June 27, 2011
Pharmacy is a complicated discipline – one that is constantly
changing with new research and findings.
Students, faculty, alumni and friends of St. John’s University had
the opportunity to examine current trends in the pharmaceutical
industry and share their scientific findings at the Fifth Annual
Dr. Charles I. Jarowski Industrial Pharmacy Symposium. Held in
honor of the late Dr. Charles I. Jarowski, a legendary Professor
and Chair of the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions,
this popular academic event features lectures from alumni panelists
and distinguished academics. Additionally, current students share
their research and receive feedback from the guests.
Photo Gallery
Robert
Mangione '77P, '79GP, '93PD, '99Ed.D., Dean of the College of
Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, delivered the opening
remarks.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to not only
share the pride associated with their research, but to test its
validity and strength by meeting with industry experts and
leaders,” he said. “Not to mention, the lectures they’ll hear will
be world class.”
As in years past, the symposium featured its own unique theme: the
application of quality by design in drug development and
manufacturing. Speakers made sure to focus on this topic, in
addition to sharing their personal experience in the
industry.
“If you look at the topic of this conference, you’ll realize one
important thing: it’s all about shaping the future,” said Keynote
Speaker Indra K. Reddy, Ph.D., Dean, Irma Lerma Rangel College of
Pharmacy, Texas A&M University. A former Professor at St.
John’s in the early ’90s, Reddy enjoyed coming back to campus and
sharing his ideas with students and colleagues.
“I felt very nostalgic,” he said. “It’s great to be back, and great
to think of what we’re doing for these students. As the future
leaders of our industry, it’s critical that we put them in a good
position, get them familiar with certain concepts so they can see
what’s on the horizon.”
Douglas Becker '75P, ’78GP, ’82Ph.D., Senior Director of
Technology at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, delivered a lecture entitled
“The Application of Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy for
Monitoring Spray Coating.” Though its title is complex, Becker
explained his research masterfully and later shared his thoughts on
why the symposium is such a helpful program.
“When students are in the process of getting their formal
education, it’s easy for them to fail at seeing what the future
holds,” he explained. “I want to emphasize to the students that
there is a future out there in this industry. It may be a little
circuitous at times, but there’s certainly a future and it’s a
noble goal.”
As the Pharmaceutical world continues to change, Dr. Becker
believes it is vital for students to begin following current
trends.
“We’re dealing with a global economy now,” he noted. “That economy
is putting pressure on us to do our jobs better. What we have to do
is push back against the marketing folks who want to get things out
as quickly as possible, and be confident and strong enough to say,
‘No, we have to get it right the first time so we can have a
reliable product.’”
Students shared their own research at the symposium and networked
with the various alumni and professionals. Undergraduate Neal Shah
feels more confident about what research he’d like to pursue after
he graduates.
“It opened my eyes to how the industry is changing,” Shah said. “In
the beginning, I wanted to become a regular community Pharmacist,
but after going to this symposium for a couple of years now, I know
confident that I want to be an industry person. Meeting the alumni
today really confirms that.”
During lunch, the guests toured some of the new labs in the
College. Navnit Shah ’73GP, 81Ph.D., Distinguished Research Leader
at Hoffman LaRoche, loved seeing the improvements that have been
made to his alma mater.
“The University has grown so much,” he said. “When I graduated, if
you were to compare the labs to how they are today – well, there
really is no comparison. The tour was fantastic, the event was
fantastic and I’m glad to have contributed.”