NEWS
FOOD
An aerial view of the demographics of the Synapse survey » PAGE 3
A homey yogurt shop comes to the Inner Sunset » PAGE 6
Life of a Grad Student
IN THIS ISSUE
Easy Breezy
Events » PAGE 2 News Briefs » PAGE 3 Puzzles » PAGE 7
Synapse The UCSF Student Newspaper
Thursday, March 13, 2014
NEWS
Translational Medicine Degree Offers All-in-One Training
synapse.ucsf.edu
Volume 58, Number 23
NEWS
Transforming Community Pharmacy
A look inside the new Walgreens at UCSF Parnassus
UCSF-UC Berkeley joint MTM program in developing medical technologies
By Linda Chen Staff Writer
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By Alexandra Folias Contributing Writer
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or those interested in the life science industry, specific training in one expertise can be impractical, and possibly career limiting, for the multi-disciplinary aspects that make up product development. That reality is echoed in biotech job descriptions that are increasingly demanding a diverse background in healthcare, bioengineering and business, in addition to an advanced degree from an innovative program. How then can a researcher find the righttraining to prepare for a potential career beyond research? One program offering such preparation is the Master’s of Translational Medicine (MTM) run jointly by UCSF and UC Berkeley. This 11-month program is focused on training students in the multiple disciplines needed for effective translational medicine in order to turn research discoveries into products or services that address unmet clinical
Photo by Mason Tran/D4 Clinic Manager Myra Pascua, PharmD, and fourth-year pharmacy student Raymond La working at the new Walgreens in Millberry Union.
needs and improve overall health. Emphasizing the use of engineering and scientific principles to solve biological questions (bioengineering), the MTM program is designed to accelerate early translational medicine. Before this program, training comprised of an advanced degree (MBA, PhD, PharmD or MD) coupled with years of industry or clinical experience—a long road that may lead to excess training in some areas, and a lack of training in others. Do you already know that you want to be
involved in the development of new medical technologies? Maybe you don’t have a specific unmet need in mind, but you have a strong entrepreneurial interest in how medical products are created. Before deciding on a career path, it is worth taking the time to define the specific areas of interest, and explore emerging options that offer more focused and concentrated training. Executive Director Kyle Kurpinski, PhD, describes how the MTM program “was cre-
ALL-IN-ONE TRAINING » PAGE 7
SPORTS
Pharmacy Faculty Defeat Students in Hoops Contest By Niki Arab Staff Writer
A
late surge by the School of Pharmacy faculty team helped them come from behind in the final quarter to beat the pharmacy students, 37-33. The second annual American Pharmacy Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Student-Faculty Basketball Game was held on March 7. Last year the students won the game in a buzzer beater. Four faculty members in the School of Pharmacy came to play and two came to support. Faculty players included Drs. Lisa Kroon, Conan MacDougall, Elaine Law and Philip Chan. Drs. Marcus Ferrone and Christie Robinson cheered their colleagues on to victory. The students outnumbered the facul-
HOOPS CONTEST » PAGE 3
Photo by Nicholas Do/P2 The School of Pharmacy faculty and student participants of the 2nd Annual American Pharmacy Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) Student-Faculty Basketball Game.
here’s something different about the new Walgreens in Millberry Union. From its clean minimalism and wideopen spaces to its frosted whites and pastel blues, the pharmacy exudes what is dubbed “the Apple Store experience.” Employees carrying iPads even greet you on your way in. But the design aesthetic hints at differences that are more than just skin deep. With merchandise pushed to the side and pharmacists and technicians placed front and center, the pharmacy physically de-emphasizes products, refocusing the community pharmacy as a viable center of healthcare. A feat more than a year in the making, Walgreens at UCSF is the result of a triple collaboration: Walgreens, the Department of Pharmaceutical Services in the UCSF Medical Center and the Department of Clinical Pharmacy in the UCSF School of Pharmacy. “The idea was how can an academic medical center, a school of pharmacy and one of the largest chains really work together to create a new vision for community pharmacy and look to study it,” said Dr. Marilyn Stebbins, Clinical Pharmacy Faculty. With the expected increase in the insured population from the Affordable Care Act, baby boomers hitting the age for multidrug therapies, and the primary care shortage, there is the drive to create a new type of pharmacy—one that tackles the increase demand for health care while delivering care in places most accessible—people’s communities. Walgreens at UCSF is a laboratory to explore how such issues might be addressed and a model for other community pharmacies. Several resources are at the disposal of the new Walgreens. The involvement of the Medical Center gives this Walgreens a terminal into their electronic Medical Record System (EMR) known as APeX. The information stored in the Walgreens’ system is woefully lacking—there are no lab results, diagnoses or anything outside a basic (and often incomplete) list of medications. APeX helps fill these data holes. With APeX, pharmacists can see a UCSF patient’s health information (height and weight, lab results, kidney function, etc.) to ensure that each person receives the correct medication at the correct dose.
