Western University of Health Sciences' College of Pharmacy To Host First Annual Symposium
The College of Pharmacy will open its first annual symposium by featuring
three keynote speakers who are considered experts in the profession. The
notable guest speakers will cover compelling topics that have a direct
impact on contemporary society.
“”We are incredibly please to initiate a new tradition in the College of
Pharmacy,”” said Sam Shimomura, associate dean of the College of
Pharmacy. “”This first symposium hosted by Dean Max Ray, will bring
together students, faculty, preceptors, alumni and friends of the
WesternU College of Pharmacy to examine major technological, professional
and ethical issues that will impact our lives for the next 20 years or
more.””
The topics and speakers include: Alvin Cheung, PharmD, MHSA, Area
Pharmacy Director, Diablo Area Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, in Northern
California. Cheung will discuss the science of Pharmacogenomics, which
examines the inherited variations in genes that dictate the response to
medication. His presentation will give the audience a 35,000 ft. view of
current trends in pharmacogenomic research and the potential applications
in patient care over the next 10 to 20 years.
Margaret Laws, M.P.P., Director, Public Financing and Policy Program,
California HealthCare Foundation in Oakland, CA. She will speak
about, “”The Public Policy Implications of Increasing Health Care Costs.””
The final speaker, Lorie Rice, MPH, Associate Dean for External Affairs,
UCSF School of Pharmacy, will be speaking on the topic, “”Reflections on
Your Retirement.”” She will help new practitioners assess their career
decisions from an ethical and professional perspective, spanning 40 years
forward and leading up to their retirement.
After the Symposium concludes, lunch will be served and the honors day
portion of the day will commence; Dr. Mark Okamoto will be the featured
faculty speaker at the program. Honors Day is celebrated each year as a
time in which WesternU students are recognized and honored for their
pursuit of academic excellence, academic achievements, service to the
community, the university, and to others.
The Symposium will be held at the Hinds Pavilion at the Pomona Fairplex
on Thursday, April 6.
