Class of 2023 Awards Ceremony

Members of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Class of 2023 were recognized for their many achievements during an awards ceremony and banquet held Wednesday, May 10, at the Mandela Room in The Union on the Binghamton University main campus.

The ceremony and banquet followed a reception for alumni of the school. Dean Kanneboyina Nagaraju spoke to those present, reminding them to remain connected to SOPPS following graduation.

“You are helping us to establish a tradition of excellence that will resonate beyond Binghamton University as you move through your pharmacy careers,” he said. “We know you will take what you have learned and build upon it as you provide patient-centered care, advocate for the field and change the face of pharmacy moving forward.

“Whether you are already an alum or whether you are graduating this weekend, please continue to stay connected to our school. Remember that your connection to us doesn’t stop at Commencement,” he added. “We hope you will come back and speak to current students, participate in activities with them, mentor them and serve as preceptors. In turn, we — the faculty and staff — remain committed and available to you after you graduate to assist you throughout your careers.”

The awards, which also honored several faculty, staff and preceptors, were presented as follows:

Top 20% of Class Merit Award

Katherine “Katie” Bradley, Jeffrey Cole, Joseph D’Antonio, Alexis DelBalso, Shannon Fitzpatrick, Deanna Forella, Victor Gazdoiu, Tyler Hecox, Keith Hughes, Leah Kowalsky, David Mastro, Dominick Patafio, Saumilbhai Patel, Teni Sopitan, Jenna Stasko and Hanna Surdi

Dean’s Honor Roll

Daniel Ames, Katherine Bradley, Oumaima Chamar, Jeffrey Cole, Joseph D’Antonio, Alexis DelBalso, Yingsi Fang, Emily Fidilio, Shannon Fitzpatrick, Deanna Forella, Victor Gazdoiu, Tyler Hecox, Brendan Hickey, Keith Hughes, Leah Kowalsky, David Mastro, Kayode Medugbon, Nhu Nguyen, Dominick Patafio, Nikil Patel, Saumibhai Patel, Kevin Perdue, Lauren Radziewicz and Haseeb Rahman

Award for Academic Excellence (4.0)

Leah Kowalsky and David Mastro

Research Track Award: for completion of individual research with a faculty member during their P3 and P4 years

Dominick Patafio, Teni Sopitan, Brendan Hickey, Serena Farnell and Keith Hughes

Excellence in Research Track Capstone Award: for the best poster and poster presentation by a research track student at the Capstone Research Day

Keith Hughes

Excellence in Group Capstone Gold Award

Cassondra Raymond, Zachary Locke, David Mastro and Daniel Ames, whose project “Impact of Depression/Anxiety & Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Comorbidities on Adherence Rates of Associated Oral Medications,” was completed under the mentorship of Brian Bowman from Gerould’s Pharmacy.

Excellence in Group Capstone Silver Award

Joseph D’Antonio, Eric Kelly, Juhi Gurtata and Mana Halaji Dezfuli, whose project “Development of a Differential Scanning Fluorimetry Assay to Screen for Modulators of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Prokaryotic Proteasome System” was completed under the mentorship of Tony Davis, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences.

Student APPE Awards

Administration/Institutional Student of the Year Award

Alexis DelBalso, who completed her rotation at SUNY Upstate University Hospital.

Ambulatory Care Student of the Year Award

Katie Bradley, who completed her rotation at Lourdes Pain Care.

Internal/General Medicine Student of the Year Award

Emily Fidilio, who completed her rotations at Northwell’s Glen Cove Hospital.

Community Pharmacy Student of the Year Award

Shirley Xu, who completed her rotation at Price Chopper.

Direct Patient Care Elective Student of the Year Award

Deanna Forella, who completed her rotation at Westchester Medical Center.

Leadership and Tutor Awards

SOPPS Tutor Awards

Deanna Forella and Dominick Patafio who have been SOPPS tutors since their P2 year, holding weekly group review sessions and meeting individually with students.

APhA-ASP Senior: recognizes an outstanding APhA-ASP member based on their contributions to pharmacy leadership within their chapter.

Jenna Stasko

The Merck Manual Award for Academic Excellence: recognizes two outstanding students for their scholastic achievements in pharmacy studies.

Jenna Stasko and Joseph D’Antonio

Viatris Excellence in Pharmacy Award: given to one graduating PharmD student who demonstrates high personal motivation and possesses a unique ability to communicate drug information.

Jeff Cole

Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information Award of Excellence in Clinical Communication: recognizes one student for high academic achievement and outstanding communication skills.

Yingsi “Vincy” Fang

PSSNY 5 Year Award: recognizes an active member of student PSSNY that demonstrates an active interest in the pharmacy profession, displays the capacity for leadership in the profession and has a record for public service.

Heather Garr

SOPPS Bearcat Spirit Award

Oluwatenaiyo “Teni” Sopitan

S.M. Sarwar Ali Pharmaceutical Industry Scholarship: given to a P4 who has an exhibited interest in the industry and is recommended by a SOPPS faculty member for their dedication to the advancement of the Industry

Oluwatenaiyo “Teni” Sopitan

SOPPS Leaders in the Pharmacy Award: for holding leadership positions in various School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences organizations

Shalyn Jones, Heather Garr and Nikil Patel

SOPPS Professionalism Award: for their commitment to the pharmacy profession through involvement in professional organizations and extracurricular activities

Briana Studer, Juhi Gurtata and Katie Bradley

SOPPS School Service Award: for their demonstration of exceptional service to the School of Pharmacy through leadership, service on committees, and offering their time and effort for the advancement of SOPPS

Haseeb Rahman, Caleigh Garton and Keith Hughes

Dean’s Advisory Council Award for Community Service: recognizes a student’s commitment to the community through service in the pharmacy profession.

Taylor Warner

Recognition of TRUST graduates

TRUST is an interprofessional, competitive, co-curricular track that runs concurrently with the pharmacy curriculum over two years.

Yingsi Fang, Deanna Forella, Shalyn Jones, Gurpreet Kaur, Patricia Lorquet, Nikil Patel, Haseeb Rahman and Taylor Warner

APPE Preceptor Awards

Ambulatory Care Preceptor of the Year Award

Jocelyn Mumbulo, who precepts our students at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital.

Community Pharmacy Preceptor of the Year Award

Andrew Nielsen, who precepts our students at Price Chopper, in Endicott, N.Y.

Capstone Preceptor of the Year award

Tony Davis, a faculty member who precepts students at the SOPPS.

Institutional Pharmacy Preceptor of the Year Award

Meldon Tom, who precepts our students at Northwell’s Plainview Hospital.

Direct Patient Care Elective Preceptor of the Year Award

Gabrielle Hodson, who precepts our students at Westchester Medical Center, in Westchester, N.Y.

Faculty Preceptor of the Year Award

Wesley Kufel, who precepts APPE students at SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, N.Y.

Teacher of the Year Award: Department of Pharmacy Practice

Emily Leppien, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice

Teacher of the Year Award: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Aaron Beedle, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences

Student-selected Staff Member of the Year

Amanda Padwa, administrative coordinator for student affairs