his students, it is his research and extensive literature exploring the merits of drug therapies that has led to his widespread recognition among his peers and the pharmaceutical community as a whole.

He has been showered with awards and distinct honors. His expertise in the area of drug therapies has brought him international acclaim. He was one of just seven U.S. scientists honored at the Millennial World Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences in San Francisco in the year 2000, and back in 1986, he became one of only two pharmacists ever elected to the prestigious Institute of Medicine. A few years later, in 1991, he received the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s Erik Host Madsen Medal for those who have achieved distinction in the pharmaceutical sciences.

While widely honored for his contributions to pharmacy research and education, Dr. Gibaldi has been especially recognized for his contributions in pharmacokinetics (the study of what happens to a drug in the body after it is swallowed or injected).

As for his notable accomplishments at the UW School of Pharmacy, Dr. Gibaldi said there are three that come to mind.

He lists them as playing an instrumental role in making the UW School of Pharmacy into a premier pharmacy school, the development of a more clinically oriented curriculum, and finally overseeing the relocation of the School of Pharmacy into the Health Sciences Center.

As Dr. Gibaldi prepares his final lectures and pens his last research literature while on the UW School of Pharmacy faculty, he remembers what drew him to this School.

“I could tell that there was a very strong pharmacy community and a lot of innovation, and a willingness to try new things,” he recalled. “The faculty wanted to build a really good professional program, and they did.”

He believes that these same winning qualities will enable the SOP to continue to be a leading pharmacy school and highly relevant to the pharmacy industry.

“The School is in great shape. To use a sports metaphor, we have solid bench strength. We have great people here who can step in and do an outstanding job. The best is ahead of us.”

In honor of Dr. Gibaldi and his contribution to the School of Pharmacy, gifts toward an endowed fund in his name are being accepted. For more information, contact the Development Office at (206) 543-3485.