The College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions has officially changed its name to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.  This is the college’s second name change since it was established in 1929. In order to truly encompass the current and future educational goals of the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, the…

By Nandini Puranprashad, Pharm D. Candidate c/o 2013 – Felipe Camacho is a 6th year student at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.  He received his Bachelors of Arts in Music Composition from Rollins College, Winter Park, FL.  After graduation, Mr. Camacho plans to pursue a residency at the Veterans Affairs (V.A.), Lee Memorial…

By: Marina Yermolayeva, PharmD Candidate c/o 2013 – “I’m allergic to the generic; I need the brand name medication,” is a common claim heard by many health care providers.  Managed care organizations get numerous calls from doctors and patients requesting prior authorizations to approve brand name medications whilst there are generic alternatives available on formulary.…

By: James W. Schurr, PharmD Candidate c/o 2014 – Nutrition Support Pharmacy is a specialized practice pertaining to the needs of patients receiving Parenteral (PN) or Enteral Nutrition (EN).  Nutrition Support Pharmacists (NSPs) are integral members of the nutritional support team and bring valuable skills and knowledge to the clinical practice setting.  The Board of…

By: Mohammad A. Rattu, Pharm.D.  [PGY-1 Resident at VA NYHHS] – We sometimes need to step back and look at our foundations for success.  Without the support of past and present Rho Chi executive boards, there would be no Rho Chi Post newsletter.  From our May to September issues, we will learn about each of…

By: Neal Shah, Co-Editor-In-Chief – Migraines can be “classic” or “common.”  While all migraines feature unilateral, pulsating headaches, classic migraines feature an “aura” upon onset (whereas common migraines do not).  Pharmacologic treatment of migraines generally includes serotonin agonists (triptans).1 Triptans are selective agonists of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B and 1D (5HT1B/1D) subtypes.  By activating these receptors,…

By: Marie Huang –  A A A X R Z B D R P L A A D B E N S O L N A O L D B N N I L M E U R S E M N N E S E I D U A U O K S E…

By: Mohamed Dungersi, Associate Student Editor –  Match the following herbal products with their correct description: A. This product has been used to treat liver disease, including hepatitis and cirrhosis.  It has also been used as a protective agent after the liver was exposed to alcohol, acetaminophen, and carbon tetrachloride.B. This product is extracted from…

By: Neal Shah, Co-Editor-in-Chief –  Dialysis is the removal of substances from intravascular circulation by filtration.1  Typically, dialysis is ordered when kidney function declines to 10–15% of normal function.2  The National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) recommends that planning for dialysis begin when patients reach chronic kidney disease stage 4, which is…

By: Steve Soman, Co-Editor-in-Chief – As Americans, we often admire the courage and sacrifice of the men and women serving our country in the armed forces.  As members of the pharmacy community, we admire the professionalism and achievements of our colleagues making outstanding accomplishments in their respective practice settings.  However, often I think we overlook…

By: Neal Shah, Co-Editor-In-Chief – Contrast dyes enhance imaging for computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR), and X-rays.1  Dyes usually consist of barium, iodine, or gadolinium, depending on the procedure.2  CT and X-ray scans often use iodine for systemic imaging and barium sulfate for GI imaging, whereas MR imaging primarily uses gadolinium.2  Gadolinium and iodine…

By: Steve P. Soman – Mirabegron (Mybetriq®), known also by the brand name Betanis®in Japan, is a new once daily oral drug.   First in its class, it is a selective β(3)-adrenoceptor agonist that improves symptoms associated with over active bladder (OAB) such as urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency by enhancing storage function and relaxing…

By: Michael Cronin, Pharm.D.  Candidate c/o 2014 – The Drug Information Association (DIA) student chapter at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences began in March of 2012 to provide a local forum for cultivating awareness of opportunities within the pharmaceutical industry among doctor of pharmacy and allied health professions candidates.  Within two…

By: Mohammad A. Rattu, Pharm.D.  [PGY-1 Resident at VA NYHHS] – We sometimes need to step back and look at our foundations for success.  Clearly, without the support of past and present Rho Chi executive boards, there would be no Rho Chi Post newsletter.  From our May to September issues, we will learn about each…

Dear Readers, The Rho Chi Post Editorial Board wishes Dr. Robert A. Mangione and Dr. S. William Zito our warmest congratulations on their recent appointments as Interim Provost and Interim Dean of St. John’s University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, respectively. Dr. Mangione, affectionately known as Dean Mangione by students, is a well-respected and…

By Mohamed Dungersi, Associate Student Editor – Match the following herbal products with their natural source and reason for use: A. This product is a source of omega-3 fatty acids, primarily docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).  It is used to lower triglyceride levels, to lower high blood pressure, and for a variety of…

