The Pharmacist / Fall-Winter 2023 / Volume 1 / Issue 1

the
harmacist
FALL/WINTER 2023 | VOLUME 46 | ISSUE 1
THE MAGAZINE OF UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
UIC TELEMEDICINE CLINICS:
A Model of Care for Imprisoned Patients
8
Graduates Geared for Pharmaceutical Industry 12
International Program 16

contents
02 Dean’s Letter
03 Events
04 College News
07 Student News
08 The Pacesetters
12 Students Prepped for
Pharmaceutical Industry Careers
16 International Program
18 Alumni News
In September of 1868, our college published the first issue of a trade journal simply named
The Pharmacist. The magazine you see before you is named in honor of that historic journal.

8
4
20
EDITORIAL CREDITS
PUBLISHER
Glen T. Schumock,
PharmD, MBA, PhD
Professor and Dean
EDITORS
Laura Hayes
Director of Digital Marketing
and Communications
Rob Hoff
UIC Creative and Digital Services
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Michael Dhar
Rob Mitchum
Daniel Smith
DESIGN
Godfrey Carmona
UIC Creative and Digital Services
The Pharmacist
833 S. Wood St. (MC 874)
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FROM THE DEAN
A Time to Celebrate
BY DEAN GLEN SCHUMOCK
You are receiving this issue of The Pharmacist as we
celebrate the accomplishments of fall 2023 and start
the new calendar year. I think you will find the contents
demonstrate the commitment and success that we
have together across all aspects of the mission of this
college—education, research, and service.
The success of our education and training programs is
highlighted in two stories. We are proud that the UIC
College of Pharmacy is the #2 program in the country
when it comes to placing pharmacy graduates in
pharmaceutical industry fellowships. Our
rise in this ranking was both student and
faculty led. In the article on this you
will learn about these efforts, including
a new elective course focused on
pharmaceutical industry careers. Also in
this issue is a story on our international
education initiatives—and specifically the
summer program that attracts pharmacy
students from across the globe. The
reputation of the UIC College of
Pharmacy internationally,
especially for clinical
education and
training, is second
to none.
UIC remains the #7 pharmacy school in research
rankings. That success is because of the innovative and
dedicated faculty that work here. Faculty like Alessandra
Eustaquio, who is working to discover new drugs
through “multi-omics”. Dr. Eustaquio has developed
genomic and genetic methods to harness the ability of
Burkholderia, a bacterial genus found in soil, to produce
natural products, including potential antifungals and
anticancer agents. José Villegas is seeking new drugs in
a different way. He employs computational models and
artificial intelligence to identify small proteins
or peptides to disrupt viruses and render
them noninfectious. The research of both
Eustaquio and Villegas is highlighted
in this issue and is characteristic of
the innovative approaches to drug
discovery being conducted here.
Finally, something that distinguishes
UIC from all other schools of pharmacy
is the depth and breadth of the
pharmacy services that we
provide to patients. UIC is
where advances in the
practice of pharmacy are
made—advances that
eventually becomes the
Online
pharmacy.uic.edu
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Got News?
Change jobs? Get a promotion? Publish a paper?
Publish a book? Get married? Have a baby?
We want to hear about it all! Submit your updates
at go.uic.edu/AddressUpdate.
We’ll do our best to fit it into our publications and/or
social media! If you don’t see it in The Pharmacist,
please go to go.uic.edu/PharmNews.
2 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU

standard for pharmaceutical care across the country.
That fact is illustrated in the article “The Pacesetters,”
which chronicles how UIC developed telemedicine and
telepharmacy services in 2010 and how those efforts
have expanded since. The work of Drs. Chan, Badowski,
and Rebolledo in providing care to patients housed in
facilities of the Illinois Department of Corrections
is described.
There are many things to celebrate about this college.
Research discoveries made here have impacted the
health of millions of people. The patient care that
we provide improves the lives of some of the most
underserved. And most importantly, the education and
training that starts the careers of so many extraordinary
pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, and pharmacy
leaders. All of this is made possible by the support
and engagement of our 10,000 alumni, our volunteer
preceptors, and our friends and corporate partners.
We look forward to continuing this success together.
Continuing Education
Opportunities
The University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy Office
of Continuing Education and Meeting Services (OCEMS) offers
continuing education courses for pharmacists, pharmacy
technicians, and pharmaceutical representatives. We have also
partnered with the College of Medicine and UI Health to offer
a new REMS academic detailing program. See below for more
information.
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN CE PROGRAMS
10+ ACPE-approved pharmacy technician continuing education
programs are available. For more information, please visit
go.uic.edu/PharmTechCE.
PHARMACIST CE PROGRAMS
30+ ACPE-approved pharmacist continuing education
programs are available. For more information, please visit
go.uic.edu/PharmacistCE.
SPECIALTY PHARMACY PROGRAMS
Please visit go.uic.edu/SpecialtyPharm for our new Specialty
Pharmacy programs.
EVENTS
PHARMACEUTICAL REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAMS
Pharmaceutical representative continuing education programs
are available for the City of Chicago and the State of Oregon.
For more information, please visit go.uic.edu/PharmRepCE.
UIC OPIOID ANALGESICS REMS PROGRAM
The program includes 15–20 minute academic detailing
virtual visits (each program is approved for 0.5 contact hours
of CPE/CME/CNE). Fully compliant with the Opioid Analgesic
Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) education
requirement by the FDA and meets DEA requirements
for opioid education. For more information, please visit
academicdetail.pharmacy.uic.edu.
Our Digital Edition
issuu.com/uicpharmacy
CHICAGOLAND CRITICAL CARE CONFERENCE
Please save the date for the 9th annual Chicagoland Critical
Care Conference to be held at UIC College of Pharmacy on
Saturday, August 24, 2024. More information and registration
coming soon!

