From the Dean

When as it was, then again it will be. And though the course may change sometimes, rivers always reach the sea.
– “Ten Years Gone,”
Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin, 1975

Change is the only constant in life. And the opening lyric from the 1975 Led Zeppelin song “Ten Years Gone” aptly applies to an upcoming professional transition for me. As most of you know, late last year I informed the University that I would be stepping down as Dean of the School of Pharmacy at the end of August. Shortly after, I will begin a 1-year sabbatical as visiting Professor of Health Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Catrena and I are excited about this next phase of life. Following the sabbatical, I plan to return to the School and resume my faculty responsibilities as a member of the Department of Pharmacy and the CHOICE Institute.

It has been my privilege to lead this School for the last 8 years, and it has also been my honor to serve you, the alumni. As is always the case with any successful program or organization, it’s the people that make a community so special, and ours is certainly no exception. I want to thank each of you for all you have done to support Catrena and me and the School. You make this place special. After I leave, the School will be in very capable hands. Dr. Peggy Odegard will serve as Interim Dean until a permanent Dean is named.

Times are changing for our School and community as well. We’re finally on the other side of the pandemic, live events and opportunities to connect in person are cropping up once again, and the campus is brimming with activity. Opening this fall is the new 100,000 sq.ft. Health Sciences Education Building dedicated to teaching and learning and equipped with the latest technology. This space will facilitate interprofessional didactic and skills-based education and will support the learning of next generation tele-health solutions. Please visit the School this Autumn and walk through this new space.

I am proud of all that we have accomplished together. And please know that I will continue to advocate, support and cheer loudly for the School and the University of Washington. Go Dawgs!

Sean D. Sullivan, BScPharm, PhD
Professor and Dean
University of Washington School of Pharmacy

Mind Mending

On the heels of a global pandemic, the pharmacist’s role in the behavioral health caregiving has become more clearly defined – and more essential.

Now, more than ever before, as pharmacists find new avenues for career opportunities in the behavioral health field, they are challenged with not only addressing the health and well-being needs of patients, but also their own.

From Acceptance To Reliance

Washington currently ranks 46 out of 50 states in the prevalence of mental illness, yet it has the 6th lowest rate of access to mental health care in the country. This is no surprise to UWSOP Professor Don Downing, ’75, who observed first-hand the escalation and impact of mental health issues on local communities decades ago.

“A few months after graduating from UW in 1975, I started up the Pierce County Tribe clinic in Tacoma,” he said. “I immediately found myself faced with a Native American community in crisis – isolated financially, culturally – and there were no direct health care services available.”

Although many communities statewide continue to face similar hurdles regarding access to services, pharmacists’ role in addressing mental and behavioral health issues has evolved and become more prominent in the intervening years, a trend that will hopefully help make headway in improving services for communities with diminished resources.

Flashback 15 years ago: treatment planning teams in hospitals began to (reluctantly) accept pharmacists working with patients day-to-day. These days, it’s a much different – and more populated – playing field, according to Jen Jepsen, a pharmacist in patient psychiatry at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

“Hospitals are much more reliant now on pharmacists than ever before,” she said. “Now, it’s not just accepted – it’s expected.”

Jepsen, who has worked at Haborview for the last six years, believes the pandemic has ushered in a more open era of discussing behavioral health conditions, from mental health and substance abuse disorders to psychiatric issues.

“It seems like it’s easier to talk about now – much less stigmatized,” she said. “Whether you’re acutely ill or are just struggling with your day-to-day and need some self-care and improvement in your own mental health, pharmacists now help address the issue at every level.”

Steve Fijalka, Chief Pharmacy office for UW Medicine, believes the increased awareness of mental and behavioral health issues is also due to the fact that we’re all impacted one way or another.

“All of us probably know somebody – family, friend, a co-worker – who’s been touched by mental health issues,” he said. “And for so long – particularly now – there has been a shortage across the nation in the number of behavioral health providers and caretakers out there.”

According to Fijalka, Washington state may soon be changing the narrative on how pharmacy students are integrated into behavioral health work. In collaboration with UWSOP, UW Medicine is creating a behavioral health residency program for UWSOP students that will be the first of its kind in the state.

As of 2022, there are only 12 behavioral residency programs on the West Coast – 10 of which are in California.

