News
Dr. Nicholas R. Natale is the 2022 recipient of the Drexel University Chemistry Department’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.
October 2022
Jenna Schabacker was awarded the 2022 AFPE Gateway to Research Scholar for her “Implementation of Urinary Tract Infection treatment protocols based on facility-specific resistance data in Skilled Nursing Facilities” research.
August 2022
Athlete bouncing back with UM rodeo team after near-fatal accident
Senior pharmacy student, Stephanie Rollins is back to balancing school and rodeo after an accident a year ago.
Stepphanie said, "I am going to continue to push through these injuries and setbacks that I have because I want to be back to where I want to be.”
4 May 2022
Associate Professor Ian McGrane was awarded winner of the “Therapeutic Case Report Award” at the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) annual meeting in San Antonio Texas on April 24th 2022.
His submission titled “Successful Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) After Failed Pharmacotherapies in an Older Female on Hemodialysis with Bipolar Mania” described a complicated case where various mood stabilizers and antipsychotics were dosed and monitored in accordance to best practices for patients on dialysis. It is the first published case of ECT being effective for bipolar mania in a patient on dialysis, and the published manuscript can be found here:
28 April 2022
The Skaggs School of Pharmacy at the University of Montana held its annual Scholarship Ceremony on Friday April 22, 2022. This year, the ceremony was in person and hosted all students, family and friends, faculty, staff, and the School’s friends and donors.
Congratulations to all of this year’s scholarship recipients from the University of Montana Skaggs School of Pharmacy. The School awarded nearly $280,000 for the 2022-2023 academic year through 79 different scholarships for the Doctor of Pharmacy students.
Also, during this ceremony, we were able to recognize new student inductees to RhoChi.
None of this would have been possible without our generous supporters and donors, and these are most worthy investments in the intellectual and professional development of future pharmacists. We also would like to express a special thanks to Montana Family Pharmacies for sponsoring today’s reception. Thank you!
Congratulations!
22 April 2022
Doctor Dan: Montana WR Danny Burton balances football, doctorate pursuit in pharmacy
Danny Burton plays Division I football while getting a doctoral degree in pharmacy.
“Danny’s done a great job of sticking with it. He’s had a load on his plate with school, and he’s done a great job with the football part. He’s popular with his teammates and his coaches. He’s the kind of guy you want on your team,” said head coach, Bobby Hauck.
9 December 2021
New UM Program Fast Tracks Future Montana Pharmacists
UM first-year students Ecy Flores (left) and Tori Matteson are enrolled in the GrizRx Assurance Program, a new program offering a direct path to qualified freshmen interested in pursuing the UM Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
3 December 2021
Dr. Andrij Holian has been invited to serve on an influential National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council
Dr. Andrij Holian, a University of Montana professor of toxicology in the Department Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and director of the Center for Environmental Health Sciences in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy, has been invited to serve on an influential National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council.
1 November 2021
Missoula Aging Services offering medication reviews in partnership with UM pharmacy school
Rachael Zins, Pharm D, AE-C and Pharmacy Fellow, Jade Bosic-Reiniger, Pharm D, AE-C, MPH, provided hour-long medication reviews at Missoula Aging Services.
28 October 2021
Ian McGrane was recipient of ACCP award
Associate Professor Ian McGrane was recipient of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Central Nervous System Practice and Research Network (CNS PRN) Member of the Year Award for 2021.
26 October 2021
Research Awards Grow by 38% in Last Fiscal Year
The University of Montana has announced a record-breaking $138 million in research funding awards during fiscal year 2021. At this point UM is poised to achieve a R1 ranking by Carnegie Research Classifications, the highest a campus can earn.
21 September 2021
Student Chapter of Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate
“While climate change is difficult to confront at times, it was amazing to walk away from class feeling like I had the tools to make a difference as I move forward in my career as a health professional." - Amelda Klink, Pharm.D. Student
10 September 2021
The FCC Gives $679,000 to Expand Telecommunications
"The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that telehealth services are more essential than ever for folks in rural Montana who often need to drive hours to access basic health care," said Senator John Tester who helped secure the funds for work being done through the College of Health and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy.
31 August 2021
Covid Vaccination Clinic on the Oval
MacKenzie Schneider and Camryn Cooper, both P2 students, dispense information about Covid vaccinations and administer injections under the supervision of Pharmacist Ken Chatriand. Information about a booster shot will be available September 20.
23 August 2021
Summer APPE Rotation in Forsyth
“At UM, they teach you about the drugs and how they work – side effects and all those things, but there are a lot of other aspects, like how to run a pharmacy, insurance and management, that I’ve been exposed to here. It’s so cool to see how it all comes together, and I’ve had lots of patient interaction.” - Shelby Brooks, Pharm.D. student
12 July 2021
Montana Grant Targets Mental Health Needs Of Children, Young People
Jean Carter will be the project evaluator for a four-year $1.9 million grant to train students to better serve children, adolescents and youth with mental and behavioral health needs.
17 June 2021
Help Support Montana’s Next Generation of Pharmacists
Please consider supporting the Skaggs School of Pharmacy Dean’s Impact Fund. Gifts to this fund will provide unrestricted support for the school to provide for key electronic and preparation resources for our students. Any gift is appreciated and, though even a small gift, you can have a significant impact on our students’ success. (To make your gift: visit supportum.org/health, enter your donation amount and payment information, and specify in the 'Comments/Additional Information' section that you would like to support the "Skaggs School of Pharmacy Dean's Impact Fund.") We appreciate all of you and thank you for your support.
