Volume 10, Issue 1

12 Pages·2016·13.12 MB·English

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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016
The Black Apothecary
Howard University College of Pharmacy
Image:
 http://1.usa.gov/1ZHAihe

The Midyear Experience in The Big Easy
By Jateh Major, P3
ASHP-Midyear is one of the largest national fellows, residency coordinators, and
pharmacy conferences that one can attend. fellowship directors, to discuss their career
Last December in New Orleans, Louisiana, goals and to see if the programs offered will
more than 20,000 pharmacy-related be a good fit. Some individuals, including
professionals gathered to network and learn some P4’s from HUCOP, went through a
more about the pharmacy profession. rigorous interview process for residencies or
Students who attended were given the
opportunity to meet current residents, Continued on 5
Life of a P1 Drug Spotlight GSA
Page 2 Page 6 Page 8
APhA Conference
Rho Chi Corner Puzzles
Page 3
Page 7 Page 9
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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016

Life of a P1
By Ajmal Mohmand, P1
Choosing a pharmacy school can be a What area of pharmacy do you see yourself
very difficult decision for many. more interested in now that you’re on your
Location, diversity, and prestige are way of finishing your first year?
some of the variables that many take into
account when choosing the school in Mary: I don’t have a specific job in mind,
which they will earn their Pharm. D. but I would like to be more involved in
Many schools have websites and research with my interest spanning from
brochures on what their programs have pharmacogenomics to pharmacoeconomics.
to offer but I wanted to take a look into I’m also broadly interested in the
what the actual students themselves have application for positive global health
to say, so potential candidates can get a outcomes.
hands-on perspective on what a great Celeste: I am still uncertain, however, I want
program the Howard College of to work in a setting where I can regularly
Pharmacy is. I had the pleasure of consult with patients.
interviewing two first year students who
happen to be my fellow classmates, How many hours of studying do you put in a
Celeste Cowan and Mary Nwokedi. week?

Tell us a little about yourselves. Mary: I honestly don’t really know, any
chance I get. Maybe around 15 hours on
Mary: I’m 26, Allegheny College, I ran a average
marathon (once) very slowly. Celeste: Truthfully, I study whenever I get a
Celeste: I’m 23, UNC-Chapel Hill, I have free chance.
webbed toes and ironically can’t swim
well. What do you do on your free time?

Why did you choose Howard? Mary: Watch tv, sleep, go for runs and
occasionally volunteer
Mary: I had a really positive experience Celeste: In my free time I like to exercise,
speaking to some of the faculty about meditate, hike, knit, and eat food!
their research outside of teaching and
discussing my goals within the field. Best piece of advice for an incoming P1?
Howard is also one of the few schools
that offered international rotations, Mary: Stay calm, take it one step at a time
which I felt was a major selling point. and remember hard work always pays off in
Celeste: 1. I really wanted to be in DC 2. I the end.
enjoyed my interview 3. I had a family Celeste: Schedule time for self-care. It is
member who recommended Howard! easy to forget what our hearts need.

