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February 2022

Researcher wears gloves as they place cannabis plant in glass jars with tweezers.

New Center Advances Medical Cannabis Science, Education

The University of Mississippi is home to a new center that will prioritize resources toward patient and public safety on the medicinal use of cannabis.
The National Center for Cannabis Research and Education will foster and conduct scientific research, data analysis, education and training on the health effects of cannabis. NCCRE researchers and leaders will aid in policymaking and outreach as state programs emerge.
Based within the School of Pharmacy, the new center’s foundation will build on the school’s long-standing history of cannabis research.

Father’s Legacy Lives through Pharmacy Scholarship

Students often look to their parents for guidance and inspiration when deciding on their career path. University of Mississippi pharmacy alumnus Val Soldevila was no different, as his father, Frank Soldevila, provided many footsteps to follow.

Frank Soldevila immigrated to the U.S. from Panama in 1944 to pursue a pharmacy education. He began his studies at Loyola University in New Orleans for two years before finding his eventual academic home at the UM School of Pharmacy. Soldevila graduated with honors and went on to a long-lasting, successful pharmacy career.

It was this story that inspired Val Soldevila to establish a scholarship in his father’s name that will make an impact on future pharmacists. The Francisco “Frank” Soldevila Pharmacy Scholarship Endowment will help students forge their own path in pharmacy.

Stellar Student: Eric Pham

Third-year student pharmacist Eric Pham is taking full advantage of everything pharmacy school offers. He did a summer internship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, is active with PediaRebs, and now Pham is serving as a regional liaison with Phi Lambda Sigma, a pharmacy leadership society. Learn more about Pham and his new role in this Stellar Student Q&A.

Sharing the Positivity

Congratulations to Samir Ross, UM professor of pharmacognosy in the Department of BioMolecular Sciences and research professor in the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, who was recognized as Honorable Professor and awarded a gold medal from Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Social Media Moments

Our students are an essential part of the health care team at the Jackson Free Clinic, where they provide services, education and outreach to those who need it.

Take a look at the research of one of our graduate students, Tomayo Berida, which seeks to help in the fight against tuberculosis.

Congratulations to our own Eric Pittman, who was named as the American Cancer Society’s Prevention Innovator for Mississippi.

Announcements

Cynthia Knapp Dlugosz, “solopreneur” and owner of Being in Balance Coaching and Artemis Health Care Communications, and Elizabeth Buckley from Concordia University Wisconsin spoke during the PharmacyForward podcast about threats to our well-being and self-care practices.PharmacyForward is produced by the Division of PharmacyProfessional Development at the School of Pharmacy.

There’s a new podcast on the block! Check out Pharmacy Fika – a monthly podcast about pharmacy education and life in academia. Episodes out now!

Want to help aspiring pharmacists learn more about the profession? Join us on PharmChats, our new video series on YouTube! Watch our recent episodes, or contact lindsey@olemiss.edu to let her know how you want to help.

Be a Champion for Ole Miss Pharmacy and mentor future pharmacists! More information here: pharmacy.olemiss.edu/admissions/champion.