St. Louis College of Pharmacy President Thomas F. Patton ... · St. Louis College of Pharmacy President Thomas F. Patton, Ph.D. I In so many ways, St. Louis College of Pharmacy aspires

St. Louis College of Pharmacy PresidentThomas F. Patton, Ph.D.

IIn so many ways, St. Louis College of Pharmacy aspires to nurture the whole person – in body, mind, and spirit. As an educational institution that prepares its graduates to practice pharmacy and serve as vital members of the health care team, the College is naturally committed to increasing wellness. In fact, a desire to help people do just that is the number one reason students apply to St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Whether our students graduate to work as retail pharmacists, hospital pharmacists, pharmacy professors, industry consultants, or even own their own business, they are all involved in the business of helping people and increasing wellness. This issue of Script focuses on the importance of being healthy and maintaining total body wellness. As you’ll read, the College and StLCoP alumni are actively engaged in promoting healthy lifestyles – in the community, in business, and in their personal lives.

On April 17, the College hosted the inaugural St. Louis Forum on Medication Safety, which brought together experts from industry, government, universities, and nonprofit organizations, to examine issues and trends in the safe use of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary supplements. This successful event provided wellness education opportunities for students, faculty, and the entire health care community.

But perhaps the epitome of the “business of wellness” is the resurgence of compounding pharmacies. Despite the smaller number of independent pharmacies nationwide, many are managing to beat the odds by offering specialized compounding services. This deep-rooted tradition is filling a growing market niche in order to meet patient needs. Alumni are distinguishing their businesses and succeeding in a competitive marketplace while providing individualized patient care.

StLCoP alumni are also practicing good health in their own lives. They are embracing recreational activities – like cycling – that help them live active lifestyles, prevent disease, and reduce stress. And they are setting a valuable example for their patients by practicing what they preach. They are doing their part to keep themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually fit so that they can, in turn, help other people resolve to be healthier.

A long-term commitment to wellness is a natural outcome of a “whole-person” education, which is exactly what your College strives to achieve.

ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

SCRIPTV O L U M E 1 8 , N U M B E R 2

Editor Sheila Haar Siegel

Designer Colleen Krutewicz

Contributing Writers Stephanie Hoffmann

Marc Long Connie Mitchell

Proofreader Nancy Busch

Class Notes Sandy Doyle

Contributing Photographers Jay Fram, opposite page

Mark Gilliland, pp. 4-5, 20 Stephanie Hoffmann, p. 16 Colleen Krutewicz, pp. 3,

12-15, 17, 20 Jennifer Silverberg, cover,

pp. 2, 9-11, 19, 21

President, Alumni Association Ellen Verzino ’91/’93

Chairman, Board of Trustees Ronald T. Hofmeister

President Thomas F. Patton, Ph.D.

Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Marc Long

Vice President for Advancement Brett T. Schott

Script magazine is a joint effort of the College and the Alumni

Association, published three times a year for alumni, students, and friends

of the College. Questions or comments may be addressed to Sheila Haar

Siegel at [email protected].

ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY CONTACTS

CollegeReceptionist 314.367.8700

ScriptMagazine 314.446.8397

President’sOffice 314.446.8307

Deans’Office 314.446.8342

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W W W . A L U M N I . S T L C O P. O R G /

N E W S / S C R I P T. A S P

Spring 2008F E A T U R E S

Nice Guy Finishes FirstThe career of Samih Darwazah ’64 proves that hard work, entrepreneurial spirit — and a little humility — can turn a start-up into a global powerhouse.

by sheila haar siegel

Compounding MeasuresCompounding pharmacies are reviving an old tradition as a way to better serve their customers and separate themselves from the competition.

by connie mitchell

Cycling for LifeFor a growing number of StLCoP alumni, their idea of a perfect day is screaming downhill or coasting past beautiful scenery on bicycles built for fun, fitness, and friends.

by sheila haar siegel

Learning Beyond the LaboratoryRecipient of the 2008 Joe E. Haberle Outstanding Educator Award, Professor of Biology Evelyn Becker ’88/’93 teaches students to challenge themselves and not take themselves too seriously.

by stephanie hoffmann

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D E P A R T M E N T S

2 NewsBriefs

4 OnCampus:MedicationSafetyConference

15 StudentProfile:LuannQuach

18 AlumniNews

22 ClassNotes

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News Briefs


Six years ago, the class of 2008 set out to gradu-ate together. As hoped and planned, 155 Doctor of Pharmacy graduates and one Master of Science graduate shared the stage and their excitement on May 17 at the Khorassan Room of the Chase Park Plaza Hotel.

During the ceremony, President Tom Patton provided words of inspira-tion to the new pharmacists, charging them to be the change they hope to see in the profession of pharmacy. “Many graduates tell me, within a few years, that they are disappointed in their chosen careers,” he said. “Many pharmacists feel that they don’t get to practice what they learned in school. But now you will be the profession, and if change needs to occur, it will be up to you.”

The commencement address was given by Carol Ammon, a former member of the College’s board of trustees who is chairwoman of the Christiana Health Care System and founder and CEO of Endo Phar-maceuticals. In her address to the graduates, Ammon spoke of the many times a pharmacist played an im-portant part in her life, most recently when her ailing mother was living with her.

“The pharmacist at the local supermarket talked with us both about all the medications my mother was taking and how to prevent

interactions,” she said. “I didn’t realize how much I relied on that pharmacist until after my mother died, and I stopped in to pick up a prescription for myself. Seeing the pharmacist, I broke down in tears.”

With this testimony still ringing in their ears, Ammon gave the class of 2008 its charge. “You have as many choices as you could possibly want in pharmacy. So I encour-age you to be yourself and be true to yourself. Take advantage of opportunities, do what you want to do, and enjoy helping people.”

Hundreds of friends and family members attended the commence-ment of the largest class in the College’s history. Top right: Rachel Dotson. Bottom from left: Rachel Hadfield, Mellai Haile, Benjamin Hale, Michelle Hale, and Franklin Hamlin.

Starting Out Together Again

In a recent issue, readers were asked to reveal their favorite, and sometimes least favorite, parts of Script in a sur-vey. Here’s what StLCoP grads are saying:

• Percentage of alumni who get most of their information about St. Louis College of Pharmacy from Script: 82

• Alumni who rank credibility of Script as excellent or very good: 90 percent

• Most read magazine sections: alumni pro-file, class notes, cover story, feature articles

• Section sometimes passed over: student profile

• Top-ranked kinds of articles: human inter-est stories, industry features

• Alumni who say the magazine has a good mix of long and short articles: 88 percent

• Percentage of alumni who think the photog-raphy is excellent or very good: 84 percent

• Alumni who keep issues of Script longer than two weeks: 70 percent

High Ranking

2 S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 S C R I P T M AG A Z I N E 32 S P R I N G 2 0 0 8 S C R I P T M AG A Z I N E 3

News Briefs

In high school, the allure of Homecoming Week is mostly about the social activities leading up to the year’s biggest football game. At St. Louis College of Pharmacy, the week-long celebration in February provides an opportu-nity for students to con-nect with the community.

Student organizations raise money throughout the week, and members of the student council select a charity to support. This year, $5,000 was donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis. The College’s biggest student-run philanthropic event – the T-shirt and pizza sale – attracted hundreds of students, faculty, and staff

and boosted total Home-coming Week contributions over the past two years to the $5,000 fundraising goal.

“Even though Homecom-ing Week is usually when you think about ballgames, having fun and participating

in student activities, it can also impact the commu-nity in a positive way,” said Patrick Harper, a fourth-year student from Nashville, Ill., who is president of the stu-dent council. “That’s what the pharmacy profession

is all about – serving the needs of the community.”

At Ronald McDonald House, Homecoming Week proceeds will help to provide housing for families of seriously ill children in need of medical treatment at metro-area hospitals.

“After traveling to St. Louis to get care for their children, families receive everything they need at Ronald McDonald House,” Harper says. “The facilities give them a place to live and call home while in town. It helps them to avoid the high costs of hotel rooms and eating out. All of the council members were really excited about giving to such a great charity. The donation was our way of showing that we are con-stantly thinking of ways to benefit the community.”

Homecoming with a Heart

Each of the three recipients of the 2008 Byron A. Barnes Excellence in Education Awards was visibly taken aback when their names were called at the Faculty and Staff Recog-nition Luncheon on May 8.