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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016
Howard Takes Over Charm City
By Nikkina Hankins, P2
Howard University College of implementation of its Pregnancy and
Pharmacy stampeded the Baltimore Lactation Labeling Rule Among
Conference Center with Bisons at the Pharmacists”, was designed to improve the
2016 APhA National Meeting and risk versus benefit assessment of
Exposition. The strong representation medication use in women during
of Howard University was seen pregnancy or of reproductive potential and
throughout the conference from also displayed some of the research he has
students, faculty and alumni. The done for the chapter’s resolution that was
conference kicked off with an opening centered on the new FDA implementation.
session that highlighted the outstanding Mr. Frazier’s efforts were some of the
APhA-ASP chapters throughout the many ways HUCOP has made itself more
nation. Generation RX has helped visible, especially as one of the pharmacy
recover over 100,00 pounds of expired schools close to Baltimore.
drugs through Drug Take Back This level of engagement and
programs organized in conjunction with involvement in this year’s annual
the DEA and local police departments. conference was a trend among several
Second year student, Karelis Salas, the College of Pharmacy students. In total,
chapter’s President-Elect, stated “while Howard University College of Pharmacy
attending the conference, the executive had 8 poster presentations with students
board and myself have been able to from the classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018.
network with other chapters and find Student leaders Derrick Anderson, Detron
new ideas for a better tomorrow for the Brown, Yewande Dayo and many others
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Howard University APhA-ASP.”
Ryan Frazier, a second year
student pharmacist and current
Policy Vice President for the
Howard University APhA-ASP
chapter represented the school
well by running for National
Member-at-Large. Despite falling
just short in his bid for office, Mr.
Frazier made it to the final round
of elections and also presented a
research poster representing the
school well. Mr. Frazier was
joined by several other Howard
students in presenting their
research at the conference. Mr.
Frazier’s poster, “An
Asssessment of Knowledge and
Attitudes toward the FDA’s
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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016
presented their findings from
research, pharmacy events and
other topics. Also the College
of Pharmacy hosted a booth to
promote the new community
pharmacy residency program in
collaboration with Walgreens
that is launching this July.
Howard University truly made
its mark in Baltimore. College
of Pharmacy Alumni were able
to meet and greet with Drs.
Bernard and Karodeh to
discuss ways to give back to
the school.
From Ryan Frazier’s
motivating campaign speech at
the House of Delegates to
Nikkina Hankins telling Mark
Walberg at the Opening
General Session how she “lives
her why,” the College of
Pharmacy was noticed by all of
the conference attendees. The
strong presence and
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participation this year has set
the bar high for next year’s
national meeting. For those
interested in joining APhA,
you may sign up to be a
member at pharmacist.com.
Also the elections for the 2016
- 2017 Executive Board will be
held on April 4, 2016. If you
have any questions about a
position, please speak to
Karelis Salas, the current
President-Elect. The 2017
Annual Meeting and
Exposition will be in San
Francisco, CA. So let us help
Howard University take over
the conference again in the
Golden City!
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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016
fellowships. hunting for post-graduate programs
definitely decreased my anxiety for next
Last year’s residency selection pool
years’ Midyear.
had 4,358 applicants with 3,081 positions
available. Of these 3081 positions, 2811 With this being my first time
were filled. It was surprising to learn that of attending a conference of this magnitude,
these matches 58% of individuals matched I was highly impressed with the ASHP’s
with their first residency choice, 23% consideration to minute detail. It seemed
matched with their second, and 9% matched like the organizers considered everything,
with their third. such as having pins available for those
with poster presentations and making the
Following this year’s match, there
