The Council for the Arts and Culture and Everyman Theatre have teamed up to offer discounted tickets to UMB students, faculty, and staff for the 2016-2017 season.
Are you a new or expecting parent? Don’t miss UMBrella’s New and Expecting Parent Support Group. Learn about the resources available at UMB and in your community.
We will socialize, learn from each other, and hear from experts about infant sleep, toddler eating, and developmental milestones.
Tuesday, July 28 | Noon | SMC Campus Center, Room 203
Identity theft is a crime where a thief steals your personal information to commit fraud. The thief can use this information to fraudulently apply for credit, file taxes, or obtain medical services in your name. These acts can damage your credit status, and cost you time and money to restore your good name.
A step-by-step guide to get started handling identity theft is available from the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov.
If your SSN is compromised and you know or suspect you are a victim of tax-related identity theft, take the following additional steps:
You have a problem, if you receive an IRS notice via US Postal Mail that states:
Be aware that the IRS does not initiate contact with a taxpayer by email, nor any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels, to request personal or financial information.
When I started my PhD in pharmaceutical sciences at the School of Pharmacy four years ago, I thought that I had everything planned out – I’d find a lab with a great mentor, learn new techniques, apply them to a research project, write and publish a few papers, and get a job at a large pharmaceutical company. While my overly simplistic plan may not have been the most naïve one, I never factored in that, just a few years later, I’d be more confused about where to go in my career than I was at the start. Whether with academia, government, a start-up pharmaceutical company, new ventures development, or even management consulting, I had considered nearly every option and found myself drawn to each for their own reasons.
Last fall, I was fortunate to come across an email about the President’s Entrepreneurial Fellowship, which aimed to teach a team of students from the professional schools at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) the process required to effectively commercialize University-owned intellectual property under the mentorship of Rana Quraishi, PhD, director of New Ventures at UM Ventures – a joint initiative between UMB and the University of Maryland, College Park to commercialize discoveries and create economic impact by engaging partners in industry and social ventures. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore my interests in business strategy, start-up companies, and product development. I knew I had to apply. When I found out that I had been chosen to represent the School of Pharmacy on this interdisciplinary team, I was thrilled and confident that I would be able to contribute to the project.
As the inaugural class, we were split into two teams to work on projects related to two separate medical devices. My team included three other members – two doctoral students from molecular medicine and a student from the School of Law. Together, we were assigned to a dental medical device that was invented by faculty members at UMB and College Park. Our first task was to write a draft of a presubmission Q-submission, which allowed us to ask the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specific questions about the device, such as the sufficiency of the clinical testing planned for the dental device.
After compiling a rough draft and meeting with an FDA consultant, we found that we had a clear regulatory pathway, and opted in favor of going straight for the Premarket Notification 510(k) to show that our device is as safe and effective as similar devices on the market. As a team, we outlined all of the proposed clinical testing and contacted several contract research organizations (CROs) that could perform the testing for us, as well as companies that could manufacture the device for that testing.
In addition to the regulatory work, we outlined and compiled information for the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) Phase Three Application that, if accepted, would award the start-up up to $150,000 to perform the clinical testing and launch the device. This fund was developed between the state of Maryland and five local universities (including UMB) to support university-owned start-ups and product development. For this application, I specifically focused on the marketing and competitive advantage that our device had over others on the market.
Overall, this fellowship was a great opportunity. I learned a lot about the work that goes into developing a product from a start-up company’s perspective. I also learned a lot about tech transfer at UMB, and began to understand how members of academia are able to patent and commercialize their findings from the lab. However, the biggest lesson that I took away from the fellowship is that, as an entrepreneur, you can have the best idea in the world, but you need a really motivated team to effectively get a product to the market.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Inside SOP, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s blog. It is reprinted here with permission.
Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD ’00, BCACP, FAPhA, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science (PPS) and associate dean for student affairs at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, has been named vice president and president-elect of the Maryland Pharmacists Association (MPhA). Installed into office on June 12, Layson-Wolf will also serve as president of the organization for 2017-2018.
“The members of MPhA have made an outstanding decision in electing Dr. Layson-Wolf to serve as their next vice president and president-elect,” says Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FCP, FAAPS, dean and professor of the School of Pharmacy. “During her time at the School, Dr. Layson-Wolf has demonstrated a continued commitment to advancing the pharmacy profession across the state of Maryland beyond. In her service as both the previous assistant dean for experiential learning and current associate dean for student affairs, Dr. Layson-Wolf has proven herself to be an exemplary role model for students and faculty alike, and I am confident that she will bring the same focus, dedication, and leadership to her role with MPhA.”
