May 2023

The National Center for Natural Products Research hosted the 21st International Conference on the Science of Botanicals April 24-27. 

This exciting annual event brings leading industry figures and academics together for discussions and the sharing of knowledge pertaining to the study of medicinal plants. Attendance at this year's conference increased from 2022 with 261 attendees and 20 countries represented. 

This year's keynote address was delivered by Gregory Noonan, senior science advisor for chemistry at the FDA. Additionally, the 2023 Outstanding Contribution in Natural Products Award was presented to John Travis (pictured) of NSF International.

The School of Pharmacy has named three faculty members as Distinguished Teaching Scholars for a term of three years.

Sally Earl, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice; Kayla Stover, professor of pharmacy practice; and Noa Valcarcel, instructional assistant professor of pharmacology, were honored for dedication to teaching and student development.

"I am so proud of each of these teaching scholars," said Donna Strum, the school's dean. "They are in the top echelon of educators across the country. Their commitment to student learning is to be commended."

In April, the School of Pharmacy celebrated three of its alumni during the school's Alumni Weekend awards banquet.

Those recognized were Robert Marion (B.S.P.S. 1976) and Jimmie Valentine (M.S. 1966, Ph.D. 1968), both receiving the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award, and Mary-Haston Vest (B.S.P.S. 2013, Pharm.D. 2016), who received the 2023 Early Career Alumni Award.

"These alumni are remarkable people who have been successful in their careers and continued to give back to the School of Pharmacy," said Donna Strum. "I am so proud to count them among our alumni."

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences graduates Cellas Hayes (pictured left) and Imdadul Khan will serve as class marshals at the 2023 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.

Hayes earned a Ph.D. in pharmacology under the mentorship of Nicole Ashpole, associate professor of pharmacology. His work was supported by the prestigious NIH F31 Fellowship. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow and Propel Scholar at Stanford University in the Department of Neurology.

Khan earned a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry under the mentorship of Hoang Le, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry. He was an American Chemical Society Graduate Research Scholar. He is currently a postdoctoral scholar at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

School of Pharmacy graduate Dylan Edwards of Brandon minored in political science during his undergraduate days at the University of Mississippi with little expectation of it dovetailing into a PharmD degree.

"I originally wanted a political science minor out of personal interest," he said. "However, these courses taught me how to critically analyze policies and decisions made by different stakeholders in coming to their conclusions and what implications developed thereafter. As a pharmacist, I will use these critical analysis skills in practice to better understand the decisions made in each patient's past medical history and current therapeutic regimen to help determine what future steps could be considered."

As part of the School of Pharmacy's efforts to celebrate 60 years of integration, which began with James Meredith's enrollment in the university, the school held a special Pioneer Toast during Alumni Weekend to honor its own pharmacy school pioneers who forged a path for other students from underrepresented groups.

Each pioneer received a "Pharmacy Pioneer" pin to acknowledge their perseverance and celebrate them as trailblazers. The school is committed to a diverse, inclusive community, as both the profession of pharmacy and public health as a whole will benefit, and these pioneers have played an important role in this commitment.

Billy Brown, president-elect of the school's alumni board, is pictured with those recognized: George Leonard, B.S.P.S. 1970; Clarence Dubose, B.S.P.S. 1975; Nkere Ebube, Ph.D. 1994; Pearl Wales, Pharm.D. 1995; Catina Brandon White, Pharm.D. 1997; Stephanie Milsap Lovett, B.S.P.S. 1997, Pharm. D. 1999; Billy Brown, Pharm.D. 

In the month of April, the School of Pharmacy and the Department of BioMolecular Sciences hosted Joshua Gordon, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. Gordon presented a seminar to students, "Challenges and Opportunities in Mental Health Research." 

The event was sponsored by the Minority Association of Successful Scientists. The School of Pharmacy appreciates Gordon visiting campus and sharing his knowledge with students.

Congratulations to Barbara Neyses and Elizabeth Weatherall for earning April's Staff Power Teamwork Award.

Congrats to Samir Ross for receiving the Diversity Excellence Award from the UM Division of Diversity and Community Engagement.

Congrats to Danny Riche for being selected for the 2023 UMMC Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence and as a finalist for the 2023 Regions TEACH Prize.

Congratulations to Kristie Willett for receiving the SEC Faculty Achievement Award.

Congrats to Joshua Fleming and Andrew Mays for being named ASHP fellows.

Congrats to graduate student Emily Rasmussen for being awarded an NSF fellowship and being elected Vice President of the Graduate Student Council.

Congrats to student Sydney Russell for winning the Miss Mississippi USA title.

Congrats to the following students who were recognized at the University of Mississippi Leadership and Engagement Ceremony: Tonia Aminone, Diversity Innovator; Mohammed Ahmed, Outstanding Organization Member; Maggie Craze, Emerging Leader; and Shayla Victoria and Tonia Aminone, New Student Organization of the Year

Congratulations to Awards Day winners: Friend of the Student Award - Chelsea Bennett and Mary Windom; APPE Preceptor of the Year - Khalid Mokhtar; IPPE Preceptor of the Year - Meagan Brown; P3 Teacher of the Year - Amanda Capino; P2 Teacher of the Year - Noa Valcarcel; P1 Teacher of the Year - Jamie Stewart; P1 Teaching Assistant of the Year - Ben Sawyer; and P2 Teaching Assistant of the Year - Darrienne Martin

Congrats to Tonia Aminone for receiving Best Graduate Student Abstract in the Occupational and Public Health Specialty Section at the Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting.

Congrats to Jameika Stuckey on being appointed into the 2023 Rho Chi Society Alumni Honor Roll.

Le'Tosha James, program manager, Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery

Robert Welch, director, UM National Center for Cannabis Research and Education

Check out this NutraIngredients video to hear Bill Gurley, NCNPR principal scientist, talk about the International Conference on the Science of Botanicals.

Stuart Haines, professor, pharmacy professional development director and AACP immediate past-president, and AACP member colleagues Tina Brock, Jeff Cain and Kristin Janke have published 17 "epidoses" of conversations about key issues shaping the future of pharmacy education. 

May 11

May 13

June 8

Sponsored by UM School of Pharmacy Alumni Association - Oxford, MS

On April 14, the School of Pharmacy celebrated students and faculty at Awards Day and welcomed new Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma initiates. Congratulations to all!

Pharmacy Matters informs, engages and celebrates the UM School of Pharmacy community.

Follow along with us on social media