19 May 2021
Interview with Professor Douglas R. Allington
I cannot limit my teaching highlights to a single moment or event. By my rough estimate there have been approximately 1500 UM pharmacy graduates over the past 31 years. What I have always appreciated has been the day-to-day interactions with our students and watching their professional growth while in school. More amazing to me is their professional post-graduate achievements and the positive impact they have made on the state and regions beyond. I attribute the students’ success to their intelligence, work ethic and passion for the profession.
6 May 2021
Breast cancer survivor set to graduate UM pharmacy program
Jennifer Baker’s path to graduation at the University of Montana has been far from simple. While working toward her doctorate in pharmacy, Baker, 42, juggled serving in the Montana Air National Guard, working rotations at a hospital in Great Falls and being a stepmom to four kids. Through it all, she also battled breast cancer.
29 April 2021
Shelby Cole, vaccine researcher, graduates from the Molecular & Biomedical Sciences program
Shelby Cole spent her initial time at the University of Montana studying pharmacy. She shifted her focus to vaccine development to have an even greater impact on society, especially communities facing economic disadvantages. Her mentor, Jay Evans, Directs the Center for Translational Medicine.
29 April 2021
Reflection from Prof. Keith Parker
"There’s little doubt in my mind my most delightful moments at UM involved interactions with students at all levels: undergraduate, graduate, and professional doctoral. There’ve been a few cases in which a student went on to become a parent, and then one of their children became my student as well. These occasions have been marvelous! Anytime students graduate then come back a few years later for a visit, or simply let us know we’ve made a difference for them – that’s a big deal. In fact, from a work-related standpoint, I’m not sure if there’s a more pleasing message than that."
27 April 2021
Alzheimer's Disease and Air Pollution
Dr. Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas served as editor for Alzheimer’s Disease and Air Pollution. "Most people think of Alzheimer’s disease as a condition which predominately affects elderly people, but an increasing amount of evidence indicates that in populations exposed to high concentration of air pollutants, Alzheimer’s disease development and progression can be identified in pediatric and young adulthood ages,” Calderón-Garcidueñas said.
26 April 2021
Scholarship Ceremony
This year, the Skaggs School of Pharmacy awarded $216,200 for the 2021-2022 academic year through 70 scholarships going to 54 Doctor of Pharmacy students. This would not be possible without generous supporters and donors.
16 April 2021
McGrane Wins Award
Assistant Professor Ian McGrane was awarded “Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year” by the Montana Pharmacy Association. Dr. McGrane devotes approximately 25 hours per week to clinical adult and adolescent pharmacy services at St. Patrick Hospital.
10 April 2021
Interview with Dr. Rustem S. Medora
Dr. Medora shares stories from his years at UM, touching on advocacy work for HCOP, research with Dr. Keith Parker, the assistance Sen. Mike Mansfield provided him, and the joy of working with students.
April 12, 2021
UM Rolls Out Student, Employee Vaccine Clinics
The University marks nearly 10,000 vaccinations administered to community members by UM pharmacy students.
29 March 2021
Announcing the new L.S. Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation (SIHI)
The Institute will serve Montana as a statewide hub for health education, research and outreach to improve access to health care for all Montanans, particularly those living in underserved communities.
8 March 2021
Success Abounds for UM Center for Translational Medicine
The CTM team has grown from 15 people in January 2016, when the group first came to UM, to nearly 50 employees now, including students, staff and faculty. And there are plans for further growth going forward.
1 March 2021
UM Pharmacy Students Leading 'Operation: Immunization'
“I never would have thought in 100 years that a global pandemic would hit while I was in school,” Travis Schweer, a third-year PharmD student, said. "It gives new meaning to hands-on training.” PharmD students vaccinated over 800 community members in one day.
8 February 2021
Shot of Relief: UM Vaccine Clinic Draws Crowd
“I’m absolutely happy as hell,” said 73- year-old Brent Greenwell who was one of the last people to receive the Pfizer vaccine at the event where over 400 people were immunized.
31 January 2021
UM Pharmacy Partners with Missoula County on Mobile Vaccination Events
“This is a tremendous undertaking – delivering vaccines to tens of thousands in Missoula County over the coming months – and we’re all working together,” said Kenneth Chatriand, manager of the UM Pharmacy and coordinator of community advanced student pharmacy practice.
27 January 2021
UM Creates COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
“We’ve had very few no shows,” said Katelyn Michell, a fourth-year Pharm. D. student serving as the vaccination check-in coordinator. “This is the first time I’ve seen people actually excited to get a shot.”
10 January 2021
UM Begin Phase 1A of Vaccine Rollout
Rachael Zins, assistant professor of pharmacy, said she never imagined she’d teach in a pandemic or that her students would have the hands-on experience of administering a vaccine in a modern public health crisis.
8 January 2021
Skaggs School of Pharmacy Students on the Frontline of Preventative Services
“Students usually select the profession of pharmacy because pharmacists make a difference in patients’ lives,” said Marketa Marvanova, Dean of the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Acting Dean of the College of Health.
30 December 2020
Success Abounds for UM Center for Translational Medicine
“Drug addiction is an ongoing concern to the state, where roughly half of all deaths from drug overdoses are due to opioids. The development of an adjuvant vaccine for treatment of opioid addiction is key to overcoming a major health issue for the state.”
23 December 2020
“It looks like there is strong evidence of increased susceptibility to respiratory infections after a significant smoke exposure like they had in Seeley,” says UM immunologist Chris Migliaccio.
22 December 2020
UM Named COVID-19 Vaccine Provider, Distributor
This year, UM was named one of the world's top 10 universities in solving the pandemic – on the same list as Oxford and Harvard, largely due to its vaccine research and ability to respond to the public health crisis.
8 December 2020
UM Researcher Earns Multiple Awards for Ear, Skin Science
University of Montana scientist Monica Serban is on a research roll. In recent months the UM associate professor and her team have earned three awards totaling $3.9 million in funding.
5 October 2020