Established in 1882, MPhA strives to strengthen the profession of pharmacy, advocate for all pharmacists in Maryland, and promote excellence in pharmacy practice. Layson-Wolf joined the organization in 1998, while still a student at the School of Pharmacy. Since that time, she has worked alongside its leadership and staff to support a wide range of pharmacy education, practice, and advocacy initiatives, including the national Script Your Future campaign to raise awareness about medication adherence. She has previously served as the organization’s Speaker of the House and as a member of its Board of Trustees.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Layson-Wolf has been selected to serve as vice president and president-elect of MPhA,” says Jill A. Morgan, PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS, associate professor and chair of PPS. “Through the numerous leadership positions that she has held both inside and outside of the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Layson-Wolf has advocated for and helped put into practice a number of advancements in the areas of pharmacist-delivered immunizations, point of care testing, medication adherence, and patient care program implementation. She is a true pioneer in her field, and someone who is regularly sought out for her knowledge and expertise. We look forward to hearing about all that she is sure to accomplish in her new role.”
As vice president and president-elect of MPhA, Layson-Wolf will support and assist the organization’s president, while working alongside other officers on the Board of Trustees to respond to the changing needs of its members. Upon assuming the role of president, Layson-Wolf will oversee the Board of Trustees to help ensure that members fulfill their responsibilities for the continued governance of the organization.
“The relationships and connections that I have gained through my work with MPhA have been invaluable to my development as a practicing pharmacist and pharmacy educator,” says Layson-Wolf. “I have professionally benefited from a number of advancements that can be credited to my colleagues in MPhA, who believed that pharmacists could do more to serve patients, and advocated to help make those beliefs a reality for practicing pharmacists across the state. However, while our profession has made great strides in recent years, there still exist a number of opportunities to expand pharmacists’ access to patient care. I look forward to working with fellow members of MPhA to determine how we can best leverage those opportunities and continue to move the profession forward for future generations of practitioners.”
In addition to assuming her new role as vice president and president-elect of MPhA, Layson-Wolf will maintain her current appointments at the School, including her roles as director of the University of Maryland PGY-1 Community Pharmacy Residency Program and pharmacist with the School’s Patients, Pharmacists Partnerships (P3) Program – a pharmacist-delivered comprehensive medication management program for individuals with chronic diseases.
A clinical trial is being conducted on an investigational medication for the treatment of heavy drinking.
This study is open to men and women ages 18 and older and of European ancestry. Participation is confidential and you will be compensated for your time and effort. Transportation can be provided.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine
Clinical Behavioral Center
5900 Waterloo Road, Suite 200
Columbia, Maryland 21045
Phone: 667-214-2111
Do you have an interest in exploring Entrepreneurial Career Pathways?
We are now accepting applications for President’s Fellows who will spend the year discussing entrepreneurial exploration/alternative career paths. We are looking for students who are interested in being part of an interprofessional team that will be responsible for providing UMB leadership with recommendations regarding the preparation of students for entrepreneurial careers.
The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Friday, July 15, 2016 at 11:59 p.m.
Applicants will be notified of their selection status by mid to late-July. Please direct any questions to Interprofessional Student Learning & Service Initiatives at islsi@umaryland.edu or 410-706-7438.
UMB is pleased to announce the formalization of the Office of University Policy and Procedures (OUPP) under the Division of Operations and Planning. This office will serve as an umbrella for the Policy Oversight Workgroup and provide a centralized hub for the efficient management of Universitywide policies and procedures.
Shannon Dawkins Wrenn has been appointed director of OUPP. She was instrumental in the build-out of the Procedure Library during the 2011-2016 strategic planning cycle. We can look forward to an updated policy and procedures website as well as additional improvements in the coming months.
Vanessa P. Fahie, PhD, RN, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has received a College Preparation Intervention Program grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The $149,000 award is in support of the Maryland Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program.
In collaboration with Baltimore City Public Schools, UMSON will provide services to Edmondson-Westside and Frederick Douglass High School students and their families.
The Exploring Health Profession Careers project will foster career awareness and exploration, college readiness, financial literacy, and increased parental involvement. Students and their families will also be exposed to diverse collegiate experiences on a health professions campus to help overcome the disparity in educational attainment and awareness of health professions career opportunities among low-income students.
“The achievement gap between students from high-income and low-income families has grown in recent years. This project addresses academic preparation, one of the strongest determinants of postsecondary success for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education,” Fahie said. “The rising inequality in K–12 achievement based on family income parallels growing disparities in college enrollment and completion between students from high-income and low-income families.”
Through this partnership resources will be pooled to creatively develop a model program to reduce the obstacles that would prevent high school students, particularly African Americans interested in health professions, from graduating from high school and enrolling in college. The partnership will also increase communication between parents, teachers, and administrators to identify career and educational goals.