WALGREENS » PAGE 5
2 | March 13, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
EVENTS MISSION BAY EVENTS WILS-WIN WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH EVENT
Thursday, March 13, 12:30-6 p.m., Rock Hall, 102, Mission Bay Join the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of Women in Biology (WIB) and the UCSF student group Women in Life Sciences (WILS) for a celebration of Women's History Month and 3 panels on career development. Admission is free for all WILS UCSF members.
FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS AT MISSION BAY
Thursday, March 13, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 4th Street & Nelson Rising Lane, Mission Bay Join the food truck lunch party every Thursday at Mission Bay and explore the tasty culinary options to break up your routine. Each week will feature two different vendors, so there will always be something new. Grab some friends, get some food, and take your lunch experience up a notch.
SYNAPSE NEWSPAPER
Friday, March 14, noon-1 p.m., Graduate Division, CC-310, Mission Bay Synapse is looking for student writers, bloggers, photographers and designers. Come to the lunch meeting, share your story ideas and enjoy a free lunch. For more information, email synapse@ucsf.edu.
MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICES
Friday, March 14, 1-2 p.m., Helen Diller, 160, Mission Bay The Muslim Community at UCSF holds regular Friday prayer services (Jum’a) for the UCSF Muslim community every week. Come join your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer, lunch and socializing. All are welcome.
INVESTMENT CLUB
Tuesday, March 18, 6-7 p.m., Genentech Hall, N114, Mission Bay Come listen to Steven Burrill, CEO Burrill & Company talk about investing in life sciences companies.
UCSF CAMPUS STORE ONSITE SALE
Wednesday, March 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Genentech Hall Atrium, Mission Bay Take advantage of the convenience of shopping in person at the pop-up stores. The UCSF Online Campus Store comes to Mission Bay. Get your hands on the clothing, accessories, mugs, and other UCSF collectible items. campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/retail/21/ the_campus_store_comes_to_you#sthash. u6edV8pg.dpuf
PARNASSUS EVENTS CHANCELLOR’S CONCERT SERIES
Thursday, March 13, noon-12:45 p.m., Cole Hall, Parnassus Looking for a place to study or relax between classes? CLS Arts & Events has got just what you need. The Chancellor's Concert Series on Thursdays is a great place to set up your laptop and study or just take a break from classes while listening to classical music. Seating beings at noon. If you are unable to come, you can now listen to the music through live stream. http://bit.ly/MY05SW
MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICES
Friday, March 14, 12:30-1 p.m., Medical Sciences, 168, Parnassus The Muslim Community at UCSF holds regular Friday prayer services (Jum’a) for the UCSF Muslim community every week. Come join your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer, lunch and socializing.
CAMPUS EVANGELISTIC FELLOWSHIP
Friday, March 14, 7-10:30 p.m., Nursing, 517, Parnassus Join the Campus Evangelistic Fellowship for its weekly meeting, with Bible study, hymn singing and fellowship.
THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE SYMPOSIUM
Sunday, March 16, 8:15 a.m.-5 p.m. Clinical Science, N-225, Parnassus This symposium's content is more geared towards healthcare practitioners. This conference will be conducted in Mandarin – No interpreting services will be provided due to transmission and reception issues at the location. All UCSF faculty, students and staff are welcome to join for free. All others are also welcome to join but there is a fee. Sponsor: UCSF Asian Health Institute
UCSF CAMPUS STORE ONSITE SALE
Monday, March 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Medical Sciences Lobby, Parnassus Take advantage of the convenience of shopping in person at the pop-up stores. The UCSF Online Campus Store comes to Parnassus. Get your hands on the clothing, accessories, mugs, and other UCSF collectible items. campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/retail/21/ the_campus_store_comes_to_you#sthash. u6edV8pg.dpuf
PARNASSUS FARMERS’ MARKET
Wednesday, March 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ACC, 400 Parnassus Ave. Shop the Farmers’ Markets on Wednesdays to pick up locally grown produce and more. Sponsor: Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.
SYNAPSE NEWSPAPER
Wednesday, March 19, noon-1 p.m., Millberry Union 123W, Parnassus Synapse is looking for Mission Bay and Parnassus writers, bloggers, photographers and designers. Come to the lunch meeting, share your story ideas and enjoy a free lunch. Email for more information and to RSVP: synapse@ucsf.edu.
MUSIC IN THE LIBRARY
Wednesday, March 19, noon-1 p.m., Library, Lange Reading Room, Parnassus Campus Life Services Arts & Events and The Chancellor's Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (CACSW) are partnering to bring you The Woman's Month Concert, featuring Bay Area, singer songwriter Nikki Borodi. Nikki enjoy's writing music, ukulele and piano, she enjoys experimenting while joining her many creative loves for entertainment. Complimentary light refreshments while supplies last. Sponsored by Sarah B. Childs Fund. Co-produced by Campus Life Services Arts & Events and Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (CACSW).
