PharmFlash: Alumni Edition

Jonah Milstein Slipow (B.S.) died at home in Richmond May 30, 2009. He was a principal in the Lafayette Pharmacies, an organizer of pharmacy class reunions and active in the Richmond Pharmaceutical Association. As association president, he was instrumental in the 1961 city-wide oral polio vaccination campaign. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bernice Weiner Slipow; his son, Larry and wife Sharon Slipow; his daughter , Janet Slipow Meyers and husband Stanley; and four grandchildren.

Bertha Rolfe, B.S.: In August, Rolfe was honored for her decades-long dedication to and volunteer work with the university by the School of Pharmacy, VCU Massey Cancer Center and MCV Foundation. Rolfe is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Randolph L. Arthur Jr. (B.S.) of Colonial Heights died Dec. 16, 2008, at Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center in Richmond. Arthur, a retired registered pharmacist manager at Peoples Service Drug Store (now CVS) for nearly 40 years, is survived by his daughter Janet A. Bishop and her husband, Ronald; his son Stephen L. Arthur and his wife, Lori; his daughter Joanne A. Davis and her husband, Craig; and two granddaughters, Melissa L. and Laura J. Bishop. His wife, Charlotte Campbell Arthur – a 1948 graduate of the School of Nursing – died Nov. 7, 1990.

Eugene White (B.S.) was mentioned in an article about the Peggy and Bruce McWhinney Social Justice Award in the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of MCV Foundation’s Chronicle of Giving. To see the story, click here and search the word McWhinney.

Tom Rorrer, B.S., is featured in the winter issue of Scarab, the MCV Alumni Association magazine, along with the late Camilla Walden Jeffries (B.S. ’43), who helped him out financially during his senior year. Since then, Rorrer, who lives in Fredericksburg, has endowed several scholarships with the School of Pharmacy. The story also mentions the late Charles T. Rector (B.S. ’52), Jack Stallard (B.S. ’54) and Rorrer’s brothers, Bob (B.S. ’57) and Gene (B.S. ’58).
Tom Rorrer is also a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Norman L. Hilliard, B.S., attended the 50^th Anniversary Graduate Alumni Reunion in October with his wife, Lola. Hilliard -- who also earned a master’s of education degree at VCU in 1970 – and his wife have two children, Norma of Richmond and Cathy of Pinehurst, N.C. The Hilliards, who live in Richmond, have three grandsons: a National Merit Scholar, in his senior year at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa; a 16-year-old; and a 7-year-old. “We’re very blessed,” says Lola Hilliard. Her husband taught in the School of Pharmacy from 1963 to 1973 and retired in 1991 as assistant provost.

Harvey B. Morgan, B.S.: A Virginia delegate (R-98thth District), Jones was honored Aug. 18 at a School of Pharmacy-sponsored reception for his help in securing funding for the university, specifically the $5 million allocated by the state for renovations to the R. Blackwell Smith Building. Morgan is also the school’s director of alumni relations.
On Jan. 14, 2009, Morgan served as moderator for the Commonwealth Prayer Breakfast at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. He was joined “up front” by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, Lt. Gov. William T. Bolling, Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell and others. For more, click here.

Gene White, B.S., is featured in the winter issue of Scarab, the MCV Alumni Association magazine. His goal for 2008 – at age 75! – is to have completed 16 triathlons and three duathlons. White is former associate dean of admissions for the School of Pharmacy.

John Hasty (B.S.) of Hayes is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Samuel W. Crickenberger, B.S., of Richmond died Sept. 10. Crickenberger, 79, served as a second lieutenant in the Korean War. He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Wiley Crickenberger, along with her three children, his two children and several grandchildren. He worked as a pharmacist mostly in Charlottesville and Richmond and served as executive director of the then-Virginia Pharmaceutical Association from 1976 to 1979.

Bob Rorrer, B.S., of Lexington, is mentioned in a story about his brother, Tom Rorrer (B.S. 52), in the winter issue of Scarab, the MCV Alumni Association magazine.