WIFI password easily memorable.
will be a second match program to connect
Everything was so fluid that it was easy to
unmatched programs with unmatched
see that this conference has been going on
residency seekers. It is with this second
for almost 50 years.
match that ASHP plans to maximize the
number of pharmacists receiving post- For those who are not fourth year
graduate education. pharmacy students actively seeking to
obtain residencies, I still highly encourage
As a current P3 student and not in
attending this conference. The opportunity
the hunt to apply for any post graduate
to come and learn what the process is to
opportunities, my main goal of attending the
obtain a residency and or fellowship is
conference was to see what the conference
priceless. This can truly assist with
was like and how I could best prepare for
directing ones focus on career goals and
next year. I took advantage of this
identifying the best way to obtain them.
opportunity and went to as many
While pharmacy school is a bridge,
showcases, networking events, and
conferences such as ASHP midyear are
workshops as possible. Experiencing what
tools to determine what you want to find
Midyear has to offer without the stress of
on the other side.
Right: Third year students Jateh Major,
Jeremy McLemore, and Abiola Ojo
attended Midyear in New Orleans, LA, to
familiarize themselves with the conference
in order to maximize their experience next
year as fourth year students.
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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016
Drug Spotlight: Gantenerumab
Renewed Hope for Failed Alzheimer’s Disease Drug
By Amanze Aharanwa, P3
Gantenerumab, a monoclonal antibody study indicate that patients who took the
designed to halt the progression of 225 mg dose may have had better results
Alzheimer’s disease, began phase 1 than what was first reported. Near the end
clinical trial in late 2006 after it had of 2015 a post hoc analyses showed that
shown promise in stopping plaque buildup patients who had a more rapid
in patients with the disease. progression of the disease showed
Gantenerumab works by binding to beta- cognitive improvement after taking
amyloid in the brain causing certain cells gantenerumab 225 mg3. These results may
to remove the beta-amyloid plaques. The have been hidden due to how disease
breakdown of these plaques is seen by progression influenced the dropout rate of
most scientists to be the key in stopping the patients in the placebo group
the progression of Alzheimer’s disease compared to the lack of drop out in those
and maybe even reversing its effects on in the active group. It is not certain
the brain. The brain scans from the trial whether this new information will be
showed that those getting the drug had enough to revive the SCarlet RoAD trial
lower levels of beta-amyloid in the brain but at the very least this will help shine the
than those placebo1. In 2010, Roche light back on an investigational drug that
Pharmaceuticals started a phase 2 trial showed a lot of promise in combatting
(SCarlet RoAD) of doses of 105 mg or 225 prodromal Alzheimer’s disease.
mg of gantenerumab on 799 registered
participants. SCarlet RoAD studied References:
gantenerumab’s effect on cognition and
1. Netzer, William J. "NEW DRUG,
function in prodromal Alzheimer’s disease
GANTENERUMAB, SHOWS EARLY
during a two-year window2. The phase III PROMISE AGAINST ALZHEIMER’S." N.p.,
trial followed, its purpose was to evaluate n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.
2. Strobel, Gabrielle. "End of the RoAD for
the safety and efficacy of gantenerumab
Gantenerumab? Roche Declares Prodromal
when compared with placebo. On
Alzheimer's Trial Futile | ALZFORUM." End of
December 19, 2014, Roche the RoAD for Gantenerumab? Roche Declares
discontinued SCarlet RoAD based on an Prodromal Alzheimer's Trial Futile | ALZFORUM.
interim futility analysis. After two years , N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2016.
3. Sulivan, Michele G. "New Analyses of Data
the study concluded after analysis that
Keep Hope Alive for Alzheimer’s Drug
neither the 105 mg nor the 225 mg dose
Gantenerumab." Clinical Neurology News.
conferred a significant cognitive benefit Clinical Neurology New Digital Network, 5 Dec.
relative to placebo. Fortunately, all hope 2015. Web. 4 Mar. 2016.
for gantenerumab is not lost because a
new sub-analyses of the failed phase 3
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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016
Rho Chi Corner
Residency & Fellowship Application Tips
By Alemayehu Akalu, P3

