Profiles
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This section presents short profiles about people associated with the College of Pharmacy. You will see stories about alumni, students, faculty and staff at the College of Pharmacy.
Jude McNally, shown here with a non-poisonous mountain king snake, has traveled the world because of his work with venomous creatures. Click here to read about his travels and learn more about his work.
UA preceptor Sandra Leal (right) helped start the Pharmacy-Based Diabetes Program at a Tucson health center, and has been instrumental in expanding it to more patients and to establishing the value of pharmacists' clinical interventions. Click to read more.
Everyone in the Nix family, including Chico the chihuahua, will have something to celebrate if David Nix's valley fever drug, now in clinical trials, proves successful. Click here to read more about Nix and his research.
Natalie Perkins works with patients like Juan Shavira to ensure they keep up with their HIV/AIDS medication regimens. Click here to learn more about the UA College of Pharmacy alumna and how she got a start at Tucson's El Rio Health Center.
Maya Thompson, left, works with fourth-year PharmD students like Adrienne Begaye as they complete rotations on the Tohono O'odham Reservation. Click here to learn more about this Indian Health Service preceptor.
Alumnus Ali McBride traveled to the magical land of the Lord of the Rings, also known as New Zealand, as a pharmacy student in 2007 for a clinical rotation. Here he explores the spectacular Franz Josef glacier. A click will bring you more about his learning adventure.
Travel-loving alumna Leanna Pugliese jetted off to New Zealand early this year to explore pharmacy practice in the island nation. She is shown standing above Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes region near her new home. Click here to learn more about the adventurous pharmacist.
Zach Finney, shown here with his wife, Sami, in Telluride, Colo., is excited about pediatric pharmacy as a result of a pharmacy rotation in Alaska. Click here to read more about the alumnus and his future plans.
Smaller class sizes and active student organizations were two of the characteristics that drew Rose Martin to the UA College of Pharmacy. The Nevada native, shown here during a clinical rotation at San Xavier Health Center in Tucson, completed her bachelor's work at UCLA. Learn more about her by clicking here.
Walt Klimecki is searching for clues about fundamental biological processes, including how our bodies react to chemical exposure. Click here to learn more about the researcher and his scientific quest.
An alumnus from the UA College of Pharmacy Class of 1980, Jeffrey Rein started with Walgreen Co. in 1982 as an assistant store manager and rose to top executive officer of the chain. Click here to read his story.
Terri Warholak, who conducts research to reduce medication errors, enjoys the southern Arizona desert and Tucson. Click here to read more about this Center for Health Outcomes and PharmacoEconomic Research faculty member.
Kristina De Los Santos, PharmD
Magna cum laude alumna Kristina De Los Santos loves her work with the Veteran Affairs hospital in Tucson and still keeps in contact with former professors. Learn more about this clinical faculty member and residency director by clicking here.
Laurence Hurley is an esteemed professor at the College of Pharmacy and associate director of BIO5 Institute. Can you spot The University of Arizona Technology Innovator for 2007 Award next to his computer, given for his work designing drugs for the treatment of cancer? A click here will tell you more about this researcher.
Understanding the cellular protective system against cancer is the focus of Donna Zhang's work. Click here to learn more about the new assistant professor's research in molecular toxicology.
“The omnipresent sun in Tucson really fuels my passion for research on molecular mechanisms of skin photo-damage,” Georg Wondrak, a new assistant professor, says. Click here to learn more about him and his work.
John Musil has taken a small Arizona pharmacy and turned it into something unique. Click here to read more about the COP alumnus and his company.
Growing up on a Navajo reservation near abandoned uranium mines led doctoral candidate Monica Yellowhair to her research. The Native American Cancer Research Partnership is supporting her work in the chemical genotoxicity of depleted uranium. Click here to learn more.
Helping U.S.-Mexico border communities address environmental health issues is part of Denise Moreno's job at a new center that involves scientists from several Mexican universities and six UA colleges, including the College of Pharmacy. Learn more about her work by clicking here.
Colorado native Dan Malone knew he was good at math, chemistry and biology. He was a college junior before he decided that pharmacy combined all his strong suits. Now he's a pharmacy educator and researcher. Learn more about him by clicking here.
“After eight years as a pharmacy tech, I knew I wanted to do pharmacy,” says Charity Olson. Now going into her third year of pharmacy school, the mother of four has overcome many obstacles toward reaching her goal. Click here to learn more.
Tony Felix knew in the sixth grade that he wanted to be a pharmacist. That was a few years ago, but he’s never regretted the choice he made in elementary school. Click here to find out why.
Graduate student Chris Cabello received a two-year genomics fellowship from the National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program for training in functional, evolutionary and computational genomics. Find out more about this UA and University of Michigan grad by clicking here.
