The Auburn Pharmacist, Fall 2013

The Auburn Pharmacist

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H a r r i s o n S c h o o l o f P h a r m a c y

APAA Board MembersThe Auburn Pharmacy Alumni Association exists to aid and promote the Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy in its educational function and activities; to support educational programs, conferences, and seminars, both on and off campus; and provide a united voice on issues which are germane to the profession of pharmacy. The board meets at least once a year.

Current board members are:Mr. Bobby Giles, President

Dr. Jared Johnson, Vice President, Marble City Pharmacy

Dr. Brent I. Fox, Immediate Past President

Mr. Kenneth W. Prickett, Eastern Valley Drugs

Mr. James O. Walker Sr.

Mr. Charlie Thomas, Alabama Department of Public Health

Mrs. Becky Sorrell, Ritch’s Pharmacy

Mrs. Lynne Butler, USA Medical Center

Mr. Larry Stephens, Medaus Pharmacy

Ex-OfficioDr. R. Lee Evans, Dean

Mr. Hunter Peak

Ms. Olivia Tintea

Mrs. Laurie Newton

Dean’s Advisory Board The purpose of the Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC) is to provide support in the continual development of the Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University. The goal of the Harrison School of Pharmacy is to maintain programs of excellence and a posture of leadership in pharmaceutical education. The council is made up of no less than


Hunter Peak

Director of Development

Office of Development

and alumni affairs

Olivia Tintea

Development Coordinator

Office of Development

and alumni affairs

Amy Weaver

Communications Specialist

Office of Communications

and Marketing

Lisa Borello

Communications and Marketing

Manager

Harrison School of Pharmacy

R. Lee Evans

Dean

Please address all

correspondence to:


2316 Walker Building

Auburn, AL 36849-5501

12 members, representing the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical research from the perspective of business, practice, and academia. Members are elected and serve staggered, three-year terms. The council meets annually on the campus of Auburn University to discuss issues over a three-day period. Members are strong advocates for the program and assist in development activities throughout the year.

The 2013 DAC is:Dr. Chris Borden, Cullman, Ala.

Mr. David Darby, Andalusia, Ala.

Dr. David Gilliand, Julian, N.C.

Dr. Leslie Hausser, Midlothian, Va.

Dr. Tim Martin, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Dr. Carl McMillian, Indianapolis, Ind.

Dr. David Serota, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Dr. Dell South Walker, Athens, Ga.

Mr. Charlie Thomas, Montgomery, Ala.

Mr. Frank Trione, Daphne, Ala.

Mr. William Ashmore, Montgomery, Ala.

Mr. Tom Smith, McCalla, Ala.

Mr. Joe Dalton, Slocomb, Ala.

Dr. Kelli Littlejohn, Montgomery, Ala.

Dr. Kenneth Boyett Roberts, Lexington, Ky.

Col. Annette Hildabrand, Clifton, Va.

Dr. Brent Fox, Auburn, Ala.

Senior Active MembersHon. John Beasley, Columbia, Ala.

Mr. James Walker Sr., Birmingham, Ala.

Mr. Dwight Henderson, Montgomery, Ala.

Mr. Danny Johnson, Sylacauga, Ala.

Mr. Phil Keough IV, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Ex-OfficioDr. R. Lee Evans, Auburn, Ala.

Mr. Hunter Peak, Auburn, Ala.

Mrs. Brinda Lisano, Auburn, Ala.

Ms. Olivia Tintea, Auburn, Ala.

Har r i s on S choo l o f Pha r macy

4 Greetings from APAA

6 Students

6 Student Council 2012-13

7 Student Council 2013-14

8 Student News

10 Hargreaves Day 2013

12 Medication Take Back Days

13 Alumni

13 Where are They Now?

14 In Memoriam

Cilla Virginia Glasscock Hansen

John G. Milwee

Michele K. Chesnut

Henry H. North

James T. Stewart

16 Faculty/Staff

16 In case you hadn't heard...

17 Raj amin

18 Murali Dhanasekaran

19 Jingjing Qian and Richard Hansen

20 Noteworthy

22 The Year in Review

26 Ways to Give

The Auburn PharmacistContents

Hello and War Eagle Harrison School of Pharmacy Alums,

As the newly elected president of the Auburn Pharmacy Alumni Association, I would like to introduce myself and offer everyone a BIG invite to visit your alma mater. I am Bobby Giles, a 1992 Auburn Harrison School of Pharmacy graduate. After graduation, I married Stacy Sharp

pharmacy and as an independent relief pharmacist in Auburn and Tuskegee. I am honored to be a part of OUR alumni association. I want to make it the association of its members and help it to benefit our school and profession in all ways possible. As a board member and now president, I am eager to accept the responsibilities associated with leading the APAA. I would also like to thank Brent Fox, outgoing APAA president, for his incredible years of service. Brent, you have done an awesome job.

At the APA annual convention earlier this year, APAA presented the Distinguished Alumnus Award to Tim Martin, ’78 and ’82, director of pharmacy at the DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and board member of the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy. The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Tom Smith of McKesson, Ala., for his many years of service in the wholesale business. The APAA will also be presenting the HSOP Legacy Award to an incoming, first-year pharmacy student that qualifies by being a descendent of an Auburn pharmacy graduate. APAA wants to promote our school and profession in as many ways possible by funding scholarships, presenting awards, and aiding students in their attendance to various association meetings and conferences. You can always reach out to the association by contacting me, Bobby Giles, at (256) 505-2256, [email protected], or Hunter Peak, [email protected] and Olivia Tintea, [email protected], both with alumni affairs. Also, like us on Facebook – HSOP.APAA – for updated information.