Sheri Kuehnle was the first name called by President Patton. Kuehnle, payroll administrator, re-ceived the President’s Staff Excellence Award, which is presented to a staff member whose work consistently exceeds expectations or who has provided exceptional

service to the College. Next to the podium was

Director of Experiential Programs Tricia Berry ’94/’95, who received the College Enhancement Award for improving the College atmosphere to benefit the students’ college experience. Nimita Thek-kepat, assistant professor of Pharmacy Practice, received the Student Enrichment Award, which goes to a fac-ulty member whose interac-tions with students outside the classroom go above and beyond the call of duty.

All three awards were created in 1998 to recognize outstanding service to the College community. Each recipient receives a recog-nition plaque, a $1,000 cash award, and a front-

row parking space in the College garage for a year. Funding for the Byron A. Barnes Awards is provided by the BCES Foundation, of which L.G. Cunning-ham ’50 is a trustee.

Fourth-year student Patrick Harper and the StLCoP Eutectic present Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis with a $5,000 donation.

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

From left: Tricia Berry ’94/’95, Nimita Thekkepat, and Sheri Kuehnle catch their breath after being honored at the 2008 Faculty and Staff Recognition Luncheon.


On Campus


“It is incumbent on the people in this room to actually change our health care system, because it’s not for lack of money, it’s for lack of leadership that we haven’t gotten there.”

With those words, Dr. Steven Miller, chief medical officer of St. Louis-based Express Scripts, challenged the audience at the inaugural St. Louis Forum on Medication

Safety, organized and hosted by St. Louis College of Pharmacy. More than 100 pharmacists, nurses, physicians, health care leaders and students, faculty and staff of the College attended the half-day event in Whelpley Auditorium on April 17.

Experts from universities, industry, nonprofit organizations, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the National Library of Medicine participated in the forum panels, which focused on three primary areas: using technology to reduce medication errors, detecting concerns and issues in the nation’s drug supply, and trends in health literacy. The sessions were chaired by StLCoP professors Sheldon Holstad and Terry Seaton and alumnus Anthony Kessels ’79.

Echoing Miller’s call to action, Dean of Pharmacy Wendy Duncan-Hewitt says StLCoP is poised to be a national leader in the prevention of medication errors and medication safety through pharmacovigilance, which is the continuous detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse drug effects.

“StLCoP ranks in the top 20 largest Doctor of Pharmacy programs in the United States, so our influence on the future of the profession is significant,” said Duncan-Hewitt. “If we focus some of our efforts on solving medication safety problems and educating our students about the latest advances, we can contribute significantly to the

quality of health care and pharmacy practice nationwide.”Duncan-Hewitt’s vision was championed by several

forum speakers, including Brent Fox from Auburn University. Fox recognized StLCoP for bringing together experts from around the country to discuss “one of the primary crises facing our health care system today.” Before making his case for health literacy, Rob Logan, an expert on consumer health issues from the National Library of Medicine, referred to an earlier panel on informatics and posed a rhetorical question to the audience. “Who’s ahead in consumer health informatics?” he asked. “Is it the United States? And where is the leadership to move ahead?

Promising Side Effects of Drug SafetyStLCoP hosts first medication safety forum

Top left: Dr. Steven Miller, chief medical officer of Express Scripts, challenges the audience to change the health care system in his opening address. Top right: Anthony Kessels ’79, medication safety manager at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, serves as a panel moderator. Bottom: Maria Chianta ’91/’00 of Covidien talks about post-marketing surveillance as Jo Ann Spearmon from the FDA looks on.


On Campus

I hope it is in this room, because we need it right now.” Ray Bullman, executive vice president of the National Council on Patient Information and Education, pledged to promote the results of the forum among its member organizations and hopes that the St. Louis event will be the first to spur many regional and national events focused on improving safe medication distribution and use.

“Pharmacists are the health care professionals with the greatest medication knowledge, and are often the

professionals with the most access to patients and their medications,” said Duncan-Hewitt. “We should be leading research and formulary management, monitoring roles and educating patients, care providers and other health care professionals about safe medication practices.”

Although reviewing the latest advances in

medication safety and prompting future discussions among health professionals were the primary reasons for the conference, the College was able to stress the importance of the issue to a broader audience as well. Duncan-Hewitt took a break from her role as event emcee to be interviewed by KMOX-AM about the conference, and Seaton and Ken Schafermeyer ’76, professor of pharmacy administration at StLCoP, were interviewed by KMOV-TV reporter Russell Kinsaul for a feature story on medication safety that aired on May 1 during the 10 p.m. newscast.

“Events like this forum are wonderful opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff,” said Marc Long, the College’s vice president for marketing and communications and the forum’s organizer. “But they also allow us to raise awareness about very important issues in the community and forge partnerships with others to improve health care in our region and nation.”

Faculty and administrators are planning the second forum for the spring of 2009. To view the video recording of the inaugural St. Louis Forum on Medication Safety, please visit www.stlcop.edu/mediadirectory/video.asp.

Top left: Epidemiologist Jane Maxwell of the University of Texas at Austin presents research data for the panel on detecting concerns and issues in the nation’s drug supply. Middle left: Sandi Mitchell of maxIT Healthcare answers a question from the audience on using technology to reduce medication errors. Bottom right: Tom Lawlor ’75, quality assurance director for Walgreen Co., discusses trends in health literacy among Americans.


Alumni Profile


At precisely 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time, Samih Darwazah ’64 lifts up the receiver on the phone in his office in Geneva. He is there to acquire a business that will build up his company’s generic, branded generic, and injectable pharmaceuticals. A week ago, he was in London and will fly to the United States, and his New Jersey plant, by the end of the month. After he closes the deal in Switzerland, he’ll circle back to Amman, Jordan, where he started his multinational enterprise from scratch 30 years ago.

As founder and chairman of Hikma Pharmacueticals, Darwazah heads the only company in the Arab world to be approved to export products to the U.S. and the United Kingdom by the FDA and Europe’s Medicines and Healthcare Products

Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Yet the unassuming demeanor coming across the line from Geneva belies the 77-year-old’s solid footing as a global player in the pharmaceutical industry. You’d detect none of the slick pretension you might expect from someone who spends his days changing the way the small country of Jordan does business with the rest of the world.

“Entrepreneurs have a responsibility to develop their communities socially and economically, which ultimately contributes to the growth of their countries,” he says of his Jordanian home, which now has the best investment laws in the Middle East due in part to Darwazah’s founding of the Jordan Trade Association in the late 1980s.

With operations in 47 countries and manufacturing facilities mapped out across eight countries, including the U.S., Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and Egypt, Darwazah’s passport is well stamped. His reach as an influential businessman among his peers stretches even further. In February, Darwazah was chosen from among a group of 17 finalists as the 2007 Ernst & Young Middle East Entrepreneur of the Year at a ceremony held in Dubai. The award qualified him for the Ernst &

Entrepreneur of the Year Samih Darwazah ’64 crafts a multinational company with strategic direction, innovation, and personal integrity

STORYBY SHEILA HAAR SIEGEL

Nice Guy Finishes FirstAhmed Al Aiban (left), chairman of Ernst & Young Middle East, and Fouad Alaeddin (right), managing partner of Ernst & Young in the Middle East, present Darwazah (center) with the region’s first Entrepreneur of the Year Award at a ceremony in Dubai.


Alumni Profile

Young world competition in Monaco this past May. Darwazah takes none of this – the ascent of Hikma and his

own personal success – for granted. He founded the company in 1978, when growing a business in landlocked Jordan was not easy. He remembers what it was like to forgo sleep and save for 15 long years to pull together the $150,000 in seed capital he needed to start the company, while putting away a little extra to send all four of his children to college in the United States.

“Forget about money, for a few days or a few years,” admits Darwazah. “Most of the time, we were reinvesting all of our income.”

Darwazah, who was born in Nablus, Palestine in 1930, was introduced to pharmacy at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon, where he received his undergraduate degree. As a child, Darwazah always liked chemistry. But it was when his family lived in Jaffa, Israel, down the street from a soap factory, that Samih first became hooked on industry.

“I was fascinated with the soap industry,” he says, the pitch of his voice rising with excitement. “They mixed the oil and powder, and they stirred it and heated it and got something new. If you take the value of these items by themselves, they’re much less than the final value of the product that you make. There’s a lot of added value in it.”

