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Department News

Aaron del Pozo Sanz Awarded AES Fellowship for Epilepsy Research

Aaron del Pozo

Congratulations to Aaron del Pozo Sanz, a post-doctoral scholar at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy’s Barker-Haliski Lab! Aaron has been awarded a 2023 Early Career Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the American Epilepsy Society…


SOP Faculty Present Research at ISS Conference

Ed Kelly (left) and Cathy Yeung (right) with Astronaut Megan McArthur (center) at this year’s ISSRDC meeting

Drs. Ed Kelly (Department of Pharmaceutics) and Cathy Yeung (Department of Pharmacy) recently attended and presented their research at the International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) held in Seattle August 1-3. Drs. Kelly…


PharmD Student Receives US Public Health Pharmacy Award

Ruger Stufflebeam

UWSOP PharmD student Ruger Stufflebeam has been selected for the 2023 United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Award! This award recognizes pharmacy students who make significant contributions to public health, including…


Area High School Students STEP Toward a Career In Pharmacy

Students Exploring Pharmacy (STEP) Program

The 2022 edition of the Students Exploring Pharmacy (STEP) program recently welcomed 30 local high school juniors and seniors to the University of Washington campus. Each year, the 4-day program invites students to engage in…


Study Examines Effects of Regulations That Eliminate Insurance Cost-Sharing for Colorectal Cancer Screening

JAMA Network Open has published a new study – “Comparison of Screening Colonoscopy Rates After Positive Noninvasive Testing for Colorectal Cancer in States With and Without Cost-Sharing”– examining the effects of policies in Oregon and…


Four students awarded Baxter scholarships in Geriatric Pharmacy

Four second-year pharmacy students have been selected to receive a Baxter Scholarship toward their fee for the Plein Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy. The Plein Center Leadership Team was inspired by the motivation and vision of the scholarship recipients. Each scholarship winner shared compelling personal stories of experiences that inspired them to pursue a career in geriatric pharmacy. A link between all of them is a desire to strengthen relationships with – and uphold dignity and agency to – older adults.


SOP Receives Gift From Washington Research Foundation For BRAMS Program

The SOP recently received a $75,000 gift from the Washington Research Foundation (WRF) to establish the Regulatory Sciences Fellowship Program, a new component of the School’s Biomedical Regulatory Affairs Master of Science (BRAMS) program. The…


Steve White receives achievement award from AES

H. Steve White

UWSOP Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacy H. Steve White has been honored with the Extraordinary Contributions to the Field of Epilepsy Award by the American Epilepsy Society (AES). The award was announced…


UWSOP grad students represent state in national ASHP competition

ashp 2020 National Clinical Skills Competition

Congratulations to Camille Troyer and Jessica Bixby, who will be representing the state of Washington December 5 & 6 in the national American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Clinical Skills Competition. The CSC, an interactive, team-based…


Promoted UWSOP faculty tackling tough problems facing population health with novel approaches

Recently promoted faculty are finding news ways to solve significant population health problems from Alzheimer’s and related dementias to kidney disease to cancer to MRSA. These preeminent researchers were all recently awarded promotions. Learn more…


Using Data and Economics to Transform Health | Celebrating 25 Years

CHOICE faculty and students at the 2019 retreat

Celebrating 25 years, The CHOICE Institute continues to grow and transform, expanding its impact on population health. “At CHOICE, we work to advance the study of health economics, pharmaceutical outcomes research, and policy to improve…


A Tradition of Reinventing Pharmacy

Never doubt the profound impact that our faculty and alumni have had on health care nationwide through decades of advocacy for increased access to patient care. “Pharmacists are the medication experts on the health care…


Enhancing the way epilepsy is managed by engaging community pharmacists

The University of Washington’s School of Pharmacy today announced a collaboration with global biopharmaceutical company UCB to improve access to care for people living with epilepsy.This interdisciplinary project will explore ways in which community pharmacists…


The Future of Pharmacy

Celebrating 125 Years of Impact & Innovation Our mission is to develop exceptional pharmacy leaders and researchers, discover solutions to improve population health, and serve the health and well-being of the public, locally and globally…even…


Supporting cancer survivors

Assitant Professor Aasthaa Bansal’s team will look at care for colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and chronic myeloid leukemia. Their approach will extend to other diseases, including pediatric cancers.

Aasthaa Bansal leads an NIH MERIT award-winning team to develop decision-making frameworks to guide post-treatment care for cancer survivors Despite receiving effective primary treatment, many cancer survivors remain at risk of relapse and associated morbidity…


But is it safe for my baby?

Mary Hebert and research nurse Maggie Leahy, RN, meet with an expectant mother as part of their study.

Mary Hebert and the Obstetric-fetal Pharmacology Research Unit (OPRU) team are exploring how to optimize care for pregnant and lactating women How do medications for high blood pressure, depression, and even cancer affect pregnant women…


Kidney on a Chip has gone to outer space..and returned to Earth!

AND WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!!

What did it take to send delicate kidney cells into space to be studied by astronauts wearing big, clunky gloves who may, or may not, have a background in biochemistry? We popped into the lab…


5/3 UPDATE: 5/3 11:48 PM PDT launch for Kidney on a Chip project to the International Space Station!

PHOTO DATE: July 06, 2018 LOCATION: Bldg. 2 Lobby SUBJECT: NIH Tissue Chip. PHOTOGRAPHER: Josh Valcarcel

Updated May 3, 11:29 am Pacific: NASA has pushed back the launch to Friday, May 3 at 11:48 PM Pacific time…weather dependent.   May 3 update: Welp. It seemed like it was going to go…


UWSOP team wins the AMCP 2019 National Pharmacy & Therapeutics (P&T) Competition

Michael Sporck, ‘20, Eunice Kim, ‘20, Hanna Kleiboeker, ‘20 and Erin Ichinotsubo, ‘21 won first place at the National AMCP P&T competition

Congratulations to our PharmD students, Michael Sporck, ‘20, Eunice Kim, ‘20, Hanna Kleiboeker, ‘20 and Erin Ichinotsubo, ‘21, who won first place at the highly competitive Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Foundation 19th Annual…


Advice from UW pharmacists on senior use of marijuana

Marijuana use among older adults has soared in recent years despite little being known about the effectiveness and safety of the drug in people 65 and older. That’s resulted in more seniors asking health care…


Bacci, White, and Zaraa awarded UW Population Health grant to study integrated care models for people living with epilepsy

Congratulations to Jennifer Bacci, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy; H. Steve White, Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacy; and Sabra Zarâa, CHOICE PhD student, Pharmacy on receiving one of the 2019 pilot research grants awarded by the…


Werth and Xu awarded $1.86M NIH grant to continue MRSA investigation

Pharmacy’s Brian Werth and grant coinvestigator UWSOP Medicinal Chemistry’s Libin Xu will continue their novel research into antibiotic resistance mechanisms in the superbug, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The team were recently awarded a 4-year, $1.86 million…


Leah Ruggerone and Richard Lee named to Husky 100

Leah Ruggone, '18, and Richard Lee, PY3

Leah Ruggerone, ’18, and PY3 student Richard Lee were both selected for the UW Husky 100 from the School of Pharmacy in 2018. Each year, the Husky 100 recognizes 100 UW undergrad and grad students…


Devine and Chen debut Real-world Evidence Assessments and Needs Guidance (READi) Tool

CHOICE READi tool

CHOICE faculty member Beth Devine and CHOICE PhD student Shuxian Chen led an invited workshop last month at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Nexus Meeting in Orlando Florida. There, they presented their newly developed framework and tool…


CHOICE director Anirban Basu and collaborators receive NIH grant to study costs of dementia care

