http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=The latest, and archived, news from the Appalachian College of Pharmacy.http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=202Reprinted with the permission of the Virginia Mountaineer The University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy celebrated its first annual commencement on Saturday with the graduating Class of 2008. A total of 67 students made up the first graduating class of UACP where they all received their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees and ceremonial robes at Riverview Elementary/Middle School. The ceremony began with the marching of the students and the singing of the National Anthem by Audra Chafin. andquot;This is truly a day that belongs to the members of our charter class, their family, friends and loved ones,andquot; Founding Chairman Frank Kilgore said to the students. andquot;There are so many people and organizations to thank for making this school and this graduation possible.andquot; On behalf of UACP, Kilgore thanked the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors for having a vision and the resources to help bring the educational institution to life. andquot;They had a similar vision when they supported the Appalachian School of Law,andquot; Kilgore said. In addition, Kilgore also thanked Buchanan County Attorney Mickey McGlothin, along with the McGlothin Foundation and the United Foundation for their support. Without McGlothin, Kilgore said the school and Buchanan County would not be celebrating the success of higher education and for working around the clock to make higher education the best it can be. Also, Kilgore thanked the staff and faculty of UACP, and recognized Dr. Sue Cantrell, Dean of UACP. andquot;This day belongs to you as much as it does anyone else,andquot; Kilgore said to Cantrell. andquot;You may not have helped start our school, but you made it grow and mature and you put us on the right path for success.andquot; Cantrell, who opened up the ceremony, introduced the commencement speaker, Dr. Lucinda Maine, to address the graduating class. Maine is the Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Maine previously served as Senior Vice President for Policy, Planning and Communications with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and served on the faculty at the University of Minnesota where she practiced in the field of geriatrics and was an associate dean at the Samford University College of Pharmacy.Maine is a graduate of Auburn University and received her doctorate at the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining the APhA staff, she served as Speaker of the APhA House of Delegates and as an APhA Trustee. In 2004, Maine was recognized by the APhA Academy of Students of Pharmacy with the Linwood F. Tice Friend of APhA-ASP Award. Maine addressed the students and reminded them of the chances that will be available to them as they pursue their careers in pharmacy. andquot;I envy today's graduates because of the opportunities that will lay before them,andquot; Maine said. One of the most important goals for the graduating students, Maine said, was to open doors to continue the development of pharmacy, which is still advancing with the help of modern technology. andquot;To paraphrase Frank Kilgore, 'You are pioneers, not guinea pigs,'andquot; Maine told the students. andquot;Despite all of the changes made in health care, there is still a great need for change.andquot; Also, Maine encouraged the graduating class to pursue their careers in rural, underdeveloped areas as well as practicing pharmacy in the Appalachian region due to the need for better health care, especially the need for well-trained pharmacists. andquot;This profession requires more than just the right drug and the right patient,andquot; Maine said. She stressed the importance of community service and helping others in need rather than just distributing pharmaceutical needs to patients. She said community service is also beneficial to better health care. Working with community members, health care professionals and other pharmacists was also encouraged by Maine to provide the best health care possible to individuals who need it. andquot;You leave here with the vision and the tools,andquot; Maine said. andquot;The other part of the equation is hard work.andquot; Cantrell also introduced Class President Eural Viers, who served as the student speaker at the commencement ceremony. During his tenure at UACP, Viers served as president of the Student Government Association for three years, served one year as vice president of political affairs and served as a member of the Honors, Ethics and Professionalism Committee. Viers has also been on the dean's list at UACP and is the recipient of the Lamar Cox Scholarship, UACP Leadership Awards, the NCPA Scholarship and was inducted into Rho Chi, the pharmacy professional honor society which he serves as president. andquot;Today, we close our student chapters here at UACP,andquot; Viers said. andquot;It's been a great experience.andquot; Viers reflected on small, but cheerful memories serving as a student at the pharmacy school and said he would miss the times he spent at UACP as well as his classmates. In his address, Viers also stressed the importance of community service which will benefit many areas in health care, especially in rural areas and the Appalachian region. He said the students have plenty of experience