After graduating from AUB and working in a few pharmacy jobs near Jordan and Kuwait, Darwazah was offered a Fulbright Scholarship. He reached out to his professors at AUB, who had all received their doctorates in the U.S., for suggestions on where to go for graduate study in industrial pharmacy. The common thread of recommendation was St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

“At that time, St. Louis College of Pharmacy had a real manufacturing plant where you had all the machines you needed and well-experienced professors who came from the industry,” Darwazah explains.

During the one-year StLCoP program, Darwazah and his classmates visited a handful of pharmaceutical companies throughout the country. He was impressed, and filled out applications with two or three of them. A couple of months after receiving his master’s degree from the College, Darwazah signed on with Eli Lilly. He worked for the company from 1964 to 1976, first in the states for a few months, then moving on to various positions in the Middle East marketing division.

With 12 years of experience in marketing and management, combined with the industry knowledge he had stored away from pharmacy school, Darwazah was finally able to set up his company after years of charting business plans. “I decided I had to go and establish a home for my family, so I went to Jordan to establish my own factory.”

Hikma was successful from the start, expanding to markets outside of Jordan in the second year of business. Darwazah

grew the company aggressively, despite outdated tax laws in the Middle East. When he complained to the government about custom duties on imports of raw materials and taxes on exports, he says the problems were quickly solved.

“As a developing country, Jordan’s laws and regulations were really very old,” says Darwazah, who was later selected by the king of Jordan to serve as minister of energy and resources. “We had to modernize these laws and, fortunately, we had good governments that were thinking ahead and thinking of improving the laws in Jordan. They were very responsive.”

In the early years, Hikma Pharmaceuticals had only 30 employees, but Darwazah’s persistence slowly built it up to become what is now a company with annual sales of more than $448 million. Of course, all this expansion requires resources, both material and human. Finding human resources has always been the most difficult – and most important – aspect of Darwazah’s vision for the company.

“My first step was to build a nucleus organization with professionals who were educated abroad,” says Darwazah. “The biggest challenge was hiring people of international standards and educating them on the need to build quality in the product.”

Though the company’s work force now numbers 4,400, Darwazah acknowledges that highly specialized professionals are still scarce in the Middle East. So Hikma has implemented numerous programs that send local graduates abroad to obtain master’s degrees and doctorates in pharmacy or business.

“People are the most important part of our business,” says Darwazah. “I want to see people successful, whether it is an employee or someone outside of the company or from my own family.”

Despite his company’s impressive run and financial reward, Darwazah stays modest and grounded. He is most proud of his children and family, including his wife Samira whom he met at AUB. Samih’s oldest son took over as CEO of Hikma in July 2007. His second son and two daughters also work in the company. Samih, too, continues to work hard when he could have opted for retirement a long time ago. A true entrepreneur, Darwazah continually thinks about what he is going to do next month or next year.

“I haven’t made it yet,” he says. “I still have some work to do.”Before hanging up the phone in Geneva, Darwazah considers

his answer to the question of how he measures success. He pauses, and then confidently responds with all the reassurance of a husband, father, and businessman who has experienced enough to know. “For me, I think success is to be satisfied. If you overcome your challenges, and are honest with yourself, respect yourself, and respect your people, I think this is success.”

To the end of that sentence, he tacks on, “What do you think?”

As far as Patty Frieda ’75 is concerned, compounding medications is a generations-old tradition, not a new-

fangled innovation or market niche. Neels Pharmacy in Crestwood, Mo., which was established by Frieda’s grandfa-ther, William Neels, before being operated by her father, James Neels ’50, until his death in 2006, always has provided the kind of customized service that lends itself to pharmaceutical compounding.

The image of the neighborhood “chemist” comes to mind when Frieda reminisces about her childhood spent among the shelves and behind the counter of Neels. “My dad and grandpa did a lot of compounding,” she says. “They made creams, eye drops, and other medicines. I still have the index cards with their old formulas written down. I even have their old capsule-making machine. We don’t use it anymore, of course, but it’s still cool.”

Frieda, who now owns and operates Neels, is well aware that the practice of mixing ingredients to create custom medication decreased after commercial manufacturers began mass-pro-ducing prescription drugs in the 1950s and 60s. Yet in recent years, Frieda and her colleagues across the nation have noticed customers’ mounting curiosity about compounding.

Erin Thomas ’04 doesn’t have Frieda’s long view of the history of compounding, but her work on staff at Specialty Pharmacy of St. Louis has placed her among the increasing number of compounding pharmacists reviving the practice to meet physician and patient interest.

“We have a lot of people call who want help with problems and seek alternatives to mass-produced drugs,” Thomas says. “Compounding is still very specialized, but we take third- through sixth-year StLCoP students for rotations here, and a lot of them tell us that this is their favorite rotation.” Thomas herself gained exposure to compounding during a clinical rotation at Specialty Pharmacy, which focuses exclusively on compounding for veterinary and medical use.

Compounding InterestMost pharmacists go into pharmacy because they want to

be involved in the health care of their patients, and without a doubt, compounding enables pharmacists to be intimately involved with their patients. But is compounding a smart busi-ness move for existing pharmacists or those entering the profes-sion? The Professional Compounding Centers of America’s (PCCA) 2000 Compounding Pharmacist of the Year, John Preckshot ’74, is a strong advocate of compounding, but makes clear that it shouldn’t be entered into lightly.

“I wouldn’t call compounding a niche,” says Preckshot, manager and owner of Preckshot Professional Pharmacy in Peoria Heights, Ill. “It’s a commitment. It truly requires the pharmacist to be arduous about quality and responsibility.

If you’re willing to commit time, resources and education to compounding, then it can be very financially and profession-ally rewarding.” And it seems that a growing number of phar-macists are prepared to take that leap. The PCCA has more than 3,500 members in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and New Zealand.

Frieda agrees that compound-ing requires more than good intentions and a batch of ingredients. “If you’re going to open a compounding pharmacy, I suggest you have some money in the bank,” she advises. “As with any new business, you need to have adequate funding and equipment. You just have to ease into it because it’s an investment of money and time.”

Held to a higher standardIn order to make the necessary commitment more feasible

for compounding pharmacists, the PCCA and the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists were established in the early 1990s to support the field. Yet compounding pharma-cies also must meet the requirements and standards of state boards that place strict regulations on the practice. Missouri, in fact, is known to have among the nation’s most strenuous regulatory codes for compounding pharmacies.

The Missouri Board of Pharmacy initiated a program in 2003 to test compounded pharmaceuticals for potency and, if applicable, sterility and endotoxin. The board issued a report for the fiscal year ending in June 2007 that found almost one-fourth of all tested compounds were unsatisfactory.

On the federal level, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that it “normally permits traditional pharmacy compounding. By contrast, some pharmacies behave like drug manufacturers, not traditional compounding pharmacies, because they produce standardized versions of products for general distribution. In December 2006, the FDA warned five firms to stop compounding and distributing topical anesthetic

Compounding Measures

STORYBY CONNIE MITCHELL

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Compounding Measures

STORYBY CONNIE MITCHELL


creams that were being marketed for general distribution rather than responding to the unique medical needs of indi-vidual patients.”

“You have to know all the specific rules and regulations before you begin compounding,” Preckshot says. “For this reason, I think the compounding pharmacist’s education really begins when you leave pharmacy school and is something you have to be willing to pursue on your own.” In addition to join-ing professional organizations, Preckshot recommends that all compounding pharmacists read the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compound-ing for the latest practical and scientific information related to the field.

Passing the testNoticing the trend toward

increased regulation, Michael Pruett ’81 and Russell Ode-gard, both of St. Louis, found-ed DynaLabs in 2004, which offers testing of compounded drugs. Pruett says that the unique nature of DynaLabs’ business lies in its ability to assist pharmacies in creat-ing and maintaining qual-ity compounds. “We test the compounds to help pharma-cists understand exactly what they’re creating when they make a drug and help them to get even better at it,” he says.

Pruett and Odegard incorporate individualized training into their business, and the response from clients has been overwhelmingly positive. “There are five or six places in the production process where things can break down,” Odegard explains. “We run four key tests, and when we get the results, if they’re within regulatory guidelines, that’s good. If not, we call the customer and help him or her identify where things went wrong. Then we test another sample to make sure the problem is corrected.” The DynaLabs’ coaching is a free ad-junct to their testing services.

