Student Researchers Showcase Their Projects

Annual student research day provides an opportunity for students and residents to highlight their work

By Becky Ceraul
April 6, 2011

More than 70 student pharmacists, pharmacy residents, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows participated in the School of Pharmacy’s annual student research day on March 31, which highlighted the depth of research prowess within the School’s students and trainees.

“Research day gives students, postdocs, residents, and faculty a chance to share their research studies and learn about research going on in other departments,” says Paul Shapiro, PhD, associate dean for research and graduate studies. “It is hoped that this venue will stimulate new collaborations across the school.”

Jeremy Yap, a graduate student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, presented his research on anti-cancer treatments and appreciated the interdisciplinary nature of the event. “Good scientists recognize the connections between different areas of focus,” he says. “In the professional world, it’s all about collaboration.”

Nicole Hahn, PharmD, a School of Pharmacy resident, showcased her study on patients with treatment resistant depression. “It’s a wonderful platform for presenting my results,” she says.

Keri Yang, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research (PHSR) who is also a pharmacist, was participating in her second Research Day. Her work focuses on comparing the costs of first-line versus second-line chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer. “This is a great venue for showcasing our department’s work and to see what others in the School are doing,” she says. “To be successful, I think it is important to have an integrated research environment with lots of collaboration.”

School of Pharmacy faculty were eager to interact with the presenters. “Research Day is great for students and trainees because it gives them experience in discussing their results in a clear and concise way,” says Francoise Pradel, PhD, an associate professor in PHSR and director of the department’s graduate program. “It simulates a real-life situation and they learn a lot from it.”