“It’s an area where we have or greatest need right now,” said Fijalka. “UWSOP Dean Sean Sullivan and I made a proposal to the state legislature this past year regarding funding for residency programs here at UW, and the program was approved. It’s a great opportunity for our students, and the legislator definitely saw the need. It kind of sailed right through.”

Downing says UWSOP students and faculty have been heavily involved in the development of the program, which will include a new faculty member/mentor with a behavioral health background.

“At the UWSOP, we’re really pleased that we’re going to have a colleague with the clinical training to not just understand how the drugs work, but also how one delivers the care associated with behavioral health management,” he said. “We’re excited to create an environment for our students to graduate into and take advantage of these kinds of residencies.”

So far, a clinical pharmacist from Harborview Medical Center has been hired as the Program Residency Director, and recruitment is underway for the first wave of Pharmacy students. The program is expected to be in full swing by 2023.

Taking Care Of The Caretakers

One facet of mental health and bell-being brought into focus during the pandemic was the toll suffered by health care providers. It was a crisis that begged the oft-repeated question: “Who takes care of the caretakers?”

For UWSOP Health Sciences Liaison and Counselor Jen Nguyen, an intense experience working in a hospital and observing the environment during the pandemic inspired her to help answer that question by pursuing a career in mental health counseling.

“During my time at the hospital, I found that health care workers suffered a lack of resources for mental health support,” she said. “When this role came around, I was very excited to be able to support folks going into the field.”

In her new position, Nguyen provides support for students and designs for them to consider prior to entering the workforce. She also teaches them the importance of setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and nurturing their own mental health, which, in turn, allows them to provide the best care for their patients.

Nguyen, who also supports faculty and staff for the UWSOP, Dentistry and the School of Public Health, says Pharmacy students (in particular) have suffered mental health challenges and diminished well-being during the pandemic.

“Not only have students been managing patients concerned about COVID and other physical and mental health ailments, they are also being impacted by the supply chain and access to medications,” she said. “I think one positive that has come from COVID is the dialogue people are starting – and continuing – to have around mental health. I have had a lot of students reach out to me to access mental health supports for the first time.”

This increase in requests for supports illustrates an evolved awareness of the need for positive mental health and work/life balance.

“The pandemic has gotten us to think about sustainability and the impacts of overworking,” said Nguyen. “I think that faculty, staff, and students are able to think about mental health as not just something that is taken care of outside of the classroom, but very much integrated. If we can continue to have these types of conversations and supports, I think that we will pull out of the pandemic in a way where mental health issues and access to mental health care is less stigmatized.”

Resources

Let’s Talk (with Jen Nguyen) connects students with counseling support, without an appointment. Let’s Talk takes place over HIPAA compliant Zoom, and students will never be able to see each other while in the waiting room or while in session. Let’s Talk hours for the School of Pharmacy are on Tuesdays from 5 to 6 PM and on Fridays from 12:30 to 1:30 PM (registration opens 5 minutes before Let’s Talk begins). Students are also welcome to attend the Counseling Center’s general Let’s Talk sessions (see below).

UW Counseling Center
The Counseling Center offers multiple options for students seeking help coping with stress and mental health concerns including mental health resources, workshops, individual or group counseling, and referrals for long-term or specialized counseling.

My SSP gives students access to real-time, confidential mental health and crisis intervention support, 24/7 and in multiple languages.

• Phone: 1 (866) 775-0608
• Online Chat

A Legacy of Excellence

Sean D. Sullivan Reflects On His Time As UWSOP Dean

After eight successful years of service as Dean of the UW School of Pharmacy, Sean D. Sullivan decided last fall to step down from the role, effective August 2022, and take a year sabbatical at the London School of Economics. There, he’ll begin a year-long appointment as Visiting Professor in the Department of Health Policy before returning to the UWSOP faculty as Professor. With this being the last issue of Dawg Scripts featuring Sullivan as Dean, we thought it would be a good time to sit down and discuss his career in the role, successes along the way, and plans for the future.

Rewinding the timeline back to the beginning, some folks might be unaware that, prior to stepping in as Dean in 2014, Sullivan had no intention to take on the position.

“I was not a candidate, initially,” he recalled. “I had no aspirations to be a Dean. I was happy in my role at the time and looking forward to continuing my work as Director of The CHOICE Institute and Associate Dean for Research. Several faculty approached me about putting my name into the search because they thought I would be helpful to the School. After some consideration and discussions with my family and colleagues, I agreed to be nominated.”

