FAMU CoPPS, IPH welcomes Olympia Pharmaceuticals

Both the company’s founder (Stan Loomis) and current CEO Mark Mikhael are FAMU CoPPS, IPH alumni.

Tallahassee, Crestview FL – FAMU CoPPS, IPH Pharmacy Law Course learners recently received special guests to their lecture hall. FAMU CoPPS, IPH alumni, Robert “Stan” Loomis (BS, Pharmacy) and Mark Mikhael, PharmD (1999, FAMU CoPPS, IPH)—who due to family emergency, Dr. Mark Mikhael, was unable to attend, but was still acknowledged by the Interim Dean), along with Jeff Mesaros, PharmD, JD, President of The Mesaros Group, LLC and President, National Associations of Boards of Pharmacy, spoke to the 60 P3 learners enrolled in PHA 5320C “Pharmacy Law and Health Care Ethics” taught by FAMU CoPPS, IPH’s Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Ryan Johnson, PharmD, BCPS, CPh.

According to Dr. Johnson, the Impact for Learners is invaluable in that those enrolled in this College are here to become excellent and competent pharmacists. These guest speakers help enhance their overall didactic pharmacy practice experience. Learners’ expectations of a science-based PharmD curriculum are met for their P1, P2, and P3 years. However, during their P3 year, learners are required to pass Pharmacy Law & Healthcare Ethics 1 (PHA5230C) and Pharmacy Law & Healthcare Ethics 2 (PHA5234C).

This course series is challenging to learners as they are required to learn, understand, and apply the language of law, regulations, and compliance to the practice of pharmacy. Learners are sometimes bewildered to learn that there is a huge difference between simple words, e.g., when saying a pharmacist “SHALL vs. MAY vs. MUST” counsel a patient…, those are completely different instructions based upon seemingly similar words. This course content can be challenging and disengaging, especially since most of our learners don’t enter the PharmD program with a Juris Doctorate or the expectation to critically evaluate language/wording of regulations. However, this is not an insurmountable barrier.

“Our learners are often aware of community pharmacy opportunities. All colleges of pharmacy frequently push learners to pursue residency training. However, there are many paths that exist if the learners are willing to engage-advocate-understand the opportunities their license affords them. Allowing the learners to directly engage with Stan Loomis, Mark Mikhael and Jeff Mesaros reinforces the following message: ‘Although the mastery of pharmacy practice laws/regulations and compliance may not be glamorous, it can empower one to navigate a realm of pharmacy that many find too confusing, challenging or abstract.’ This can lead to great success and happiness, during a time when many pharmacy professions are experiencing burnout and stagnation,” Dr. Johnson commented.

“Stan Loomis and Mark Mikhael are extremely successful pharmacists, but even better persons. They have excelled at navigating the regulatory challenges and compliance of pharmacy practice and have set an example for all of our learners. Their success and wisdom serve as a source of inspiration, encouraging our learners to dream big and confidently pursue their own paths. The FAMU CoPPS, IPH takes great pride in counting them among its distinguished alumni. FAMU is fortunate to have Stan and Mark as two great examples of alumni that have embraced the understanding of pharmacy regulation and practice. It is my hope that Stan and Mark will inspire our learners to *WANT* to master the practice of pharmacy, wherever they are located,” Dr. Johnson concluded.

About Olympia Pharmaceuticals: www.olympiapharmacy.com is a 503B outsourcing facility (primary and major function) and 503A compounding pharmacy headquartered in Orlando, FL. As Dr. Mark Mikhael was unable to make the trip, Dr. Jeff Mesaros, President of The Mesaros Group spoke with the learners; he also accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Mikhael. Olympia Pharmaceuticals further employs many FAMU CoPPS, IPH graduates and accepts the College’s fourth year APPE learners at their facility for rotations. Olympia Pharmaceuticals is the nation’s leading outsourcing facility and is licensed in all 50 states, of which Loomis’ wife/pharmacist Naomi is instrumental in them gaining licensure in all 50 states. (which is quite a massive accomplishment).

L-R: Drs. Ryan Johnson, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Marlon Honeywell, Executive Associate Dean and Professor | FAMU CoPPS, IPH; Dr. Jeff Mesaros (President, The Mesaros Group, LLC), Olympia Pharmaceuticals Founder Stan Loomis and wife/pharmacist Naomi Loomis, Drs. Seth Y. Ablordeppey, Interim Dean and Professor, Biomed Sciences, and Patty Ghazvini, Division Director and Professor of Pharmacy Practice | FAMU CoPPS, IPH.

Courtesy Dekywan Debose