By Lunbao (Jerry) Huang, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – Over the last two decades, there has been an increasing focus on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, most commonly known as liver cancer).  In the United States, as of 2011, there have been an estimated 26,190 new cases and 19,590 deaths from both hepatic and intrahepatic bile duct cancer.  Defined by the…

By: Gokul Kalla, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – Hypertension is a chronic disease that affects one out of every three Americans.  Leaving the condition untreated could increase the risk of serious health consequences such as a stroke or a heart attack.  On December 21, the FDA approved Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ Edarbyclor® (azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone) for…

By: Bethsy Jacob, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2014 – On November 16, 2011, Dr. Joia Mukherjee, Medical Director of Partners in Healthcare (PIH), presented for GlobeMed at Columbia University.  Manzi Anatole, a hired nurse in Rwanda, accompanied Dr. Mukherjee.  Along with a handful of her students, Dr. Joanne Carroll arranged a trip to the open event. …

By Jena Marion, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – On December 12, 2011, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) ruled to place carisoprodol (Soma®) into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).  Carisoprodol has been in use since it was approved for marketing in the U.S. in 1959 with the indication of “relief…

By: Anon, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2012 – This year’s ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting took place in New Orleans, Louisiana from December 4 – 8, 2011.  It was a keystone moment for many pharmacy students, and especially for those in their final year and in pursuit of a residency, fellowship, or hospital staffing position around the…

By: Neal Shah – Defined by the Joint National Committee, hypertension (HTN) is a systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.  Patients with Stage 1 HTN have a SBP between 140 and 159 mmHg and DBP between 90…

By: Christine Liaw, PharmD Candidate c/o 2012 – The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition is the largest congregation for the pharmacy industry with an attendance of more than 20,000 professionals.  This year’s meeting included the New Practitioner’s Conference, CareerPharm’s Personnel Placement Service (PPS), the Residency Showcase, and an exhibit…

By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi – We have all heard the mortifying tales of recent attacks on pharmacies by addicts looking to steal prescription pain-killers. Most notable perhaps, was the case of David Laffers. Mr. Laffers walked into Haven Drugs in Medford, NY and killed the pharmacist, a store clerk, and two customers, who happened to…

By: Ruby Lin, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2013 – Rotation selection begins around mid-October for fifth year pharmacy students.  You may begin to panic about what sites you should choose from the huge selection that St. John’s University offers.  Your upperclassmen may try to help you by sharing their rotation experiences.  Alas, what do you do…

By: Mark Shen, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2012 – Adding to Ms. Liaw’s article, my preparation for the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting included creating and printing my curriculum vitae, printing my transcript, searching for sites that I was interested in, and thinking of questions to ask the residents and residency directors.  I also had to contact…

By: Bibin Thomas, Long Island University, PharmD Candidate – Earlier in 2011, it was reported that that young and middle-aged HIV positive patients did not need to receive routine Bone Mineral Density (BMD) tests.  BMD helps to identify patients who are at a high risk for bone fractures or weakened bone structures (and eventually need…

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

By: Jim Fitzgerald, RPh – James Fitzgerald is a SUNY Buffalo School of Pharmacy graduate from the class of 1980. He is currently the supervising pharmacist at Pathmark Pharmacy of Baldwin in Long Island, New York. Mr. Fitzgerald is also a community pharmacy preceptor with St. John’s University and a longtime member of the Rho…

By: Khilna Patel, Pharm.D. Candidate c/o 2012 – On October 25 of this year, Eli Lilly and Company announced a worldwide market withdrawal of Xigris (drotrecogin alfa), a drug previously indicated to treat severe sepsis in high-risk patients.  Drotrecogin alfa is a recombinant form of human activated protein C.  The efficacy of drotrecogin alfa was…

By Ebey P. Soman – Many living organisms occupy our intestines to aid us with metabolism, recycling of hormones, and, most importantly, protection against foreign pathogens.  When this normal flora of bacteria is altered or eliminated via antibiotic use, there is an opportunity for Clostridium difficile to infect us.  Stool transplant, or fecal bacteriotherapy, is…

By: Dr. Manouchkathe Cassagnol – Dr. Manouchkathe Cassagnol is an Assistant Clinical Professor at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions and a Clinical Coordinator of Internal Medicine and Cardiology Pharmacotherapy at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. About 81 million people in this country suffer from cardiovascular disease. Therefore, as pharmacy practitioners,…