Gene Rorrer, B.S., is mentioned in a story about his brother, Tom Rorrer (B.S. 52), in the winter issue of Scarab, the MCV Alumni Association magazine.

Al Schalow, B.S., did a book signing and reading of his children’s books, “The Adventure Down Crunchy Road” and “The Second Adventure Down Crunchy Road,” in December for the grand reopening of Barnes & Noble @ VCU Medical Center. He donated all proceeds to the School of Pharmacy.
Schalow is also a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Thomas Talamini (B.S.) died March 16, 2009, at age 75 in Muskogee (Okla.) Veterans Hospital. After years of working as a pharmacist in Newport News and Hampton, he was employed by the U.S. Public Health Service’s Indian Health Service Program. Beginning as chief pharmacist for the Claremore (Okla.) Indian Hospital, he worked his way up to the rank of Navy captain and then to hospital director. He remained CEO of the hospital for 24 years. In 2001, he received the School of Pharmacy’s Pharmacy Alumnus Service Award.

Carl Emswiller (B.S.) was mentioned in an article about the Peggy and Bruce McWhinney Social Justice Award in the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of MCV Foundation’s Chronicle of Giving. To see the story, click here and search the word McWhinney. Emswiller, who is retired, is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Jerry A. Grossman, B.S., was featured Oct. 21 on the VCU Office of University Advancement’s Web site in a story about medical campus alumni who give back to their alma mater. To read, click here.

Harold Smith, B.S. ’56, Ph.D. ’62, attended the 50^th Anniversary Graduate Alumni Reunion in October. “I was the first new student in the graduate program,” he recalls. Walter Hartung brought two students with him, Smith says, and picked up two more when he arrived at MCV. The year Smith received his bachelor’s degree was also the year Warren Weaver became dean. By the way, Smith was able to identify nearly the entire School of Pharmacy (including himself) from a circa 1975-76 photo on display at the reunion.

George H. Miller, Ph.D., is chief scientific officer for and a co-founder of Blanca Pharmaceuticals in Menlo Park, Calif. He also is on the adjunct/visiting faculty of Rutgers University School of Pharmacy. Previously, he worked for Microcide Pharmaceuticals/Essential Therapeutics and Schering-Plough Research Institute. Miller and his wife, Lilo, have two daughters and four grandchildren. He sends his regrets to the 50th Anniversary Graduate Alumni Reunion; he will be in Washingon a week later for the ICAAC/IDSA microbiology meeting. Miller also sends regards to Harold and Doyle Smith, Jim Stubbins, Marv Boots, Al Richards and “my only graduate student, Gregg Harris.” Contact: Agrmiller@att.net or gmiller@blancapharm.com

Bruce McWhinney (B.S.) and his wife, Peggy, were featured in an article about the Peggy and Bruce McWhinney Social Justice Award in the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of MCV Foundation’s Chronicle of Giving. The McWhinneys, who now live at Lake Gaston, N.C., endowed the fund that will generate a yearly cash award for a fourth-year pharmacy student who has demonstrated a commitment to social justice and who shows promise of continuing in that vein. The article also mentions SOP graduates (and positive influences) Eugene White (B.S. ’ 50) and Carl Emswiller (B.S. ’62). To see the story, click here and search the word McWhinney.
McWhinney is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Ron Davis, B.S., is featured in a video, “You and Your Pharmacist: A Winning Team” along with several VCU School of Pharmacy preceptors, faculty members and alumni. He works for Buford Road Pharmacy in Richmond. To see the video, click here.
Davis, who is chairman of the school’s National Advisory Council, is preceptor and site administrator at Buford Road Pharmacy, which was awarded an AACP Crystal APPLE Award in February 2009 for its academic-practice partnership with the School of Pharmacy. Davis was nominated by Beverly Talluto, the school’s assistant dean for experiential education.

