Upcoming Events

For a complete list of ACPHS events, visit the online calendar.

March 23
Rite Aid Lounge, 6 pm

April 3
SC 201/VT 114, 8 am

April 5
Rite Aid Lounge, 11 am

April 8
UVM Campus, 4 pm

April 17
9:30 am

April 28

May 2-6
Final Exams

May 14
SPAC, 1:00 pm

Welcome!
Vaishali Jahagirdar
Coordinator of Assessment
Start Date: Feb. 29


Jennifer McVay Dyche
Exec. Director of 
Innovative Learning
Start Date: Feb. 29


Torrina Adams
Accreditation and Research Specialist
Start Date: Feb. 16


Nick Balk
Director of Admissions
Start Date: Feb. 9
We're only four-ish days  from the start of Spring Break, five days from Daylight Savings, and less than two weeks from the first day of spring. And if that's not enough, you're holding in your virtual hands a new issue of the e-Pulse. This might be the real Super Tuesday!
Relay for Life: Saving the World One Cure at a Time
The annual ACPHS Relay for Life event took place Friday and Saturday and proved to be a great success. For 12 hours, nearly 40 teams of students, faculty, and staff came together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and raise money to support the efforts of the American Cancer Society. This year's event has raised $39,558 so far, and it's not over yet (the official tally doesn't close until August)! Earlier in the week, ACPHS again demonstrated its fundraising prowess by outpacing nine other colleges to win The Upstate Challenge - a contest to see which upstate NY school could raise the most money for Relay for Life in a three day span. If you weren't able to attend Relay and would like to support the event, you can still make a donation. ACPHS Vermont students will participate in the Relay for Life event being held on the University of Vermont campus on April 8.
Program Links Pharmacy, Nursing, and Medical Students
With more emphasis being placed on the need for a team-based approach to patient care, ACPHS has been among the schools taking the lead in facilitating "Interprofessional Education" opportunities. One such initiative took place last week when 20 ACPHS pharmacy students joined 20 medical students from Albany Medical College and 20 nursing students from Hudson Valley Community College for a simulated patient exercise. In the scenario, students from each of the three disciplines met individually with a patient awaiting discharge from the hospital and then each developed their own "action plan" for the patient to follow. After their individual meetings, the group of three students convened as a team to compare notes and share their perspectives on the patient. Following this discussion, a majority of students noted that what they learned from the other professionals would impact their original patient plan. 
Dean DiCenzo Sworn in as President of APhA-APRS
Rob DiCenzo, the College's  Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Operations, was sworn in Friday as the new president of the American Pharmacists Association - Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA-APRS). After having just completed a one-year term as President-Elect of APhA-APRS, Dr. DiCenzo will now serve two years as the Academy's president. He is also in the midst of a three year term on the APhA Board of Trustees. The Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science is one of just three academies in the APhA. The other two are the Academy of Pharmacy Practice and Management (APhA-APPM) and the Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP). Congratulations, Rob!
Study Explores Impact of Organic Chocolate on Blood Sugar
Professor Mike Kane has been actively engaged in research since he became a faculty member at the College, but his latest project is the first time he has ever studied chocolate. Yes, chocolate. The origins of the project began when the founder of Raw Amour Chocolate Truffles approached Dr. Kane to see if his company's organic chocolate might be a suitable option for diabetes patients and those with low sugar diets. As a pharmacist who works with many such patients through his practice at The Endocrine Group, Dr. Kane felt obliged (and a bit curious) to check it out. So he set up a study to measure the Glycemic Index (GI) of the truffles, i.e., how the chocolate impacted a person's blood sugar. Glycemic Index uses a scale of 0 to 100, with higher values given to foods that cause the most rapid rise in blood sugar. Foods with GI values of 55 or under are considered low glycemic foods. The results? Dr. Kane found the truffles had a GI value of just 6, meaning they represent a wholesome option for patients with diabetes who would like something sweet that won't significantly increase their blood sugars.
Women's Hoops Team Finishes as National Runner's Up
The ACPHS Women's Basketball team advanced all the way to the championship game of the USCAA national tournament before falling to the College of St. Joseph's (VT) in Saturday night's final. The Panthers began the tournament seeded #3 among the eight teams, defeating Southern Maine Community College and the University of Cincinnati Clermont to reach the championship game. In the finals, #1 seeded College of St. Joseph's, who finished the year 30-1, ultimately proved too much for the Panthers. Still, it was a terrific year for ACPHS. The team finished with an overall record of 21-5, went undefeated in HVIAC regular season play, and won the HVIAC tournament championship.
Fine Print
Our current optimism is tempered by the fact that we still have to endure eight more months of campaigning until the November Presidential election. At least March Madness only lasts three weeks.