01/24/2025
Registration is open for UMN Rare Disease Day: Navigating Rare Disorders: Insights from Lived Experience. This year's event will take place on Thursday, Mar. 6, 2025! You can attend in person at McNamara Alumni Center or virtually. Visit z.umn.edu/RARE202 to learn more, register, or submit your poster abstract.
01/23/2025
Maddie Everson, a student in the college's Year 1 Occupational Therapy Cohort on the Rochester campus, is one of the first members of Minnesota’s personal care assistant (PCA) College Service Corps. The program aims to fill a need for Minnesotans with disabilities and help address just one of the healthcare service gaps in the state. It's experience Maddie can gain while still attending school. Read more > https://bit.ly/4jcrIqh
Occupational Therapy, University of Minnesota
PCA College Corps aims to tackle Minnesota’s personal care worker shortage
Minnesota doesn’t have enough workers to help people with disabilities live independently. A new pilot program aims to draw college students into the field.
01/21/2025
January is National Mentor Month! We are grateful for the many mentors who offer ongoing personal, professional, academic, and/or career support for students.
Duc Pham, a fourth-year PharmD student, offers this about mentor Sheila Brastad, director of data sciences at Optum.
"My mentor and I discussed various career pathways, emphasizing that each comes with its own challenges and benefits. They reassured me that while transitioning between careers may be more difficult in certain fields, it is always possible. This perspective alleviated the pressure and stress of deciding my post-graduation path and motivated me by showing that I could gain valuable experience in any role, whether I chose to stay or pivot to another. I felt truly supported throughout this process. After my conversation with my mentor, I feel excited and eager to see where I’ll be a month from now."
Thank you, Sheila!
Pharmacy students: interested in being paired with a mentor? Visit z.umn.edu/CoPMentoring to learn more!
01/17/2025
Angela Birnbaum, PhD, FAES, MLS(ASCP), professor in the Department of Experimental & Clinical Pharmacology (ECP) has been named the interim head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS), effective Jan. 13, 2025. Birnbaum will work in tandem with Professor Donna Spannaus-Martin, PhD, MLS(ASCP)cm, program director for the MLS program. Spannaus-Martin is currently progressing through a phased retirement.
Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Minnesota
Read more > https://bit.ly/3PCj32A
Birnbaum named interim head of Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Donna Spannaus-Martin continues in the role of MLS program director.
01/16/2025
For over 17 years, pharmacy and medicine students on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus have operated the HOPE Clinic, providing the community with free urgent care. Dr. Tim Stratton, the clinic’s pharmacy faculty advisor, has been there since the planning stages. As he nears his planned retirement at the end of August, he reflects on his two decades of HOPE Clinic history.
Read the story on our website: https://bit.ly/3DOcUh5
01/15/2025
Join the Center for Bioethics Ethics Grand Rounds webinar, "Environmental Injustice: The Clinical and Ethical Implications of Our Unhealthy Environments," on Friday, Feb. 07, from 12-1 p.m. CST. Speaker: Keisha Ray, PhD
Opportunity to gain IPE credits and CEU certificates.
Learn more about the speaker and register at: https://bit.ly/402NJit
**This is an event of the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs, hosted by the Center for Bioethics, and co-sponsored by the College of Pharmacy among other U of MN units.**
01/10/2025
January is for the mentors! During this national month of recognition, we celebrate the mentors who help students navigate their journeys.
Jimmy Morales, a fourth-year PharmD student offers this about his mentor Hannah Bui, Hematology/Oncology Clinical Pharmacist at M Health Fairview’s Masonic Cancer Clinic:
"My mentor Hannah has been tremendously helpful at giving me encouragement ... [She] was very impactful in my journey in applying for residency programs. I cannot thank her enough and hope that everyone has the opportunity to have mentors that truly care for the wellbeing of students like myself. As a [first] generation student, it's mentors like her that I owe an unpayable debt to for the support they give, and I hope that I can pass that on in the future to the next student/learner."
Thank you, Hannah!
Pharmacy students: interested in being paired with a mentor? Visit z.umn.edu/CoPMentoring to learn more!
