Dean Michel on Tour: Wrapping up 2023
Written By: Sarah L.J. Michel, PhD, dean and professor of the School of Pharmacy
As we wrap up our fall semester and head into the winter break, I want to reflect on the past six weeks since I last wrote about my start as dean of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Much has occurred since then – Thanksgiving, School events, exams, thesis defenses, and more.
Just like my first blog post, I have had a jam-packed schedule in recent weeks, as I connect with our school community. I have enjoyed getting to meet new people and reconnect with others in our face-to-face interactions. I very much appreciate the faculty, staff, students, and others who make up the mosaic of our School of Pharmacy family.
Recent Events
In early November, the Alumni Association hosted a special event to honor recent award recipients. We hadn’t held this event in a few years due to COVID-19, and it was wonderful to honor our distinguished alumni. I enjoyed re-connecting with folks whom I had taught in the past, meeting others, and hearing the diverse and interesting careers our alumni have gone into. I’m so pleased they were able to make it back for the evening.
On Nov. 7, I attended an alumni reception at the National Harbor in Maryland for the MS in Pharmacometrics program during the American Conference on Pharmacometrics. This was a treat because this is one of our completely virtual programs, so these in-person meetings are rare. It was such a pleasure to connect with folks.
The following week, I traveled to the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville for lunch with some of our first-year MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PSC) students. This MS program, which students can complete in Baltimore or at USG, continues to be a model with its proximity to and partnerships with biopharmaceutical companies.
On Nov. 15, I hosted Dessert with the Dean in the Yankellow Grand Atrium of Pharmacy, and I got to catch up with so many faculty, staff, and students. Hopefully you were able to stop by for a treat or two!
Right after Thanksgiving, I had lunch with student leaders from our PharmD and PhD programs and later spoke at Rho Chi’s Dean’s List dinner. This was a great opportunity to celebrate our students, but also for me to hear about what’s working for them, what changes they want to see, and how the School can support them.
On Dec. 8, the MS in PSC program held a poster session and celebration for the second-year students completing their biopharmaceutical internships. They will officially graduate in May, but they have completed their program coursework this semester – congratulations!
I also had a unique chance to visit the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) with Emily Heil, PharmD, MS, BCIDP, BCPS, AAHIVP, professor in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research and the coordinator of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at UMMC. I attended patient care rounds on the Transplant Infectious Diseases Consult service, a team that includes an attending physician, fellow physician, and a pharmacist specializing in infectious diseases. It was a very educational experience for me to see Dr. Heil provide her expertise in the optimal antimicrobial treatment for patients with infections who have had a solid organ transplant. This was a great reminder of the power of pharmacists as the medication experts on interprofessional health care teams.
Enjoy your winter break, happy holidays, and best wishes for 2024!