Dennis Stanley, B.S., is Wellness Center Manager for Ukrop’s Pharmacy in Short Pump. In August, he made headlines in a Pharmacy Today Immunization Supplement. He was featured on the magazine’s front, in the table of contents and in a cover story. To read Stanley’s story, click here and scroll to page 12. Pictured on page 13 is another SOP alum who works with Stanley, Betsy Fulks (B.S. ’81).

Michael Nuckols (B.S.) of Powhatan and his wife Samantha are the first two people to officially "save the dates" for Reunion Weekend, April 24-26, 2009, when Nuckols will celebrate his 35^th anniversary as a VCU School of Pharmacy graduate. A research scientist, he is retired from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Bob Carson, B.S., is featured in a video, “You and Your Pharmacist: A Winning Team” along with several VCU School of Pharmacy preceptors, faculty members and alumni. Carson works for Ukrop’s Pharmacy at Virginia Center Commons in Glen Allen. To see the video, click here.

Rick Baxter (B.S.) of Richmond is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Bob Quarles (B.S.) of Richmond and his wife Julie are keyboardist and lead singer, respectively, for a popular local British invasion band, The English Channel. The group will perform at the school’s Reunion Weekend April 25, 2009. For more on the English Channel, click here. Quarles is with Melhorn, Melhorn and Quarles , a primary care and nonsurgical sports medicine center.

Janet Silvester (B.S.) of Troy is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Barry L. Carter (Pharm.D.) had a letter to the editor published in the April 22/29, 2009; 301 (16), issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. To view his letter, click here.

Ron McFarlane (B.S.) of Raleigh, N.C., is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council. He and his wife Nancy (also B.S. ’80) own MedProRx Inc., an accredited specialty infusion pharmacy that focuses on treatments for people with bleeding, autoimmune neuromuscular and rheumatologic disorders and other complex medical conditions. Ron is chief operating office and Nancy is president of the company, which opened in 2002. The McFarlanes recently donated $250,000 to the School of Pharmacy for an endowed professorship in pharmacy practice. A year earlier, they established the Phi Delta Chi Scholarship and the Nancy L. and Ronald H. McFarlane Scholarship.

Betsy Fulks, B.S., was pictured in a story about Dennis Stanley (B.S. ’74) in the August Immunization Supplement to Pharmacy Today. She works with Stanley at Ukrop’s Pharmacy in Short Pump.

Kenneth Kolb (Pharm.D.) of Richmond is a member of the MCV Alumni Association’s Pharmacy Division and treasurer of the MCVAA board.

S. Chris Jones¸ B.S.: A Virginia delegate (R-76th District), Jones was honored Aug. 18 at a School of Pharmacy-sponsored reception for his help in securing funding for the university, specifically the $5 million allocated by the state for renovations to the R. Blackwell Smith Building. Jones also received the Virginia Pharmacist Service Award at the 2008 Virginia Pharmacists Association annual convention.
He was profiled in the December 2008 issue of Virginia Pharmacist. Click here to see that issue.

Frank Harvey (B.S.) of Williamsburg is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Heidi Marchand (B.S. ’82, Pharm.D. ’84), served on a panel about meeting public expectations through teaching, research and service at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Interim Meeting in Arlington, Va., in February 2009.

Cynthia Kirkwood (B.S. ’82, Pharm.D. ’85), associate professor of pharmacy at VCU School of Pharmacy, and Brigitte Sicat (Pharm.D. ‘98), assistant professor of pharmacy, are among the speakers in a special session on “Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs of Team-Based Learning in Pharmacy Practice Education” at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s 2009 Annual Meeting in Boston. Kirkwood discussed “The Face of Pharmacy Education Today” with SOP Dean Victor Yanchick at the third annual Warren Weaver Continuing Education Lectureship during Reunion Weekend 2009.

Phillip Morris (B.S.) of Providence Forge is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Mark Szalwinski (B.S.) of Smithfield is a trustee-at-large with the MCV Alumni Association’s Pharmacy Division.