Residencies and fellowshops are ü Download application forms and start
becoming more and more competitive. It is completing applications
evident that more applicants are applying ü Prepare for the ASHP Midyear
every year for a limited number of spots. Meeting
Here are some tips that would help you ü Order transcripts (caution holiday
stand out from the crowd: schedule, transmission time)
July – August ü Finalize CV and begin work on cover
ü Make a list of programs of interest letters. “Know” your CV!
ü Update your CV and ask potential ü Request transcript to be sent to
reviewers PhORCAS.
September – October December
ü Start asking for letters of ü Attend Midyear (LAS VEGAS a.k.a
recommendation “Sin City”)
ü Register for ASHP MCM (Mid ü Request letters of recommendation.
Year Clinical Meeting) ü Check application deadline for each
(Registration opens mid-July and residency program.
open generally through November) ü Make sure you check each programs
o ASHP Midyear 2016 will be in application requirements, and send all
Las Vegas, Nevada the necessary documents in to
o Fee: Student member $300 PhORCAS
and Non-member $415 January - February
ü Register for PhORCAS (Pharmacy ü On-site interviews begin
Online Residency Centralized ü Make travel arrangements; inform your
Application Service) and The preceptor if you are on rotation
Match ü Complete interviews. Narrow
o The fee for using residency choices to programs that best
PhORCAS is $100 dollars meet your professional/personal needs
for the first 4 designations and goals
and $40 for each subsequent March
one. ü Consult with faculty members and past
ü Review the ASHP Online residents
Residency Directory, which ü Submit your Rank Order List by the
provides information on ASHP- date published by National Matching
accredited residencies. Services Inc., using the online system
ü Make necessary travel and housing provided on the Match web site
arrangements. at www.natmatch.com/ashprmp
November ü If matched, sign letter of intent and
ü Finalize recommendation letter celebrate!
sources and set up meetings to ü Unmatched residency candidates
formally ask for letters utilize PhORCAS to search for, and
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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016
apply to, programs still seeking experience: “During the application
candidates. process, it is imperative that you
July thoroughly become acquainted with your
ü Most residencies begin. past accomplishments and be able to
ü Take the NAPLEX and Jurisprudence articulate how they define your
exams! character”. Mr. Oji accepted an offer with
And last but not least… Bayer’s Post-Doctoral Fellowship position
• Keep your options open in the department of Business
• This is not an exhausted list of do’s for Development & In-licensing.
residency but it can be used as a
template.
References:
• Thank those who have supported you
1. "Both Sides Now: Top 10 Insider Tips for
along the way.
Residency Applicants." - ASHP Connect.
N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
The College of Pharmacy is proud to have 2. "Meeting Registration." - MidYear. N.p., n.d.
Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
several students in the Class of 2016 received
3. "The University of Iowa College of
residencies and fellowships. Now that the
Pharmacy." Residency Frequently-Asked
process is over, Ike Oji commented on his Questions. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
GSA: Stay Connected
By Bryanna Gray, P2
The rich history of GSA all began in University graduate student community”
1961 when the Howard University Student (Lennon 2012)
Association (HUSA) was first founded. The Moreover, the Graduate Student
primary purpose of HUSA was to act as a Assembly is one of the best ways to build
governing body for students to engage in the bonds, gain valuable networking, get involved
decision-making process in addition to in community outreach and stay connected.
providing students the platform to GSA is not only involved in academics and
communicate their concerns and interest. In extracurricular activities but GSA also plans
doing so HUSA evolved into a parent social activities and events, such a the Annual
organization, “ comprised of the entire GSA Ski Trip that took place during
student body, the legislative branch, known President’s weekend in Poconos, PA
as the General Assembly, and all coordinated by our very own Graduate
representatives elected to the Undergraduate Student Representative Ryan Frazier and
Student Assembly (UGSA) and the Brandon Beasley (School of Divinity); the
Graduate Student Assembly (GSA).” community outreach opportunity hosted at So
(Lennon 2012) Others Might Eat coordinated by Gavette
Furthermore, GSA is responsible for Richardson (School of Law); and the
promoting programs in the interest of the upcoming Annual Gala Excellence Awards
graduate schools, appropriating funds and Ceremony hosted at the Willard
reviewing various expenditures. Through InterContinental. With all these events and
this foundation GSA seeks to fulfill its opportunities in store you certainly do not
mission, “ to advance scholarship… and want to miss out! Find out how you can get
work for the usefulness of the Howard connected TODAY. 8
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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016
Crossword and Sudoku Puzzles
Stimulate your brain and stay mentally active!
By Rut Beyene, P3
Reading is FUNdamental
ACROSS
2. Made way for GSA
3. Teamed up with DEA and local police
8. A matchmaker’s goal
10. It follows Charm City
12. Where the founding fathers might hit the slopes
13. It follows The Big Easy
14. Brooklyn, Golden Gate, pharmacy school
DOWN
1. It might interest a P1
4. It’s better at 225
5. One way to find out about pharmacy schools
6. It happened in The Big Easy
7. A place to honor excellence
9. It’s a C-note just for the base
11. The time to thank your supporters 9
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Volume 10, Issue 1 April 2016
Fill in each column, row, and 3x3 box with the digits 1
through 9 without repeating any number. The twist in
Samurai Sudoku is that the digits that appear in the
overlapping boxes must work for both puzzles. A piece of
advice to get you started: Don’t focus on completing one
grid at a time. Keep the whole puzzle in mind as you go,
because filling in a number in one grid could give you clues
to another. Good luck!
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