PORPP Dir & Prof Anirban Basu

Team seeks to improve the projections of the future burden of the disease. Anirban Basu, director of the CHOICE Institute at UWSOP, and professor in the schools of Pharmacy and Public Health at the University…


CHOICE PhD student Landaas studies PupilScreen app in Thailand

Erik Landaas, current CHOICE PhD student pictured with CHOICE alumnus, Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk, PhD, in Thailand

CHOICE PhD student Erik Landaas received funding to conduct a mobile health validation study in Thailand. The study is funded by Washington Research Foundation (WRF) and his primary co-investigators include two UW School of Nursing PhD…


Kai Yeung receives grant for project looking at value in prescription drug benefit design

Kai Young, PhD, '15

Congratulations to CHOICE Institute alumnus and Affiliate Assistant Professor, Kai Yeung, PharmD PhD, `15, who received a research grant from the Patrick and Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation’s Greater Value Portfolio program. Kai’s project…


Anirban Basu awarded Mid-Career Excellence Award by HPSS

PORPP Dir & Prof Anirban Basu

At the 2018 International Conference on Health Policy Statistics (ICHPS) held in Charleston, South Carolina, Anirban Basu was awarded the Mid-Career Excellence Award from the American Statistical Association Section on Health Policy Statistics (HPSS). Anirban…


Barthold uses economics methods to improve dementia diagnosis and treatment plans across race, ethnicity, and sex

“Economists have a knack for identification strategies—using data in innovative ways to isolate the role of one specific drug and separate it from other confounders that may affect the outcome of interest,” said Doug (pictured right, with CHOICE  PhD graduate student Erik Landaas). 

The newest researcher in The CHOICE Institute at UWSOP, Doug Barthold is taking a couple of approaches that use data and economic modeling to find potential treatments and trends in care of people with Alzheimer’s disease…


Collaboration with UWSOP results in health benefits against flu for Era Living residents

UWSOP PharmD student presents to Era Living residents

Last year’s flu season was one of the worst in nearly a decade. The people most susceptible to the flu are our most vulnerable people: infants and children, older adults, and people who are chronically…


Meet our Plein Center for Geriatric Pharmacy Preceptors: Neris Palunas

Neris Palunas, PharmD, BCPG

Neris M. Palunas, PharmD, BCGP, is a Consultant Pharmacist with Consonus Pharmacy, serving people in the Seattle area. Neris consults as a clinical pharmacist to senior living communities at all levels of care.  “I love teaching…


Meet our Plein Center for Geriatric Pharmacy Alumni: Cara McDermott

Alumna Cara McDermott, '11, '12, '16

Alumna Cara McDermott, PharmD, PhD, MSc, ’11, ’12, 16, is a K12 Scholar in the UW Implementation Sciences Training Program and Acting Instructor, Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, UW School of Medicine. A three-time alumna…


Meet our Plein Center for Geriatric Pharmacy Faculty: Leigh Ann Mike

Leigh Ann Mike, PharmD

Learn the latest about the deprescribing education and outreach UWSOP faculty member Leigh Ann Mike provides to older adults and providers. Leigh Ann Mike, PharmD, is Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy and Assistant Director…


Marcum takes a multi-prong approach toward developing a dementia prevention strategy

Zach Marcum, Plein Center Assistant Director of Research and Bailey Faculty Fellow and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy

The prospect of developing dementia is terrifying for most people, particularly for those with family members who have had the disease. Many wonder what they can do to prevent the onset of dementia—which is where…


Plein Center students and faculty research highlighted at ASCP’s annual meeting

Plein Certificate students Julia Yunkyung and Jina Yun, pictured with Julia's ASCP poster

Our School’s faculty and students presented two posters at the ASCP Annual Meeting, and the abstracts are in the October issue of The Consultant Pharmacist. Julia Yunkyung, Laura Hart, and Shelly Gray presented a poster titled,…


Barker-Haliski’s novel research looks at the under-studied problem of epilepsy in patients with Alzheimer’s

Melissa is a neuropharmacologist with a passion for understanding how drugs work in the body. Her research is supported by the UW Royalty Research Fund and the UWSOP Plein Fund Endowment. She and her team will present findings in December 2018 at the American Epilepsy Society meeting. Melissa works in collaboration with Suman Jayadev, associate professor of neurology at UW Medicine and the clinical core director of UW’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

People with Alzheimer’s disease can have up to an 87-fold increased risk of seizures. Patients with early-onset Alzheimer’s have the highest risk for seizures, but even patients with  late onset Alzheimer’s disease  are at high…


Werth receives prestigious Young Investigator Award from SIDP

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Brian Werth who received this year’s Young Investigator Award from the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (SIDP). The prestigious award  is given to a young investigator who shows research promise in…


UW Researchers Gray and Phelan to study the impact of deprescribing to reduce falls in older adults

Older adult hands holding medication

UW Pharmacy’s Shelly Gray and UW Medicine’s Elizabeth Phelan are teaming up to identify ways to prevent falls in older adults. Their study, “Reducing Central Nervous System (CNS)-active Medications to Prevent Falls and Injuries in…


Researchers at UW and USC find a type of medication used to treat high blood pressure may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers Doug Barthold of the University of Washington and Julie Zissimopoulos of the University of Southern California published the first study to compare multiple types of blood pressure medications and the beneficial effect they may…


Lou Garrison named 2018 Value Assessment Challenge Award recipient

The PhRMA Foundation and the Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC) announced that Lou Garrison is one of the first place recipients of the 2018 Value Assessment Challenge Awards. These awards are designed to encourage innovative approaches…


UW ranks 4th world wide for pharmacology and toxicology

The UW ranks 4th worldwide in Pharmacology and Toxicology, a subject that includes pharmacy, pharmacology, substance abuse, and toxicology, according to National Taiwan University’s criteria. The list provides overall rankings; rankings by six fields; and…


Researchers at UW bolster study of how austerity devastated Greece’s health

Andy Stergachis, UWSOP Professor & Associate Dean

A new study by dozens of researchers from the University of Washington and around the world has found that Greece’s population health declined markedly and death rates rose sharply after harsh austerity measures were imposed…


APhA honors Project VACCINATE, led by Bacci and Odegard

Members of the Project VACCINATE team (L to R): Michelle Bonjour, Lara Popovich, James Lin, ’17, Marci Reynolds, ’04, Christina Ree, Jennifer Bacci, Jenny Arnold, ’06, Peggy Odegard, ’85, ’90,

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) presented the National APhA Immunization Champion Award (Partnership) to Project VACCINATE at their 2018 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Nashville. Likely the largest partnership effort to improve adult immunization care…


Organs-on-chips: Tiny technology helping bring safe new drugs to patients faster

Researchers from UW School of Pharmacy and UW Medicine collaborate to advance kidney care (from left to right: Dr. Phavan Bhatraju, Pulmonary Fellow; Ranita Patel, Pediatric Nephrology Fellow; Elijah Weber, newly-minted PhD, Pharmaceutics; Kirk Van Ness, Research Scientist, Pharmaceutics; Christina Kim, Undergraduate Researcher; and Ed Kelly, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics and Kidney Research Institute Investigator)

It doesn’t look like a kidney, but this ‘kidney-on-a-chip’ is a breakthrough for new drug testing. Alex Levine, CC BY-ND Catherine Yeung, University of Washington; Edward Kelly, University of Washington, and Jonathan Himmelfarb, University of…


Strand awarded 2018 Garrison Prize in Health Policy & Economics

Congratulations to 3rd year, PhD student Lauren Strand who received the Louis Garrison Sr. And Marilyn Garrison Endowed Prize in Health Policy and Economics prize! Lauren’s paper is titled “New Statin use and left ventricular structure:…


Wienkers is keynote speaker at June 2018 AAPS-RMDG meeting at UW

Keynote speaker Larry Wienkers is also a UWSOP Distinguished Alumni Award winner.

