UNM College of Pharmacy Masthead
News for Alumni & Friends
September 2, 2014 - In This Issue:
Stay Connected!
Upcoming Events

9/21 - 9/27/14 

UNM Homecoming
9/26/14
COP Preceptor Recognition & Professional Development Day with a C.E. Event
Science and Technology Park
9/26/14


Papiani Annual Meeting

Science and Technology Park
 

9/26/14
COP Homecoming Tailgate
4-6PM 
University Stadium

UNM vs. Fresno State
6PM
Game will be televised

 

Our mission is to develop innovative leaders in pharmaceutical care and research who enhance the quality of life for the people of New Mexico.

 

 

 


  


Send us Your Stories!
Did you just begin a new position? Get married? Become a proud new parent? Know another classmate who has accomplished something incredible and you want to share? Tell us!

Send us an email at [email protected] and we will announce the news in our next alumni e-newsletter.
Introducing the UNM Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2018!

 

Please join us in welcoming our future alumni, the Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2018 to the UNM COP family!  On Tuesday, August 12, 2014, our 84 "first years" (81 Doctor of Pharmacy Students, 3 Graduate Students) gathered to begin their three day orientation to all things and all people COP. This year's class includes 57 student pharmacists  from across New Mexico, as well as out of state students from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Michigan, New Jersey, China and Vietnam. Orientation concluded with the UNM COP 12th Annual White Coat Ceremony for the 81 Doctor of Pharmacy students on Thursday, August 14, 2014 in the UNM Center for the Arts Popejoy Hall. 

 

The White Coat Ceremony celebrates our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, and patient care.  It also underscores our student pharmacists' commitment to provide pharmaceutical care, ensuring the safe and effective use of medications for the benefit of their patients and society. The COP hosted an audience of more than 650 as the Class of 2018 received their White Coats and recited the Pharmacy Student's Pledge of Professionalism.

 

Dean Lynda Welage welcomed the audience and newest student pharmacists to the event, and thanked our long-time sponsors, Walgreens for their continued support in providing the white coats, patches, and post-ceremony reception. The COP was honored to have several Walgreens representatives in attendance this year, some of whom are also COP UNM alumni: Andrew Bustos (Class of 1998), Chris Lovato (Class of 2005), Jennifer Ortega (Class of 2001), Louis Ortega (Class of 1997), Apryl Marlowe (Class of 2011), Jennifer Smith (Class of 2009), and Daniel Quinones.

 

Serving as keynote speaker, Dr. Madeline King (Class of 2002) addressed the Class of 2018.  Dr. King is a 2013 UNM Zia Award Recipient, Assistant Chief for Strategic Planning and Learning Resources, and PGY1 Residency Program Director, NM Veterans Administration Healthcare System. Dr. Donald Godwin announced the Class and COP faculty members from both departments, Amy Buesing (Class of 1982), Linda Felton, Ajna Hamidovic, Pavan Muttil, Megan Thompson (Class of 2001), Graham Timmins, Mary K. Walker, and Krista Salazar (Class of 2004) shared the honor of "coating" the student Pharmacists.  Dean Welage closed the ceremony with the traditional recitation of the Pledge of Professionalism.  

 

Pictures from the event can be found on our Flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/110585689@N08/sets/72157646634198685/ 

 

 

Michel Disco Wins Pharmacy Times' Next-Generation Pharmacist Lifetime Leadership Award

Congratulations go out to Michel Disco, 1973 alumna and COP's Assistant Dean for External Programs, who was named the recipient of Pharmacy Times' 2014 Next-Generation Pharmacist Lifetime Leadership Award. She was presented with the award at their banquet on August 24, 2014 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. The Next-Generation Lifetime Leadership award is given on an annual basis to a licensed pharmacist who has made significant contributions to the profession that have not only improved the quality of patient care and delivery models but have also highlighted the importance of pharmacy's role on the health care team.

 

Michel was one of three finalists from across the country selected from an independent panel of judges chaired by Pharmacy Times' Editor in Chief, Fred Eckel. As her nomination by fellow alumnus, Ken Corrazza (Class of 1963), read, "Michel has been a pioneer in fostering a public health system that delivers free or affordable health care to those who are not in a position to seek it." Her passion for ensuring that the entire health care team is integrated into the whole process is evidenced by her work in flu immunization clinics, student-led clinics for the homeless, Generation Rx presentations, poison prevention education, and health fairs and screenings.

 

Michel is also featured in the August 2014 issue of Pharmacy Times, which can be found here:

COP Alumnus Receives the 2014 Leonard M. Napolitano Award
 
Dr. Paul Roth, Chancellor for the Health Sciences, presents Dr. Albert Kwan with the 2014 Leonard M. Napolitano Award

Dr. Albert Kwan is a two-time alumnus of the University of New Mexico, graduating from the COP in 1977, then again in 1983 from the School of Medicine. After working as a hospital pharmacist from 1977-1979, Dr. Kwan decided to go back to medical school but continued to work part time as a pharmacist throughout school. Upon completing his medical degree, Dr. Kwan became a surgeon and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1985. From there, he served as the chief of surgery at a mobile hospital during Operation Desert Storm. He was also the chief of surgery at Kirtland Air Force Hospital and has    
been the medical director of EMS of 
Clovis and Curry County since 1997.

