1. January 2025

ASPET Congratulates its First IDEA Faculty Scholars

The first cohort of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics’ (ASPET) Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) faculty scholars have been selected. The ASPET IDEA Committee, under the direction of IDEA Committee Chair Ashim Malhotra, PhD, chose 13 ASPET members to participate based on an application process that included a Curriculum Vitae, a statement of interest and a summary of participation goals. The program started in the fall.

The IDEA Faculty Scholars Program, a national, competitive certificate program, includes a community of scholars who participate in a four-part series of online workshops on select topics. The workshops incorporate IDEA elements in syllabi design, instructional design, and classroom and laboratory teaching. The first hour of each workshop is a presentation by an invited expert followed by an hour of breakout sessions where the expert works with the participants on how to incorporate the discussed elements into their ongoing work.

Designed for faculty interested in embedding IDEA principles into their classrooms, the program encourages participants to bring a project with them to the workshop. Projects can include a syllabus they may be developing for a future course or practical challenges they may be facing in the laboratory space. At the conclusion of the program, each participant is asked to turn in a work product that aims to improve IDEA within their instructional context.

ASPET launched the program in response to an urgent need to incorporate the IDEA principles in pharmacology education and training. Faculty, students, professional organizations and job sectors nationwide have seen the benefits that are possible from IDEA-enabled education. However, it can be challenging to design, implement and assess IDEA principles within pharmacology education. Participants who complete the program will be awarded and recognized at the ASPET 2025 Annual Meeting.

Dr. Ashim Malhotra

ASPET appreciates Dr. Malhotra’s leadership, commitment and vision in establishing this program and the IDEA Committee members for their support in launching the program.

Program Workshops

  1. Designing your Course Syllabus using Principles of Psychological Safety and Competency-Based Tools to Promote Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Belonging (IDEAB)
    Gayle A. Brazeau, PhD, Marshall University School of Pharmacy, Editor, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
  2. Universal Design for Learning and the Ability Spectrum: Strategies to Diversify Your Teaching for Neurodiverse Learners and Learners with Differential Abilities
    Ashim Malhotra, PhD, FAPE, Assistant VP and Professor, California Northstate University
  3. Strategies to Augment Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Belonging (IDEAB) Principles in Laboratory Settings
    Michelle A. Clark, PhD, Professor and Dean, Nova Southeastern University Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy
  4. Incorporating Evidence-based IDEAB Principles: The Data and Learning Theories That Support Them
    Jayne S. Reuben, PhD, Texas A&M University College of Dentistry and Monzurul A. Roni, PhD, University of Illinois College of Medicine

First Cohort of the ASPET IDEA Faculty Scholars

Hamid Akbarali, PhD

Hamid Akbarali, PhD

Harvey and Gladys Hagg Professor
School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University

Simone Brixius-Anderko, PhD

Simone Brixius-Anderko, PhD

Assistant Professor (tenure track)
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy

Margarita L. Dubocovich, PhD, FACNP, FASPET

Margarita L. Dubocovich, PhD, FACNP, FASPET

SUNY Distinguished Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo

Wael S. Eldahshan, PhD

Wael S. Eldahshan, PhD

Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) College of Pharmacy

Khalil Eldeeb, MD, MSc, PhD

Khalil Eldeeb, MD, MSc, PhD

Professor of Pharmacology
Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine

Julie Finnell Harris, PhD

Julie Finnell Harris, PhD

Lecturer
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo

Ashley N. Guillory, PhD

Ashley N. Guillory, PhD

Associate Professor of Instruction and Director of Admissions
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Ram Kandasamy, PhD

Ram Kandasamy, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychology
California State University, East Bay

Gurnit Kaur, PhD

Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
University of Toronto

Sai Sudha Koka PhD, RPh

Sai Sudha Koka PhD, RPh

Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University

Erin Morrey, PhD

Erin Morrey, PhD

Professor of Biology
Georgia State University, Perimeter College

Dionna Williams, PhD

Dionna Williams, PhD

Associate Professor
Emory University

Wei Yue, PhD

Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences