Rho Chi Talks: The Path to Pharmaceutical Industry...
October 1, 2023 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Fawad Piracha, PharmD, MBA, IgCP By: Holly Nguyen, PharmD Candidate ℅ 2024 Fawad Piracha is a ‘16 alumnus of the St. John’s University PharmD program and has since had a storied career. Dr. Piracha is the second of four family members who graduated from St. John’s University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (read… |
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Zuranolone: An Oral Development in the Treatment of Pos...
October 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Giavanna Carr, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Postpartum depression, also known as PPD, is classified as perinatal depression, which is experienced by those who have recently given birth. PPD is the leading complication following childbirth, affecting 1 in 7 women worldwide.1 Oftentimes, this is the first time the mother suffers from any type of depression,… |
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FDA Grants Approval for AREXVY, the First Respiratory S...
October 1, 2023 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Urooj K. Malik, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 On May 3, 2023, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Arexvy (RSVPreF3), the first vaccine to combat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for adults aged 60 and older.1 Overview of RSV RSV is a common respiratory virus that typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms that… |
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The FDA’s Accelerated Approval of Lecanemab for Alzhe...
August 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Imaan Sekhery, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 On January 6, 2023, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Eisai’s Leqembi (lecanemab), an alternative treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The creation of the drug depicts a significant advancement within the small field of AD treatments. This disease state is known to begin with… |
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6th Year Perspective: Conducting Research Projects and ...
August 1, 2023 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Urooj K. Malik, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Urooj is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. Throughout her time at St. John’s Urooj has held positions in organizations like the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists, Phi Lambda Sigma, International Society of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes, Lambda Kappa… |
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The Use of Nitric Oxide Nasal Spray in Mild COVID-19 In...
August 1, 2023 - Clinical By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and Hadeel Aldasooky, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 As the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to loom over the healthcare world, there is still a need to uncover new treatment options for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel’s current recommendation… |
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Is Organic Food Really Worth It?...
August 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Sairah Sheikh, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 In a world where people are becoming increasingly health-conscious, organic food is of interest to many. It is often seen as the pinnacle of healthy food, although may not be affordable for all. Those who can afford it spend thousands of dollars a year on organic food and… |
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Rho Chi Talks: Transitioning to a PGY-2 Pediatric Pharm...
August 1, 2023 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Nicole Cernaro, PharmD, PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Resident By: Urooj K. Malik, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Nicole Cernaro is a PGY-2 Pediatric Pharmacy Resident at St. Peter’s University Hospital located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She recently completed her PGY-1 pharmacy residency from St. Peter’s University Hospital as well. Nicole earned her Doctorate in Pharmacy… |
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6th Year Perspective: Industry Elective APPE with Pfize...
June 1, 2023 - Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Isabella Chow, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Isabella Chow is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. She was involved in various organizations on campus, including PLS, Rho Chi, LKS, Crafts Club, and VSA. She held leadership positions in multiple pharmacy organizations, including IPhO Director of Communications, DIA… |
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New Study Expands Pharmacists’ Role in Treating Opioi...
June 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Geraldine Ciaccio, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 The role of pharmacists in public health has been expanding in recent years. The list of pharmacists’ responsibilities continues to grow with the treatment of the opioid crisis in the United States. In the past year, pharmacists newly received the authority to dispense naloxone under a standing order.… |
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Zavegepant: An Intranasal Breakthrough in Treating Acut...
June 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Samia Rahman Adity, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Migraine has been a throbbing topic of discussion and a serious public health concern in the United States (U.S.). As of 2018, headache was seen to be the fourth or fifth most common cause for patients to visit an emergency department.1 The National Institute of Neurological… |
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FDA Regulatory Change Expands Access to Mifepristone...
June 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Ashley Dao, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Medical abortion is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to end intrauterine pregnancy through ten weeks gestation (i.e., within 70 days of the start of a patient’s last menstrual period). Mifepristone plays a major role in the termination of early pregnancies within the United States (U.S.).… |
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Rho Chi Talks: Tips to Acquirea Residency...