SUCCESS WORKSHOP SERIES
Wednesday, March 19, 5-6 p.m., Health Sciences West, 302, Parnassus Conflict happens. The challenge is how to
respond confidently and effectively when faced with a situation where you and someone else have different perspectives about things you care about. How do you CHOOSE your response, and what strategies can facilitate a more productive outcome? This one-hour workshop, led by Ellen Goldstein from Office of the Ombuds, will introduce key skills and concepts for approaching interpersonal conflict more successfully. Free dinner with RSVP. felicia.mercer@ucsf.edu.
IMN MIDWEEK MEDITATION HOUR
Wednesday, March 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Library, CL 211, Parnassus The Integrative Medicine Network invites everyone in the UCSF community to experience a weekly guided meditation. All are welcome, whether you are looking to combat day-to-day stress using meditation or you'd like to uncover subtle layers of your self by diving deep. No experience in meditation is necessary. Both regular meditators as well as amateurs are welcome.
UCSF RUN CLUB
Wednesday, March 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Millberry Union Central Desk, Parnassus Please drop by and join UCSF Fit & Rec for a run. Each Wednesday night, the Run Club runs various distances (from 3-6 miles) at 9 to 11 minutes per mile.
ENGLISH CORNER
Wednesday, March 19, 6-8:30 p.m., Clinical Sciences, 130, Parnassus English Corner is an informal conversational English class given as a free community service and provided on a voluntary basis by both people born and raised in the United States as well as many people who have, at one time in their lives, experienced life as a new immigrant to the United States.
OTHER CAMPUSES CORPORATIONS, CONSUMPTIONS, AND PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH
Wednesday, March 19, 4-6 p.m., 3333 California St, 263, Laurel Heights The UCSF School of Nursing invites you to a panel discussion and to celebrate the book release of Lethal but Legal by Nicholas Freudenberg, Professor of Public Health at City University of New York (CUNY). Panel includes Dr. Ruth Malone, UCSF, Michele Simon, EatDrinkPolitics, Dr. Lori Dorfman, Berkeley Media Studies Group, and Nicholas Freudenberg, CUNY. Space is limited. RSVP mike.henseler@nursing.ucsf.edu.
OFF-CAMPUS OFF THE GRID: UPPER HAIGHT
Thursday, March 13, 5-9 p.m., Stanyan and Waller Streets, SF Off the Grid is a roaming mobile food extravaganza that travels to different locations daily to serve delicious food, with a free side of amazing music, craft and soul.
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: MARCH MADNESS NIGHTLIFE
Thursday, March 13, 6-10 p.m., Cal Academy, Golden Gate Park Shoot and score this week as NightLife transforms into an after-hours arena for sports fans. How many NBA mascots can you name? What number of basketballs would it take to fill the Earth? Who has the tallest vertical jump in the animal kingdom? Show off your game during a special sportsmeets-science edition of pub trivia courtesy of Brainstormer. Plus, make your own sports headband and try your luck at bracket making. http://bit.ly/NightLifeTickets, http:// bit.ly/CLSDiscounts.
EXPLORATORIUM FREE DAY
Friday, March 14, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Pier 15, SF
The Exploratorium is a twenty-first-century learning laboratory, an eye-opening, alwayschanging, playful place to explore and tinker featuring hundreds of science, art, and human perception exhibits. http://bit.ly/1dJtq8w.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 2014-15 GPSA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 31
Run for office in the inaugural Graduate and Professional Student Association! It is a unique interprofessional experience and gives you the opportunity to experience leadership that makes a difference. Visit the GPSA website for details on how to submit a candidate application. Applications are due on March 31. gpsa.ucsf.edu/node/484.
CALLING ALL ARTISTS FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL RECYCLED/RECLAIMED ART SHOW
The Visual Arts Club, Campus Life Services Arts & Events and Living Green are excited to present The Recycled/Reclaimed Art Show on Thursday, May 8. UCSF students, staff and facility are invited to join the show. All submittals must be 99% made from recycled, reused or reclaimed material. Applications are due by April 15. campuslifeservices.ucsf. edu/upload/artsevents/files/Recycled_Art_ Show_Application_2014.
CITYWALKS SERIES: MISSION BAY: RSVP DEADLINE APRIL 1
Saturday, April 5, 1:30-4 p.m., Student Resource Center, Mission Bay From placid waters fished by ancient peoples to the biggest construction project in San Francisco since 1906, the transformation of Mission Bay has been incredible. Gain a unique perspective on the area, and discover a hidden park and a forgotten creek. (If it's a bay, where's the water?). eventbrite. com/e/city walks-s er ies-mission-baytickets-10161071037.
PITCH COUNSELOR SUMMER OPPORTUNITY – STIPEND AVAILABLE
No summer plans and love working with high school students? Apply to be a PITCH Counselor and expose high school students to healthcare careers and create hands-on clinical skills activities and GET PAID! Must be able to commit to entire summer program: July 7-25, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at Parnassus. Email resume and completed application to: Anthea K. Lim, EAOP and PITCH (anthea.lim@ucsf.edu). Learn more at cep.ucsf.edu/student-programs/careerexploration-education-health-sciences/pitch.
