2020 News Archive - College of Pharmacy | University of South Carolina

Creek, associate dean for research, retires after 33 years at UofSC

Kim Creek arrived at the University of South Carolina in 1987 as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He later moved to the School of Medicine Columbia and then spent the last 10 years with the College of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy in the Time of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges across the health care profession. The pandemic has also brought the role of the pharmacist to the forefront, as they work side by side with physicians and allied health professionals.

Researching the Virus

When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March, testing was not readily available due to a shortage of equipment and expertise. Associate Professor Michael Shtutman at the UofSC College of Pharmacy volunteered his team's services to help.

Tracking COVID-19 Outcomes

Not long after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, Brandon Bookstaver recognized that not only did researchers need to find a treatment, they would also need to learn about the treatment's effectiveness and the long-term impact of the disease.

Finding a Calling

Julie Ann Justo always knew her professional career would involve working in the sciences. That interest has grown into an impactful career at UofSC on a national and statewide scale, heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lessons from an Entrepreneurial Alumnus

We sat down with Gibran Ameer, '02, to learn more about how his experiences with the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy shaped his career.

Remembering a Legacy

The Leon and Betty George Endowed Scholarship Fund honors a faithful alumnus and a parents' love of family and Columbia.

Stepping Up Against COVID-19

From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders from across the University of South Carolina campus came together to determine the best methods to keep students, faculty and staff safe while continuing to provide the best educational experiences.

Walker Leadership Scholars Names Newest Members

The Walker Leadership Scholars program has named its two newest scholars, Jordan A. Jones and Shannon Leighton, both with the Class of 2023.

Forever to Thee: Ph.D. Grads Share Future Plans

Some milestones are more than memories. A new chapter of tradition begins when you become an alumni of the University of South Carolina.

Grier Recognized as Student Pharmacist of the Year

University of South Carolina student Morgan Grier has been named the 2020 Student Pharmacist of the Year by the South Carolina Pharmacy Association.

Fabel Named 2021 American Pharmacists Association Fellow

Associate Professor Patti Fabel, Executive Director of the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center at UofSC, has been named an American Pharmacists Association 2021 fellow.

Q & A with: Everett B. McAllister

Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Everett B. McAllister knows that his career and experiences have equipped him for a deeper calling. Learn more in our latest alumni Q&A.

Student Pharmacists Gain Experience through Wellness Wednesday

Student volunteers provided blood pressure checks, blood glucose monitoring, and medication reviews to the public during "Wellness Wednesday" events at Medicine Mart pharmacy.

College of Pharmacy Expands Rural Health Training Opportunities

In an effort to expand training in rural settings, the College of Pharmacy, along with the SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare, has partnered with Tandem Health to offer a PGY1 Residency position.

Pharmacy Students Serve on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation

Two fourth-year pharmacy students spent the month of September providing care to members of the Blackfeet Tribe at the Blackfeet Community Hospital in Browning, Montana.

Poison Control Center Receives Continued Accreditation

The Palmetto Poison Center, housed within the College of Pharmacy at UofSC, has again received accreditation by the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

College of Pharmacy Expands Diversity Initiatives

As part of the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion initiative, pharmacy student organizations are stepping up to organize lectures, workshops, and activities that will help them better serve their communities.

Q & A with: Julia G. Mims

For alumna Julia G. Mims, education and perseverance were the keys to her dream career as a Clinical Pharmacist – though “volunteer” is a title she holds equally important on her life's resume.

UofSC to expand saliva-based COVID-19 testing statewide

The University of South Carolina will expand rapid saliva-based COVID-19 testing to other colleges and universities across the state thanks to a new $16.7 million grant from the state of South Carolina.

A Legacy to Help Others

George Sample graduated from the UofSC College of Pharmacy in 1952 and served his community for sixty years as a pharmacist, but his legacy of helping others extends far beyond his work.