June 1, 2023 - Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Krishna Tamakuwala, PharmDBy: Justin Budz, PharmD Krishna Tamakuwala is a recent graduate from the St. John’s University Doctor of Pharmacy program, class of 2023. Krishna always knew she wanted to go into the medical field. Besides her passion for the sciences, Krishna also enjoyed cooking. She found it interesting how certain aspects of pharmacy… |
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U.S. Based Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Eli Lilly &...
June 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Urooj K. Malik, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 March 1, 2023 marked a substantial milestone in the United States’ (U.S.’) fight for affordable insulin. Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) has announced that over the next few months, they will be reducing the price of multiple insulin products as well as capping patient out-of-pocket costs at… |
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Evaluation of Ivermectin for Treatment of COVID-19...
April 1, 2023 - Clinical By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an illness caused by severe acute respiratory system coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that primarily affects the respiratory system.1 In order to enter human cells, the virus’ spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) must bind to a cell membrane-bound… |
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Meet the Founders of the LEADS Initiative – Just...
April 1, 2023 - Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Justin is a sixth-year pharmacy student and the current Editor-in-Chief of the Rho Chi Post. Justin views pharmacy as a healthy medium between science and healthcare. Studying pharmacy provided him with the opportunity to learn more about the biological processes behind medications… |
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A Beacon of Hope for Multi-Drug Resistant HIV Patients:...
April 1, 2023 - Clinical By: Debika Kundu, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and Jeilyn Nunez, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that targets one’s immune system and renders it weak against many diseases, such as influenza, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and cancer. HIV can enter one’s body through various modes of transmission, including anal or… |
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Meet the Founders of the LEADS Initiative – Vassi...
April 1, 2023 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Vassilia Plakas, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and Frances Alexis Dela Cruz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 *Meet Vassilia (Lia) Plakas Lia is a fifth-year pharmacy student and the current President of the Rho Chi Honor Society – Beta Delta Chapter. Lia decided to pursue pharmacy as a result of… |
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A Message from the Editor-in-Chief – Justin Budz...
April 1, 2023 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions On behalf of the Rho Chi Post, we are excited to announce our Inaugural LEADS Initiative Edition of the Rho Chi Post Newsletter. The LEADS Initiative is a pilot program, in collaboration with the Rho Chi Honor Society – Beta Delta Chapter, looking to promote the professional development of younger pharmacy students by pairing them… |
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LEADS Initiative...
April 1, 2023 - Professional Advice / Opinions The LEADS Initiative is a pilot program developed in 2022 as a collaborative project between the Rho Chi Post Newsletter and the Rho Chi Honor Society – Beta Delta Chapter. The goal of the LEADS Initiative is to provide an academic mentorship program for pharmacy students to promote scholastic excellence, ethics, service, leadership, and an… |
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Meet the Mentee: John Ortiz...
April 1, 2023 - Professional Advice / Opinions My name is John Ortiz and I’m currently a P2 pharmacy student. Over the summer I was an orientation leader and currently serve as a content-focused copy editor for the Rho Chi Post, the service chair for PARE, and a career peer for Career Services. I also work at an independent pharmacy. Currently, I’m interested… |
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The 1980’s HIV and AIDS Epidemic...
April 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Christian Porcu, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and John Ortiz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impairs immune cells, leaving patients with an increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and other illnesses. HIV is transmitted through an exchange of bodily fluids, most often through unprotected sex or sharing drug injection equipment.1 The first stage… |
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Assessing the Efficacy of Cholecalciferol Versus Ergoca...
February 1, 2023 - Clinical , Featured By: Nancy Yousry, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Vitamin D is a multifaceted nutrient needed to maintain homeostasis and proper health. In addition to its role in building and maintaining healthy bones, vitamin D also regulates many important cellular functions in the body, serving as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and neuroprotective agent.1 In general, the two… |
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6th Year Perspective: APPE Rotations at the Westcheste...
February 1, 2023 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Justin Budz is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. While at St. John’s, Justin participated in multiple organizations, which ultimately led him to discover the career path he wanted to pursue. Most notably, Justin served as the Development and Outreach… |
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Rho Chi Talks: Tips to Acquire a Post-Doctoral Fellowsh...
February 1, 2023 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Kamran Khan, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Kamran Khan is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. Growing up, Kamran had a lot of family members in healthcare, instilling an interest in medicine from an early age. While at St. John’s, Kamran got to experience many different career… |
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Evaluating Treatments and Preventative Measuresfor Monk...
February 1, 2023 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Sairah Sheikh, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 As Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases started to decrease in the United States (US), many Americans breathed a sigh of relief. However, on May 17, 2022, fear of a new infectious disease struck the nation. The first case of the monkeypox outbreak in the US was reported… |
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FDA Approval of Pemazyre® as a First-in-Class Treatmen...
February 1, 2023 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jennifer Galvet, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are a family of receptor tyrosine kinases expressed on the cell surface of both developmental and adult cells. Aberrant expression of FGFRs has been implicated in a wide variety of cancers and is considered an oncogenic signaling pathway.1 FGFRs are activated by… |
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Relyvrio: A New FDA-Approved Medication for Amyotrophic...
February 1, 2023 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Yu Jeng Lee, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects both the upper motor neurons (UMN) and lower motor neurons (LMN). This disease causes muscle weakness, which progresses to disability, and subsequently death, primarily due to respiratory failure.1,2 … |
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Evaluating Efficacy of Bortezomib and Carfilzomib in Tr...
February 1, 2023 - Clinical , Featured By: Brian Chung, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024, Peter Chung, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024, and Kevin Kim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that affects an individual’s plasma cells. Plasma cells are white blood cells located in the bone marrow that are responsible for producing antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins.1 Immunoglobulins… |
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AstraZeneca’s Farxiga is First Heart Failure Drug to ...
December 1, 2022 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jennifer Galvet, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a first-in-class, oral, once daily sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor indicated for improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D), reducing the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death and hospitalization in heart failure (HF), and reducing the risk of sustained eGFR decline in chronic kidney… |
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Rho Chi Talks: Valuable Networking Opportunities at Alu...
December 1, 2022 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Amanda Murray, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and Laura Cranston, B.S.PharmBy: Ashley Dao, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Alumni Insider’s View (AIV) is an annual program held in Washington D.C. that provides students from St. John’s University with the opportunity to explore nontraditional career pathways in pharmacy. Students are able to network with pharmacists that hold… |
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Pediatric COVID-19 Immunization Schedules Updated with ...
December 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Helen Li, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 On June 18, 2022, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation to expand eligibility of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations to children 6 months through 5 years of age.1 On August 31, 2022,… |
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Evaluating the Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders fro...
December 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Geraldine Ciaccio, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Pregnant women treated with antidepressants may no longer have to endure the worry that their medications will harm their newborn. Previous studies have shown a correlation between the use of antidepressants in pregnant patients and the prevalence of various birth defects, including cardiac defects, anencephaly, and gastroschisis,… |
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6th Year Perspective: Working with State Representative...
December 1, 2022 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Christina Swiger, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Christina Swiger is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. Christina was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare by her mother who is a store manager at a community pharmacy. Growing up, Christina was able to aid in the care… |
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Mounjaro (Tirzepatide): Dual-Targeted Treatment for Typ...
October 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Zarin Chowdhury, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 and Lauren Merkovich, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a long-term medical condition in which the body is unable to use insulin properly, resulting in abnormal blood glucose levels.1 More than 37 million Americans have diabetes (about 1 in 10); approximately 90 to 95%… |
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Rho Chi Talks: The Reality of an Emergency Medicine Pha...
October 1, 2022 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Colleen Bond, PharmD, BCPSBy: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 At a young age, Dr. Colleen Bond was involved in the care of a close relative, gaining early exposure to the healthcare team dynamic. The one question that no one was able to clearly answer was how medications were able to work in the… |
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New FDA Approval of Bydureon for Treating Type 2 Diabet...
October 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Kelly Lavery, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Increasing rates of childhood obesity remain a major risk factor behind a recently increased prevalence of diabetes in the pediatric population. This subject is of particular relevance in light of the ongoing coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has limited children to isolation and online learning… |
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FDA Approves Tubeless Automated Insulin System for Kids...