UCSA STUDENT LOBBY CONFERENCE
April 5-7, Sacramento, CA Join fellow UC students in speaking with state legislators at the State Capitol about legislation related to higher education issues. Never done it before? No problem! The weekend is full of workshops devoted to showing you how. All reasonable costs will be reimbursed by ASUC & GSA. Learn more: ucsa.org/our-work/ucsa-conferences/ slc/. Registration is required, so please sign up in advance with Christoph Hanssmann. Register: Christoph.Hanssmann@ucsf.edu.
ARE YOU A FIRST GENERATION TO COLLEGE STUDENT (FG2C)?
Register with the First Generation Support Services Office, for access to all of the First Generation Support Services and to help the office advocate for you. bit.ly/firstgenregister.
FREE SYNAPSE CLASSIFIEDS
UCSF students and staff can now post online classified ads for free on the Synapse website. All you need is an @ucsf.edu email account. Try it out! synapse.ucsf.edu/classifieds.
synapse.ucsf.edu | March 13, 2014 | 3
NEWS BRIEFS
NEWS
Life of a Grad Student: The Aerial View By Jenny Qi Executive Editor
“One of the recurring themes throughout all years of
Synapse
graduate school was the difficulty of balancing a personal life with the unique demands of lab work.” surveyed programs 8 Bioengineering 4 Bioinformatics 63 BMS 8 Biophysics 12 CCB 2 DSCB 8 ETS 2 History of HS 8 Neuroscience 18 Nursing PhD 4 Oral and Craniofacial Sciences 5 PSPG 6 Sociology 43 Tetrad
All PhD programs gender Female Male
Female Male
surveyed year breakdown 32 30 28
0
22 year they started their PhD
20 08
24
20 12
20
20 09
26
20 10
40
(mean+-SEM)
20 11
60
Age
# of respondents
80
year they started their PhD
survey demography Infographics by Alexandra Greer, BMS alum and former Synapse science editor, 2014
of the Graduate Division in an infographic. The majority of responses came from Biomedical Sciences and Tetrad students, the largest programs in the Graduate Division. Perhaps surprisingly, there are more female than male graduate students, and there
500 Parnassus Ave. Millberry Union 108W San Francisco, CA 94143 tel: (415) 476-2211 | fax: (415) 502-4537 synapse@ucsf.edu
STAFF
Yi Lu | EDITOR Jenny Qi | EXECUTIVE EDITOR Angela Castanieto | ASSOCIATE EDITOR Akshay Govind | ASSOCIATE EDITOR Steven Chin | MANAGING EDITOR
About
Synapse is the UCSF student-run weekly newspaper, which runs on Thursdays during the academic year and monthly during the summer. Synapse seeks to serve as a forum for the campus community. Articles and columns represent the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Board of Publications or the University of California.
Submissions
Announcements and letters should be submitted six days before publication. All submissions can be either emailed or mailed. All material is subject to editing. Letters to the Editor must be signed by the author.
Subscriptions Subscriptions cost $20/year ($40/outside US). Paid advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of Synapse. Synapse and its editorial board reserve the right to decline advertisements promoting false or misleading claims, known health risks, or content deemed by the editors to be antithetical to the interests of UCSF students or the UCSF community. Synapse does not accept advertisements from tobacco or alcohol manufacturers, or sexually oriented personal ads. Synapse reserves the right to run any ad with a disclaimer.
The University of California announced last week the release of an expansion of its policy against sexual and domestic violence, stalking and harassment. The new policy meets the federal deadline to comply with the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. It applies to all UC students and employees, including those at its medical centers, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Office of the President, the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and at all university programs and activities. “We have no tolerance for sexual violence or harassment of any kind,” said UC President Janet Napolitano. “The university must, and will, hold itself to the highest standards, and I expect all of our locations to do everything possible to make everyone aware of these standards.” Among the UC policy changes are expanded training and education, increased reporting requirements, broader protections for victims and specific sanctions and protective measures that the university may impose after a final disciplinary determination.
