2022 News Archive

KPIC and College of Pharmacy impact policy and practice at state level

The Pharmacy Access Act will allow pharmacists to prescribe self-administered birth control and inject birth control shots without requiring a doctor’s prescription.

A World of Opportunity at USC

Freshman Emma French shares the many opportunities she's discovered for undergraduate students at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy in this Creators@COP blog post.

Gamecock pharmacy student goes above and 'Beyond Pills'

Student pharmacist Alexandria Coleman was selected as a semifinalist among the top 15 presenters in the third annual SC Innovates Pitch Competition hosted by South Carolina's Department of Commerce and Research Authority.

Blazing My Own Path Forward

Haley Nicholas, a Gamecock student pharmacist from New Jersey, shares how she ended up at the University of South Carolina and the College of Pharmacy in this Creators@COP blog post.

Pharmacy professor finds her place in the classroom

Clinical associate professor of pharmacy Michaela Almgren didn’t always want to teach. Her mother taught high school, her dad was a university professor, but both parents discouraged her from entering the family business.

Graduate Students Rise to the Challenge in Unique Competition

B. Celia Cui, a doctoral student from Pharmaceutical Sciences, placed first overall in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT©) competition hosted by the Graduate School at USC on Friday, November 11, 2022.

Pharmacy Student Organizations Give Back to our Community

Many students in the College of Pharmacy choose this profession because of their desire to help improve their patients' lives. That oftentimes means enhancing their communities as well.

College of Pharmacy Alumni Serving our Nation's Veterans

In recognition of Veteran's Day, the College of Pharmacy wants to recognize the efforts of our alumni who, while they may not have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, have dedicated their careers to serving those in the military.

Q&A with Devin Drummond ('18)

Growing up in Travelers Rest, alumnus Devin Drummond never imagined his career would take him to the northernmost end of the globe. He's found his passion, however, in serving the rural communities of the Bering Strait region.

COP Researcher Receives Alzheimer's Association Grant

Associate Professor Kevin Lu has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Alzheimer's Association to investigate the effect of antihypertensive drugs in lowering dangers for dementia in susceptible populations.

Alessandra Porcu explores blue light’s effects on the brain

Porcu has brought her research interests - and her $750,000 NIH grant - to our Dept. of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences, where she studies how the environment affects the brain and regulates mood.

The Best of Both Worlds at USC

Student pharmacist Rachel Smith reflects on the leadership roles and experiences she's had through the College of Pharmacy and the Honors College at USC in this Creators@COP blog post.

Pharmacy team looks at ways to improve usage of immunization databases

Assistant professor Tessa Hastings and her research team aim to pinpoint the factors hindering immunization information system usage by pharmacists and offer strategies and workflow modifications for overcoming them.

Q&A with Leslie Register ('05)

Alumna Leslie Register prefers to see metaphorical hurdles as stepping-stones, which can lead you to a career path or role you never expected. Learn more about her journey in our latest alumni Q&A.

Walker Leadership Scholars Names Newest Members

The Walker Leadership Scholars program has selected its two newest scholars for the Class of 2025, Maegan Lamb and Chancellor Nguyen.

Walker Leadership Scholars Founder Named Distinguished Alum

The College of Pharmacy congratulates alumna Donna J. Walker, who will be celebrated this week during homecoming ceremonies as the University of South Carolina's 2022 Distinguished Alumni.

Students and alumni reflect on Walker Leadership Scholars program

We asked current Walker Leadership Scholars and alumni to share why they wanted to be part of the program and how taking part has benefited them as students and in their careers.

Funding boosts research initiatives for COP

The number of research projects at the UofSC College of Pharmacy continues to grow as the college more than doubled funding received between 2020 and 2021.

Pharmacy Business Plan Competition Team Among the Best in the Nation

The UofSC College of Pharmacy team of Rebecca Axson, Jessica Chen and Christina Lin finished in the top three at the 2022 Good Neighbor Pharmacy National Community Pharmacists Association Pruitt-Schutte Student Business Plan Competition.

Seeking out new experiences can be both frightening and fruitful

Student pharmacist Emily Herring reflects on her decision to spend her third professional year at the UofSC College of Pharmacy Greenville campus in this Creators@COP blog post.

Introducing the 2022-23 Creators@COP

This year, the College of Pharmacy launched a new pathway for Pre-Pharmacy and Pharm.D. students with a love for social media to show the world the exciting things they experience as a student at UofSC.