I encourage each of you to bring your families to Auburn. If you have not been here in a while, please plan for a couple of hours to just drive around our campus and community to view the many changes and beautiful additions that have occurred in the past few years. I live here and am still surprised at what can change in the short time between football season’s end and baseball’s season opener. Speaking of Auburn sports, we have had major changes in our coaching staffs and know fantastic things are on the horizon with Coach Gus Malzahn in football, Coach

(HSOP ’92) and joined C&H Drugs in Fort Payne, Ala., where I worked for almost 18 years. Also that year, Stacy and I opened Rainsville Drugs in Rainsville, Ala., which we still own today. We moved back to Auburn in 2009 with our two boys: Jackson, 9, and Graham, 6, and we continue to enjoy life on the Plains. I now work with Stacy in managing our

Greetings from APAA

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GReeTINGS FRoM aPaa

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Sunny Golloway in baseball, and Coach Clint Myers in softball. Football season is a great time to catch up with fellow alums; whether it occurs at the annual HSOP Scholarship Golf Tournament at the Auburn University Club at Yarbrough Farms, where upwards of 200 Auburn pharmacists and students compete, or at one of the sponsored tailgates on the back lawn by the Walker Building. We are very fortunate to have various events and tailgates sponsored by Alabama Pharmacy Association, CVS, McKesson, Rite-Aid, Walgreens, and many others. Please take time to stop by for free food and fellowship. As Auburn alums, you are always welcome. By being a member of YOUR Auburn Pharmacy Alumni Association, you are able to reengage with what many consider as some of the best and most memorable years of your life. Being a member and participating can help you:

• Catchupwitholdfriends• Networkwithcolleaguesthat

understand your professional joys and problems

• AwakenandenjoythatpassionforAuburn and what it means to us all

• Rememberandconnectwithfriends,classmates, and brothers from the clubs and pharmacy fraternities that helped you get through the dark days

• Reigniteyourfireforourprofessionand pride in your Harrison School of Pharmacy

THIS IS AUBURN. We are alums of a great and prestigious school at Auburn University, and that school deserves our support. As full-time, independent community pharmacists for 18 years, Stacy and I didn’t have time to participate, and rarely had any idea of what was even going on with our school during those times. We did, however, continue to pay our dues to our various alumni associations and even donated a little extra when we could. Let us know if there is a way in which you would prefer to receive updates and information, and how we can help APAA fit into your busy lives. I challenge you

to give a little back and try to find some time to reconnect with Auburn and the Harrison School of Pharmacy. It’s a great chance to run into old classmates and reminisce about old friends, old times, or that old professor who made your pharmacy days crazy.

A friend and fellow pharmacy alum recently said that he didn’t know if he was “working for a living” or “working for a dying” these days. Times are stressful and hectic in pharmacy, so we should all stop for a minute and reflect upon that statement by a tired, frazzled fellow pharmacist. We all worked very hard to graduate from Auburn and gain the knowledge and ability to help others, and we do so every day in our profession, but we also need, and deserve, to take some time. Take time for ourselves, our spouses and children, friends, and community. Take time and slow down. Come on back to Auburn. Attend a professional pharmacy meeting, catch a game, and have some fun. Life is short. Work hard, but remember to live hard also. Find your balance for success.

War Eagle,

Bobby Giles ’92

GReeTINGS FRoM aPaa

These six students served the Harrison School of Pharmacy through the 2012-13 academic year:

Boopathy Sivaraman (President), a native of Coimbatore, India, received his bachelor’s degree from California State University-Fresno and a master’s from the University of Alabama. Besides student council president, he also served as the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) student chapter president and remains an active member of Phi Lambda Sigma, Rho Chi, Kappa Psi, and the Alabama Pharmacy Association (APA).

Takova D. Wallace (VP-Auburn) was raised in Childersburg, Ala., and completed a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Ala. She has been active in Phi Lambda Sigma, Phi Delta Chi, Hargreaves Committee, Clinical Services Advisory Committee, APA, and Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA).

Mark Amoo (VP-Mobile) was born in Newark, N.J., the son of two chemical engineers who moved to America from West Africa to pursue their education and career goals. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Auburn. Besides student council, Mark also serves as the president of Phi Delta Chi-Mobile and vice president of NCPA-Mobile. He is a member of Phi Lambda Sigma.

Austin Ratliff (Treasurer) received a bachelor’s degree from Shorter University in his native Rome, Ga. He has been involved in different organizations such as Phi Delta Chi, NCPA, and APA. Austin has also received many honors including the Most Outstanding First Professional Year Award and induction into Rho Chi.

Chidiya O. Ohiagu (Secretary), from Lagos, Nigeria, received a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga. He has been involved with the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), APA, and Phi Lambda Sigma. He also serves and mentors undergraduate students through Alpha Omega Campus Ministry.

Wesley Oliver (SGA Senator), from Navarre, Fla., received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa and a master’s degree from the University of South Florida. He has been active in Rho Chi, APhA-ASP, Auburn University Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy, Kappa Psi, Phi Lambda Sigma, and the Harrison School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee.

Boopathy Sivaraman President

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Takova D. Wallace VP — Auburn

Mark amoo VP — Mobile

austin Ratliff Treasurer

Chidiya o. ohiagu Secretary

Wesley oliver SGA Senator

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Passing the Torch

These six students will serve the Harrison School of Pharmacy for the 2013-14 academic year:

Erin McCreary (President), a native of Huntersville, N.C., completed her undergraduate coursework at Auburn where she served as president of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. In pharmacy school, she has served as Student Giving Campaign Chair, Class Justice, NCPA secretary, Kappa Psi Gulf Coast Province Conclave Coordinator, and a supplemental instructor for Mammalian Physiology and DAD II. Erin is an active member of APA, Auburn University Student Society of Health System Pharmacy (AUSSHP), Student College of Clinical Pharmacy (SCCP), Phi Lambda Sigma, and Rho Chi.