By: Marie Huang – Each month, Rho Chi Post editors have the wonderful opportunity to sit down with an inspiring leader among the student pharmacists here at St. John’s University – someone who is not afraid to stand apart from the crowd and can be the change he or she wants to see in the…

By: Joseph Saffi, RPh – Joseph Saffi is a St. John’s University College of Pharmacy graduate, class of 1985. He is currently the supervising pharmacist at Pathmark Pharmacy of Franklin Square in Long Island, New York, and has been working for Pathmark pharmacies since 1988. Mr. Saffi is also a community pharmacy preceptor with St.…

By: Neal Shah – There are two major classifications of drug-receptor activity: agonism and antagonism. Agonism occurs when a molecule binds to a receptor, causes an exertion of normal receptor operation, and eventually causes a response. Antagonism of a receptor occurs when a molecule binds to the receptor and does not allow activity to occur.1…

By: Ebey P. Soman – Dear Sir or Madam, Christmas is just a few days away, and an amazing year of great challenges, pleasant surprises, and endeavors is coming to a close. From working on Drugs & Diseases courses to simply having the privilege of being part of the profession at the White Coat Ceremony,…

By: Nandini Puranprashad – As primary advocators of patient care, student pharmacists and pharmacists are well on their way in changing the public’s impression of us staying behind the counter at the corner drugstore doing nothing but “counting, licking, and sticking.” It is time to step out of the classroom and from behind the counters…

By: Jimmy Johnson, PharmD Candidate c/o 2012 – Drug shortages have become more and more of an issue in the health care industry. There are over 200 drugs on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug shortage list – a number that has tripled in the last five years.1 The largest impact has been on anesthesia…

By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi – Dr. Elizabeth Palillo graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2006. She then worked as a manager at CVS for a year and a half, and eventually moved to New York, where she worked at two other CVS stores. Dr. Palillo then left CVS and joined Bronx-Lebanon Hospital as a…

By: Alisha Kumar, PharmD Candidate c/o 2012 – HIV transmission via organ transplantation is rare in the United States. However, after a public health investigation in 2010, a case of HIV transmission via kidney transplantation was confirmed. The kidney recipient had no history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), injection drug use, sex with injection drug…

By: Maria Sorbera, AMSCOP at LIU, PharmD Candidate c/o 2013 – Maria Sorbera is the 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, as well as the need for more unity…

By: Marie Huang – As the studio lights dimmed and the dynamic music played in the background, many students gathered in St. Albert Hall B75 in anticipation of who will be crowned the game’s next “PharmD.” A competitive air dangled, but the crowd chattered excitedly as a generous lunch was provided. Four seats lined the…

By: Neal Shah – Dr. Ashby is a well-known Pharmacology professor for student pharmacists studying in their professional years. He graduated from the University of Louisville with a BA in Biology and Psychology in 1983. After obtaining his PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Louisville in 1987, he continued his education by obtaining a…

By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi, with special thanks to Dr. Tomasz Jodlowski – Drug shortages have plagued health care institutions in recent years; they present a serious problem to health care delivery on a national scale. In 2004, there were 58 drug shortages; now, in 2011, this number has increased to 198. Due to limited access…

By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi – On October 21st, St. John‘s University hosted the annual pharmacy residency and fellowship showcase, where representatives from various institutions provided information about their post-graduate programs. A total of 36 programs from the New York / metropolitan area, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut were in attendance. Many of these were represented…

By: Khilna Patel, PharmD Candidate c/o 2012 – Top academic achievement is a plus but is not the only thing to strive for – college is about developing one‘s self as a whole. There are many opportunities to get involved. Don‘t be afraid to try everything that may interest you because it will only bring…

By: Shivani Kapadia & Nancy Simon, PharmD Candidate c/o 2016 – For us, “Live from NY” was a very memorable event. It was collaboratively-hosted by the American Pharmacists Association chapters across the east coast on the morning of October 5th to celebrate the start of American Pharmacists Month. During this event, students arrived in New…

By; Nikunj Vyas, PharmD Candidate c/o 2012 – Seasonal flu vaccines protect us against the three influenza viruses that researchers predict will be the most common viral strains during the flu season. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists‘ estimations about the types and strains of viruses that…

