March 25, 2025

A finals week therapy dog enjoys his job. (Photo by Steve Zylius/UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Pharmacists of the Future

Hung Du (left), pharmacist at the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, consults with (from left) Tara Mostafazadeh, Bahman Farihi and Orfanel Amaya – all third-year PharmD students at UC Irvine. (Photo by Khemarak Tor/UC Irvine)

The Doctor of Pharmacy program is pushing the envelope in experiential education, introducing students to alternative forms of treatment in addition to Western medicine to train well-equipped and versatile future pharmacists. As part of their degree requirements, students must engage in experiential education – applied hands-on learning. During the first three years of the program, this manifests in introductory pharmacy practice experiences, with students gaining early exposure to pharmacy settings by participating in patient care at community pharmacies, clinics and local hospitals. “The benefit [of experiential education] is you get experience talking to patients, providing consults, and administering medicine and vaccines to real patients,” says Erin Knox, director of experiential pharmacy education in the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. “You can’t only learn in a controlled environment. You have to introduce all these very uncontrollable variables in real-life settings because you get better by doing.”

UC Irvine HR team honored by National Human Resources Association

On March 13, Human Resources was honored by the National Human Resources Association Orange County as a Team of Excellence at the organization’s annual HR Executives of the Year gala. Team of Excellence honors recognize HR teams that have successfully developed and sustained an innovative, ethical solution to address a new or ongoing organizational challenge. UC Irvine’s team was nominated for their work in executing the exceptional transition, onboarding and integration of 4,300 new co-workers as part of the UCI Health Community Network acquisition.

(Photo courtesy of Scott Gertz)

When a mass was found during a routine colonoscopy in August 2024, Scott Gertz (far right in photo) asked a relative, a physician living in Florida, to recommend the most reputable, reliable and well-trained surgeon. “There was no hesitation: He recommended and connected me to Dr. Skandan Shanmugan,” says the Encino resident. “During this stressful and frightening time in my life, I could not have asked for better experts,” says the avid "dad band" drummer, who gladly makes the trek to Orange County for his ongoing screenings. Shanmugan is a co-director of the Chao Digestive Health Institute at UCI Health.

Staff appreciation breakfast tomorrow

With the students away for Spring Break, it’s time for … chilaquiles? Enjoy this delicious dish and more, as the UCI Irvine Staff Assembly again hosts its annual Staff Appreciation Breakfast at the Anteatery in Mesa Court Towers tomorrow from 6:30-9 a.m. No registration is required.

UC NEWS

Apply by April 11 to be the next staff advisor to the Regents

Applications for the position of staff advisor to the Regents are once again open for non-represented and represented staff or non-Senate academic employees who have at least five years of UC service, offering a unique opportunity to represent and serve your colleagues. The application period ends Friday, April 11, for a two-year term that runs from July 2025 to June 2027. You can learn more about the program and how to apply by April 11 on the staff advisor website. If you have additional questions regarding staff advisor recruitment this year, email StaffAdvisorRecruitment@ucop.edu.

#IamUCI

Eve Darian-Smith, professor and chair of global & international studies, has been named the 2024-25 recipient of the J. Ann Tickner Award. The honor, awarded by the International Studies Association, recognizes her efforts “combining bravery in pursuing high-quality, pioneering scholarship that pushes the boundaries of the discipline with a deep commitment to service, especially teaching and mentoring.”

#UCIconnected spotlights interesting updates from the UC Irvine community. #IamUCI spotlights profiles of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected or #IamUCI hashtags.

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