Luer to Serve Dual Appointments as School of Nursing Interim Dean

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD, has appointed School of Pharmacy Dean Mark Luer, PharmD, as interim dean of the School of Nursing. Luer will also continue his duties as School of Pharmacy dean. His new role begins June 1 upon School of Nursing Dean Laura Bernaix’s, PhD, RN, retirement. A search committee has begun its work with the goal of selecting and appointing a new dean by early 2022. 

Read more about Luer's appointment. 

New Specialization in Medicinal Chemistry

The School of Pharmacy continues to expand its robust curriculum with a new medicinal chemistry specialization within the Pharmacology and Neuroscience cooperative PhD Program that will launch in fall 2021. The medicinal chemistry specialization is offered in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology at the SIU School of Medicine. It prepares students for the complex and multidisciplinary approach needed for discovery of the next generation of therapeutics to fight acute and chronic disease.

Learn more about the specialization in medicinal chemistry.

School Infuses Trauma-Informed Care into its Curriculum

Trauma, such as what is sustained from violence, poverty and xenophobia, can be crippling. Specifically, the sustained and adverse effects of racism and COVID-19 have proven to be traumatizing on health outcomes for individuals, communities and systems. In order to better care for patients grappling with pain and suffering, the School of Pharmacy is incorporating Trauma-Informed Care and anti-racism education into its pharmacy instruction. 

Read more about the School's curriculum changes.

Project to Strengthen Student Mentorship Program

The School of Pharmacy is working to further develop its mentorship program through a project funded by the Graduate School’s Innovation and Excellence in Graduate Education grant program. The initiative, “Developing an Excellent Mentor Pool,” has received $6,564 to expand and reimagine the student mentoring program within the School. Project lead Jennifer Arnoldi, PharmD, assistant director of experiential education and clinical associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, plans to strengthen the School’s current mentorship program by incorporating interested alumni and volunteer preceptors as mentors, as well as creating a mentor training and development program.

Learn more about the mentorship program expansion.

Students #1 Nationally in PCOA Scores

School of Pharmacy class of 2021 students ranked #1 nationally for the 2020 Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA). The 2020 Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education reporting cohort contained 14,110 students from 142 schools and colleges of pharmacy. The average overall score for 78 students in the SOP Class of 2021 was the highest among all the schools and colleges of pharmacy nationwide. 

Learn more about the class of 2021's achievement.

Graduates Board Pass Rate Ranks in Top 25 in U.S.

School of Pharmacy class of 2020 graduates exceeded both state and national averages, boasting a first-attempt board pass rate of 94.87% on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam®. These results place the School in the Top 25 of the 139 pharmacy programs in the country, and first among all programs in Illinois and Missouri. 

Read more about the class of 2020's top ranking.

Sarnot Accepted to Prestigious ASHP Internship

First-year student Khushali Sarnot has been accepted to participate in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ prestigious summer internship program. The 10-week training program is designed to provide pharmacy students with an opportunity to gain association experience in membership development and membership marketing at the national association level. 

Learn more about Sarnot's internship.

School of Pharmacy Kicks Off 2021 In-Person Commencement Ceremonies

The School of Pharmacy began the SIUE commencement season Saturday, May 1, at Korte Stadium as Chancellor Randy Pembrook and Dean Mark Luer conferred degrees upon 79 graduates in the 2021 class. The outdoor ceremonies were the first held at SIUE since the early 1990s. Conner McClain, PharmD ’21, of St. Louis, provided the student address.

Read more about the ceremony.

Newman Sells Art to Benefit School of Pharmacy

Clinical Associate Professor Kate Newman, PharmD, donated $5,000 to the School of Pharmacy after selling 52 of her paintings. Newman sold the paintings on Facebook as a fundraiser for student scholarships. All of her paintings and an additional 11 custom house portrait commissions sold in less than 24 hours.

Read more about her art sale.

Butler Addresses Structural Racism as HOPA Keynote Speaker

By addressing the history of racism in America and the current-day practices that perpetuate it, pharmacists throughout the nation hope to create a healthcare system that is safe and equitable for all. In April, the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) welcomed School of Pharmacy’s Lakesha Butler as keynote speaker of its 17th annual conference to discuss this important topic. Butler, PharmD, director of diversity, equity and inclusion and clinical professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, presented to more than 1,400 pharmacy professionals who attended the conference virtually. 

Read more about Butler's address.

School of Pharmacy Experts Dispel COVID-19 Vaccine Myths

As the COVID-19 vaccine rolled out nationwide, misinformation left many individuals confused and concerned about its administration. Miranda Wilhelm, PharmD, clinical professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, and Jennifer Rosselli, PharmD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and clinical pharmacists at SIHF Healthcare, set out to dispel common myths and ease concerns by providing facts.  

Learn more about their efforts.