Abstracts are due Friday, May 18, 2018 The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists – Rocky Mountain Discussion Group (AAPS-RMDG) Annual Meeting will be held at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, on June 12-13, 2018….


Certain drugs for muscle conditions may be linked to increased risk of dementia

Shelly Gray editorial in The BMJ underscores importance of avoiding long-term use of anticholinergic drugs in older adults UWSOP Plein Center for Geriatric Pharmacy Director Shelly Gray authored an editorial in support of new research about potential…


Marcum study finds metformin has mortality benefits even with low kidney function

Collaborative research between UW School of Pharmacy and VA Puget Sound looked at 175,000 patients In a recent study, researchers at the University of Washington and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System have found…


Basu trains Indian government and health leaders in health economics

2018 International Health Technology Assessment Fellowship Cohort

With India rolling out the one of the largest public health insurance initiatives in the world, it became more important than ever for government, university, and health care leaders to understand key aspects to health economics. Dr….


Barker-Haliski advances research in antiseizure therapies in patients with Alzheimer’s

When a project is moments away from completion, or a new question arises during the experiment, a little bit of extra funding can go a long way. This is the inspiration behind the ITHS Catalyst…


Our CHOICE PhD students continue to advance research to improve health outcomes

From all of us at CHOICE, we hope your year is off to a good start. Our PhD students have been busy since last year and we wanted to take the time to highlight a…


Meet Our Newest Faculty Member, Doug Barthold

barthold

We welcome Dr. Doug Barthold, PhD., Research Assistant Professor, to the faculty of the Department of Pharmacy and to The CHOICE Institute! Doug comes to us from the University of Southern California where he was…


New fellowship will advance thoughtful health care innovation in Washington state

Partnership between Washington Research Foundation and The CHOICE Institute at UWSOP creates opportunities for students and researchers at non-profit research institutions in Washington state The CHOICE Institute at UWSOP is pleased to announce a partnership…


CHOICE alumnus Scott Strassels moves into leadership role at Ohio State U

Scott Strassels

The University of Washington School of Pharmacy congratulates Scott Strassels, PhD, PharmD, on his new position as assistant professor in the Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Burn and scientific director of the Center for…


Libin Xu and Brian Werth Receive Royalty Research Fund Award

Libin Xu, Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, and Brian Werth, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, have received a Royalty Research Fund award of $38,175 for their project, “Targeting Altered Lipid Metabolism in Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.” The…


Alumnus Glen Schumock, ’89, named Dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy

Glen Schumock, '89, The CHOICE Institute at UWSOP alumnus

Congratulations to University of Washington School of Pharmacy alumnus Glen Schumock, ’89, who will become Dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy! His appointment is effective January 1, 2018, pending approval…


Meet our Geriatric Pharmacy Preceptors: Karen Dawson

Karan Dawson, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy; Consulting Pharmacist, UW Pharmacy Cares Following an internship at Valley Medical Center, Karan worked as a clinical pharmacist at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Seattle and…


Launch of The CHOICE Institute at UWSOP promises leadership in health economics and outcomes research

We are witnessing a period of renaissance, as current advances in medical technology and breakthroughs are unprecedented in human history. There is a cure for Hepatitis C that works in weeks. Polio used to afflict…


SPECIAL EVENT: A talk with NPR’S Richard Harris

Richard Harris, NPR Science Correspondent

Panel Discussion: “From Rigor to Rigor Mortis–Good Science, Bad Science, and Patient Care” Noon-1:20pm, Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Health Sciences Building, T-435 Light refreshments will be served Panel Discussion: Richard Harris, NPR Science Correspondent and…


Veenstra weighs in on genetic testing in Science Magazine

DNA sample for gene sequencing at Debbie Nickerson Lab, University of Washington.

The question about the benefits and pitfalls of genetic testing is discussed in, “Is health care ready for routing DNA screening? A massive new trial will find out” in Science Magazine. Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and…


UW/Kaiser study finds taking Proton Pump Inhibitors not linked to higher dementia risk

Plein Center Director and Bridge Endowed Professor Shelly Gray opened the Plein Symposium

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medicines commonly prescribed to treat acid-related digestive problems, including gastroesophageal reflux disease.  Up to one in five older adults said they used a PPI as of 2011, and recent studies have…


Stergachis co-edited maternal immunization roadmap for Gates Foundation & GAPPS

UWSOP Associate Dean Andy Stergachis co-edited the “Maternal Immunization Safety Monitoring in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Roadmap for Program Development” for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and…


Bounthavong receives UWSOP Graduate Leadership Award

The UWSOP Graduate Student Leadership Award honors graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service and have had a positive impact on the School of Pharmacy, UW, the Northwest community, scientific and/or professional community. This year, the…


Lou Garrison was named a Change Agent in the 2017 PharmaVOICE 100 Honorees

UWSOP Professor Emeritus Lou Garrison

UW School of Pharmacy Professor Emeritus Lou Garrison was named a Change Agent in the 2017 PharmaVOICE 100 honorees. A global thought leader and teacher in the field of health economics and outcomes research, Lou…


Sager, Bounthavong, Seguin, Weber, & Shen receive inaugural UWSOP Graduate Program Awards

To recognize extraordinary excellence among our graduate students and faculty, UW School of Pharmacy established three new award programs in 2017. This first class of award recipients include Jennifer Sager, Outstanding Dissertation Award; Mark Bounthavong,…


Inaugural Plein Symposium advances geriatric pharmacy

2017 Plein Symposium audience members begin the day

“Celebrating Today, Planning Tomorrow” brought together a host of disciplines to discuss healthy aging Decades ago, geriatric pharmacy pioneers Joy and Elmer Plein foresaw the need to research the effects medications have on older adults….


A conversation at the College Inn leads to Faculty Innovation Award, possible breakthrough in combating MRSA

Medicinal Chemistry Assistant Professor Libin Xu (left), Pharmacy Assistant Professor Brian Werth (right), are pictured in conversation with Medicinal Chemistry’s Senior Fellow, Kelly Hines (center). Their research earned them the inaugural award from the UWSOP Faculty Innovation Fund, which provides financial support for one to two awards of up to $20,000 each for high-risk, innovative research projects.

There is a rich tradition of stories that begin with…“we were sitting in a bar talking, when we got this idea.” From the Marine Corps, to the Ironman Triathlon, and even Quidditch, all have their…


Team finds no adverse risk to use of common antimalarials in first trimester

Women and their children await medical care at a clinic.

UW and international researchers publish the most comprehensive international analysis on artemisinin combination antimalarials safety in pregnancy Malaria is more common and severe in pregnant women, increasing their risk of miscarriage and other adverse outcomes….