E-Cigarettes: Gateway to Nicotine Addiction for U.S. Teens, Says UCSF Study
age breakdown
What year
The UCSF Student Newspaper synapse.ucsf.edu
Advertising
Total=816
20 06
surveyed gender
73 Bioengineering 32 Bioinformatics 153 BMS 54 Biophysics 50 CCB 18 DSCB 16 ETS 9 History of HS 90 Neuroscience 98 Nursing PhD 16 Oral and Craniofacial Sciences 42 PSPG 33 Sociology 132 Tetrad
20 07
Total=191
20 13 20 12 20 11 20 10 20 09 20 08 20 07 20 06 20 05 20 04
“I
think the most important thing to understand is that life occurs regardless of you being a graduate student or not, and the science still needs to happen,” a fifth-year student observed during an October interview. Our own pursuit of this understanding propelled the launch of the “Life of a Grad Student” column in September 2013. The graduate student writers at Synapse wanted to put a spotlight on the Graduate Division, the largest school at UCSF, and put a metaphorical face to the individuals spending so much of their lives in these halls. We wanted to highlight their tribulations and their triumphs, our differences and our similarities. To this end, we have been interviewing students from each year in graduate school. They have shared with remarkable candidness their struggles to choose a lab, prepare for qualifying exams and select a career path. The responses have been funny, surprising, heartbreaking and inspiring. One of the recurring themes throughout all years of graduate school was the difficulty of balancing a personal life with the unique demands of lab work. As the wise fifth year said in October, life happens, and that’s okay. We are busy graduate students who need to get our work done, but we’re people first. We like rock-climbing and live music and we train for marathons. We struggle with chronic illnesses and deaths in the family and fall in love. How do you manage all of that and also come into lab at 2 a.m. Saturday for a time point? Synapse wants to find out by digging even deeper into the secret lives of grad students. But before we do that, we want to take a step back and look at the Graduate Division as a whole. In preparation for this column, we sent a survey to every student in the Graduate Division and nearly a quarter of these students responded. We asked questions like, “What year did you begin your program?” and “Describe your experience in one word.” Over the past year, we have been interviewing the students who provided these responses. We compared the demographics of this population to that
UC Releases New Sexual Violence & Harassment Policy
are even more females represented in the survey responses. Most responses also came from second- and third-year graduate students.
Jenny Qi is a third-year BMS student.
HOOPS CONTEST » FROM HOME PAGE
ty. Thus, they took advantage of substituting players at the end of each quarter, hoping that fresh legs might give them the edge. The male to female ratio was kept at 3:2 for both teams to keep the game fair. At the end of the first quarter the faculty team trailed 2-14, but the faculty took the lead in the fourth quarter, eventually winning by four points. After the game ended, the students and faculty played in a second game with mixed teams. For many students the event was a chance to get to know faculty outside the classroom. “We coordinated the event to bring faculty and students together in a different setting that allows them to connect on a more personal level and of course, to have fun,” said first-year student Kari Ehm, a board member of APhA-ASP. The student-faculty basketball game also gave pharmacy students a chance to bond with each other and demonstrate their teamwork and talent. “[The game] showcased the continuum of talents in our classmates,” said first-year pharmacy student Timothy Hall. APhA-ASP plan to host this event each year with the goal of bringing the pharmacy students and faculty closer together.
Niki Arab is a first-year pharmacy student.
E-cigarettes, promoted as a way to quit regular cigarettes, may actually be a new route to conventional smoking and nicotine addiction for teenagers, according to a UCSF study. In the first analysis of the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking among adolescents in the U.S., UCSF researchers found that adolescents who used the devices were more likely to smoke cigarettes and less likely to quit smoking. The study of nearly 40,000 youth nationwide also found that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students doubled between 2011 and 2012, from 3.1 percent to 6.5 percent. “Despite claims that e-cigarettes are helping people quit smoking, we found that e-cigarettes were associated with more, not less, cigarette smoking among adolescents,” said lead author Lauren Dutra, a postdoctoral fellow at the UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. The study was published online on March 6 in JAMA Pediatrics. E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that look like cigarettes and deliver an aerosol of nicotine and other chemicals.
CLS Recommends Students Purchase Renters Insurance Renters insurance helps protect property should any theft, fire, flood, or other damage occur to the owner's belongings. It also covers any accidental damage done to the rental unit that may happen during tenancy as well as protects a student from certain liability risks if anyone becomes injured accidently during a visit. Campus Life Services, Housing recommends that all tenants, (not just those living on campus), purchase renters insurance for protection. UCSF and Housing Services do not cover damages to students' personal property. In addition, a student may be liable for damage to UCSF property (and to other tenants) if caused by the student. If students do not currently have their own insurance, they should review their options for protecting their property. Most renters insurance policies are very affordable and can even be shared with roommates. The University of California Office of the President has partnered with GradGuard to provide students, staff, and faculty with access to competitive renters insurance. For more information and to obtain a quote, visit GradGuard’s website at: https:// www.gradguard.com/renters-insurance.
4 | March 13, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
NEWS
pharmacists are highly educated and trained clinicians who now have expanded authority to provide basic care services to patients in an effort to provide accessible, cost-efficient, quality care for patients.
Inaugural Legislative Event Celebrates SB493 and the Future of Pharmacy
Pharmacists’ Expanded Role
By Priya Jayachandran Staff Writer
T
he passage of SB493 in the California Legislature and its signing into law by Gov. Jerry Brown late last year was cause for recent celebration at UCSF. Pharmacy students, faculty and distinguished guests gathered on February 27 for the Inaugural 2014 Pharmacy Legislative Roundtable and Banquet to celebrate the passage of the landmark healthcare legislative reform, which grants pharmacists healthcare provider status and aims to equalize the healthcare professional role of pharmacists in patient-centered medical teams. The event was made possible by the combined effort of five pharmacy student organizations led by second-year pharmacy student Ronika Kalpage, co-chair and Student Section Executive Committee representative for California Health System Pharmacists (CSHP). Among the groups were the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), American Pharmacists Association–Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP), California Pharmacists Association (CPhA), CSHP and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). Students from surrounding pharmacy schools in Northern California were also invited to attend. School of Pharmacy Dean B. Joseph Guglielmo provided opening remarks. He spoke of the need for pharmacists with an “ability to communicate, talk to patients, problem solve, complete physical assessments, manage disease states and create opportunity for healthcare in an era where access is terrible.”
