1. education
2. alumni and reunions

RxattlerTimes
N EW S LE TTER
NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL DIAMONDBACK PHARMACY ALUMNI COUNCIL
JULY 2014 – MARCH 2015
NDPAC
President’s Message
Happy Spring! Wow, how fast another year has gone by. I’m proud to report
that we, alumni pharmacists, have been productive - from the re-organization of
local chapters to establishing relationships with students. We are so excited
about the commitment and talent that is within the FAMU Rxattler family and
know that the remainder of the 2014-2015 fiscal year (July 1, 2014 – June 30,
2015) will be finished strong.
The mission of the National Diamondback Pharmacy Alumni Council (NDPAC)
is, in summary, to connect, give, and promote. NDPAC is affectionately known
as Diamondback. Diamondback is the alumni organization of the Florida A & M
University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (FAMU COPPS),
developed by us, for us to support the FAMU COPPS and students.
We, the National Executive Committee, challenge each FAMU Rx Alumnus to
rededicate your commitment to your profession of Pharmacy, your beloved
FAMU College of Pharmacy and students, and our Diamondback alumni organization. New initiatives to help assist with achieving Diamondback’s mission/
goals and increase awareness among members regarding Diamondback will be
implemented this year. For example, this year, all financially active members
will be asked to serve on a National Standing Committee. The new categories
for our annual alumni awards encouraging spirit and recent graduate recognition
will also continue to be offered.
Since last publication, we have:
 Facilitated the reorganization of the local South FL and Jacksonville DPAC
chapters (re-organization of the local Orlando DPAC is planned)
 Introduced NDPAC’s National Service Theme, Know Your Medications
 Held the first ever All FAMU Pharmacy Alumni meeting in Orlando, Florida
(September 2014)
 Sponsored a Book Scholarship Opportunity for a FAMU COPPS Student
during the FAMU COPPS Homecoming Coronation
 Participated in FAMU COPPS’s Football Homecoming Tail-gate event
 Provided Christmas Greetings to Financially Active Members
 Supported the FAMU COPPS’ Clinical Symposium soon to be known as
“Pharmacy’s Homecoming”
This year, we are planning:
 Ongoing Membership Drives to increase the number of financial Rx alumni
members
 To increase awareness of NDPAC among FAMU COPPS Students
 To continue fostering regular dialogue between the national leadership of
NDPAC and the leadership of FAMU COPPS
 To actively market to increase alumni pharmacist attendance during our 2015
Annual Convention in Panama City, Panama, June 17-21, 2015
 To continue the newly-designed NDPAC Polo Shirts fundraiser
In addition, we are continuing to grow
connections with Diamondback through
social media on our NDPAC website,
Facebook and LinkedIn page.
So, do you have spirit?
Please get connected to Diamondback.
Pharmacists and Rattlers Forever!
In service,
Michelle
Michelle K. Rutledge (’00 PharmD)
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New Officers
Please join me in congratulating our new local chapter NDPAC officers for 2014-2015
JACKSONVILLE
President, Cassandra Moore ('14 PharmD)
Vice-President, Trianna Watkins ('10 PharmD)
Treasurer, Michelle Birt ('92 BSPharm)
Secretary, Janee Sapp ('07 PharmD)
Chaplain/Parliamentarian, Terrica Wallace ('14 PharmD)
SOUTH FLORIDA
President, Kelli Farnell ('09 PharmD)
Vice-President, Elmer Mosley (’72 BSPharm)
Secretary, Martha Welters (‘77 BSPharm)
Parliamentarian, Andrea Baker (’01 PharmD)
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2014 Annual Convention
In Toronto, Canada Highlights
The 2014 Annual Convention in Toronto, Canada was a great success. Eight hours of continuing education (CE) in the form of interactive seminars were offered and then participants were able to
enjoy some of the sweet sounds of the Toronto Jazz Festival! In
between CE sessions, plenary business sessions were held providing an overview of Diamondback achievements of the past year
and goals for the upcoming year.
In addition, Dean Thompson gave an annual “State of FAMU COPPS” address and election of New National
NDPAC Officers were held. Our new national officers for 2014-2015 were also installed during the Annual
Convention and are listed below:
President – Michelle Rutledge (’00 PharmD)
Immediate Past President – John Scrivens, Jr (’72 BSPharm)
Vice-President – Monica Brady (‘02 PharmD)
Secretary – Hattie Alexander (’74 BSPharm)
Assistant Secretary* – Sharon White (‘78 BSPharm)
Treasurer – Cary Brown (’80 BSPharm)
Parliamentarian – Jaffice Donaldson (’77 BSPharm)
Sergeant at Arms/Chaplain – Michael Bandy (’09 PharmD)
*- Appointed by President
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2013-2014
NDPAC Annual Award winners -Charzetta James (’85 PharmD) of the Jacksonville DPAC won the Alumni Achievement Award.
