June 25, 2024
By Paige Benning
AUBURN, Alabama - From the Harrison College of Pharmacy to northwest Pennsylvania, one Harrison College of Pharmacy student is collaborating with investigators to hone her educational interests. Chloe Benedict, a member of the HCOP Class of 2026 from Alabaster, Alabama, was recently chosen as one of 24 students to participate in the 2024 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) SAS Summer Research Exchange Program.
Ten research mentors from across the country have opened their doors to students, with two mentors coming from Auburn University. Dr. Lindsay Hohmann, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, has three students working on her literature review of over-the-counter naloxone and fentanyl test strips. Dr. Natalie Hohmann, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, is joined by three students to help develop a survey for dementia caregivers and providers on what they are comfortable sharing in an online dementia registry. Benedict is spend 12-weeks assisting Dr. Jagdish Joshi from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Benedict is researching and writing literature reviews related to cognitive and behavioral changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Her primary focus pertains specifically to cannabinoids.
“In general, I will be looking at the effects of cannabinoid on certain lung conditions and reviewing topics related to lung growth and regeneration after a pneumonectomy,” said Benedict.
Cannabinoid refers to any substance that link the cannabinoid receptors of the body and brain, reflecting a similar effect to the use Cannabis Sativa plants. The most common and well-known cannabinoids are THC and CBD.
Joshi, Benedict’s summer mentor, is an assistant professor in pharmacology at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and his research is in areas such as neuropharmacology, nephro-pharmacology, toxicology and pulmonary infectious disease.
During the past year, Benedict assisted in Dr. Angela Calderón’s lab as a literature reviewer, focusing on botanical extracts and their interactions with other drugs and the body.
“Seeing Dr. Calderón and her students work on this topic has shown me that there is a role for botanicals even within pharmacy and how many details there are in the research process,” said Benedict. “I have met some of the nicest people working in her lab, and it has been a great way to make some new connections within HCOP.”
When deciding her summer plans between her second and third years of pharmacy school, research experience was a priority.
“I had always heard of research in pharmacy, but I did not really know what it was about,” said Benedict. “I am always looking for opportunities to grow my knowledge of the pharmacy world, and so I wanted to get involved in research to learn more about this specific field and gain experience for any future training I may do whether my fourth-year rotations or residency program.”
After four years at Auburn University studying for her undergraduate degree, Benedict knew HCOP was the place to continue her pharmacy degree.
“It felt like a very normal transition to move into pharmacy school because I had already established Auburn as my home,” said Benedict, “I also had several family and friend connections in Auburn and knew that HCOP was very welcoming and greatly invested in their student's development as pharmacists.”
While Benedict is still debating different routes for her time post-graduation, residency is one of her top options.
“I am looking forward to my fourth-year rotations where I hope to gain a better idea of what I would like to pursue after school,” said Benedict. “Right now, I hope to be in an area of pharmacy like ambulatory care where I can directly interact with patients and discuss their care.”
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Auburn University's Harrison College of Pharmacy is ranked among the top 20 percent of all colleges of pharmacy in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the College offers doctoral degrees in pharmacy (Pharm.D.) and pharmaceutical sciences (Ph.D.) while also offering a master's in pharmaceutical sciences and a bachelor’s in drug and biopharmaceutical sciences. The College’s commitment to world-class scholarship and interdisciplinary research speaks to Auburn’s overarching Carnegie R1 designation that places Auburn among the top 100 doctoral research universities in the nation. For more information about the College, please call 334.844.8348 or visit http://pharmacy.auburn.edu.