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College of Pharmacy

UAMS College of Pharmacy Sponsors High School Future Pharmacist Essay Contest

The College of Pharmacy is sponsoring a Future Pharmacist essay contest for 9-12 graders in the state of Arkansas.  The contest is a way of encouraging students to begin researching the pharmacy profession as a career interest.  Details about the contest and the entry form to participate are provided below:

Link to Essay Contest Entry Form

Eligibility
Students enrolled in grades 9–12 at an Arkansas high school, private school or home-schooled students at equivalent grade and age levels are eligible.

Topic
Research different areas of the pharmacy profession (list of examples provided below). Choose one that is of most interest to you and explain why you selected it.

Academia
Community
Independent  Ownership
Government
Clinical
Military
Nuclear
Pharmaceutical Industry
Long-term Care
Other specialties not listed

Format
All essays must include an entry form that can be printed and submitted by mail or email with the essay.  Essays must be at least 500 words and no more than 1000 words.  Cover pages and bibliography are not included in the word count.  An entry form must be provided with the submission of the essay.

Judging
Essays will be judged on the following criteria: content, overall organization of the essay, spelling, grammar, punctuation and ability to stay on topic.  Judging will be completed by a panel of pharmacists and student pharmacists (selected alumni from around the state) and concluded by March 17, 2014.  Winners will be notified by March 19, 2014.

Winning Essays and Verification of Student Enrollment & Status
The UAMS College of Pharmacy (UAMSCOP) reserves the right to require prospective winners to provide verification of enrollment in an eligible school and their status as a 9 – 12 grade student during the time of selection prior to granting any award.  If a student is unable to do so, the student will be deemed ineligible and his/her award will be granted to the next highest scoring student.

Awards
Eight winners will be selected, one from each Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA) district (see counties by district in the table below). Winners of each district will receive a cash prize of $250.00. All winners will be announced by March 19, 2014.

By County
District 1 District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8
FaulknerRandolphBentonSevierGrantJohnsonCrawfordFulton
PulaskiClayWashingtonHowardJeffersonPopeFranklinIzard
SalineLawrenceCarrollLittle RiverArkansasConwaySebastianSharp
LonokeCraigheadMadisonMillerClevelandPerryScottStone
PrairieGreeneNewtonLafayetteBradleyYellLoganVan Buren
MonroeMississippiSearcyHempsteadAshleyMontgomeryPolkCleburne
PoinsettMarionNevadaDrewGarlandWhite
CrossBaxterColumbiaLincolnPikeIndependence
CrittendenBooneOuachitaDeshaHot SpringJackson
St. FrancisUnionChicotClarkWoodruff
LeeCalhoun
PhillipsDallas

Deadline for Submission

Essay submissions will be accepted beginning February 24, 2014 and must be postmarked by March 7, 2014 to be considered.

Submission Instructions
Only one essay per student may be submitted.  Essays may be submitted via email or by U.S. Mail.  Email submissions are submitted to cdcater@uams.edu.  The essay and entry form must be attached.  The subject line of the email should read Submission for UAMSCOP Essay Contest.  Email submissions should be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2014.  Essays received after this time or date will be disqualified.

Essays submitted by U.S. Mail are to be addressed to:
UAMSCOP
Attn: Christel Cater
4301 W. Markham St. #522
Little Rock, AR 72205-7199

The UAMSCOP cannot be responsible for lost or delayed mail or emails not received as noted above.

Essays must be double-spaced and typed.

Participant’s name should appear only on your entry form and e-mail. Do not include name on page headers or footers. The title should be the heading for the document and it should list the district for the student submitting the essay.

By submitting an essay you are attesting that the work is entirely your original research and writing.  By submitting an essay, you also agree that your essay will become the property of UAMSCOP and will not be returned. UAMSCOP reserves the right to print and display the essays and photographs of the winners. Any questions or requests for information may be submitted to cdcater@uams.edu.

UAMS-Developed Foot Therapy Cream Reaches Walmart Stores in Seven States

LITTLE ROCK – Omnibalm Daily Foot Therapy, a cream for general and diabetic foot care developed by Bill Gurley, Ph.D., a College of Pharmacy pharmaceutical sciences professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is now available in 121 Walmart stores across seven states.

Omnibalm Daily Foot Therapy is a non-greasy formula that softens and helps repair dry, cracked skin and keeps feet healthy and shoes smelling fresh. It is marketed by Balm Innovations LLC, a UAMS BioVentures startup company licensed to take UAMS inventions from laboratories to the marketplace.

Omnibalm can be found in the diabetic sections of many Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Discount Stores in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

Gurley’s inspiration for the cream came as the result of his own severe sunburn 27 years ago. His research led him to tea tree oil, which comes from Australia’s Melaleuca tree and has a long history as an effective treatment for many skin maladies.

“If you dig through the medical literature, tea tree oil has a lot of unique medicinal properties,” Gurley said. “It has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. And it also acts as a skin permeation enhancer, which allows skin cells to absorb it more quickly.”

Lydia Carson, president and CEO of Balm Innovations, learned of the cream while enrolled in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Executive M.B.A. program. Her own experience with the cream and the testimonials of others convinced her that it was a good business opportunity.

“We gave it to our friends and it worked on everybody; everybody loved it,” Carson said. “Even the skeptical people loved it. That’s when we realized it had to be out there in stores.”

As a UAMS BioVentures startup company, Balm Innovations has a license to market the cream, while a percentage of profits go back to UAMS and the inventor. Omnibalm is undergoing a clinical trial for use in preventing recurrent diabetic foot ulcers. More information can be found at Omnibalm.com.

In his 24 years at UAMS, Gurley has established himself as the nation’s foremost expert on the herb-drug interactions and the dangers of ephedra. His research, court testimony and national media exposure helped lead to the 2004 FDA ban on ephedra-based supplements.

UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the Translational Research Institute. It is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has more than 2,865 students and 785 medical residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including about 1,000 physicians and other professionals who provide care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS regional centers throughout the state. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com.

UAMS College of Pharmacy Hosts Preview Day for College Students

The College of Pharmacy is excited to host a preview day for undergraduate students on Friday, November 8, 2013 on the Little Rock campus. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. and the sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m. College students from around Arkansas and surrounding states are invited to attend the event.  Sessions will include an introduction to pharmacy careers, a panel of student pharmacists answering questions about the college, a tour of the College of Pharmacy and a session on the admissions process.  A $10.00 registration fee is required and students can register by clicking the following link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/uamscoppreviewday.

Cancer drug developed by UAMS professor awarded FDA approval

LITTLE ROCK — Valchlor, a breakthrough gel for treating lymphoma developed with the help of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy Professor Peter Crooks, Ph.D., recently won marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Valchlor gel is for the topical treatment of stage 1A and 1B mycosis fungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Developed by Ceptaris Therapeutics, the gel is the first and only FDA-approved topical formulation of mechlorethamine, commonly known as nitrogen mustard. Patients can apply Valchlor once a day, and it dries on the skin.

Mycosis fungoides is the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It has no cure, and its cause is unknown. The malignant T-cells migrate to the skin, causing lesions to appear. Lesions first appear as a rash and then may grow into disfiguring tumors.

“The big problem with this skin condition is that if it is not treated, the affected T-cells can move into the lymph system,” said Crooks, who worked on the drug before joining UAMS as chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy. “Not only does Valchlor help treat people who have these lesions from a fungal source or ionizing radiation, with early diagnosis it can prevent CTCL.”

Crooks was a cofounder and chief scientific officer (CSO) of Yaupon Therapeutics, the company that later became Ceptaris, which is located in Malvern, Penn. He began developmental work on Valchlor in 2004. He helped solved such problems as how to chemically stabilize the drug in the topical gel formulation, and how to keep it from entering a patient’s bloodstream. He stepped down as CSO of the company in 2011 when he joined UAMS.

During his work on Valchlor, Crooks said he learned a tremendous amount about drug development, manufacturing and the FDA approval process. He is applying that knowledge to new research and new projects at UAMS, such as clinical development of new drugs for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), the most common form of leukemia, and for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the Translational Research Institute. Named best Little Rock metropolitan area hospital by U.S. News & World Report, it is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has more than 2,800 students and 790 medical residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including about 1,000 physicians and other professionals who provide care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS regional centers throughout the state. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com.

UAMS, Kroger Invite Public for Free Oct. 5 Health Screenings Statewide

LITTLE ROCK – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy students and Kroger invite the public for free health screenings at 29 Kroger pharmacies throughout the state Oct. 5.

The screenings will include blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checks and will be held on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at all Kroger pharmacy locations in Batesville, Blytheville, Benton, Cabot, Conway, England, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Maumelle, North Little Rock, Russellville and West Memphis. At select locations, pharmacy students are partnering with students from the UAMS Department of Dietetics and Nutrition to offer nutrition and weight loss counseling.

This is the third year of the partnership, with nearly 100 students screening more than 1,100 patients at Kroger locations statewide last year. All screening supplies are being provided by Kroger, while all screenings will be conducted by UAMS College of Pharmacy students.

“We are proud to partner again with the UAMS College of Pharmacy and to have their expertise working with our valued pharmacy customers,” said Joe Bell, marketing and public affairs specialist with the Kroger Delta Division in Memphis. “We want our pharmacies to have open, friendly and personal relationships with the people they serve. This is a fantastic way for us to show customers that we care about their health.”

The event kicks off a series of activities sponsored by the UAMS College of Pharmacy student group – the American Pharmacists Association – Academy of Student Pharmacists – to celebrate American Pharmacists Month.

“The theme again for this year is, ‘Know your medicine, know your pharmacist,’” said Eddie Dunn, Pharm.D., associate professor of pharmacy practice. “By sending our students out into pharmacies to offer a public service, we feel like we’re promoting active and beneficial relationships with pharmacies and their customers.”
UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the Translational Research Institute. Named best Little Rock metropolitan area hospital by U.S. News & World Report, it is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has more than 2,800 students and 790 medical residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including about 1,000 physicians and other professionals who provide care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS regional centers throughout the state. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com.

Clinton School of Public Service students to complete project for UAMS 12th Street Health and Wellness Center

Four students in the Clinton School of Public Service will partner with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), College of Pharmacy this academic year on a project that will “Develop a Communication Plan to Improve Access to Health and Wellness Services of the UAMS 12th Street Health and Wellness Center.” To read the official news release from the Clinton School, click here. 

The team will develop a communication plan designed to engage the members of the 12th Street community in activities at the 12th Street Health and Wellness Center, where UAMS faculty and students work to design and provide student-led interprofessional healthcare services and educational programs, that positively impact health.

The students are in a class of 50 Clinton School students participating in the projects during their first year while also completing in-class coursework on topics such as communication, decision-making, ethics, leadership and social change. As part of the school’s Master of Public Service degree program, they will earn academic credit for their work on the project.

The four students on the practicum team are Caroline Head and Angela Toomer, of Little Rock, Ark., Haylee Fletcher of Prescott, Ariz., and Laetitia Tokplo, of Benin – West Africa. The team is led by Lisa C. Hutchison, Pharm.D., associate professor of Pharmacy Practice in the College of Pharmacy.  

For more information about the UAMS 12th Street Center for Health and Wellness, contact Lanita S. White, Pharm.D., 501- 686-5433, Wireless phone: (225) 288-6420, e-mail: lswhite@uams.edu.