MARCH 2015

BESS G. EMCH

The legacy of the college’s

first female dean

PG2

FOLLOW THE CELLS

Dr. Marcia McInerney

researches the migration of

cells in type 1 diabetes.

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LEADERSHIP LESSONS

Advice for women in science

from Dr. Amanda Bryant-

Friedrich

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THANKING OUR DONORS

Donors from the month of

January are recognized.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PG6

DR. SHARREL PINTO LEADS NATIONAL MEDICATION ADHERENCE STUDY

Poor medication adherence has dire

consequences, leading to high mortality rates

and lower quality of life for patients with

chronic disease. Patients who have complex

medication schedules may have trouble

remembering to take all their medications,

and they may not know what to do when

they miss doses.

Dr. Sharell Pinto, director of the

Pharmaceutical Care and Outcomes

Research laboratory and division head for

Health Outcomes and Socioeconomic

Sciences, is leading the national conversation

on medication adherence. As the lead

investigator on the STOMPP project, she is

demonstrating how community pharmacists,

through medication therapy management

and adherence packaging, can impact the

clinical outcomes and quality of life of

patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2

diabetes.

Through this study, Dr. Pinto hopes to

demonstrate the effectiveness of adherence

blister packaging, which simplifies

adherence by grouping daily medication

doses for the patient. Along with the clinical

education provided by pharmacists and the

continual monitoring of patients by

physicians, this approach might help to

improve patients’ health outcomes.

Dr. Pinto’s research was

featured in Drug

Topics. Read

more

The monthly

e-newsletter of the

nationally ranked

University of Toledo

College of Pharmacy

and Pharmaceutical

Sciences

Refill x

When Bess G. Emch

earned her pharmacy

license in 1918, hers

was one of only 48

issued by the Ohio

Board of Pharmacy that

year. She had a successful career as a

practicing pharmacist for over two

decades before the call to leadership that

would change our college.

The World War II era, when Rosie the

Riveter images empowered women to

join the workforce while so many men

were at war, held great change for the

practice of pharmacy. Here at The

University of Toledo, the dean of the

College of Pharmacy, Dr. George Baker,

left in 1942 to serve in the Navy, and

Bess G. Emch took leadership of the

college.

During her time as acting dean (1942-

1946), with enrollment dropping and a

nation at war, Emch helped to establish

scholarships that would support

students. By 1944, 80 percent of the

students in the college were women.

The change among the population of

pharmacists was chronicled by a 1944

article in The Blade entitled “Pharmacy

Goes Feminine: Girls Take Over Drug

Jobs Here.” The idea of women as

pharmacists was novel in the 1940s, but

pharmacy is now recognized as the top

career for women, providing equitable

pay and flexible work schedules. Bess G.

Emch would be proud.

“Science is not a boy's game; it's not a girl's game. It's everyone's

game. It's about where we are and where we're going.”

Nichelle Nichols

Actress who played Lt. Uhura on the original

Star Trek television series

Dr. Marcia McInerney, pictured

above with students in her lab,

describes her new R15 NIH grant

that explores the cellular

mechanisms behind type I diabetes.

DIABETES IN AMERICA

Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes

affects some 15 million people

worldwide, with three million in the

US. More than 15,000 children and

15,000 adults are diagnosed with

type 1 diabetes each year in the US.

Furthermore, the incidence of type 1

diabetes for children under fourteen

years of age is estimated to increase

by 3% annually worldwide. In type 1

diabetes, pancreatic beta cells, the

only cells in the body that secrete

insulin, are destroyed. Because

insulin controls the usage of sugar in

the body, which allows cells to be

fed, glucose levels in the blood and

urine rise when insulin is not

present, leading to the clinical

symptoms of diabetes. Diabetes is

controlled by insulin injection;

however, secondary complications of

diabetes include heart disease,

blindness, kidney failure, poor

circulation and wound healing, and

increased risk of infection. The

healthcare cost for type 1 diabetes in

the US is close to $15 billion each

year.

IMMUNE RESPONSE IN T1D

The immune system, which includes

white blood cells or lymphocytes, is

responsible for recognizing and

destroying foreign invaders such as

bacteria and viruses. While the immune

system does not normally respond to any

self-components, in autoimmune

disease, the immune system recognizes

some self-tissue as “foreign” and

destroys it; this is what happens in type

1 diabetes. In a process called insulitis,

lymphocytes enter the islets of

Langerhans in the pancreas, where the

beta cells, the only cells in the body that

produce insulin, live. The lymphocytes

destroy the beta cells. Once they are

MEET DR. McINERNEY

A longtime leader in the college,

Dr. McInerney has risen through

the ranks from faculty member to

executive administrative dean, all

while remaining actively involved

in research.

Dr. Marcia McInerney’s successful career in

research has been focused on identifying the

molecular and cellular basis for diabetes and

understanding the immune responses

associated with diabetes to prevent the

occurrence of the disease.

She is the associate dean for research and

TYPE I DiabetesTYPE I DiabetesTYPE I Diabetes BESS G. EMCH (1883-1961)

LEADERSHIP LESSONS 4

1

2

3

4

IDENTIFY YOUR PASSION

A career in the sciences can be challenging. If you have a passion for the work, however, you can call upon that passion to remain motivated.