UofSC researchers team up to prevent cancer for vulnerable families

Members of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program and the Center for Colon Cancer Research will leverage their collective expertise in a new project designed to reduce cancer risk and health disparities.

Q&A with Sean Tran ('09)

Alumnus Sean Tran set aside his early dream of joining the Jedi Order to pursue a career in pharmacy. Like his father before him, he's found joy in his profession and his family.

COP Research Team Tackles Drug-Resistant Breast Cancers

A new study by the team led by Eugenia Broude at the UofSC College of Pharmacy suggests a novel approach to bypassing tumor resistance to HER2-targeting drugs.

Students and faculty team up to bring Industry Pharmacists Organization to UofSC

The College of Pharmacy has issued provisional approval to start a student chapter of the Industry Pharmacists Organization at the University of South Carolina this fall.

Alumna named VP of Pharmacy for Prisma Health Hospitals

UofSC College of Pharmacy alumna Jennifer Bair ('99) has been named vice president of Pharmacy Services and chief pharmacy officer for Prisma Health Hospitals.

College of Pharmacy Climbs in AACP Funding Rankings

The UofSC College of Pharmacy jumped into the Top 25 in total funding for 2021 according to the most recent Funded Research Grants Institutional Rankings report released by AACP.

Chen dives into drug evaluation and research during summer internship

Student pharmacist Nikki Chen spent summer 2022 as a research intern at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She reflects on her experience in the drug evaluation space in 'Gamecocks on the Go.'

Schreiber polishes clinical skills as pharmacy intern in Appalachia

Student pharmacist Danny Schreiber spent summer 2022 as a pharmacy intern at Carilion Clinic in southern Virginia. He reflects on his Appalachian experience in 'Gamecocks on the Go.'

Paying it forward through mentoring

Alumnus Tim Slone, who is vice president of global compliance for Novavax Inc., believes that were it not for the College of Pharmacy and his experiences in earning a master's of pharmaceutical sciences, he would not be where he is today.

Finding solutions to provide better care

Gerald Isreal Jr. began his professional life as a community pharmacist. As time progressed, he began to learn more about the vast opportunities in the field and realized there was more than one way he could serve his patients.

Mentoring for success

Many pharmacists take on the added responsibility of training students, a role that requires extra dedication to ensure students gain as much knowledge and experience as possible before embarking on their own careers.

Residency program celebrates 50 years

Now celebrating its 50th year, more than 200 pharmacists have completed postgraduate residencies or fellowships through the UofSC - Prisma Health Pharmacy Residency program.

Getting proactive about policy

The pharmacy industry is one of the most regulated professions on both a national and state level, and pharmacists can have significant influence on legislation that impacts how they provide care to their patients.

Student pharmacists bring music to life in the Carolina Band

Meeting the demands of their pharmacy classes with the time required as a member of the Carolina Band is not always an easy balance, according to student pharmacists Julia Geith, Jacob Ernst and Julia Covington.

Rotation in veterinary medicine provides a unique experience

Veterinary medicine is one of a wide array of advanced pharmacy practice experience rotations that fourth-year students may choose to expand their learning opportunities.

Class of 2026 Receives White Coats

The UofSC College of Pharmacy presented the Class of 2026 with their white coats during a ceremony held August 19 at the Koger Center.

Q&A with Christine E. Bonarrigo ('20)

Alumna Christine Bonarrigo's life experiences continue to drive her to help others. She reminds us to take the time to seek out genuine connection - and that a small act of kindness can go a very long way.

Ph.D. Student Receives NIDA Grant

Sarah Davis, a graduate student in the College of Pharmacy, has received an F31 grant from the NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse for her research on methamphetamine use and HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders.

COP Students to Compete for National Title

A team of UofSC pharmacy students is headed to compete for a national title after being named as finalists for the 2022 NCPA Student Business Plan Competition.

COP Receives Recognition at Pharmacy Education 2022

The University of South Carolina was well-represented at this year's American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy annual meeting, with several students and faculty recognized for their work.

Welcome New Faculty | Fall 2022

The University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy is pleased to welcome four new members to our faculty as we start the fall 2022 semester.

Steverson gains experience as summer intern on Capitol Hill

Student pharmacist CharLeigh Steverson spent summer 2022 as a pharmacy fellow for Congressman, and pharmacist, Buddy Carter. She reflects on her experience on Capitol Hill in 'Gamecocks on the Go.'