College of Pharmacy Supports Plasma Drive

The UofSC College of Pharmacy Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists recently partnered with The Blood Connection and Student Health Services for a Convalescent Plasma Blood Drive on campus.

KPIC Holds Virtual Career Summit

Pharmacy and pre-pharmacy students spent a recent Saturday learning about non-traditional career opportunities as the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center held its Annual Career Summit.

College of Pharmacy Supports SC Counts

Alumni and students from the UofSC College of Pharmacy recently took part in SC Counts, a statewide day of service held across 25 counties in South Carolina.

UofSC Faculty Garner More Than $279 Million in Research and Sponsored Awards Funding

For the sixth consecutive year, #UofSC faculty have set a record for external research and sponsored awards funding, garnering $279.5 million in fiscal year 2020.

Q & A with: Gene Reeder

Alumnus and professor Gene Reeder shares his path to pharmacy - along with some helpful life lessons and advice for future pharmacy professionals.

College Hosts Virtual Back-to-School 5K

Alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the College of Pharmacy joined in on the college's inaugural Virtual 5K Run/Walk from September 1 -7.

Determined to Give Back

As a Ph.D. student in the College of Pharmacy, B. Celia Cui has spent the last several months giving of her time to help with the university's COVID-19 testing and research.

Compounding Lab Prepared for a New Way of Learning

As fall semester approached, Assistant Professor Kathy Quarles Moore reformatted her laboratory course for optimal face-to-face learning, while ensuring the safety of her students and assistants.

Robot Boosts COVID-19 Testing Efforts

Over the summer, the Diagnostic Genomics Lab installed a robotic liquid handler to support the College of Pharmacy's newly launched Saliva Assay Free Expedited (SAFE) Testing initiative.

Pharmacy professor receives concurrent grants for HIV/AIDS research

College of Pharmacy Professor Jun Zhu's R01 grants will have a meaningful impact on his research into HIV/AIDS, which affects nearly 38 million people around the world.

Students Celebrate White Coat Ceremony

While the White Coat Ceremony is traditionally held with students, faculty, family and friends in attendance, COVID-19 forced a revamped version of the event this year.

Q & A with: Pamela Quizon

Alumna Pamela Quizon combined her scientific expertise with her passion for digital media to develop a career in biotech marketing.

Pharmacy Researcher Receives Accolades

Associate Professor Kevin Lu has been elected a Fellow of the International Society of Pharmaco- Epidemiology, one of the most prestigious recognitions from a scientific organization.

ACS Institutional Research Grant Funds Awarded

As the recipient of the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant, Charles Bennett announces four awards totaling $90,000 to researchers at UofSC.

College of Pharmacy Infectious Diseases Specialist Impacts National Research for COVID-19

Associate Professor Julie Ann Justo is spending her days immersed in patient care and research to find effectual treatments for COVID-19.

Pharmacy Alum Tackles Medical Riddle of COVID-19

Alumna Krutika Mediwala credits the education she received at UofSC in providing her the background needed to be successful both as a clinician and a mentor.

A Year in Review - Student Government

The College of Pharmacy Student Government Association highlights their successes from the year and gives a glimpse at what's in store for 2020-2021.

College of Pharmacy Alumnus Honored by USPHS Pharmacists

Commander Ryan Buff was recognized for his efforts to improve pharmacy services at the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New Mexico.

Palmetto Poison Center Director Receives National Board Appointment

Jill Michels has been appointed to serve a three-year term to the American Board of Applied Toxicology Board of Directors.

PEEP Awards Announced

The Palmetto Experiential Education Partnership (PEEP) is proud to announce its annual awards in recognition of the dedication and excellence of the program's outstanding preceptors.

Pharmacy Alums Fill a Need for Hand Sanitizer

In an effort to support their communities through the shortage, alumni from the UofSC College of Pharmacy stepped up to help bridge the gap and produce the scarce product.

