College of Pharmacy

UAMS Graduates 891 New Health Care Professionals, Presents Gov. Beebe with Honorary Degree

LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) awarded certificates and degrees today to 891 graduates of its five colleges and Graduate School during its commencement ceremony at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.

Diplomas were presented to 162 in the College of Medicine; 203 in the College of Nursing; 117 in the College of Pharmacy; 45 in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health; 92 in the Graduate School and 272 from the 21 academic programs that make up the College of Health Professions.

During the ceremony UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., presented Gov. Mike Beebe an Honorary Doctorate of Medical Arts and Humane Letters. Beebe has been a longtime UAMS supporter, from his 20 years as a state senator, a term as state attorney general and through two terms as governor.

UAMS Researchers: Smartphone Apps Could be the Answer

May 10, 2013 | Smart phones could be part of the answer to a $100 billion problem facing the health care industry involving patients who don’t fully adhere to their prescribed medicine regimens, according to researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy.

But the potential that smartphone medication adherence applications hold is a largely untested and unregulated science. That’s what a team of researchers at the UAMS College of Pharmacy is trying to change after a first-ever study of its kind that evaluated features of medical adherence apps and identified the possibilities the technology holds. The complete study was published in the March-April edition of the prestigious Journal of American Pharmacists Association.

Howell Foster Discusses the Top Reasons for Calls to the Poison Center on KATV

UAMS Pharmacy Students Getting the Word out about Organ Donation

Signing up to be an organ donor is one of the most generous things you can do — especially when you consider that a single donor can potentially save eight lives. That’s eight people who won’t have to spend agonizing months or years on the transplant waiting list, who will get a second chance, because you made the selfless decision to be a donor.

So far UAMS College of Pharmacy has presented organ donation awareness information and have taken organ donation pledges from Central High School students at their annual Health Fair, Central Arkansas Christian students at their high school, Van Buren High School Students, and Arkansas Tech College Students in Russellville.

Also UAMS students and employees at the “Get Swabbed” bone marrow donation registration drive and have been a part of the legislative session.

Future Pharmacists Essay Contest for High School Students

UAMS College of Pharmacy is excited to announce our Future Pharmacists Essay Contest for high school students. See contest directions and rules below.

Eligibility
Students must be enrolled in grades 9–12 at an Arkansas high school. Private school and home-schooled students at equivalent grade and age levels are also encouraged to enter.

Deadline for Submission
Essay submissions will be accepted now and must be postmarked by April 30, 2013 to be considered.

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

Academia
Community
Government
Clinical
Military
Independent Ownership
Nuclear
Pharmaceutical Industry
Long-term Care
Any specialty of pharmacy

Format
All essays must include an entry form that can be submitted online by clicking here or 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. The essay must be double-spaced and typed. 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 (selected alumni from around the state) and concluded by May 31, 2013. Winners will be notified the first week of June 2013.

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 of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association (APA) districts (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 the first week of June 2013. Each winner will be honored individually at his/her district’s annual meeting held in September.

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 Tuesday, April 30, 2013. 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.

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.

Howell Foster Educates the Public about Dangers of Doubling Up on Cold, Allergy Meds on KARK

LITTLE ROCK, AR — It’s a time of the year many doctors admit can be tricky for patients, when the cold season isn’t quite over, yet the allergy season is already underway.

There are a few ways to treat both, but many aren’t aware of the dangers of treating them with over the counter medications.

Plants are blooming, but then there’s a cold snap, then warm weather followed by rainy days.

Doctors say the weather can throw your immune system for a loop this time of year.

“If you have allergy symptoms with a cold, you’re probably feeling pretty miserable,” Dr. Howell Foster, Director of Arkansas Poison Control Center says.

Dr. Foster says it’s not impossible to have symptoms for both at the same time, but treating both is where it gets tricky.

“They may actually duplicate the same drug in both products,” he says.

Sticking with over the counter medications with only one ingredient can help cut the risk of doubling up on certain ingredients.

“In a young, fairly healthy adult, duplicating therapy isn’t’ really a problem,” he says.

However, in younger or older patients, it can be a serious concern, which is why he suggests you always ask a pharmacist if you are taking multiple medications.

“If it’s later at night and you’re in Kroger and pharmacy is closed, feel free to call us and we’ll help you out,” Dr. Foster says.

The Poison Control Center is never more than a phone call away.

Dr. Foster says to remember that doubling up on certain ingredients in medications can be the same as driving under the influence, which is another reason to check with your doctor.