UW bestows Distinguished Retiree Excellence Award to UWSOP Alumna and Professor Emerita Joy Plein

UWSOP Faculty Emerita and 2017 UW-UWRA Distinguished Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award recipient, Joy Plein

We are thrilled to announce that our very own Professor Emerita Joy Plein, ’51, ’56, has been named the recipient of the 2017 UW-UWRA Distinguished Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award! This award is designated…


Little-known disease has major economic impact

An 1918 illustration showing blood vessels in the head and face. The drawing is from Henry Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body

Giant cell arteritis is estimated to cost U.S. health-care system $1 billion in first year of treatment PORPP faculty members, Joseph Babigumira, Louis Garrison, Denise Boudreau, Jennie Best, and grad student, Meng Li, published a…


McDermott researches value of insurer-provided care coordination

UWSOP alumna Cara McDermott, PharmD, Ph.D., M.Sc. and UW Medicine T32 Post Doc

Pharmacy alumna and UW Medicine post doc receives 2017 AcademyHealth New Investigator Award to study benefits of end-of-life care planning in palliative care UWSOP alumna Cara McDermott, Pharm.D., Ph.D., M.Sc. 
was named to the 2017 cohort…


Pharmacy Professor John Horn raises concerns about drug safety

Chicago Tribune investigation shows problems in drug interaction communications to patients UW School of Pharmacy Professor John Horn and UWSOP alumnus Dan Malone were part of an investigative report, “Pharmacies miss more than half of…


Get to know the Plein Geriatric Pharmacy Center leaders

Plein Geriatric Pharmacy Center leadership (L to R): Assistant Director for Research Zach Marcum, Assistant Director for Training Leigh Ann Mike, and Director Shelly Gray

Over the summer, Dean Sullivan announced the leadership for the Plein Geriatric Pharmacy Center and some of the early planning activities. Plein Center Director and Shirley and Herb Bridge Endowed Professor for Women in Pharmacy…


UWSOP, Era Living Partner for Patient-Centered Care

In 2016, we celebrated the the 30th class of UWSOP Plein Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy graduates!

UW School of Pharmacy offers a novel approach to student training and patient care in Era Living residential communities. The program is a mutually beneficial one: in addition to their regular pharmacy services, residents receive…


Common genetic disorder linked to increased death rate from cancer drug

Pharmacy Professor Jeannine McCune

Researchers recommend ‘caution’ when using the chemotherapy busulfan in patients with Gilbert’s syndrome By Susan Keown, Staff Writer, Fred Hutch News Service, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Research published Thursday shows that a common genetic disorder ― one…


Sid Nelson’s legacy lives on in science and collaboration

Busulfan is one of our oldest anticancer drugs. Today, it is often used to prepare a patient’s body for a bone marrow transplant (hematopoietic cell transplant [HCT]) to fight various cancers. Busulfan kills some of…


UWSOP Alumnus Watanabe named National Academy of Medicine Fellow

Jonathan H. Watanabe, PharmD, PhD

University of Washington School of Pharmacy alumnus, Jonathan H. Watanabe, PharmD, Ph.D., ’08, ’12, has been selected as one of three outstanding health professionals for the class of 2016 Fellows National Academy of Medicine (NAM). The…


Class of 2017 Honors Professor Doug Black

UW School of Pharmacy's PharmD Class of 2017

UW School of Pharmacy’s PharmD class of 2017 announced their class gift this week. They will work together over the coming year to make a P4 Class Giving Fund donation to the Doug Black Endowed PharmD Award,…


UW researchers find revascularization provides greater improvements for patients with peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease can cause pain in the legs and make walking uncomfortable.

Study published in JAMA Surgery compares effectiveness of two ways to treat intermittent claudication by evaluating outcomes that are important to patients UW researchers found that patients with intermittent claudication, a form of peripheral arterial…


Costs outlined of health plans that exclude contraception

A positive pregnancy test. Women ages 18 to 24 and those over 40 years old were most affected by having to pay out of pocket for birth control, the researchers found.

Pharmacy study links lack of coverage to more unintended pregnancies, greater health expenses for employers At companies whose health insurance plans exclude contraception coverage, female employees experienced 33 more unintended pregnancies per 1,000 women, and…


Lou Garrison to retire from UW School of Pharmacy

UWSOP Dean Sean D. Sullivan announced Dr. Lou Garrison’s retirement from the UW School of Pharmacy’s Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Research Policy Program (PORPP) effective July 1, 2016. “Lou has been a pivotal member of the…


UWSOP faculty and alumni elected to ISPOR leadership

UWSOP faculty and alumni past, present and future leaders of ISPOR (From left to right): Past President (2003-2004) Sean D. Sullivan, President Lou Garrison, President-elect Shelby D. Reed, Immediate Past President Daniel Malone, Past President (2010-2011) Scott Ramsey

Five UWSOP faculty and alumni have led ISPOR over the past 20 years UW School of Pharmacy faculty and alumni are again recognized as leaders in health care. The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes…


Lingtak-Neander Chan elected Fellow of the American College of Nutrition

Professor of Pharmacy Lingtak-Neander Chan

UW School of Pharmacy congratulates Professor Lingtak-Neander Chan on his election as a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition (ACN) in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the field of nutrition science. Being selected…


Marcum named K12 Scholar for research on dementia and cardiac medications

UWSOP Assistant Professor and K12 Scholar Zachary Marcum

UWSOP researcher will investigate the impact medication adherence has on patient health outcomes UW School of Pharmacy (UWSOP) Assistant Professor Zachary Marcum was named to the University of Washington Patient Centered Outcomes (PCOR) K12 Career Development…


Student’s enterprise yields 3 “essentially paid” for degrees

Blythe Adamson

Pharmacy Ph.D. candidate shares tips for self-funding success You would think three degrees from the University of Washington would take an enormous financial toll, but School of Pharmacy grad student Blythe Adamson, one of the…


Anirban Basu Elected Fellow of the American Statistical Association

PORPP Dir & Prof Anirban Basu

UW School of Pharmacy and UW Department of Economics congratulate Anirban Basu on his election as a 2016 Fellow of the American Statistical Association in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the statistical profession. For…


UWSOP Announces Groundbreaking Plein Center for Geriatric Pharmacy Research, Education & Outreach

Joy and Elmer Plein

Research shows that medication-related problems are one of the top reasons for hospitalizations and for older adults losing the ability to live independently, either due to competing side effects, falls, over prescribing, or improper adherence….


Bennette, Sullivan find cancer drug prices rise rapidly after market launch

Caroline Bennette, PhD

UW School of Pharmacy researchers’ found large increases in oral anticancer drugs even in the face of increasing market competition A new study published in the May issue of Health Affairs and authored by UW…


“When you really want something, you don’t give up.”

A look back at legendary pharmacist, civic and women’s advocate, Shirley G. Bridge As we near our 125th Anniversary in 2019, we continue to remember our history and the alumni legends in science and pharmacy…


UWSOP and ICER form collaboration to model the clinical and economic impact of new medications

The University of Washington School of Pharmacy (UWSOP) and the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) have formed a partnership to leverage UWSOP’s expertise in economic modeling of pharmaceutical interventions to support ICER’s growing…


Award season comes to UWSOP!

Don Downing is presented the Community Service award at the 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr., Recognition Ceremony

It’s award season–not just for film, also for the UW School of Pharmacy! Many of our School’s faculty, students, post docs and alumni have been recognized in the past few months for their accomplishments. Don Downing, Martin…


Steve White Named Chair of UWSOP’s Dept of Pharmacy

UW School of Pharmacy's Department of Pharmacy's chair, Dr. Steve White

The UW School of Pharmacy is pleased to announce the appointment of H. Steve White, RPh, Ph.D. as the new chair of the School’s Department of Pharmacy, effective January 18, 2016. White earned his baccalaureate…


Odegard and Diabetes Education team win UW award

Principle Investigator and Associate Dean Peggy Odegard

Train the trainer program empowering clinic teams sees significant improvements in outcomes The UW School of Pharmacy is proud to celebrate Associate Dean Peggy Odegard, PharmD, CDE’s, recognition with the Golden Eddy Award as part…


Intercollegiate team will study natural product-drug interactions

Green tea is one of the products in the drug-interaction center's initial study set.

Herbal remedies are a multi-billion dollar industry. Sales of natural product supplements have nearly tripled in the past twenty years since passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994. Fueled in part…


Are you a #HUSKYPHARMACIST?