Gift from Nephron will Support COVID-19 Testing for UofSC

Nephron Pharmaceuticals generously donated a robotic liquid handler to the College of Pharmacy, supporting the related research of several faculty in Drug Discovery and Biomedical Research.

UofSC Pharmacy Researcher Targets Chemotherapy-Resistant Protein

Associate Professor Ozgur Sahin and his team are continuing to make strides in their fight against breast cancer.

Dunn named PLS Outstanding Chapter Advisor

Phi Lambda Sigma has bestowed its 2020 Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award on Brie Dunn, associate dean for outcomes assessment and accreditation at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy.

A Year in Review - SNPhA

The Student National Pharmaceutical Association at UofSC highlights their successes from the year and gives a glimpse at what's in store for the new school year.

Students Show Strong Performance on PCOA

Six UofSC pharmacy students earned scores in the 95th percentile or higher on this year's Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment exam.

Palmetto Poison Center Hosts Facebook Live Events for Safety Education

The Palmetto Poison Center, part of the UofSC College of Pharmacy, is focusing on providing safety information for families who are finding themselves confined to the house during COVID-19.

Ph.D. Graduate Focuses on Improving Population Health

When Eric Chinaeke came to the United States from Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria, he had already spent several years studying pharmaceutical sciences and public health.

College of Pharmacy Students Present QUEST Posters

Pharmacy students experienced interprofessional collaboration as they took part in Quality Improvement Education and Systems Training with their health sciences peers at UofSC.

Successful Match 2020 for College of Pharmacy

The numbers are in and the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy had a banner year for Residency Match Day.

Creek wins KPIC Business Plan Competition

Pharmacy student Mary Creek wowed the judges with her business plan and came away the winner of the 2020 Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center Business Plan Competition.

Announcing the 2020 Outstanding Alumni Award

Dating back to 1982, the College of Pharmacy Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes community, clinical and corporate pharmacy leaders throughout South Carolina and beyond.

Pharmacy Student Tackles Opioid Epidemic

Pharmacy student Colin Hungerpiller was quickly drawn to discussions on the significance of the opioid epidemic, so he decided to focus on how he might be able to make an impact.

Pharmacy Alumnus Leaps into the World of Ownership

Michael Scruggs grew up working in his hometown corner drugstore where he learned that being a pharmacist means so much more than just dispensing medications.

Breakthrough Leader: Lorne Hofseth

When the College of Pharmacy and the Center for Colon Cancer Research recruited Lorne Hofseth as one of the center’s first faculty hires in 2004, they knew they had a rising star on their hands.

Recognizing Excellence in our UofSC Pharmacy Community

The culmination of the Spring semester is a time we typically come together to celebrate the many successes of our College of Pharmacy community.

A Superhero in a White Coat

Like the fictional characters in the comic books of his youth, pharmacy alumnus Stan Papajohn remains true to his life's purpose of serving humanity.

Pharmacy student hopes to serve in rural community

Heather Hembree credits UofSC with preparing her to make an impact practicing pharmacy in rural South Carolina communities.

Experiential Team Focused on Ensuring Rotations during Pandemic

The College of Pharmacy Experiential Learning team kicked their efforts into high gear to ensure that fourth-year pharmacy students will graduate on time in the midst of COVID-19.

UofSC Pharmacy Faculty Battle COVID-19 on Hospital Front Line

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb across the country, the College of Pharmacy's infectious diseases experts are at the forefront working with those affected.

National Academies of Practice Inducts Betsy Blake

Clinical Associate Professor Betsy Blake, Pharm.D, has been elected into the National Academies of Practice (NAP) as a Distinguished Practitioner & Fellow.

Pharmacy Student Receives Prestigious Award from USPHS

UofSC Pharm.D. candidate Alexa Swingle has been named a recipient of the U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award for 2020.

Alumnus Balances Teaching and Research in the Face of COVID-19

Brandon Bookstaver, director of the infectious diseases residency program for UofSC COP and Prisma Health Richland, is balancing his time between working with students virtually and working with data to help better understand the novel coronavirus.