Faculty Member Establishes UAMS College of Pharmacy Scholarship

LITTLE ROCK – Jan Hastings, Pharm.D., longtime University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy faculty member and her husband, Terry, of Benton, have made an initial leadership gift to establish an endowed scholarship.Jan Hastings is a UAMS graduate who now serves as associate dean for development. Terry Hastings is a captain with the Little Rock Police Department. The couple made the lead donation in honor of Jan Hastings’ parents, Bill Loe, Ph.D. of Hope, and the late Betty Loe.

The scholarship initially will provide an award of $1,000 per year to a student who meets the following criteria:

• Incoming first-year student
• Residency or undergraduate institution at time of acceptance in one of these southwest Arkansas counties: Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Howard, Hot Spring, Lafayette, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Polk, Saline or Union; or Bowie County, Texas
• Grade point average of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 point scale
• Pharmacy College Admission Test score of 50 or higher

“With the establishment of this scholarship, I also honor my husband, who has supported me throughout my career and has established close ties with many pharmacists and students through his involvement in College,” Hastings said. “I also want to honor my parents for the sacrifices they made in order for me to become a pharmacist.”

Friends and family members who wish to donate to assist in reaching the goal of $25,000 should contact Ann Turney, director of development for the college, at 501- 688-6391 or annturney@uams.edu or give online at www.giving.uams.edu/s/1496/start.aspx.

Jan Hastings graduated from the UAMS College of Pharmacy in 1979 and earned a Pharm.D. in 1994. She joined the college’s faculty in 1993, serving as the coordinator of Advanced Community Pharmacy Experiences for 17 years. Terry Hastings is a captain with the Little Rock Police Department and the Commander of the Southwest Field Services Division.

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’ Area Health Education Centers throughout the state. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com.

Arkansas Poison Center Celebrates National Poison Prevention Week

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Poison Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy joins poison centers around the country in celebrating National Poison Prevention Week March 17-23.

Since 1962, the President of the United States has proclaimed the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week to raise awareness about the dangers of poisoning and how to prevent them. This year’s observance focuses on several poison prevention-related themes:

Monday, March 18 – Children Act Fast … So Do Poisons
Tuesday, March 19 – Poison Centers: Protecting Health While Saving You Time and Money
Wednesday, March 20 – Poisonings Span a Lifetime
Thursday, March 21 – Home, Safe, Home
Friday, March 22 – Spotlight on Prescription Painkillers

“The Arkansas Poison Center and America’s other 56 poison centers are committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of every American through poison prevention and free, confidential, expert medical services,” said Charlie Stutts, public educator for the Arkansas Poison Center at UAMS. “Our poison center responds to calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week in order to help those who have been exposed to toxic substances.”

The Arkansas Poison Center will celebrate the week with events including television appearances and personal visits to day care centers, schools and lecturing to various groups of the general public.

“Poisoning can occur at any time and to anyone,” Stutts said. “The Arkansas Poison Center works 24-7 to help those who have been exposed to a poison or to answer the public’s questions about a potential poisoning. We also reach out to our communities with information about how poisonings occur and ways to prevent them. Prevention is the best possible medicine.”

In 2011, U.S. poison centers answered more than 3.6 million calls, including about 2.3 million calls about human exposures to poisons, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. About 90 percent of the people who called with poison emergencies were treated at home following the advice of poison center experts, saving millions of dollars in medical expenses.

“If the unthinkable happens, it’s good to know help is just a phone call away,” Stutts said. “Program your cell phone with the Poison Help number and post it near your home phone. 1-800-222-1222.”

National Poison Prevention Week, established by the U.S. Congress, is commissioned by the Poison Prevention Week Council, an organization of public and private partners committed to reducing unintentional poisonings and promoting poison prevention.

Dean Stephanie Gardner Elected ACPE Vice President for 2013-2014 Term

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) recently announced that Stephanie F. Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy, was elected vice president of ACPE. She will serve as a member of the ACPE Executive Committee for the 2013-2014 term.

Dean Gardner, who formerly served as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board Member for the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, was appointed to the ACPE Board of Directors by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

ACPE is the national agency for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy and providers of continuing pharmacy education. ACPE also offers evaluation and certification of professional degree programs internationally. The mission of the organization is to assure and advance excellence in education for the profession of pharmacy.

ACPE is an autonomous and independent agency whose Board of Directors is derived through the AACP, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), and the American Council on Education (ACE). To learn more about ACPE visit www.acpe-accredit.org.

Dr. Nicki Hillard & P3 Student Brandi Hamilton Join APhA’s Board

Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association

Congratulations to our faculty member Nicki Hilliard & our P3 student Brandi Hamilton! Dr. Hilliard was sworn in as president of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)– Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management and Ms. Hamilton was installed as president of the APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists during the 2013 national convention in Los Angeles, CA. They join our UAMS alum Tery Baskin, who serves as the Association’s Treasurer.