An advocate for using genetic testing before prescribing drugs, UA alumna Mary Relling works closely with patients at St. Jude Children's Hospital. Click here to find out what Relling thinks Mexican food and pharmacokinetics have in common.
A satisfying part of being a certified specialist in poison information is helping people know when they need emergency care--and when they don't, Denise Holzman says. Click here to find out why Holzman has given 20 years of service to Arizona's first poison center.
After finishing her course of PharmD study at The University of Arizona, Ann Kerschen became a pioneer employee of the Medication Management Center at the College of Pharmacy, providing services to Medicare beneficiaries. One click here will take you to her story.
Pharmacists Hal and Marilyn Wand exude Wildcat pride wherever they go and travel back to Tucson for Homecoming activities every year. As executive director of the Arizona Board of Pharmacy, Hal stays in touch with the college for professional reasons, too, and is a member of our National Advisory Board. Learn more about this loyal alumni couple with a click here.
When she's not studying to be a pharmacist, Kwyn Forbregd likes to be outside playing sports, like golf. Click here to read more about this aspiring pharmacist.
Arizona State University graduate Kendra Olderog now also boasts of being a University of Arizona alumna. Shown here receiving graduation congratulations from College of Pharmacy Dean J. Lyle Bootman during the May 2007 Convocation, Olderog gained national recognition as a student leader while in pharmacy school. Click here to learn more.
“Originally I wanted to be a physician, and I still respect that aspect of medicine, but I really enjoy pharmacy,” says Ahmad Rkein. “I prefer the pharmacist’s interaction with patients better than that of a physician.” Click here for more about Rkein and his experiences as a MEDCAMP counselor at UA.
Robert Lawson has chosen several healthcare paths in the Army Reserves. One click will tell you all about his pharmacy school endeavors.
Student, professor, dean, vice provost, provost: Jack Cole has held many roles at The University of Arizona. One of his biggest accomplishments was bringing a College of Pharmacy building to the health sciences portion of campus. Click here to learn more about this professor, whose office remains in the building he "fathered" more than 25 years ago.
David Lee loves being a pharmacist as much as he loves following the Wildcat athletic teams. Shown here in the college's new pharmacy practice laboratory, as instructor for pharmaceutical calculations and pharmacy practice lab, he is among the first teachers PharmD students meet. Click here to learn more.
Georgina Rubal-Peace, pictured here in Taipei, Taiwan, had many opportunities to express her love of traveling during pharmacy school. Click here to read more about the alumna and her travels.
Pharmacist Erin Ballard is the College of Pharmacy’s very first Sanofi-Aventis fellow. The New Mexico native began her two-year fellowship in fall 2006, gaining insight into and practical experience with clinical research methods. One click here will take you to more about her work.
Native Arizonan Jacob Frick planned to be a pharmacist since high school. He introduced his wife Lara to the profession, as well. Learn more about the Fricks by clicking here.
Denise Erickson, shown at Hole in the Rock Bay in Bay of Islands, New Zealand, is the 2008 Roche Preceptor of the Year. Click here to learn more about this world-traveling star preceptor.
Becoming a pharmacist was a lifelong dream for Zhinus Bahraini, right in photo, who just finished her last year as a PharmD student. Part of her final year included working with young patients at Phoenix Children's Hospital with pharmacist Chrys Jallo, left. To learn more of Bahraini's experiences, click here.
Rear Admiral Robert Pittman, BSPharm, MPH
The chief pharmacy officer with the Public Health Service has a host of medals and awards to his credit, including two presented during Homecoming 2006 by his proud alma mater. Learn more of his story by clicking here.
Since he began working at Tucson Medical Center in 1982, alumnus and preceptor Gilbert Romero has seen many changes in the profession and in health care. Click here to learn about his new role training executives in a process improvement methodology.
Toxicologist Serrine Lau speaks animatedly about the work of the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center which she directs. Click here to find out more about why she is passionate about her work.
Graduating pharmacists in the Class of 2007 selected Soledad Granillo as the Preceptor of the Year. Click here to find out more about this Veterans Affairs Medical Center pharmacist who won the admiration of students.
A veteran of the Indian Health Service, Richard Herrier excels at teaching communications and clinical skills to student pharmacists, often using the college's new pharmacy practice laboratory. Click here to learn more about this award-winning professor.
Class of 1961 graduate Metta Lou Henderson remembers what pharmacy school was like when women were a minority in the classroom. Click here to find out more.
JoLaine Reierson Draugalis, PhD
Flanked by the symbols of her achievements as an educator and leader, Class of 1987 PhD alumna JoLaine Draugalis "sees the interface between academia and practice." Click here to learn the route she took to becoming a college of pharmacy dean.