By: Lunbao (Jerry) Huang, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – Donepezil, brand name Aricept®, is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor indicated as monotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.  Cholinergic deficiency in the cortex and basal forebrain contributes to cognitive deficits in these patients.  Donepezil reversibly, noncompetitively inhibits centrally active acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for…

By: Neal Shah, Co-Editor-in-Chief – Xerostomia, commonly known as dry mouth, is an anti-muscarinic side effect of numerous medications.  Antidepressants, analgesics, diuretics, and antihistamines have a high propensity to cause xerostomia.1  Xerostomia may also result from Sjogren’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, and various chemotherapy agents.2  Traditionally, muscarinic agonists like pilocarpine have been used to reverse xerostomia.…

By: Marie Huang –  S A O N Z O A D B W Y S K W M I E E R T L R J R A O J C A S S A G N O L N L O K C A A Y J R D C M O I…

By: Mohamed Dungersi, Associate Student Editor –  What is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)? Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute complication of uncontrolled diabetes or hyperglycemia. It is usually observed in cases of extreme hyperglycemia (usually in excess of 500 mg/dl, though it can occur over 250 mg/dl).1,2  It is usually characterized by the presence of hyperglycemia,…

By: Neal Shah, Co Editor-In-Chief – Dyskinesias are abnormal, involuntary movement disorders.  Subsets of dyskinesias include choreas and atheosis.  Chorea is irregular and sporadic contraction of muscles whereas athetosis involves a twisting and writhing of muscles.  These two dyskinesias often occur together and are thus termed choreathetosis.1  Common conditions which feature choreatheosis are Huntington’s, and…

By: Neal Shah, Co Editor-In-Chief – Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA), also known as erythroblastopenia, is characterized by a suppression of erythrocytes in the bone marrow.  It is a peculiar oddity that the bone marrow’s progenitor cells still differentiate into white blood cells and platelets.1  PRCA has idiopathic, viral, auto-immune, and genetic etiologies.  Diamond-Blackfan syndrome…

By: Ebey P. Soman, Editor-In-Chief – As a member of Amnesty International and a student pharmacist, I have an opportunity to be a force for social justice in this world. Remember the classes titled “Social and Behavioral Aspects of Pharmaceutical Care” or the “Moral Theology of Health Care” that you took as a first or…

By: Nancy Simon, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2016 – Exploring cities while getting lost, viewing beautiful sights, and eating delicious food: all highlights of my study abroad experience.  This past semester was more than I ever expected; I do not even know where to begin.  I participated in the Discover the World program through St. John’s…

By: Laura Gianni Augusto, B.S., Pharm.D., Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice – Laura Gianni Augusto, Pharm.D., R.Ph. is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She served as Assistant Dean for Experiential Pharmacy Education from 2007 to 2011.…

By: Lunbao (Jerry) Huang, Pharm.D.  Candidate c/o 2013 – Pain is a very difficult condition to manage, as clinicians have only subjective findings to work with.  Opioid medications are currently the cornerstones for the management of moderate to severe pain; however, it is often problematic to determine a patient’s real ‘need’ for opioids.  Physicians’ clinical…

By: Shannon Tellier, Associate Student Editor – The disease burden in children outweighs the number of pediatric clinical drug trials currently being conducted.  The lack of data in pediatrics leads to drugs being used off-label and without sufficient knowledge of doses, tolerability, and efficacy.  In 1975, only 22% of products in the electronic Physicians’ Desk…

By: Stanley Saji, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – I had a preconceived notion that advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) were just an application of concepts and therapies learned in pharmacy school.  Little did I know how real APPEs became… During my third rotation, I worked with Dr. Maha Saad, Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department…

By: Pooja Patel, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – The ‘end of an era’ is a fitting way to describe my rotation this past February with Dr. Gladys El-Chaar at Steven and Alexandra Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center of New York.  As many have heard, Dr. El-Chaar shifted from her long-standing position at Long Island Jewish Medical…

By: Michael Maddalena, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2016 –       Michael is the upcoming president of the Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmaceutical Fraternity Beta Alpha Chapter at St.  John’s University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions. The term sophomore comes from a compound of the Greek sophos, meaning “wise”, and moros, meaning “foolish”.  Hence, as…

By: Marie Huang  – C F E P I A I I M L R O I I M I T I T M I I Y L G N C E F T A Z I D I M E T L E N I C A K I M A N V O…

By: Marie Huang –       Each month, the Rho Chi Post has the wonderful opportunity to sit down with an inspiring leader among the student pharmacists here at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – someone who is not afraid to stand apart from the crowd and can be the change he…