Adam Patterson (VP-Auburn), from Springville, Ala., received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Besides his role on Student Council, Patterson also serves as the NCPA student chapter vice president, APA student representative, and remains an active member of Phi Lambda Sigma, Kappa Psi, SCCP, and Rho Chi.

Katie Bradford (VP-Mobile), a native of Mobile, Ala., earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design from Auburn. She married her college sweetheart and moved to Birmingham, Ala., where she worked as a kitchen designer for several years. Katie enrolled at UAB before transferring to Auburn-Mobile. She has served as the SNPhA-Mobile president and the Worthy Alumni Liaison for Phi Delta Chi.

Christina Laird (Treasurer), of Niceville, Fla., earned a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences at the University of Florida. She is active in NCPA as legislative chair, SCCP, AUSSHP, Phi Lambda Sigma, Kappa Psi, APA, and the Florida Pharmacy Association.

Veronica Mote (Secretary), from Nauvoo, Ala., spent her undergraduate years running track at Auburn. Since joining the pharmacy school, she has become a member of Kappa Psi, NCPA, SCCP, APA, and Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI). Veronica also serves on Children’s Hope Haiti medical missionary team.

Rebekah Rutledge (Senator), from Mobile, Ala., was accepted into the pharmacy school after completing three years at Auburn. She is currently involved with CPFI as treasurer, AUSSHP, Phi Delta Chi as Worthy Keeper of Records and Seals, and APhA-ASP.

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erin McCreary President

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adam Patterson VP — Auburn

Katie Bradford VP — Mobile

Christina laird Treasurer

Veronica Mote Secretary

Rebekah Rutledge SGA Senator

Leading the Way

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Courtney Watts (P4) served on the AACP Student Network Advisory Committee for 2012-13. Students recommended updates to student programs and initiatives consistent with ACCP’s vision for the future of clinical pharmacy practice.

Rachel Crawford and Tressa McMorris (P4s) won the local Clinical Skills Competition and competed at the national contest at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.

Kent Owusu and Courtney Watts (P4s) received ACCP travel awards which allowed them to travel to the 2012 ACCP meeting in Hollywood, Fla. Only 26 awards were given nationwide.

Ashley Jones (P3) was the 2013 winner of the local ASP Patient Counseling Competition and represented Auburn at the national competition at the APhA Annual Meeting in March.

Tom Achey (P3) was appointed as chair of the ASHP Pharmacy Student Forum Executive Committee for 2013-14. The role is the highest appointment a student may receive from ASHP.

Hayley Kateon, Seng Huot, and Ashley Jones (P3s) won the local ACCP/SCCP Clinical Pharmacy Challenge in April and will represent Auburn in the online national competition in September for a chance to advance to the live competition at the ACCP Annual Meeting in New Mexico in October.

Erin McCreary, Meredith Ginn, Natalie Gist, Sierra Schmidt (P2s), and Grant McGuffey (P3) beat students from the McWhorter School of Pharmacy at Samford University in the NASPA–NMA Student Pharmacist Self-Care Challenge Championship at the Alabama Pharmacy Association annual convention in June.

Boopathy Sivaraman (P3s) received the Joseph O. Dean, Jr. Student Professionalism Award from the Alabama Pharmacy Association. The award recognizes a student leader who demonstrates a high level of professionalism and a commitment to the profession.

Tara Veasey and Ashley Jones (P3) attended the Rho Chi annual meeting in Los Angeles, held in conjunction with the American Pharmacists Association annual convention. Also representing Auburn’s chapter were Abbey Cox (Pharmacy Practice-Mobile) and Paul Jungnickel, associate dean for academic and student affairs.

Pharmd Student news 2012-13

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Eleven graduate students representing Pharmacal Sciences and Pharmacy Care Systems participated in Auburn’s Graduate Scholars Research Forum in February.

Three Pharmacal Sciences graduate students were recognized at the 6th Annual Boshell Diabetes Research Conference at Auburn in March. This is the largest such research conference in the southeastern U.S. and features investigators from throughout the region. For the poster competition, Wanshu Ma (Jianzhong Shen) was awarded second place, Gayani Nanayakkara (Rajesh Amin) third, and Shravanthi Mouli (Amin) fourth.

Subhrajit Bhattacharya, Li Chen, Wanshu Ma, Shravanthi Mouli, Kasturi Pawar, and Richard Davis (PS) presented papers at Auburn University’s Research Week in April.

Saranrat (Sara) Wittayanukorn (PCS) had her master’s thesis published in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy in June. The article was co-authored by Salisa Westrick (PCS), Richard Hansen (PCS), Nedred Billor (College of Sciences and Mathematics), Kimberly Braxton-Lloyd (Pharmacy Health Services), Brent Fox (PCS), and Kim Garza (PCS). Sara earned a master’s in 2012 and is currently a PhD student.

Josh Hollingsworth (PCS) was awarded a 2013 Pre-Doctoral Fellowship from the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education for his proposed dissertation topic. Only 44 individuals are selected from all U.S. pharmacy programs.

Saranrat (Sara) Wittayanukorn, Kalyani Sonawane, and Seth Hill (PCS) presented research posters at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 18th International Annual Meeting in May, with faculty members Richard Hansen and Jingjing Qian.

Ben Teeter (PCS) presented a paper at the APhA 2013 Annual Meeting in March, which was co-authored by Associate Professor Salisa Westrick (PCS). Teeter also was named a 2013 AACP Walmart Scholars recipient, which allowed him and faculty mentor Kim Garza to attend the 2013 AACP Annual Meeting and Teachers Seminar in Chicago in July.

Graduate Student news 2012-13

Hargreaves day2013


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The Man,The Legacy, The namesake

The year was 1926. Dr. Spright Dowell was president of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, but he would leave the following year to become president of Mercer University. The administration at API included such notable names as Charles Cary, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and George Petrie, dean of graduate studies.