“I want to applaud Dr. Fahie for her ongoing dedication to strengthening the School of Nursing’s collaboration with the Baltimore City Public Schools and for this latest program grant,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Improving access for Baltimore City students to health profession careers is vital to the future of health care delivery in Maryland and to the health and well-being of our communities. Dr. Fahie brings tremendous creativity, energy, and wisdom to the task of dismantling barriers to high school graduation and entry into the health professions.”
The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy hosted its annual New Student Welcome Day for members of the Class of 2020 on June 10. Designed to introduce new students to the curriculum and set expectations for their first year as student pharmacists, this event offered students the opportunity to meet one another for the first time, while learning more about the School.
“Today marks the first day of an intense, but incredible four-year journey for the members of your class,” said Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FCP, FAAPS, dean and professor of the School of Pharmacy, who welcomed students to the event. “The path that you have chosen will require a lot of dedication and hard work on your behalf, and I encourage you to take advantage of the world-class resources available to help you succeed in our Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. You will be taught by outstanding faculty who are nationally and internationally recognized in their areas of expertise. Get to know them, understand what it is that excites them about the profession, and learn from their experiences. I wish you all the best of luck as you begin this new phase in your lives.”
Steven Fletcher, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (PSC) and class advisor for the Class of 2020, echoed Eddington’s message to the students, encouraging them to speak with and seek advice from faculty during their time at the School. “We have many remarkable faculty members at the School, and their doors are always open to students. Take advantage of that. Our faculty are always happy to help,” he said.
Cherokee Layson-Wolf, PharmD, BCACP, FAPhA, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science (PPS) and associate dean for student affairs, provided students with a brief introduction to the School and its Office of Student Affairs. She highlighted the wide range of support services available at the School, emphasizing the important role that the career navigation program will play as students begin to consider the field in which they want to apply their pharmacy education.
“Some of you might think that you already know what you want to do in your careers as pharmacists,” said Layson-Wolf. “However, as you start to interact with our faculty and hear from guest speakers who come to the School from academia, government, and industry, you might find that you change your mind. The goal of the career navigation program is to make sure that you understand and are well-versed in all of the different career options available to you.”
In addition to receiving important information about financial aid and the curriculum, new students had an opportunity to attend a student organization fair. Representatives from numerous student groups at the School of Pharmacy were on-hand to answer questions about their organizations and help new students find ways to get involved with the School, as well as the local community.
“No matter what avenue of pharmacy you are interested in, there is a place for you at the School of Pharmacy,” said Andrew Wherley, a second-year student pharmacist and treasurer for the School’s Student Government Association (SGA). “Our student organizations encompass nearly every facet of the pharmacy profession, but they all share a common goal to uplift and improve the health of residents living in our local community. I encourage you to use today’s event to see where your talents can be leveraged to make the greatest impact on this important work.”
Students were also sized for their white coats during the event, which they will don for the first time during the School’s annual White Coat Ceremony in September to mark their entry into the profession as student pharmacists. Later that afternoon, students from the School’s satellite campus at the Universities at Shady Grove returned to their campus to meet with faculty and learn more about student life at Shady Grove, while students on the Baltimore campus attended additional presentations that highlighted life in Baltimore.
“I wanted to attend the School of Pharmacy because all of the pharmacists that I currently work with – and all of the pharmacists that you hear about across the state – are graduates of the School,” said Jessica Krummel, an incoming member of the Class of 2020. “I knew that the School had a prestigious reputation, and was recently ranked as one of the top 10 schools of pharmacy in the country. After attending today’s sessions, I feel more excited than ever to start my first semester.”
The UMB Police Force and Department of Public Safety is committed to providing the University campus and surrounding communities with innovative solutions and best practices in the delivery of law enforcement services. As part of this quest for continual improvement, the force and department recently enacted a new set of alerts procedures with updated boundaries.
UMB Alerts also may be considered under special circumstances with the recommendation of the chief of police and approval of the president or his/her designee. Examples might be civil unrest, traffic issues, or special weather-related events, which will be clearly marked as such.
The Office of Communications and Public Affairs is responsible for sending the above-named alerts and advisories (or other approved term) after being requested by the chief of police or his/her designee, except under special circumstances or times of urgency or limited resources when the chief of police will send the communication him/herself.
The above procedures take into consideration the expectation that the chief of police or his/her designee has communicated with the president or his/her designee in a timely fashion, in most instances prior to the alert being sent, but in special circumstances, such as immediate threat to the campus, after the alert has been sent.
If you look in the dictionary under the word “stunned” you might just see security guard Keare Johnson’s picture from June 15. That’s when UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, entered the Saratoga Building lobby, as he does numerous times a day. Only this time, joined by a crowd of people, he stopped and pointed to the personable Johnson, saying “so this is about you. You are UMB’s Employee of the Month.”
