MUSC Pharmacy Students Succeed

Our students score significantly higher than the national average on NAPLEX, MPJE, and match rate for residencies. Interprofessional education. Top academic medical center. Beautiful and historic Charleston.

MUSC College of Pharmacy students in white coats

Clinical Pharmacy & Outcomes Sciences

The department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences provides education and training related to professional practice including application of the pharmaceutical sciences to patient care. The promotion of critical thinking skills is the hallmark of the Department’s courses. Additionally, faculty members in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences are engaged in various areas of scholarship that impact clinical therapeutics, professional practice, evaluation of drug health policies, and pharmacy education. 

Faculty members act as a positive force within the profession of pharmacy through active participation and leadership in professional and scientific organizations. We strive to create an environment that produces appropriate and innovative coursework to prepare practitioners for contemporary and future practice roles, and fosters the academic growth and success of the faculty.

Highlights

Grants

Publications

Presentations

Faculty Directory

Highlights

Faculty Accomplishment

  • Don Wiest – MUSC Distinguished Professor Award
  • Dave Shirley – MUSC Developing Teacher Award
  • Erin Weeda – P3 Teacher of the Year, Mentor, overall Teacher of the Year
  • Nicole Bohm – Nominated as Outstanding Educator by COM
  • Jean Nappi – ACCP Cardiology PRN Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Kristy Brittain – Ken Couch Distinguished Mentor Award – SCPhA; Chair of AACP Self-Care Therapeutics and Non-Prescription Medications SIG
  • John Bosso – Fellow of SIDP
  • Kathy Chessman – ACCP Pediatric PRN Outstanding Practitioner Award
  • Scott Bragg – elected to the STFM Board (first pharmacist ever)
  • Dave Shirley – President-elect of SCPhA
  • Chris Wisniewski – Chair of AACP White Paper Special Committee
  • Erin Weeda – Chair-elect of ACCP Health Outcomes PRN
  • Nicole Pilch – Appointed to inaugural Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy Specialty Council (BPS)
  • Anthony DeClue – PLS Alumnus of the Year
  • James Sterrett – Rho Chi Induction

Promotions

  • Scott Bragg – Associate Professor
  • James Sterrett – Associate Professor

Grants

Nicole Bohm

Nicole Bohm is primary investigator on a $125,850 grant awarded through an RFP for independent medical education for the novel oral anticoagulants. The grant, funded by Bristol Myers Squibb/Pfizer, supports a collaboration with MUSC’s Technology Applications Center for Healthful Lifestyles to develop a mobile application including drug selection and dosing guidance based on clinical data input with interactive educational and self-quizzing functions. Similar programming will be offered to incorporate into EPIC, MUSC’s electronic medical record system, to provide active dose guidance for prescribers.

James Sterrett awarded large HRSA grant.

James Sterrett received MUSC IPID grant entitled “Integrating Telepharmacy Precepting and Consulting to Optimize Interprofessional Collaborative Care and Education in a Nurse Practitioner Clinic Targeting the Medically Underserved”

Kelly Ragucci is co-investigator on the $390,000 Josiah Macy Foundation grant “Virtual Interprofessional (VIP) Learning.

Chris Wisniewski continues to work with the Medicaid grant for SCORxE (South Carolina Offering Prescribing Excellence), the South Carolina Medicaid Academic Detailing Program.

Kelly Ragucci is primary investigator on the Office of Interprofessional Initiatives grant Evaluation of Simulated Interprofessional Rounding Experiences.

Publications

Dr. Scott Bragg

Articles in referred journals

Bragg S, Watson KH, Kern D, Wessell A, Chessman AW. Text Messaging as a Teaching Tool in a Family Medicine Clerkship Rotation. PRiMER. 2018;2:24.

Bragg S, Bain J, Ramsetty A. Endocrine Conditions in Older Adults: Osteoporosis. FP Essent. 2018;474:11–19.

Bain J, Bragg S, Ramsetty A, Bradford S. Endocrine Conditions in Older Adults: Menopause. FP Essent. 2018;474:20–27.