Seventeen years later, Petrie would craft the Auburn Creed.

Bennett B. Ross was dean of the School of Chemistry and Pharmacy, where a young, eager man by the name of George Hargreaves came to teach. By 1930, the Department of Pharmacy was housed in the Ross Chemical Laboratory, one of the few campus buildings built during the Great Depression.

Professor Hargreaves witnessed the establishment of the School of Pharmacy in 1941 and countless other milestones until his retirement in 1973.

Two years later, at the age of 72, Professor Hargreaves passed away.

Since then, generations of Auburn pharmacists have graduated without the tutelage of Professor Hargreaves, but they celebrate his legacy every year with the annual Hargreaves Day, a culture-building event for the student pharmacists, graduate students, faculty, and staff at the HSOP.


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Members of the National Community Pharmacy Association at Auburn University and the Auburn Police Division collected more than 170 pounds of unused or expired medications through two Medication Take Back events at Our Home Pharmacy in the past year.

By offering the community a convenient, safe and legal way to dispose of medications, student pharmacists and officers reduced the risk of these drugs being abused and ensured their safe disposal.

“People just think to flush their old medications down the toilet or throw them in the trash, but that can contaminate the water and someone could get them out of the trash,” said pharmacy student Kim Nguyen. “If the medication wasn’t prescribed for you, then they are being used inappropriately.”

Each local Take Back day coincided with the national effort of the Drug Enforcement Administration to combat the abuse of prescription drugs. Since the DEA began sponsoring Take Back days in 2010, more than 2.8 million pounds of pills have been collected nationwide.

According to the 2011 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 6 million Americans abuse

prescription drugs. That same study revealed more than 70 percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers got them through friends or relatives, a statistic that includes raiding the family medicine cabinet.

NCPA vice president Adam Patterson said it was common for student pharmacists to encounter people who simply did not know what to do with old medications or medications that had belonged to a family member who passed away.

“As of right now, this is the best way to dispose of your medications,” he said.

(See update on alumna Elaine Beech on opposite page.)

Before Take Back days, the common method for disposal was flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash. But both pose potential safety and health hazards to people and the environment.

Patterson and Nguyen appreciated the Take Back events as opportunities to help the community and environment, as well as practice what they’ve learned in class. Student pharmacists test their knowledge of various medications and work on patient interaction, which is strongly emphasized in Auburn’s pharmacy school.

“As pharmacists, we are the experts in medications, so we feel that it’s a community service to collect them and answer any questions or concerns the community may have,” said Patterson. “We can also counsel those patients who receive a free blood pressure or blood sugar check at our events. So it’s very beneficial from our standpoint as student pharmacists.”

“It’s just a good way to get out in the community and make our presence known that we are pharmacy students, and we are here to be more than just behind the counter,” added Nguyen.

Students, Police Remove unused and expired Medications From Homes


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Ken Fields, ’07, received the 2013 Young Alumni Achievement Award from the Auburn Alumni Association. The annual award recognizes extraordinary accomplishments by members of the Auburn Family. After graduation, he purchased a 25-year-old independent Waynesville, Ohio, family pharmacy and began launching innovative healthcare programs, such as founding a national pharmacy benefit management company (ApproRX), establishing a Suboxone clinic for opiate addiction, and establishing Fields Mini-Medical Clinic with his wife, Katie Vaughan Fields, ’07, who is part of the mini-medical staff. He was named the U.S. Entrepreneur of the Year for 2011 by Pharmacy Times Magazine, Parata, and Next Generation Pharmacist, and was named a 2010 Outstanding Independent Pharmacist by Drug Topics. In 2010, Waynesville Pharmacy was named the Most Innovative Pharmacy in America by Drug Topics magazine.

Deborah A. Brown, ’76, was named a 2013 American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists Fellow under ASHP’s Practitioner Recognition Program. The program recognizes excellence in pharmacy practice and promotes public awareness of pharmacists who have distinguished themselves in practice. Brown currently serves as market director of pharmacy (Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas) for Cardinal Health Pharmacy Solutions.

Addison Ragan, ’00, Lauren Rass, ’12, and Lynsey Neighbors, ’06, were part of an article published in ASHP InterSections magazine about the innovative pharmacy practice model of clinical pharmacists at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System in Montgomery, Ala.

After working more than 40 years as pharmacists, Dewey Jordan, ’66, and Alice Jordan, ’65, have retired and moved to Raleigh, N.C. They will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in October.

Lucinda Maine, ’80, was recognized as the Harrison School of Pharmacy’s selection for the 2013 Rho Chi Alumni Honor Roll at Rho Chi Society’s annual meeting. She serves as executive vice president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

Brent Fox, ’99 and ’05, and Georgia Fox, ’05, welcomed a baby girl, Grace Anne, into the world on May 24, 2013. The bundle of joy weighed seven pounds and was 19.5 inches long. Brent and Georgia have been on the faculty in the Harrison School of Pharmacy since 2006.

Elaine H. Beech, ’83, the Alabama State Representative for District 65, sponsored a bill this year for the Alabama Pharmacy Association that would allow pharmacies in Alabama to accept unused or expired dispensed medications for destruction. Beech supported the bill as a way to reduce the chances of old or expired medications from being misused, abused, or disposed of improperly. She said the new law would not be a requirement for pharmacies; participation would be strictly voluntary. The bill passed both houses of the legislature and was signed by the governor in May. It became law this fall.

Where Are They now?