Deanna Molina spent her summer vacation studying liver enzymes in a College of Pharmacy lab. Click here to learn more about this K-12 Engaging Science in Youth program intern and new UA freshman.
"Top-notch research," especially in cancer, drew Italian-born Davide Botta to The University of Arizona and College of Pharmacy. The pharmaceutical sciences PhD student is studying the structure-activity relationship of a protein called poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase, or PARG, which is involved in the genotoxic stress response of a cell. One click will tell you more about his work.
Adrienne Begaye chose to attend pharmacy school in Arizona because much of her family lives here and it's her home state. Click here to read more about the Winslow native, shown here with her parents at the completion of her undergraduate degree.
“There are a few compounds in garlic oil that affect drug metabolizing enzymes,” says graduate student Craig Fisher, who is doing research into the molecular mechanism of garlic oil constituents on liver cells. His work is funded by a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Health. Learn more by clicking here.
Who’s 60, the oldest college on the Arizona health sciences campus, and a leader in pharmacy education? We are, as this new sign on the College of Pharmacy-Skaggs Center building proclaims. Click here for a profile of some highlights from our six decades of excellence.
Newly minted graduate Nancy Colbert enjoys answering questions and solving problems for students in the college's master's and PhD tracks. Learn more about this award-winning employee by clicking here; for information on our graduate studies, look under Academic Programs.
She loves people, teaching and rock climbing. She's drawn to pharmacy because of its "variability." One click here will take tell you more about student pharmacist Liliana Benavides.
The college's director of experiential education, the gent on the left, is not only a highly qualified pharmacist and proud UA alumnus, he's also a "grad" of a program by the famous Second City Comedy Club in Chicago. Click here to find out more about him and his friends.
After two years working with Pfizer, Inc., Katherine Block decided to pursue a doctoral degree in medicinal chemistry, and selected The University of Arizona because of the scope of research and resources here. Click here to learn more about this young scientist.
Cheryl Carpenter says she combines both her academic degrees in her position with the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center. Pharmacy and social work go together well. "You use your counseling and people skills in both.” Learn more about alumna Carpenter by clicking here.
The best thing about being a doctoral student here is the freedom to design her own experiments and develop her own ideas, Jennifer Cohen says. A click here will let you know more about Cohen's work and background.
A clinical rotation she had as a pharmacy student led to Nancy Mellor's career as a certified specialist in poison information. Learn more about Mellor and the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center with a click here.
Helping future pharmacists establish and realize their academic goals is Marty Baker's work. Baker is often the first person from the College of Pharmacy to meet and encourage prospective students. Learn more about this Wildcat fan by clicking here.
"The UA College of Pharmacy met my expectations in every way," says this 2006 graduate. Learn more about her career and family plans by clicking here.
Jamie Joy manages The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy's clinical rotation program in Phoenix. She is shown here, second from the right in the front row, with pharmacy students at 2008 graduation. One click will tell you more about Joy and her work.
Clinical experiences in a variety of settings gave Lindsay Berryman an understanding of the many career opportunities open to pharmacists. “The preceptors and pharmacy residents are all such great role models and they all seem eager to share their knowledge," she says. Find out more about this Arizona athlete and pharmacist.
Occasionally, Katy Kangaroo has been Lauren Babits' alter ego. Donning the marsupial costume and teaching kindergarteners and first-graders about taking medicine safely is a joy for this busy student pharmacist. One click here will tell you more.
After earning a bachelor's in business administration and working at a financial firm, Ifat Krase returned to UA to become a pharmacist. Click to learn more about her summer internship with CVS/Caremark, and how her husband, Jeff, also a College of Pharmacy alumnus, influenced her decision to become a pharmacist.
Student pharmacist Marjan Sepassi spent the summer of 2008 in New York as an intern with Pfizer. Read more about her experiences.
Kevin Wright is an alum on an unusual mission: to mentor the staff of a hospital in a war zone. Click here to read how this pharmacist is improving health care halfway around the world.
These four pharmacy students beat out 29 other teams to win the 2008 business plan competition sponsored by the National Community Pharmacists Association. Taking the honors were (from left) MaiHuong Nguyen,
David Jacobson, Kate Schiraldi, and Lauren Bartoli. Click to find out how they did it.
As a pharmacoepidemiologist, John Seeger is an expert at analyzing the effects of medications on large populations. Click here to see where his specialty has taken him and what advice he has for those who would join him.
Marti Lindsey explores the mismatch between the reading level of most Americans and the health materials they need to understand. "My research answers the question, 'Which reading level is best for a universal precaution for environmental health promotion materials." To find out more, click here.