01/09/2025
Third-year PharmD student Frances Abanonu knew at age 11 that she wanted to be a pharmacist. Her early career ambitions stemmed from her father, who was chronically ill and passed away when she was very young. She told herself then that she would grow up to manufacture drugs that would keep others alive. Now, both a mother and a full-time PharmD student, her plate is full, but she’s determined to succeed and inspire other student mothers.
“Sometimes as a child, you make these proclamations without too much thought. But I think the universe has a way of bringing them to fruition, which is why I’m a firm believer in positive affirmations, even if they aren’t happening yet,” she shared. “I will always pay it forward. Growing up, I wanted to inspire young girls. Now, I feel called to inspire moms like me.”
Read more about Frances' story: https://bit.ly/4fKQpqA
01/07/2025
Registration is now open for the nationally renowned OT Refresher/Re-Entry Course, a hybrid program (two-part learning experience) designed to support occupational therapists returning to practice. Visit z.umn.edu/OTRefresher2025 for session dates, pricing, a registration link, and other important information.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Register by January 31, 2025 and use the discount code OTRefresher75 to receive $75.00 off the course fee.
Occupational Therapy, University of Minnesota
01/03/2025
Alumni of the College of Pharmacy are multifaceted and contribute to society in a multitude of ways — Norrie Thomas and John Benson are two such individuals. Read how these two are flexing their creativity as fiction writers: https://bit.ly/3VZ6nGG
01/01/2025
Associate Professor Ann Philbrick has been appointed to the State of Minnesota’s Cannabis Advisory Council by Governor Tim Walz, effective Dec. 2, 2024. In his appointment, Governor Walz recognizes Philbrick’s clinical pharmacy expertise. Read more about this appointment >
Philbrick named to state’s Cannabis Advisory Council
New council will help lay groundwork for new industry in Minnesota.
12/30/2024
Associate Professor Corey McGee, PhD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, has been named to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) Roster of Fellows. The honor recognizes McGee's exceptional contributions in the field of occupational therapy.
“Our department has a long history of faculty who have been named to this prestigious roster,” said McGee. “This history, in addition to the countless other contributions made by our faculty, demonstrate our strong collective dedication to advancing our profession. It is my honor to be awarded this distinction on behalf of the department, college and University.”
Read more >
Corey McGee named to AOTA Roster of Fellows
Honor recognizes exceptional contributions in the field of occupational therapy
12/27/2024
In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health, the College of Pharmacy developed a map of pharmacy access gaps across the state to consolidate important data amid a national trend of pharmacy closures.
“This isn't just a pharmacy need, this is a state need,” Dr. Todd Sorensen said. “The evidence of this is that the Department of Health has declared health equity as one of its top priorities— and patient access to pharmacy services is a health equity issue.”
Read more and see the map → https://bit.ly/3DqPn5P
Mapping pharmacy deserts across Minnesota
In partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the College of Pharmacy developed a map of pharmacy access gaps across the state to consolidate important data amid a national trend of pharmacy closures.
12/13/2024
🏅 Congratulations to Dr. Stephen W. Schondelmeyer for being named recipient of the 2025 American Pharmacists Association Re*****on Medal, the highest honor in pharmacy.
Dr. Schondelmeyer, professor of pharmaceutical economics at the UMN College of Pharmacy and director of the PRIME Institute, is recognized for over 50 years of impactful research shaping drug policy, affordability, and accessibility.
His nominators noted that "his work has shaped medication and health policy as we know it today."
For more on his Re*****on announcement: https://ow.ly/cZXB50Uqfvq
12/12/2024
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has announced that Stephen W. Schondelmeyer, PharmD, PhD, is the recipient of the 2025 Re*****on Honor Medal, the organization’s preeminent award for the profession of pharmacy and the highest honor bestowed by APhA. Schondelmeyer becomes the eighth Minnesota pharmacist to receive this honor. Read more > https://bit.ly/3Zw2UQV
12/05/2024
We spy with our little eyes, Santa's familiar face on local Duluth television programming! If you're in the area, be sure to catch him at the Christmas City Express. If you have questions, Professor Emeritus Dr. Paul Ranelli may have information! 😉
12/03/2024
A beautiful night to celebrate all of our deserving College of Pharmacy award recipients!