Rho Chi Tutoring Sees Tremendous Success - Transitions to Virtual Program

First-year students at the College of Pharmacy have seen such success with this year's Rho Chi tutoring program that it is being transitioned to a virtual program for this semester.

Q & A with: Donna J. Walker

Alumna Donna J. Walker ('79) shares her mantra for life and who she would invite to her dream dinner party.

College of Pharmacy - It's Match Day!

March 13 is Decision Day, a day full of excitement and anticipation for many of UofSC College of Pharmacy students pursuing post-graduate residencies.

Student Pharmacists Attend Legislative Day

This year, 60 students from pharmacy programs around the state participated in Pharmacy Legislative Day at the South Carolina State House.

College of Pharmacy Faculty, Staff and Students train as Safe Zone Allies

College of Pharmacy faculty and staff joined a growing network of informed and supportive LGBTQ+ allies during a Safe Zone workshop last month.

Experiential Education program supports student impact across the globe

For many fourth-year pharmacy students, experiential rotations are an opportunity to take their skills out of routine health care settings and into the far reaches of the world.

Shaping the Future

Developing initiatives that enhance our ability to attract a more diverse student enrollment remains a focal point for Amy Grant, associate dean for student affairs and diversity.

Q & A with: Jordan Cooler

Assistant professor and alumna Jordan Cooler ('16 Pharm.D.) shares her greatest accomplishment and what she's currently reading, watching & listening to.

Love is in the Air: College of Pharmacy Love Stories

Whether it's the amount of time students spend together or a shared professional interest, love and marriage seem to go together for many UofSC College of Pharmacy students.

Opportunities Abound at the Pharmacy Career Expo

As the role of the pharmacist in health care continues to expand, so do the number of potential career paths for our graduates.

A Unique Opportunity: Partnership opens doors to cutting-edge technology

Students from the UofSC College of Pharmacy and the College of Engineering and Computing continue to learn about robotic-assisted aseptic compounding.

Helping pharmacy move ahead: Lucinda Maine, AACP empower students to shape industry's future

We had the opportunity to talk with AACP Vice President and CEO Lucinda Maine during her recent visit to the UofSC College of Pharmacy.

Attracting the Next Generation of Pharmacists

While pharmacy career paths continue to expand and diversify, it is not uncommon for middle, high school and college students to only think of traditional pharmacist roles when considering the profession as a possible career choice.

Following His Dream: Cobbs gives back after finding success in industry

Alumnus Lindsay Cobbs considers it a personal goal to help younger pharmacists understand all that may be available to them in moving their careers forward.

Student poster attracts national attention

Three representatives from the College of Pharmacy received the attention of national news outlets for their presentation at December's ASHP conference in Las Vegas.

Continuing the Fight Against Colon Cancer

Lorne Hofseth, professor in the College of Pharmacy, received a $1.7 million R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of a ginseng molecule that may positively impact the future treatment of colon cancer.

Q & A with: Cory Jenks

Alumnus Cory Jenks ('11 Pharm.D.) shares his most important life lesson and how improv comedy has made him a better pharmacist.

2020 Breakthrough Award Recipients to be Honored for Research Excellence

Professor Lorne Hofseth is among those honored by the Office of the Vice President for Research with a 2020 Breakthrough Leadership in Research award.

Face-To-Face: Palmetto Poison Center program impacts lives by teaching medication safety

For seven years, the Palmetto Poison Center's Senior Medication Safety program has been in the community serving our older citizens of South Carolina.

A push for new drug discoveries

Efforts continue under a $11.2 million NIH COBRE Grant as the Center for Targeted Therapeutics transitions to a Phase II research program.

Pharmacy Researcher Develops Nanococktail for Cancer Treatment

Peisheng Xu, associate professor in the College of Pharmacy, may be on the path to solve the dilemma of safety versus efficacy in cancer therapy.