HELP US COAT THE CLASS OF 2025

This fall, consider providing a White Coat for an incoming pharmacy or graduate student. Just $80 will provide a coat for a member of each track, and you can send a note of encouragement to the students you support to be given to them when they receive their coat. When you submit your gift online, make sure to note it is for a White Coat in the gift comments. The UKCOP White Coat Ceremony will take place on August 20, 2021.

UKCOP EFFECT

• Ariana Chambers (PharmD 2021) joins UK alumnae supporting women pursuing advanced degrees through 'Science Sistas.'
• Brooke Barlow (R518) was a special guest on Pharmacy to Dose: The Critical Care Podcast for their literature reviews series.
• Misty Stutz (PharmD 2002) discusses just how trying the last year has been for those in healthcare.
• Danny Bentley (BS 1973, PharmD 1990) was featured in an article discussing Kentucky's share in opioid settlement of $460 million.
• Candace Olusola (PharmD 2019) discusses the legalization of cannabis on WVLK AM.
• Alex Flannery (PharmD 2011, R398) and David Feola (PharmD 1996, R258, PhD 2005) received the inaugural Clinical Research Catalysts (CRC) Pilot Award. 
• Alex Flannery (PharmD 2011, R398) discusses his team's latest research on sepsis-associated acute kidney disease. He was also a featured researcher in UKNOW.
• Congrats to UKCOP Pharmaceutical Sciences and assignee UK Research Foundation on being awarded patent # 11,060,096 for "RNA-based compositions and adjuvants for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment.”
• Kirstyn Hill (PharmD 2019) was a highlighted speaker at the NPhA / SNPhA 2021 Virtual Convention as was faculty member, Melanie Dicks (PharmD 2004).
• After a local case bump, UK doctors, including Vince Venditto, talked about vaccine importance and the Delta variant. Their interviews were also featured on LEX 18 and they continue to tackle Delta variant questions.
• We are happy to announce that Kyle Bryan (PharmD 2019, CR 2020) has accepted the new role of Practice Implementation Pharmacist. This position focuses on assisting pharmacists in all areas of practice with implementing the recently approved Kentucky House Bill 48.
• UKCOP’s chapter of Lambda Kappa Sigma recently brought home THREE awards from their national convention, including "Best Sisterhood Event of The Year" (in collaboration with Sullivan University), "Top Member Retention in the Country" and "Chapter of The Year" for their size chapter.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report is live on our website! Take a look to see what the pharm fam has been up to the last year.
 

ALUMNI & FRIENDS

• UKCOP and UK HealthCare are now seeking nominations for the 2021 Paul F. Parker Award. Submit nominations online here.
• PhD Alumni Virtual Reunion (1986-1996) will be on August 13, at 7 PM EST. RSVP to attend.
• Our annual Homecoming Tailgate Bash is Saturday, October 9, 2021. Tickets are now available online.
• To celebrate our 150th year, we've highlighted 150 individuals who are part of the college's legacy. It's still under construction, but we thought you'd enjoy a sneak peek! The site will launch on August 16, 2021.

• Blake Barlow (PharmD 2019) was appointed to the ASHP Section of Pharmacy Practice Leaders Advisory Group (SAG) on New and Emerging Leaders. He has also recently accepted a position at WVU Medicine as Clinical Pharmacy Manager.
• Kyle Bryan (PharmD 2019, CR 2020) accepted a position at UKCOP as a Practice Implementation Pharmacist.
• Jim Drennen (PhD 1991) was appointed Dean of the Duquesne University School of Pharmacy.
• Kerry Empey (R266, PhD 2007) has been promoted to Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs at the University of Pittsburgh.
• William Fleming (BS/PharmD 1992) has been promoted to President, Pharmacy Solutions and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Humana.
• Chase Higginson (PharmD 2011) has been promoted to Global Director, Market Access at Sandoz in Basel, Switzerland.
• Kelsie Ledford (PharmD 2019) started a new position as Specialty Clinical Pharmacist, Endocrinology at Baptist Health Lexington.
• Rusty May (BS 1978, PharmD 1981, R98) has been appointed Assistant Dean for Extended Campuses at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy.
• Joe Plott (PharmD 2019) has accepted a position as Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist at University Hospital in Newark, NJ.
• April White-Cox (PharmD 2008) was elected as a Board Member at Western Kentucky University Alumni Association.

CAREER CORNER

Want to highlight your job opening in the next newsletter or LinkedIn groups? Reach out to Alumni Director, Rosa Mejia-Cruz.

• NOW HIRING: St. Matthews Community Pharmacy in Hazard, KY— owned by Chris Harlow (PharmD 2010, CR 2011) and Jill Rhodes (PharmD 2004, R312)—is looking for a pharmacist in charge to manage the day-to-day operations of the pharmacy. Apply here.
• NOW HIRING: Alford's Pharmacy in Edmonson County, KY—owned by Kasey Alford (PharmD 2007)—is looking for a full-time pharmacist to practice in a FQHC to care for patients. Apply here.

IN & AROUND THE COP 

• Everything is Science is coming back in spring 2022! Any students, staff, or faculty interested in helping to plan this weeklong science festival should email Michelle Pitts at michelle.pitts@uky.edu.
• Donna Sullivan has been promoted to Administrative Services Assistant Senior and Marissa Hessing-Alpers has been promoted to Laboratory Technician Senior. Congratulations to them both!
• Faculty member Tracy Macaulay celebrates 15 years with the University of Kentucky this August.
• The KPhA Board of Directors 2021-22 has an impressive showing from the UK College of Pharmacy. Below are the names of our alumni who have been named to the board.
  • Joel Thornbury, Chair
  • Cathy Hanna, President
  • *Misty Stutz, President-Elect
  • Brooke Hudspeth, Secretary
  • *Chris Killmeier, Treasurer
  • *Kyle Bryan, Vice-Speaker of the House
  • *Ron Poole, Past-President Representative
  • Ronnah Alexander, Director
  • Kyle Harris, Director
  • *Lakin Mills, Director
  • Cassy Hobbs, Director
  • Jeff Mills, Director
    
    *Newly appointed or elected members of the board

IN MEMORIAM 

John Michael Jones (PharmD 2004) passed away unexpectedly in March 2020. He was the head Pharmacist and Co-Owner of MD Pharmacy in Morristown and was known in the community as a patient-first healthcare worker. 

The Class of 2004 hopes to honor John Michael's commitment to the profession by creating a scholarship in his name. The goal is to provide an annual $1,000 John Michael Jones scholarship to be awarded to a student who has an interest in Community Pharmacy. Please consider helping leave a legacy in John Michael's memory.