COLLEGE NEWS
Multi-omics Approach Unlocks Discovery
of Natural Products from Bacteria
BY ROB MITCHUM
Many of today’s most useful drugs were originally
discovered in the natural world. After Alexander Fleming
famously discovered penicillin in a moldy petri dish,
scientists probed the microbial world of bacteria and
fungi for new disease-fighting compounds, as well as
products useful in agriculture and industry.
But the laboratory screening process for finding
natural products in bacteria is slow and
struggles to find novel compounds. In a new
paper published by the Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences, a team
led by Alessandra Eustaquio of the
UIC College of Pharmacy describes
a powerful new combination of
approaches.
“Traditional pipelines for natural
product discovery tend to rediscover
compounds that we already know,”
said Eustaquio, an associate professor
of pharmaceutical sciences. “My lab is
interested in using genomics to identify and
predict what natural products bacteria should be
able to make and then using genetic methods to try
to obtain the compound.”
Multi-omics is the combination of genomic
data with data on other biological systems,
such as gene transcripts or proteins
present in cells. Eustaquio’s paper
applies a multi-omics approach to a
strain of Burkholderia, a bacterial
genus found in soil. Scientists
at Pfizer—where Eustaquio
previously worked—used
the bacterium to produce
an antitumor agent called
spliceostatin, currently in
preclinical studies. But the
fully sequenced genome of
Burkholderia suggests it has
genes to make as many as
28 additional compounds
with potential human uses,
Eustaquio said.
Her laboratory utilized metabolomic data to
determine which of these products were made in
detectable quantities by Burkholderia. They found
antifungal and anticancer compounds previously
detected in other bacteria and identified a new
product in collaboration with chemist Roger
Linington at Simon Fraser University that they named
selethramide, a peptide that helps the bacteria move.
While preliminary tests showed some antibiotic
activity, the true applications of this new product will
require more investigation.
“One of the pros of finding antibiotics through
traditional screening is that you only find what you’re
interested in,” Eustaquio said. “But you’re always
starting the other way around with genomes, where
it’s more difficult to predict what the activity of that
natural product will be.”
The multi-omics approach also enables Eustaquio’s
group to study how Burkholderia could be used as
a vehicle for synthetic biology and the large-scale
production of natural products.
“My motivation is to understand the bacteria and
develop tools to engineer it,” Eustaquio said. “What
we’re trying to do now is to develop Burkholderia as
a host organism, or what people call a
synthetic biology chassis, where we
can find genes of interest in other
bacteria, transfer those genes
into our host and have it make
products of interest.”
The study involved
graduate students Sylvia
Kunakom and Sean
Romanowski and
postdoc Bruno Paulo
at UIC and postdoc
Sanghoon Lee and
graduate students
Michael Recchia,
Dennis Liu, and
Hannah Cavanagh
at Simon
Fraser.
Alessandra Eustaquio
4 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU

Dr. ZACKERY P. BULMAN is the
recipient of the 2023 American
College of Clinical Pharmacy New
Investigator Award.
Dr. PAUL CARLIER is part
of the first UI System Faculty
Entrepreneurial Leadership
Program. The program
supports the development of
entrepreneurship-oriented faculty
to seed new venture creation.
Dr. A
ABIGAIL ELMES was appointed
to the American College of Clinical
Pharmacy Opioid Use Disorder
Task Force for 2023–2024.
Dr. LINDSEY MCQUADE is a
recipient of the UIC Award of Merit.
Dr. NOOR NAFFAKH completed
the Precision Medicine Oncology
Genomics Certification from
American College of Clinical
Pharmacy.
Dr. GUIDO PAULI received a
Certificate of Appreciation from
the National Cancer Institute for
his ten years of service.
Dr. BERNIE SANTARSIERO was
appointed chair of the Gender,
Equity, and Diversity Committee
(GEDC) of the International Union
of Crystallography.
Dr. LIZ VAN DRIL has been
appointed chair of American
College of Clinical Pharmacy
2025 Annual Meeting Program
Committee.
Dr. ALESSANDRA EUSTAQUIO
was named a member of the
Royal Society of Chemistry.
Dr. ERIN CARSON was voted
Preceptor of the Year by the
pharmacy residents at UW Health.
Dr. ALICE HEMENWAY was
awarded the ICHP’s Shining Star
Award.
Dr. LORI WILKEN is now an
American College of Clinical
Pharmacy fellow. Fellowships
recognize excellence in clinical
pharmacy practice and science
and are awarded to individuals
who have made sustained
contributions to ACCP.
Dr. SANDRA CUELLAR
was appointed as a member
of ASHP’s Commission on
Credentialing for the 2023–
2024 term. Dr. Cuellar was also
appointed to serve on the AHFS
Oncology Expert Committee for
three years.
Dr. MATTHEW HENKE was
awarded a KL2 Scholar Award
from the UIC Center for Clinical
and Translational Science. The
KL2 Clinical and Translational
Science (CATS) Scholars Program
accelerates the careers of
scientists with a commitment to
clinical and translational research.
Dr. BIRGIT JAKI was awarded
the prestigious UIC Award for
Excellence in Teaching. The
award is given to the university’s
“most dedicated and outstanding
teachers.”
Vice Dean KEVIN RYNN
participated in the UI System
President’s Executive Leadership
Program. The program is
professional development
designed to broaden
understanding of higher
education issues and strengthen
leadership skills.
BETH WOODS is a recipient
of the the UIC Chancellor’s
Academic Professional Excellence
Award.
FALL/WINTER 2023 THE PHARMACIST 5