The beginning of Sullivan’s tenure was accompanied by a host of challenges, including a recession, which saw the Washington state legislature reduce support for higher education by 50%.

“There was a period of 4 years where hiring and faculty salaries were frozen,” he said. “This had a chilling impact on morale. Dean Bailey deftly guided the School through these fiscally challenging times, while also leading the PharmD program to a successful re-accreditation. My greatest challenge in 2014 was to help the School come out of the recession period and help restore morale.”

Sullivan says, on a professional level, these role-related challenges have helped him better understand and navigate University hierarchy and decision-making.

“As a faculty member, even as Associate Dean, I was insulated from the larger decisions (financial, organizational, etc) that can have a big impact on the effectiveness of our programs,” he said. “Personally, the job has been both rewarding and challenging. I have enjoyed getting to know many of our alumni and friends of the School. They are so passionate about their time at the UW. It is motivating to hear their stories or learn why they continue to support the School.”

When asked what he’ll remember most about the job, Sullivan’s answer is simple: the people.

“The dedicated staff and faculty who make this place so special are wonderful,” he said. “But most importantly, I’ll remember the students. They are why we are here. Students kept me motivated and on track.”

A Passion for the Mission

Peggy Odegard Embraces Forthcoming Role As UWSOP Interim Dean

When it was announced earlier this year that Lynn and Geraldine Brady Endowed Professor of Pharmacy Peggy Odegard, ‘85,’90, agreed to serve as interim Dean for the UW School of Pharmacy, the appointment represented a historic achievement for our program: she will not only be the first to serve in that role on an interim basis, but also the first woman to serve as Dean for the School.

A Passion for the Mission
Currently UWSOP’s Vice Dean for professional pharmacy education, where she has overseen the development and implementation of the School’s new PharmD curriculum, Odegard says she accepted the interim appointment because of her continued commitment to our mission.

“The School, the community, and the great work we do continues to inspire me,” she said, “and my interest in the role stems from my strong belief in our program and the important, life-changing work we do. We make a difference every day and that is truly inspiring.”

Odegard also praises UWSOP’s mutually supportive culture and nationally acclaimed research, teaching, and service efforts, which continue to have a pivotal impact on the health care industry.

“All of those attributes are woven into the fabric of who we are as a community – a community I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of for many years,” she noted. “I am inspired to help support our transition to a new Dean’s leadership and ensure our community feels well supported.”

Addressing Challenges
Concerning university-wide challenges, including attracting top-tier faculty, staff and students in a highly competitive climate, Odegard prefers to replace the word “challenges” with “opportunities.”

“There are some key opportunities, maybe with a twist of challenge, we currently face, but none that our community can’t strategically and successfully address,” she said. “We will work together to resolve any and all hurdles we face– that’s our way – and we have strong leadership across the School in all areas as an important support to the work of the Dean.”

Leadership Through Experience
Odegard has spent many fruitful years collaborating with colleagues in teaching, research, mentoring, curricular innovation, and professional engagement. She hopes these efforts, along with years spent building relationships and trust, will translate into effective leadership in her new role.

I have great appreciation for the collaborative spirit of our community, our collective vision through our strategic plan, and our many and remarkable accomplishments,” she said. “My hope is that my experience and long-term relationships within the community will provide a helpful support to us with achieving our goals during the transition period to welcome in a new Dean.”

Faculty Updates

In Focus: Ogochukwu Amaeze

Though hailing from Nigeria, Ogochukwu Amaeze has found a home-away-from-home at UWSOP.

Though she is now a respected pharmacist and faculty member at University of Lagos in Nigeria, Ogochukwu Amaeze’s fascination with pharmacy began before she was barely old enough to read.

“Growing up in Nigeria, I remember watching people swallow different colors of pills and capsules, and I was curious, even then, about the mechanism of drug action,” recalled Amaeze, who is currently working in the Isoherranen Lab as a Postdoctoral Scholar. “My long-held romance with the impact of medicines on human health and disease conditions stoked my desire to study pharmacy.”

A few years ago, a chance meeting with UWSOP Professor and Milo Gibaldi Endowed Chair, Pharmaceutics, Nina Isoherranen, cemented an opportunity for her to further establish herself as an independent researcher.

