Building and growing the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences is a team effort.
The UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences was founded in 2020. Jan Hirsch was appointed as the Founding Dean and assembled the Dean’s Leadership Council to advise her and guide the advancement of the school.
Specifically, the group focuses on providing counsel to the Dean and school leadership on strategic direction, alumni engagement, development, community relations, faculty support, and student recognition; functioning as a liaison between the school and the greater community for the purpose of promoting understanding, cooperation, and values; supporting fundraising efforts; and acting as an advocate for the school.
Consisting of notable alumni, industry leaders, and other community members, the Dean’s Leadership Council serves as an advisory board to Dean Hirsch, offering guidance on various issues and serving as ambassadors of the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Currently, the group includes:
- Monica Alfaro Welling, Co-founder and Managing Director; Atheln, Inc.
- Rebecca Cupp, Vice President; National Pharmacy Controls
- Matt Dickason, Chief Operating Officer; ImmunogenX Inc.
- Steve Gray,Consultant & Faculty Member, Pharmacy Law and Ethics; University of California, San Diego
- Diana Hendel, Senior Partner; Partnership Advantage
- Ali Javadian, Director of Outsourcing; Pfizer Bio-Therapeutics & Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Assad Kazeminy, Chairman; AJK Biopharmaceutical, LLC
- Jonathan Kowalski, Executive Vice President and Head of HEOR; Lumanity
- Linh Lee, Division Health & Wellness Leader; Ralphs Grocery Company
- Anthony Morreale, Associate Chief Consultant; Department of Veterans Affairs Pharmacy Benefits Management
- Quan Nguyen, Partner; Nguyen Tarbet, LLC
- Dave Tang, Vice President; Global Medical Operations at AbbVie (retired)
- Jeff Yuen, Founder, Principal, President, and CEO; Jeff Yuen & Associates
“As an undergraduate alumna of UCI, the chance to give back was an opportunity I could not decline. I have known Dean Hirsch for many years, and to be a part of a distinguished group of leaders is truly an honor. I am genuinely excited to be a part of the Dean’s Leadership Council and hope my involvement will contribute to the success of the school,” said Linh Lee. “My vision is for the school to prepare future pharmacy leaders who can act as change agents working with an interprofessional team of healthcare providers. I would like to see the school continue to drive academic excellence and to be at the forefront of research and innovation in the pharmacy industry.”
Jeff Yuen described the responsibilities of the Dean’s Leadership Council as “assisting and providing guidance and direction to Dean Hirsch and supporting her initiatives, helping to provide a well-rounded education and experience to students and to let them know there are options for careers, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of students.”
The establishment of the Dean’s Leadership Council further connects the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences to the top pharmacy professionals and research minds in Orange County and throughout the industry.
Matt Dickason shared that he hopes “to be a source of industry knowledge and experience related to biopharmaceutical drug development and be a biopharmaceutical industry ‘connection’ for Dean Hirsch as she manages the maturation and growth of the school.”
Similarly, Ali Javadian views his position on the Dean’s Leadership Council as an opportunity to apply his knowledge and career experience in a way that will impact the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists: “As I have a strong understanding of how educational programs and the training of students can affect science and the quality of products, I plan to spend my time collaborating with other members of the Dean’s Leadership Council to provide constructive feedback to Dean Hirsch.”
As the Founding Chair of the Dean’s Leadership Council, Anthony Morreale had a unique set of responsibilities and goals. He held the position until January 2024, when Jonathan Kowalski was appointed as Chair. Morreale continues to serve the Dean’s Leadership Council as a non-officer member.
“My goal has been to organize the council, get infrastructure in place, assist with selecting members and officers, get the foundational documents (bylaws) approved, and establish criteria for filling gaps in new council member seats,” he said. He also shared that he established the philanthropy committee and organized the first Dean’s Leadership Council retreat in October 2022.
As a new school, the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences has a lot of room to grow, with several important milestones in reach. Each person on the Dean’s Leadership Council brings their own perspective to the group and has a unique vision for the future of the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. They are all committed to helping the school achieve both short- and long-term goals and become a top destination for education and research in the pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences space.
Dave Tang shared, “I want to contribute to the future growth of the school as it evolves to meet the future healthcare needs of Californians (and beyond). I would like to see the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences be recognized as a top school and also seen as a national leader in driving health equity.”
If you are interested in contributing to the efforts of UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, please contact Sonia Batra at sbatra1@hs.uci.edu. Through avenues such as sponsoring events, becoming a pharmacy preceptor for student experiences, supporting scientific research, and participating in our Anteaters in Pharmacy alumni chapter, there are an array of opportunities to partner with us! For more information, visit pharmsci.uci.edu/partner-with-us/.