COLLEGE NEWS
José Villegas Receives
NIH New Innovator Award
BY ROB MITCHUM
Two UIC researchers, José Villegas and Ruixuan Gao,
have received New Innovator Awards from the National
Institutes of Health to fund high-risk, high-reward
research at the cutting edge of science. Gao and
Villegas are the first UIC faculty members to receive
New Innovator Awards from the NIH. The awards
select and fund exceptional early career investigators
to pursue unconventional, innovative work with the
potential for high impact across science and medicine.
Villegas, an assistant professor in the college’s
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, received
a New Innovator Award from the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Disease. His work uses
computational methods to design new strategies for
treating viruses and cancer.
#
2
The UIC College of
Pharmacy made the
list of Knowinsiders’
Most Prestigious
Pharmaceutical
Sciences Programs
at #2.
DESIGNING TRAPS FOR VIRUSES
When designing drugs, researchers typically seek
a compound that can bind to a target and block its
activity—for example, inactivating a viral enzyme. But
these selective drug-target binding opportunities
are difficult to design with current tools and tough to
execute at dosages that make sense therapeutically.
Villegas combines biomaterial design and medicinal
chemistry to take a different approach: trapping molecular
targets as they are formed. He uses computational models
and artificial intelligence to create strategies for disrupting
viruses, rendering them noninfectious.
“What we want to do is not necessarily block the
interactions between viral proteins but rather just kind
of push them in the wrong direction,” Villegas said. “We
use small proteins or peptides to perturb their assembly
process and drive viruses to be misshapen or simply
nonfunctional.”
This different approach has several advantages,
Villegas said. Because these compounds don’t need
to bind to a specific functional site on the target, it’s
less computationally intensive to run drug design
simulations. Villegas hypothesizes that this strategy
should also make it harder for drug resistance to evolve.
“We normally design these drugs to be super tightly
binding, and these interactions are so precise that any
small change the virus makes can kick out that drug,”
Villegas said. “But if we’re not relying on those strong
interactions, then the hope is that it won’t be so easy to
kick out, because there won’t be just one little mutation
that can just destroy the approach.”
The NIAID New Innovator Award will support Villegas as
he attempts to apply this approach to HIV, for example,
by disrupting the formation of the protective capsid
shell of the virus. If successful, the project will provide
proof-of-concept that this method could be used in
other disease contexts, such as inactivating genetic
factors that boost the proliferation of cancer cells.
It’s Villegas’s first major award since he became full-time
UIC faculty last year via the Bridge to Faculty Program. Led
by the UIC Office of Diversity, Equity, and Engagement,
the program recruits academics from underrepresented
backgrounds to serve as postdoctoral scholars for two
years before transitioning to a junior faculty position.
For Villegas, who grew up moving between the United
States and Mexico, the program and the broader UIC
mission made the university the right home for his
research, teaching, and outreach.
“It seemed like the values that the university embodies
are very much in line with my own values and how I see
the purpose of education,” Villegas said. “I knew I would
prefer to be at a public university in a place where we’re
also contributing to upward mobility and reaching out to
underserved communities.”
6 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU

Student pharmacist SAM
FORDJOUR was selected for the
2023–2024 Phi Lambda Sigma
Collegiate Leader Academy program.
The program trains leaders from
around the nation to be aware of what
it is like to be on the other side of
the pharmacist/patient relationship.
Fordjour was also awarded the ICHP
Shining Star Award.
Student pharmacist DONALD
HAGEN was chosen as an
American Association of Colleges
of Pharmacy Aspiring Academic.
From more than 200 applicants,
only 20 were selected. The program
is designed to facilitate a deeper
understanding of career paths in
academic pharmacy.
ROCÍO RIVERA RODRÍGUEZ, a
PhD candidate in pharmaceutical
sciences, was awarded a Fulbright
Scholarship. Awardees are selected
by the U.S. Department of State
and the Fulbright Program, which
considers leadership potential,
academic and professional
achievement, and service record.
STUDENT NEWS
Student pharmacist CELESTE
GUZMAN was selected for the
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. The
fellowship is a year-long servicelearning
program. Celeste will
conduct mental health workshops
for the underserved communities
of Chicago.
Student pharmacist NGOZI
IHEMESON was selected as a
2023 IPhO Diversity Scholarship
recipient! The scholars are
“committed to the pursuit of an
industry career.”
Student pharmacist GABRIEL
TANKERSLEY was elected to be
a student member of the Board of
Trustees for the Society of Pain and
Palliative Care Pharmacists.
Rockford Campus
Annual Day of
Service
The Rockford campus held its annual Day of Service.
Twenty-two new students and student leaders
volunteered at local sites like Camp Winnebago YMCA
and the Natural Land Institute. The day culminated in
a Celebration of Service sponsored by Walgreens at
the Anderson Japanese Gardens.

THE PACESSETTERS
B Y D A N I E L P . S M I T H
WE’VE HAD
HE PACESE
TELEMEDICINE CLINICS REACHED THEIR AMBITIOUS ROLLOUT TARGETS
Before the pandemic forced a rise in telemedicine, UIC launched two telemedicine clinics with the Illinois Department
of Corrections and set a model for care that continues to expand and demonstrate wide-ranging benefits.
BECAUSE WE’RE
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC FORCED A RISE IN TELEMED
CLINICS WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTME
THAT CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND DEMONST
O
n
a warm and sunny Monday afternoon, Dr. Juliana Chan
begins a phone call by apologizing for her voice. It’s
weak and hoarse, the byproduct of a morning spent in
constant conversation.
Chan spent nearly four hours on Monday, October
2, virtually shuttling between 20 patients spread
across Illinois prisons as the head of UIC’s hepatitis C
telemedicine clinic run in partnership with the Illinois
Department of Corrections (IDOC).
“Twenty-minute visits with new patients and five-minute
follow-ups with those who have finished treatment,”
explains Chan, a clinical pharmacist and clinical
associate professor in the College of Pharmacy’s
Department of Pharmacy Practice.
Chan’s efforts, which began on Sunday with
appointment prep work that included inspecting patient
charts and preparing notes and will extend into Monday
evening with a concluding review of the appointments,
JULIANA CHAN
are involved and taxing. The telemedicine clinic requires
constant attention to detail and an earnest commitment
to collaboration with other health professionals,
including an on-site nurse as well as a remote physician
and social worker.
The work is also groundbreaking. One of the earliest
examples of a pharmacist-led telemedicine program,
the UIC-IDOC partnership has improved patient health
among a vulnerable population under the state’s care,
unlocked novel opportunities for UIC trainees, and
established a sustainable model for others to follow.
TRANSFORMING CARE
In early 2010, IDOC came to UIC seeking collaboration
and a better plan to tend to the healthcare needs of
those under its supervision.
At the time, individuals in IDOC custody were not
receiving any standardized care. Medical care, for
example, might be provided by a retired specialist or
generalist and attention to chronic conditions might be
best described as choppy.
TELEMEDICINE OFFERED A COST-EFFECTIVE AND
STREAMLINED WAY FOR IDOC TO ELEVATE ITS CARE
UIC-IDOC PARTNERSHIP HAS IMPROVED PATIENT
HEALTH AMONG A VULNERABLE POPULATION UNDER
8 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU

EXCELLENT OUTCOMES AND BEEN ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR
OUR PATIENTS, SO THERE’S A SUCCESSFUL MODEL OTHERS CAN FOLLOW.
TTERS
THE SPECIALISTS, WE KNOW WHAT’S WORKING IN THESE [SUBSPECIALTY]
AREAS AND CAN PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE CARE TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES
ICINE, UIC LAUNCHED TWO TELEMEDICINE
NT OF CORRECTIONS AND SET A MODEL FOR CARE
RATE WIDE-RANGING BENEFITS.
UIC presented a novel solution in telemedicine—remote
patient care empowered by technology. Though in its
infancy at the time, telemedicine offered a cost-effective
and streamlined way for IDOC to elevate its care.
In the summer of 2010, Chan started UIC’s hepatitis
C telemedicine clinic alongside IDOC while fellow
clinical pharmacist Dr. Melissa Badowski launched a
telemedicine clinic devoted to HIV care. Both techinfused
clinics started with three IDOC facilities and the
goal of adding three additional facilities each month
throughout year one.
“We got moving and quickly learned what worked and
what didn’t and applied that to the next set of clinics,”
Chan says, adding that both telemedicine clinics
reached their ambitious rollout targets.
Badowski’s and Chan’s efforts got individuals with
Hepatitis C and HIV who were in IDOC custody
started on front-line regimens. Working closely with
UIC’s dispensing pharmacy team, which was charged
to distribute medications to the IDOC facilities, the
respective clinics created a closed-loop system ensuring
responsive action to supply issues or the latest
treatment guidelines.
“Because we’re the specialists, we know what’s
working in these [subspecialty] areas and can provide
the appropriate care to improve outcomes,” says
Badowski, a clinical professor in the Department of
Pharmacy Practice.
Today, the Badowski- and Chan-led clinics work with
28 IDOC prisons and treatment centers spread across
the state, each equipped with telemedicine equipment,
such as electronic stethoscopes and high-definition
electronic exam cameras. Collectively, Badowski and
Chan see and treat about 1,500 HIV and hepatitis
C patients each year, reviewing patient histories,
medication adherence, and interpreting labs or imaging
for the patient to inform next steps in care. They also
provide education to prevent reinfection or spread
of the respective viruses.
“We’re another set of eyes, and we advocate
a lot for the patients,” Badowski says.
MELISSA BADOWSKI
THE STATE’S CARE
WE’VE MOVED THE MARKER, THERE’S NO DENYING THAT
FALL/WINTER 2023 THE PHARMACIST 9

THE CLINICS ALSO
THIS IS A NOVEL AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY MEDICATIONS AND CLINICAL
28
IDOC PRISONS AND TREATMENT CENTERS
BENEFITTING FROM UIC TELEMEDICINE
1500
HIV AND HEPATITIS C PATIENTS
TREATED EACH YEAR
99
PERCENT OF PATIENTS LIVING
WITH SUPPRESED HIV
(PREVIOUSLY ONLY 50% BEFORE UIC INTERVENTION)
120
DIABETES PATIENTS WITH
MULTIPLE COMORBIDITES
FOLLOWED
To that advocacy point, clinic protocols have evolved
over the years. Initially, for example, Chan only saw
hepatitis C patients at advanced stages. Now, any
individual with the virus may receive care. The clinics
also aim to see every new intake within two weeks of
their arrival in the IDOC system.
Most notably, the clinics have produced impressive
results. Before UIC’s arrival, in fact, about 50 percent of
IDOC-housed patients living with HIV were virologically
suppressed. Today, that number approaches 99 percent.
“We’ve moved the marker,” Badowski says. “There’s no
denying that.”
EXPANDING HERE AND BEYOND
The success of the UIC-IDOC telemedicine clinics
has generated widespread attention and expanded
services. As telemedicine adoption accelerated amid the
COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, professionals from
other states and medical specialties regularly contacted
Badowski and Chan for insights on their established
practice.
“These telemedicine clinics have set a model for clinical
practice others can and have followed,” says Dr. Edith
Nutescu, head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice
at the UIC College of Pharmacy.
And last year, UIC expanded its relationship with IDOC
when it introduced a telemedicine clinic devoted
to diabetes management. A complex and chronic
condition, diabetes affects an estimated 2,000
individuals in IDOC custody.
Dr. Julio Rebolledo serves as the clinical pharmacist
leading IDOC’s diabetes management telemedicine
program, a collaboration with the UIC College of
Medicine akin to the HIV and hepatitis C clinics. While
STUDENTS CAN ALSO TAKE A TELEMEDICINE ELECTIVE TO GAIN AN OVERVIEW OF
IT’S A POSITIVE FOR THE PATIENT, THE
10 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU

AIM TO SEE EVERY NEW INTAKE WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THEIR ARRIVAL IN THE IDOC SYSTEM
PHARMACIST EXPERTISE FOR THIS POPULATION
patients typically receive diabetes care on-site from a
primary care provider, many have multiple comorbidities
and require specialized diabetes care. Those individuals
are referred to Rebolledo, who conducts a remote
comprehensive diabetes assessment, ensures
medication optimization, and oversees all follow-ups.
After seeing but a handful of patients each week
throughout his opening months, largely limited to
IDOC’s Dixon and Stateville facilities, Rebolledo’s
caseload continues swelling as new IDOC facilities
come on board. As of September 2023, Rebolledo is
following 120 patients.
“Access to optimal diabetes care is complicated enough
for the general population, and it’s a positive for the
patient, the community, and the whole system when
these individuals have access to first-line therapies,
timely care, and education that keeps them healthy,”
Rebolledo says.
MORE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR GROWTH
Nutescu calls UIC’s telemedicine effort with IDOC a
critical and important practice serving a vulnerable
patient population, advancing health, and preserving
cash in a budget-challenged state.
“With disease states like hepatitis C, HIV, and diabetes
being high cost and high risk, this is a novel and
effective way to provide the necessary medications
and clinical pharmacist expertise for this population,”
Nutescu says.
The College of Pharmacy, meanwhile, captures benefits
from the relationship as well. In particular, students,
residents, and trainees can work alongside top chronic
disease experts during rotations and gain valuable
experience in a tech-charged practice likely to become
more commonplace throughout their careers.
“The telemedicine rotation is like no other,” Badowski
says, adding that students can also take a telemedicine
elective to gain an overview of the emerging service
and its role in healthcare systems. Badowski recently
taught that course alongside Chan.
Yet more, learners can also gain clinical research
experience. Over the years, IDOC has approved a host
of trainee-led, retrospective research studies examining
clinical outcomes.
Given the relationship’s benefits to various
stakeholders—the College of Pharmacy, IDOC,
individuals in custody, and learners among them—it’s
no wonder many hope to see the model grow.
Nutescu says the college is working with IDOC to
identify other high-need disease states and strategize
its next wave of action, which might include conditions
such as hypertension or pulmonary disease.
Thereafter, the college hopes to export its model to
other state correctional agencies, many of whom
have already inquired about, if not studied, UIC’s
model. Across the United States, many states continue
struggling to meet the health needs of those in
correctional custody, frequently battling budgetary,
social, and political realities.
“There’s a clear need for a service like this, so how can
we bring clinical pharmacy services to all prisons?”
Badowski asks. “We’ve had excellent outcomes and
been able to advocate for our patients, so there’s a
successful model others can follow.”
But until then, Badowski, Chan, and Rebolledo will
continue their purpose-driven work.
“Another Monday is just around the corner,”
Chan says.
JULIO REBOLLEDO
THE EMERGING SERVICE AND ITS ROLE IN HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS
COMMUNITY, AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM WHEN THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO FIRST-LINE THERAPIES
FALL/WINTER 2023 THE PHARMACIST 11

HOW UIC
PHARMACY
MET BOOMING
INTEREST IN
INDUSTRY
CAREERS
B Y M I C H A E L D H A R
As interest in the pharmaceutical industry has
surged among pharmacy grads, UIC Pharmacy has excelled in preparing students for this rewarding
nontraditional path. This year, the college rose to number two nationally in placing students in highly
competitive pharmaceutical industry fellowships. That remarkable achievement comes despite the
geographical advantages of rival East Coast schools, said Dr. Glen Schumock, dean of the college.
In the rankings from the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO), UIC placed 35 fellows,
edging out the University of North Carolina and Northeastern University, which tied for third at
29. Rutgers placed first with 72 fellowships, while St. John’s University rounded out the top 5
with 27 placements. The rankings include 122 schools.
12 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU

MIDWEST’S BEST
Standing shoulder to shoulder with
schools on the East Coast, where the
pharma industry is concentrated, makes
UIC’s achievement even more impressive,
Schumock said. Those institutions frequently
work with pharmaceutical companies to
develop these very fellowships. So while UIC
runs five industry fellowships with pharma
companies, places like Rutgers and the
University of Massachusetts collaborate
on 100 or more—with the networking
advantages that entails.
“Their students certainly have an
advantage because they’re at that school
already,” Schumock said. “They know the
ins and outs. They know who to talk to,
and they may have even worked in the
pharmaceutical company, so to be number
two on this list really speaks volumes for
our students and our program.”
SOUGHT-AFTER GRADUATES
Coming in at no. 2 also represents a rise
through the years for UIC. In 2022, the
college placed third and has improved from
number five in 2016–2017, when it placed
16 students in fellowships.
Overall, that rise shows the success of the
college in producing highly sought-after
pharmacy graduates, Schumock said, noting
that only around 1% to 2% of pharmacy
students nationally earn these fellowships.
“It’s a sign that the training that they get here
is valued by pharmaceutical industry.”
UIC has helped prepare its grads in a
number of ways, from providing a uniquely
strong clinical foundation to offering
pharmaceutical-related electives—including
marketing and managed care—not available
at other schools, Schumock said.
This fall, the school debuted a new industryfocused
elective that will introduce students
to the many roles, from medical affairs to
health economics, a pharmacy grad could
take in industry. Students learn directly from
professionals in the field, with speakers
visiting weekly to discuss their roles—and
provide networking opportunities.
Guest lecturers come from some of the
biggest pharma companies, drawing from
UIC’s connections with high-ranking experts.
This year,
UIC College of
Pharmacy
rose to
NUMBER
TWO
nationally in
placing students
in highly
competitive
pharmaceutical
industry
fellowships
“We had a couple of vice presidents of
departments come to talk. We have
global directors,” said Dr. Brad Bartels, UIC
Pharmacy clinical assistant professor and
coordinator for the course. “We were able
to get a lot of very, very important people,
very knowledgeable people.” (The course
also continues to seek alumni interested in
participating.)
Bartels said he hopes the new elective gives
students a clearer view of what pharma work
entails. “In reality, the process of creating
a drug and getting it onto market could
take 20 years, 30. There’s a lot of people
involved in the process, a lot of different
departments.”
SWEET HOME CHICAGO
The course draws on another strength at UIC:
the college’s connections to local companies.
Though it doesn’t rival the East Coast, the
Chicago area has a much higher concentration
of pharma corporations than most other places
in the country, Schumock said.
“Our students get experience at those
companies in the summer. They do
internships, or they do their clerkship
rotations,” Schumock said. “That also
becomes part of their resume or CV . . .
when they apply for these positions.”
Dr. Sam Hong, PharmD ’19, director of global
health economics and outcomes research
at cancer diagnostics company Agilent
Technologies, agreed about the college’s
geographic advantages. UIC is uniquely
positioned in that the school’s location
gives students access to experiences [in]
more traditional pharmacy routes, but at the
same time, there are pharma companies . . .

