09/15/2026
Less than half of U.S. pharmacy programs sufficiently address complementary and alternative medicine, herbal products, and dietary supplements in their curricula. That's one of the findings three WNE College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences students brought to the national stage this summer.
Doctor of Pharmacy candidate Sumaiya Zakir presented research examining how U.S. pharmacy programs teach pharmacognosy, herbals, and CAM modalities, work conducted under the guidance of Associate Professor Dr. Natalia Shcherbakova. Student pharmacists Yanixa Quiñones-Avilés and Cecil James Buguis presented research on public knowledge and perceptions of genetics and pharmacogenomics, conducted with faculty mentor Dr. Shannon Kinney.
"As pharmacists, we need to be prepared to provide evidence-based counseling on herbal medicines, dietary supplements, and potential drug-herb interactions so that patients can make informed decisions," Zakir said.
All three students presented at the 2026 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting in Grapevine, Texas, one of the nation's leading gatherings for pharmacy educators and researchers.
Read the full story on their research: https://wne.edu/news/2026/08/Pharmacy-students-at-AACP
