Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

10/27/2026

The 2026-2027 Gaskins Scholars are Sarai Lopez and Perla Mendez!

The Bill Gaskins Pharmacy Scholars Program was created in 2012 to honor the legacy of WSU great and Pullman Regional Hospital’s own Bill Gaskins. A lifelong Inland Northwest native, Bill was a star football player for Washington State Football and was inducted into Washington State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990. After professional football, he returned to Pullman to complete his undergraduate degree from the Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences going on to become Pullman Regional Hospital’s Director of Pharmacy and a longtime clinical faculty member at WSU.

To honor Bill, who passed away in 2020, the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors annually awards exceptional WSU Pharmacy students as Gaskins Scholars. The $2,500 financial award is one of the highest financial honors offered for WSU College of Pharmacy students.

After graduation, both Lopez and Mendez plan to work with rural, Spanish-speaking communities in the Yakima Valley. Sarai is the College of Pharmacy Student Body Vice President and plans to pursue work in ambulatory and rural transportation care. Perla is currently doing rural hospital rotations in Eastern Washington and plans to pursue her a career in diabetes and chronic disease management.

10/21/2026

Some people build successful businesses. Others build something even more lasting: a legacy that inspires an entire profession.

That’s exactly what happened at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, where independent pharmacy owners in Cascadia Pharmacy Group joined together to dedicate a room to Jeff Harrell, CEO of Cascadia Pharmacy Group—a powerful tribute to a WSU Coug pharmacist alumnus whose vision, entrepreneurship, and leadership have helped shape the future of independent pharmacy.

For these pharmacy owners, this was more than a gift. It was a way to say thank you to someone who has helped change the trajectory of their businesses, strengthened independent pharmacies, and ultimately made a difference in the lives of the communities they serve.

Their generosity is a reminder that philanthropy can do more than honor the past. It can help build the future with proceeds going towards pharmacy student scholarships.

Jeff and Cascadia Pharmacy Group, thank you for inspiring others to believe in what community pharmacies can accomplish—and for showing us the power of a legacy that keeps giving.

10/20/2026

Join us next week for a Distinguished Alumni Seminar: The Future of Pharmaceuticals: A Nonlinear Path to Healthcare

Thursday, October 29 biosimilars trailblazer and WSU alumnus Sarfaraz Niazi will discuss his career path and expertise. For more than five decades, he has championed a mission to make life-saving biological medicines more affordable and accessible by advancing biosimilar science, manufacturing, and regulatory pathways while maintaining rigorous standards for quality, safety, and efficacy.

Join us as we welcome biosimilars trailblazer and WSU alumnus Sarfaraz Niazi. An internationally recognized pharmaceutical scientist, entrepreneur, author, and innovator, Niazi has helped shape the global biosimilars industry. For more than five decades, he has championed a mission to make life-savi...

10/19/2026

Could the botanical kratom help unlock new approaches to improve poor sleep due to chronic pain? WSU researchers are investigating.

Chronic pain affects millions of people, and its impact often goes far beyond pain itself. Poor sleep, anxiety and reduced quality of life can create a difficult cycle. And while opioids can help manage pain, they also carry significant risks.

Now, a $7.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is supporting research into kratom, a botanical product that some people use for pain relief and as an alternative to opioids. Although interest in kratom is growing, important questions remain: How does it work? What are its risks? And could it help people with chronic pain sleep better and improve their quality of life?

Led by Professor Mary Paine, faculty member at the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the research brings together experts from WSU’s Colleges of Pharmacy, Medicine and Nursing, the University of Arizona and the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

The team will study kratom in preclinical research, investigate how the body processes it, and evaluate its effects on sleep in people living with chronic lower back pain.

Why should you care? Millions of people are looking for better ways to manage poor sleep due to chronic pain. By examining both the potential benefits and risks of kratom, researchers hope to build the scientific evidence needed to guide future studies and help patients and health care providers make more informed decisions.

The goal isn't to assume kratom is the answer—it's to find out what the science can tell us.

Better evidence. Better-informed decisions. New possibilities for people living with chronic pain.

10/16/2026

We had a great time at our Doctor of Pharmacy Career Fair last week!

Every year our dedicated Doctor of Pharmacy Career Fair brings recruiters to campus to give WSU student pharmacists a chance to chat, network, and learn about the evolving role of pharmacists and all the avenues open to them as future health care providers.

A big thank you to all of our recruiters for joining us to inspire, educate, and hire the next generation of Coug pharmacists! And an extra thank you to QFC for their support of this year's career fair.

10/14/2026

Know someone interested in a future in research? We're hosting two Virtual Open Houses for Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Molecular Medicine!

Join us Friday, October 23 or Saturday, October 24 for learn about the the program including how to apply and a chance to meet faculty, current students, and alumni.

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences > « All Events Virtual Open House for Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Molecular Medicine October 23 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am « Meet our Recruiter at the UC Davis Pre-Health Conference Virtual Open House for Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences...

10/14/2026

A chance meeting in the College Hall pharmacy library launched a lifelong partnership rooted in Cougar pride.

10/13/2026

What began in 2016 as a celebration of the college’s 125 anniversary has grown into a night of celebration and community, the impacts of which are felt year-round. Each year alumni from across the nation come together for the Crimson Gala to honor awardees while raising funds to support students across the college.

https://pharmacy.wsu.edu/2026/10/08/10-years-of-crimson-gala-stands-as-testament-to-cougrx-community/

10/08/2026

Know someone interested in pursing their pharmacy degree?

Our PharmD Preview Days are the perfect opportunity to visit campus and get a behind-the-scenes look at the WSU Doctor of Pharmacy program!

Dates: Monday, October 26 and Friday, February 5*

https://futurecoug.wsu.edu/portal/pharmacy-preview?utm_campaign=Social&utm_source=FB

*RSVP required to attend.