College of Pharmacy Extends Reach Across Globe

The advancement of any profession and the science(s) in which it is rooted hinges greatly upon engagement of its scholars in the creation of new knowledge and their service to organizations and scientific bodies that lobby on its behalf. When the scholars of an institution are engaged in this way, it not only advances the profession, but also the patients and other stakeholders served as well as the organization, itself.

Many faculty at Touro University California’s College of Pharmacy are engaged at multiple levels, including locally and statewide, such as our Dean, Dr. James Scott, serving as President of the California Society of Health Systems Pharmacists.

Touro Active at National, International Levels

We also have a number of faculty who are making their presence known on the national and international stages.

For example, Dr. Kevin Ita has had a long track record of research in use of microneedles as an alternative delivery route for various drugs. Micron-sized needles allow for targeted drug delivery with more precision and less pain than an injection, which can result in patients being more adherent and less subject to drug side effects.

His work on creation of a microneedle array patch makes application of a drug not unlike applying an adhesive bandage, and this work was featured recently in Happiest Health magazine, which has readership among consumers and health practitioners, alike.

Dr. Kelan Thomas has not only appeared on recent podcasts but has also been quoted in the New York Post and The Washington Post, raising awareness about both the benefit and potential complications of use for psychedelic mushrooms, which contain psilocybin. Psilocybin has shown potential for treating varied conditions, ranging from eating disorders, to depression, and even to long-COVID.

However, even with micro-dosing, these substances could increase anxiety and actually result in development of valvular heart disease, to which Thomas recommends taking breaks in microdosing regimens.

Thomas was interviewed by these venerable newspapers due to his publications and keynoting several conferences on these issues, and in doing so raises the profile of Touro University California's College of Pharmacy.

Dr. Mitchell Barnett has received much-deserved attention for various endeavors, most notably his efforts to improve proper disposal of medications, thus reducing waste and problematic toxins from their improper discard.

In addition to being featured by a local news television station in Iowa, he was also interviewed on a podcast for Pharmacy Times, the Iowa Pharmacists Association, and recently was an invited panelist for the Pharmacy Quality Alliance Forum in increasing safe medication disposal.

This is an issue that has been receiving much national attention due to increasingly common occurrences of improperly disposed drugs found in various sources such as lakes and rivers, and we are delighted that Barnett is taking a lead on the local and national scenes to further enhance pharmacy’s image.

Another faculty member, Dr. Mohamed Jalloh, has exercised his leadership in a completely different way. He had the innovativeness to write a children's book called "Andre's Armor." The story details the thoughts and actions of Andre, a young boy who doesn't want to get his shots ... until he learns how they work to protect his body. What a unique way to allay fears and promote vaccination uptake!

Faculty Expertise Extends Into Editing Pharmacy Textbooks

Dr. Catherine Cone is becoming well-known nationally for her expertise in education and assessment. She has presented twice internationally for the Foundation for Critical Thinking to spotlight her published work in that area.

She has also presented on transparency in teaching and learning at the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Institute and worked on the committee to craft the 2023 Institute's programming. She serves as a co-editor for the medications section of the Blueprints in Family Medicine textbook, which of course heightens the exposure of pharmacy scholars and of Touro University California's College of Pharmacy to our colleagues in medicine.

Cone also co-edits a textbook on Teaching Pharmacy Practice Skills, a momentous bit of help for both students and for pharmacy faculty around the country/world to design and take part in meaningful active learning exercises in clinical pharmacy pedagogical experiences.

I also have a presence on national and international platforms. I am the founding co-editor of two peer-reviewed pharmacy journals, one of which (Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy) has the highest impact factor score of all pharmacy practice journals worldwide. I also founded and co-edit the most widely used textbook in pharmacy management worldwide.

I was just named as a Fulbright Scholar for the second time. My first appointment was at the University of Pristina in Kosovo and my upcoming one will be at the University of Sydney in Australia. I have affiliate and/or visiting professorships at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the University of Copenhagen, and the University of Granada in Spain.

I am on the Workforce Task Force for and am a frequent participant and keynote speaker for the International Federation of Pharmacy, which has its headquarters in Amsterdam. I serve on the Editorial Advisory Board for McGraw-Hill's AccessPharmacy, which provides most pharmacy content throughout the nation and increasingly, around the world.

I regularly appear on podcast and am invited to write columns for Pharmacy Times. I also co-advise PhD students at other programs in the U.S. Recently, I won the Helen Clark Award, an international award for research and service in medication use policy, as well as the Wiederholt Award, where I co-authored the "Best Paper" published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association with my colleague from the University of Tennessee.

It is apparent that Touro University California's College of Pharmacy faculty are making quite the impact on our profession and taking leadership roles on national and international levels. Our "reach" can be felt around the globe as we do our part to advance the pharmacy profession and the patients we serve.