March 2019

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Dear Alumni and Friends,

The College of Pharmacy is committed to advancing pharmacy practice in Minnesota. We are continuing our active partnership with the Minnesota Pharmacists Association and the Minnesota Society of Health-System Pharmacists on the Minnesota Pharmacy Alliance (MPA).

The mission of the MPA is to seek legislative changes that will allow pharmacists in Minnesota to practice to the limits of their education and to expand patient accesses to care. MPA is now hard at work on initiatives for the 2019 legislative session, which include:

• Authorizing pharmacists to prescribe opioid antagonists, tobacco cessation treatment, and hormonal contraceptives
• Expanding pharmacy‐based medication administration and injection services
• Patient Fair Practices legislation to bring transparency to the drug pricing and pharmacy benefit marketplace and assure PBMs operate in the interest of patients, consumers, and taxpayers
• Legislation that will bring Minnesota’s Fee‐for‐Service Medicaid program into compliance with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Covered‐Outpatient Drug Rule

MPA members are working with other pharmacists, other health professions, the Department of Health, and the Board of Pharmacy to make sure that the pharmacy profession presents a united front to legislators. You can read more details on MPA’s initiatives. 

College faculty are also involved in other legislative initiatives including:

• Expanding capability of pharmacists as mental health providers
• Advocating for representation of pharmacy in healthcare workforce committees
• Pharmacogenomics projects, including establishing a statewide task force to lead the process of making pharmacogenomics available across the state to reduce adverse reactions due to medications and to improve healthcare outcomes; establishing a Board of Pharmacogenomic Experts to inform the state about optimal use of pharmacogenomic markers; creating a central coordinating resource where individuals may share their pharmacogenomic results with all of their healthcare providers, physicians and pharmacists; establishing a pilot Pharmacogenomic Study in Minnesota Minority Populations.

We also have a very active student group that is working to establish a prescription drug repository program. You can read their story here. 

I am excited to see the work MPA and our college is doing to persuade legislators of our value and accomplish what is best for patients and the profession. It is an exciting time for Minnesota
pharmacy!

I strongly encourage you to contact your legislators and voice your support for these initiatives. (Find your representatives and contact information)

 
Best wishes,

Lynda S. Welage, Dean
pharm@umn.edu

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 CELEBRATING LEADERS: MARSHA MILLONIG TO RECEIVE WEAVER MEDAL

Marsha Millonig, a practicing pharmacist who works with both independent and chain pharmacies, has been selected to receive the Lawrence C. and Delores M. Weaver Medal, a distinguished award that recognizes service to education, the profession, research and the community. All are invited to a reception honoring her on Tuesday, April 9, 4-6 p.m., University Hall of McNamara Alumni Center on the Twin Cities campus. Please RSVP online. 

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 LEADING THE WAY IN EARLY DETECTION OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

The University and a medical imaging company recently announced a collaboration and licensing agreement that will allow the company to further develop and bring to market a University technology for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. The collaboration provides RetiSpec, a startup based in Toronto, Canada, with exclusive access to an imaging system developed by researchers Robert Vince, Swati More, and James Beach in the college's Center for Drug Design (CDD) and licensed through U of M Technology Commercialization.
 
"This is the first diagnostic method developed to detect signs of Alzheimer’s well before plaques form in the brain and patients begin to exhibit the outwardly observable symptoms of this devastating disease, such as disorientation and memory loss," said Vince, CDD director and professor of pharmacy. "We are excited by the potential early detection holds in giving existing treatments the best chance of success and opening the doors to the development of new drug therapies." Read more.

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ALUMNI AWARDS RECIPIENTS

FACULTY RECEIVE PROMINENT AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

UMN AMCP CHAPTER NAMED CHAPTER OF THE YEAR

NEW UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP

JOIN US AT THE APhA MEETING IN SEATTLE

All alumni and friends are invited to join us at the Minnesota Night Pharmacy Reception: Celebrating 125 Years of Excellence at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting & Exposition on Sunday, March 24, 5:30-7 p.m., Cirrus Room, 35th floor, Pike Tower, Sheraton Grand Seattle. No RSVP required. Questions? Contact Jessica Ward-Denison at jward-de@umn.edu

 

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FREE ONLINE LEARNING TOOL: HOW TO ADMINISTER NALOXONE IN AN OPIOID OVERDOSE SITUATION

The college recently launched an online learning tool for pharmacists and providers who wish to learn more about factors that increase individuals' risk of opioid overdose, identify signs and symptoms of opioid overdose, and understand the pros and cons of different naloxone formulations. This free online presentation reviews resources patients may use to access naloxone, describe legal considerations for prescribing and dispensing of naloxone in Minnesota, and discuss available naloxone and opioid resources for healthcare providers and patients. CE credits available.

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SUPPORTING STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS

You can brighten the future of Minnesota pharmacists by making a gift in support of today's pharmacy students at the college. Your online gift will provide student scholarships as well as program support such as our pace-setting initiatives advancing pharmacy practice. Thank you on behalf of the entire college.

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JOIN US: MARCH 31 - APRIL 13 #RXWRITING CHALLENGE

1. Write 30 minutes per day (M-F)  for these two weeks. Any kind of writing counts, e.g., outlines, drafts, feedback to co-authors, revisions, responding to reviews. 
2. Celebrate your progress, in some small way, each day that you write. 

Learn more about the challenge and sign up.  Also follow the @RxWritersUnite Twitter feed!

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PLEASE JOIN US!