Tim McCoy (’10 PharmD) of the Tampa DPAC won the new Young Alumni Award.
The Potomac DPAC (Washington, DC area) won the coveted Chapter of the Year Award.
Let’s congratulate them!
If interested in being featured in the alumni spotlight, please email
[email protected].
Diamondback 100 Teleconferences & Meeting in Orlando Highlights
To help increase communication and awareness of activities of Diamondback (especially among FAMU Pharmacists who were not able to attend the Annual Convention), all FAMU Pharmacists were invited to participate in
several teleconferences in July 2014 and a local meeting in Orlando, Florida in September 2014.
This was the first time that a meeting of this nature was held,
and it was received well. Alumni pharmacists representing at
least four decades of graduates from the FAMU COPPS were
in attendance. Highlights of the Diamondback alumni from
the previous year were presented and new initiatives for this
year, such as each financially active member serving on a
National Standing Committee, were introduced.
Door prizes were given away and the main prize was 2 tickets to a FAMU Football home game last season! COPPS
alumni, Sherronti Flowers (’07 PharmD) and Joseph White
(’00 PharmD) were the lucky winners.
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FAMU COPPS Clinical Pharmacy Symposium
Many thanks to the local Tallahassee DPAC chapter and the Liaison to Students National Standing Committee for organizing a NDPAC table during the Clinical Symposium. A new Diamondback 101 Overview
handout was developed and distributed to both FAMU COPPS pharmacy students and alumni. In addition,
our NDPAC President spoke to the FAMU COPPS professional pharmacy students during the Tuesday Forum after the Clinical Symposium. The students had many questions about the pharmacy profession and
were eager for mentoring opportunities. Some students were also interested in volunteering with NDPAC.
Our desire is that The FAMU Clinical Symposium will soon be known as the “Pharmacy Homecoming”. The
FAMU Clinical Symposium and is held during the third weekend of February each year. Particularly graduation classes or pharmacy organization groups celebrating your multiple of five year anniversary (5, 10, 15,
20, etc), we hope to see you on next year.
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Call for NDPAC Awards Nominations
Do you have spirit? The NDPAC campaign, “Who’s Got Spirit?”, is an ongoing Spirit Award for
any FAMU COPPS graduate group which best exemplifies the mission of NDPAC together during
the year (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015). The FAMU COPPS alumni group who has got the "Most
Spirit" will be announced during the 2015 NDPAC Annual Convention in Panama City, Panama.
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COMMITTED IN THEIR SERVICE TO THE PHARMACY PROFESSION, THE COMMUNITY AND/OR THE FAMU
COPPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND DOCUMENTS EFFORTS ON WWW.NATIONALDPAC &/OR THE NDPAC
FACEBOOK OR NDPAC LINKEDIN PAGE.
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NUMBER OF
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A RECIPIENT REPRESENTATIVE OF GROUP MUST BE PRESENT AT THE NDPAC ANNUAL CONVENTION TO
RECEIVE AWARD.
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RECIPIENTS MUST BE GRADUATES OF THE FAMU COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL
SCIENCES (COPPS).
FIRST-TIME NDPAC ACTIVE MEMBERS &/OR NDPAC ANNUAL CONVENTION ATTENDEES
Call for other NDPAC Award Nominations
and NDPAC Officer Nominations
There are other awards that local NDPAC chapters and individual FAMU Pharmacy Alumni can win. All awards are presented at the Annual Convention.
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Chapter of the Year
Pharmacist of the Year
Distinguished Service
Alumni Achievement
Young Alumnus Award
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Deadline for all award applications is
FRIDAY, May 1, 2015
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Parliamentarian
Sergeant-at-Arms/Chaplain
Deadline for all Officer Nominations is
FRIDAY, May 1, 2015
All questions and comments regarding nominations of NDPAC Officers and
Annual Awards can be submitted to Martha Welters,
Chair of the Nomination and Awards National Standing Committees at
[email protected]
or 305-342-3629.
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2015 Annual Convention
There’s still time to request your vacation time off for our 2015 Annual Convention in Panama City, Panama,
Wednesday, June 17, 2014 – Sunday, June 21, 2015! Rooms begin at $159 plus tax at the host hotel, Tyrp by
Wyndham Panama at Albrook Mall. The nearest airport is Tocumen International Airport (PTY) and is 35
minutes away. The convention program and other excursion information will be available soon online at
www.NationalDPAC.com. Family and friends are welcome. And remember, other HBCU Pharmacy grads such
as from Howard, Texas Southern, Hampton, and Xavier have also been invited.
