Friends:
The inspiration for today's post comes from Mr. Scott Keith, the current president of the rising 4th year class. This month Scott offered the following (unsolicited) message to our outstanding faculty. His message speaks for itself!
Scott wrote the following to the faculty email list-server.
"Dear Faculty of MSOP,
Somehow you have managed to take 120 or so diamonds in the rough and find something of value for the world of pharmacy. While I will admit this journey has not always been easy over these past 3 years, it certainly has been some of the best years of my life. I know it cannot be easy dealing with students; no doubt it is mostly a trial by fire. But through it all, you keep teaching, laying down thoughts and concepts that are intrinsic to the thought-process of the pharmacist. On behalf of the class of 2012, I want to thank you for your kindness and consideration over the past 3 years. In my opinion, in no other college of pharmacy on the planet will you find instructors who care more about a student as a person and as a student. In my 35 years on this earth, these 3 will remain some of the favorites in my memory. I wish each one of you continued success in educating the brilliant minds of the future.
Your friend and colleague,
Scott
Class of 2012 President"
Let us hear from you if you find Scott's words transformative!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute Transforms Lives and Scientific Research at MSOP
Friends:
The inspiration for today's post comes from Dr. Greg Gorman, Director of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute (PSRI). In its first year of operation the PSRI is performing marvelously under Dr. Gorman's leadership and with the assistance of Ms. Lori Coward. More than a venue to conduct pharmaceutical research, the PSRI is a melting pot for innovation and collaboration between our excellent faculty and students. We are truly proud to have Dr. Gorman and Ms. Lori Coward on our team at MSOP.
Dr. Gorman writes:
"The PSRI in Samford’s MSOP has been established to provide resources for faculty and students to conduct scholarly research in the pharmaceutical sciences. The mission and vision of the laboratories in the PSRI are aligned with those of the school in order to nurture and prepare persons within a Christian environment to be exemplary pharmacists who transform lives.
At the PSRI fulfillment of the mission and vision of the MSOP is accomplished through providing resources for our students to conduct scholarly research in the pharmaceutical sciences. These research activities augment classroom learning and facilitate a natural connection between research and teaching in the school. Research conducted in the Institute involves students as part of their education under the direct supervision of experienced faculty mentors.
To date students have been actively involved in research projects in various areas including: development of new therapeutic entities for Alzheimer’s, glaucoma and cancer, improving the effectiveness of existing drugs to treat eye diseases, and improving the efficiency of early metabolic screening of new drug candidates. As the PSRI nears the start of its second year the focus will be on accomplishing the mission and goals of the MSOP and provide students with additional opportunities to transform lives through pharmaceutical research."
Let us hear from you if you are interested in learning more about the fine work that is conducted at the PSRI at the McWhorter School of Pharmacy!
The inspiration for today's post comes from Dr. Greg Gorman, Director of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute (PSRI). In its first year of operation the PSRI is performing marvelously under Dr. Gorman's leadership and with the assistance of Ms. Lori Coward. More than a venue to conduct pharmaceutical research, the PSRI is a melting pot for innovation and collaboration between our excellent faculty and students. We are truly proud to have Dr. Gorman and Ms. Lori Coward on our team at MSOP.
Dr. Gorman writes:
"The PSRI in Samford’s MSOP has been established to provide resources for faculty and students to conduct scholarly research in the pharmaceutical sciences. The mission and vision of the laboratories in the PSRI are aligned with those of the school in order to nurture and prepare persons within a Christian environment to be exemplary pharmacists who transform lives.
At the PSRI fulfillment of the mission and vision of the MSOP is accomplished through providing resources for our students to conduct scholarly research in the pharmaceutical sciences. These research activities augment classroom learning and facilitate a natural connection between research and teaching in the school. Research conducted in the Institute involves students as part of their education under the direct supervision of experienced faculty mentors.
To date students have been actively involved in research projects in various areas including: development of new therapeutic entities for Alzheimer’s, glaucoma and cancer, improving the effectiveness of existing drugs to treat eye diseases, and improving the efficiency of early metabolic screening of new drug candidates. As the PSRI nears the start of its second year the focus will be on accomplishing the mission and goals of the MSOP and provide students with additional opportunities to transform lives through pharmaceutical research."
Let us hear from you if you are interested in learning more about the fine work that is conducted at the PSRI at the McWhorter School of Pharmacy!
Monday, May 16, 2011
MSOP Transforming Lives in Perry County, Alabama
Friends:
The inspiration for today's blog post comes from our Pilar Murphy, Pharm.D., Public Health Resident at the Perry County Health Center in collaboration with Sowing Seeds of Hope. As the original home to Samford University (Howard College then) our university holds the town of Marion and its people in especially high regard. The Perry County Health Department is a wonderful melting pot for interdisciplinary teaching and learning among several academic divisions of Samford University. We are very proud to serve and transform the lives of the very fine people of Perry County.