I N M e M o R I a M


CLASS OF ’82

Michele Keller Chesnut

Oct. 17, 1959 – March 15, 2013

Michele K. Chesnut was in a fatal accident while cycling with friends at Neal’s Gap, north of Dahlonega, Ga. She died at the scene, with cycling friends by her side. Michele graduated from Grissom High School in Huntsville, Ala. A year after graduating from Auburn University, she married Jim Chesnut and moved to

Cumming, Ga. Michele was a longtime member of the Cumming First United Methodist Church, where she volunteered with the food pantry. She also participated with Meals on Wheels, the Methodist Women’s Club, the American Cancer Society and random acts of kindness and love to others. Michele worked for Walmart pharmacy for more than 23 years and had worked as a pharmacist at Goodson Drugs in Cumming. Michele loved spending time with her family and all types of outdoor activities including hiking; boating; travel; her dogs, Moe, OZ, and Huck; and yes, her favorite sport, cycling.

CLASS OF ’57

Henry Hiram North

Dec. 22, 1934 in Houston County, Ala. – April 2, 2013 in Montgomery, Ala.

Henry H. North was a registered pharmacist and worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative for Eli Lilly & Co. He was a member of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Ala. Mr. North is survived by his wife of 54 years, Thadis Wiggins North; two sons; four grandchildren; a brother; nieces; and nephews.

CLASS OF ’48

Cilla Virginia Glasscock Hansen

1926 in Hartselle, Ala. – Jan. 14, 2013 in Matthews, N.C.

When Cilla Virginia Glasscock Hansen earned her degree from Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1948, she became one of the first females to graduate from the School of Pharmacy. She was born to Rachel Drucilla Harris Quinn Glasscock and Ulysses Yancy Glasscock and raised in Hartselle, Ala. She

was intellectually curious, an advocate of proper language usage, and technically capable in aspects of design and construction. She enjoyed cooking for her family and, true to her Southern roots, was fabulous at it. Her favorite pastimes included listening to jazz, gardening, and playing tennis. Per her wishes, her body was donated to research and education programs at Duke University.

CLASS OF ’79

John Gregg Milwee

Oct. 29, 1955 in Gadsden, Ala. – Feb. 28, 2013 in Mobile, Ala.

John G. Milwee was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Mobile, Ala., Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society, Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity, and a lifetime member of the Auburn University Alumni Association. He was employed by Rite-Aid Pharmacy for 30 years and was the recipient of numerous favorite pharmacist awards. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed watching his children play sports.


I N M e M o R I a M

CLASS OF ’60

James Thomas Stewart

James T. Stewart, 74, died at his home in Athens, Ga., on May 11, 2013, after an 11-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He earned a PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Michigan and moved to Athens, Ga., in 1967. A professor emeritus in the University of Georgia’s College of Pharmacy, Dr. Stewart retired in 2002, after 35 years of teaching. His career included academic positions at Georgia and collaborative research projects with pharmaceutical industrial firms and government, service on the Food Chemicals Codex Revision Committee and the Federal Drug Administration Pharmaceutical Science Advisory Committee, and serving for 25 years on the Board of Experts of the United States Pharmacopeia.

Dr. Stewart was often recognized for his work in pharmaceutical analysis. His scholarly and research contributions were reported in papers and published in recognized journals and presentations at national and international meetings. He contributed book chapters for textbooks and co-authored a textbook.

During his career, Dr. Stewart received many awards, including Teacher of the Year, and was the recipient of the 1990 Research Achievement Award in Pharmaceutical Analysis & Quality, presented by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. In 1993, he received the Justin L. Powers Research Achievement Award in Pharmaceutical Analysis, presented by the American Pharmaceutical Association. He was selected for the 1998 Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy and was awarded the 2002 Career Research Award by the Northeast Georgia American Chemical Society Section.

Dr. Stewart was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Athens, where he was a faithful member of the Chancel Choir and the Mellows, a volunteer group that sings for shut-ins. The Tuesday Morning Men’s Bible Study fellowship was a source of friendship and inspiration for him.

He shared a love of music, model trains, and travel with his grandkids, family, and friends. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ella J. Stewart; three daughters; a brother; eight grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and one nephew.

A team of academic representatives from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS) visited the Mobile and Auburn campuses in March, as part of the university’s 10-year accreditation review.

Ten staff members were acknowledged at Auburn’s annual service recognition ceremony in May. Janie Rowell (accounting) retired after 37 years. Kandi Dawson (accounting) has served 25 years; Laurie Kenney Gann (Student Affairs) 20 years; Selena Day (Office of Teaching, Learning and Assessment) 10 years; and Leigh Ann Ballard and Carolyn Campbell (Dean’s Office); Charles Woosley (Student Affairs); and Lisa Black, Chuck Bolivar, and Marian Williams (Mobile) have each served five years.

Olivia Tintea joined the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs as a coordinator in March. From Doylestown, Penn., she received an associate’s degree in specialized business and marketing management from Lansdale School of Business and a bachelor’s in business administration from Delaware Valley College. Tintea comes to Auburn with eight years of experience in banking and finance, as well as four years of accounting experience.

Amanda Fowler is the new administrative manager in the Office of Post Graduate Education. Born in the Dothan, Ala., area, Fowler has called Auburn home for almost 15 years. She completed her bachelor’s degree from Auburn in 2004 and a master’s in health promotion in 2006. She and husband, Michael, live in Auburn with their son, Fletcher. Amanda enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, cooking, and supporting Auburn football.

In case you hadn’t heard…

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In case you hadn’t heard…


Rajesh Amin doesn’t consider himself to be a great mentor, but his students are sure of it.

His graduate students – from the Harrison School of Pharmacy, as well as the College of Veterinary Medicine, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, and College of Education – teamed up this year to nominate him for the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award.

The Graduate Student Council uses the award to recognize graduate faculty members who go above and beyond their

duty as teachers, advisers, and mentors. A committee of graduate students reviewed a pool of nearly 40 nominees from across campus and selected four winners based on the strength of letters of support.