“I met Dr. Isoherranen at the Gordon Research Conference Drug Metabolism meeting in 2019, where I presented part of my Ph.D. findings,” Amaeze recalled. “During my chat with her, I was thrilled at her extensive knowledge of Pharmacokinetics and the ease with which she discussed it. It was also exciting to learn that we shared similar research interests. At that point, I started looking forward to the prospects of receiving postdoctoral training at the UW under her tutelage. Further reading of her research articles and publications left me in no doubt that there’s no better place to receive advanced, in-depth training in PK and physiological-based modeling than the UWSOP.”

Amaeze and Isoherranen are currently collaborating on the “Virtual Pregnancy: Physiologically-based modeling in pregnancy” project, an effort supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“This project aims to develop physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models (PBPK) that incorporate disease-related changes in maternal physiology, population parameters relevant to the West African (WA) population, and pregnancy parameters that enable simulation of the maternal-fetal disposition of drugs across the gestational timeline,” Amaeze explained. “Specifically, we are working to develop and verify maternal-fetal PBPK models for anti-infectives critical for treating infectious diseases relevant to pregnant women in Washington state.

“It’s exciting to learn advanced PK concepts and pharmacometrics from great teachers like Dr. (Jashvant) Unadkat and Dr. Isoherranen. So far, my postdoctoral training has been a great learning time and a phenomenal opportunity for my career growth and personal development.”

2022 DAA Award Winners

Watch the full video interview featuring this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients

This year, the UW Pharmacy Alumni Association proudly recognized Shelby Reed (“Distinguished Alumna In Pharmaceutical Science and Research Award”), Gary Harris, ’72 (“Distinguished Alumnus In Pharmacy Practice Award”), and Laura Hart, ’14, ’17 (“Early Career Achievement Award”) as the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

Shelby Reed

What does this award mean to you?
I was absolutely delighted to be selected for this award. My time at UW was instrumental to my time at Duke, so I’m very thankful.

What Advice would you give to students?
The most important advice I have is to enjoy the journey. Take the time to find out what you’re passionate about. Also, read off-topic stuff outside of pharmacy. It’s really about triangulating different fields – that’s what makes learning so exciting.

Why did you choose to attend the UW School of Pharmacy?
I originally interviewed for a junior faculty position, and I met Sean Sullivan, who, at the conclusion of the interview, encouraged me to pursue a post-doc. I wasn’t yet ready to step out of the shoes of a student, and into the shoes of a faculty member, to the post-doc allowed me more time and more training. It was perfect. It was the launching point of my career, and it was the right thing to do.

Gary Harris

What does this award mean to you?
I’m thankful and honored that other people are seeing what’s going on, and hopefully that’s new inspiration or incentive for new pharmacists to say, ‘Okay, if there’s something out here I really want to do, I can go out and change the world.’

Why did you choose to attend the UW School of Pharmacy?
Pharmacy is pretty much what I always wanted to do. I liked chemistry and physics classes in high school, and being from Everett, only 30 miles away, Seattle and the UW sounded like a really good place, and close enough to home where I go home, do my laundry, get a home-cooked meal. UW was always my first choice, and It worked out well.

Who inspires you?
When I was at UW, it was Dr. Frank Vincenzi, ’60, ’65, in Pharmacology. The subject matter was fascinating, and I thought he was a great professor. In later years, through PAA and at other events, I would occasionally see him, and that’s been a good friendship for me.

Laura Hart

What does this award mean to you?
This award is incredibly meaningful for me. There are so many alumni from the UWSOP community that inspire me each and every day, and to even be considered for this award, really means alot. I’m humbled and honored.

Who inspires you?
Somebody who sticks out to me as having a lasting impact is the late Dr. Joy Plein, ’51, ’56. Joy had such a profound impact on my life, both professionally and personally, and I’m just so grateful to have called her a mentor, a colleague, and a friend. In addition to being an inspiration to me, she was also one of my most incredible supporters and advocates. I would absolutely not be where I am in my career would it not be for the influence Joy Plein had on me.

What Advice would you give students?
Always have an open mind, and try new things – you never know what might surprise you. Also, stepping outside your comfort zone will help you learn and grow, not only professionally, but personally.

First-Ever Endowed Chair Honors Cyndy Clegg

The Clegg Endowed Chair

Donor: Jerry Masters

Gift Purpose: The gift shall be used to recruit, retain, and train our next leaders in the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Washington.

Cyndy Clegg, ’84, is the type of inspirational leader “who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way” (John C. Maxwell). Throughout her career, Cyndy’s biggest reward has been advancing the practice of pharmacy and building up future generations of pharmacy professionals and leaders.

