Dear Friends:

The 2007-2008 academic year has been one marked by the realization of important milestones for the school: our first professional students studying abroad: the awarding of the first AHRQ Evidence-based Practice Center to a school of pharmacy; the first pharmacy students to receive the university diversity award; the school's first Lyman Award recipients, awarded for the best paper published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education; and the school's first recipient of the University of Connecticut Medal.  These important milestones are a treatment of the commitment of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni to establishing our school as one of the nation's premier, public, research schools of pharmacy.  Yet the year ended with profound sadness as we lost a dear friend and alumnus.  We will miss Sam Kalmanowitz, but we will always recall him fondly and remember all he taught us about what it means to be a caring person.

University of Connecticut Medal

During the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony, pharmacy alumnus, donor, and founding member of the School of Pharmacy Advisory Board Sam Kalmanowitz received the University of Connecticut Medal from President Michael Hogan. 

Sadly, just 10 days after what he called one of the best days in his life, Sam unexpectedly passed away.  At his funeral, I recalled Sam and the many lives he touched.

Every so often, a very special person comes into our life that makes a difference in the way we think, act, and care about each other; Sam was just such a person.  I will always feel privileged to have known him.  On behalf of President Hogan and everyone at the University of Connecticut, and most especially in the School of Pharmacy, I want Virginia, Milton, and all of Sam's friends and family to know, how deeply we share your sorrow, but equally share our joy in remembering the smile Sam brought to each of us throughout his life.

Faculty Achievement

The School of Pharmacy boasts two outstanding faculty in the area of psychiatric pharmacy: Drs. Charles Caley and Megan Ehret.  I shared several of Dr. Ehret's accomplishments in my last update.  Over the past year, Dr. Caley has been working with our students health services on a psychiatric pharmacy consulting project.  Dr. Caley's work was recently recognized by the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) who presented him with their 2008 Innovative Practice Award at their annual meeting.

Dr. Sean Jeffery serves as the pharmacy consultant to the comprehensive pain management service at the Connecticut VA Healthcare System.  The group recently received a VA Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP).  These programs are stepping stones designed to establish nationwide centers for research excellence.  Dr. Jeffery was listed as one of the core investigators (and only pharmacist) among this highly accomplished group of researchers.  With this designation, Dr. Jeffery will now have access to funding opportunities available only to REAP sites for establishing pilot studies. 

Students in Beijing

As I write this, eight pharmacy students have just returned to the United States after an amazing 5 weeks in China.  Through an agreement I signed with Peking University in Beijing last year, our students were able to complete a program of study that included a short, intensive course in Mandarin and an introduction to traditional Chinese medicine.  The students' blog kept us abreast of their activities; by all accounts, the program was a resounding success.  We plan to send a second cohort next summer and P4 students to complete an advanced pharmacy practice experience this coming year.

Joint Pharm.D./M.B.A. Program

Earlier this spring, the faculty approved a new Pharm.D./M.B.A. program that will be available to new P1 students beginning this fall.  The program will allow professional students to complete both degrees in seven years.

Invitational Conference

This spring, the Department of Pharmacy Practice offered its first invitational conference, the 2008 Hewitt Symposium, "Value of Medicines, Value of Pharmacists: Better Care at Lower Costs."  The symposium, chaired by Dr. Marie Smith, brought together practitioners, agency executives, legislators, insurers, company benefits managers, and others in a program that allowed for sharing of creative models and solutions employing pharmacists and medications to improve patient outcomes while effectively managing costs.

Passages

This summer, we bid farewell to two members of our faculty who together gave over 50 years of service to the School of Pharmacy.  Dr. Neil Facchinetti was known to decades of students for his instruction in communications and the socio-behavioral aspects of pharmacy.  His creativity in the classroom - including the use of multiple technologies - enhanced the learning experience for each and every one of our students.  Prof. Dennis Chapron, along with his colleagues Alex Cardoni and Moses Chow, built the school's clinical program.  His exceptional clinical expertise combined with his skill as both a classroom and experiential teacher led to praise from students and colleagues alike and his selection on multiple occasions as the School of Pharmacy Teacher of the Year.  We thank both Neil and Dennis for their many contributions to our school and its students and wish them all the best.   

Final Thoughts

This past June marked the completion of my first full five-year term as dean; it's difficult to believe the time has passed so quickly.  I have been professionally blessed first by coming to the University of Connecticut and then by being given the opportunity to lead this wonderful school.  I have been fortunate to have the unwavering and enthusiastic support of two presidents and two provosts and an exceptional student body, faculty, and staff.  It was not a difficult decision when Provost Nicholls offered me a new five-year term.  I enter the next half decade with as much enthusiasm and as many ideas as I did when I was first named interim dean.  I am proud of what we have accomplished together, yet much remains to be done.  My commitment to helping to make our school one of the premier schools of pharmacy in the nation has not wavered.  I am confident that together we will achieve all we hope for.

Warmly,

Robert L. McCarthy, Ph.D.

Dean and Professor