Amin’s students successfully hid their plan from him, making the award a complete surprise.

“It’s a funny thing. I had no idea that my students were writing the letters of recommendation for me or anything,” he recalled. “One time they were busy writing the letters, and I said ‘wow. This is great.

Y’all are busy writing manuscripts for your work.’ Little did I know that was not the case at all.

“It was definitely a surprise. I honestly had no idea, but I feel deeply grateful that my students took the time and initiative to consider me for this prestigious award.”

Coincidentally, every letter of support mentioned Amin’s willingness to make time for students.

“There never was a time he was too busy to meet me or any other student who seeks help from him. He is always more than willing to share his vast knowledge with students,” wrote Gayani Nanayakkara, a PhD candidate in Amin’s lab, pictured at left with Amin.

Graham McGinnis, a doctoral candidate in kinesiology, said “his accessibility and generosity represent a truly important aspect of the Auburn Family.”

Amin, who’s been at Auburn for almost five years, said he considers his students family.

“I try and give them the potential to grow in self-confidence as well as with creativity, so when they leave our lab they will be best suited to reach their goals,” he said.

PhD candidate Kasturi Pawar raved about Amin’s ability to address her research queries with “patience and great enthusiasm,” even though he is not her major professor in Pharmacal Sciences. Perhaps more importantly though is how much he helped her as an international student.

“Because of him, transitioning into life as an Auburn student was a little easier for me,” she said. “Over the last four years, he has, in fact, become a role model for me, and I look up to him as a professional and personal friend.”

Students ensure amin Named outstanding Graduate Mentor



Dhanasekaran Named First outstanding Faculty advisor by auburn’s Provost

Murali Dhanasekaran, an associate professor in Pharmacal Sciences, had never taught a class until he came to the Harrison School of Pharmacy seven years ago.

The role evidently suits him. A scientist by trade, Dhanasekaran said he simply emulates his former teachers and mentors. They were demanding but fair, and they taught him the value of hard work; one showed him the value of teaching.

“I’m known for challenging my students,” he said. “My goal is to challenge these beautiful young minds so they will rise to the occasion.”

And rise they have. Just as Dhanasekaran talks about the accomplishments of his own young son, Rishi, he raves about his graduate students. All of them have left the Plains for some of the nation’s top research institutions: Emory, Alabama-Birmingham, Johns Hopkins, Georgia, and Tulane.

For all that he has done for his students, Dhanasekaran was recognized in April with one of the first Provost Advising Awards. The Office of the Provost created the new annual award to acknowledge outstanding staff and faculty across campus. Only four people out of all nominations were selected and named Outstanding New Advisor, Outstanding Advisor, Outstanding Faculty Advisor, and Outstanding Advising Administrator.

Initially, Dhanasekaran only knew someone in the pharmacy school – his colleagues or his students – thought he was worthy of a nomination. That gesture, in and of itself, meant the world to him. But once he realized that a university committee examined perhaps 100 nominations from across campus and only selected four honorees, Dhanasekaran was astounded to be among such elite company.

As the Outstanding Faculty Advisor selection, Dhanasekaran and his family attended a special luncheon in April.

“It made me more humble,” he said. “The way they honored us was very touching.”

Dhanasekaran hasn’t let such admiration go to his head. He still demands much of his students. He views the award as a reminder that he is meant to work with students, constantly inspiring them to their potential.

“Teaching is about stimulating them to learn, making them appreciate my strict ability to motivate them,” he said. “I think they especially appreciate it when they understand and retain concepts.”

Dhanasekaran works with PharmD and master’s and PhD candidates who assist him in research of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.



Mentorship with Department Head Pays off for Junior Faculty Member

When Jingjing Qian joined the faculty of the Harrison School of Pharmacy in January 2012, she acquired a new research partner – the head of the Department of Pharmacy Care Systems.

At Auburn, junior faculty members are mentored by a senior colleague with similar research interests. For Qian, who earned a master’s from the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine and a PhD from Maryland’s School of Pharmacy, her mentor was also her new department head, professor Richard Hansen.

Their common research interests lie in health services utilization and mental health. Hansen, the more experienced of the two, realized before Qian was hired that they would be able to collaborate on research and teaching. Qian said she was aware of his expertise before committing to Auburn.

Within a year, the research partnership resulted in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy bestowing the New Investigator Award to Qian. The award came with $10,000 to fund her study, “Psychiatric Health Services Utilization and Spending among Young Medicare Enrollees.”

As her mentor, Qian said Hansen has been influential in moving her research forward and helping her develop funding proposals.

“I feel like I’m in good hands,” she said. “He has helped me think about issues from different angles, which convinced me to revise my methods.”

AACP awarded 17 New Investigator Awards in 2012-13 to individual faculty starting their academic careers at U.S. colleges and schools of pharmacy that are accredited by ACPE and whose institution is a regular institutional member of AACP. Each award winner will also receive $1,000 from AACP for required travel to present the investigator’s research findings at the AACP Annual Meeting on July 26-30, 2014, in Texas.

Hansen is optimistic Qian will be able to use the results of this study to apply for a larger grant from the National Institutes of Health in the next year and move her research even farther ahead.

“Young and disabled Medicare patients are understudied, while the prevalence of psychological conditions among them is high, resulting in the use of intense medications,” explained Qian.

“To be able to make things better for these patients, we must know what’s good and what’s bad for them, what approaches work and what doesn’t work,” added Hansen. “Right now, there aren’t enough studies to know any of that.”

In the classroom, Hansen and Qian have co-taught Pharmaceutical Economics, Outcomes and Policy; Pharmacoepidemiology; and Research Methods for the Health Sciences. They are currently developing a new elective course of Principles of Epidemiology for students in pharmacy, nursing, and veterinary medicine, which is targeted to be offered in spring 2015.