Lastly, there’s an ongoing challenge to have a representative from each graduating pharmacy class present to
provide input on NDPC business and upcoming items that will be voted on.
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NDPAC Membership
So are you ready to join NDPAC and make a difference?
The membership period is between July 1 to June 30 of each year and annual national dues are $75.
Our current membership special is join now and become a financially active member until June 30, 2016!
NDPAC Membership Dues for 2015-2016 are due June 15th, 2015
A membership application is enclosed and can be returned by mail to
NDPAC,
c/o Cary Brown, Attn: Membership,
600 Viana Court,
Winter Spring, FL 32708
Or dues can be paid online at www.NationalDPAC.com
Membership following the first year after graduation is free
Dues for local chapters are determined by individual chapters. Active local NDPAC chapters are located in Atlanta,
GA; Jacksonville, FL; South FL; St. Pete, FL; Tampa, FL; Tallahassee, FL and the Washington, DC area. For more
information on local chapters, please visit the chapter section of www.NationalDPAC.com.
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Are You Interested In Being An
Area Contact Or Starting A New
Local Chapter?
We’re seeking volunteers to serve as ambassadors, particularly
in states/areas with no local NDPAC chapters. The goal is to
help keep FAMU Pharmacists connected to our Rxattler Nation
network in all states and help revitalize current local chapters to
become active.
If interested, please reply with your contact information and
state of interest to [email protected].
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida area(s)
Crestview
Jacksonville
Orlando
St. Petersburg
South FL
Georgia (other than Atl)
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
To start a new local NDPAC chapter, you will need
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at least five FAMU pharmacists,
$200 for annual chapter dues and
$200 for an ad in the Annual Convention Souvenir Booklet paid to the National Council,
and lastly a budget,
meeting minutes
and financial report submitted twice a year to the National Executive Council.
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NDPAC Gear
New Men and Women Polo Styles are now available for purchase. Prices range between $35 - $50 plus shipping
and handling. Please visit http://nationaldpac.com/national_diamondback_pharmacy_alumni_council_gear.html
for more information.
» PURCHASE by downloading the MAIL ORDER FORM
and sending it WITH ALL INFORMATION to
NDPAC: PO Box 13052,
St. Petersburg, FL 33713-3052
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Annual Giving Campaign
A benefit of being a member of Diamondback is giving back to our beloved Alma Mater and investing in the future
of pharmacy: That small but important culture is the essence of our future. Some successes in giving include
providing Lexicomp software programs to P3-4 pharmacy students, supporting student registrations at national and
state professional meetings, and establishing a $100,000 endowment with the FAMU Foundations for the FAMU
College of Pharmacy.
There are many ways to give and support Diamondback. One such method is the Structured Giving Program. Diamondback offers flexible automatic bank deduction or electronic funds transfer (see table below) and one time donations are also welcome.
Monthly Contribution
Yearly Total (Total+Dues)
Contributor's Level
$ 25.00
$ 300.00 or $225 + $75 Dues
Contributor Rattler
$ 41.67+
$ 500.00 + Dues*
Diamondback Rattler
$ 83.34 +
$1,000.00
Bronze Rattler
$ 166.67 +
$2,000.00
Silver Rattler
$ 250.00 +
$3,000.00
Gold Rattler
$ 333.34 +
$4,000.00
Platinum Rattler**
* All contributions of $500.00 or more include a 1 year National Dues waiver.
**Platinum Diamondback Rattler Donors include website profiles on our NDPAC website.
For more information on Individual Giving Campaign
options, please visit the Give to NDPAC section on
www.NationalDPAC.com.
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For The Good Of Diamondback
We recognize events in the lives of our members, joining in celebration or thinking of them in difficult times:
NDPAC
CONGRATULATIONS
To NDPAC Members Who Recently Joined:
Antonio Carrion (’09 PharmD, MPH)
Marlon Honeywell (‘95 BS, ’97 PharmD)
Gervin "Dell" Robertson (‘95 PharmD, MPH)
Sherronti' Flowers (‘07 PharmD)
Nicketris Mandela (‘13 PharmD)
Lekeshia Bush (’00 PharmD)
Anika Clark (’99 PharmD)
Vernon Parker (PhD, MS, ’70 BSPharm)
Kelli Farnell (‘09 PharmD)
Natalie Robertson (’97 PharmD, MPH)
John Seay (’75 BS, ’80 PharmD)
Tonya Martin (’00 PharmD, CGP, MAEd)
Cherie Pimento (’95 PharmD)
Jason Moore (’14 PharmD)
Stephen Okon (’14 PharmD)
Janai Harrell (’14 PharmD)
Brandi Reddick (’03 PharmD)
LaKeidra Capers (’05 PharmD)
Joseph White (’00 PharmD)
Daryl Norwood (’98 PharmD)
Valencia Copeland (’01 PharmD)
There’s a BABY BOOM sweeping through the alumni!
