Vital Vaccinators

Alumni and students from NSU’s College of Pharmacy have played a pivotal role in the release of the COVID-19 vaccinations in South Florida. They are on the frontlines for receiving, storing, reconstituting, and administering the vaccine.

Dorinda Segovia, Pharm.D., M.B.A. (‘92), vice president of pharmacy services at Memorial Healthcare System (MHS,) was one of the first pharmacists to receive the vaccine in South Florida. Segovia also made national news as one of the pharmacists who discovered that each vial of Pfizer vaccine contains seven doses of the vaccine, instead of just five. The additional doses per vial will significantly increase the number of people who can receive the vaccine.

Segovia’s first dose of the vaccine was administered by alumna Jacqueline Di Piazza (’07), the first pharmacist to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in South Florida.

Madeline Camejo, M.S., Pharm.D. (’97) has been featured on the news several times in regards to the arrival and storage of the vaccine in South Florida. Most recently, Camejo, the vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Baptist Health South Florida, appeared on the Today Show and on NBC South Florida Channel 6 News for receiving shipments of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. She invited College of Pharmacy faculty and administration to witness how the vaccine would be dispensed and distributed. Camejo also asked College of Pharmacy students to volunteer to assist with the immunization efforts in South Florida.

Yenia Silva, Pharm.D., M.B.A. (’10), director of operations at Memorial Specialty Pharmacy, was the first pharmacist in South Florida to receive the COVID-19 shipment from Pfizer. Silva, who works at Memorial Healthcare System (MHS) in Broward, assisted in orchestrating the storage of the vaccine and the logistics for massive vaccination efforts for MHS.

NSU College of Pharmacy alumni have also been recognized for their roles in preparing and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to hospital employees and to nursing homes through Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Said one alumna, Stacey Maravent, Pharm.D. (’02), “Each time I hold the vaccine in my hand, I am so amazed that I can contribute to the immunization effort.“

To read more of College of Pharmacy alumni stories, click here.

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“Having these distinguished alumni gave us an inside view on the immunization process for COVID-19. We were able to visit their practice sites to see how they were handling the vaccination programs and learn about proper protocols,” said Michelle Clark, Ph.D., dean of the College of Pharmacy. “It also allowed us to see how our alumni are really shining.”

The alumni are not the only ones shining. One of the core structures of the NSU College of Pharmacy curriculum is that first-year students take a course to receive their immunization certification. They are then able to administer immunizations—like the COVID-19 vaccine—under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. On the first day the COVID-19 vaccine became available in South Florida, two third-year students, Ashley Dabalsa (’22) and Laura Perez-Gutierrez (’22), were involved in preparing the COVID-19 vaccine for administration.

“Today was one of the biggest days of my life,” said Dabalsa. “I was the first person to reconstitute the vial and draw up the first syringes of the COVID-19 vaccine in all of South Florida. Not only was I able to represent this amazing health care system that I work for, but I was able to represent the College of Pharmacy at Nova Southeastern University.”

Clark added, “Our students are invaluable right now.”

Students have been engaged as immunization interns at Walgreens, CVS, and hospitals around the area. Clark is quick to remind students not to spend all of their time working and ensure that they focus on their studies, but she is grateful that the college can provide students with the NSU Edge.

“Even before the pandemic, the field of pharmacy had become very competitive,” said Clark. We give our students the education to allow them to practice at the top of their profession. When our students graduate, we want them to be different from the pharmacists coming from other colleges of pharmacy in South Florida.”

Because there is such a great need for pharmacists to participate in the immunization drive, NSU’s College of Pharmacy has also begun to offer immunization certification for existing pharmacists. In addition, NSU stands ready to become a vaccination site. Clark worked with President Hanbury, Dr. Goar Alvarez (’94), assistant dean of pharmacy services, and university administration to ensure that NSU has the capability to assist in this aspect of fighting the pandemic.

“We really want to show that the College of Pharmacy and NSU is engaged in the community. One way we can help is to participate in the vaccination drive. When the vaccines are here, you are going to see NSU helping to get shots in arms. We have the staff; we have the faculty, and we have the students who are able to do that.”

Until the vaccine is available on campus, Clark is continuing to provide as many opportunities to students as possible. Scholarships are one way to do this, as the support allows students to work less and spend more time being a student, participating in student organizations, showcasing their leadership skills, and building a professional network.

“One of the first things I did when I became dean was to create my own Changing Lives Scholarship. It is named after the initials of my children, and it goes to a pharmacy student who serves the underserved and underrepresented. I believe in giving back to our students and letting them know we are there to support them.

“I want to make sure that when our students leave NSU they are happy alumni. Happy alumni always contribute to the profession and the university. I want NSU alumni to be professionally engaged and support our current students.”

That support will ensure graduates maintain an edge when they enter the workforce and stand on the front lines. Clark added, “Pharmacists are front-line health care workers. They are available to serve the public, and part of this service includes administering vaccines.”

For additional information, or ways to support please contact:

Michael S. Long at Mlong@nova.edu or 954.262.2168.