Ramsetty A, Bragg S, Bradford S, Bain J. Endocrine Conditions in Older Adults: Adrenal Tumors. FP Essent. 2018;474:28–32.

Bradford S, Ramsetty A, Bragg S, Bain J. Endocrine Conditions in Older Adults: Anti-Aging Therapies. FP Essent. 2018;474:33–38.

Textbooks and Book Chapters

DeCastro A, Bragg S, Carek PJ. Osteoporosis. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel D, eds. Conn’s Current Therapy 2019. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018.

Dr. John Bosso

Articles in referred journals

Santevecchi BA, Steed LL, BossoJA. Comparison of Four Phenotypic Testing Methods and A Novel Genotypic Polymerase Chain Reaction Test for Determination of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Resistance Mechanisms at an Academic Medical Center. Current Trends Microbiol 2018;12:39-44.

Forrester JB, Steed, LL, Santevecchi, BA, Flume P, Palmer-Long, GE, Bosso, JA. In Vitro Activity of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam versus Non-Fermenting, Gram-Negative, CysticFibrosis Isolates. Open Forum Infect Dis 2018;5 (7) 1 July 20, ofy158. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofy158.

Norris AH, Shrestha NK, Allison GM, Keller SC, Bhaven KP, Zurio JJ, Hersh AL, Gorski LA, Bosso JA, Rathmore MH, Arrieta A, Petrak RM, Shah A, Brown RB, Knight SL, Umscheid CA. 2018 IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy. Clin Infect Dis. Published online 11/13/18. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy745

Dr. Shannon Drayton

Articles in referred journals

Drayton SJ, Weeda ER, Avery LM, Penland B, Knight J. Impact of a co-curricular, e-learning activity on pharmacy student knowledge of laboratory values. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 2019:11;87-93.

Dr. Sandra Garner

Articles in referred journals

Hammond DA, Russell N, Davis NC, Caballero J, Garner SS, Sorensen TD, Watchmaker C, Bookstaver PB. Financial costs of pursuing postgraduate residency training. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2018;75(17):1266-1267. 

Dr. Jason Haney

Articles in referred journals

Blizzard J, Richardson WH, Michels JE, Reeder CE, Schulz RM, Holstege C.  Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Regional Poison Center.  Clinical Toxicology 2008;46(5):450-6.

Dr. Jean Nappi

Articles in referred journals

Blizzard J, Richardson WH, Michels JE, Reeder CE, Schulz RM, Holstege C.  Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Regional Poison Center.  Clinical Toxicology 2008;46(5):450-6.

Bradley D, Nappi J. Evaluation of aldosterone antagonist utilization in heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction at an academic medical center. Pharmacy Practice 2019 Jan-Mar;17(1):1376-85. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2019.1.1376

Jackevicius CA, Page RL, Buckley LF, Jennings DL, Nappi JM, Smith AJ. Key articles and guidelines in the management of heart failure: 2018 update. Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2019;32(1) 77-92.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0897190018819413

Dr. Dave Shirley

Articles in referred journals

Back SE, Flanagan JC, Jones JL, Augur I, Peterson AL, Young-McCaughan S, Shirley DW, Henschel A, Joseph JE, Litz BT, Hancock AK, Roache JD, Mintz J, Wachen JS, Keane TM, Brady KT.  Doxazosin for the Treatment of Co-Occurring PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder: Design and Methodology of a Randomized Controlled Trial in Military Veterans.  Contemporary Clinical Trials. 73 (2018) 8-15.

Dr. James Sterrett

Articles in referred journals

Stanley A, Durham C, Sterrett J, Wallace J. Safety of Over-the-Counter Medications in Pregnancy.  MCN The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, Jan 2019.

Dr. Emmeline Tran

Articles in referred journals

Weeda ER, Hakamiun KM, Leschorn HX, Tran E. Comorbid cancer and use of thrombolysis in acute pulmonary embolism. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2019 Feb;47(2):324-327.

Dr. Erin Weeda

Articles in referred journals

Blizzard J, Richardson WH, Michels JE, Reeder CE, Schulz RM, Holstege C.  Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Regional Poison Center.  Clinical Toxicology 2008;46(5):450-6.