Student Pharmacist in UWSOP’s Bracken Pharmacy Learning Lab

Celebrate American Pharmacists Month and share your #HUSKYPHARMACIST pride this October! Whether you are an alum, student, faculty member, preceptor, graduate, friend, parent, patient or supporter, we want to see your #HUSKYPHARMACIST pride! Pharmacy Practice Changes…


The Chiba Morio Family: Undaunted in the Face of Adversity

Bain Chiba with his father Yasukichi, '17, at Bain's graduation from UW School of Pharmacy in 1937.

  Second year PharmD student Beau Chiba comes from a long line of UW School of Pharmacy pharmacists. When he graduates in 2018, it will be 101 years since his great-grandfather, Yasukuchi Chiba graduated. Beau…


Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence for the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program (PORPP)

PORPP Retreat 2015

“Great scientists and great surfers share a common trait. They don’t position themselves where the big wave is now; they position themselves where the next big wave is going to be. PORPP teaches students to…


Examining the Economic Consequences of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Therapy (ACTH) in Infantile Spasms and Multiple Sclerosis Relapse

PORPP Faculty Member Ryan Hansen and Research Team Present Findings at the 12th World Congress on Inflammation in Boston, Massachusetts UW School of Pharmacy Research Assistant Professor Ryan Hansen, along with Patricia Schepman, John Niewoehner,…


Innovative Pharmacy Training Does a World of Good in Malawi

Pharmacy Assistant student attending to patients during practicum training in rural pharmacies in Malawi

New Pharmacy Assistants Graduate, Improving Patient Care at Critically Understaffed Rural Health Centers When most of us think of our local pharmacy, we take certain things for granted. We expect that the medications prescribed to…


Scenes from Commencement 2015

Associate Dean Peggy Odegard presents Adrian Hughes with the Dean's Club Humanitarian Award

Friday was a day of recognition and celebration! Over 100 graduate and PharmD students received their degrees and began a new phase in their professional careers. Associate Dean Peggy Odegard welcomed the graduates telling them, “We are…


Hansen study finds for new users, sleeping pills may double car crash risk

UW School of Pharmacy Research Assistant Professor Ryan Hansen, PhD, PharmD

Three prescription sleeping aids are associated with an increase in motor vehicle crashes, according to a study by the University of Washington School of Pharmacy and the Group Health Research Institute. The research was published…


SB 5557 Expands Patient Access to Care in Washington

UW School of Pharmacy Faculty and Students at the Governor’s Signing of SB 5557 on May 11, 2015

An Historic Day in Washington Washington will be the first state in the country to require that pharmacists are included in health insurance provider networks under new legislation (SB 5557) signed by Governor Inslee on…


PORPP Researchers Receive $3 Million Grant to Develop VOI methods to Prioritize NHLBI trials

PORPP Dir & Prof Anirban Basu

Three faculty members from the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program (PORPP) and two faculty from the Division of Cardiology received a $3 million grant to develop a comprehensive toolkit of pragmatic value of information…


PORPP Alumnus Joseph Babigumira Featured on Whole U Faculty Friday

Image of PORPP Alumnus and UW faculty member Joseph Babigumira

We are so proud of University of Washington School of Pharmacy PORPP alumnus Joseph Babigumira, featured today in the The Whole U Faculty Friday profile! Learn more about how he brings together his medical training,…


Students Duong and Heeney Receive National Recognition for Script Your Future Campaign

image of PharmD students Arianne Duong and Stephanie Heeney

Earlier this year, PharmD students, Arianne Duong and Stephanie Heeney, collaborated with other health sciences students and created a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of medication adherences. Their campaign, which included radio spots (listen),…


James Lin Wins NCPA Outstanding Student Member of the Year

Image of I2P2 Endowed Clinical Professor Don Downing with NCPA Student of the Year James Lin

Congratulations to James Lin, PharmD, ’16, on being selected as the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Outstanding Student Member of the Year for 2015! I2P2 Endowed Clinical Professor Don Downing presented the award to James…


Anirban Basu Named Director of PORPP

Image of Anirban Basu PhD

In May 2015, Anirban Basu, PhD, was named the next Stergachis Family Endowed Director of Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research & Policy Program (PORPP) in the Department of Pharmacy at the UW School of Pharmacy. Dr. Basu was…


Lou Garrison voted President-elect of ISPOR

We congratulate Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research & Policy Program (PORPP) Professor Lou Garrison who was voted President-elect for the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). He will serve a three year term. “The growth in numbers…


Joshua Roth Awarded 2015 ISPOR Applied Paper of the Year

Image of PORPP Annual Retreat, 2015

On Tuesday, May 19, 2015, PORPP PhD and Current K12 Scholar, Joshua A Roth, will receive the ISPOR Applied Paper of the Year. The award for his paper titled “Economic return from the Women’s Health…


UW PORPP and Fred Hutch Researchers Receive $7.75M PCORI Award to Study Cancer Treatment

Image of Electron Microscopy of Human Neutrophils

  A research team, led by Scott Ramsey, director of the Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research (HICOR), that includes UW Department of Pharmacy’s Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program (PORPP) faculty members Sean Sullivan,…


Higher dementia risk linked to more use of common drugs

Image of UW School of Pharmacy Professor Shelly Gray

Dr. Shelly Gray et. al. found a persistent link between dementia and some medications in a University of Washington/Group Health study published in JAMA Internal Medicine on January 26, 2015. The large study links a…


Joy & Elmer Plein Scholars Advance Geriatric Research

Plein Scholars

JOY AND ELMER PLEIN CREATED A LEGACY by establishing two funds for geriatric pharmacy research: the Elmer Plein Research Fund in Pharmacy and the Plein Endowment for Geriatric Pharmacy Research, in addition to a fund…


Dr. Gary Lyman Joins PORPP Faculty

PORPP Professor Gary Lyman

GARY H. LYMAN, M.D., M.P.H., is Adjunct Professor in the School of Pharmacy and the School of Public Health at the University of Washington as well as Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine…


UW PharmD Students Aid Hundreds in Nicaragua

UW Student Pharmacists Village Children

The day after final exams ended in June, 43 UW pharmacy students met before dawn at SeaTac. Seventeen hours later they landed, bleary-eyed but eager, at Managua’s airport. They queued through customs, bearing certifications from Nicaragua’s Ministry…


Fulbright Scholar Researches Experiential Pharmacy Education at UW

IT’S NOT OFTEN A PROMINENT RESEARCHER FROM SERBIA comes to UW Pharmacy as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar. Dr. Jelena Parojcic is an associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Belgrade…


Congratulations Prof McCune!

Pharmacy Professor Jeannine McCune

Jeannine McCune, PharmD, was announced as the newest Associate Editor of the Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics the official scholarly publication of the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT). Additionally, Dr. McCune was elected…


PORPP Faculty Member Garrison Named Interim Director

PORPP Interim Director Lou Garrison, Ph.D.

LOU GARRISON, PH.D., HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS INTERIM DIRECTOR for the Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Research Policy Program (PORPP). With a background in economics, Garrison has said he plans to continue to build on the success…


How do you teach when the topic changes so fast? A Q&A with Dr. Doug Black

Dr. Doug Black talks with students in the Bracken Lab.

