2024 Research & Scholarship Forum Showcases Pharmacist’s Role in Interprofessional Healthcare Team

The MCW School of Pharmacy’s 2024 Research & Scholarship Forum exhibited the work of students, residents, fellows, preceptors, faculty, staff and affiliated partners. The poster showcase featured the findings of 42 projects, which aimed to improve patient care and medication outcomes.

“Providing a research and scholarship forum allows participants to learn about the evolving role of pharmacists, particularly in an interprofessional environment, to discover advancements in the pharmacy profession, engage in peer reflection and identify opportunities for future collaboration,” said Kristin Busse, PharmD, BCPS, assistant professor in the MCW School of Pharmacy and research oversight program director in the Office of Research.

Of the 42 poster presenters, three award winners gave platform presentations. For Best Student Project, lead author Carter White, BS, 2027 MD candidate from the MCW Medical School, presented the project “Release Characteristics of Partial Patch Clonidine Transdermal System for Pediatric Patients.” The other authors include Sophia Schulte, 2025 PharmD candidate, and MCW School of Pharmacy faculty Jesse Cramer, PharmD, and Abhay Chauhan, PhD, MPharm.

“I hope my presentation demonstrated how pharmacy research can directly enhance patient care,” said White. “I was eager to show attendees that some clinical challenges can be met with straightforward, effective solutions.”

For Best Resident Project, lead author Emily VanOtterloo, PharmD, resident pharmacist with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, presented the project “Optimal Duration of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Protocol in Adults with Hypertension.” The other authors include Zachary Hovis, PharmD, BCACP, assistant professor in the MCW School of Pharmacy, Michelle Mack, BBA, of Froedtert & MCW, Ryan Hanson, MS, of Froedtert & MCW and Erin DeJarlais, PT, MBA, DPT, of Inception Health.

“The Digital Care Monitoring Program at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin demonstrated sustained effectiveness in maintaining blood pressure control three to six months after patients were disenrolled from the program,” said Dr. VanOtterloo. “These findings highlight the potential value of integrating home blood pressure monitoring with digital engagement tools and pharmacist follow-up in hypertension management.”

For Best Abstract Overall, lead author Mark Hawi, BS, research technologist with the MCW School of Pharmacy, presented the project “HPLC Determination of Pharmaceutical Strength of Expired Oral Hypoglycemics Containing Alogliptin, Metformin and Pioglitazone.” The other authors include Anna Little, 2025 PharmD candidate, Carter White, 2027 MD candidate and Ehab Abourashed, PhD, MS, BPharm, professor and assistant dean for academic and curricular affairs with the MCW School of Pharmacy.

Hawi hoped his presentation ignited interest and curiosity about expired medications. “I want to show that the findings of our study have real, practical applications in terms of free clinic physicians using the data collected to aid in their judgment when using expired medications, plus how our study contributes to the advancement of knowledge about expired hypoglycemic formulations,” said Hawi.

The project receiving honorable mention was “A Prescription to Change Enhancing Pharmacy Student Cultural Intelligence” by Ariane Aidedji and Liliana Galvan, both 2025 PharmD candidates, and Lana Minshew, PhD, assistant professor with the MCW School of Pharmacy.

The event also included a Celebration of Teaching and Learning, which recognized the following 2023-2024 instructor and preceptor award winners:

Outstanding Guest Instructors

Didactic

• Caitlin Dunn, MHA (Froedtert &MCW)
• Kristin Hanson, MS (Froedtert &MCW)
• Mark Lodes, MD (Froedtert &MCW)
• Taylor Mancuso, PharmD (Froedtert &MCW)
• Chris Viesselmann, PharmD, BCCCP (Froedtert &MCW)

Patient Care Lab

• John Harter, PharmD (Children’s Wisconsin)
• Angela Paul, PharmD, BCPS (ProHealth Care)
• Rodney Ramos (MATC)
• Claire Solofra, PharmD (St. Luke’s)
• Kathryn Wierer, PharmD, BCPPS, BCCPS (Children’s Wisconsin)

Pharmaceutics

• James Cruikshank, PharmD (Froedtert &MCW)
• Brooke Fraser, PharmD (Froedtert &MCW)

Interdisciplinary Colleague of the Year

• Amy Turner, MS – Director of Operations and Innovation, RPRD Diagnostics
• Ashley Derezinski, BS – Clinical Lab Supervisor, RPRD Diagnostics

IPPE Preceptor of the Year

• Michelle Mitchell, PharmD – Pharmacy Manager, Walgreens

APPE Preceptor of the Year

• Steven Finkenbinder, PharmD, AE-C – Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center

Faculty Preceptor of the Year

• Matthew Stanton, PharmD, BCPS, DABAT – Emergency Pharmacist, Froedtert Hospital; Clinical Assistant Professor, MCW School of Pharmacy; Clinical Toxicologist, WI Poison Center

Didactic Instructors of the Year

Biopharmaceutical Sciences Faculty

• Abir El-Alfy, PhD – Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Professor (Selected by PY1 and PY2 students)

Clinical Sciences Faculty

• Michael DeBisschop, PharmD – Professor (Selected by PY1 students)
• Matthew Stanton, PharmD, BCPS, DABAT – Clinical Assistant Professor (Selected by PY2 students)