Read below, in Dr. Murphy's own words, how MSOP continues to transform lives across Alabama and the world.
"DC, 48 year old African American male presented to Sowing Seeds of Hope (a faith-based organization located in Perry County that operates hypertension and diabetes clinics in conjunction with Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy) in mid-January holding a coupon for an expensive antiplatelet medication. He simply asked “Can you help me get this medicine?” Upon interviewing the patient I learned that he had a heart attack and 2 stents placed at a hospital in New York in May 2010. He was able to fill the prescription for the first month, but had not taken his prescribed medications since June 2010 due to cost. He recently moved to our area to join family, and had only been taking aspirin once daily. The patient said that he felt fine at this visit, but knew that he needed to be taking his medications. Due to the recent MI, I knew all the medications the patient should be receiving, and he was not taking near enough medicines. Unfortunately, the patient did not know the names or strengths of any of the other drugs he had been prescribed. I searched online for the pharmacy he used in New York and spoke with the pharmacist in New York explaining our predicament. She gave me the list of medications the pharmacy had on his profile.
While DC was at my office, I asked if I could check his blood pressure to see how he was doing and it was elevated (172/116 mmHg). Although the patient felt fine and was having no symptoms, I insisted that he go see the physician at our Rural Health Clinic, and wrote a letter for him to take with him describing the situation, which drugs we could help him acquire through patient assistance, and the ones that were on the $4 list at a local discount retailer.
The patient returned to our office with prescriptions for the medications, and I proceeded to sign him for patient assistance (a needs based drug procurement system for the poor). Sowing Seeds of Hope was able to purchase his first fill of his medications outside of his expensive antiplatelet medication, as he had used all of his funds for the physician’s visit.
This patient now comes by at least once a month to have his blood pressure monitored, and we have recommended dosing adjustments to his blood pressure medications that have been taken by the physician, and he is now better controlled on a combination of medications recommended by our pharmacy team. He continues to receive his expensive antiplatelet medication through the patient assistance program and is on the way to a longer, healthier lifestyle.
I felt like I helped save a life that day.
Pilar Z. Murphy, Pharm.D.
Samford Univ. Pharmacy Practice Resident
Site: SSOH/Perry Co. Health Dept."
We'd love to show you the good work being done in Perry County and our other clinical outreach sites. Let us hear from you!
The inspiration for today's blog post comes from our Pilar Murphy, Pharm.D., Public Health Resident at the Perry County Health Center in collaboration with Sowing Seeds of Hope. As the original home to Samford University (Howard College then) our university holds the town of Marion and its people in especially high regard. The Perry County Health Department is a wonderful melting pot for interdisciplinary teaching and learning among several academic divisions of Samford University. We are very proud to serve and transform the lives of the very fine people of Perry County.
Read below, in Dr. Murphy's own words, how MSOP continues to transform lives across Alabama and the world.
"DC, 48 year old African American male presented to Sowing Seeds of Hope (a faith-based organization located in Perry County that operates hypertension and diabetes clinics in conjunction with Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy) in mid-January holding a coupon for an expensive antiplatelet medication. He simply asked “Can you help me get this medicine?” Upon interviewing the patient I learned that he had a heart attack and 2 stents placed at a hospital in New York in May 2010. He was able to fill the prescription for the first month, but had not taken his prescribed medications since June 2010 due to cost. He recently moved to our area to join family, and had only been taking aspirin once daily. The patient said that he felt fine at this visit, but knew that he needed to be taking his medications. Due to the recent MI, I knew all the medications the patient should be receiving, and he was not taking near enough medicines. Unfortunately, the patient did not know the names or strengths of any of the other drugs he had been prescribed. I searched online for the pharmacy he used in New York and spoke with the pharmacist in New York explaining our predicament. She gave me the list of medications the pharmacy had on his profile.
While DC was at my office, I asked if I could check his blood pressure to see how he was doing and it was elevated (172/116 mmHg). Although the patient felt fine and was having no symptoms, I insisted that he go see the physician at our Rural Health Clinic, and wrote a letter for him to take with him describing the situation, which drugs we could help him acquire through patient assistance, and the ones that were on the $4 list at a local discount retailer.
The patient returned to our office with prescriptions for the medications, and I proceeded to sign him for patient assistance (a needs based drug procurement system for the poor). Sowing Seeds of Hope was able to purchase his first fill of his medications outside of his expensive antiplatelet medication, as he had used all of his funds for the physician’s visit.