Photo by Nick Do/P2 Dr. Robin Corelli, professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, speaks with students at her roundtable discussion entitled "Implementation of SB493 Protocols."
A Shortage in Healthcare Providers California faces an increasing shortage in healthcare providers due to the advent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2014, approximately 7 million Californians are expected to purchase health insurance for the first time, according to the CPhA and CSHP. In addressing the shortage, Dean Guglielmo stated, “Our profession is beautifully poised to fill that gap in healthcare providers.” Dawn Benton, CEO of CSHP, provided insight into how pharmacists and legislators worked for the passage of SB 493. In 2011, CPhA and CSHP joined forces to create the Joint Provider Status Task Force to draft the initial language of SB 493. State Sen. Ed
Hernandez (D-West Covina) became a key advocate and proposed to bring forward a packaged bill comprising a coalition of practitioners (optometrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and pharmacists) in the hope that the bill would carry more weight in the State Capitol. The simultaneous implementation of the ACA and the shortage of primacy care providers worked in favor of the bill’s passage. Members of CSHP and CPhA invited legislators to witness the benefit of their practice within the community, and within a year after the bill was introduced, Governor Jerry Brown signed it into law on October 1, 2013 as Chapter 469. Jon Roth, CEO of CPhA, recognized that
In addition to granting pharmacists health-care provider status, SB493 authorizes pharmacists to initiate prescriptions for nicotine replacement products, hormonal contraceptives and travel medicines. Pharmacists can administer vaccinations independently and both order and interpret tests used to monitor and manage therapies. The legislation also defines an Advanced Practice Pharmacist (APP), who is a licensed pharmacist recognized by the Board of Pharmacy to perform patient assessments, order and interpret drug-therapy related tests, refer patients to other health-care providers, participate in evaluating and managing diseases and health conditions, and initiate, adjust or discontinue therapy in collaboration with a patient’s primary care provider. Students participated in roundtable discussions with faculty members and guests about the implementation of SB493 into pharmacy practice. SB493 mandates pharmacists to complete two of three requirements in order to qualify for APP status: certification in a relevant area of practice, completion of a residency and/or at least one year of experience with 50 percent of that time spent in clinical care. APP Training at UCSF Dr. Lisa Kroon, professor and chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, shared UCSF’s progress towards establishing a training program to satisfy the first prong: APP certification. The University is creating a dis-
SB493 » PAGE 7
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synapse.ucsf.edu | March 13, 2014 | 5
Walgreens
OPINION
Creating a Round Square By Akshay Govind Associate Editor
I
n my piece “Health Record Systems Affect Patient Care” (Feb. 27), I argued that the record keeping system at San Francisco General Hospital negatively affects both patient care and provider peace of mind. The focus of the piece was to illustrate the challenges of trying to provide first-rate care from within a fragmented system, but I also suggested cost was the main factor that prevented the implementation of the electronic health record (EHR) already in use at UCSF. I have received some comments that my claim is overly simplistic if not offensive, and I feel this warrants a response. I have been reminded that there are various stakeholders who influence decisions that can be made at the county hospital. For instance, the emergency department’s computer system was chosen to optimize patient flow; the intensive care unit’s system was designed for monitoring complicated patients in realtime while collecting research data. In addition, there are numerous outpatient clinics, each with its own record-keeping needs, and there are community groups and politicians who would block the use of an EHR made by a company that holds certain views on controversial topics. To a certain extent, all of these factors and many more truly are important, and I can only imagine how emotionally draining it must be to try to make appropriate changes without sending at least one group into a frenzy. Unfortunately, I feel that the people who sit on these committees are charged with the task of creating a round square, where they will spend months and years making their system a little more round before being told it’s just not square enough anymore, thus
» FROM HOME PAGE
starting the process over again. Committees are put together to make tough decisions that often leave some stakeholders unsatisfied. It is my opinion that efforts to appease individual groups can lead to decisions that make little sense on the whole: Boston Symphony Hall opened its doors in 1900. Amid the Greek style sculptures, the hand-riveted leather seats, the polished pipes of the organ, there would be a series of golden plaques lining the periphery of the magnificent stage. Each plaque would pay tribute to one of the world’s greatest composers, and the board of directors would decide which ones. After weeks of fighting, they came up with the only decision on which they could all agree. To this day, Ludwig van Beethoven’s name remains surrounded by eight empty plaques. Like the various stakeholders at SFGH, I am sure the symphony directors had their reasons. Perhaps they couldn’t include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Hadyn if they didn’t include Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn. But was Mendelssohn really ever mature enough? Richard Wagner’s work was still relatively new, and this was not an opera hall, after all. As for Johann S. Bach, well—it would be weird to have just two. If the committee members at SFGH needed to design a patient care system from scratch, all this back and forth among stakeholders would be more acceptable. Given that a fairly efficient system is already in use at other UCSF hospitals, what good reasons could we give not to use that system even if it was not perfect? If SFGH could make a switch to Epic/APEX for free, would they do it? I hope so, but if not, what good reasons should stop them?