The lack of extensive training in compounding is one of the field’s biggest challenges, Pruett adds. However, he and Ode-gard are detecting progress on this front. They say the stringent regulations imposed by state boards of pharmacy and the United States Pharmacopeia have “put pharmacists on notice.” Still, the DynaLabs duo agrees that more education on com-

pounding in of the pharmacy curriculum would be beneficial. Pruett also notes that he and Odegard surveyed pharmacists

before creating DynaLabs to better understand what services their target market desired. “Fast turnaround, affordability, and respect were the most sought-after attributes,” he says. Re-sponding to these findings, the pair created an Internet-based system in which test results are available online within a day or two of receiving a sample. “Our new customers are hooked by our Web site,” he says, “but they stay for the service and the help we provide.”

Specialty Pharmacy is a DynaLabs client, yet Thomas advises all compounding pharmacies to employ an in-house operations director who will monitor procedures and provide on-site quality assurance. She also recom-mends that compounding pharmacists take advantage of professional organizations’ continuing education op-portunities and professional networks. “The learning curve on compounding is steep,” she says. “The PCCA, for instance, offers seminars that augment other types of training, and you can learn about aspects of compounding that you might not have considered before.”

When it comes to ensuring regulatory compliance, Frieda notes that new compounding pharmacists may tend to limit their practice to non-sterile preparations, which do not adhere to the same standards as sterile and injectable compounds. Regardless of this autonomy, however, Frieda exemplifies the pharmacist’s desire to “be as perfect as possible because we take pride in what we do.”

She opts to compound non-sterile preparations primarily because the cost of testing is prohibitive when creating small amounts of sterile compounds. “It works better to make a sig-nificant amount of a sterile compound so the cost of testing for sterility and potency can be spread across the doses, keeping the price per dose lower for the customer,” she explains.

Individualized care Pharmacists new to the business of compounding benefit

from diversification, Preckshot suggests. Compounding for veterinarians, primary care physicians, gynecologists, pedia-

John Preckshot ’74 (center) blends specialized compounds for patients in his Peoria Heights, Ill., pharmacy, where he has devoted half of the floor space to compounding facilities.


tricians and hospice providers opens a variety of potential markets. “Many people think of compounding primarily as the creation of bioidentical hormone preparations,” he says. “And although hormones are a very popular compounded pharma-ceutical, there’s a lot more that can be done.”

Frieda sees diversification in an even broader context. While she compounds bioi-dentical hormones, she also has specialized in nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies. In studying the chemical and biological as-pects of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, Frieda found that specific vitamins and other natural supplements can support the body’s ability to absorb and metabolize the hormones.

“I believe that you need to give people all the tools possible for health, and that’s where the nutritional factors come in,” she says. “Our bod-ies are integrative, and I try to consider the mind-body-spirit aspects of health.”

Once a pharmacist decides what and how much he or she plans to compound, marketing those services becomes a key business endeavor. Preckshot emphasizes the importance of communicating with area physicians to determine their needs and provide information about how compounded medications can benefit them and their patients – not an easy task given the concerns expressed about compounding by the FDA.

Physicians are aware of FDA concerns and publicized prob-lems related to specific cases of improperly or inappropriately compounded drugs. However, educating physicians about the benefits of compounding can help. For instance, Kathleen Anderson, deputy director of the Division of New Drugs and Labeling Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, says, “In its traditional form, pharmacy com-pounding is a vital service that helps many people, including those who are allergic to inactive ingredients in FDA-approved medicines and others who need medications that are not commercially available.”

The FDA also recognizes that “compounded medications are prescribed for children who may be unable to swallow pills, need diluted dosages of a drug made for adults, or are simply

unwilling to take bad-tasting medicine.” “I express to physicians that compounding simply provides

more options,” Preckshot says. “I may not convince every physician I meet, but I offer creative, innovative ideas that can help them practice medicine.” He adds that the relationship

created is not akin to that of a large-scale pharmaceutical representative. Instead, Preck-shot aims to position himself as a colleague who can assist as part of the overall health care team. “Eventually, there is a dialogue, and then we find that the physicians will call us, and we can respond to their needs.”

While face-to-face inter-actions are optimal, many physicians can no longer afford the luxury of a lunchtime chat. For most, spare moments between patient visits are used to handle the mound of paper-work that today’s doctors find themselves under. Preckshot’s response to the problem of physician access involves a

variety of approaches to raise awareness.He suggests newsletters, free programs scheduled for conve-

nient times, faxed information, and, perhaps most importantly, reports regarding patient outcomes when using compounded medications. “Share research results and individual outcomes,” he says. “Those activities help in building rapport.”

Marketing to patients generally occurs when inquiries are made by them, Preckshot says. But he notes that pharmacists must be cautious in only marketing their compounding services and not making specific product claims since com-pounded pharmaceuticals are not FDA-approved. However, patients seeking solutions for troublesome health problems may be among the best ambassadors for compounding pharmacists. “Patients often get us in the door with the physicians,” he says.

Despite the inherent challenges, one thing all compounding pharmacists agree on is that seeing their customers feel better is the most gratifying part of the business. “It’s very rewarding,” Thomas says. “It’s great to see the people we make a difference to”.

Patty Frieda has no doubt that her grandfather’s legacy will live on. “The need for customization will always be there,” she says. “And the future is bright. As long as we continue to work with honesty and integrity, we’ll succeed.”

To help meet emerging regulatory requirements, Michael Pruett ’81 (left) and Russell Odegard founded DynaLabs, which offers testing and consulting services for compounding pharmacists.

Trying to pick Nancy Park ’95 out of a crowd of 400 cyclists, among a sea of bobbing helmeted heads, color-blocked jerseys, and gleaming metal spokes, will be easier said than done. But I know she’s on her way. She called a few minutes ago, saying that she had to stop and air up her tires – bicycle tires, that is.

On a laid-back Sunday afternoon, elite athletes, guys with paunches, and family members of people with multiple sclerosis have all gathered for the same 37-mile training ride. Add bright sunshine and pumped-in music from local radio stations outside a Chesterfield, Mo., sports gear shop, and you have all the makings of an energizing weekend for both die-hard bicyclists and riders who are preparing for their first staggered start.

“This will be the first big ride I’ve ever done,” says Park, after walking up and choosing a patch of sidewalk to rest her Ruby Specialist. “I ride for the exercise, as a way to relax and enjoy the weather, and spend time with good friends. I’m a casual rider; I do it for the fun of it.”

Today, cyclists have turned out for the first training ride of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Gateway Getaway, which attracts 3,000 participants to Columbia, Mo., in September for its two-day routes of 40, 75, or 150 miles. But you don’t have to be a gear head or ride in a mega-race to experience the benefits of biking.

Meike Newell ’97 says it’s never about winning, though Park tends to good-naturedly disagree with her fellow cyclist. “I’m definitely not in it for the competi-tion,” explains Newell, a staff pharmacist at Metropolitan St. Louis Psychiatric Center who started running five years ago and entered her first triathalon a year later.

“Yes, you are!” ribs Park. “Really, she’s on fire!”“I do it to keep in shape,” insists Newell. “I also love being

outside and the fundraising part is a bonus, doing it for some-one besides myself.”

So far, Newell has run one full marathon, four half-mara-thons, six triathalons, and several 5K races. This year, she is also a team mentor for a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

triathalon in Memphis and a marathon in San Francisco. “I always like to have a goal,” she says. “That

way, I’m always training, and I don’t get lazy.” Park, a consultant at St. John’s Hospital, start-

ed road biking through the International Chris-tian Cycling Club, where she met Newell and re-alized they were both graduates of StLCoP.

“As a new biker, I’d go up these really difficult hills,” she describes. “It was kind of like being in my first two years of pharmacy school again because one of the team members encouraged me and helped me get through my mental barrier and bike through the first part. Once I got through that, I really enjoyed it.”

For Jeff Eichholz ’99/’00, director of trend management at Ex-press Scripts, biking is very much a team effort. On weekend mornings, he and a few co-workers get together and ride 30 miles, to help meet his weekly goal of 100. In the Gateway

Cyclin

g for Life

Alum

ni hi

t their c

adence in biking

STORYBY SHEILA HAAR SIEGEL

Art Perry ’72 and Pam Marshall ’90 take to the trails in Forest Park, where many StLCoP alumni often ride.


Getaway, he zips into a bright blue jersey with a giant “E” stamped on it for his employer, the sponsor of the ride.

