Anthony Donovan is an incoming first-year pharmacy student. But he has followed the progress of the UNMC Center for Drug Discovery and Lozier Center for Pharmacy Sciences and Education since its earliest days.
Pharmacy building grand opening Aug. 23
What: Grand opening of the UNMC Center for Drug Discovery and Lozier Center for Pharmacy Sciences and Education.
When: Tuesday, Aug. 23, 3 p.m.
Where: Ruth and Bill Scott Student Plaza, on the north side of the new building.
Why: To celebrate, embark upon self-guided tours and enjoy fellowship and snacks.
Who: You! The campus is invited to join donors, dignitaries, UNMC leaders and the College of Pharmacy family.
As a freshman or sophomore in undergrad, “The idea was in the air,” he said.
Then he earned a spot in UNMC’s summer undergraduate research program for
2015. He came to the Omaha campus for a pre-meeting and saw the construction site’s earliest incarnation. As he worked in the lab of Jonathan Vennerstrom, Ph.D., professor of pharmaceutical sciences, he had a full summer to watch the building rise.
Then, this past summer, “I actually helped them move,” when Dr. Vennerstrom and crew started to occupy their new digs.
Donovan is a KHOP product — the Kearney Health Opportunities Program is a cooperative program between the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) and UNMC. He’s prepared for his entry into pharmacy school by having just spent his second summer in Omaha, in part working as an intern in Nebraska Medicine’s outpatient pharmacy.
As the College of Pharmacy began to ease into its new space, Donovan felt himself drawn to the new building. He marveled as he looked around.
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “It’s amazing.”
It is. The common areas have lots of space and light — ideal, soothing conditions for pharmacy students who will find themselves “living” in the building. It contains state-of-the-art auditoriums, next-generation technology, a mock pharmacy, compounding lab, simulation suites. It will be a great place for students to interact with one another, or just study quietly.
To top it off, potentially world-changing research is going on just upstairs.
Donovan was drawn to pharmacy because he had a great teacher in high school and because he loves interacting with people. He excelled at chemistry. Eventually, it seemed a perfect fit.
Now, he’s starting his UNMC pharmacy career just as the UNMC Center for Drug Discovery and Lozier Center for Pharmacy Sciences and Education is opening. It’s another perfect fit.
I am so glad you will be joining the college this year! Congratulations on your new career!
It is an amazing building and state of the art learning environment. Congratulations to the inaugural class of students, you are in for an incredible educational experience.