Many drugs have mirror image chemical structures – while one may be helpful, the other may be harmful

Some chemical compounds have a dark twin with the same molecular formula but different 3D structure. Professor Sajish Mathew explains how this can change the effects they have in the body.

Taking certain opioids while on commonly prescribed antidepressants may increase the risk of overdose

Pharmacy professor Ismaeel Yunusa writes for The Conversation on how taking oxycodone at the same time as certain antidepressants can increase the risk of opioid overdose.

UofSC now offering COVID-19 saliva testing to the public

The Diagnostic Genomics Laboratory in the College of Pharmacy at UofSC is now offering its quick, noninvasive COVID-19 saliva testing to the public.

Gamecock Pharmacy Assurance program attracts high-performing students

Students accepted into the Gamecock Pharmacy Assurance program are not only academically talented, but have distinguished themselves as leaders in both their schools and communities.

Hébert and Hofseth publish Diet, Inflammation, and Health book with Elsevier

Faculty members James R. Hébert and Lorne Hofseth have published the book, Inflammation, Diet, and Health, discussing causes and mechanisms that link a pro-inflammatory diet to a wide variety of human health problems.

Gamecock alumni receive top honors at state pharmacy convention

This year, several Gamecock pharmacy alumni received recognition with the South Carolina Pharmacy Association's top honors for their contributions to the profession.

UofSC Researchers Resolve Mystery of Resveratrol

Assistant Professor Sajish Mathew and his team have focused their efforts on resolving a decades-long scientific mystery regarding the controversial outcomes of resveratrol.

Future pharmacy leaders build their national network

A group of recent Pharm.D. graduates and current students traveled to Washington, D.C., for "Policy, Advocacy & Leadership Immersion Week," part of the Walker Leadership Scholars program at UofSC.

Q&A with Chelsea Drennen ('19)

Gamecock athletics alumna Chelsea Drennen (2019 Pharm.D.) turned an inspiring rotation experience into a full-time role in pediatric pharmacy. Learn more about her journey in our latest alumni Q&A.

Hastings Receives Grant to Study IISs and Vaccinations

Assistant Professor Tessa Hastings has received a $421,233 R21 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health.

Gardening for the body and the soul

Throughout his Pharm.D. studies and teaching in the College of Pharmacy, alumnus Wayne Buff worked to create a magnificent backyard garden with more than 400 daylily varieties.

It's Confetti Time - Give 4 Garnet

It was a spectacular Give 4 Garnet event this year and through your generosity, the College of Pharmacy raised $112,162 from 87 pharmacy alumni, 39 college faculty and staff, and 22 students, parents and friends.

Q&A with James Long ('70)

If alumnus James "Jim" Long (1970 B.S. pharmacy) has learned anything from his decades of experience in pharmacy, it's to always keep looking forward.

Graduates Celebrate Convocation and Hooding Ceremony

On Wednesday, May 4, 101 student pharmacists were hooded, received their gold alumni pins, and took the Oath of a Pharmacist during the College of Pharmacy's annual Convocation and Hooding Ceremony.

Spring 2022 College of Pharmacy Awards

The culmination of the Spring semester is an exciting moment for our students, faculty and staff. It is a time when we come together to celebrate the many successes of our UofSC pharmacy community.

College of Pharmacy receives NACDS Foundation Scholarship

The UofSC College of Pharmacy has received a $20,000 scholarship from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation for innovative and diverse educational programs.

PEEP Awards Honor Top Preceptors

The Palmetto Experiential Education Partnership is recognizing its 2022 recipients of the PEEP Awards for their dedication and excellence as outstanding preceptors.

Give 4 Garnet 2022 Coming Soon

Give 4 Garnet, the university's annual day of giving campaign, is coming up May 18. Last year's initiative raised more than $80,000 for the College of Pharmacy.

Meet the Next KPIC Residents

The Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center and the UofSC College of Pharmacy partner with a variety of community-based pharmacy practice sites to offer post-graduate residency training positions.

Students Build a Business Plan in KPIC Competition

The Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center held its annual pharmacy ownership business plan competition in April with seven teams of students competing.

Graduate Students Recognized for Outstanding Work

Congratulations to the 2022-23 graduate student award and scholarship recipients, who were selected for recognition by the College of Pharmacy Honors and Awards Committee.