“These types of events go to a good cause, so I try to do some fundraising,” he says. “But it’s mostly about be-ing around a group of people who share a common inter-est. Once you get into it, there’s this entire little com-munity out there that you start to find through rides like these and other organizations that promote cycling.”

Park agrees, adding, “Road biking is almost like a running club. You can’t really do it by yourself and push yourself to the limit, so you have people with you to take up some of the slack and help you get through the distance you need to go. If you have a few people together, you can interchange leader-ship and encourage each other. You can even use the wind factor to help you be able to wrap while you take the lead. It’s harder to do it by yourself and easier to do it as a team.”

Since taking up cycling seriously six years ago, Eich-holz has traveled to Minnesota, Colorado, and New York to participate in National Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS150) bike tours, and he plans to sign up for another one in Oregon later this year. In organized rides, he sim-ply likes getting on the trail and seeing what’s out there. “You meet new people, and you get out and see things that you wouldn’t necessarily get to another way.

“During the New York ride,” he continues, “they closed the two major roads that outline Manhattan. So the route took us into New Jersey through one of the tun-nels and across one of the bridges. That way, you have more time and you can stop whenever you want.”

Last year, Rebecca Rabbitt ’85/’88/’95 rolled with Eichholz and the Express Scripts team in the local MS150, but she has been riding for as long as she can remember. “That was how we got around,” she recalls of her Affton, Mo., upbringing. “I didn’t get a car when I was 16. I rode my bike to high school; I rode my bike everywhere.”

Rabbitt had always wanted to ride in the local MS150. Then one day, three years ago, a friend agreed to do it with her, and the two instantly decided to begin training. In the weeks before the recreational ride, Rabbitt was pedaling about 25 miles a week. She has now warmed up to 200 miles a week and will participate in her third MS150 this year.

“I was amazed at how quickly you can get up to 50, 60, 70 miles,” recalls Rabbitt, who is CEO of the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians in St. Charles, Mo. “I’d never done 75 miles in one shot before the first MS150.”

Pam Marshall ’90 also cycled in the MS150, for the first time last year. Marshall and her husband rode for a cousin who had been diagnosed with multiple sclero-

sis. The couple trained last summer, and together they completed the entire 150 miles over two days. “I cycled a lot during pharmacy school,” says Marshall, who took up riding again three years ago for exercise and soon af-ter joined her sister-in-law in training for the MS150. “I would bicycle from home to school just to save on park-ing costs. And I worked out at the Walgreens in Jen-nings, so I would bicycle out there from home as well.”

After graduating from StLCoP, getting married, and starting a family, Marshall didn’t cycle for a while. Now that her children are teenagers, she has wholeheart-edly jumped back into the sport. She tries to get out on the road as much as possible during the summer, set-ting her alarm for 4:30 a.m. to ride in Forest Park.

“I try to get in as much as I can because I love bik-ing, it’s very relaxing,” describes Marshall, pharmacy su-pervisor for Walgreens’ St. Louis-east district. She also rides to control her diabetes. “It’s a good form of exercise that I enjoy doing. I don’t like competing with others in sports, so this is a way that I can compete with myself.”

Rebecca Rabbitt ’85/’88/’95 hits the road to a healthy lifestyle, for herself and for others.



To stay healthy and active, many StLCoP alumni look for ways to integrate cycling into their daily routines. Lifelong St. Louisan Art Perry ’72 whipped through Forest Park on biking trails long before attending StLCoP. At 14, he was cornering around neighborhoods and delivering prescrip-tions on two wheels for Sun Drug. In the 70s, he started running and became a marathoner, but he never stopped cycling and continued to bike for errands. Today, he spins across town and back on his 10-year-old Fuji Sagres model.

“Sometimes, I just start out early, so I can run errands by bike rather than car,” says Perry, who will join the board of St. Louis-based Trailnet later this year. “I just put on a back-pack and do what I need to do.”

Perry, a pharmacist at Advan-tage Medical Services, retired after 19 years with Eli Lilly and 27 years at Kean Drug in St. Louis. Now at the age of 70, he still logs 50 miles a week, sometimes tracing a path from his home in the Central West End to his son’s house near Tower Grove Park, then riding back to cycle around Forest Park before heading for home. He has also crunched over the gravel road of the Katy Trail more times than he can count, and he plans to cover 50 miles in the Tour de Cure ride again this year.

“I have done the 100 mile,” Perry says, slowly grinning, “but the closer I get to 100 (years of age), the more I measure my stress level. But I ride to keep my numbers in check, to pre-vent diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. If it feels good, I’ll go further. If it doesn’t, I’ll slow down.”

As a low-impact activity, cycling is within reach for almost anyone looking for a fitness challenge. Most first-time bicyclists start small and get tips from more experi-enced riders. According to Park, the best way to start out in biking is to join a cycling club in your community. “Get connected in an organization that promotes knowledge and

training since equipment and coaching are necessary ele-ments to achieve your potential in cycling,” she suggests.

With its list of must-haves, cycling can be a fairly equip-ment-intensive sport. Most bikers start out with at least a helmet, gloves, and glasses. Avid StLCoP bikers say one of the best upgrades that beginning cyclists can make is to acquire clipless pedals, to maximize pedal motion and make it up those pesky, steep hills. Yet, for the most part, StLCoP bikers seem to stay along the lines of “as long as

it works, it’s all good.” “I’ve been a Neanderthal

with bicycles and equipment,” admits Perry, who settles into the seat of the bike that his son had reconditioned for him. “If it fits me and it works right, I ride it.”

When Newell set out training with a friend for her first triathalon in Cape Girardeau, she was riding her dad’s old Schwinn. “My friend said, ‘You need a new bike!’” she says laughing. “So I got one, and it’s the same bike I have today.”

But whether training hard or cruising through the park, all StLCoP cyclists agree on one absolute, indispensable piece of equipment: biking shorts with extra padding!

“They make you look like a baboon!” jokes Park. “But even if you have nothing else besides the helmet and the pants, that’s all you need.” Even though some StLCoP

alumni might have a trophy or two on their work shelves, none of them seem to cycle for bragging rights. They aren’t stroking their pride or trying to impress their friends. For them, it’s about wanting not only to push the limits of physical strength, but also to contribute what their hearts and minds have to offer along that long, winding road. To be participants in life.

“The nice thing about cycling is that it’s not a race in the sense that you’re trying to compete for the finish line,” Marshall says. “Everyone just wants you to complete the ride.”

From left: Nancy Park ’95, Jeff Eichholz ’99/’00, and Meike Newell ’97 gear up for a 37-mile training ride of the local MS150, which is held in Columbia, Mo., each year.

WHO: LUANN QUACH, ULTIMATE MULTI-TASKER AND SHOP ’N SAVE STUDENT OF THE YEAR

AGE: 23 CLASS YEAR: FIFTH HOMETOWN: FAIRFIELD, ILLINOIS

The one thing you couldn’t start your day without: Oatmeal and granola, cereal and milk, fruit, and a glass of water.

How many jobs have you had at StLCoP? I’ve worked in almost every department on campus: the fitness center, the Information Technology Department, in Student Life as an RA and a co-teacher. I’ve been a teaching assistant in 13 different biology, anatomy, and chemistry labs, and tutored in physics, anatomy, biology, organic, and biochem-istry. I’ve also designed 16 T-shirts for student events.

How many hours of sleep do you get a night? During my second year, I got probably three or four. I’ve done much better during the past cou-ple of years, but my grades aren’t as good.

The most recent cause you volunteered for: I helped fundraise for a 5K run/walk for Thrive St. Louis, a pregnancy resource center.

An adjective you wish described you: Decisive

When did you figure out what you wanted to do with your life? My grandpa is a medicine man/apothecarist, which is a pharmacist in Chinese medicine and herbals. We have generations of pharmacists in our family. My aunt and uncle both graduated from here, and I’ve always known about pharmacy. When I was in third grade, I already knew I wanted to be a pharmacist.

What will you do this summer? Rotations at St. Luke’s Hospital, The Rehabilitation Insti-tute of St. Louis, and a Target store in Texas.

What’s next? Throughout high school and a little bit over the summers in college, I did mission work. I want to apply my knowledge in medicine and clinical skills and maybe do a little bit of traveling as a pharmacist and a missionary to help anyone who needs it. I think a career in pharmacy really of-fers that type of opportunity because you can earn money part of the year and spend it on other people the rest of the year.