Johnson’s jaw dropped and a look of disbelief crossed her face as she let loose a shriek that likely was audible on the roof of the parking garage. The applause that followed from the 15 or 20 people representing the UMB Police Force, Human Resources, the Office of the President, and more made it clear that Perman isn’t Johnson’s only fan.
“I and all the people who work in this building are greeted with sunshine when we see you,” Perman said to Johnson, who was assigned to Saratoga a year ago after two years as a floater. “It’s a sunny day no matter what the weather is outside once you walk into this lobby. You are a real professional. You take care of us, you watch over us, and at the same time you present the best public relations because you are the first person people see and the impression has to be right. You do that in a way that is an example for the rest of the institution.”
Security supervisor Clarence Fields cited her “friendly demeanor” in nominating Johnson for the award. In addition to keeping the Saratoga Building secure and demonstrating the core value of excellence, Fields said, “Ms. Johnson never fails to greet me individually no matter how many people are in the lobby. She always has a warm smile and a greeting to start my day off on the right foot. Ms. Johnson contributes to increased morale on campus with her encouraging smile and heartfelt love for her job.”
Indeed, Johnson appears to know everyone on a first name basis, wishing them well as they come and go. She sees such friendliness as part of her job. “Yes, I think security is part of customer service so I think you need to have a good rapport with the people you are working with, the people who you are protecting.”
Many important visitors pass through the Saratoga Building, which houses the Office of the President. But Johnson said they get no preferential treatment. “No, we just basically treat everybody the same,” Johnson said. “We maintain our professionalism and offer service with a smile.”
In addition to Johnson receiving a plaque, Perman told her there would be another $250 in her next check, eliciting another shriek from the appreciative Johnson.
“I’m surprised and happy,” said Johnson, still beaming 15 minutes after the award ceremony. “It’s good to know they appreciate what I do. I just want to thank all my co-workers, every one of them, and the people who nominated me.”
Antonio Williams, MS, associate vice president for public safety and chief of the UMB Police Force, said it was a proud moment for his team, especially the 80 security officers and supervisors at UMB.
“I’m grateful to Security Officer Keare Johnson for the great service she provides UMB,” Williams said. “She is professional, conscientious, and kind. She sets an example for others to follow. I am proud of her recognition as Employee of the Month.”
UMB will be participating in an electrical consumption test from 2 to 3 p.m. on June 23. During this time we ask that you reduce unnecessary electrical consumption. You can help by turning off unnecessary lights and equipment, such as copiers, battery chargers, coffee pots, printers, scanners, and other electrical devices. Please use stairs rather than elevators whenever possible and try to defer unnecessary equipment usage until the energy reduction event is over. Our facilities staff will raise temperature set points and reduce airflows where possible. If you have a critical area that cannot tolerate a small rise in temperature, please contact work control at 6-7570.
Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently named Assistant Professor Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, the associate dean for the baccalaureate program. Trocky had been serving as the interim since October 2015.
In her new role, Trocky is tasked with staying abreast of and advising on a wide array of academic issues and policies impacting the baccalaureate program. Trocky will facilitate innovative program development and the integration of technology to shape the educational experiences of entry-level students. She will also develop partnerships with other academic institutions and health care organizations to assist with the transition of transfer students and students who are graduates of associate degree nursing programs.
“I am honored to serve as associate dean for the baccalaureate program for one of the finest nursing schools in our state. We have a group of stellar faculty members who are committed to maintaining the academic rigor of our entry-level curriculum, meeting the unique needs of our diverse student body, and contributing to the broader educational experiences of our future bachelor-prepared nurses,” Trocky said. “I look forward to supporting the faculty and staff and enabling them to develop competent, compassionate, caring nursing professionals who can effectively deliver safe, high-quality care.”
Early in her career, Trocky served for a decade in a variety of staff nurse positions and was a study coordinator at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Additionally, she worked as a research nurse and multicenter project coordinator for an NCI grant at the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center. Since joining UMSON’s faculty in 2006, Trocky has served as co-program director for the Komen Maryland Affiliate Nursing Partnership, program director for the Clinical Research Management graduate specialty, program director for UMSON’s RN-to-BSN option, and as a member of the Health Services Leadership and Management faculty.
“Dr. Trocky has consistently proven her abilities as a faculty member and leader at the University of Maryland School of Nursing,” Kirschling said. “She has exhibited strong day-to-day management skills and a deep knowledge of the baccalaureate program during her time as interim. I have every confidence that she will do an outstanding job as the associate dean for the baccalaureate program.”
Trocky earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Waynesburg University, post-master’s Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions certificate from UMSON, Master of Science in nursing from The Catholic University of America, and Bachelor of Science in nursing from Temple University.
The School of Pharmacy’s Mass Spectrometry Center, in partnership with Waters Corporation, will host a free seminar on June 24, 8:30 a.m. to noon in HSFII, Room 600, on the basics of HDX MS and its application to problems of protein structure.