2022: Making History
A look back at the top 22 moments of 2022 showcasing a truly outstanding year for the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Story by Ryan McDaniel | Published December 26, 2022
Commencement 2022
On May 7th, students and their families, along with faculty, staff, and alumni gathered in Memorial Hall to celebrate the graduating class of 2022. Toyin Tofade, MS '94, PharmD '97, who now serves as President of the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, gave the keynote address. The Oath of the Pharmacist was given by Amy Greeson, BSPhar '90, in her role as President of the Pharmacy Alumni Association.
Welcoming the Class of 2026
This year the School welcomed 142 new students to the PharmD program. This, the class of 2026, is the 125th cohort to come to the School for their pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences education.
Signature Scholarship Program
This year, the UNC Pharmacy Foundation created a Signature Scholarship Program that outpaces national peers. Modeled on a blend of the Morehead-Cain and Carolina Covenant Scholarships, the program creates a cohort of 28 PharmD students who receive half- to full-tuition 4-year scholarships paired with enrichment opportunities, including global pharmacy experiences, professional development, and service activities. This allows us to provide more 4-year scholarships than any other pharmacy school in the country.
Celebrating 40 Years of the DPET Fellowship Program
Alumni of the Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics (DPET) Fellowship Program gathered at The Carolina Inn on August 26th to celebrate the program's 40th anniversary. This fellowship program is the first of its kind in the nation, attracting talent from all over the country every year.
Introducing Pharmeses
In September a new friend came to us, all the way from Zimbabwe. He is a cousin of Rameses, so we call him Pharmeses. He is the first official mascot of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy! Pharmeses comes to us through Amina's Gift, a local non-profit helping children across Africa access clothes, food, and education.
Assured Admissions Expansion
This year saw the expansion of the Assured Admissions Program, adding UNC-Asheville, Western Carolina University, and UNC Pembroke (pictured here). Chancellor Guskiewicz and Chancellor Cummings signed the agreement with endorsement from Dean Kashuba, Regional Associate Dean Sleath, and Dean Richard Gay (UNC-Pembroke).
PharmAlliance Week
The 2022 annual PharmAlliance Week, held at UCL in London, drew more than 600 in-person or online attendances across 13 hybrid sessions in pharmacy practice, education, and research. Attendees explored topics such as pharmacy practice post COVID-19, meeting the needs of pandemic learners, translating pharmacogenomics into pharmacy practice, and an interactive research seminar.
Campbell Faculty Mentoring Program Celebrates 15 Years
Former dean of the School, Bill Campbell, gave the signature lecture, The DNA of a Mentoring Program, at the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the faculty mentoring program he founded. The program, unique in academia, pairs junior faculty with mentors internal to and external to the School to help them navigate the early years of their careers here.
All Living Deans Return Home
The weekend of our Signature Celebration to commemorate the School's 125th anniversary brought back many familiar faces, including all of the School's living deans. Left to right: Bob Blouin ('03-'17), Angela Kashuba ('19-Present), Bill Campbell ('92-'03), and Dhiren Thakker ('17-'19).
New Spaces Dedicated
On the evening of October 7th, alumni and donors gathered at Beard Hall to dedicate five new spaces around the building. The philanthropic gifts to name the spaces have helped support renovations to Beard Hall including update classrooms, patient simulation suites, and a new student lounge.
Harold & Carol Kohn Distinguished Alumni Lecture
For the Third Annual Harold & Carol Kohn Distinguished Alumni Lecture we welcomed back Greg Vassie, PharmD '03. His lecture, Community Pharmacy's Progression and Unfair Advantage, took an earnest look at the past, present, and proposed future of community pharmacy in North Carolina.
Celebrating Three Classes at the 50Plus Club Luncheon
This year we welcomed three classes to the 50Plus Club - the class of 1972, the class of 1971, and the class of 1970. A welcome celebration for the classes of 1971 and 1970 was delayed due to the pandemic - it was wonderful to have so many alumni back in-person!
Celebrating 125 Years of Excellence
This year marked the School’s 125th anniversary. The UNC Pharmacy Foundation hosted a Signature Celebration at the Blue Zone in October. Alumni and friends joined UNC leadership, faculty, staff, and students to commemorate our rich history and bright future.
Triangle Business Journal Leaders in Diversity Award
The School's efforts in improving diversity, equity, and inclusion were recognized in 2022 with the Triangle Business Journal's Leaders in Diversity Award. Special recognition goes to our Office of Organizational Diversity and Inclusion, and to our Alumni DE&I Committee for the work they have done and continue to do in this space.
Tar Heel Bus Tour 2022
The Tar Heel Bus Tour returned this year with our own Stefanie Farreri on board. The tour included a stop at McDowell Pharmacy in Scotland Neck, a multi-generational pharmacy owned by Thomas McDowell, PharmD '16 and his father, Joe McDowell, BSPhar '81. As a result of the bus tour, Dr. Farreri was asked to speak at the Board of Trustees meeting about the value and impact of community pharmacy on the health of the people of NC.
Students Return to International Rotations
With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the School had to cease sending students abroad. While our commitment to global impact never changed, it was only this year that we were able to return to sending students abroad for rotations through the Global Pharmacy Scholars (GPS) Program, which was founded by former dean, Dhiren Thakker.
READDI AViDD Grant
READDI was first established in 2019 by the Eshelman Institute for Innovation to develop therapeutics against viral families with pandemic potential. With the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, that work kicked into overdrive. In 2022, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded READDI $65 million to establish an Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Center. These funds will support research to ensure the world is prepared for future pandemics.
125 Years and Beyond
2022 was certainly a historic year for the School, not just for marking our 125th anniversary, but for our accomplishments both large and small. As we look to 2023 and beyond, we plan to continue doing great things. Thank you for joining us for this look back at a historic year, and thank you for being a part of this extraordinary community!