is to create a “personalized, actionable, portable, patient centered medication list…to empower the patient to own their med list,” said Dr. Stebbins. The Med List Clinic, officially launched last week, has already seen some positive preliminary feedback. While a collaborative effort, the School of Pharmacy looks for the day when it can walk away from Walgreens at UCSF and have the Walgreens pharmacists sustain all of the clinical efforts. Ultimately, the goal is not to create one unique Walgreens, but to transform all community pharmacies into centers and providers of care—a place that truly fulfills Walgreens’ mission “to help people get well, stay well and live well.”
Linda Chen is a second-year pharmacy student.
Akshay Govind is a third-year resident in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
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FOOD 6 | March 13, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
The Scoop
An Easy Breezy Inner Sunset Dessert By Theresa Poulos Staff Writer
W
hen I saw the sign heralding the coming of Easy Breezy to the 9th and Irving corridor, I stopped in my tracks, my heart aflutter. Finally, a dedicated frozen yogurt shop in the Inner Sunset! My first visit was a whirlwind; I can hardly recall how many flavors or toppings I amassed in my cup. Clearly a return trip with the entire Scoop team was in order, with an eye towards quality reporting.
Easy Breezy Frozen Yogurt 718 Irving St., San Francisco (415) 665-7700 Daily noon-10 p.m. www.easybreezysf.com I was the first of the team to arrive on a Saturday evening. From the moment I walked in, it was clear that sweetness permeated the shop. Hardwood floors and chalkboards listing the flavors in bubbly handwriting set a very organic and homey vibe. Both the girl at the register and the one offering samples were tirelessly lovely, providing great detail about the care and ingredients poured into each flavor, their roommates’ favorites, their rommates’ dog’s favorites…okay, maybe not the latter, but you get my point.
At any given time, there are eight flavors on tap. While some seasonal flavors rotate, you’ll almost always find tart, custard, non-dairy and fruit-based tart options on the menu, as well as a chocolate and vanilla. The tart (non-fat), a fro-yo staple, was on point, with just the right amount of tang and a smooth texture. The full-fat Custard is unique to Easy Breezy, and well worth the nutritional splurge; for any Midwest native, this rich, creamy treat will remind you of a summertime trip to Culver’s for a scoop of the same. While a bit heavier than the other options, it is unequivocally delicious. The non-dairy option, “Goin’ Bananas,” was almond-based, non-fat and a huge failure. Though the bananas used in making the flavor were all hand-peeled that day, the texture was icy and unpleasant. A similar concoction could be made at home in a blender for a fraction of the price. A better fruity option was the “Blueberry and Beyond” flavor (non-fat, organic), a mixture of real blueberries in a tart base. The fruit was so fresh and the flavor so pure that you could still taste the skins of the blueberries in the frozen yogurt. My favorite flavor of the evening was the Chocolate Milk (low-fat, organic), which reminded me of drinking a cold glass of that awesome chocolate milk that costs a pretty penny from Whole Foods. According to the servers, the flavor is made with four different types of chocolate, and I believe it: a rich,
Photo by Dawn Maxey/MS3 At the new Easy Breezy on Irving St., hardwood floors and chalkboards listing the flavors in bubbly handwriting set a very organic and homey vibe.
creamy, tasty dream come true. Dawn thought it was overwhelmingly sweet, so proceed with caution. On the other hand, all of us thought that the Vanilla Bean (non-fat, organic) tasted a bit forced, with a cloying vanilla flavor that left a funny taste on the tongue. The seasonal flavors were a hit and a miss. The Key Lime Pie was quite tasty—a mix of lime zest and juice in a tart and vanilla base, with graham crackers mixed in. While I wouldn’t have wanted more than a bite, it was innovative. The other seasonal flavor was Pistachio (low-fat, organic), which is usually my go-to. As a pistachio fan, I found it okay—there was something funny about it, but I couldn’t put my finger on it until Dawn had a taste. The first word out of her mouth—after making a “that was gross” face—was “saccharine.” The off-putting sweetness overpowered the pistachio flavor. The Scoop team was quite impressed by Easy Breezy’s wide array of toppings, ranging from the standard sprinkles, fruits, nuts and crushed candy, to options as innovative as potato chips, marshmallow sauce and
just the Charms (i.e. from Lucky Charms). The trip to the register was a bit frustrating. The store is understaffed with two people; self-sampling is not allowed, so while one person is handing out samples, another has to be watching the machines in the back, cleaning up messes, directing visitors through the tiny space…and ringing people up. The wait was long enough that people standing in line to wiegh their desserts were sadly watching their delicious concoctions melt. And speaking of the register, a trip to Easy Breezy will likely leave your pocketbook winded. At $0.58 per ounce, our two medium cups and a cone set us back over $12. After the traumatizing payment process, we finally sat down to enjoy our dessert in the limited seating available in the store. All in all, Easy Breezy is a nice addition to the neighborhood as it fills an important niche, but with generally mediocre flavors at a hefty price tag, it is definitely not the best dessert joint in town.