Q&A with Christopher M. Bland ('00)

UofSC alumnus Chris Bland measures his success by the meaningful relationships formed with colleagues and students throughout his career. Learn more in our latest alumni Q&A.

Student Pharmacists Find their Perfect Match

Round I of this year's residency match took place on March 16 and saw 30 University of South Carolina student pharmacists and 20 pharmacy alumni receive postgraduate positions.

COP Helps to Keep UofSC Athletes Safe During Pandemic

Carolyn Banister, director of Diagnostic Genomics Laboratory, and her team have worked tirelessly to process thousands of saliva tests for all of university athletics, from team members to coaches and staff.

Q&A with Nirmesh Shah ('05)

UofSC alumnus Nirmesh Shah credits faculty members in the College of Pharmacy with helping him uncover his perfect career path. Learn more in our latest alumni Q&A.

Alumni and Students Capture SCSHP Awards

Students and alumni from the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy were recognized by the South Carolina Society of Health-System Pharmacists during their recent conference.

COP Celebrates Women's History Month

University of South Carolina pharmacy students, alumni, faculty and staff recently joined together for a virtual panel discussion as part of the college's celebration of Women's History Month.

Student Pharmacists Await their Perfect Match

The University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy has a rich history of students matching to post graduate residencies, representing that big next step in their pharmacy careers.

Q&A with Lewis McKelvey ('84)

UofSC alumnus Lewis McKelvey is always on the move - from driving his motorcycle across the country to establishing his own consulting business. Learn more in our alumni Q&A.

COP Team wins SCBIO Video Competition

A UofSC College of Pharmacy student research team won first place in the SCBIO Student Video "Challenge Accepted" competition.

College of Pharmacy hosts Fourth Annual Career Expo

UofSC students had the opportunity to talk with alumni and industry leaders from a wide array of pharmacy fields at the Virtual Pharmacy Career Expo.

How Holistic Pharmacy can Impact Patient Care

Alumni Zoom Heaton and David Foreman are passionate about helping patients find a better quality of life through the use of natural therapies in combination with traditional medicines.

Ph.D. Student Earns Breakthrough Award

Ph.D. candidate Youwen Zhang has been recognized as a 2022 Breakthrough Graduate Scholar by the UofSC Office of the Vice President for Research.

Overcoming obstacles

Erin Anderson began her journey to earn her doctoral degree in 2017. This past December, she fulfilled that ambition as she graduated with a doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences.

Innovative treatments overcome antibiotic resistance

Two alumni from the College of Pharmacy joined with an alumna from the School of Medicine to tackle an ever-increasing health care dilemma -- helping patients who are resistant to antibiotics that would traditionally be used in their treatment.

Certificate program trains pharmacists to share knowledge

In recognizing the need for pharmacists to impart their expertise and knowledge to others, the Clinical Teaching Certificate program helps pharmacy residents hone their skills as mentors, preceptors and academicians.

Growing our next leaders

While some pharmacy students have a natural tendency to lead, others step into leadership gradually. No matter how a student gains leadership skills, those abilities will serve them throughout their career.

The impact of social media in pharmacy

It is an undeniable fact that social media has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Whether it is Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn, most of us log in to social media in some form for personal or professional use.

Pharmacy degrees lead to different paths

Diane and Andy McColl met as students in biochemistry class at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy - both credit their backgrounds in pharmacy for their success in their careers.

Working to end the pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in February 2020, no one imagined that nearly two years later, we would still be struggling to bring it under control.

A new year brings new resolutions

The new year is a chance to reflect on the challenges and successes from the past year and look ahead to what 2022 can bring.

Annual Career Expo Returns

It is time again for the College of Pharmacy's annual career expo, providing alumni an opportunity to share their wealth of knowledge with students as they explore options in the pharmacy world.

Continuing Education Conferences Scheduled

Ready to jump start your year by checking off some education requirements? Register now for the 2022 Continuing Pharmacy Education Conferences.

Pharmacy student receives prestigious scholarship

First-year pharmacy student Chancellor Nguyen was named the recipient of a $150,000 scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation.

Preparing all health science students for the professional world that awaits

The University of South Carolina's interprofessional education program is ensuring students are prepared for the rapidly evolving health care system.

Leadership program puts pharmacists on forefront of improving health care

As the role of pharmacists continues to expand — from rural pharmacists who are often a community’s only health care advocate to industry pharmacists working with policymakers to improve and expand health care delivery — the profession needs leaders.