StLCoP friends would vote you most likely to: Smile 24 hours a day.

Student Profile



Faculty Profile


As a former student and the longest-serving faculty member at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, Dr. Evelyn

Becker ’88/’93, professor of biology, is easily recognized by the College community. In her thirty-eighth year of teaching biology at StLCoP, the Alumni Association recognized her dedication to the profession, both as a professor and pharmacist, and to the students, as they named her the Joe E. Haberle Outstanding Educator.

Becker, a first-generation American (her parents came to America from Germany to escape the Holocaust), began teaching at StLCoP in 1970, after receiving an undergradu-ate degree in biology from City College in New York, and a master’s degree in biology at Washington University. Becker came to Washington University in St. Louis from New York on a grant that required she teach labs at the university while obtaining her master’s degree. “That is when I found that I loved teaching,” she recalls. “I thought I wanted to do more research; however, after teaching labs I realized how much I enjoyed helping the students and that teaching was my true calling.”

As an educator, Becker was immediately attracted to the environment of the StLCoP campus. “I liked that StLCoP was geared more towards teaching than research; the profes-sors here took more of an interest in the students,” she says. “I was also drawn to the small, close-knit community on campus.”

Teaching pharmacy students increased Becker’s interest in the profession. She decided to pursue her own pharmacy de-gree in 1982. In 1988, she received her bachelor’s degree from

the College and, after many summer classes and a six-month sabbatical leave to complete her rotations, her Pharm.D. in 1993. “In some ways I had less of a struggle than my fellow (younger) students because I think I was very organized,” Becker says. “I had to be though, with two young kids and a job, in addition to taking classes. But it was very weird for me to have former students as instructors and preceptors.

“Going through the course work here at StLCoP has made such a difference in how I can relate to my students,” Becker points out. “I now have a greater knowledge of what they will be doing in their future pharmacy practice courses, what will be expected of them, and how my biology classes will relate to that. I am able to help them better apply the sciences to the profession, rather than look at them separately.”

In addition to teaching, Becker began to work as a phar-macy consultant in long-term care nursing homes in the St. Louis area in 1988. “It was convenient because I could do it on my own time, and I used all of my knowledge base, but I wish there had been more patient contact,” she admits. “My experiences as a pharmacist have motivated me to prepare my students about what to expect in the professional world.”

Since then, Becker has been involved in numerous pharma-cy organizations, serving as president, and currently as secre-tary and treasurer, of the Missouri chapter of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. She is also a member of the American Pharmacists Association, the National Associa-tion of Biology Teachers, and the National Science Teachers Association.

Becker has not only built her professional career at StLCoP,

Learning Beyond the Laboratory

Biology Professor Evelyn Becker Named 2008

Outstanding Educator

STORYBY STEPHANIE HOFFMANN


Faculty Profile

but the small campus has made it possible for her to reach some personal milestones as well. She met her future husband Gary Meyer ’74 at the College. “We originally met here, and then we went our separate ways, reunited, and were married in 1991,” Becker says. “He has two sons, and I have two daughters, so it was a very blended family with four teenagers in our house at one time, imagine that!”

Becker and her husband love spending time with their chil-dren and grandchildren in their free time. “My eldest daughter was a journalist and is now go-ing to school to get her master’s in education,” Becker says. “My other daughter, Sharon, is a math teacher. Both of my girls were probably influenced by my career. They often came to school with me and would sit in the back of my class, and play with their crayons.” Becker says the fact that she was able to bring her daughters to class with her meant a lot. “There is a strong sense of family here, everyone knows everyone’s kids and is very supportive.”

When she isn’t spending time with her family, Becker enjoys cooking, gardening, and solving crossword puzzles. “My daughters and I are avid word game and crossword puzzle addicts,” she says. Becker also finds time to travel with her husband and daughters. “We have been to many wonderful places in Europe, but one of the most memorable trips I have taken was to Israel with my daughter in 2000. I had helped the son of an alumnus transfer here from another pharmacy school during his fourth year when I was assistant dean of students. As a thank you, his father offered to show me around their homeland, Israel. It was incredible to experience the hospitality of this Palestinian family and being over there during Ramadan.”

Becker says she appreciates the longevity of relationships with alumni, colleagues, and students at StLCoP. “Dr. Smith, who was once my student, is now my colleague,” she says. “I can discuss with him how we are going to educate future generations of pharmacists; that’s something.

“I believe teachers should not just be providers of informa-tion but also coaches. I’ve learned that the most important

thing you can do for students is to set high standards, and help them achieve those standards,” Becker explains. “It is important to help students find out what kind of learners they are and realize what works best for them, but let them realize it themselves. I often find myself ending statements

with ‘does that make sense?’ because I want everyone to understand. One of my favorite things is when the bell goes off in a student’s mind, and they understand something they didn’t before.”

While Becker’s close relationships and caring nature have made her a memorable member of the StLCoP family, she says she probably is most often remembered for “Joke Fridays,” a 30-year tradition that is still going strong in her classroom.

“Humor is a big part of my teaching; I try not to take myself too seriously,” she says. “I tend to be more informal in my teaching style. I like to encourage discussion, even in my larger classes. However, I believe it is important to maintain respect in the classroom. Mutual respect is the key. I think students will respect you if you show that you care about them and let them know they can come to you – hence the M&Ms in my office.”

Opposite page: Becker helps first-year students with dissection in a biology lab. Above: Becker organizes students in small groups in her lecture classroom.


Alumni News


To keep these traditions alive, join the Alumni Association today! Becoming a member is one of the best ways to show your StLCoP pride, and enrich your alumni experience at the same time.

Letter from the Alumni Association President

This is it! My last official letter as president of the Alumni Association.

When I began as president, Necole Powell, director of alumni relations, asked me what kind of

legacy I wanted to leave behind. After some thought, I decided that I would focus on student outreach.

During the past year, I’m happy to say that our student outreach efforts were a huge success! As I mentioned in the last issue of Script, the association has long been involved in offering student support through scholarships and pro-grams such as Survival Kits and the Welcome Back BBQ.

This year, the student affairs committee and the Student Alumni Association joined forces to provide several new pro-fessional and social networking opportunities, including the “From Backpack to Briefcase” series of informative seminars, designed to help students and young alumni find helpful resources and make good decisions during life transitions.

The kick-off event, held on March 26, featured a home-buying seminar facilitated by Bank of America, Allstate Insurance, and Coldwell Banker Premier. Students and young alumni learned about special mortgage programs and financial opportunities, along with real estate and insur-ance tips. On April 10, a “Make the Connection” panel and round-table dinner discussion introduced students

and alumni to unique disciplines of pharmacy while pro-viding them with a professional networking opportunity. The final installment in the “From Backpack to Briefcase” presented a financial planning seminar on April 23. A financial advisor from Merrill Lynch provided students and alumni with actionable information to plan a personal investment program in today’s financial environment.

Through my affiliation with the Alumni Association, I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful students and alumni. This experience has given me a greater respect for the foundation of our success and the future of our profession. I strongly encourage you to become more involved! For additional information on leadership opportunities and membership contributions, please contact Necole Powell at 314.446.8398, or visit www.alumni.stlcop.org.

It has been a special privilege to serve as your president.

Sincerely,

Ellen Verzino ’91/’92President

The Alumni Associa-tion values the support and commitment that alumni, Eutectic fans, and friends of the College provide through membership – more than 1,000 strong and growing!

Membership allows you to be an active part of the growth, traditions, and legacy of the College and Alumni Association. Your annual contribution of $40 helps to strengthen the College and expand the value of your degree by promoting and supporting educational and social pro-grams, events, awards, and student scholarships.

Every membership is important and contributes to the vitality of the entire StLCoP family!

For more information on membership, please contact director of alumni relations, Necole Powell, at 314.446.8398 or www.alumni.stlcop.org.

Join Your Classmates Today!

Benefits of Alumni Association membership include:• Access to online journals

• Continuing education programs

• Invitations to members-only events

• O.J. Cloughly Alumni Library privileges

• Free parking on campus

• Discounts on StLCoP logo items and other merchandise

• Free membership to campus fitness center

• Regular updates on campus news

• Social and professional networking opportunities

• Free alumni directory searches

Your membership supports:• Student scholarships

• Reunion Weekend

• Script magazine

Mr. Adam AlumnusMembership No.: 12345Expiration 6/30/2009


Alumni News

For the past three de-cades, Steve Clement ’74 has counseled patients on their medications, how to use them and what to expect. He loves his job and the people he serves. He also enjoys giving back to his profession by help-ing aspiring pharmacists achieve their dreams.

