Summer 2020 | View in Browser 

News and updates from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy

Dear Alumni & Friends:

 

In this unprecedented season, which has included a global pandemic, racial unrest, and a “new normal” way of doing things, I have seen the PharmDawg spirit prevail!

No one could have anticipated that a virus, first detected less than eight months ago in region half way around the world, would have such significant consequences. COVID-19 caused us to work, learn, and teach remotely. I am proud to report that we did so successfully. Classes went on; students graduated on time; dissertations were defended; simply put, the work of the college continued.  Now, slowly and with the utmost of caution, we are returning to campus – in phased approaches. Almost all of our faculty and staff will be at their respective locations by August 10, and we look forward with much excitement and anticipation as our students begin to arrive for the start of classes on August 20. However, the health and safety of our PharmDawgs are paramount to our operations. With direction from UGA, we have instituted a plethora of safety measures throughout our facilities that emphasize mask-wearing and social distancing; a hybrid teaching and learning model which will support the need for 6 feet of distance; the availability of hand and surface sanitation stations; signage that reinforces good health practices; and much more. These precautions are outlined in a video we produced recently. Watch the brief video here. 

 
The College of Pharmacy is deeply saddened by the racial injustices taking place in our nation and world, and stands in solidarity with those who call for reconciliation. After the racial unrest that took place earlier this summer, we developed an action plan to reinforce our commitment to equality. First, the College’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee created “A Statement on Loss and Systemic Racism Against Black People,” to reflect our commitment to this critical social and humanitarian issue. Read this statement here. Another action step taken was a “Town Hall on Racism: A Courageous Conversation,” a virtual panel discussion that hosted almost 80 individuals online.  In addition, we are providing our faculty, staff and students with development and training opportunities in order to heighten awareness and sensitivity.  While I believe these initial steps are the right course of action for our college to take, there is still much that needs to be done. In fact, the tenets of diversity, equality and inclusion have been included as one of our five major strategic directions in our emerging Strategic Plan. You will hear more about our efforts in the near future. We are reminded that when we work together to support each other, we do better as a college…as a community…and as a society.

 

Your support and encouragement during this unprecedented time has been instrumental, and we offer a heartfelt thank you. We have been proud to amplify, via our social media channels and newsletter, some of the good work you and your colleagues are doing, such as working on the frontlines of the pandemic, providing COVID-19 testing, conducting research, developing lifesaving vaccines and treatments, producing hand sanitizing solution, and much more.   Please keep your success and humanitarian stories coming so that we can share your good news with your fellow PharmDawgs. 

 

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay PharmDawg Strong!

Kelly M. Smith '92, '93, Dean

UGA College of Pharmacy

During the last eight years, the University of Georgia embarked on what became known as the Commit to Georgia Campaign. It was recently announced that this historic campaign raised over $1.45 billion, which made it the most successful fundraising effort in UGA’s history. In 2012, the College of Pharmacy targeted the lofty goal of $17 million to be raised over the next eight years. Today, we are proud to share that the College raised over $27 million! This would not have been possible without the leadership of former Dean Svein Øie, Dana Strickland '81, and the Commit to Georgia Campaign Board, led by Hugh Chancy '88. Over the next 12 months, we look forward to sharing with our alumni and friends the impact this support has on our students, faculty, and programs. Thank you to all of you that have propelled our College to new heights!

A team of researchers at the UGA College of Pharmacy has successfully demonstrated that a set of drug-like small molecules can block the activity of a key SARS-CoV-2 protein—providing a promising path for new COVID-19 therapeutics. Read more here.

UGA PharmCast, the College's podcast/vodcast program, has some new sessions you must see and hear! Recent guests include Neil Wohlford '95 and Dr. Kevin Hatcher '01, both of WalMart, who discuss how local pharmacists are stepping up to meet the COVID-19 testing challenge. Tune in!

We want to continue to highlight all the PharmDawgs going above and beyond to serve their communities. Please share your stories with us!

 

Below are just a few of the great stories of your dedication:

Dr. Berry Ivey '09 is a PharmDawg on the Frontline! Dr. Ivey, who is Manager of Pharmacy Operations at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, was featured in a hospital marketing piece, which announced that 79 COVID-19 patients had been discharged as of June 2. That number rose to 380 patients discharged by July 30. Kudos to Dr. Ivey and to SGMC for a job well done!

Congratulations to Dr. Ashish Advani '07, who has been named to UGA’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2020! Ashish is the founder of InpharmD, a mobile app and website that provides customized, evidence-based responses to questions from healthcare providers. UGA’s 40 Under 40 celebrates young alumni leading the pack in their industries and communities. Nominated by their peers, they truly represent our best and brightest Bulldogs. View the full list here.

A virtual format did not stop the UGA College of Pharmacy from showing up and showing out at the 2020 Georgia Society of Health-System Pharmacists summer meeting held this month. Scores of awards and recognitions were bestowed upon CoP faculty, students and alumni.

While all of the honors are worth noting, special recognition goes to Dr. Trisha Branan '06, Clinical Associate Professor, who served as President of GSHP this past year and presided over the virtual meeting. She now transitions to Chair of the Board and Immediate Past President. Dr. Branan turned the gavel over to fellow PharmDawg and classmate, Dr. Susan Jackson '06; and it gets even better! Serving as President-Elect is another PharmDawg and classmate, Dr. Christy Norman '06!

