Message from the Dean

Friends and Family of the UF College of Pharmacy,

I hope this email finds you and your family well. To say that much has happened between the last edition of RxConnections and now would be quite the understatement. The world has received a crash course in public health. Pharmacists (including student pharmacists) have been at the front lines, and this pandemic has reaffirmed the critical role pharmacists play in the U.S. health care system. The pandemic has also brought into focus the healthcare disparities and inequities that continue to exist in our country. At the same time, the senseless death of George Floyd and the public reaction has brought into the forefront racial injustices and disparities that simply cannot continue.

As we face the real and harsh realities of these injustices, we are saddened. I know many of you are deeply impacted as well. In our college, we believe we are a community where each of us can belong. We extend well beyond Findlay, Ohio, with students and alumni from across the country and with heritages from all over the world. Injustices and inequities have no place here. We can and must work together to inspire change.

Across the country and in our own college, complicit silence on these issues will no longer be acceptable; this is what allows this unjust system to remain. Open discussion, albeit possibly uncomfortable, is an important step. Acknowledging the anger and frustration stemming from personal experiences of those in our own community and here in the college is also paramount.

As we consider concrete actions we can take, I have had members of our program come forward already with ideas on ways we can work to address the lack of diversity in healthcare, and I couldn't be more pleased. I need your help and input, and I invite you to join me in dialogue and to provide your perspective on ways we can continue to work toward positive change.

But while we continue to navigate uncharted and, yes, uncomfortable territory for many, I'm thankful to say that some positive things in our College and University haven't changed. Our students and our faculty continue to impress me with their perseverance, hard work and commitment to excellence, and this newsletter highlights some of those for you.

We continue to receive stories about the amazing work our alumni and students are doing to support the health and well-being of their patients and communities. On behalf of everyone at the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy, thank you.

Debra L Parker, PharmD
Dean, College of Pharmacy

A Need Arises in the Community

Personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning agents, and hand sanitizer are among the many items now in short supply due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The University of Findlay’s College of Pharmacy is stepping up to fill a need in the local community by making hand sanitizer in our very own labs for various local organizations including health care systems, hospitals, pharmacies, and more. Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Associate Dean of External Affairs and Advocacy, and Chair of Experiential Education, Tonya Dauterman, Pharm.D., stated, “we learned there was a need in the community and wanted to provide support any way we could.” READ MORE

Click HERE to check out the video from 13ABC News!

Coming Together: University of Findlay Helps Out in Time of Need for Area Hospitals

By now, it’s likely that everyone has heard the term PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), since its move to the top of the mind for most health professionals around the globe. Potential shortages of this equipment across the country is something of great concern. So, when University of Findlay’s President, Dr. Katherine Fell, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Darin Fields, Ph.D., Dave Emsweller, Vice President of Student Affairs, and Director of ESH Programs, Kevin Smith came together to discuss the potential need for these crucial supplies at area hospitals, a plan was created that turned out to be more successful and positive than initially thought…“All of our college areas have stepped up to volunteer,” Smith said. “College of Sciences, College of Health Professions, Pharmacy, Biology, Chemistry, Criminal Justice, and Findlay All Hazards. Again, it’s been incredible." READ MORE

In the Midst of it All… Still Advocating…

By Dean Debra Parker

The COVID-19 outbreak has truly provided pharmacists in Ohio the chance to step up and meet the health needs of their communities. The multiple allowances and temporary rule changes implemented by the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy are a testament to this, and I am confident that the opportunity for pharmacists to “step up” will result in lasting, positive changes for the profession. That said, challenges we face as a profession have not been forgotten in the midst of the turmoil our country is facing. Your college of pharmacy has not forgotten that! Just prior to the impact of COVID-19 in Ohio, the representatives of the Council of Ohio Colleges of Pharmacy (COCP), the umbrella organization representing Ohio’s seven colleges of pharmacy, met with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Randy Gardner, Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, in the Governor’s office in the Ohio Statehouse. READ MORE

From the Front Lines – A Word from the COVID-Testing Tent

Who calls putting themselves in harm’s way “great”? A UF pharmacy alum who is doing all she can to help others; that's who!

When Kimberly (Scott) Marria, PharmD ’14, entered the workforce, the last thing she expected to be doing was fighting a global pandemic on the front lines. As a member of the RiteAid team since 2011, Kim has embraced her role in keeping her community safe. We couldn’t miss the opportunity to share with you a recent post from her on social media. Kim is pretty modest about her role, but we’d like to point out that as a pregnant mom with another little one at home, this UF pharmacy alum volunteered to be on the front-line testing others. She is humble about what she is doing, and gives props to everyone around her, but we are proud of you, Kim! Read what she had to say about her experience. Read what she had to say about her experience.

Priming the Pump – Gearing up for
Fall 2020 at UF

Before we know it, Fall semester will be here. It will look different, but UF is ready to welcome our incoming class and make their experience and education great! Giving the 2020 graduates, who have already missed out on so much, a leg up on having a successful kick off to their college career is important to Oiler Nation.

To help prepare incoming college freshmen for an outstanding start to their college career this fall, the faculty in the Colleges of Sciences, Pharmacy, and Health Professions will be hosting the University’s second annual Prime the Pump college prep week.

Starting college classes, especially those in the sciences, can be a bit daunting with more challenges and higher expectations from faculty. This is especially important this year considering the possible gaps given the switch to online learning in the spring of 2020.

Sandra Earle, Pharm.D., associate professor of teaching in pharmaceutical sciences and associate dean for assessment, explained Prime the Pump offers a unique experience to incoming college freshmen as it allows them to establish a relationship with their professors and fellow classmates before the semester begins. It’s, “a good mix of social and academic preparation that builds confidence,” she said.

Class of 2020 Zooms
into the Profession

The culmination of the academic year usually includes a luncheon for the graduating class. And while UF’s commencement has been postponed until Fall, the College of Pharmacy couldn’t let “the moment” pass without a warm sendoff to its graduating class this spring. So… as with so many other meetings and classes, the Class of 2020 “Zoom”ed in to join faculty and staff from the college in a warm send-off, including a personal message from Dean Parker, the awarding of class superlatives, a speech from fellow graduate, Halle Sattler and sharing of favorite memories. Some of the students even donned a graduation cap to celebrate the day.

According to Dean Parker, this class has much to be proud of. “This is a really talented group of new health care professionals. The profession is fortunate to have them join our ranks. Their residency match rate, their perseverance and outstanding contributions during the COVID-19 outbreak, and their accomplishments during their career at UF have been commendable. This was a small way for us to reach out to them, wherever they are right now, to congratulate and wish them well, until we meet again!”

Dean Dr Debra Parker, University of Findlay College of Pharmacy, parker@findlay.edu