Jefferson Pharmacy Community Unites for Professional Connections and Honors Day

Students, colleagues and area pharmacists recently gathered to network and celebrate the year’s achievements at the inaugural Jefferson College of Pharmacy Professional Connections and Honors Day.

“Our entire profession relies on communication,” says College of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Anandi Law, urging students at a packed Jefferson Alumni Hall. “Don’t hold back. Go ahead and meet everyone.”

Attendees included representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, external partners, preceptors and colleagues from Thomas Jefferson University Health and Thomas Jefferson University—notably Dean Emerita Dr. Rebecca Finley.

The College of Pharmacy honored its founding dean during a midday ceremony, presenting her with a plaque and announcing the Rebecca S. Finley Endowed Scholarship.

“She took the college from zero to 100 and made us one of the top pharmacy schools in the country,” says Dr. Law, citing strong job placements, high graduation rates, top NAPLEX scores and the number of students who pursue post-graduate advanced training.

Dr. Finley began her role on Jan. 2, 2007—exactly 18 months before the first pharmacy students arrived at Jefferson.

“The single most important thing was hiring faculty and staff, and we were incredibly fortunate to assemble an amazing team quickly,” she says. “They built an effective curriculum, recruited enthusiastic students, established policies and procedures, identified experiential practice sites and secured AACP pre-candidate status. We accomplished everything we needed to do—and more—in that first 18 months.”

Dr. Finley thanked the many students and colleagues she worked with over 17-plus years, including Dr. Mary Hess, who served as interim college dean before Dr. Law joined Jefferson last year.

“It was a delight every day,” Dr. Finley says. “When I left, I had no doubt the College of Pharmacy would continue to thrive. I’m confident its successes will be amplified and opportunities accelerated. I’m so proud to see everything happening here.”

Professional Connections and Honors Day began with student platform presentations focused on research and reflections on recent internships.

Calling it the highlight of her pharmacy career so far, doctor of pharmacy student Rawan Omer Abuelgasim interned at Johns Hopkins Hospital, gaining hands-on experience that strengthened her clinical and professional skills.

“I worked on projects with impacts ranging from individual patient counseling to system-wide initiatives, such as our insulin conversion project,” she says. “My co-interns and I also grew tremendously as leaders, refining our communication, time management and collaboration skills while networking with pharmacists across nearly every specialty imaginable.”

Doctor of pharmacy student Trang “Jackie” Nguyen interned with the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps at the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, home to 1,258 residents.

“Through this program, I developed strong empathy for patients and a deeper awareness of the systemic challenges they face,” she says. “I gained a clearer appreciation for the critical role of healthcare teams and the importance of professional ethics. I’m truly grateful to Jefferson for providing this invaluable opportunity.”

Doctor of pharmacy student Mayra Himel explored triple-negative breast cancer in older adults and how EGFR-targeted therapies may inform treatment decisions. She worked with Jefferson’s Dr. Ashakumary Lakshmikuttyamma on her research.

“This experience strengthened my ability to critically analyze clinical trials, identify gaps in research and translate complex oncology data into clear insights,” she says. “It improved my skills in interpreting literature and applying it to patient‑centered care, which will be important in my future clinical practice, particularly as I work toward a career in oncology pharmacy.”

Two MS in pharmaceutical sciences students—Ty Kennedy and Sakshi Deshpande—also presented their thesis projects.

“Not only have I strengthened my understanding of the chemical structure-activity relationship in drug design, but I’ve also developed a deeper, more applied knowledge of the central nervous system and its pharmacological complexities,” Kennedy says. “Through my current work, I’ve improved my ability to critically analyze molecular interactions, interpret in silico and in vitro data, and troubleshoot challenges that arise during my research.”

Deshpande described her research as “a transformative journey,” highlighting growth in experimental design, data interpretation and critical analysis.

“Beyond technical skills, this experience has enhanced my problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, perseverance and communication skills,” she says. “It has shaped me into a more confident, resilient and curious individual, prepared to contribute meaningfully to research.”

The day also featured student poster presentations and networking, a preceptor development session, a student awards ceremony and a keynote by Dr. Nishaminy Kasbekar, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

In her remarks, she highlighted AI’s impact on the pharmacy field, the need to leverage innovative partnerships, the growth of personalized diagnostics and biologics, pharmacists’ expanding scope of practice and the importance of advocacy.

“We all need to move this profession forward together,” says Dr. Kasbekar, recent past president of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. “I’m asking you to get involved. Your voice matters. Our future is bright.”