Theresa Poulos is a third-year medical student.
synapse.ucsf.edu | March 13, 2014 | 7
PUZZLES The Weekly Crossword
ACROSS 1 Two-masted ship 5 Open, as a jar 10 Mild euphemism 14 Operatic piece 15 Gumption 16 Continental currency 17 Whip mark 18 Time's partner? 19 Old TV problem 20 Avon lady, e.g. 22 Weighty volume 23 Louver piece 24 In name only 26 Obscure 30 Wimple wearer 31 Grammy category 32 Passed out in Vegas? 34 Pilgrimage site 38 Roman date 40 Flight part 42 Shootout shout 43 West Point undergrad 45 Keyboard key 47 Eggs, in biology 48 Macklemore's genre 50 Promo item 52 Ocean, to canoe 56 Yarn spinner 57 Nearly hopeless 58 Target-practice place 63 Phoenix suburb 64 Acquired relative 65 Abacus piece
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Copyright 2014 by The Puzzle Syndicate
66 Screen symbol 67 US Cabinet department 68 Give for awhile 69 Circus structure 70 Really keyed up 71 Feeling tense
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Flu variety Knight's flag Preordained Type of sentence 12 Bakery lure 13 Beach accessory DOWN 21 Downhill racer 1 Zigs or zags 25 It's the word, Week of 3/10/14sometimes - 3/16/14 2 Word after gray 26 Grand in scale or play 3 Kevin's "Hitch" 27 Fountain fare 28 Opinion piece co-star 4 Most recent 29 Metallic sound 5 Bad way to be 33 Excite 35 Cornfield caught 6 Work a deal concern 7 Study in a hurry
36 Vena ____: heart vessel 37 Like some league games 39 Pepper's rank 41 Film critic 44 Veteran sailor 46 Back end 49 Diocese division 51 Fit for farming 52 Cop to 53 Caroline, to Ted 54 Torch job 55 Like many toothpastes 59 Plane wing part 60 Exigency 61 Turf group 62 Water whirl
Edited by Margie E. Burke
Difficulty : Medium
HOW TO SOLVE: (Answer appears elsewhere in this issue)
Copyright 2014 by The Puzzle Syndicate
SB493
All-in-One Training
ease agnostic training program that will culminate in a clinical exam to be taken in the 4th year by students who wish to become certified as advanced practice pharmacists. As healthcare costs rise in the U.S., changes to the healthcare delivery system are being directed at cost-effective delivery and payment models, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs). Within ACOs each healthcare provider is held jointly accountable for delivering quality care while minimizing spending. Dr. Marilyn Stebbins, Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, stressed the need for pharmacists to move away from being reimbursed for providing care alone, but rather to operate within ACOs as paid members of a health-care team with a patient-centered focus. “We must build a partnership with the provider in order to gain trust and become recognized as a valuable team member in an ACO,” she stated.
ated in response to the vision and generosity of Andy Grove (former Intel CEO), who saw a need for faster, more efficient translation of new medical technologies. The development pathways for pharmaceuticals and medical devices are fraught with complications (regulatory pathways, financial issues, intellectual property concerns, etc.) that are generally not covered in graduate level scientific or medical curricula. With initial funding provided by a donation from the Grove Foundation, the goal was to create a formal training program in translational medicine so that graduates can bring new medical technologies to market more effectively with the hope of reducing the cost of healthcare and providing greater medical benefits to society.” So who is the ideal candidate? While this competitive MTM program is well suited for a variety of people at different career stages, the most successful candidates have a clear interest in developing medical technologies. The MTM program can be ideal for someone who already has clinical experience and a sense of existing unmet medical needs, as well as for someone with an undergraduate bioengineering background and interest in business training in biotechnology. All students leave equipped with a professional degree in the fundamentals of disease processes, bioengineering, business and clinical design. The program culminates in a team-based capstone project provided by a client from academia, industry or a clinic. “The MTM program’s strengths lie in its multidisciplinary curriculum in clinical, health and engineering processes to teach students how to turn a research discovery into an applied clinical tool or treatment,” Clay Johnston, MD, PhD, leader in the development of the MTM program.
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Priya Jayachandran is a first-year pharmacy student.
Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham
Solution to Sudoku
www.phdcomics.com
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Alexandra Folias, PhD, is finishing her postdoctoral fellowship. title: "Disparate Situation" - originally published 1/27/2014
8 | March 13, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
Solutions
Solution to Sudoku
Write for Synapse synapse@ucsf.edu
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