Weeda ER, Casserly C, Britton D, Shirley D, Simpson K. Loop diuretic use among patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes treated with sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications. 2019 [Epub ahead of print]

Weeda ER, Su Z, Taber DJ, et al. Hospital admissions and emergency department visits among kidney transplant recipients. Clin Transplant. 2019. doi: 10.1111/ctr.13522. [Epub ahead of print]

Claudio AM, Foltanski L, Delay T, Britell A, Duckett A, Weeda ER, Bohm N. Antibiotic Use and Respiratory Pathogens in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease and Acute Chest Syndrome. Ann Pharmacother. 2019. [Epub ahead of print]

Weeda ER, Butt S. Systematic Review of Real-World Studies Evaluating Characteristics Associated With or Programs Designed to Facilitate Outpatient Management of Deep Vein Thrombosis. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2018;1076029618811082. 

Weeda ER, Hakamiun KM, Leschorn HX, Tran E. Comorbid cancer and use of thrombolysis in acute pulmonary embolism. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2019;47:324-27. 

Drisaldi A, Weeda ER, Neyens R, et al. Accuracy of Valproic Acid Concentration Correction Based on Serum Albumin. Neurocrit Care. 2019;30:301-06. 

Drayton S, Weeda ER, Avery L, et al. Impact of a co-curricular, e-learning activity on pharmacy student knowledge of laboratory values. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2019;11:87-93. 

Prentice A, Ruiz I, Weeda ER. Saddle pulmonary embolism and in-hospital mortality in patients with cancer. Int J Clin Oncol. 2019; [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1007/s10147-019-01406-0.

Nguyen E, Coleman CI, Kohn CG, Weeda ER. Ranolazine in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic angina: A cost-effectiveness analysis and assessment of health-related quality-of-life. Int J Cardiol. 2018;273:34-38.

Weeda ER, Caranfa JT, Lyman GH, Kuderer NM, Nguyen E, Coleman CI et al. External validation of three risk stratification rules in patients presenting with pulmonary embolism and cancer. Supportive Care Cancer. 2019;27:921-25.

Dr. Jennifer Wisniewski

Articles in referred journals

Blizzard J, Richardson WH, Michels JE, Reeder CE, Schulz RM, Holstege C. Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Regional Poison Center.  Clinical Toxicology 2008;46(5):450-6.

Dr. Chris Wisniewski

Articles in refereed journals

Wisniewski CS, Kostrzewa A, Shenoy P, Hunter ML. There are others like me out there. Pulses. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning Scholarly Blog. October 20, 2018. 

Wisniewski CS. Redevelopment of a journal club assignment at a distance-education college of pharmacy. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2019;11:178-83.

Picone MF, Hayes GL, Wisniewski CS. Use of economic predictions to make formulary decisions. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2019;76:S15-20.

Wisniewski CS, Hortman MB. Comparison of pharmacy students randomized to receive drug information reference education via recording or interactive Moodle lesson. Int J Educ Tech High Educ. 2019;16:8.

Textbooks and Book Chapters

Wisniewski CS, Jones EP, Weeda ER, Pilch NA, Picone MF. Clinical pharmacy education, practice and research. 1st ed. Cambridge, MA: Elsevier; c2019. Chapter 10, Medical literature evaluation and biostatistics; p.143-62.

Invited Presentations

John Bosso

  • New indications for old antimicrobials. American College of Clinical Pharmacy Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, October 2014
  • The Current State of Antibiotic Resistance among Gram-negative Bacteria. 1st International Conference of Clinical Pharmacy in Saudi Arabia, Qassim University, KSA, February 2015
  • Antibiotic Stewardship. 1st International Conference of Clinical Pharmacy in Saudi Arabia, Qassim University, KSA, February 2015.
  • Urban Myths and Legends in Infectious Diseases, 18th Annual Making a Difference in Infectious Diseases Conference, Orlando, FL, May 2015