by conducting over 3,000 hours of community service. andquot;I believe these students will be great pharmacists,andquot; Viers said. andquot;They will be great representatives of UACP.andquot; Assistant Dean of Student and Alumni Affairs Whitney Caudill assisted in awarding the Doctor of Pharmacy degrees to the graduating students of UACP. Members of the first graduating class during Saturday's commencement ceremony include: Robin M. Absher, R. Shannon Adkins, Krishna Attoti, Lindsay Avancini, Jason B. Bell, Emily J. Blackwell, Amanda L. Blankenship, Shawna R. Blankenship, Courtney C. Blanton, Matthew H. Bledsoe, Steven A. Boskat, Kassi A. Brooks, Paul Michael Burchett, Kara Bush, Justin P. Carter, Kathryn Chase, Lauren Clevinger, Kristin D. Colyer, Brandi E. Cooper, Kerri Deel, Jessany P. Dunn, David Elefterion, Bryan T. Fields, Amanda K. Fields, Jamie C. Fletcher, Aimee L. Gibbs, Harold Glover, Jacqueline F. Hackney, Amanda L. Hall, Delena M. Hamilton, Jason R. Hannah, James E. Hicks, Vivian T. Ho, Carissa L. Isbell, Laura B. Jenks, Timothy B. Lasley II, Clint A. Lawson, Hong-Hhu Le, Kirsten D. Lytton, Colton N. Marcum, LeAnn Matney, Beth A. McConnell, Michael McIntosh, Sheel Mehta, Andrea Cowan Miracle, Lindsay S. Monroe, Lance H. Moore, Michael Mullins, Jada B. Newsome, Anh T. Nguyen, Deidra N. Nuckles, Mary C. O'Dell, Steven D. Perry, Jennifer Reed, Danny E. Rife II, Richard K. Slone Jr., Jeremy Matthew Smith, Larissa G. Taylor, Brittany Thomas, Dana B. Thompson, Bridgett Vencill, Eural Viers, Rebecca K. Webb, Derek H. Webb, Jada Webb, and Elisha E. Wentz. andamp;nbsp;http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=190 University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy (UACP) announces its placement rate with the first graduating class. UACP awarded 67 Doctor of Pharmacy Degrees in May 2008. Of the 67 graduates, 53 graduates of UACPandamp;rsquo;s charter class, or 79%, have accepted jobs in the Appalachia Region, as defined by the Appalachia Regional Commission. Frank Kilgore, Chairman of Board of Trustee of UACP, stated that andamp;ldquo;having 53 graduates accepting jobs in the central Appalachia Region will improve health care.andamp;rdquo; Kilgore added, andamp;ldquo;The schoolandamp;rsquo;s mission was to provide health care for the citizens of the central Appalachia Region and this furthers that mission.andamp;rdquo;andamp;nbsp;Fifty-four graduates have accepted jobs at community pharmacies with 1 graduate participating in a residency program, 11 graduate have accepted jobs at hospitals with 2 graduates continuing with a hospital residency program, and 1 graduate has accepted a job at an academic setting. Furthermore, of those that have accepted jobs at community pharmacies, the placement by company is as follows: CVS: 6 Target: 1 Food City: 3 Walgreens: 7 Kroger: 4 Wal-Mart: 9 Rite-Aid: 9 Independent: 12 Terry Kilgore, Dean of Institutional Advancement of UACP, stated andamp;ldquo;two months after graduation UACP has a 98% placement rate, this is an accomplishment not only for the school, but for our region.andamp;rdquo; Kilgore added, andamp;ldquo;Our faculty and staff really stepped-up to the plate and made sure that this first graduating class was successful. I commend our Dean, Sue Cantrell, the entire faculty and staff, and the community for making this announcement possible.andamp;rdquo; Dean Sue Cantrell stated andamp;ldquo;Our mission of serving communities in the Appalachia Region is being fulfilled. We are very excited about the roles that our pharmacy students will play in empowering health care in our area.andamp;rdquo; andamp;nbsp;http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=208The UACP Alumni Association hosted its first event on December 20, 2008 at Mosby's Restaurant in Wise, Virginia.andamp;nbsp; The alumni association leadership was pleased with the turn-out for the first event, around 25 alumni attended with their spouse or guest.andamp;nbsp; The Alumni Association is hoping to host quarterly events throughout the year.http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=225 On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, ACP students attended the annual Virginia Pharmacists Association (VPhA) Legislative Day event.andamp;nbsp; Legislative Day, which took place at the General Assembly Building in Richmond, Virginia, is an opportunity for student pharmacists to network with members of the Commonwealth House and Senate and promote issues related to pharmacy.andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp; ACP students got the opportunity to informally meet with several Virginia delegates to discuss health-care and pharmacy-related issues, as well as specific issues Delegates are facing in their own districts.andamp;nbsp; ACP students met with the Delegate Joseph P. Johnson, Delegate James andamp;ldquo;Willandamp;rdquo; Morefield and Delegate Harvey Morgan, in addition to staff members for Delegate Morgan and Delegate Anne Crockett-Stark.andamp;nbsp; andamp;ldquo;I really enjoyed sitting with our local delegates in Richmond and discussing the current healthcare issues that are affecting the surrounding Appalachian region.andamp;nbsp; This opportunity has given me insight about how important healthcare is to everyone, especially to persons that are not even a part of the healthcare field.andamp;nbsp; The experience that I gained while visiting the House of Delegates and participating in the Health Fairandamp;nbsp;on