Cyndy is recognized on a local, state, and national level. She is a devoted pharmacist, UW Husky, and friend. Her passion drives her work and her ability to connect in meaningful ways is heartfelt.

A dual graduate of prestigious programs at the University of Washington, Cyndy earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the UWSOP in 1984. In 2007, she went on to earn her Master of Health Administration through the UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine.

“Cyndy is the type of inspirational leader who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

-John C. Maxwell

Both programs shaped her passion for health care and developing the ideal model of care, and Cyndy’s contributions to the UWSOP are numerous. She was awarded the UWSOP Outstanding Service Award in 2018 and has served on the Board of Directors for many organizations in performing arts. She currently supports her Ballard High School alma mater on the Board of Directors for the Foundation. She worked for 38 years mentoring pharmacy students, externs, and interns. With a student-centered approach to promoting critical thinking skills, Cyndy created an energetic and encouraging environment where active learning and emotional support allowed the students to solve problems and think about their role as bigger than they imagined. Cyndy always encouraged the possibility in the individual and fostered education to promote future growth.

She was skilled at providing feedback to encourage students to move forward in new directions and pioneer new pathways in pharmacy.

This year, in recognition of Cyndy’s legacy of leadership and innovation in pharmacy practice, the UWSOP has set up the Clegg Endowed Chair Fund, which will be used to recruit, retain and train future generations of UWSOP leaders.

In sincere recognition and gratitude for many years of service, thank you, Cyndy, for your contributions to the profession of pharmacy.

• Cammack Family Endowed Student Support Fund

  Donor: Barbara Cammack
  Gift Purpose: The Gift shall be used to create an endowed student support fund (“the Fund”) to provide broad-based support for PharmD students in the School of Pharmacy interested in Community Pharmacy.

• Wong Family Endowed Student Fund

  Donors: Edward Y. Wong and Kathleen J. Price

  Gift Purpose: The Gift shall be used to create an endowed fellowship fund (“the Fund”) to provide broad-based support for professional pharmacy students in the School of Pharmacy at the discretion of the Dean.

• Jennifer Wilson Norton and Laurence Norton Endowed Scholarship

  Donors: Jennifer Wilson Norton and Laurence Norton

  Gift Purpose: The Gift shall be used to create an endowed scholarship fund (“the fund”) to provide financial assistance to graduate students in the School of Pharmacy who are pursuing a degree in the PharmD. professional pharmacy program. It is the Donors’ preference that funds support students from rural and/or small communities that would otherwise be unable to attend school. It is the Donor’s hope that this fund will provide additional opportunities for students seeking to expand their educational training through various educational and leadership activities.

• Davison Family Endowed Scholarship

  Donors: Teresa and Donal O’Sullivan

  Gift Purpose: The Gift shall be used to create an endowed scholarship fund (“the Fund”) to provide financial assistance to students who are pursuing a degree in the PharmD. Professional Pharmacy Program in the School of Pharmacy. It is the Donor’s preference that funds support students who have a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion or experience with diversity.

• Murphy Endowed Fund for Leadership and Professional Excellence

  Donor: Nanci L. Murphy

  Gift Purpose: The purpose of this endowment shall be to provide support for the School of Pharmacy’s Center for Leadership and Professional Excellence. It is the donor’s intent that distributions from the endowment be used to benefit students participating in the School of Pharmacy’s Center for Leadership and Professional Excellence.

• Professional Society Graduate Student Endowed Fellowship

  Donors: Edward and Janet Kelly

  Gift Purpose: The purpose of this endowment is to offset the cost of education for graduate students in the Department of Pharmaceutics. It is the Donors’ intent that this fund provide support for graduate students to attend professional society meetings, training and/or conferences.

To lend your support to any of these amazing funds, please visit: https://sop.washington.edu/alumni-donors/give-to-the-school/

A Friendship For The Ages

From Vietnam-era hospitals to UW research labs, Army veterans and UWSOP alumnus Gary Smith and David Bailey share a connection that has spanned more than 50 years.

The year was 1966. The Cold War’s global grip was tightening, the militaristic expansion of the Vietnam conflict continued to swell, and UWSOP alum Gary Smith, ’70, then a fresh-faced student at UW with his sights set on studying pharmacy, found himself summoned to join the Army.