“I do what I do because somebody gave me a chance when I was young,” says Clement. “Now, I want to give that chance to as many students as I can.”

On March 28 at the Mortar and Pestle Soci-ety dinner, Clement was presented with the Distin-guished Service Award for his long-standing commit-ment to the College and the profession of pharmacy.

“Steve epitomizes what pharmacy is all about,” said President Tom Patton. “First and foremost, he’s commit-ted to meeting the needs of those who rely on his services and sharing his vast knowledge of pharmacy. He also is dedicated to im-proving health care in our region. And he shares his time and energy uncondi-tionally through educational, civic, and community partnerships. Steve is truly deserving of this honor.”

At a young and impres-

sionable age, Clement realized he wanted to be a pharmacist. He still recalls the quality care his par-ents received during their visits to the community pharmacist in Belleville, Ill. Shortly before his StLCoP graduation, Clem-ent began working with pharmacist Al Tockstein ’57 at Medic Pharmacy. He stayed on there for 10 years. In 1984, he opened Copper Bend Pharmacy in Belleville, Ill., where he continues to educate and care for his patients today.

“I went into the profession

because I’d always wanted to help people,” Clement says. “In the process, there has actually been a time or two when I’ve saved a life. Those patients called for advice, and it was a critical situation when they needed to be in the hospi-tal. They called me first, because they trusted what I had to say. People put a great deal of faith and trust in you as a pharmacist.”

Lifetime Members are alumni and friends whose accumulated gifts total $10,000 or more, or who have provided $20,000 or more through planned or deferred gifts.

Steve Clement Honored with Distinguished Service Award

Distinguished Service Award recipient Steve Clement ’74 and his wife Elaine.

New Lifetime Members

Ten Lifetime Members were inducted into the Mortar and Pestle Society this year, increasing the number to 185.

Dr. Aubert Y. Coran ’53/’55

Nabil A. Hallak ’92

William E. Henderson ’52

Ronald & Patricia Hofmeister

Dr. Peter D. Hurd

Ruskin C. Norman M.D. ’41

Richard C. Pratt ’51

John J. Preckshot ’74

Terry L. Seaton

Ro bert ’63 & Patricia Shipley

Joe E. and Marilyn Haberle Endowed Scholarship Fourth-year student Feng Yang and Marilyn Haberle

The Darguzis Family Scholarship Fourth-year student Kristen McGhghy and Dave Darguzis ’60

Edwin A. Krummenacher Scholarship Sponsor Jim Krummenacher and first-year student recipient Jeana Walton-Day

David A. ’60 and Diane H. ’60 Wahlbrink Scholarship David Wahlbrink ’60, fifth-year student Sarah Smith, and Diane Wahlbrink ’60

Gerald P. ’63 and Kathleen V. Bailey Scholarship First-year student Kristen Hagan, Gerry Bailey ’63, and fifth-year student Lindsey McLain

Thomas F. Patton Honorary Scholarship, sponsored by Dennis & Judy Jones Carolyn Echele, Molly McDermott, President Thomas Patton, Kristen Badger, Jin Hong, and Amanda Watermeier

Donald R. ’71 and Sharen Rickert Leadership Award Don Rickert ’71, fifth-year student Alex McMullen, and Sharen Rickert


Alumni News

Matching GiftsThe use of your company’s matching gift program can maximize your contribution to the College. To find out if your company participates in a matching gift program for its employees, retirees, or directors, contact your human resources department.

The following companies provided matching gifts to St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 2007:

Abbott Laboratories

Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Eli Lilly and Company

Jo hnson & Johnson Family of Companies

Covidien

Albertsons Inc.

Pfizer Inc.

GlaxoSmithKline

Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc.

Ameren Corp.

Amgen Inc.

Sprint Foundation

To make your donation, mail it along with your company’s matching gift form to:

Advancement Office St. Louis College of Pharmacy 4588 Parkview Place St. Louis, MO 63110

For more information, please contact Director of Development Rebecca Reeds at 314.446.8395 or [email protected].

Mortar and Pestle Society

Randy Baumgarth, fourth-year student Davin Patel, and Jamie Baumgarth

Jackie and John ’76 Metzger

Sandra Bollinger, Jack Loomstein ’61, and Al Tockstein’57 Debbie and Jerry ’75 Callahan, and Bonnie and Gerry Callahan

Kent and Sandy Ernst June and Gene ’52 Johnson

New lifetime members of the Mortar and Pestle Society: Robert Shipley ’63, Peter Hurd, Ron Hofmeister, and Terry Seaton

Walt Miller ’59 and Don Daschka ’58


Alumni News

On March 28, the 2008 Mortar and Pestle Society dinner was held at Windows Off Washington.


Class Notes


80s Randy Hu ’81 has been appointed direc-tor of pharmacy at Cen-terPointe Hospital in St. Charles, Mo., following a career in sales with Upjohn, Genentech and Chiron. He lives in O’Fallon, Mo., with his wife Lisa and daughter Ashlyn, 6, and son Peyton, who is 4.

Kathi Kellenberger ’81 has been awarded Microsoft MVP status for the SQL server. She is one of 260 SQL server MVPs in the world and one of 60 in the U.S. She works at Bryan Cave in St. Louis and lives in Edwardsville, Ill.

90s Matt ’95 and

Lori (Banks) ’94 Bradley welcomed Kaden Samuel on Feb. 23. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 20 ½ inches. He

joins big brothers Ian, 9, and Collin, 7. They reside in St. Charles, Mo.

Randy Landman ’95 and his wife Kristen welcomed their daughter Kayleigh

Ruth on Nov. 7, 2007. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces

and measured 20 inches. The family resides in Lake St. Louis, Mo.

Diana (Harshman) Renken

’94/’95 and her husband Kraig welcomed their third daughter, Megan Rose, on

Aug. 28, 2007. She joins big sister Katie, who is 10 years old and Emma, who is 5 years old. Diana is a senior clinical pharmacist in adult critical care medicine at University of Wisconsin Hospital. The family lives in Waunakee, Wis.

Scotty Sears ’95 and his wife Dawn welcomed their son William Walker on Feb. 5. He weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce. He joins big brother Hunter Scott. The family resides in La Grange, Ky.

Cindy (Botts) Leonard

’99/’00 is the clinical phar-macy coordinator at Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Mo. She also serves as adjunct clinical assistant professor for the Division of Pharmacy Practice at University of Missouri-Kansas City in addition to her preceptor position at St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

00s Stacey Brawley

’00 married Melvin Mohn Jr. in Edwardsville, Ill., on July 7, 2007. She is a pharmacy manager at Wal-greens. They are planning to move soon to O’Fallon, Mo.

Sara (Lockard) Smith ’00

welcomed her son Aiden Martin on Dec. 9, 2007. He joins older brother Austin,

Joyce Fogleman ’82 received the Business Person of the Year Award from the West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce in January. Fogleman owns J & S Professional Pharmacy in West Frankfort, Ill.

For more than 20 years, Fogleman has devoted her-self to the pharmacy profes-sion and her southern Illinois community. Almost immediately after graduat-ing from StLCoP in 1982, she began her career in West Frankfort. According to chamber of commerce members, Fogleman is known for her strong work ethic, community service, and her ability to make both her employees and

customers feel important. In addition to her involve-

ment in a variety of commu-nity organizations, Fogleman served on the StLCoP board of trustees from 1993 to 2002, returning again in 2003. She is a lifetime member of the Mortar & Pestle Society, and she has also been the recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Service Award and the Alumni Association Service to the College Award. In 1997, she established the Fogleman Scholarship in honor of her parents, Guy and Eileen Fogleman.

Fogleman Receives Community Award


Class Notes

who is 14 years old. The family lives in Rolla, Mo.

Kristy (Wilson) Inge

’00/’01 and her husband Patrick welcomed their daughter Lillie Dawn on Nov. 20, 2007. She joins big sister Hannah, who is 4 years old. Kristy works at NeighborCare Pharmacy in Southern Pines, N.C. The family resides in Whisper-ing Pines, N.C.

