Student Research Day Highlights Wide Range of Exciting Projects
Annual Event Provides Forum for Information Sharing, Collaboration and Practice
By Becky Ceraul
April 10, 2008
More than 165 graduate and professional students and residents and post-doctoral fellows at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy gathered in the MSTF atrium on April 8 for the School’s annual Student Research Day. Their posters were displayed at the event, which provided an opportunity for students to discuss their work with judges, other students, faculty and potential collaborators.
“The goal of Student Research Day is to prepare graduate students, residents and post-doctoral fellows for participation in scientific meetings,” said Richard Dalby, PhD, Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. “It’s also intended to give faculty and students an idea of what others are researching outside their individual fields of interest in an informal setting.”
Charmaine Rochester, PharmD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, volunteered as a judge for this year’s competition. “Events like this aid communication between departments and encourage collaboration,” she said. “I’m here not only as a judge, but because I’m also interested in talking with student researchers who have similar interests and ideas as mine. The quality of work I’ve seen is excellent.”
Pharmacy resident Michelle Horn, PharmD, presented a poster on patient attitudes toward a weight management clinic in a community pharmacy. She knows that research will be an important part of her career as a pharmacist. “It’s vital that practicing pharmacists are involved in research,” she says. “Because of our contact with patients, we have the opportunity to evaluate new therapies, research patient needs, develop new programs and share that information with other pharmacists with the ultimate goal of improving care.”
The day also featured a panel discussion from three School of Pharmacy alumni. They discussed “Life after Graduation” and provided some solid tips for current students on how to get the job of their dreams and prepare for the working world. “I encourage you to branch outside of pharmacy and explore all of the career options out there,” said Danielle Lavallee, PharmD, PhD, Director of the Center for Medication Use & Outcomes Research in the School of Pharmacy’s Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science and a 2006 graduate. “Do it now while you have the flexibility. You’ll then have a better understanding of the full realm of careers available to you in pharmacy.”
Varsha Chavan, PhD, Senior R&D Scientist at Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and a 2001 graduate encouraged students to participate in the student chapters of professional organizations and to hand out business cards at conference and meetings. “You should see these events as opportunities for career advancement.”
Ultimately, there were three first place winners and numerous honorable mentions. According to head judge Michael Shapiro, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, many more awards could have been given out. “From the judges’ point of view, Student Research Day was an unquestionable success,” he says. “There are so many great posters that it was very difficult to award prizes to only three available in each session. I think the 22 judges who volunteered their time would agree that we could have easily handed out many more. But all of the participants are winners as they have acquired skills necessary for their future endeavors.”
Student Research Day Prize Winners
Session I
First Place – Vivek Dave: Formulation and Functional Evaluation of Theophylline Matrix Tablets Prepared by Roller Compaction
Honorable Mentions:
Nour Obeidat: Do Racial and Age Disparities in the Receipt of Newer Therapies for the Treatment of Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Exist?
Xiao Zhu: Small Molecule Inhibitors against BCL6 Promotes DLBCL Cell Death
Session II
First Place – Paul Ku: Adherence of Once Daily and BID HIV HAART Regimen and Its Impact on HIV Virologic Suppression
Honorable Mentions:
Jorie Glick: Knowledge of Emergency Contraception among Health Professions Students
Jessie O’Kane: In with the New: A Briefing on Bystolic (Nebivolol) and Its Impact on Current Treatment
Session III
First Place – Jamie Wilkins: Care of the Potential Organ Donor
Honorable Mentions:
Amy Snyder: Maraviroc – The Latest Weapon in the War against HIV
Jack Kakar: Treating Fever in Children