Student Researchers Showcase their Projects

Pharmacy Showcase, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s annual student research day, provides an opportunity for students and residents to highlight their work

By Becky Ceraul
May 1, 2009

More than 50 student pharmacists, pharmacy residents, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows participated in the School of Pharmacy’s annual student research day on April 14, which highlighted the depth of research prowess within the School’s student body.

“I’m really inspired by the level of passion our students bring to their work,” says Linda Simoni-Wastila, PhD, an associate professor of pharmaceutical health services research and chair of the Graduate Studies and Research Committee, which organized the event. “Research Day provides them with the opportunity to show off all the great work they’ve done in collaboration with other students, staff and faculty. It’s also intended to bridge the disciplines and departments in our School and highlight the diversity of our research.”

Pharmacy resident Jamie Wilkins, PharmD, shared her research on patient perceptions of medications called statins to treat high cholesterol and is studying ways to improve patient counseling on these medications. “There was a great amount of very interesting research to learn about at Research Day, and it was also a great venue to share what my project is about, as well as an opportunity to receive feedback before presenting my findings at an upcoming conference,” she says.

In addressing the student researchers at the conclusion of the event, School of Pharmacy Dean Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, said: “The diverse topics I saw here are so impressive. I tell my own students that what is really important in research is to understand that we can solve no problem alone. Collaboration is key, and events like this provide the back drop for those collaborations to take shape.”

The School’s Student Research Day was sponsored by Whiting-Turner.