Rebecca Snead, B.S.: She received the Outstanding Pharmacist Award at the 2008 Virginia Pharmacists Association annual convention.
Snead was profiled in the December 2008 issue of Virginia Pharmacist. Click here to see that issue.
She is also a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Otto Wachsmann (Pharm.D.) penned a poignant personal message about “pharming” in the December 2008 issue of Virginia Pharmacist. Click here to see the issue containing his Guest Editorial.

Rusty Maney (B.S.) of Mechanicsville is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Hill Hopper (B.S.) of Midlothian is a trustee-at-large with the MCV Alumni Association’s Pharmacy Division .

Bronwyn Burnham, B.S.: Burnham received the National Community Pharmacists Association Leadership Award at the 2008 Virginia Pharmacists Association annual convention.
As 2008-09 VPhA president, she graced the October 2008 cover of the Virginia Pharmacist. To see that cover and to read her acceptance speech, click here.
Burnham received the Pharmacy Alumni Service Award during Reunion Weekend 2009. She is also vice president of the MCV Alumni Association’s Pharmacy Division.

Gene Cefali, Pharm.D./Ph.D.: Cefali has been named senior vice president of clinical pharmacology and formulation development for the Cortria Corp. in Boston. At Cortria, a new pharmaceutical company focusing on cardiovascular disease, he will join a team working to advance TRIA-662 as a candidate for the treatment of dyslipidemia.

M. Keith Hodges, B.S.: Hodges received the Bowl of Hygeia Award at the 2008 Virginia Pharmacists Association annual convention.
Hodges is also a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Mark Johnston, B.S.: A resident of Eagle, Idaho, he is executive director for the Idaho State Board of Pharmacy and president of the Idaho State Pharmacy Association.

Michelle Herbert Thomas, B.S., is featured in a video, “You and Your Pharmacist: A Winning Team” along with several VCU School of Pharmacy preceptors, faculty members and alumni. Thomas works for Richmond Apothecaries. To see the video, click here.

Chandra S. Chaurasia, Ph.D., spoke on “Bioequivalence of Complex Dosage Forms in Generic Drugs Approval” at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program’s alumni lecture series in October. Chaurasia is team leader for the Division of Bioequivalence II, CDER/FDA.

Mohamadi Sarkar, Ph.D., discussed “Clinical Research and NPOs” as part of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program’s alumni lecture series in October. Sarkar is director of clinical pharmacology for Altria Client Services in Richmond. He is also an affiliate associate professor for VCU School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmaceutics.

Denise Walters, Ph.D., attended the 50^th Anniversary Graduate Alumni Reunion in October. Walters, whose degree was in pharmacy with a specialty in bioanalysis, also earned a chemistry degree from VCU in 1985. Now a resident of Short Pump, she has worked for Wyeth as a principal research scientist in nutritional product development since 1999. She and her husband have three children, ages 12, 21 and 22. Walters has won two Global Pride Awards while at Wyeth, one for being a member of the development team for Advil PM and the other for being on the team that developed Centrum Cardio.

Timothy Robertson (B.S.) of Glen Allen is a trustee-at-large with the MCV Alumni Association’s Pharmacy Division.

Patty Slattum, B.S. ’85, Pharm.D./Ph.D. ’92: She was recognized this spring as a VCU Alumni Star for her service to the School of Pharmacy and the university community. Slattum is associate professor and vice chairman for graduate studies in the Department of Pharmacy/Department of Pharmaceutics. She also spoke on "Impact of Anticholinergic Burden on Older Adults" at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program’s alumni lecture series in October. Slattum and her husband have a 14-year-old son who’s interested in musical theater at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School. "I don’t know where he gets it," Slattum says, laughing. "At that age, I would have been hiding in the corner. "

Elaine Phillips, Ph.D., has been named president and CEO of the San Diego, Calif.-based Meritage Pharma Inc. When Phillips spoke at the VCU School of Pharmacy’s Graduate Alumni Speaker Seminar Series in April, she was senior vice president for technical operations at Verus Pharmaceuticals in San Diego. (Her topic was “Commercialization of Twinject Epinephrine Autoinjector.”) She still represents Verus in its asthma program collaboration.