Zdenka (Gregorova)

Manthei ’01/’02 and her husband Jon welcomed their daughter Katie Lynne on Feb. 3. She joins big sister

Anna, who is 2 years old. Zdenka works in ambula-tory care at Kaiser Perma-nente. The family lives in Irvine, Calif.

Christine Kurtzeborn ’02/’03 married Dr. Brian Cohn on Nov. 17, 2007 in St. Louis. The couple resides in Phoenix, Ariz.

Heather (Koser) Sweeso ’02 and her husband Greg welcomed their son Hayden Michael on March 7. He

weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 20 inches. The family resides in Augusta, Mo.

Ingrid Kettmann ’06 and her fiancé Dmitry welcomed their daughter Sasha Marie

on Feb. 22. She weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and mea-sured 19 3/4 inches. Ingrid and her daughter live in St. Louis.

Lindsay Nance ’07 married Dax Garrison on June 9, 2007. She is currently assis-tant manager at Wal-Mart in Centralia, Ill. The couple resides in Centralia.

Josh Havrilka ’07 and

Erin (Puls) Havrilka ’07 welcomed their son Hunter Garrett on Jan. 29. He weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces

and measured 21 inches. The family resides in St. Clair, Mo.

Jennifer Holstein ’07 married Matt Palada on Sept. 15, 2007. She works at Standard Drug in Wentz-ville, Mo. They live in Lake St. Louis, Mo.

Enjoy reading about your classmates in Class Notes? Share some news about work projects, new jobs or promotions, marriages or children, awards, vacations, or hobbies. Simply return the form on the inside back cover of Script. You may also send an e-mail to [email protected], or submit news online at www.alumni.stlcop.org/news/classnotes.asp.

Edward M. Peters ’63, of St. Louis, passed away on Feb. 18 at the age of 67. In 1956, at the age of 16, Pe-ters was stricken with polio and remained physically challenged for the rest of his life. Despite his limitations,

he completed high school and attended StLCoP. His father and brother later installed a handrail at the north entrance of Jones Hall to help him access the building.

Peters stayed involved with College after gradu-ation, serving as president of the Alumni Association board of directors in 1976-77. He also served on the board of trustees from 1977 to 1986.

In addition to his bach-elor’s degree from StLCoP, Peters held a master’s degree in hospital administration from Lindenwood College. He worked for the St. Louis Department of Health and Hospitals for more than 20 years, initially as adminis-trator for ambulatory care and later as director of the department. He retired from his most recent posi-tion as chief executive of-ficer of Truman Restorative Center in 2004.

Remembering Edward Peters ’63


Class Notes

In MemoriamHarold A. Jeskey ’32 died on Dec. 22, 2006, in Dallas, Texas.

Ruth Corbin Leimbach ’33

died on May 18, 2007, in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Mildred E. Williams ’38

died on Aug. 6, 2005, in Florissant, Mo.

Kenneth G. Nickel ’41 died on Feb. 11 in St. Louis.

Nicholas M. Mazzola ’42

died on Jan. 18 in St. Louis.

Keith J. Rudert ’47 died on Jan. 28 in St. Louis.

Jean E. Cameron ’49 died on Feb. 6 in Caldwell, Idaho.

William H. Haul ’51 died on Nov. 25, 2007, in St. Louis.

Samuel M. Fields ’54 died on Sept. 22, 2007, in Salina, Kan.

J. Dennis Marr ’55 died on June 17, 2005, in Blue Springs, Mo.

Hanford L. Krummenacher

’57 died on Oct. 31, 2007, in Corona, Calif.

Donald R. Davis ’59 died on Oct. 22, 2007, in Murphysboro, Ill.

Faryl W. Agans ’60 died on Jan. 4 in Hillsboro, Ill.

David L. Longust ’60 died on Dec. 28, 2005, in Belleville, Ill.

William Belli ’63 died on March 18 in Villa Park, Ill.

Edward M. Peters ’63 died on Feb. 18 in St. Louis.

Donald E. Langen ’68 died on June 9, 2007, in Litchfield, Ill.

Brigette (Wells) Dabney ’87 died on March 30 in Florissant, Mo.

Richard J. Gorcowski ’94 died on Dec. 7, 2007, in Pine Island, Minn.

Thea Mae Brotherton ’00 died on Jan. 31 in St. Louis.

Kenneth G. Nickel ’41, a long-time supporter of the College, died on Feb. 11 in St. Louis at the age of 93.

Nickel was a member of the Alumni Associa-tion board of directors and served as honorary president in 1986-87. He also served on the College’s board of trustees from 1947 to 1971. In addition, he was a lifetime member of the Mortar & Pestle Society and a member of the Gold Alumni Club. He was also active in fundraising drives during the 1980s and

1990s. In 2002, he helped to establish the Charles C. Rabe ’39 Humanitarian Award for StLCoP students.

Nickel earned a number of accolades throughout his career. In 2002, he received the Alumni Association Pharmacist of the Year Award and the Distin-guished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Mortar & Pestle Society. He was also the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award in 1971. StLCoP awarded Nickel an honorary Lifetime

Achievement Award in 2007 in recognition of his dedication to pharmacy, as well as his generosity as a benefactor.

Nickel retired from Warner-Lambert in 1998. He is survived by daughter Nancy Wilhelm ’71, a son, and four grandchildren.

Remembering Kenneth Nickel ’41

Nickel enjoyed life, and he loved riding his Vespa® motor scooter. He was 90 years old when the above photo was taken.


What’s new with you?Let us know what you’ve been up

to! Do you have a new job, a new home, a new baby? Have you been appointed to a board or are you newly engaged, newly married, or recently retired? Please take a moment to share some news. If you have a photo you would like included, please e-mail it to [email protected]. You can also submit class notes online at www.alumni.stlcop.org/news/classnotes.asp

name class year

address

e-mail address

my news to share is:

I would also like to join or renew my membership with the Alumni Association.(Please make check payable to StLCoP Alumni Association)

single $40 joint $65

Please return this form to:Alumni Office, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, 4588 Parkview Place, St. Louis, Mo. 63110

Fax: 314.446.8390 E-mail: [email protected]

Coming Soon!

This July, look for the new StLCoP Web site

to go live at www.stlcop.edu. The new site’s

design and content will reflect the College’s

prestige, commitment to students, and impact

on health care in St. Louis and nationwide.

The new site will feature:

• An expanded and integrated alumni section

• Community resource area for alumni and

community members to seek information

on medications from our expert faculty

• Student and faculty profiles

• More photos and videos highlighting

students and the StLCoP campus

• Latest news stories from the College

• Upcoming StLCoP events

• Access to the online library

To complement the new site, look for our new Tablet

e-newsletter and event reminders. The interactive

newsletter featuring upcoming events and latest

news stories will be e-mailed quarterly. If you do

not currently receive Tablet, please fill out the form

below and mail it to the Alumni Office, or visit the

Alumni Association’s site at www.alumni.stlcop.org.

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S.Postage

PAIDCreativePrinting

Services,Inc.4588 Parkview PlaceSt. Louis, MO 63110-1088314.367.8700 Fax 314.446.8304www.stlcop.edu

Save the DateFriday, October 3

StLCoP Campus

Welcome Reception Blues & BBQ on the Quad5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

“After Hours Party” in Dr. Naeger’s Garage

9 p.m.

Saturday, October 4

Sheraton Clayton Plaza7730 Bonhomme Avenue

Gold Alumni Reception5 p.m. President’s Reception5:30 p.m.

Dinner and Awards Program7 p.m.

Hospitality Room 10 p.m.

ChecktheWebsiteforReunionWeekendupdates!WWW.ALUMNI.STLCOP.ORG

Allalumniareinvited!Whetherit’syourreunionyearornot,welookforwardtoyoujoiningthefestivitieswithfellowalumni,faculty,andStLCoPfriends.

HonorClasses: 1958,1983,1998ReunionClasses:1963,1968,1973,1978,

1988,1993,2003Classof 1958: WelcometotheGoldAlumniClub!

HotelroomsmaybereservedattheSheratonClaytonPlazabycalling314.863.0400.(MentiontheStLCoPAlumniAssociationblockof rooms.)

Formoreinformation,[email protected].

Documents

St. Louis College of Pharmacy President Thomas F. Patton ... · St. Louis College of Pharmacy President Thomas F. Patton, Ph.D. I In so many ways, St. Louis College of Pharmacy aspires