In short order, the Lake Stevens, WA, native traded his student ID for Army fatigues, hopped a plane to Louisiana for 16 weeks of basic training at Ft. Polk, then followed that with a pharmacy tech training stint at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. Next thing Smith knew, he was offered an opportunity to sign up as a pharmacy tech at the 98th General Hospital pharmacy in Neubruke, Germany. Without hesitation, he took it.

The new adventure abroad not only provided Smith with a chance to get some real-world experience and plant seeds for a future career in pharmacy, it also helped build a foundation for what would be a lifelong friendship with future UWSOP classmate David Bailey, ’70, who just so happened to be stationed at the very same hospital in Germany – at the very same time.

“At the hospital in Neubruke, David was a captain and served as the Pharmacy Officer in Charge (OIC),” remembered Smith. “He had numerous other duties at the post, so we didn’t have daily interactions with him, but we reported to him, and we all respected how instrumental he was in keeping operations at the hospital running smoothly.”

Throughout their time working together, a foundation of trust and respect developed between the future UWSOP graduates.

“Initially, I began working at the hospital as a supply officer, with a secondary duty as the pharmacy officer, but eventually I was able to focus on my pharmacy duties and got to know and work with Gary and the other pharmacy technicians,” recalled Bailey, who had graduated from Purdue University’s pharmacy school prior to joining the Army. “I came to see Gary as a ‘salt of the earth guy’ that I could rely on, and of course that reputation followed him the rest of his career because he ultimately represented the best in pharmacy.”

After a year of working at the hospital pharmacy in Neubruke, Smith was ordered to Vietnam and eventually assigned to work at a hospital in the Mekong Delta, an opportunity he says prepared him well for his future career as a pharmacist.

“It was a ‘MASH’ unit – though not quite as loose as what’s depicted in the movie MASH,” he remembered. “Our duties included filling scripts from the military doctors for Army personnel. The experience was very similar to working in retail pharmacy, and the training course we had to take was instrumental in preparing me for my education when I enrolled in the UWSOP.”

Prior to joining the Army, Bailey had little interest in the pharmacy field as a career, but his experience in the military hospital environment opened new doors of possibility, laying the groundwork for his future legacy as a respected leader in hospital pharmacy.

“My time in Germany exposed me to another career opportunity with a focus on hospital pharmacy,” he said. “To chart that course, I knew that I needed additional training and a residency, which led me to UW.”

“David and I relayed to each other that we would each be attending UW after leaving the Army. It was quite an unexpected coincidence, but a welcomed one.”

-Gary Smith

Little did Bailey know, he wasn’t the only one with his sights set on UW’s pharmacy program.

“David and I relayed to each other that we would each be attending UW after leaving the Army,” recalled Smith. “It was quite an unexpected coincidence, but a welcomed one.”

After his tenure in the military ended, and he graduated from the UWSOP, Smith began working in retail as a pharmacist and owner of Castle Drugs in Everett, WA, for nearly 30 years before retiring in 1998. Even though he hung up his white coat for good, Smith continued to wear another uniform – a little league umpire’s get-up. Since 1982 he has both coached and served behind home plate, calling balls and strikes as a volunteer umpire for the Lake Stevens and Everett Little Leagues.

Following his Army career, Bailey (like Smith) enrolled in UWSOP and received his Master of Science degree in 1970 under Dr. Elmer Plein. After graduation, he left the Pacific Northwest and headed east for Boston, enjoying a long, successful career in hospital pharmacy. Though Bailey “retired” in 2005, he continued to work part-time at a home health care pharmacy in Tucson. In 2006, Bailey and his wife Anita also established the Bailey Endowed Faculty Fellowship in Geriatrics, an endowment supporting faculty in the Plein Center for Geriatric Research, Education and Outreach.Over the years, as their lives got busy with careers and family, the two friends eventually lost touch with one another – that is until Gary reached out to the Pharmacy Alumni Association. Now, they enjoy a renewed connection.

“Since we’ve gotten back in touch, David will call me when he’s going to attend an event at the UWSOP,” said Smith, “and I’ve gotten to respect him even more than when we were in Germany. It’s been great to be able to maintain our friendship after all these years.”

It’s a sentiment his old friend shares as well.

“I treasure the times we are able to visit together and share our experiences at the 98th General,” Bailey added. “And now, all these years later, to be able to stay connected as UWSOP alumni – that’s just extra special.”

