Class Notes: Spring 2024

Drew Dretske (PharmD ’20, MS ’22) has acceppted a new role as director of specialty pharmacy at Mercyhealth in Janesville, Wis. He and his wife, Heather, are excited to move back to Wisconsin from Texas to be closer to family and friends.

Jerame Hill (MS ’16) has been promoted to managing partner at Visante.

Tristan O’Driscoll (BS ’07, PharmD ’13) started a new position as the antimicrobial stewardship coordinator for Froedtert Health.

Joe Cesarz (PharmD ’10, MS ’12) has been promoted to managing partner at Visante.

Tyler Liebenstein (PharmD ’11) has been promoted to pharmacy supervisor-medication safety at the Madison VA.

Phil Brummond (MS ’09) has been promoted to president of Visante.

Kate Rotzenberg (PharmD ’07) has been promoted to associate teaching professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy.

Steve Rough (BS ’91, MS ’94) has been promoted to chief executive officer at Visante.

John Davis (BS ’90) has been promoted to senior vice president, head of preclinical development at Dyne Therapeutics in Waltham, Mass.

Katherine DeSanctis (MS ’19) was named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of Hospital and Health System Chief Pharmacy Officers to Know for 2024.

Eric Huckins (PharmD ’14) was named to the Pharmacy Podcast Network’s 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy list for 2023.

Ben Heiser (PharmD ’11) was named to the Pharmacy Podcast Network’s 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy list for 2023.

Sharon Faust (BS ’07, PharmD ’11) was named to the Pharmacy Podcast Network’s 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy list for 2023.

Jordan Dow (PharmD ’08, MS ’10) was named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of Hospital and Health System Chief Pharmacy Officers to Know for 2024.

Jack Temple (MS ’06) was named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of Hospital and Health System Chief Pharmacy Officers to Know for 2024.

Jennifer Tryon (MS ’06) was named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of Hospital and Health System Chief Pharmacy Officers to Know for 2024.

Dave Hager (PharmD ’05) was honored with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin’s 2024 Good Government Award.

Wayne Bohenek (MS ’91) was named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of Hospital and Health System Chief Pharmacy Officers to Know for 2024.

Stanley Kent (MS ’80) was named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of Hospital and Health System Chief Pharmacy Officers to Know for 2024.

Gregory Sitter (PharmD ’12) is the director of pharmacy for International SOS. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing operations of a camp for Afghan refugees in Qatar, his second such project. Last year, he also accomplished a lifelong goal of setting foot on all seven continents when he visited Antarctica.

Eric Walters (BS ’74): “I’ve been a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Rosalind Franklin University since we started our College of Pharmacy in 2010 (prior to that, I taught in our medical school). Recently I created a free web-based resource to help pharmacy students learn the functional groups in drug molecules: medchem.info. It covers the top 300 drugs (excluding biologics!), 115 different functional groups, and includes data such as log P, pKa values, and chirality. It’s searchable by brand name, generic name, and functional group. There are blogs describing the most common functional groups. And there is a self-quiz function, so you can see how you’re doing.”

Patrick Moriarty (BS ’77) passed away in December 2023. He practiced pharmacy in Ashland, Fond du Lac, West Bend, Manitowoc, Beloit, and Janesville, Wis., as well as Austin, Minn., for 42 years before his retirement. Once retired, he enjoyed traveling to the American West and to Ireland, and visits with his children and grandchildren.

Michael Dobkoski (BS ’73) passed away in January 2024. He spent his career at Krider Drug Store, CVS, and the Oneida Community Health Center, receiving many awards for his outstanding service. He was a longtime member of the Phi Delta Chi Pharmacy Fraternity and the Brown County Pharmacy Association. Outside of work, he was a devoted father and grandfather and Wisconsin sports fan.

James Gasperetti (BS ’69) passed away in January 2024. He spent several years working in Walgreens, Sentry, and Pick ‘n Save pharmacies, and was an active volunteer through the New Berlin Prospect Lions Club and Greater Milwaukee Pharmacy Association.

Kirby Krueger (BS ’65) passed away in January 2024. His 53-year career included a decade as an Air Force captain, serving as pharmacist-in-charge on Air Force bases in Spain, Colorado, Alaska, and Montana. He also owned the Med Shop in Hammond, Wis., before moving to Ashland, Wis., where he helped establish a new pharmact in Walmart. He enjoyed time with his family, blackberry picking, and playing golf.

Margaret Pok (nee Smith) (BS ’57) passed away in February 2024. Her first job after graduating from the School of Pharmacy was at Rennebohm Drugs in Madison, Wis. She soon moved near West Bend, where she worked at the West Bend Pharmacy and Central/Engeldahl Drugs, before becoming a traveling pharamcist across southeastern Wisconsin. The final 10 years of her career were spent at Cedar Lake Pharmacy. She enjoyed gardening, visiting lighthouses, and boating on Lake Michigan.

John Rice (BS ’54) passed away in January 2024. After pharmacy school, he served in the Air Force in New Jersey before returning to Wisconsin to start his pharmacy career. He became the owner of Rice Rexall Pharmacy in Marshfield, Wis., which became Rice-Rust Pharmacy for the next 25 years. After his retirement, he and his wife, Lulabel, moved to their cabin in Minocqua to enjoy the peace of the Northwoods.