By: Raymond Wu, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013   The 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5HT3) antagonists (e.g. ondansetron [Zofran®]) are commonly used in the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting in the inpatient setting.1  Overall, ondansetron is a well-tolerated medication with few side effects.1  Constipation, dizziness, and headache are the most commonly reported side effects associated…

By: Jayoung Park, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – Traditionally, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients have generally been excluded from organ transplantation.1  One of the principal concerns was that immunosuppression would accelerate HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), resulting in increased mortality and a “waste” of organs.1 A study entitled, “Opportunistic Infections and Neoplasms Following Liver and…

By: SlanixPaul T.  Alex, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2014 – Progressing into one’s fourth year of college is usually a time of mixed emotions for the average college student.  A melting pot of excitement and a sense of accomplishment at the thought of finally graduating after four years of hard work combined with a tinge of…

By: Lila Ahmed, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – Whether you wish to admit it or not, all of us have watched or at least heard of the Dr. Oz Show.  I am sure that many of us encounter patients in the pharmacy who say, “I saw this on Dr. Oz; where could I find it?”…

By: Jena Marion, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – I have traveled a lot these past few years.  I have packed and unpacked suitcases, measured three-ounce bottles of liquids, and printed plenty of boarding passes.  Most of my trips were for business, but a few were for pleasure.  Pharmacy, however, followed me along on each one…

By: Mohammad A. Rattu, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2012 – We sometimes need to step back and look at our foundations for success.  Clearly, without the support of past and present Rho Chi executive board members, there would be no Rho Chi Post newsletter.  From our May to September issues, we will learn about each of…

By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi, Associate Student Editor, with Special Thanks to Dr. Tomasz Jodlowski for his contributions to this article – In the 1990s, major urban and rural areas across the United States grappled with a common problem: drug addiction.  At that time, the drugs of choice were illicit substances (i.e. heroin).  In order to combat…

By: Addolorata Ciccone, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – The following medications are easily confused.  Try to match each one with its corresponding fun fact.  This capsule should be swallowed whole; if chewed or dissolved orally, oropharyngeal anesthesia may occur, which poses a choking hazard.  Drinking a glass of water can help bypass this potential adverse…

By: Maria A. Sorbera, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 –   Maria Sorbera was the 2011-2012 President of the Rho Chi Beta Theta Chapter at the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy at Long Island University (LIU). She is a strong advocate of networking with fellow pharmacists regardless of their area of expertise, as well…

By: Lauren Kaveski, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – We see proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) used in many medication regimens, but it is unknown whether the majority of patients receive these medications for appropriate durations or indications.  For all labeled indications, other than Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (a rare condition characterized by damaging gastrin hypersecretion and subsequent hydrochloric…

By: Mohamed Dungersi & Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi, Associate Student Editors – Each month, the editors at the Rho Chi Post have the opportunity to interview one or more of our faculty members. This month, we had the tremendous opportunity to interview the dean of St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Dean…

By: Alissa Karr, Purdue University College of Pharmacy Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2012 –      Alissa Karr is a PharmD Graduate from Purdue University College of Pharmacy, Class of 2012.  She is the current secretary of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) StuNet Advisory Committee.  Her post-graduation plans are to obtain a pharmacy practice…

By: Sylva Ohanian, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2017  –             Finally, I understood the hype. Impatience rendered my heart anew as I rushed into an epiphany 1,353 feet above Chicago. The Skydeck was flooded with tourists and natives alike, continuously breaking record-numbers in visitors. Why do they continue to come en masse here? Is it the…

By: Marie Huang –  G A L K N Y L O M O R C B U A O E B R C A T H E O R A Z R T L H N R Y T S N A I E A O I P S L I E R E…

By: Ebey P. Soman – https://nyprescriptionsaver.fhsc.com/asp/partners.asp New York Prescription Saver is a pharmacy discount program sponsored by New York State designed to help eligible New York State residents with no insurance to pay for their medications. To be eligible, you must be a resident of New York State; do not have Medicaid; either age 50…

By: Yufan (Frank) Liu, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – “This is the worst day of my life!” These words kept echoing in my head as I approached my rotation at the North Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center clinic one hour late. Getting lost was not how I envisioned starting my first day and that…

By: Patrick K. Tabon, Washington State University, PharmD Candidate c/o 2012 – As a graduating student pharmacist I am often asked by others, “What piece of advice do you have for other pharmacy students?” My reply will always be, “Go out there and be involved while you can. Once you find where your passions lie…

By: Sanjay Dave, Supervising Pharmacist, Class of 1985 St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions – Mr. Sanjay Dave is a St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions Graduate, Class of 1985.  Since graduation, he has worked for Pathmark Pharmacies and is currently the supervising pharmacist at Pathmark Pharmacy…