Scott Bragg

  • Identifying Appropriate Drug Use Among Psychopharmacological Agents; Lecture-Discussion at the South Carolina Psychological Association Annual Conference; Myrtle Beach, SC; April 2015
  • How to Handle DVT and PE in Primary Care, Lecture-Discussion at the Update for the Primary Care Provider; Kiawah Island, SC; pending presentation June 2015
  • Treating Osteoporosis in Primary Care, Lecture-Discussion at the Update for the Primary Care Provider; Kiawah Island, SC; pending presentation June 2015

Kristy Brittain

  • Immunization Update 2015 presented to health care professionals at the Evidence-Based Medicine New Drug Update, North Charleston, SC in May 2015
  • Opportunities in Diabetes Management presented to the SCCP Student Body, March 2015
  • Immunization Update for Pharmacists presented at the SCCP Phi Delta Chi CE Weekend, March 2015

Kathy Chessman

  • Chessman KH, Smith B, Zemel B. Assessment of Growth in the Pediatric Patient with Chronic Disease (moderator). A.S.P.E.N. Webinar, Apr 2015

Jason Haney

  • Evidence-Based Update on the Treatment of Systolic Heart Failure, Evidence-Based Drug Therapy Update, Charleston, SC, May 2014

Stephanie Kirk

  • Safe Prescribing – Elderly. An Update for the Primary Care Provider – Family Medicine Conference, Kiawah Island, SC, June 23, 2015

Jean Nappi

  • Panelist. Case Discussions. Heart Failure Society of America Annual Meeting. September 17, 2014. Las Vegas, NV
  • Improving outcomes for patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes. Pharmacy Learning Network Regional Meeting. September 20, 2014. Dearborn, MI
  • Improving outcomes for patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes. Pharmacy Learning Network Regional Meeting. September 27, 2014. Long Island, NY
  • Improving outcomes for patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes. Pharmacy Learning Network Regional Meeting. October 25, 2014. Tampa, FL
  • Taking Your Medications the Right Way: What Women Need to Know. National Webinar for WomenHeart. January 8, 2015
  • Improving outcomes for patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes. Pharmacy Learning Network Regional Meeting. March 21, 2015. San Mateo, CA
  • Improving outcomes for patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes. Pharmacy Learning Network Regional Meeting. May 16, 2015. Orlando, FL

Kelly Ragucci

  • “Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Focus on the New Guidelines”. MUSC College of Nursing MSN/DNP November Immersion. Charleston, South Carolina November 2014
  • “Starting the Journey: Preparing Your CV and Letter of Intent and Navigating Potential Post-Graduate Programs or Career Options”. SCCP Student Seminar Series. Charleston, South Carolina. November 2009-2014
  • “Synchronous Case Conferences as a Successful Strategy for Establishing Interprofessional Clinical Student Experiences”. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas. July 2014

Jennifer Schnellmann

  • Scientific Writing, College of Charleston, June, July 2015. This is my 10th continual year to offer

James Sterrett

  • (MITI) Motivational Interviewing Program Atlanta Aug 2014

Chris Wisniewski

  • Journal club make-over: New formats for a new generation. Presented at the 2014 ACCP Annual Meeting, Austin, Texas. October 13, 2014. Lecturing to millennials. Presented at the South Carolina College of Pharmacy, Clinical Pharmacy and Outcome Sciences Department Meeting, Charleston, SC. February 5th, 2015

Research Poster Presentations

John Bosso

  • Bosso J - O’Brien KA, Zhang MJ, Mauldin PD, Gomez J, Hurst JM, Boger S, Bosso JA. Impact of restriction on empiric use ciprofloxacin on Escherichia coli urinary isolates non-susceptibility. Proceedings of the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September, 2014, abstract #L-1071.
  • Smith T, Salgado C, Mauldin P, Zhang J, Bosso J. Relationship Between Days in Hospital and Infection with a Multidrug Resistant Gram-negative Pathogen. Proceedings of the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September, 2014, abstract #K-667
  • Bosso JA, Gomez J. Assessment of Year-to-Year Variation in Combination Antibiograms for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) after Ciprofloxacin (CIP) Restriction. Proceedings of IDWeek 2014, abstract: 45893.
  • Timbrook TT, Hurst JM, Bosso JA. Impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program on antimicrobial utilization, bacterial susceptibilities, and financial expenditures at an academic medical center. Proceedings of the 25th European Congress on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, April, 2015, Copenhagen, Denmark, Abstract #EP215.
  • Timbrook T, Maxam M, Bosso J. The effect of negative respiratory viral panel and procalcitonin results on antibiotic discontinuation in respiratory infections. Proceedings of the 18th Annual Making a Difference in Infectious Diseases Conference