Kellie S. Reynolds, Pharm.D., of Gaithersburg, Md., attended the 50^th Anniversary Graduate Alumni Reunion in October. The next day, she spoke on “Trends and Innovations in Drug Development: Impact on Patient Care in the Future” at VCU School of Pharmacy’s 11^th annual Research and Career Day. She is deputy director,Division of Clinical Pharmacology 4, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Timothy Lucas (B.S. ’93) of Roanoke is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Jean-Venable “Kelly” Goode, B.S. ’89, Pharm.D. ’94: Her Community Pharmacy Practice and Residency Program at the school was recognized with a 2008 Pinnacle Award by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation. The award, in the group practice category, was for the Ukrop’s Pharmacy immunization initiative. Also, Goode is featured in a video, “You and Your Pharmacist: A Winning Team” along with several VCU School of Pharmacy preceptors, faculty members and alumni. To see the video, click here.
She is the recipient of the 2009 NACDS Foundation Community Pharmacy Faculty Award. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation award includes a $5,000 stipend to fund a community pharmacy practice project.

R. Baylor Rice, B.S.: He received the Innovative Pharmacy Practice Award at the 2008 Virginia Pharmacists Association annual convention.

Evan Sisson, B.S. ’92, Pharm.D. ’94: Sisson, assistant professor in the school’s Department of Pharmacy, led a 14-student mission to Wise County, Va., in July, to participate in what was anticipated to be the biggest Remote Area Medical event of the year. Over a three-day period, nearly 1,600 volunteers provided 5,475 services to 2,670 patients.

Catherine Cary (B.S. ’89, Pharm.D. ‘95) of Mechanicsville is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Frank Blondino, B.S. ’91, Ph.D. ’95, is executive director for formulation and process development at NovaDel Pharma Inc. in Flemington, N.J. He discussed “Evaluation of Oral Spray Technology Using Gamma Scintigraphy” at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program’s alumni lecture series in October.

Berkley Rayfield, B.S., was featured in a Richmond Times-Dispatch story Oct. 24. He came up with the idea of a gastronomic political poll for Cape Charles, Va., where Rayfield’s Pharmacy is located. Diners feasted on delectables such as McCainaroni and Cheese or Sloppy Joe Biden. To read the original story, click here. To find out which candidate won – based on diners eating delectables such as McCainaroni and Cheese or Sloppy Joe Biden – click here.

Amy L. Pakyz, B.S. ’93, Pharm.D. ’96, and assistant professor at VCU School of Pharmacy – along with Ronald Polk, chairman of the Department of Pharmacy -- published a study, “Trends in Antibacterial Use in U.S. Academic Health Centers,” in the Nov. 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA/Archives Journal. The study attracted wide media attention from outlets such as Reuters, NPR and a number of online medical publications.

Susan Learned (Pharm.D./Ph.D.) of Pittsboro, N.C, is a member of the School of Pharmacy’s National Advisory Council.

Pamela M. Dillon, Pharm.D., was part of a Women’s Health Research Panel at VCU’s Fourth Annual Women’s Health Research Day that discussed “Translational Research in Women’s Health: Opportunities to Integrate Basic and Clinical Research With Patient Care.” She is a research liaison for VCU’s Center for Clinical and Translational Research.

Brigitte Sicat (Pharm.D.) is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy at VCU School of Pharmacy. She and Cynthia Kirkwood (B.S. ’82, Pharm.D. ’85), associate professor of pharmacy, are among the speakers in a special session on “Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs of Team-Based Learning in Pharmacy Practice Education” at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s 2009 Annual Meeting in Boston.

Amy L. Whitaker, Pharm.D., wrote “Affording Your Medications,” which appeared in the American Pharmacists Month supplement in the Oct. 5 Richmond Times-Dispatch. Whitaker is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy.
She is also a trustee-at-large with the MCV Alumni Association’s Pharmacy Division.

