Autumn always brings out the best of campus: the start of a new academic year, fall colors lining the Oval, the Buckeyes and TBDBITL energizing the ’Shoe, and, of course, Homecoming festivities. As dean and a proud alumna of the College of Pharmacy, I cherish this time of year.
The College of Pharmacy is a place where experts from different disciplines come together to address society’s most pressing health challenges, and where ambitious, curious students pursue unique degree and career paths. Anything is possible when a college is filled with such outstanding innovators across our field.
This issue of The Script highlights two students who discovered a passion for research, much as I did during my time here. After earning his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in May, Jin Gyu Kim, PharmD ’26, returned to the Riffe Building to continue his rare dual PhD-PharmD journey, combining clinical care and patient-centered research to improve outcomes. Summer Powell, BSPS ’26, found her calling as an undergrad in the Peterson Lab, where she spent two years studying cancer and supporting early-stage drug discovery. She carried that discipline and passion into our PhD program this semester.
Their stories reflect the cross-professional experiences our students receive and the curriculum that prepares them to become future leaders. Adjunct faculty member and alumna Kimberly Cremers, PharmD, BS Pharm ’92, helped launch the college’s “Introduction to the Pharmaceutical Industry” course, where PharmD students learn from more than 20 pharmaceutical industry professionals while exploring career opportunities they may not have known existed. Meanwhile, PhD students in the lab of Xiaolin Cheng, PhD, are gaining experience with artificial intelligence and computer-aided drug discovery, building essential skills for future research and innovation.
Staying ahead of AI’s evolution and leveraging its potential is critical. I’m excited about Ohio State’s new Buckeye BioLaunch initiative, which will harness the university’s research strength to drive biotech growth in central Ohio, fuel economic development and improve health outcomes. Under my direction and Dr. Cheng’s scientific leadership, Buckeye BioLaunch will support projects across the drug development continuum and help advance AI-driven therapeutics toward commercialization.
These are just a few of the remarkable stories featured in this issue. Together, they showcase the excellence of our faculty, staff, students, residents and alumni. As technology continues to evolve rapidly, we are providing our students and scientists with the knowledge and tools they need to excel in this dynamic field.
Thank you for your continued support of the College of Pharmacy. I hope these stories inspire you as much as they inspire me, and I wish you a wonderful autumn season.
Deanna L. Kroetz, PhD, BS Pharm '85
Dean and Professor, College of Pharmacy
The Ohio State University
