Pharmacy leaders come to the aid of UH Hilo College of Pharmacy

The College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is meeting with the Pharmacists Advisory Council for Development this week. The group, which meets quarterly, meets on February 26 and is assembled from pharmacy professionals in Hawaiʻi in order to help guide the new pharmacy college through the steps to graduating its inaugural class in 2011.

Members are Joy Matsuyama, past president, Hawaiʻi Pharmacists Association and pharmacy director, Straub Clinic and Hospital; Kathy Hirano, Eli Lilly & Company; Roy Yamauchi, consultant pharmacist, SynergyRx; Mel Kumasaka, retired pharmacist, Longs Drugs; Ron Okamura, retired pharmacist, Kaiser Permanente; Byron Yoshino, president & CEO, Pharmacare LLC; Todd Inafuku, government affairs, CVS/Caremark; and Brian Fukunaga, director, Health Systems & Alternative Care, AmerisourceBergen.

"These leaders in the field provide us with an invaluable tool as we train future pharmacists to join their ranks," said Dr. John M. Pezzuto, dean of the College of Pharmacy. Hosts for the group include Dr. Ronald Taniguchi, director of community partnerships for CoP and Clinical Education Coordinator Dr. Carolyn Ma, chair of pharmacy practice.

Ortho-McNeil Janssen Pharmaceutical Services is providing funding for the meeting.