Melissa Williams, B.S. ’94 and Pharm.D. ’98, co-authored “Osteoporosis: Breaking the Trend” with School of Pharmacy students Krista Larson (P3) and Lina Saliba (P3) for the Oct. 5 American Pharmacists Month supplement in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.. Williams works for McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Jennifer Edwards (Pharm.D.) received the Distinguished Pharmacy Alumnus Award during Reunion Weekend 2009 .

Thomas E. Prisinzano, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. In October, he spoke on “Salvia divinorum and the Quest for Novel Opioids” at the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program’s alumni lecture series.

Maj. Robert “Wes” Rainey (Pharm.D.) and Capt. Mike Acree (Pharm.D.) deployed to Joint Base Balad in Iraq from January to May 2008, serving as pharmacy director and staff pharmacist for the Air Force Theater (Trauma) Hospital. Rainey writes, “During this time, the facility was the busiest U.S. Central Command, including both the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters. [We] worked 1,503 trauma cases and oversaw the dispensing of 53K medications to support 4,868 U.S. personnel evacuated for care.”
Rainey – now a pharmacy flight commander for the 17th Medical Support Squadron at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas -- will be an instructor at the Global Medical Readiness Symposium May 18-21, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. His presentation will detail the operations and capabilities of the Balad Air Force Theater Hospital Pharmacy and how they might be applied to stateside homeland defense and medical readiness. He will also address critical supply management, operations during a crisis response and development of tailored local readiness capabilities.
In 2008, he won the Maxine Beatty Award for Field Grade (major-lieutenant colonel) Pharmacist of the Year for the Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command, and in 2007, he won the Fred Coleman Award for Company Grade (lieutenant-captain) Pharmacist of the Year, also for the AETC.
Rainey is married to 2002 Pharm.D. graduate Denise Lyons Rainey.
Acree now works as a civilian pharmacist on Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.

Kimberly Cappuzzo, Pharm.D.: She has been awarded the 2008 AFPE-RPS Pharmacy Faculty Fellowship in Geriatric Pharmacy/Geriatric Pharmaceutical Science. Cappuzzo is a geriatric clinical pharmacist with the school’s Geriatric Pharmacotherapy Program.
She also wrote “What is a Learning-Centered Research University? A Personal Impact Statement” for the Fall 2008 issue of VCU Teaching.
As of April 2009, Cappuzzo is an affiliate associate professor with the Department of Pharmacy, having accepted an offer to serve as a scientific liaison with Amgen Inc.

Heather Raddin, Pharm.D., is featured in a video, “You and Your Pharmacist: A Winning Team” along with several VCU School of Pharmacy preceptors, faculty members and alumni. Raddin works for Ukrop’s Pharmacy at Virginia Center Commons in Glen Allen. To see the video, click here.
Heather, is featured in the winter issue of Scarab, the MCV Alumni Association magazine, because the Raddin family has four generations of MCV Campus alums. She works for Ukrop’s Pharmacy in Short Pump.

Sharon Gatewood, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy at VCU School of Pharmacy, and husband Charles welcomed Sean Austin Gatewood to the family Feb. 9, 2009.
Sharon served as co-director for an American Diabetes Association annual Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes in Richmond. More than 50 VCU School of Pharmacy students joined her in raising about $2,600.

Tara Kompare, Pharm.D.: Kompare, who works as a clinical coordinator for the North Carolina- and South Carolina-based Kerr Drug/KDI Health Solutions, published her first book, “The Colic Chronicles” (DeCapo Press) this summer. The mother of two daughters (one of whom helped inspire the book!), she also writes a children’s health column, “The Medicine Mom,” for about 20 print and online publications.

Daniel Tassone (Pharm.D.) , a clinical assistant professor at the VCU School of Pharmacy’s Inova Campus, received a 2008-09 Outstanding Mentor Award at the Office of Experiential Education’s annual Preceptor Awards & Appreciation Night in April. (For details, click here.)

