UB Pharmacy Students Receive Awards

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Twenty-five graduates of the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences received awards during the school's recent commencement ceremony.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system that is its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.

The award winners are:

• Matthew Duell of Rochester, the Lilly Achievement Award, presented by Eli Lilly and Company to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated superior scholastic achievement in the professional curriculum, as well as leadership and professional qualities. Duell also received a UB Pharmacy Alumni Association Award, which is presented to the member of the pharmacy graduating class who has best achieved a balance between academic performance and professional activities, and who has exhibited qualities of initiative, creativity and leadership.

• Joette Bumbalo of Lancaster, the Phi Lambda Sigma of Achievement, Chapter Member of the Year Award, presented to a member of Phi Lambda Sigma in acknowledgement of outstanding support and contributions to the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• Adam Saleh of Amherst, the GlaxoSmithKline Patient Care Award, presented to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated superior patient care skills.

• Adam Field of Scottsdale, Ariz., the Michael E. Crawford Award, presented to members of the graduating class who exemplify a spirit of perseverance. The award is given in memory of Michael E. Crawford, a 1979 graduate of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• Deborah Liana of Rochester, the Eino Nelson Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding work in biopharmaceutics. The award is given in memory of Eino Nelson, former professor and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutics. Liana also received the Francis P. Taylor Award, which is presented to the most outstanding member of the graduating class in the professional practice sequence. The award was established in memory of Francis P. Taylor, a 1934 graduate of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and former instructor in pharmacy. In addition, Liana received the second-place Merck Award for ranking second in the graduating class and the Pharmacists' Association of Western New York Student Leadership Award, which is presented to a member of the graduating class who has shown leadership in professional organization activities and has maintained a good scholastic standing in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• Jrace Rong of Amherst, the David E. Guttman Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated a high degree of interest and achievement in the area of pharmaceutical analysis and physical pharmacy. The award is given in memory of David E. Guttman, former professor of pharmaceutics.

• Lisa Garrity of Amherst, the Renee A. Dederich Memorial Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who has chosen to pursue the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. It is given in memory of Renee A. Dederich, a 1977 graduate of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, who received her Pharm.D. degree posthumously in 1979. Garrity also received the Robert H. Ritz Award, which is presented to the member of the graduating class who attained the highest standing in biochemical pharmacology. It was established by Robert H. Ritz, a 1919 graduate of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science. In addition, Garrity received the third place Merck Award for ranking third in the graduating class, and the Roy M. Barr Award, which is presented to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding work in medicinal chemistry. It was established by Roy M. Barr, a 1914 graduate of the UB pharmacy school.

• Libby Czajkowski of Derby, the APHA-ASP Mortar & Pestle Professionalism Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who exhibits the ideals of professionalism and excellence in patient care, and has demonstrated exceptional service and commitment to the profession of pharmacy through his or her involvement in professional organizations and extracurricular learning opportunities. The award is sponsored by McNeil Consumer Healthcare. Czajkowski also received the ASP Certificate of Recognition, which is presented to a member of the graduating class for outstanding service to the UB Chapter of the Academy of Students of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• Jeremy Schrader of Rochester, the National Community Pharmacists Association Outstanding Student Member Award, presented to a member of the graduating class in recognition of his or her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to advancing independent community pharmacy practice. Schrader also received the Samuel J. Bauda Award, which is presented to a member of the graduating class who exemplifies the qualities of leadership and dedication to community health care, desirable in a community pharmacy practitioner. The award was established in memory of Samuel J. Bauda, a 1923 graduate of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• Julia Houseknecht of Hamburg, the Roger Mantsavinos Award, presented to the pharmacy graduate who has demonstrated outstanding work in biochemistry. It is given in memory of Roger Mantsavinos, former associate professor of biochemical pharmacology in the UB pharmacy school. Houseknecht also received the Margaret C. Swisher Memorial Award, which is presented to an outstanding pharmacy student in the field of chemistry. It was established in memory of Margaret C. Swisher by Dr. and Mrs. Alexander Slepian.

• Amy Brilliant of Niskayuna, the Lori Esch Memorial Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated achievement in ambulatory pharmacotherapy management with an emphasis on patient counseling and education, and who exemplifies the commitment to medication safety and beneficial outcomes personified by Lori Esch, a former assistant professor and HIV pharmaceutical care specialist in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• Devon Marks of Hamlin, the first-place Merck Award for ranking first in the graduating class. Marks also received the Excellence in Pharmacogenomics Award, which is presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated high academic achievement and outstanding work in pharmacogenomics.

• Nathan Johnson of Amherst, the Roche Pharmacy Communications Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who is committed to pharmacy and patient care, and who has demonstrated a superior ability to effectively communicate with patients in a congenial and compassionate manner. Johnson also received the Western New York Society of Health System Pharmacists Award, which is presented to a member of the graduating class with a record of high academic achievement and an interest in institutional practice.

• Colleen Kingsbury of Buffalo, the Robert M. Cooper Memorial Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who exemplifies the qualities of ethics, integrity and commitment personified by Robert M. Cooper, former professor and associate dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• Marina Wu of Villa Park, Calif., the Mylan Pharmaceutical Excellence in Pharmacy Award, presented to a member of the graduating class in recognition of high academic achievement and professional motivation in a tangible and professionally meaningful manner. Wu also received the New York State Chapter of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Research Award, which is presented to the member of the graduating class whose research has been most consistent with the mission of the New York State Chapter of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy in promoting excellence and innovation in clinical pharmacy research.

• Sabrina Randazzo of Fairport, the Facts and Comparisons Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication, presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated high scholastic achievement and superior verbal and written clinical communication skills. Randazzo also received the Applied Pharmacotherapy Professional Experience Program Award, which is presented for outstanding performance in the in-patient component of the Professional Experience Program.

• Erin Corica of Endicott, the Pharmacists' Society of the State of New York Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who has shown interest in, and has taken part in, pharmaceutical organization activities.

• Kristin Gardner of Amherst, the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Recognition Award, presented to an outstanding member of the graduating class who has shown an interest in an evidence-based approach to patient care.

• Benjamin Rok of Williamsville, the McKesson Leadership Award, presented to a student who has best served the UB Chapter of the Academy of Students of Pharmacy.

• Binh Ha of Waterloo, Ontario, the TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA Outstanding Student Award, presented to a graduating senior who excels in the study of pharmacy.

• Thomas Walsh of Buffalo, the A.B. Lemon Memorial Award, presented to a member of the graduating class who exemplifies the high ideals of scholarship and dedication to the profession of pharmacy that were held by A. Bertram Lemon, former dean of the UB pharmacy school.

• Lindsay Muller of Rochester, the Applied Pharmacotherapy Professional Experience Program Award, presented for outstanding performance in the in-patient component of the Professional Experience Program.

• Katherine Zawadzki of Tonawanda, the Ambulatory Care Professional Experience Program Award, presented to a pharmacy graduate for outstanding performance in the ambulatory components of the Professional Experience Program.

• Karen Koller of Kenmore, the Perrigo Award of Excellence in Nonprescription Medication Studies, presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated a superior clinical knowledge of drug therapy and provides his or her patients with outstanding professional services in the area of nonprescription medications.

• Joseph Couto of Bristol, R.I., the Katherine Doyle Memorial Award for Excellence in Palliative Care, presented to the member of the graduating class who exemplifies the commitment for compassionate care toward patients with life-limiting conditions but treatable symptoms as personified by Katie Doyle, a 2006 Pharm.D. graduate who, as a student, resident and practicing pharmacist, worked to relieve both physical and emotional pain and suffering from patients in her care.