Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Honors Three Department Alumni

Ben Quintana, Sriram Ramanathan and Tacey Viegas have been selected to receive the award based on their contributions to the profession of pharmacy.

“These three honorees, nominated by fellow alumni, have excelled in their careers in pharmaceutical research and development and made major contributions to patient care through their efforts to develop numerous new drug products,” said Walt Chambliss, professor emeritus of pharmaceutics and drug delivery.

Chambliss said all three have also continued to support the department in a variety of ways, such as giving lectures, hiring student interns, giving students career advice and funding projects. 

“It is a great honor to be recognized by the School of Pharmacy,” Ramanathan said. “Being chosen as an honoree by the esteemed faculty of the department is a privilege, and I want to convey my heartfelt thanks to the department.”

Ramanathan, CEO of Nevakar Injectables in Bridgewater, New Jersey, praised the department for thoroughly preparing him for his career.

“My time at the School of Pharmacy was invaluable to prepare me for a career within the pharmaceutical industry,” Ramanathan said. “The professors, especially, Christy Wyandt, who was my advisor, not only helped me learn more about drug development but really prepared me.

“This included supporting me through summer internships in the industry, which helped me start a career in drug development and eventually succeed in the industry.”

Quintana, now retired after most recently serving as senior director and head of product development and validation at Pharmaceutics International, Inc., also expressed his appreciation for the education he received in the UM department.

“My time in the Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery was very valuable and I learned so much,” Quintana said. “In my various positions and companies, I had on occasion interviewed recent graduates from several prestigious universities for job openings.

“Many times, I was surprised by their limited  knowledge and narrow course of study in pharmaceutics compared to my studies.”

Viegas, chief development officer for Kalm Therapeutics, Inc., also serves as a scientific advisor and consultant for other pharmaceutical companies. In addition, he is a scientific reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the International Symposium of Polymer Therapeutics. 

“It is an honor to have been selected for this award and recognition,” Viegas said. “I am grateful to the faculty and the selection committee for considering me as an alumnus of the year.”

Viegas specifically thanked Robert Cleary, Ahmed Hikal and Alan Jones for their influence in his education at the School of Pharmacy.

“The faculty gave me the opportunity to conduct groundbreaking research in drug delivery and also to teach,” he said. “They worked with me in different areas of oral and transdermal medications, analytical chemistry and pharmacokinetics. 

“They also gave me the task of teaching the first-year pharmacy undergraduate students in laboratory practices and compounding. These are valuable skills for time management and communications.”

Viegas also praised his graduate student colleagues for helping him to navigate the campus and the school during his first few years.

“Pharmaceutics and drug delivery alumni are great role models for our current students and are there to offer practical support to our department, school and, most importantly, our students as they land on their careers,” said Mo Maniruzzaman, department chair and professor.

“We look forward to recognizing the three winners at an event in the spring.”