Qian also works closely with Hansen to mentor a PhD student.

“It’s been a good way for me to learn to be a mentor,” she said. “I hope this collaboration continues for years as a way of developing my skills as a researcher.”

Randall Clark (Pharmacal Sciences) participated in a peer review of research proposals for the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Science Research and Development Program this past summer.

Gordon Sacks (department head, Pharmacy Practice) was recognized for Excellence in Nutrition Support Education from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. At the APA convention, Sacks received the Faculty Member of the Year Award in recognition of academic achievement and exceptional leadership to student pharmacists at the local, state, and national level.

Richard Hansen (department head, Pharmacy Care Systems) was one of six authors of the study published in the December 2012 issue of Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy. The editorial staff of the academic journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, named Hansen among its top reviewers for 2012. In the spring, Hansen was honored as an APhA fellow at its annual meeting. In April, he won the Harrison School of Pharmacy Research Excellence Award. He was also recognized with Principal Investigator 2012 Faculty Research Excellence Award for extramural funding from the National Pharmaceutical Council.

Kim Garza (PCS) was elected as the AACP alternate delegate for 2013-14.

Jay Ramapuram (PS) was re-appointed chair of the APS-FDD abstract screening committee.

Lynn Stevenson (Experiential Learning) was installed as chair-elect of the American Association of College of Pharmacy’s Experiential Education Section at the AACP Annual Meeting in July. She will serve a three-year term, with one year each as chair-elect, chair, and immediate past chair.

Heather Whitley (PP) authored the article, “Active-Learning Diabetes Simulation in an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience to Develop Patient Empathy” published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.

Jingjing Qian (PCS) made a podium presentation in June at the 2013 AcademyHealth Annual Meeting.

In Pharmacy Practice, Haley Phillippe, Lynn Stevenson, and Wes Lindsey were all promoted to associate clinical professor, while Lea Eiland was promoted to clinical professor.

Robert Arnold (PS) was awarded a four-year grant, valued at more than $1.3 million, from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering/National Institutes of Health. His study is focused on using nanoparticles to deliver cancer chemotherapeutic agents specifically to tumor cells by exploiting the fact that tumor cells overexpress the secretory phospholipases. Arnold also received an NIH grant for nearly $1.4 million over four years. In collaboration with Brian Cummings at the University of Georgia, Arnold is looking to exploit differences in enzymes that are overexpressed in tumor versus normal tissue to improve delivery of drugs captured in nanoparticles.

Salisa Westrick (PCS) was awarded a $19,990 outreach grant from the Auburn University 2013 Competitive Outreach Scholarship Program for her project “Medicare Part D Plan Selection Assistance for Seniors in Alabama.” Westrick was invited to serve as the lead researcher on an advisory board for the APhA project, “RxVACCINATE: A National Education and Practice Support Initiative to Increase Pharmacist-Administered Pneumococcal Vaccinations.”

The Auburn University Office of the Vice President for Research named the following faculty members recipients of 2013 Internal Grants Program research grants: Jingjing Qian (PCS), Angela Calderon (PS), Robert Arnold (PS), and Randall Clark (PS).

The following faculty spoke or presented posters at Auburn University’s Research Week in April: Kim Garza (PCS), Murali Dhanasekaran (PS), Vishnu Suppiramaniam (PS), Robert Arnold (PS), David Riese (PS), Brent Fox (PCS), and Peter Panizzi (PS).

Jan Kavookjian (PCS) was invited to present CE workshops at the University of Connecticut in May and speak at the

American Pharmacists Association’s Self-Care Institute in June. Kavookjian received $25,000 from the BCBS Caring Foundations program to fund a one-year project to support student research aspects of the diabetes education and intervention outreach project in Tuskegee.

Professors emeriti Bruce Berger and William Villaume (PCS) wrote a book to help doctors, nurses, and pharmacists assess the patient’s motivation to engage in healthy behaviors, or not engage. Motivational Interviewing for Health Care Professionals: A Practical Approach, is being published by the American Pharmacists Association.

Peter Panizzi (PS) was awarded a $454,440 grant from the National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for the proposal “Pathogen specific imaging of endocarditis.” The four-year project focuses on the development of clinically translatable imaging agents for non-invasive detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) endocarditis. Panizzi will serve as the co-principal investigator. The project is also in collaboration with faculty from Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer awarded $20,000 to Salisa Westrick (PCS) for her project, “Pharmacist as Provider of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Service,” and $100,000 to Peter Panizzi, Rajesh Amin, and Robert Arnold (PS) for their proposal “Magnetic Resonance and Bioluminescent Imaging of Mouse Models of Primary Cancer and Metastatic Disease.”

Brent Fox (PCS) received a $9,936 grant from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists to design and conduct a survey of pharmacy informatics adoption and use in U.S. hospitals.

William Ravis (PS) was awarded a $50,272 grant from War Eagle Labs to conduct studies of Buprenorphine nanoparticles for long-term pain relief.

Kristi Kelley (PP) was selected as the featured member spotlighted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists section of Clinical Specialists and Scientists.

noteworthy



Comings and Goings

Goodbye:Meredith Jernigan

Jessica Bellone

Robin Kafarnus

John Allen

*All were assistant clinical professors

Welcome: Phillip Lee, assistant clinical professor, Auburn

Margaret Williamson, assistant clinical professor, Auburn

Spencer Durham, assistant clinical professor, Columbus

Allison Meyer, assistant clinical professor, Mobile

Maggie Davis, graduate counselor




u as part of a Medication Take Back event with local law enforcement in the fall, NCPa and Kappa Psi members offered free blood pressure checks to the community.

tauburn was represented at the Rho Chi annual Meeting in March by students Tara Veasey and ashley Jones, and faculty members abbey Cox (Pharmacy Practice-Mobile) and Paul Jungnickel, who serves as chapter advisor and National Rho Chi president-elect. Joseph DiPiro, center, dean of the South Carolina College of Pharmacy, was presented with the 2013 Rho Chi lecture award.