and multiple pharmaceutical consulting
companies, he said. “So students really have
access to almost all of the different routes
you can take with pharmacy.”
THE ROLE OF STUDENT
GROUPS
Even before the new elective, UIC Pharmacy
offered students valuable opportunities to
interface with pharma professionals, Hong
said. “These companies come to speak at
UIC on a pretty regular basis,” he said.
That happens as part of the regular curriculum,
through the new course’s predecessor,
which brings in speakers from all areas of
post–pharmacy school careers, including
industry. Student groups also play a big role
in giving UIC students exposure to pharma,
in particular the UIC student chapters of
the Drug Information Association (DIA) and
IPHO. These local branches of national
organizations “are just fantastic in terms
of how they help our students,” Schumock
said. “It’s the networking, the access to the
parent organizations . . . they provide a lot of
resources to the student groups.”
The new pharma-focused course builds on
the IPHO, which has brought speakers to
campus in an increasingly popular
extracurricular series, Bartels said.
“The interest in that has been growing
significantly over the last couple years, and
the amount of students that are enrolled in
the IPHO organization has skyrocketed.”
Student groups also played a leading
role in Hong’s journey to industry. In his
case, the Academy of Managed Care
Pharmacy (AMCP), where he became
chapter president, offered Hong his first
exposure to the industry and related
networking opportunities. “They are a [major]
professional organization that hosts national
annual conferences that bring in more than
10,000 professionals,” he said.
UIC’s IPHO chapter also gives students the
opportunity to experience pharma work
first-hand. In the group’s “case competition”
activity, members break into groups and
replicate the entire process of getting a drug
to market.
They’re designing a plan for a hypothetical
drug and they’re . . . laying out how they’re
going to implement getting this drug onto
market, said Bartels, the group’s advisor.
“So they have to spell out their marketing
aspects. What is their slogan going to be?
What’s their logo going to be?”
The several-months-long process leaves
students “very well rounded afterwards,”
Bartels said.
STRONG CLINICAL
FOUNDATION
UIC’s strong placement of pharmaceutical
fellows speaks not just to the school’s specific
strengths in industry, but also the general
quality of its program, Schumock said. “We’re
ranked in the top 10 nationally as a pharmacy
program, and we have been for a long time,
so that gives our students an advantage.”
In particular, the school’s unique clinical
focus helps UIC students stand out, he
added. “We’re known nationally as being
really focused on clinical pharmacy. That
reputation precedes our students and helps
in the application.”
Hong said he valued the clinical basis of his
education at UIC, as well as the chance to
get involved in research with faculty. Those
opportunities helped expand his notion of
what he could do with a pharmacy degree.
UIC is really strong on making sure students
are going to be clinically adept upon
graduation . . . and they offer these additional
supplements to our clinical knowledge, he
said. “I think the way I was introduced to the
pharmaceutical industry was appropriate, and
I honestly wouldn't change anything about it.”
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College of Pharmacy celebrates ten years of the International Summer Program
BY LAURA HAYES
College of Pharmacy Celebrates
of the International Summer Pro
In summer 2023, the College of Pharmacy celebrated its
10th anniversary of hosting international students, faculty,
and practicing pharmacists at the college’s Chicago
campus for the International Summer Program on
Contemporary Clinical Pharmacy Practice and Education.
PROGRAM ORIGINS
Dr. Alan Lau, professor emeritus and director of
International Clinical Pharmacy Education, started
the program at the request of one of the college’s
international partners at China Medical University in
Taiwan. Eventually, more of UIC Pharmacy’s international
partners, such as China Medical University, Taipei
Medical University, National Taiwan University, and
University of Hong Kong, started sending participants.
Since 2013, more than 400 people from locations
like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, China, Thailand,
the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Spain, Turkey, and
Cambodia have participated in the monthlong summer
program to build their interest in pharmacy, expand
their perspectives on clinical practice and pharmacy
education, and allow them to experience U.S. culture.
“I think people from around the world look up to the
United States for clinical education, and that’s our focus
for the international program,” Lau says. Each summer,
the program provides more than 80 hours of teaching
and learning activities led by more than 30 UIC Pharmacy
faculty. They give case-based lectures and discussions,
which include telling students what they do in the
hospital and clinics. The program also hosts handson
lab experiences and shares different career tracks
within clinical pharmacy. Participants also get tours of
the UIC campus and UI Health hospital and clinics and
participate in various group outings in Chicago.
A POSTPANDEMIC PROGRAM RELAUNCH
In addition to Lau, Department of Pharmacy Practice
faculty Dr. Nancy Shapiro and Dr. James Lee now
codirect the program, which welcomed 68 participants
to UIC campus in 2023 after a three-year hiatus.
“I really enjoy leading this program and am grateful that
we were able to offer it again this year,” says Shapiro.
“We include a great group of faculty that have a passion
for teaching in their clinical practice and service areas.
This program works so well because we have so
many faculty to turn to for their contributions, that are
dedicated to furthering clinical pharmacy practice and
education beyond the United States.”
“We made some changes since the pandemic, and the
responses have been very good,” Lau says. “There were
a lot more interactions with our own students this year
and the feedback has been great.”
UIC STUDENT PHARMACIST AMBASSADORS
2023 marked the addition of having current UIC student
pharmacists engage and lead the participants as their
UIC mentors and teaching assistants.
“I was very grateful to be asked as one of the TAs
and mentors,” says Angelo Turla, current P3 student.
“I prepared a lecture, did a student-led panel, hosted
multiple social events, assisted with the different labs
such as blood pressure and geriatrics, and addressed
any questions that our group had.”
“I really loved all the events we had set up for the
students. It was a good opportunity for us to get to know
them, as well as learn about the different responsibilities
and requirements pharmacists have in each country.”
The program participants also learned from their UIC
mentors about differences and benefits of PharmD
programs offered in the United States.
16 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU

Ten Years
gram
BY LAURA HAYES
International Summer Program
participants who decided
to continue their studies
at UIC Pharmacy
“The international students were surprised to learn
about the number of different electives and student
organizations we have at UIC Pharmacy,” says Turla.
“Another surprise was the fact that U.S. students can
become interns, externs, and technicians in pharmacies,
and that it is common for students here to juggle
organizations, research, mentorship, and work on top of
their academics.”
“I still stay in touch with a lot of the students and faculty
over social media,” Turla says. “When I was in Dallas at
ACCP, I ran into one of the faculty from Hong Kong that
participated in the program, and we were able to catch up!”
The program also hosts discussions with UIC Pharmacy
graduates who live and practice pharmacy abroad.
These international alumni share firsthand perspectives
with participants on how a UIC Pharmacy education
can help them build a successful pharmacy career
outside of the United States, and help participants build
connections with pharmacists in their home countries.
BUILDING LAST GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
Over the years, the program has inspired many
participants to pursue further clinical education
at home, in the United States, and at UIC. Several
students have ended up enrolling in the UIC Doctor of
Pharmacy (PharmD) program (see sidebar). Program
leaders reported that many students from the most
recent session expressed interest in enrolling at UIC
for PharmD or PhD, and the UIC–University of Malta
collaborative Doctorate of Pharmacy program.
The program continues to receive lots of positive
feedback from student and faculty participants alike.
“The summer program is relevant, friendly and
interactive. It exposed me to profound clinical pharmacy
practice and encouraged me to pursue further clinical
education by enrolling in the UIC PharmD program,” says
student participant Amy Leng (Macau).
According to faculty participant Janet Wong of Hong
Kong University, “The UIC summer program has been
one of my most memorable experiences in pharmacy
career. Having the opportunity to learn from the work
of the UIC faculty as well as pharmacists and students
from different countries, I have been inspired and
empowered to take a proactive role in leading the
development of clinical pharmacy practices in primary
care setting in my region.”
SHIYI LAN
Student Pharmacist
Originally from Guangzhou, China,
Shiyi Lan is now a P3 (Class of 2025)
at UIC College of Pharmacy.
There is no Doctor of Pharmacy program in Mainland China, so I decided
to continue my graduate level pharmacy degree in the United States after
my bachelor’s degree in clinical pharmacy in China in 2021. I participated in
the UIC College of Pharmacy International Summer Program in 2018, which
introduced me to how clinical pharmacists practiced in the United States as
healthcare providers and how to make an impact as a pharmacist on the team.
I learned how to live independently in a foreign country far away from home; I
gained time management skills since I need to balance my course work, research
projects, student organizations, and extern job; and I developed communication
and collaboration skills between team members and coworkers from my
experience in school and at work.
My current plan after graduation is to pursue more research training either in a
PhD program or a fellowship program since during my time at UIC, I have been
exposed to a lot of research opportunities and impressed how
research can show the impact of a pharmacist-led service.
Eventually, I want to become a clinical pharmacist in
oncology area as well as teach pharmacy students.”
PIA FIEL
PharmD ’20
Originally from the Philippines,
Dr. Fiel currently works as clinical pharmacist
at Van Matre Encompass Health.
I decided to pursue pharmacy education overseas because I wanted to
challenge myself and grow my career as a pharmacist. I decided to come
to UIC because it is one of the best pharmacy schools in the United States, and
one of the nation’s most diverse public research universities.
I completed pharmacy school on the Rockford campus, and I loved the small
class size; it makes it easier to connect with your class and the pharmacy
professors. Be professional and make connections everywhere you go, like they
always say, pharmacy is a small world!.”
FALL/WINTER 2023 THE PHARMACIST 17

KUDOS
ALUMNI NEWS
HANNAH BRENNAN, PharmD ’20,
is now the clinical pharmacist
specialist, Infectious Diseases and
Antimicrobial Stewardship, at the
Captain James A. Lovell Federal
Health Care Center in North
Chicago, Illinois.
What has
changed in
your life?
PLEASE LET
US KNOW AT
GO.UIC.EDU/
ALUMNIUPDATE
TANYA CHAUDHRI, PharmD ’18,
is now the associate director,
Regulatory Affairs, in the
Therapeutic Strategy with the Rare
Disease Business Unit at Amgen.
ANDREA COLLARO, PharmD ’97,
was named to the Private Label Hall
of Fame. With oversight of over a
dozen private brands encompassing
over 4,500 items, Andrea Collaro
has touched consumers across
the United States and earned
recognition as a 2023 Private Label
Hall of Fame honoree in the Private
Brand Champion category.
JAIME HOLDEN, PharmD ’20,
is now the specialty clinical
development pharmacist at CVS
Caremark.
Andrea Collaro
MADIHA KHAN, PharmD ’19, was
promoted to scientific director at the
Lockwood Group in July 2023.
OTILIA KOO, PhD ’05, has
been elevated to fellow status
in the American Association
of Pharmaceutical Scientists
(AAPS) The fellowship recognizes
professional excellence and
impact in developing products and
therapies to improve global health.
KUN LIN, PharmD ’21, is now
the clinical pharmacist, Stem
Cell Transplant, at Northwestern
Memorial Hospital.
Otilia Koo
CARISSA MANCUSO, PharmD ’02,
is now the associate director,
Medical Information, Women’s
Cancer Care, Eisai Inc.
VISHAL SHAH, PharmD ’21, is now
the pharmacy operations manager
at Emory Specialty Pharmacy.
ANDRELISA WALLEN,
PharmD ’91, is now director of
Material Review at Canopy Life
Sciences.
ALICE PAU, PharmD, Res ’84, received the 2023 U.S.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary’s Award for
Distinguished Service—the highest honor within HHS. Dr. Pau,
a faculty member from 1988 to 1996, has worked at the National
Institutes of Health since 1997. She played a critical role in the U.S.
COVID-19 response and was recognized with this award for her
leadership as executive secretary of the HHS Antiretroviral Guidelines
Panel and the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel. She credits
her success to the many years spent at UIC and the clinical skills,
work ethic, and drive developed there.
18 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU

IN MEMORIAM
LEONARD R. GROENEVELD, Class of 1957, passed
on July 16, 2023, in Bastrop, Texas.
JOHN M. CAMPBELL, Class of 1948, passed on
February 15, 2023. He lived in Pinellas Park, Florida.
PETER SOLYOM JR., BS ’51, passed on April 13, 2023,
in Katy, Texas. He was 96 years old.
Remembering Thomas Temple
The UIC College of Pharmacy salutes the life and
career of Thomas Ronald Temple, a graduate of UIC
Pharmacy in 1975. Tom Temple died August 14, 2023,
at the age of 74.
Tom Temple was a leader in the profession of pharmacy.
He served as chief executive officer of the Iowa
Pharmacy Association for 35 years and was well-known
nationally for his ability to collaborate and build bridges
across organizations. Dean Emeritus Jerry Bauman said
that Tom “was a leader both in Iowa and at the national
level. He was instrumental in melding all pharmacists
in Iowa into a single organization, increasing their
influence and serving as a model for state pharmacy
professional organizations across the nation.”
Nationally, Temple served as member (2010–2020) and
chair of the U.S. Pharmacopeia Board of Trustees, was
a member of the American Pharmacists Association
Foundation Board of Directors (2013–2016), and was
president of the National Alliance of State Pharmacy
Associations (1986–1987). His national status and
contributions to the profession were recently reported
in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
(zxad241, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxad241).
As a graduate of the UIC College of Pharmacy, Tom
Temple was well-remembered. Dean Emeritus Henri
Manasse recalled Tom “as a diligent student who
developed strong ties to his fellow students and to
several student organizations. He was clearly interested
in leadership and enhancing the future of the profession.”
Dr. Manasse also worked with Tom later in life when
Tom led the Iowa Pharmacists Association and its
component group of hospital pharmacists.
Temple was an engaged supporter of the college over
the years. Bauman called him a loyal alumnus of the
University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. “He graduated
the year before me, and later, I was fortunate to convince
him to serve on my Dean’s Advisory Committee where
I relied upon him to provide strategic advice for
the direction of the college.” In 1998, Tom
Temple was recognized by the UIC College
of Pharmacy as Alumnus of the Year.
“Tom Temple’s significant contributions
to the profession of pharmacy were
noteworthy,” said Glen T. Schumock,
professor and dean of the University of
Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy. “Tom
exemplified the leadership and professional
commitment that we instill in
our graduates.”
His survivors include
his wife of 48 years,
Cathy (Chrischilles)
Temple; his children
Brad and Eric; his
grandchildren Tori
and Leyton; and
his sister Donna
Hatzenbuhler.

ALUMNI NEWS
BABIES
Beckett Dukala
DANUTA DUKALA,
PharmD ’21, welcomed son Beckett Dukala in June.
NICOLE MICHAEL, PharmD ’21, welcomed
son Isaiah Michael on September 6, 2022.
LAURIE NOSCHESE, PharmD ’12, and
husband Ricky welcomed their daughter
Claire Rosemary Noschese on February 9,
2023. Claire has a big sister Abby, age 6,
and a big brother Jake, age 3.
Isaiah Michael
MYRNA RIVAS, PharmD ’18, and
husband Jesus Perez welcomed
son Jeriah Perez on June 2, 2023,
Jeriah joins his 17 year-old
brother, Jaysen.
RYAN SEELING, PharmD ’15,
welcomed daughter Olivia Lou
Seeling on January, 28, 2023.
Claire Rosemary Noschese
Olivia Lou Seeling
Jeriah Perez
20 THE PHARMACIST PHARMACY.UIC.EDU

WEDDINGS
SEP
23
CHRIS SAFFORE,
PharmD ’16, PhD ’19,
and Mercedes Sanchez,
PharmD ’16, were married
on September 23, 2023,
in Joliet, Illinois.
PLAN YOUR LEGACY
AND INVEST IN THE
future
OF THE UIC COLLEGE OF
PHARMACY TODAY
We are continually encouraged by the generosity
of our dedicated alumni and friends. As you
reflect upon your goals and consider your legacy,
we hope you will include a deferred gift for UIC
Pharmacy as part of your estate plan.
KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK as you consider
your deferred gift:
• How do you want to provide for yourself and your family?
• What impact would you like to make at the college?
• What tax advantages can you expect as you consult with
your financial advisor and/or attorney?
DEFERRED GIFTS are a simple, easy, and popular
method that allow you to have an enduring legacy in the
college. They include naming the University of Illinois
Foundation (Tax ID 37-6006007), for the benefit of the College
of Pharmacy at UIC, as a beneficiary through instruments like:
• Wills/living trusts and annuities
• Retirement plans
• Payable-on-death (POD)/transfer-on-death (TOD)
provisions on brokerage or bank accounts
• Gifts of real estate, stocks, and other securities
T A K E T H E N E X T S T E P
To learn more about ways to make a deferred gift to the College of Pharmacy or to share your intentions, contact Derrick Collins,
senior director of development, at 312.996.3376 or dmc22@uic.edu or visit uif.giftplans.org today.

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CUBS VS. WHITE SOX SPRING TRAINING GAME
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Thursday, March 28, 2024 / Rockford Campus
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 / Chicago Campus
Contact pharmacy-advancement@uic.edu with any questions.