Tonya Price Miyano, Pharm.D.: Miyano received the Ilene B. Stiff VPhA Local Association President’s Award at the 2008 Virginia Pharmacists Association annual convention.
Miyano married her husband, Thomas, a U.S. Navy officer, in June 2008. They are stationed in Oahu, Hawaii, where she works as a clinical and ambulatory care pharmacist. She works in a Coumadin clinic a few times a week, does rounds in the ICU and staff and clinical activities in the main pharmacy with Hawaii Pacific Health. Previously, Miyano worked at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center in Norfolk, Va., where she was clinical coordinator, clinical pharmacist and preceptor for VCU, Hampton University and Campbell University pharmacy students.

Jennifer L. Gibson, Pharm.D., wrote “The Importance of Childhood Vaccines,” which appeared in the American Pharmacists Month supplement in the Oct. 5 Richmond Times-Dispatch.

J. Tyler Stevens, Pharm.D., is featured in a video, “You and Your Pharmacist: A Winning Team” along with several VCU School of Pharmacy preceptors, faculty members and alumni. Recently of Buford Road Pharmacy in Richmond, he is one of the Department of Pharmacy’s newest assistant professors. To see the video, click here.

Emilie Raddin, Pharm.D., is featured in the winter issue of Scarab, the MCV Alumni Association magazine, because the Raddin family has four generations of MCV Campus alums. She works as a pharmacist for Target.

Renee L. Soboleski, Pharm.D., wrote “Over the Counter Cough and Cold products for Children,” which appeared in the American Pharmacists Month supplement in the Oct. 5 Richmond Times-Dispatch. She works for Henrico Doctors Hospital.

Erin Briggs, Pharm.D., and her twin sister Shelley were featured in Style Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40” Oct. 8. The sisters hit the fast lane early on with Richmond Re-Cycles bike shop, which Erin co-founded, and Books on Wheels, which Shelley co-founded. To read the story, click here.

Sympathy to Charles Blazek (Pharm.D.), whose father, 57-year-old Charles Louis Blazek of Prince George, died in an accident Dec. 8, 2008.

Satjit “Satti” Brar, Pharm.D./Ph.D, who also taught classes in Jurgen Venitz’s absence, accepted a research fellowship at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Clinical Pharmacology. If you’re interested in contacting him, his e-mail is satjit.brar@fda.hhs.gov , his phone number is (301) 796-3841 and his address is 10903 New Hampshire Ave., White Oak Campus, Building 51, Room 2199, Silver Spring, MD 20993.

Class of 2009 student awards presented at the Senior Banquet in May were:

• Patient Care Award: Laurie Oldiges
• Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication: Walter Crumpler
• Pharmacy Communications Award: Sean Carlton
• Clinical Research Award: David Clopton and John Ejezie
• Academic Excellence Award: Ashley Alexander, David Clopton, Richard Scanlon and Kyle Webb
• Excellence in Pharmacy Award: Kelley Mills
• Leadership Achievement Award: Peter Wills
• Outstanding Leadership Award: David DeLong
• Community Practice Achievement Award: Toni Coe
• Technology Excellence Award: Yacoub Jadallah
• Distinguished Service Award: Michaiah Parker
• Outstanding Student Award: Kathryn Kreig
• Award of Excellence in Nonprescription Medication Studies: Jenny Beshere
• MCV Alumni Association Scholarship/Award: Melissa Carroll
• Excellence in Advocacy and Health Policy Award: Jennifer Neal
• Social Justice Award: David Clopton
• Health-System Practice Award: Jennifer Shannon
• VSHP Excellence in Health-System Pharmacy Award: Paul Hansen
• APhA-ASP Senior Recognition Award: David DeLong
• Professionalism Award: Melissa Carroll
• National Community Pharmacists Association Award: Beth Bailey and Leah Boardwine
• Dean’s Award: David DeLong