 In 1993, after completion of his military service, Dr. Kwan relocated to Clovis to start his surgical practice. In 2000, he founded the Clovis Surgery Center and has served as CEO since that time. As past president of both the New Mexico Medical Society and the state chapter of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Kwan's leadership skills have allowed him to serve as governor of the American College of Surgeons and he is currently a delegate to the American Medical Association. This August, Dr. Kwan was awarded the Leonard M. Napolitano, PhD award from the UNM School of Medicine, which recognizes alumni who have been successful advocates and shown dedication to the School and patients through innovation and commitment to education, all while building strong public and private partnerships.

While he has spent his career as a surgeon, Dr. Kwan is quick to point out his roots in pharmacy.  As he says, "The education I received from the COP gave me the best foundation of medical education and surgical training in the past years and I always mention my first professional training is in Pharmacy." He is a current member of Rho Chi and one of his six children also became an alumnus of the COP in 2007, exactly 30 years after his own graduation.

Dr. Kwan has taken his dedication to the pharmacy profession and extended it to his community and his country as a whole. The COP commends him for his service and congratulates him on receiving the 2014 Napolitano award.

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Davena Norris, Class of 2012

Dr. Davena Norris, clinical pharmacist at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, starts her typical work day with hospital rounds with Family Medicine Resident Team. She monitors drug therapy, provides medication recommendations, assists medication reconciliation, provides discharge medication counseling, engages in pharmacokinetic services, and participates in many other clinical pharmacy duties.  Besides working as a clinical pharmacist at the hospital, Davena is very active in pharmacy and professional associations.  Currently, she is the Legislative Committee Chair of New Mexico Society of Health-System Pharmacists (NMSHP).   

Davena has held leadership roles in numerous pharmacy and professional associations since she was a student at University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Pharmacy.  She won the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Student Leadership Award at the end of third year in pharmacy school.  She was the APhA  ASP Policy Standing Committee Vice Chair (2011-2012), APhA ASP chapter President (2010-2011), APhA ASP student Region VIII Delegate (2009-2010), National Community Pharmacists Association Chapter Secretary (2009-2010), and American Parkinson Disease Association-New Mexico chapter Secretary (2012).  In addition, she has been actively involved in New Mexico Pharmacists Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Phi Lambda Sigma National Pharmacy Leadership Society, and the Rho Chi Honor Society in Pharmacy.  All these professional involvement and leadership responsibilities have helped to pave her way to a successful pharmacy career.

Read the full story here: http://hsc.unm.edu/pharmacy/norris.pdf

 

Wal-Mart Welcome Back Picnic

On Saturday, August 23rd, the 17th annual Wal-Mart Welcome Back Picnic was held at the Mariposa Basin Park. Returning and incoming students, along with their families, enjoyed an afternoon of food and fun hosted by Wal-Mart Pharmacies to kick-off the new school year.

 

Our pharmacy students spent the day challenging each other in volleyball matches while their kids got some quality time in the bounce house or playing the bean bag toss. Wal-Mart made sure to keep everyone's energy up by keeping the music going all day and, of course, serving steaks, burgers and hot dogs fresh from the grill.

 

Dean Lynda Welage presented Wal-Mart employees with a special COP picnic blanket to thank them for their kindness in giving our pharmacy students such a warm welcome to the new school year. We are incredibly grateful to them for sponsoring this event for the past 17 years.

 

UNM/NMSU Cooperative Pharmacy Program Celebrates Incoming Class

Director of the UNM/NMSU Cooperative Pharmacy Program, Amy Buesing, introduces one of the members of the class of 2021 to the audience.

On Sunday, August 17, the 2014 UNM/NMSU Cooperative kick off was held at the Stan Fulton University Club at Aggie Stadium. Current NMSU program students, faculty and staff were on hand to welcome 10 new students to celebrate the beginning of their journey in pharmacy school. 

 

The UNM/NMSU Cooperative (or "Co-op") pharmacy program is designed to increase the number of pharmacy students from southern New Mexico. Students selected for this program commit to completing all pre-pharm classes at NMSU and then are guaranteed a spot in the PharmD program at the COP. For those who are from southern New Mexico, this program not only allows them the opportunity to have a rewarding career but also enables them to stay in their home community and make a difference there. Twelve students have been able to complete the program so far, and another 63 are currently enrolled.

 

Congratulations to the class of 2021!

Dr. Amy Lund Featured in New York Times

Dr. Amy Lund, assistant professor of biological sciences
at University of North Texas

 

Dr. Amy Lund, Biomedical Science Graduate Program Alumna and past Post Doctoral Fellow of the COP was featured in the New York Times for her efforts in strengthening U.S. Global Research collaboration. 

 

The article can be accessed here: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/21/us/us-seen-as-weak-on-global-research-collaboration.html?ref=us&_r=1

 

  

COP Students Featured in APhA-ASP's Student Pharmacist Magazine

UNM students, faculty and staff hold a candlelight vigil to remember the lives lost to prescription drug abuse/misuse

Third year PharmD candidate, Joanna Lee, and second year, Nicole Perea, co-authored a feature article titled, "Educating New Mexico and Beyond" for the July/August issue of APHA-ASP's Student Pharmacist Magazine. Written from their experience as presenters for the COP's Generation Rx program, Joanna and Nicole used their platform to discuss the importance of outreach in drug abuse and misuse prevention in New Mexico.

 

Their full article can be found here: http://www.pharmacist.com/educating-new-mexico-and-beyond#.U-Ea2ScURMk.facebook

  
UNM College of Pharmacy
MSC09 5360
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
505.272.3241
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