Drs. Tim (c/o ‘10 PharmD) and Phyllings McCoy (c/o ’10 PharmD) welcomed a new baby girl in December 2014.
Dr. Angela Hill (‘92 PharmD) and her husband welcomed a new baby girl in December 2014.
Dr. Jasmine Cutler (c/o ’07 PharmD) and her husband welcomed a new baby boy in September 2014.
Drs. Brandon (‘09 PharmD) and Naomi Donaldson (c/o ’09 PharmD) welcomed a new baby girl in August 2014.
Drs. Nathan (c/o ’06 PharmD) and Ayesha (c/o ’08 PharmD) Philyaw are expecting a little boy in April 2015.
Dr. Priscilla Conyers (c/o ’10 PharmD) and her husband are expecting a little girl in May 2015.
NDPAC Members Who Recently Joined:
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NDPAC
CONGRATULATIONS
Joining in celebration
Mrs. Winifred Pope (c/o ’84 BSPharm) was selected to receive the 2014 “Legendary, Extraordinary Women of God”
award.
Several alumni, including Mrs. Winifred Pope (’84 BSPharm) and Dr. Vondalyn Crawford (’08 PharmD), participated in
the Great American Teach-In in November 2014.
Dr. Claudia Carlton (c/o ’06 PharmD) was promoted to Medical Writing Team Leader at PPD, Inc.
Dr. Tamara Reado (c/o ’04 PharmD) is engaged to be married.
Dr. Tonya Martin (c/o ’00 PharmD, CGP, MAEd) is engaged to be married.
Drs. Moses (’04 PharmD) and Ladina Allen (’05 PharmD) will be celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary in 2015.
Ivan Cephas (’01 PharmD) was recently promoted to Associate Chief, Clinical Pharmacy Services, at the Washington,
DC Veteran Affairs Medical Center.
Drs. Moses Allen (’04 PharmD), Lauren Barnes (c/o ’05 PharmD), and Tamara Reado (c/o ’04 PharmD) will be giving
back by speaking to the professional FAMU Pharmacy Students about careers in Managed Care during Forum on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 11 AM.
General Michael Calhoun (‘76 BSPharm) recently received a second star during a promotion
ceremony from Brig. General to Major General within the Florida National Guard.
NDPAC
THINKING OF
Gwen Washington (’69BSPharm)
NDPAC
IN MEMORY OF
Monroe Mack (’56BSPharm)
Share any occasion, such as Promotions, New Jobs, Birthdays, Anniversaries, New Homes, Baby Showers or condolences
with your local President or email us at [email protected].
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Past/Upcoming Events
National & Local Chapter’s Events
Check NDPAC website for Archived Events
August 2014 –
December 2014 –
Diamondback 101 Teleconferences
Tampa DPAC Christmas Scholarship Social
September 2014 –
All FAMU Pharmacy Alumni meeting in Orlando, FL
October 2014 –
FAMU COPPS Alumni reception at FPA in South FL
Local NDPAC Chapters gave support to individual Pharmacy Students for 2014 ASHP Mid-Year
February 2015 –
FAMU’s Clinical Symposium
FAMU COPPS’s Homecoming Tailgate during FAMU
Football Homecoming
NDPAC co-hosted Friday evening reception at the
Clinical Symposium with the FAMU COPPS
$300 Pharmacy Student Scholarship by NDPAC Winner
selected during Homecoming
February 2015 –
NDPAC at Forum
May 2015 –
NDPAC at FAMU Spring Graduation
June 2015
June 15, 2015 - $75 NDPAC Membership dues are
due for 2015-2016
June 17-21, 2015 – 2014 NDPAC Annual Convention,
Panama City, Panama
June 30, 2015 – Last day of 2014-2015 Membership
Year
July 2015
July 1, 2015 – First day of 2015-2016 Membership Year
» Join now and be eligible for active membership through
June 30, 2016
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Click the FORM to download the NATIONAL DPAC MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Or click HERE to learn about all the BENEFITS to become a DPAC Member
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