In Memoriam

Mike Donohue, ‘80
A UWSOP alum and owner of Bob Johnson’s Pharmacy in Ballard, Mike was a beloved member of the pharmacy community. He was the only person to be named the WSPA Pharmacist Of The Year twice, receiving the award in 1999 and in 2005. He served as a WSPA Board of Directors Member from 1996-1999, and again as WSPA President in 2005. Additionally, Mike was on the United Drug Board of Directors and President in early 2000’s and served as Chair of the WSPA Independent Academy from 2018-2021. He was President of the Washington State Pharmacy Foundation since 2019.

“I have talked to so many people who remarked how they had just talked with him, or were working on something with him. He was so strongly connected to people, even during these times. Also more than a few said ‘Mike was the first person I met within WSPA.’ I believe this was because he was so warm and engaging. He filled each room with his warmth and smile. He had a strong passion for his family, pharmacy practice, his staff, patients, and friends. His loss is felt deeply by so many. We weren’t ready to lose him.” – Jenny Arnold, ‘06, Chief Executive Officer, WSPA

Mark Holzemer, ’73
Mark passed away peacefully with family at his side in February 2022 at age 73. His outgoing personality and kind heart made him a favorite to his patients, colleagues, and co-workers. Mark could strike up a conversation with anyone at any time and frequently did so. A patient at Bellegrove pharmacy once wrote to the local newspaper and nominated Mark for the Prince of Bellevue for his kindness and care. A pharmacist and former employee best captured Mark when he said, “Mark not only taught me to be a better pharmacist, but he also taught me to be a gentleman.”

Tim Fuller, ’69
After graduating from the UWSOP in 1969, Tim went on to complete a residency and MSc degree in Hospital Pharmacy at Ohio State University in 1974. He also completed two residencies at the US Public Health Hospital in San Francisco and Ohio State University Hospital. From 1981 to 1991 Tim served as Director of Pharmacy at Seattle Children’s Hospital and as a Pharmacist Consultant to the Washington state Board of Pharmacy from 1992 until he retired in June 2014. Tim enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the pharmacy community. Founder of Timothy S. Fuller & Associates, Inc., Consulting, he is recognized as the Father of Pharmacist Collaborative Drug Therapy for his extensive and continued research, advocacy, and publication on the subject. He is a Past President of the Washington Society of Hospital Pharmacists, a Fellow of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the Washington State Pharmacists Association Pharmacist of the Year in 1997.

Tim served the School of Pharmacy community as a preceptor and adjunct professor for 31 years. In 2018, he was awarded the UW Pharmacy Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni award for his generous and illustrious service to the School. Tim’s UW graduating class (’69) was the first class in the history of the University of Washington to endow a scholarship fund in honor of their class. Should you want to make a donation in Tim’s memory, you can support the Class of 1969 fund here.

Walter George Davison, ’57
Born in Tacoma in 1935 to Madeline and Waldo Davison, Walter graduated from the UWSOP in 1957. During his time at the School, he met Bonnie Jo Lynch of Juneau, Alaska, and they were married in 1958. After he graduated from the USOP, Walt served in the Army for two years.

In addition to providing good patient care, Walt served his community. He and Bonnie grew their business by being responsive to the needs of their patients. In addition to filling prescriptions, including compounding when needed, the couple rented and sold durable medical equipment, fit compression hosiery, and stocked supplies for ostomy patients. Walt counseled all patients and was a wonderful role model – it’s no surprise that all his daughters chose to go into pharmacy, and all are UWSOP graduates, like their parents. Walt’s oldest grandchild more recently became the third generation of Davison UWSOP graduates.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the UWSOP’s Davison Family Endowed Scholarship fund.

Christina Georgia Deliganis, ’78
Christina passed away January 15, 2022, at the age of 83. She graduated from the UWSOP with a Masters of Hospital Pharmacy degree in 1978.

Jack Lee Manning, ‘64
Jack, who passed away November 19, 2021, was born in 1939 in Pittsburg, KS, but grew up in Longview, WA. After Jack graduated from the University of Washington in Pharmacy in 1964, he eventually founded Manning’s Pharmacy in South Seattle, where he was a beloved pharmacist. One of his proudest accomplishments was hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Columbia River to Canada, ending at aptly named Manning Park. Jack is survived by his sisters Joan and Jan, children John and Kurt (Lisa), stepchildren Melissa, Megan, Kim and Jason, and 6 grandchildren.

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