Innovation and Excellence at ISPE Annual Meeting
Image: UMB ISPE Student Chapter (2024-2025) at the 41st ISPE Annual Meeting
By Taraneh Mousavi, Second-year Student in the PhD in Pharmaceutical Health Services Research (PHSR) program, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), and 2024-2025 Event Coordinator for the UMB ISPE Student Chapter.
“Presenting at ISPE reminded me how energizing it is to exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world and to see the impact of our collective work in pharmacoepidemiology.” – Tien Tran, 2024-2025 president of the UMB ISPE Student Chapter.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) ISPE Student Chapter and UMSOP faculty had a remarkable presence at the 41st International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, Aug. 22-26.
UMB contributed more than extraordinary 20 scientific presentations that highlighted the breadth of UMSOP’s research and leadership in the field. Collectively, these included seven oral podium presentations and 15 posters, including four spotlight posters. In addition, two UMB attendees served in moderator roles in major scientific sessions. UMB demonstrated scientific rigor and had a strong presence on the international stage.
The research presented at the meeting spanned three timely and dominant themes:
- Methodological innovation, including negative control validation, external control emulation, channeling bias, pharmacokinetic applications in pharmacoepidemiology, trajectory modeling, and bias adjustment.
- Drug utilization, with studies on opioid use disorder and treatment access, particularly in Medicaid and Medicare populations.
- Drug safety and pharmacovigilance, with investigations on vaccines, antibiotics, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and statins.
“Attending ISPE was an enriching experience. The annual meeting provided great opportunities for networking within our research community, and for learning about the latest advancements in pharmacoepidemiologic methods. The experience has broadened my perspective, and I look forward to applying it in my work,” said Sheela Khadka, the 2024-2025 secretary of the UMB ISPE Student Chapter.
Beyond the scientific sessions, the UMSOP and PHSR Program hosted an Alumni and Community Gathering. More than 30 UMSOP alumni, current students, fellows, and faculty attended an evening of networking, mentorship, and community-building, reinforcing the strong ties across the UMB pharmacoepidemiology family.
For many students, the week was both inspiring and formative. As the 2024-2025 treasurer of the UMB ISPE Student Chapter, Mu-Chun Chiu, reflected, “My first time at ISPE was an incredible experience! It was both exciting and inspiring to connect and network with so many professionals in pharmacoepidemiology.”
That energy carried throughout the meeting. Standing alongside my peers and presenting our work, I was reminded how far we have come as a chapter and how much potential we have to shape the future of this field.
Taken together, the scope of UMSOP’s research contributions and the spirit of community engagement at the 2025 ISPE Annual Meeting demonstrate UMB’s growing impact on pharmacoepidemiology and real-world evidence, advancing knowledge, influencing policy, and shaping the next generation of leaders in the field.
The UMB Student Chapter of ISPE is a student-led organization dedicated to advancing pharmacoepidemiology and real-world evidence. Its mission is to provide a collaborative platform for students to strengthen methodological skills, connect with professionals across sectors, and develop leadership in research that informs policy and public health. Through journal clubs, workshops, and networking events, the chapter fosters learning, collaboration, and career development.
Membership in the UMB ISPE Student Chapter is open to any UMB student. For more information on becoming a member, contact Yujia Li, 2025-2026 president of the UMB ISPE Student Chapter, at yujiali@umaryland.edu or join us on LinkedIn.
PHSR Alumni and Community Gathering during 41st ISPE Annual Meeting