Other PharmDawgs receiving GSHP awards and recognition include:

GSHP Officers:
Chair of the Board/Immediate Past President: Dr. Trisha Branan '06
President: Dr. Susan Jackson '06
President-elect: Dr. Christy Norman '06
New Practitioner Member of the Board: Dr. Anne Misher
CSRD District Director-elect: Dr. Meredith Lopez '14
NE GA Metro District Director-elect: Dr. Holly Summey '16
SE GA District Director: Dr. Jason Graham '03
SW GA District Director-elect: Pam Haskins '93

GSHP Award and Recognition Recipients:
Outgoing Officers/Committee Chairs: Dr. Andrew Darley '12, Dr. Andrea Newsome '13, Deborah Mangum '77
25-Year Practitioner Award: Dr. Maura Hall '89, '90
Outstanding Pharmacy Student Award: Brian Tran '21
Outstanding Pharmaceutical Publication Award: UGA Critical Care Collaborative (UGA C3)
Outstanding New Practitioner Award: Dr. Susan Smith
Outstanding Pharmacy Mentor Award: Dr. Linda Logan '85
Outstanding Practitioner Award: Dr. Daniel Chastain
Fellow of the Georgia Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FGSHP): Steve Glass '81 and Patricia Knowles '84
Service to the Society Award: Dr. Marjorie Phillips

Congratulations to these outstanding PharmDawgs and colleagues!

Congratulations to Dean Stone '93, who was recently recognized as a Champion for Opioid Safety by the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation - the first pharmacist in South Georgia to be recognized as such.

 

Dr. Mike Crooks '08 chairs the Opioid Safety Workgroup for the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation. Under his leadership, the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation launched its “Champions” program to help pharmacists and their teams implement opioid safety best practices to fight opioid misuse in their own communities. As a result, “Champions” learn best practices for opioid safety and are given practical ways to integrate new processes into their workflows. View all the champions here.

 

Dean owns IHS Pharmacy & Gifts in Metter with his wife Krista DeLoach Stone '95. Also noteworthy - Dean and Krista celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this month! Best wishes to you both, and congratulations on all of your accomplishments!

Daniel L. Redden '71: "I practice at Community Hospice and Palliative Care in Jacksonville, Florida. Our nurses are testing, and we have over 1,300 hospice patients in 16 counties in North Florida. We have nine in-patient facilities and have converted one of them for COVID-19 patients exclusively. I have been in hospice practice for 13 of my 48 years of practice. It is very rewarding, and I truly feel we are making a difference in end of life care."

Patricia Thomas '67: "I moved to Park Springs Continuing Care Community in 2005. I have loved the abundance of activities, services, health care, fascinating people, and opportunities to learn new things. In fact I learned to dance; do art; did my first and only modeling for Park Spring advertising brochures; and was in a Miramax Production, which was a Musical Extravaganza called It’s A Matter of Pride, featuring The Park Springs Musical Theatre Group. Recently, during the Stay in Place directive for Covid-19, I volunteered to deliver prescriptions from the Clinic to residents of four buildings here on campus. I loved doing something Pharmacy-related and being helpful."

Do you have good news or kudos to share? Please let us know!

Clarence A. Abbott '66 (1935 - 2020)

Joseph E. Barksdale '52 (1926 - 2020)

Bruce Broadrick '76 (1951-2020)

Edward G. Caldwell '50 (1925 - 2020)

Willis D. Chandler '58 (1930 - 2020)

Glenn I. Coker '73 (1943 - 2020)

Lois Rebecca Hicks Evans '49 (1928 - 2020)

Teresa Corley Jackson '81 (1959 - 2020)

Rayford W. Mullis '66 (1942 - 2020)

Clarence R. Newby '61 (1933 - 2020)

Rufus H. Patterson '62 (1937 - 2020)

William C. Phillips '65 (1942 - 2020)

Thomas Reese II '56 (1933 - 2020)

Kathirae Severson '95 (1964 - 2020)

Walter E. Stewart '62 (1940 - 2020)

Peggy Jean Hoard Suddreth '74 (1951 - 2020)

John L. Williams '57 (1936 - 2020)

Charles A. Wrinkle '66 (1940 - 2020)

 

Ask Me Anything with Dr. Grace Gowda: COVID-19 Vaccine Development

Moderated by Dean Kelly Smith | Tuesday, September 15 3:30 PM EST

 

Dr. Grace Gowda is the Director of the International Biomedical Regulatory Sciences Program and Associate Professor at the College of Pharmacy. Dr. Gowda’s areas of interest include product, drug and vaccine development; regulatory policy regarding the drug and vaccine approval process; and research in the field of neuroscience and mental health. She will share her insights on COVID-19 vaccine development and delivery. 

Ask Me Anything is a series of interactive online sessions between alumni and UGA faculty members from diverse academic disciplines. Experts from UGA will discuss the impact of this global pandemic on their specific area of expertise and provide participants the opportunity to ask questions. All sessions are free of charge and are open to anyone who would like to participate. Simply register for a session and you will be sent a Zoom link on the day of the event. 

 

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