Legislative Day will be only better me as a professional and pharmacistandamp;rdquo;, said Benjamin Nyboer, a P1 student who attended the event. ACP students, along with students from other Virginia pharmacy schools, also participated in blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes screenings as part of the Health Fair held on the first floor of the General Assembly Building.andamp;nbsp;andamp;nbsp;The students who attended the event were: Saumil Vaghela (P3), Nnamdi Ezenyi (P2), Adam Sanders (P2), Kyla Holmes (P2), Benjamin Nyboer (P1), Daniel Puckett (P1); Katherine Blackburn (P1), Danny Neeley (P1) and Jonathan Troup (P1).andamp;nbsp; ACP was also represented by faculty members Dr. Holly Hurley, VPhA chapter advisor, and Dr. Michael Lee, Assistant Dean of Student and Alumni Affairs. andquot;We were so fortunate to have had the opportunity to discuss pharmacy issues and billsandamp;nbsp;with the stateandamp;nbsp;legislators and demonstrateandamp;nbsp;the kinds of innovative healthcareandamp;nbsp;services that pharmacists are providing across the Commonwealth of Virginiaandamp;rdquo;, said Dr. Hurley. http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=227View news story pdf.http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=226View story pdf. Visit the Awards Ceremony photo gallery.http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=204Oakwood, Virginia - The Appalachian College of Pharmacy (ACP) www.acpharm.org announces that it has been advised by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) that the college has been advanced from candidate status to full accreditation status. The College opened its doors in 2005 and was awarded candidate status by ACPE in June 2007 which allowed its graduates to take the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) which all pharmacists are required to pass to be able to practice in the United States.andamp;nbsp; Since then the College has graduated 126 students.andamp;nbsp; More than 90% of its graduates have passed the NAPLEX on their first attempt and the majority of its graduates are practicing pharmacy in the Appalachian Region where they are helping to improve health care. The Collegeandamp;rsquo;s chairman and founder, Frank Kilgore, gave credit for this achievement to the administration, faculty, staff, trustees, students and community as well as the many benefactors and supporters that have rallied to make the College a success.andamp;nbsp; andamp;ldquo;Our three-year doctor of pharmacy program is accelerated and runs year-round.andamp;nbsp; That allows our students to graduate and enter the work force a year earlier than graduates of a traditional four-year pharmacy program but with equivalent classroom hours, clinical training, professional degree and credentials.andamp;rdquo; Kilgore praised Mickey McGlothlin, the President of the College, for his financial and day to day support of ACP and applauded Dr. Susan Mayhew, Dean of the College, for her organizational skills, recruitment ability, and leadership of the faculty in bringing the College to full accreditation. He also commended Associate Dean Dr. Charles Breese, Vice-President Whitney Caudill and Dean of Institutional Advancement, Terry Kilgore, and the remainder of the Collegeandamp;rsquo;s leadership team for their hard work and sustained commitment throughout the accreditation process. Mickey McGlothlin, ACPandamp;rsquo;s president who is a lifelong resident of Buchanan County, thanked the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors, the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, as well as the Collegeandamp;rsquo;s many other private and public donors for their steadfast support of the College since its inception. He further remarked that the College community is very excited about the College receiving full accreditation while it is expanding its ongoing effort to perform scientific and clinical research to improve the health and well-being of humanity.andamp;nbsp;http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=304If you are interested in purchasing photos, please contact Richard Mink at: mink@richardminkphotography.com or 276.494.1556.http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=351 The Phi Delta Chi fraternity's 2010 Zeta pledge class hosted andquot;Dinner From All Around the World and Auctionandquot; on December 9, 2010.andamp;nbsp; The event consited of a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, and some excellent food!andamp;nbsp; Mr. Kevin Peterson was the lucky winner of the 50/50 raffle.andamp;nbsp; The silent auction consisted of gift cards to local businesses, a board game set, a candle set, a few tupperware sets, and several ACP students and faculty.andamp;nbsp; Ms. Patty Do went for the highest price of the evening, providing a pumpkin pie, a key lime pie, lunch at Bellacino's, and a trip to the movies for her bidder.andamp;nbsp; Dinner was comprised of meals from Cameroon, Mexico, India, Thailand, Ireland, and America.andamp;nbsp; Prizes were awarded for the best dishes of the evening.andamp;nbsp; Dr. Charles Breese won the prize for Best Overall Dish for his amazingly hot Thai Green Curry and flavorful Red Curry.andamp;nbsp; Portions of the proceeds from this event were donated to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.andamp;nbsp; The evening was an amazing success and a bunch of fun!http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=366The Apothecary Medicinal