DEVELOP A LIFE PLAN

It’s important to have a life plan—not just a career plan or education plan. Knowing what you want your life to look like, and what a successful life means to you, is necessary as you plan your future.

ASK FOR HELP

Strong-willed, intelligent women sometimes forget that we all need help sometimes. Ask for help and build relationships that support your goals.

MAKE TIME FOR FUN

In order to be a well-rounded person, you have to create space for enjoyment. Do what you love, spend time with friends and family, and maintain the joy in your life.

Dr. Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, associate

professor of medicinal chemistry and

president of the local chapter of the Asso-

ciation for Women in Science, offers tips

to women entering science careers.

destroyed, the body can no longer make

insulin and it must be provided by

injections.

Why do lymphocytes move into the

pancreas? Insulin binds the insulin

receptor, and a signal is given to

transport glucose so that cells can be

fed, and this overall operation maintains

homeostasis. Along with binding insulin

and signaling for glucose transport, the

insulin receptor also moves in response

to chemical stimuli. Therefore, cells that

have many insulin receptors on their cell

surface can physically move toward

insulin. If lymphocytes have receptors

for insulin on their surface, insulin

secretion might draw lymphocytes to

the pancreas and into the islets.

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Dr. McInerney has worked on research

projects in her laboratory with 11 honor

thesis students, 3 students who

obtained the summer undergraduate

research fellowship, 1 research

apprenticeship in science student, 14

u n d e r g r a d u a t e s t u d e n t s w i t h

independent research projects or full

time internship research, and a high

school student whose work in the

laboratory won her the Regional and

State competition at the Ohio Science

Fair. Additionally, Dr. McInerney has

been involved with research/teaching of

21 PhD students, including 6 as the

major advisor, and 12 master’s students,

including 8 as the major advisor. She has

also published a number of papers with

undergraduate and graduate student

authors, with several as first authors.

Students have worked in Dr.

McInerney’s laboratory on research

supported by NIH, USDA, American

Diabetes Association, Juvenile Diabetes

Research Foundation, and Diabetes

Action Research and Education

Foundation. Her new award will

d irec t ly sup po rt a nd enha nce

undergraduate and graduate research in

her laboratory.

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graduate studies in the College of Pharmacy

and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and she recently

added to her duties the role of executive

administrative dean. Dr. McInerney is a

Distinguished University Professor, a

designation she first earned in 2009 and which

was recently renewed for five years.

UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION

Fulbright scholar, Dr. Sawsan

Abuhamdah, is studying the brain's

response to alcohol addiction in Dr.

Youssef Sari's pharmacology lab this

year. Find out more about her plans

and research in this video and in an

article by UTNews.

Hers is the face that greets most

students and faculty members as they

enter the Frederic and Mary Wolfe

Center each morning. From her seat at

the front desk of the Giant Eagle

Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs on

the Health Science Campus, Audra

Wilson has a unique view of the college.

Recently hired as the administrative

assistant for the office, Audra uses her

friendly demeanor to welcome students,

interact with visitors and manage the

administrative tasks that support the

upper division students in the B.S. in

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Doctor of

Pharmacy programs.

Following

years of

experience

a s a

secretary in

the Center

for Performing Arts, the Psychology

department, and the Department of

Philosophy and Foreign Languages in

the College of Language, Literature and

Social Sciences, Audra comes to the

college with a bachelor’s degree in

Business Administration with a

concentration in marketing. She is

enjoying the transition to the College of

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

“Everyone has been friendly and helpful,”

Audra said, “and it is a pleasure

interacting with the students. I find that

they are always professional and well

prepared.”

SPECIAL FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT

“Science makes people reach

selflessly for truth and

objectivity; it teaches people to

accept reality, with wonder and

admiration…”

Lise Meitner

physicist

A WARM WELCOME Adell Shehab Adell and Lilly Shehab Scholarship

Monica Holiday-Goodman Buford T. Lively Health Disparities Scholarship

Amanda Bryant-Friedrich Cancer Research Fund

Jeffrey Barton Cancer Research Fund, Center for Drug Design and Development

James Slama Cancer Research Support Account

Katherine Wall Cancer Research Support Account

Arthur Friedman College of Pharmacy Progress Fund

Charles Bork College of Pharmacy Progress Fund

Daniel Jaquet College of Pharmacy Progress Fund

Karen Ramirez College of Pharmacy Progress Fund

Timothy Silva College of Pharmacy Progress Fund

Diane Saccone Dean Robert J. Schlembach Scholarship

George Haig Dean Robert J. Schlembach Scholarship

Johnnie Early Dr. Johnnie & Diane Early Fund

Jay Mirtallo Endowed Lab Equipment & Technology Fund, Pharmacy General Scholarship Fund

Christine Hinko Hinko Family Fund

Matthew Fettman Hinko Family Fund, Vincent and Laurie Mauro Scholarship

Hania Itawi Itawi and Colleagues Pharmacy Scholarship

Angela Scardina James A. Rice Memorial Scholarship

Each month the college is very fortunate to

receive great support from our alumni and

friends. To acknowledge this great support,

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

EQUIPMENT

SUPPORTS RESEARCH

& LEARNING

The nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer (NMR) is seen below with Distinguished University Professor Dr. Pail Erhardt and medicinal chemistry graduate, Dr. Neha Malik.

above is a list of donors who made gifts in

support of the college this past month.

