PharmD Class of 2021 Scores a 97% Passing Rate on NAPLEX Exam
USC School of Pharmacy students achieved a 97% passing rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) exam from April to October 2021, according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
Op-Ed: Who Are the Winners in the No Surprises Act?
Starting January 1, the No Surprises Act will make surprise out-of-network billing illegal across the U.S. In a MedPage Today op-ed, Erin Trish and Loren Adler of Schaeffer Center explain how the new law will benefit patients, employers, and consumers.
Hesitancy Plays Increasing Role in Vaccine Coverage Disparities Despite Wide Availability
A new USC Schaeffer Center study published in Health Affairs and led by John Romley and colleagues finds that almost 20% of counties in the nation have high levels of both hesitancy and social vulnerability, and continue to be most at risk of failing to achieve high COVID-19 vaccination coverage.
Study Finds More Than 9 Million Excess Life Years Lost During COVID Pandemic
A team from the USC Schaeffer Center undertook a full assessment of the first year of the pandemic’s mortality burden by measuring years of life lost and accounting for quality-of-life differences, factoring in age, sex, race/ethnicity and comorbidities.
Zhang Awarded $2.1 Million NIH Grant
Yong (Tiger) Zhang, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, was awarded a five-year, $2.1 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to reprogram exosomes for biomedical applications.
Erin Trish Appointed Co-Director of USC Schaeffer Center
Erin Trish, assistant professor of pharmaceutical and health economics at the USC School of Pharmacy, has been appointed co-director of the USC Schaeffer Center.
Risk of Opioid Overdose Appears Higher in Older Americans, USC Study Indicates
One in 10 adults were at risk of overdose, with older Americans relying on high doses of opioids more than younger adults, researchers found in a national sample of prescription claims.
When COVID-19 Vaccinations Began, the USC Community Sprang Into Action
The numbers tell the story: Since Pfizer received emergency approval for its COVID-19 vaccine in mid-December, quick efforts by USC have contributed to more than 800,000 people in Los Angeles getting inoculated.
Back-to-Back White Coat Ceremonies Celebrate Two PharmD Classes
The treasured tradition of the annual white coat ceremony—marking the beginning of Doctor of Pharmacy students’ journey to joining the profession—returned to campus with a dual celebration on Wednesday, Aug. 18.
Dang Named Outstanding Healthcare Innovator
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Richard Dang has been honored as Outstanding Health Care Innovator in the 2021 Los Angeles Business Journal Health Care Leadership awards.
Stofko Joins Faculty
John Stofko, MPH, MBA has joined the faculty as associate professor in the department of pharmaceutical and health economics, effective August 16.
USC Research Shows Costco Beats Medicare in Generic Drug Savings Nearly 50% of the Time
Intermediaries negotiate good prices, but lack incentives to pass savings to beneficiaries and taxpayers.
Alachkar Awarded $1.79 Million NIH Grant
Houda Alachkar of the USC School of Pharmacy was awarded a five-year, $1.79 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to fund a study that could lead to advancements in the development of personalized treatments for acute myeloid leukemia
Psychiatric Pharmacists Are Key to Expanding Access to Care, Improving Outcomes
Amid dual mental health and substance use disorder crises, board-certified psychiatric pharmacists can address shortage of behavioral health providers, USC expert writes in Psychiatry Online.
FDA’s Approval of Aducanumab Paves the Way for ‘More Momentous’ Alzheimer’s Breakthroughs
The Food and Drug Administration yanked the fight against Alzheimer’s out of the mire with its approval of the first disease-modifying therapy. Although it’s a modest first step, it paves the way for more momentous breakthroughs.