This patient now comes by at least once a month to have his blood pressure monitored, and we have recommended dosing adjustments to his blood pressure medications that have been taken by the physician, and he is now better controlled on a combination of medications recommended by our pharmacy team. He continues to receive his expensive antiplatelet medication through the patient assistance program and is on the way to a longer, healthier lifestyle.
I felt like I helped save a life that day.
Pilar Z. Murphy, Pharm.D.
Samford Univ. Pharmacy Practice Resident
Site: SSOH/Perry Co. Health Dept."
We'd love to show you the good work being done in Perry County and our other clinical outreach sites. Let us hear from you!
Monday, May 9, 2011
New MSOP Vision Statement Resonates with Student Body
Friends:
Several weeks ago we informed the student body of our new school vision statement and requested feedback on our new vision and way of thinking.
I received the comments below from a current first year student, David South, who I believe hit the nail on the head.
"Dr. Sands,
I really like the vision statement “Preparing Pharmacists Who Transform Lives”. To me, there are two meanings in this statement. Obviously, as health care professionals, everything we do should be aimed at improving the quality of life for our patients. Through the pharmacist-patient interaction, we are able to build lasting relationships with others that can have a direct impact on the patient’s life.
However, there is also a deeper spiritual meaning to that statement. As Christians, everything we do should be aimed at adding to God’s kingdom. When I looked up Ephesians 2:10 in my Bible, it cross-referenced Ephesians 4:12, which states “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be build up.” How great is it that we are able to help transform a patient’s life in the physical health senses but also lead people, be it through example, attitude, or direct evangelism, to the person with the greatest ability to transform lives of all, Jesus Christ.
I will make this vision statement, encompassing both meanings, my attitude and goal for the rest of my time at MSOP and continue it as I advance in my career as a pharmacist."
Let us know if you agree with David!
Several weeks ago we informed the student body of our new school vision statement and requested feedback on our new vision and way of thinking.
I received the comments below from a current first year student, David South, who I believe hit the nail on the head.
"Dr. Sands,
I really like the vision statement “Preparing Pharmacists Who Transform Lives”. To me, there are two meanings in this statement. Obviously, as health care professionals, everything we do should be aimed at improving the quality of life for our patients. Through the pharmacist-patient interaction, we are able to build lasting relationships with others that can have a direct impact on the patient’s life.
However, there is also a deeper spiritual meaning to that statement. As Christians, everything we do should be aimed at adding to God’s kingdom. When I looked up Ephesians 2:10 in my Bible, it cross-referenced Ephesians 4:12, which states “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be build up.” How great is it that we are able to help transform a patient’s life in the physical health senses but also lead people, be it through example, attitude, or direct evangelism, to the person with the greatest ability to transform lives of all, Jesus Christ.
I will make this vision statement, encompassing both meanings, my attitude and goal for the rest of my time at MSOP and continue it as I advance in my career as a pharmacist."
Let us know if you agree with David!
Monday, May 2, 2011
MSOP Reacts and Responds to Storm Damage
Friends:
We at McWhorter School of Pharmacy face difficult days ahead. Thankfully our campus, students, faculty and staff are safe and escaped without serious bodily harm. But, for so many in our community there is a healing process that has just begun.
We are overwhelmed by the thoughtful notes of support and encouragement from our alumni all across the country coupled with the outpouring of support from other colleges of pharmacy. It is times like these, when people come to each other’s assistance for the sake of good alone, that gives believers a taste of “heaven on earth”. It is these same foundational principles of selfless service to others that guide our University and our profession of pharmacy. It is our hope that we never lose sight of these guiding principles as individuals and professionals.
If you desire to assist our neighbors in need who were affected by the tornadoes we encourage you to visit www.samford.edu to support efforts through “Samford Gives Back”. In addition to acts of service, we also ask you to be “first responders” in prayer to lift our hurting community up in spirit.
Let us hear from you if you have been directly impacted by the storms and how we can help as a community.
We at McWhorter School of Pharmacy face difficult days ahead. Thankfully our campus, students, faculty and staff are safe and escaped without serious bodily harm. But, for so many in our community there is a healing process that has just begun.
We are overwhelmed by the thoughtful notes of support and encouragement from our alumni all across the country coupled with the outpouring of support from other colleges of pharmacy. It is times like these, when people come to each other’s assistance for the sake of good alone, that gives believers a taste of “heaven on earth”. It is these same foundational principles of selfless service to others that guide our University and our profession of pharmacy. It is our hope that we never lose sight of these guiding principles as individuals and professionals.
If you desire to assist our neighbors in need who were affected by the tornadoes we encourage you to visit www.samford.edu to support efforts through “Samford Gives Back”. In addition to acts of service, we also ask you to be “first responders” in prayer to lift our hurting community up in spirit.
Let us hear from you if you have been directly impacted by the storms and how we can help as a community.
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