Kristy Brittain

  • Albrecht A, Briggs G, Doan S, Dodds J, Rodriguez K, Saavedra K, Tomsic P, Toney M, Watson B, Wood J, Brittain K. A Community Health Fair Survey Addressing Child Care. MUSC Presidential Scholar’s Day, Charleston, SC.
  • Vuthiganon J, Brittain K, Demonbreun KA, Jones SD, Mund AR, Breland HL (2015). The Presidential Scholars Program: An Interprofessional Program to Foster Community Engagement and Interdisciplinary Collaboration. [Poster] Association for Prevention Teaching & Research Annual Meeting. Charleston, SC.
  • Fabel P, Brittain K. Team-based Learning in Self-care Therapeutics via Distance Education. Team-Based Learning Collaborative Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL, March 2015.
  • Kim A, Fu C, Unks M, Brittain K. The student pharmacist’s role in health and wellness: Operation Diabetes and Operation Heart. South Carolina Diabetes Symposium for Health care providers, Charleston, SC, September 2014.

Kathy Chessman

  • Forrester J, Chessman K. Incidence of hyponatremia and hypovolemia in pediatric patients with perforated appendicitis or gastroenteritis receiving standard intravenous maintenance fluids. Southeastern Residency Conference, Athens, GA, April 2015.

Shannon Drayton

  • Linder L, Mabus CM, Nash KF, Mohorn P, Drayton SJ. Use of prescription stimulants among students in Health care training programs: a survey of PharmD candidates. ASHP Mid-year Meeting, Anaheim, CA 2014.

Sandra Garner

  • Hammond DA; Linder MA, Cousins WB, Garner SS, Bookstaver PB. Assessment of mentor involvement with pharmacy students pursuing post-graduate residency training. Presented at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy’s Annual Meeting. Grapevine, TX, July 2014.

Jason Haney

  • Bliven K, Jindracek L, Raho C, Sanford J, Haney J. Development and Validation of a Risk Score to Identify Hospitalized Patients at Risk for Torsade de Pointes and Sudden Cardiac Death. 2014 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Anaheim, CA. Abstract # 2-209.
  • Bliven K, Jindracek L, Raho C, Sanford J, Haney J. Development and Validation of a Risk Score to Identify Hospitalized Patients at Risk for Torsade de Pointes and Sudden Cardiac Death. 2014 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Anaheim, CA. Abstract # 2-209.

Jean Nappi

  • Anderson ER, Tran EM, Boyle KM, New JP, Nappi JM. Evaluation of dabigatran and prasugrel use in hospitalized patients at an academic medical center. University Hospital Consortium meeting. December 1014. Anaheim, CA.

Kelly Ragucci

  • Stuart G, Kern, D, Ragucci K, Fowler T, Hudson S, Patel S, Ruggiero K, Pope C, Zapka J. Virtual Interprofessional Learning. Presented at the 2015 National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD.
  • Maxwell W, Grant A, Worrall C, Davis R, Ziegler B, Fabel P, Brittain K, Ragucci KR, Bookstaver B, Hall P, Rowen R. Utilization of the Birkman Method Assessment by Students and Faculty in a Multi-Campus College of Pharmacy. Presented at the 2015 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting, Washington DC.
  • Dunn BL, Michels JE, DeRienzo CA, Bookstaver PB, Ragucci KR. Building Community Collaborations: A Focus on an Innovative Senior Medication Safety Program in South Carolina. Presented at the 2014 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual

Chris Wisniewski

  • Wisniewski CS. Impact of a minimalistic approach to didactic PowerPoint presentations performed in a drug information course. To be presented at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy 2015 Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. July 11, 2015