By: Marie Huang – Every month, Rho Chi Post has the wonderful opportunity to sit down with an inspiring leader among the student pharmacists here at St. John‘s – someone who is not afraid to stand apart from the crowd and can be the change he or she wants to see in the world. This…

By: Neal Shah – As the year comes to a close, many pharmacy students are turning their sights onto the process of residency interviews. Residencies provide a competitive edge and an educational fulfillment to future pharmacists who wish to engage in clinical practice. On October 26th, Rho Chi held its first Mock Residency Interviews, open…

By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi – Douglas v. Independent Living Center of Southern California may not sound like the most interesting case, but its outcome has great impact on the lives of millions of people in California and, indeed, the rest of the country. It is one of only one hundred cases that the Supreme Court…

By: Dr. Olga Hilas – Foreword: Dr. Olga Hilas is an Associate Clinical Professor at Saint John’s University and a Clinical Pharmacy Manager in internal medicine and geriatrics at Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Hilas agreed to provide feedback to in response to Ebey’s article entitled, “Big Pharma vs. Developing Countries: Debating Generic Drugs and…

By: Dr. Bernard Sorofman – Foreword: Dr. Bernard Sorofman is a pharmacy professor and Chair of Pharmacy Practice and Science, as well as the Executive Associate Dean at the College of Pharmacy for the University of Iowa. One of our student editors, Ebey P. Soman, had the privilege to attend and meet Dr. Sorofman at…

By: Ebey P. Soman – Dr. Abu Serajuddin is a true inspiration for student pharmacists who wish to enter the pharmaceutical industry setting. He attained his Bachelors of Pharmacy with honors at Dhaka University in Bangladesh and majored in Pharmaceutics to get his Master of Sciences degree at Columbia University in New York. He obtained…

By Marie Huang – On September 22nd, members of Rho Chi gathered in Sullivan Hall Room 306 for the first General Body Meeting of the semester. As President Mohamed Dungersi stepped to the front of the room and reintroduced the executive board, students quietly helped themselves to scrumptious, hot slices of Domino‟s Pizza, and retreated…

By Ebey P. Soman – TNF-alpha inhibitors are drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis, as well as other disease states. These agents suppress the immune system and increase the risk of developing serious infections. Currently, there are five approved drugs in this category: • Adalimumab (Humira®, Abbott) • Certolizumab pegol…

By: Ebey P. Soman – Meet Dr. Parnali Chatterjee, a new faculty member in our St. John’s University family. I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Chatterjee at the doctoral seminar hosted by Dr. Lin Mantell entitled, “Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics in Drug Discovery and Development.” I was introduced to Dr. Chatterjee through Dr. Frank…

By: Ebey P. Soman – During a seminar held by the Career Center on September 30th, 2011, I had the opportunity to hear Mrs. Laura Cranston. She is a pharmacy graduate of St. John‟s University (class of 1984) and a former Executive Resident of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). Dr. Robert Mangione, Dean…

By: Ebey P. Soman – The World Trade Organization (WTO) and its member nations met in Uruguay in 1994 to establish international norms for trade, economy, and development. They developed the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which provided patent protection for pharmaceutical companies to make brand name medications and market those…

By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi – Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood efficiently to adequately perfuse tissues. It is often associated with serious consequences, such as kidney failure, liver dam-age, heart attack, and stroke. Patient care is focused on preventing these complications. Recently, attention has turned to other concerns: studies…

By: Marie Huang – Every month, Rho Chi Post has the wonderful opportunity to sit down and talk to an inspiring leader among the student pharmacists here at St. John‟s – someone who is not afraid to stand apart from the crowd and can be the change he or she wants to see in the…

By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi – Once again, Albany is in the setting of a fierce debate on pharmacy. On June 15th, 2011, the New York State Assembly passed Bill 5502, which would forbid insurance companies from mandating the use of mail-order pharmacies for patients under their medication plan. Bill 5502 specifically mandates that medication plans…

By: Mohamed Dungersi – On behalf of the Rho Chi Honor Society Beta Delta Chapter, it is with immense pleasure that I present to you our monthly newsletter publication, Rho Chi Post. The Rho Chi Honor Society, which is the only national pharmacy honor society of its kind, works to create and recognize lifelong intellectual leaders…