Alumni support is key to our success long

term, and every gift we receive make a

difference to that continued success. If

you would like more information on how

to make a tax-deductible gift to the

C o l l e g e o f P h a r m a c y a n d

Pharmaceutical Sciences, please feel free

to contact me at 419-530-5413 or

Jeffrey.barton@utoledo.edu. Thanks

again to our alumni and friends for their

continued support.

Mary Powers James A. Rice Memorial Scholarship

Susan Rice James A. Rice Memorial Scholarship

Ming-Cheh Liu Liu Fund for Drug Metabolism Research

Mary Caracci Mary Caracci Scholarship Fund

Christopher McBurney McBurney Scholarship Fund

Marcia McInerney McInerney Fund for Diabetes Research

Liyanaaratchige Tillekeratne Medicinal & Biological Chemistry Seminar Fund

Ezdihar Hassoun Pharmacology Fund

Almasa Bass Pharmacy General Scholarship Fund

Anthony Jensen Pharmacy General Scholarship Fund

Elizabeth Miller Pharmacy General Scholarship Fund

Sheryl Herner Pharmacy General Scholarship Fund

Kenneth Alexander Pharmacy New Lab & Equipment Tech Fund

Diane Cappelletty Pharmacy South America Mission Fund, Pharmacy General Scholarship Fund

Barbara A. Sochocki Living Trust Robert J. Schlembach Alumni Scholarship

Philip Miller Robert J. Schlembach Alumni Scholarship

Andrew Hochradel TAP/P4 Scholarship Challenge Fund

Prerakkumar Parikh TAP/P4 Scholarship Challenge Fund

Toledo Family Pharmacy Toledo Family Pharmacy Scholarship Fund

Megan Kaun Vincent and Laurie Mauro Scholarship

Frederick Williams Williams Family Research Fund

GRANDMOTHER’S TEA

Dr. Early recalls how a tea his

grandmother made him sparked

his interest in pharmacy in an

interview with Kristian Brown

from Toledo’s 13abc. The magic of

pharmacy left an indelible mark

on him.

The college’s Lab Equipment &

Technology funds support the

purchase and maintenance of research

equipment. The NMR, for example,

uses an electromagnetic frequency to

create structural images of organic

compounds.

Our faculty members use the NMR,

and other cutting edge research

equipment, to identify treatments for

cancer and other diseases. Graduate

and undergraduate students receive

hands-on training on NMR techniques,

preparing them to hit the ground

running in science and research

careers.

You can make a tax-deductible gift to

the college’s New Lab & Equipment

Technology Fund by visiting the UT

Foundation’s secure website.

Cosmetic Science Symposium, Part II

Hillary Phillis, a cosmetic science and formulation design student who will graduate in May 2015, reports on her participation in a second cosmetic science symposium.

In October 2014, the College of

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical

Sciences and ACT Solutions Corp

supported my attendance at the New

York Society of Cosmetic Chemists

2014 Sun Exposure Symposium in

Edison, NJ. The one-day event

included speakers from the industry,

vendor tables and student posters.

Seven individuals from the industry

spoke throughout the day on Topics

such as “Studying and Assessing

Human Pigmentation,” “A Sunscreen

for the World- A Universal

C h a l l e n g e i n S u n s c r e e n

Development,” and “Broad Spectrum

Sunscree ns: Cha lle nge s and

Opportunities” were elaborated by

the seven presenters, and attendance

was high at the symposium.

Companies such as Croda, DSM,

Clariant, Kobo, Ashland, and

Extracts & Ingredients LTD were

well represented.

I participated in the poster

competition at the symposium with

about 10 other students from

universities and companies across

the country. My poster detailed the

research I conducted during my

summer internship with ACT

Solutions Corp. I provided a short

description of my work and how it

could easily be related to a sun care

formulation. Three anonymous

judges passed through the posters

and I am proud and honored to have

received first place in the poster

competition at the NY SCC 2014 Sun

Exposure Symposium. I cannot

express my gratitude enough for this

wonderful opportunity to enhance

both my education and future career!

04.28.15 Pharmacy Law CE 7 - 8 p.m., Collier Building room 1000 Health Science Campus 05.09.15 CPPS Spring Commencement Exercises 10 a.m., Savage Arena 06.05.15 Annual PharmD Preceptor Forum (with CE), 9 s.m. - 1 p.m. in Savage Arena, Grogan Room 06.10.15 Toledo Academy of Pharmacy Golf Outing 08.21.15 Professional Advancement (White Coat) Ceremony, Nitschke Auditorium, 4pm

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Do you know an alumnus who is doing great things in the field of scientific research or pharmacy practice?

Tell us about it.

The University of Toledo’s Outstanding Alumni Awards are the perfect opportunity to recognize excellence among our alumni. Complete the online nomination form today.