The Harrison School of Pharmacy held its annual White Coat Ceremony in August to officially welcome 148 new students. The Class of 2016 received white coats after the week-long Foundations of Pharmacy course, which introduces first-year students from Auburn and Mobile to the Doctor of Pharmacy program and professional responsibility of pharmacists.

THe yeaR IN ReVIeW

The Year In Review

tStudents, faculty, and staff marked National Wear Red Day in February, part of the american Heart association’s awareness campaign for heart disease, by wearing red.

Students were thank-ful for the annual Thanksgiving meal hosted by CPFI.

pSanta once again took time out of his busy schedule to make a visit to auburn and help raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

uHarrison School of Pharmacy students participated in east alabama Medical Center's annual Celebrate life event, including a 5K.


uMembers of aPha-aSP in auburn stepped away from the rigors of class to help out at fall car-nivals for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater lee County.

pThe annual HSoP Talent Show kicked off the New Year with Raynard Butler (P3) capturing first place for his musical prowess on the piano. Katie le (P1) came in second and third place was a tie between Kappa Psi’s Dance Team and Phillip Steele (P3).

tNCPa and aPha hosted a leadership seminar on legislative advocacy in March with guest speakers, alabama State Rep. elaine Beech and louise Jones, executive director of the alabama Pharmacy association.

pafter Hurricane Sandy hit the east Coast in october, the pharmacy family collected various items to help.

THe yeaR IN ReVIeW

The Year In Review

auburn and Mobile students participated in Hunger Week in october, collecting canned goods to benefit area food banks.

auSSHP hosted the 12th annual Clinical Skills Competition in october.

NCPa hosted a health fair at Bubba’s Medicine Shop and SNPha presented “Be Smart and Take Care of your Heart” event for the school and community in February.


THe yeaR IN ReVIeW

qIn November, students traveled to Montgomery to participate in american Diabetes association's Step out: Walk to Stop Diabetes.

pPharmacy Health Services hosted a send-off celebration in June for outgoing PGy-1 ambulatory care residents Tyler Gums, Katie Rushing, and Marci Saknini.

pThree pharmacy students spent spring break in Honduras providing medical care to an underserved population in western Honduras.

pour Health and Wellness Committee hosted the third annual 5K and 1-mile fun run in april.

uStudent Council hosted the inaugural Research Symposium and appreciation Day in March, featuring more than 20 poster presentations on research conducted by PhD and PharmD students. a Research Symposium was also held in Mobile and featured more than 10 research posters.

tThe Mobile campus hosted PharmaFit “Set your Pace” 5K race/walk in april. More than 120 runners registered and $2,500 was donated to the american Heart association and ozanam Charitable Pharmacy.


THe yeaR IN ReVIeW

qat graduation in May, William J. Cox, ’88, and his father, eugene G. Cox, ’54, delivered the oath of the Pharmacist to the Class of 2013.

uStudent pharmacists in auburn and Mobile participated in Script your Future throughout the month of February, raising awareness about medication adherence. In auburn, in addition to counseling patients about medication compliance during PPe visits, pharmacy and nursing students conducted several community outreach activities.

qHSoP’s NCPa chapter won the prestigious Dennis ludwig Memorial Scholarship in Government affairs for having the highest attendance at the NCPa legislative Conference in april. While other schools had one or two students, we had more than 20 in attendance.

tThe Harrison School of Pharmacy annual Chili Cook-off on Jan. 31 raised $445 for the student travel fund and crowned a new chili cook-off champion. associate Professor Murali Dhanasekaran (Pharmacal Sciences), the two-time defending champ, was unseated by Kristin Hillman (P3) and Hillman’s Family Recipe. Second place went to Coleman Vaughn-Turner (P2) and Jeremy osborn (P1) with The Meatinator. With his Red Rooster Chili, Jacob Boydston (P3) nabbed third. More than 80 people attended.

Mobile students teamed up with the american Diabetes association for a health fair in September.

Pharmacy Pride. Show Yours.


Your membership to the Auburn Pharmacy Alumni Association is but one way to show your support for the Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University. Contact Hunter Peak or Olivia Tintea in the HSOP Development Office today at (334) 844-8352 to discuss what giving option best fits your needs and goals.

Gifts of any amount can be made online at www.auburn.edu/giving.

Checks should be made payable to the Auburn University Foundation and mailed to:

Harrison School of Pharmacy Development

Attn: Development Accounting

317 S. College Street

Auburn, AL 36849-5153

Be sure to designate HSOP in the memo line.

Many companies participate in matching gifts of their employees. To discover if your employer does, go to www.matchinggifts.com/auburn.

Gifts of any size can also be made by monthly bank draft.

For gifts of stock or real estate, long-term capital gains tax may be avoidable while the fair market value may be allowable as a charitable deduction.

Property, such as art, rare books, and antiques that Auburn can use in a sustainable manner in achieving its mission, can also be donated. Please contact Auburn first to determine if there is a need for the property.

Purchasing a new life insurance policy and naming Auburn University as the owner and beneficiary is a way to leverage a smaller gift into a larger one.

The Harrison School of Pharmacy can be included in your will or estate plans.

W a y S T o G I V e

W a y S T o G I V e

Endowments Are Meantto Make a Lasting ImpactScholarships named for former alumni, such as

lucile McGehee Haynes, W. Scott arledge, and

McAdory “Mac” Lipscomb not only offer financial

support to students in the pharmacy school, but

also preserve the legacy and dedication of those

who are no longer with us.

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auburn university is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.

Documents

The Auburn Pharmacist, Fall 2013