Doug Black, UW associate professor of pharmacy practice, confers with students in the Bracken Pharmacy Learning Center. From left are Zsolt Hepp, Mitul Patel and Tulip Younes. With the Ebola virus grabbing headlines, we sat…


On-demand intravenous fluids questioned

Have you heard about the critical shortage of IV products? We sat down with UW Pharmacy Professor Lingtak-Neander Chan to learn more about this dangerous shortage and the rising wave of so-called “hangover cure” businesses…


UW Pharmacy Huskies Lead the Pack

As a School of Pharmacy consistently in the Top 10 nationally, we’ve come to expect our students, faculty, and alumni to excel. We are just through the busy season of springtime conferences and we find,…


Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching Goes to Dr. John Watkins

Teresa O’Sullivan presents Kradjan Award to John Watkins

OUR PRECEPTORS CONTRIBUTE TIME AND EXPERTISE, opening their practice to teach and mentor our students. The Wayne A. Kradjan Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award is named for our former Associate Dean, an exemplary clinical teacher…


Alumnus Mitch Higashi Speaks at Uppsala Health Summit

University of Washington School of Pharmacy alumnus Mitch Higashi addressed the topic of innovation in healthcare at the Uppsala Health Summit this week. A graduate of the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program (PORPP), Mitch…


UW Pharmacy Alumnus Ryan Oftebro Innovates Method for Opioid Overdose Rx

The pain of losing a cousin who mixed methadone with alcohol inspired pharmacist Ryan Oftebro to turn his attention to preventing others from suffering the same fate. Oftebro, ’03, ’12, one of three pharmacist-owners of…


Dr. Beth Devine Leads Study Showing Electronic Records Cost Savings

Dr. Emily B. Devine

Dr. Beth Devine Leads Study Showing Electronic Records Cost Savings The age-old joke about physicians’ bad handwriting is no laughing matter. An illegible prescription can have dire consequences. Beth Devine’s research with Everett Clinic showed…


Dr. Sean Sullivan Honored with Steven G. Avey Award for Distinguished Service

[one_half] [/one_half][one_half_last] Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) and the AMCP Foundation recently recognized more than a dozen distinguished members of the Academy for their significant contributions to AMCP, managed care pharmacy and the health…


New Research Institute Co-Director is Affiliate Faculty

The Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research has hired Gary Lyman to serve as the institute’s co-director. Lyman is also an affiliate faculty member in our Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research & Policy Program (as is the…


Sullivan Shares Expertise with Maryland Students

The University of Maryland’s International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research student chapter recently hosted a lecture by Sean Sullivan. In it, he gave a behind-the-scenes look at the steps involved in making an economic…


Report Profiles Student Scholarship Recipient

The UW Report to Contributors features a story about fourth-year pharmacy student Blaze Paracuelles. In the piece, Paracuelles talks about why he chose pharmacy, what he hopes to do in his career and what scholarship…


Faculty Members Receive $1.9 Million Grant to Study Personalized Medicine Print

Many healthcare and research experts predict that the era of personalized medicine is fast approaching. Soon, individual patients could have their entire genome sequenced as part of routine doctor’s visits. Patients could face the possibility…


Understanding Methadone Treatment in Pregnancy

Clinical Professor Michaelene “Micki” Kedzierski was interviewed for this radio story about how women who struggle with addiction can best ensure they have a stabilized pregnancy. Read more.    Link to Department of Pharmacy archived…


Garrison Contributes to ‘Value in Health’ Report

Lou Garrison, assistant director of the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research & Policy Program (PORPP), co-chaired a task force whose new report makes recommendations for implementing and evaluating schemes that pay for health outcomes achieved. Read more….


Grad Student’s Research in Uganda Gets Boost

PORPP Affiliate Professor Andy Stergachis and his wife, JoAnn, have create the Stergachis Endowed Fellowship for International Exchange in the School of Public Health. The first recipient? PORPP graduate student Solomon Lubinga. Read more.   …


Garrison Contributes to Report on State of Personalized Medicine

PORPP Interim Director Lou Garrison, Ph.D.

LONDON, UK, July 12, 2013 — The development of personalized medicine in the United Kingdom and internationally is being thwarted by regulation and pricing systems that are not set up to enable its widespread adoption,…


Students Get Certified in Tuberculosis Screening

Screening for TB is one of the best tools to prevent the disease and its spread. Pharmacists throughout the region and state have been increasing their TB screening efforts. Our School and its students are…


PORPP Grad Students Named Global Health Fellows

Graduate students Solomon Lubinga and Marita Mann have received Thomas Francis, Jr., Global Health Fellowships from the UW Department of Global Health. Francis Fellowships provide financial assistance to graduate students who would like to gain…


A Prescription for Healthy Aging

‘Columns’ magazine, in its UW Foundation section, profiles PharmD student Laura Hart. The piece highlights the role that Professor Emeritus Joy Plein and the Plein Endowment have played in supporting Laura’s impressive work in geriatric…


A Conversation with the Border-to-Border Founder

‘Columns,’ the UW alumni magazine, interviewed Patrick Gallaher, ’95, founder of the School of Pharmacy’s Border-to-Border relay race that since 1995 has raised money for cancer research in honor of his late father. Link to…


Jeff Rochon is the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus in Pharmacy Practice

This week, at the UW School of Pharmacy Dean’s Recognition Reception, Jeff Rochon, PharmD, ’99, will be named the School’s 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award in Pharmacy Practice, Rochon, the Chief Executive Officer of the Washington State…


Lingtak-Neander Chan Honored for Clinical Nutrition Efforts

PRESS RELEASE A.S.P.E.N. Announces Lingtak-Neander Chan as Distinguished Nutrition Support Pharmacist Service Award Winner Dr. Chan honored for his dedication to clinical nutrition April 4, 2013, Silver Spring, MD – The American Society for Parenteral…


PORPP Graduate Student Named Magnuson Scholar

William Canestaro from the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research & Policy Program has received a 2013-2014 Magnuson Scholarship. He is receiving this award based on his academic performance and potential contributions to research. Read more.   Link…


Reception and Lecture Combine for One Special School of Pharmacy Event

This year, the School of Pharmacy is combining two of our signature events — the Dean’s Recognition Reception and the Don B. Katterman Memorial Lecture — into one special event. This new program is intended…


Grant Will Help Create New Certificate Program

The PhRMA Foundation recently announced that the UW will receive a $250,000 grant to establish a graduate certificate program in comparative effectiveness research. The UW Schools of Pharmacy and Public Health will create this program…


School of Pharmacy Debuts 301 Class

In an effort to give more UW undergraduate students an in-depth look at what the pharmacy profession is all about, the UW School of Pharmacy is launching a new course for undergrads. Pharmacy 301, “Medications…


Students Win Clinical Skills Competition

Fourth-year pharmacy students Stephanie Friedman and Linda Lei took part in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 16th Annual Clinical Skills Competition at the ASHP midyear meeting in New Orleans in December. The duo took…


Global Health Program Has Widespread Impact

The UW Global Medicines program, co-founded by Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Andy Stergachis and Professor of Pharmacy Lou Garrison, is actively working with partner organizations and other stakeholders on activities to improve the safety, quality…


Naloxone Cost-Effective in Preventing Overdose

‘The Annals of Internal Medicine’ has released a study showing that giving heroin users naloxone is a cost-effective way to save lives. Stergachis Endowed PORPP Professor and Director Sean Sullivan co-authored the study with the…


Students Practice Clinical Problem-Solving Skills

On October 30, nearly 450 pharmacy students, medical students, nursing students and physician assistant students convened as teams to apply their diverse skills in a medical scenario. This is one of a series of large-scale…


‘Native Women Face Patchwork of Plan B Policies’

I2P2 Endowed Professor Don Downing, who has long collaborated with the Tribal Health Authority, was interviewed for an ‘AP/Huffington Post’ story about the Indian Health Service’s policies on providing emergency contraception to Native American women….