Plant Society was happy to participate in the Second Annual Health Expo at Appalachian College of Pharmacy on 4/4/2011. Members presented information on three poster topics: Medicinal Plants used in the Treatment of Cancer, Immunization Schedule and Radiation Poisoning. We counseled more than 50 members of the community about these subjects and offered handouts such as Cancer Facts for Men and Women, Breast Cancer Screening, recipes from the Nutrition Department at Buchanan General Hospital tailored for cancer patients special diet needs and Poison Prevention Hotline key/wallet cards and magnets.andamp;nbsp; Several screening services were offered at this event: blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, and new this year- Nutrition information, BMIs, Ankle Brachial tests, Vision Screens, Lung Function Testing. Patient assistance with prescriptions, and immunizations were offered as well. The Bloodmobile and the Health Wagon were on campus for additional screens, and blood Donations. AMPS was privileged to be a provider of services at this event and we all look forward to next yearandamp;rsquo;s Health Expo 2012. Pictured: Amanda Doane, Phoebe Mai( VP-elect), Katherine Blackburn (Pres), Anh Le (Project Dir), Ryan Beltz (Faculty Liaison elect), Duc Nguyen (Historian elect),andamp;nbsp; Joseph Ramsey, Jimmy Osborne (CFO elect), John Murphy (Project Dir. elect), Donnie Webb (Pres elect), Jennifer Tran (Committee Co-or elect), Sarah Ramsey (Chair- Garden Committee), Wenfie Yan -Not pictured Hamid Sarani (VP), Zarna Shah (CC), Randy Waddell (CFO), Payal Parekh http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=367In promotion of American Heart Month in February, the Appalachian College of Pharmacy partnered with Appalachian Family Care, Buchanan General Hospital, and Medical Park in sponsoring health screenings for the public. This event was held on February 12, 2011 from 7:00 AM - 12:00 P.M. at the Food City in Vansant, VA. The free services included fasting blood glucose testing, diabetic hemoglobin A1C testing, body composition analysis, vital signs, diabetes and nutritional education. Additionally, blood work, including cholesterol and complete blood counts, and bone density scans were offered for a nominal fee of $15.00 each. There were a total of 76 patients who took advantage of these services, gaining a total of over $6,500.00 worth of health care. We would like to extend a special thank you to the sponsors that helped make this event possible: The Appalachian College of Pharmacy, Medical Park Pharmacy, Appalachian Family Care, Buchanan General Hospital and the various organizations at ACP.andamp;nbsp; Thank you!http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=436 Mickey McGlothlin, President of the Appalachian College of Pharmacy, is pleased to announce that the College has entered into a Program Participation Agreement (PPA) with the US Department of Education (DOE) that provides that the College may participate in those student financial assistance programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (Title IV HEA Programs).andamp;nbsp; This is a provisional certification and is granted through June 30, 2013.andamp;nbsp; These funds will not be available for students to pay their tuition and fees which were due in August, 2011.andamp;nbsp; The College anticipates that these funds will be available for spring term 2012 and possibly late fall term 2011; however, there is no assurance that these funds will be available during fall term 2011.andamp;nbsp; The College will continue working with the DOE to implement the program, setup software systems to communicate student and institutional information.andamp;nbsp; The College has hired Financial Aid Services, a third-party servicer of Atlanta, Georgia, to expedite the implementation and disbursement of Title IV funds. Susan Mayhew, Dean of the College, stated that she appreciated the hard work of Vickie Keene, Director of Academic Records, Admissions, and Financial Aid, and her staff for their efforts on behalf of the College in obtaining this agreement.http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=438Script 53http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=452Script 61http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=461The Appalachian College of Pharmacy (ACP) will issue laptop computers to students in the incoming Class of 2015.andamp;nbsp; The laptop will be issued on the first day of orientation and utilized through the entire educational program.andamp;nbsp; Computer software will be preinstalled and the computer will be preconfigured to work with the College's wireless network. Students need not purchase a laptop as it will be provided by the college.andamp;nbsp; The laptops issued to students will be supported by the Information Technology (IT) department and will be warranted for the three (3) years of the academic program.andamp;nbsp; All other types of equipment including computers owned by the student, ipads, android tablets, and cell phones will not be supported by the IT department or wireless network system.andamp;nbsp; Additional information will be made available on the first day of orientation along with the ACP Computer Policy.http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=464Script 71http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=471Follow this link for ACP Class of 2015 student orientation schedule.http://www.acp.edu/index.php?cID=495SCRIPT 72