Hunter Daws and Kate Gabrielle Gallinero, both 2024 Doctor of Pharmacy 2024 candidates from Drake University, have been named Vanadro Fellows, in addition to doctoral candidate and MBA student Viet H. Nguyen (University of Missouri-Kansas City). The Vanadro-Drake University Drug Development two-year fellowship, unique to the Midwest, provides pharmacy graduates the opportunity to gain a solid foundation and competitive edge within the industry through intensive training in various aspects of new drug development.
The drug development fellows work with several industry partners to provide groundbreaking patient care to patients globally. The fellowship provides interactions with pharmaceutical companies, the Food and Drug Administration, and research laboratories, along with didactic training in various aspects of research. Additionally, the fellows gain teaching experience in Drake’s Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Founded in 2018, Vanadro Drug Development Consulting is comprised of a group of clinical pharmacists who specialize in the development of drugs, particularly those related to immuno-oncology. Vanadro is dedicated to their client’s success. As such, Vanadro employees and fellows work diligently to provide insight on study design, regulatory guidance, and new research. Previous Drake Vanadro fellows include Valentin Vandendoren, Ivy Xue, and Amanda Hoerres.
Hunter Daws
Hunter Daws is a Doctor of Pharmacy candidate in his last semester of Drake’s PharmD program. He has been conducting ongoing research on dofetilide dosing strategies at MercyOne Des Moines and West Des Moines Medical Centers. He has presented findings after conducting a semester-long collaborative review of intravenous iron supplementation in restless leg syndrome. Daws has collaborated with MercyOne Clive and West Des Moines, VA Central Iowa, CVS Pharmacy, UnityPoint Clinic, Broadlawns Medical Center, the Swedish American Hospital in Illinois, and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in Wisconsin. In these collaborations, he has worked directly with patients and helped develop patient care strategies while engaging in clinical research.
Daws has participated in the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, coordinating social events for the community and developing strategies to maintain effective remote collaboration during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Daws’ professional interests include pursuing a pharmaceutical career in drug development.
Kate Gabrielle Gallinero
Kate Gabrielle Gallinero is in her last semester of the Drake Doctor of Pharmacy program. She has been recognized for her academic achievements with several honors and awards, including the Walgreens Scholarship and the Carl Jakopec Endowed Scholarship. Gallinero has also taken on several leadership roles both with Drake and the pharmacy profession, participating in the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International and the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity.
She has presented her research “Summary of Biopharmaceutics Classification and Food Effect Studies of Recently Approved Orally Administered New Drug Applications” and “Comprehensive Two Decade Biologic License Application Review on Overall Drug Development: Focus on Antibody Drug Conjugate Development”, while acting as a subject-matter expert, collaborating with highly skilled teams, and demonstrating excellent research, data collection, and analysis skills. Gallinero’s professional experience also includes working with Hy-Vee Pharmacy and MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.
Gallinero is an accomplished student and dedicated to community outreach. She has volunteered with AmeriCorps, Reach Out and Read, the Genesis Youth Foundation, and Meals for the Heartland. She has actively engaged with Iowa youth, nonprofits, low-income communities, and immigrants and refugees. Her work as a volunteer has uplifted Iowa communities, and her passionate work will continue with the Vanadro-Drake Fellowship.
Viet H. Nguyen
Viet H. Nguyen, a Doctor of Pharmacy candidate and Master of Business Administration student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has a strong history of leadership within his community. Nguyen has held leadership roles with the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement, the American Pharmacists Association, the National Community Oncology Dispensing Association, and the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists. Additionally, he has worked with the University of Kansas City Health Systems, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Kansas City, and Spalitto’s Pharmacy.
Nguyen’s recent presentations include “Rexulti for Agitation Associated with Dementia due to Alzheimer’s Disease,” anticipated to be published by the Missouri Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists. Other presentations include “Pharmacy 7100A–Introduction to Pharmacy Practice,” presented at the Kansas City School of Pharmacy; “Targeted Therapy in Ovarian Cancer,” presented at the Advent Health Shawnee Cancer Center; “Medical Management of High Dose Methotrexate,” presented at the North Kansas City Hospital; and “Fidaxomicin vs Vancomycin for Inpatient Clostridioides difficile Infection,” presented at the HCA Centerpoint Medical Center.
His recent projects and research include “Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients,” “Improving Clinical Outcomes for Veterans with Identified Health Inequities Through Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner Comprehensive Care,” and “Identifying Causes for Readmission.” We wish him well at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.