Andy Stergachis Elected to Institute of Medicine

Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Andy Stergachis has been named a member of the Institute of Medicine, one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. He is one of three UW faculty…


Pharmacists Play Expanding Role in Health Care

Institute for Innovative Pharmacy Practice Endowed Professor Don Downing is interviewed in this ‘Everett Herald’ story about the pharmacists’ role in providing vaccines. In it, he notes how Washington state has long been a trailblazer…


WSPA Announces 2012 Award Winners

Several School of Pharmacy alumni and affiliate faculty members are among this year’s award winners. The awards include Pharmacist of the Year (Beverly Schaefer, ’70) and Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year (Ryan Oftebro, ’95)….


Faculty Contribute to Malawi Health Care Project

VillageReach and the Barr Foundation recently announced the launch of a new program in Malawi to increase health care access through improvements in the public health supply chain. Faculty members Andy Stergachis and Shabir Somani…


Spotlight: Medicine Safety in the Middle East

At the Seattle Center’s recent Global Health Experience Exhibit, a UW booth showed several videos of UW students involved in global health. One of the videos featured Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program student Norio…


PORPP to Join Forces with Oregon Research Center

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has awarded a five-year contract to Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC). Through this contract, the EPC becomes a partnership between Oregon Health and Science University, Spectrum Research,…


Student Training Focuses on Teamwork, Communication

In the simulated acute care environments of the UW Institute for Simulation and Interprofessional Studies, more than 300 students from the Schools of Pharmacy, Nursing, Medicine and the Physician Assistant program recently took part in…


Working to Protect Women’s Health in Uganda

As a graduate student in the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research & Policy Program (PORPP) and now as an assistant professor of global health at the UW, Joseph Babigumira has focused his research on the economics of…


‘UW360’ Showcases Kedzierski’s Outreach Work

Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Micki Kedzierski is profiled on the May episode of ‘UW 360.’ In it, she and some of her students are shown working with patients from Evergreen Treatment Services and the Salvation…


UW Global Medicines Program Expands Impact

From Bangladesh to South Africa, the UW Global Medicines Program continues its efforts to improve the use, safety and affordability of medicines in developing nations. Pharmacy faculty members Lou Garrison and Andy Stergachis and alumnus…


Ryan Hansen is 2011 Distinguished Alumnus

The School of Pharmacy’s 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award in Pharmacy Practice will go to a young pharmacist who has already made significant contributions to pharmacy technology, clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical outcomes research. Ryan Hansen is…


Shifting Hong Kong’s Pharmacy Care Model

Department of Pharmacy faculty members Lingtak-Neander Chan, Al Ellsworth and Annie Lam recently spent two weeks in Hong Kong training pharmacists in geriatric pharmacotherapy. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority commissioned this program as part of…


Pharmaceutical Outcomes Program Receives Endowed Directorship

The University of Washington School of Pharmacy is pleased to announce the establishment of an endowment that will support the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program (PORPP). The Stergachis Family Endowed Directorship is named after…


Student Completes International Rotation

Fourth-year pharmacy student and Thomas Francis, Jr. Global Health Fellow Elise Fields recently completed a rotation in Windhoek, Namibia, where the UW has a collaborative relationship with the University of Namibia and the Ministry of…


Pharmacy Faculty Collaborate Across Borders

Faculty members Dana Hammer and Nanci Murphy recently joined the UW team who presented at the international Collaborating Across Borders III Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Along with colleagues from across the health sciences, they highlighted…


NIH Genome Sequencing Grants Awarded to the UW

To accelerate genome sequencing applications for patient care, the National Human Genome Research Institute has announced the establishment of two major programs at the University of Washington. Professor of Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy David…


Pharmacy Students Lead Honduras Medical Brigade

This past September, almost thirty UW pharmacy students led a global health project in Honduras — offering a temporary, free clinic in the village of Joya Grande, a town of about 660 people. Read more….


WSPA Announces Its 2011 Award Recipients

Clinical Professor Micki Kedzierski received the Cardinal Health Generations Rx Award, Associate Dean Nanci Murphy took home the Bill Mueller Outstanding Mentor award, and pharmacy student Karen Craddick was named Pharmacy Student of the Year….


Pharmacy Students Amp Up Their Business Expertise

The School of Pharmacy’s Principles of Pharmacy Practice Management class has undergone some changes this year. The class, co-taught by faculty members Don Downing and Shabir Somani, has added an online video curriculum and is…


UW Pharmacy Cares Offers Services to Older Adults

Last year, UW Pharmacy Cares, the School of Pharmacy’s consulting pharmacy program, partnered with Era Living Retirement Community’s University House to provide services to its residents. ‘Columns,’ the UW alumni magazine, showcases this collaboration in…


Keeping Medicines Safe in a Global Economy

In a recent opinion piece in ‘The Scientist,’ Epidemiology and Global Health Professor and Adjunct Pharmacy Professor Andy Stergachis writes about the need for increased scrutiny as drugs and vaccines go global. Read a UW Q&A…


Caring for Prescriptions in Extreme Weather

Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Skye McKennon recently shared her drug safety expertise with ‘The New York Times.’ The article discussed how extreme temperatures can effect prescription and over-the-counter drugs — and what patients should…


KUOW Story Discusses Expiring Drug Patents

The patents are currently set to expire on seven of the 20 top-selling prescription drugs. Professor of Pharmacy John Horn spoke to NPR’s ‘The Conversation’ about what these changes will mean to the millions of…


Professor, Alum Address Pharmacy Robbery Issue

Pharmacy robberies are on the rise in Washington state. Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Don Downing and Washington State Pharmacy Association CEO (and School of Pharmacy Alumnus) Jeff Rochon have authored a ‘Seattle Times’ article asserting…


Study Determines Cost-Effective Means to Prevent Diabetes

Professor of Pharmacy Sean Sullivan is the lead author on a study out this week that shows that the cost-effectiveness of type 2 diabetes prevention can be significantly improved when a diabetes risk score (DRS)…


School Spinoff Company Receives Large Grant

Impel NeuroPharma, a Seattle biotech co-founded by Professor Rodney Ho and John Hoekman, Ph.D., ’10, has received a $750,000 research grant from the Department of Defense’s Chemical and Biological Defense Program. The project will assess…


Odegard Named Chair of Department of Pharmacy

Principle Investigator and Associate Dean Peggy Odegard

Bridge Endowed Professor of Pharmacy Peggy Odegard will start her new role as the chair of the School’s largest department on July 1. She will succeed Professor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics Danny Shen, who will…


Student Team Places in National P & T Competition

Pharmacy students Sara Forrester, Ingrid Larson, Lisa Rogers and Tracy Yep took third place in the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s National Pharmacy and Therapeutics Competition at its annual meeting in Minneapolis. This marks the…


“Preparing For New Health Care Market Realities” took place at Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle.

On April 27, a Comparative Effectiveness Symposium, “Preparing For New Health-Care Market Realities” took place at Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle. Professor of Pharmacy and Director of the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy…


Pharmacy Student Receives ASHP Leadership Award

Third-year student Karen Craddick was one of only ten pharmacy students nationwide to receive an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Student Leadership Award. Read the press release.   Link to Department of Pharmacy archived…


School Helps Namibia Open Pharmacy Program

Faculty members from the UW Schools of Pharmacy and Public Health have been working with the University of Namibia and the Namibian Ministry of Health for the past few years to create this new degree…


Katterman Lecture Looks to ‘Electronic Revolution’

Presenter Sue Merk, pharmacist and VP at OneHealthPort, will headline the School of Pharmacy 2011 Don B. Katterman Memorial Lecture, “The Future of Pharmacy Communication: Preparing for an Electronic Revolution.” In the May 10 event,…


Anderson Named School’s Distinguished Alumna

The 2010 Distinguished Alumna in Pharmaceutical Science and Research is UW Professor of Pharmacy Gail Anderson. An internationally recognized expert on anticonvulsant medications, Anderson has devoted her career to helping better understand the treatment of…


