The University of Mississippi | Pharmacy Matters

April 2023

A map of the United States with pins in 19 different states

Match Day Boasts High Match Rates

In March, we celebrated students who matched with a residency program during the much-anticipated Match Day. Our PGY-1 match rate was the second best in our program's history at 88.1%, coming in higher than this year's national average of 74.7% and just under our school's highest-ever match rate of 89% in 2022.

The PGY-2 match rate, which includes early commitments, was an exciting 94.4%.

"We are thrilled for the many successes of our P4s and alumni," said Katie McClendon, assistant dean for student services on the Jackson campus. "Our curriculum, experiential education experiences and co-curricular opportunities have prepared our students to be excellent resident candidates. We also wish our students and alumni success in phase two of the match in April, as well as those seeking employment and other training after graduation."

Congratulations to all who matched and will go on to further their education at residency programs across the country.

Professor Named AACP Distinguished Teaching Scholar

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy has announced that Stuart Haines, professor of pharmacy practice and director of the Division of Pharmacy Professional Development on the Jackson campus, has been named an AACP Distinguished Teaching Scholar.

The prestigious award, given to a maximum of three individuals annually, is designed to recognize excellence of academic pharmacy faculty engaged in and/or supporting scholarly teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Haines will receive the award at the AACP annual meeting in July.

"When I look at the list of past recipients of this award, I feel quite humbled," Haines said. "I'm most proud of the many opportunities I've had to mentor students, residents and junior faculty over my career, helping them to achieve their goals. Likewise, I've learned so much from them."

Doctoral Student Selected for SEC Emerging Scholars Program

Student Miguel De Leon has been selected as one of the doctoral participants in the 2023-24 SEC Emerging Scholars program.

Southeastern Conference provosts launched the program in 2021 with the aim of sustaining a coordinated collaboration to support the retention of diverse talent into faculty positions at conference institutions.

De Leon, a third-year, first-generation student from Houston, Texas, said he feels validated by the selection.

"As a first-generation college student who experiences imposter syndrome daily, it can be easy to doubt my accomplishments and feel like I don't belong in academia," he said. "This recognition serves as a powerful reminder that I am capable and that my efforts have paid off. It's also a reminder that as a minority, I am representing not only myself but also other underrepresented minorities who may be facing similar challenges."

Crumby Awarded AACP New Investigator Honor

Ashley Crumby, assistant professor and academic affairs coordinator, has earned the prestigious New Investigator Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

Crumby received the recognition for her scholarly research "Factors Associated with Student Pharmacist Engagement in Mentoring Relationships," focused on mentorship and its role in students' education and professional development.

"Dr. Crumby has a passion for working with students and is a tremendous asset to the School of Pharmacy," said Kris Harrell, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of pharmacy practice. "Her efforts in leading our academic achievement program have garnered campuswide and national attention, and her role in directing the mentorship activities in our PRUDENT Scholars program has been invaluable."

A group of Ole Miss pharmacy graduate students in Thad Cochran Research Center

Grad Students Impress at Annual Symposium

The Graduate Student Council recently held its annual Research & Creative Symposium. The two-day event included an invited speaker, a career panel and four different student competitions - creative, podium, poster, and pitch.

A total of 78 graduate students shared their research and creative work from over 20 different departments campuswide, with 11 pharmacy graduate students involved in the planning and coordination of the successful event. Additionally, pharmacy graduate students swept the poster competition. Kudos to our students for their hard work!

Congratulations to Joshua Sharp for earning the American Society for Mass Spectrometry Ron Sites Award for Outstanding Paper in the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.

Congrats to Courtney Roper for being named a University of Mississippi Community Engaged Fellow.

Congrats to Lindsey Cooper, Natalie Ehrhardt and Angela Ellis, our March Staff Power Teamwork Award winners.

Congratulations to graduate student Cole Smith for placing fifth in the 3-Minute Thesis competition at the Mississippi Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting.

Congrats to grad student Maggie Craze for earning first place for oral presentations in the Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Division at the MAS Annual Meeting.

Sage McNamara, digital content specialist

Yinan Huang, assistant professor of pharmacy administration and research assistant professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (RIPS)

Megan Anderson, materials assistant.

Hari Babu Kothapalli, postdoctoral research associate, NCNPR

Fadime Aydogan, postdoctoral research associate, NCNPR

Ahmed ElSaid Ali Elbaramawy, postdoctoral research associate, NCNPR

Ginson George, postdoctoral research associate, NCNPR

Joseph Brummett, R&D data analyst, NCNPR

Yu-Dong Zhou, prinicipal scientist, NCNPR

Tune in to The Mayo Lab Podcast to catch Sujith Ramachandran, pharmacy administration assistant professor, on The Mayo Lab Podcast discussing addiction to prescription stimulants and getting to the root of the culture of over-prescription with host David Magee. Magee also hosts associate professor Nicole Ashpole and Larry Walker, interim director of the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education, to discuss topics related to marijuana use today.

On the latest episode of the Pharmacy Forward podcast with professor Stuart Haines, University of Florida College of Pharmacy guests John Gums, professor and associate dean for clinical and administrative affairs, and Eric Dietrich, clinical associate professor, talk about billing for pharmacy services.