October 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Geraldine Ciaccio, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are completely dependent on others for their care and management. It can be hard for parents, guardians, teachers, and healthcare providers to assess a child’s condition as they are too young to properly communicate their thoughts and emotions. Most children… |
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FDA’s Approval of Pharmacists Prescribing Paxlovid...
October 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Imaan Sekhery, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 On July 6, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revised the precedent Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Pfizer’s Paxlovid, granting licensed pharmacists the right to prescribe Paxlovid to suitable patients. This revision will significantly increase access to Paxlovid, assisting in patient recovery from Coronavirus Disease 2019… |
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6th Year Perspective: The Establishment of RunnersRx...
October 1, 2022 - Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Ali Baig, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Helen Li, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Ali Baig is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. During his time at St. John’s, Ali cultivated skillsets in business management, starting with his own car detailing business and eventually opening his own franchise of Edible Arrangements. Ali’s interests in… |
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Different Dietary Fats and their Association with Cardi...
August 1, 2022 - Clinical , Featured By: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 In the United States (US), heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women of most racial and ethnic groups, followed by cancer and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).1 About 659,000 people in the US die from heart disease each year, which encompasses about 1 in… |
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Rho Chi Talks: The Pharmacist’s Role in a Drug Inform...
August 1, 2022 - Featured , Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Nicole Maisch, BS, PharmDBy: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Growing up with close relatives in healthcare, Dr. Nicole Maisch was inspired to pursue a career in pharmacy practice. Dr. Maisch graduated from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with her PharmD and then completed a PGY1 residency at the University of Massachusetts… |
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Paxlovid, the First Oral Antiviral Treatment for Covid-...
August 1, 2022 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Kirby An, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) is a virus that took the world by storm with its initial discovery in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. On January 20, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed the first case of Covid-19 in the United States (US) after a 35… |
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Balancing Early and Appropriate Antibiotic Therapy and ...
August 1, 2022 - Clinical By: Angela Basir, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 and Muatasem Jaser, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Sepsis is a clinical syndrome defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to an infection.1 Septic shock is a subset of sepsis in which underlying circulatory and cellular/metabolic abnormalities are profound enough to substantially increase… |
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Standing Order for Naloxone in Pharmacies in New York S...
August 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Helen Li, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 On August 15, 2022, the New York State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mary T. Bassett, implemented a statewide pharmacy standing order for naloxone.1 With this authorization, all pharmacists can assist in reducing mortality from opioid abuse, while optimizing the pharmacists’ continuous role in public health. In… |
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6th Year Perspective: Experiences in the Pharmaceutical...
August 1, 2022 - Professional Advice / Opinions Featuring: Khushbu Doshi, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023By: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Khushbu Doshi is a sixth-year pharmacy student at St. John’s University. During her time at St. John’s, Khushbu has served on the boards of a variety of campus organizations and has had invaluable internships and APPE rotations pertaining to the pharmaceutical industry.… |
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Wegovy® (Semaglutide): New FDA Approval for Use in Obe...
August 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Pauline Choi, PharmD There has been an increase in the prevalence of obesity, and it has become an international health problem amongst all age-groups, including children, adults, and adolescents. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition of obesity for adults and children is a BMI > 30 kg/m2, and a weight-for-height… |
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YouTube Bans Misinformation About Approved Vaccines ...
February 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Natalia Jucha, PharmD Candidate c/o 2022 and Zarin Chowdhury PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Effective September 29th of 2021, YouTube will be banning prominent anti-vaccine activists and blocking channels promoting anti-vaccine misinformation. The company recently announced its expansion of medical misinformation policies. This includes prohibiting the sharing of misinformation regarding currently administered vaccines that… |
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The Controversial use of Aducanumab (Aduhelm) for Alzhe...
February 1, 2022 - Clinical , Featured By: Aamir S. Dave, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Judith L. Beizer, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP, AGSF Alzheimer’s and Dementia Dementia is characterized by the loss of memory and other cognitive abilities that interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disease and is the most common type of dementia, accounting for greater than 60-80%… |
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Molnupiravir: A Prospective Oral Antiviral for Treatmen...
February 1, 2022 - Clinical , Featured By: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 On January 19th, 2020, a 35-year-old man in an urgent care clinic in Snohomish County, Washington was the first to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be infected with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2… |