School of Pharmacy Student, Faculty Member Receive UW Volunteer Awards

Each January, the UW Medical Center (UWMC) holds a celebration event in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. At this year’s event, fourth-year pharmacy student Paul Algeo and Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Andy Stergachis received…


Two Students Named to National Leadership Roles

Students Sara McElroy and Andrew Heinz will become presidents of two prominent pharmacy organizations — the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists and the National Community Pharmacists Association Student Leadership Council. Read more.  …


Drug Interaction May Cause Hypotension, Study Finds

Professor John Horn co-authored a study that found that older adults on common blood pressure medications could suffer dangerous drops in blood pressure if given certain antibiotics. The Canadian Medical Association Journal study has made…


UW Global Medicines Program Launched

School of Pharmacy Professor Lou Garrison and Affiliate Professor Andy Stergarchis have joined forces in this UW Department of Global Health led effort. The program’s goal is to generate and disseminate new methods and knowledge…


School Receives Flu Vaccines for Outreach Programs

Bartell Drugs has donated 4,000 vaccine doses to the UW and WSU schools of pharmacy to support programs that provide vaccines to underserved populations. Read press release (PDF).   Link to Department of Pharmacy archived…


Downing and Plein Receive 2010 WSPA Awards

Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Don Downing received the David Almquist Award for outstanding work in pharmacy enrichment and Professor of Pharmacy Joy Plein received the Rod Shafer Award for pioneering contributions to the field. Several…


Garrison Speaks at Health Affairs Comparative Effectiveness Conference

Professor of Pharmacy Lou Garrison presented his research at the Health Affairs-sponsored conference and was featured in the October issue of the magazine, which focused on the federal push for comparative-effectiveness research.   Link to…


Sullivan Receives $2.45 Million AHRQ Grant

Professor of Pharmacy and Director of the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program Sean Sullivan received funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for a scientist career-development program.   Link to Department of…


PORPP Helps Create Important UW Research Alliance

This past November, the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program co-founded the UW Centers for Comparative and Health Systems Effectiveness (CHASE) Alliance. In its first six months, the Alliance has already gained ground in research…


School of Pharmacy Program Continues Groundbreaking Research on Medication Use in Pregnancy

The summer issue of the UW alumni magazine, Columns, highlighted the work of Professor of Pharmacy Mary Hebert, director of the renowned Obstetric-Fetal Pharmacology Research Unit. The unit recently received a $5 million grant to continue…


PORPP Research Shows Impact of E-Prescribing

Research Associate Professor Beth Devine recently led a study on the impacts of e-prescribing, in collaboration with researchers from the School’s Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program and from The Everett Clinic. The published study…


Turning to Technology

Telepharmacies, robots are two ways technological innovations are making pharmacy services better. Read the 2009 Columns article, “Turning to Technology“.   Link to Department of Pharmacy archived news


Sullivan to co-PI Cancer Research Project

Sullivan to co-PI Cancer Research Project, Read Business Journal article (October 5, 2009)   Link to Department of Pharmacy archived news


Local researchers test ‘talking pill bottle’

School Research on KING 5, Watch KING 5 news segment (September 26, 2009), Read previous U Week article article (May 14, 2009)   Link to Department of Pharmacy archived news


Editorial: Pharmacists Important to Health Care Reform

Faculty members Don Downing and Peggy Odegard wrote an editorial for ‘The Bellingham Herald’ about the important role that pharmacists play in a reforming health care system. Read more (PDF).   Link to Department of…


School Mourns the Loss of Alumna and Longtime Supporter

Shirley Bridge, ’45, passed away this past weekend. In addition to being a prominent community-member and tireless advocate for multiple social causes, she was a longtime supporter of the UW School of Pharmacy. She will…


School Mourns Loss of Bev Katterman

Remembering Bev Katterman Beverley Katterman, former co-owner of Montlake Drugs and Katterman’s Sand Point Pharmacy and wife of the late Don B. Katterman, passed away on Thursday, May 28th. Katterman’s Pharmacy has been a mainstay…


Message from Herb Tsuchiya, 2008 School of Pharmacy Distinguished Alumnus in Pharmacy Practice

Tsuchiya gave the following speech upon accepting his award at the School of Pharmacy’s Dean’s Recognition Reception on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009: First, I thank God for keeping me alive for this long. He must…


Bridge Endowment Names Lam and Odegard

  Drs. Annie Lam, ’95, PharmD,’97 and Peggy Odegard,’85, PharmD, ’90, co-directors of the Plein Certificate in Geriatric Pharmacy, have been named Shirley and Herb Bridge Endowed Professors in Pharmacy. They are the first to…


School Receives License for Nondispensing Pharmacy

The Washington State Department of Health Board of Pharmacy recently granted the UW School of Pharmacy a license to open a nondispensing, medication-therapy-management (MTM) pharmacy. It is the first of its kind in Washington state….


Don Downing Named 2008 “Pharmacist Leader of the Year” by the California-based Pharmacy Access Partnership

Don Downing, ’75, clinical professor, was named the 2008 “Pharmacist Leader of the Year” by the California-based Pharmacy Access Partnership in recognition of Professor Downing’s excellence and courage in promoting reproductive health access in pharmacies….


New Residency Program Meets Growing Demand for Management Trained Pharmacists

The UW School of Pharmacy has created a new joint Pharmacy Management/Masters in Health Administration (MHA) residency program to help address the acute need for management trained pharmacists in hospitals and other patient care institutions…


Two Professors Named as Fellows, AAAS and ASCP

The University of Washington School of Pharmacy is proud to announce that two if its professors, Drs. Rene Levy and Peggy Odegard have been named as fellows of the Association for the Advancement of Science…


KATTERMAN LECTURE Managing Change: Pharmacists Shaping the Future of Pharmacy

The University of Washington and the Pharmacy Alumni Association (PAA) are pleased to present motivational speaker and ex-Husky football great, Tom Flick, as keynote speaker for this year’s Katterman Lecture. Joining Tom will be Rod…


UW Faculty Are Leaders in Experiential Education

On June 17, representatives from all areas of pharmacy practice, regulation, professional organizations and education met in Chicago, Illinois, for a two-day summit with the goal of creating an action plan and implementation strategy for…


Downing Receives APhA Distinguished Achievement Award in Specialized Pharmaceutical Services

Don Downing, clinical associate professor, has been awarded the APhA Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APPM) Distinguished Achievement Award in Specialized Pharmaceutical Services for the career-long contributions he has made to the expansion and…


Pharmacist Prescribers Increase Access to Effective Contraceptives

It has been my pleasure to observe and participate in the expansion of clinical services provided by pharmacists in Washington State. Our pharmacists have been recognized nationwide as critical innovators in contraceptive care – the…


The Pharmacist’s Role In an Age of Bioterrorism and Other Emerging Public Health Threats

 Where were you on 9/11? Andy Stergachis, professor of epidemiology and affiliate professor of pharmacy for University of Washington, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, was preparing to board a plane bound for New…


UW Pharmacy Care Considered Most Progressive in the Nation

Henry R. Manassi, executive vice president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), was very impressed by his recent visit to University of Washington (UW) Harborview Medical Center, calling the programmatic pharmacy services he…


UWSOP Receives $2.8 Grant to Study the Pharmacology of Drugs in Pregnant Women

Mary Hebert, associate professor of pharmacy, and her UW team of researchers received a $2.8 million grant from the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) to research the clinical pharmacology of drugs…


Katterman Lecture to Showcase Latest Technologies

Technology is fueling rapid changes in the pharmaceutical industry. The direction of this profession will be greatly influenced by the advanced capabilities of advanced technologies. As tens of millions of baby boomers continue to rely…