June 21, 2010
While everyone is aware of the importance of taking the
appropriate medication for optimal health and well-being, we rarely
consider the manner in which the chemical components of these
pharmaceuticals are actually dispersed within the body. This topic,
however, was of great interest to the more than 150 pharmacy
professionals attended the Fourth Annual Dr. Charles I. Jarowski
Industrial Pharmacy Symposium, focusing on “Developments of
Modified-Release Dosage Forms for Optimal Drug Delivery”.
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The symposium is named in honor of Dr. Charles I. Jarowski, a
former Pharmacy professor at St. John’s whose love of scholarship
and commitment to innovative research made a lasting impact on both
his students and colleagues. He joined the faculty in 1970 and rose
to the rank of Professor and Distinguished University Scholar prior
to his retirement in 1987.
In
his welcoming remarks, Robert Mangione, R.Ph.,’77P, ’79GP, ’93PD,
’99Ed.D., Dean, St. John’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health
Professions noted that, “Although Dr. Jarowski passed away a few
weeks ago, the impact that he left behind will be a part of us
forever. It is important to reflect on the values that he imparted
to us, and to keep in mind that our actions should reflect his good
work.”
Returning to the Queens campus to moderate one of the sessions
of the symposium, Douglas C. Becker ’75P, ’78GP, ’82Ph.D.
remarked on the importance of this beloved professor within his own
life. “I owe the fact that I went into Industrial Pharmacy to Dr.
Jarowski,” he said. “His compassion for students, his earnest
desire to have us understand and learn rather than just getting us
through the syllabus is what made him the man he was. He will be
deeply missed, but he will always live in our hearts.”
Keynote Speaker Dr. Waseem Malick, Vice President,
Pharmaceutical and Analytical Research and Development, Hoffmann-La
Roche noted that drug delivery systems are more than just
mechanical entities but involve “…delivery of the right drug to the
right person at the right time. There have been tremendous advances
in drug delivery systems over the past 60 years, and it is truly
exciting to contemplate the developments that will take place in
the years ahead.’
Designed to provide attendees with an overview of the latest
research, the symposium offered practical benefits to professional
pharmacists on a variety of levels.
“The
importance of this conference can’t be underestimated,” remarked
Andrew J. Bartilucci, Ph.D., ’44P, ’98HON, Dean Emeritus, St.
John’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions and former
Executive Vice President of St. John’s University. “From the
University’s point of view, it offers a great opportunity for us to
bring back many of our alumni and strengthen their contact with us.
On the professional level, we’re providing a service, because most
of the attendees are pharmacists and they’re fulfilling their
continuing education requirement. At St. John’s we’re educators,
and today we’re educating the professional community in a way that
will help them to better serve us all.”
As a recent graduate, Marissa Cipriani ’09P enjoyed the
opportunity to return to campus and attend the event in a
professional capacity. “I love coming back to campus and I really
want to stay involved with St. John’s,” she said. “I work in the
regulatory aspect of the profession, and it’s interesting to see
how the industry is developing the products that I ultimately
regulate.”
Maria Bachynsky ’71GP noted that her reasons for attending were
both personal and professional. “Dr. Jarowski was a special mentor
to me,” she recalled, “and he helped me to get my first job in the
profession. I’m here to honor his memory, and also because the
topic of modified release drug products is very important for those
of us working in the profession. It’s great for us to be able to
share our knowledge with each other, and it’s especially important
that the students who are here today get a first-hand insight into
some of the important things that are happening in their future
profession.”
Although not an alumnus, Torin Dewey journeyed from Boulder,
Colorado to take part in the symposium because it presented a
unique opportunity for both professional development and personal
networking. “I’m really interested in the scientific content of the
presentations,” he said. “The specialized topic is what brought me
here, and it’s an important aspect of my personal and professional
growth to learn more about the field and network with these very
impressive professionals in a one-on-one situation.”
Throughout the day graduate students from the University’s
Industrial Pharmacy Program were present to exhibit and explain the
original research that they were conducting with the members of the
faculty who were serving as their professional mentors. “This is a
wonderful opportunity for us to be at this symposium and exhibit
our work to so many people in the pharmaceutical industry,” said
Hetal Prajapati ’10GP. “I’m honored to be able to share my research
with the professional community that I hope to soon become a part
of. Participating in events like this make me so proud to be a St.
John’s student.”
The long-standing connection between St. John’s and the
pharmaceutical industry was foremost in the mind of session
moderator Navnit H. Shah ’73GP, ’81Ph.D, Distinguished Research
Leader, Hoffmann-La Roche. “St. John’s has always been a good
friend of Industrial Pharmacy research and education,” he said.
“Symposia like this are very important to keep St. John’s at the
forefront of professional pharmacy education, and it’s obvious from
the attendance today that the industry perceives that we’re doing a
good job.”
As the day drew to a close and the attendees mingled at a
post-event reception, Dean Mangione reflected on how the symposium
is an appropriate legacy for Dr. Jarowski. “Dr. Jarowski was a
visionary leader in Industrial Pharmacy and a tremendous teacher,”
he said. “This conference not only continues his fine work, but
inspires us to engage in discovery that will have a direct impact
in improving patient care. Were he here with us today, I know that
would have made him very happy.”
For additional information about events of interest to alumni of
St. John’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions,
please call Patricia Nolan ’07G at (718) 990-2145 or e-mail nolanp@stjohns.edu.