Geriatrics Team
2012
The goals of this team are to improve the care of geriatric patients in the Inland Northwest, to perform meaningful research in the field of geriatrics, and to train and educate pharmacy students and other health care professionals on the special pharmaceutical needs of the geriatric patient.
The core team consists of the following individuals who collaborate with many others from various medical backgrounds:
Core team
- Stephen M. Setter, PharmD, CGP, CDE, FASCP
- Cynthia F. Corbett, Ph.D., R.N.,
- Douglas L. Weeks, Ph.D.
- Brian J. Gates, PharmD
- Joshua J. Neumiller, PharmD
- Erin K. Dobbins, PharmD
- Darren Shimanuki, PharmD
- Gretchen Riker, PharmD
- Additional Collaborators
Current research projects
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Stephen M. Setter,
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Cynthia F. Corbett
Ph.D., R.N.
Dr. Corbett is an Associate Professor at the WSU College of Nursing. She received a bachelor of arts in nursing from Carroll College, a master of nursing from Whitworth College and, in 1997, a Ph.D. in nursing from Loyola University Chicago. She joined the WSU faculty in 1997. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship -- nursing research innovations in health outcomes -- from 2002-2004.
Her research focuses on behavioral and population-based strategies to improve chronic illness management and health outcomes. Dr. Corbett’s current research efforts include community-based interventions for chronic illness prevention and risk reduction, and strategies to improve medication safety for vulnerable populations. She collaborates with multi-disciplinary researchers, clinicians, administrators, and community volunteers to design and implement clinical trials and community-based participatory research.
Dr. Corbett teaches community-based care of adults to graduate students and courses such as theoretical foundations for research and preventing and managing chronic conditions to Ph.D. students. She is extensively involved in advising and mentoring graduate students who are conducting research.
Her service activities include membership on the Providence Health & Services Continuum Advisory Board, the Washington Association of Diabetes Educators 2009 conference planning committee, and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Eastern Washington Affiliate grant review committee. She is also one of 15 international coordinators for the Honor Society of Nursing which has a mission to create a global community of nurses who lead in using knowledge, scholarship, service and learning to improve the health of the world’s people.
Douglas L. Weeks,
Ph.D.
Dr. Weeks holds a PhD from the University of Colorado in research design, statistical analysis, and evaluation methodology.
As Research Professor, one of Dr. Weeks’ primary roles in the Pharmacotherapy Department is to support faculty in the development of their lines of research. To this end, he assists faculty in the design, implementation, and analysis of data from their research projects. Manuscripts from his own research have been published in such journals as Gerontology, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Evaluation and the Health Professions, and Experimental Brain Research. He has secured funding to support research from such agencies as the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Washington Association of Diabetes Educators, and the American Heart Association.
Dr. Weeks' pharmacy research interests center on medication regimen complexity, medication discrepancies in patient care transitions, and the relationship between medication management and health literacy.
Brian J. Gates,
PharmD
Dr. Gates is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacotherapy at WSU College of Pharmacy in Spokane. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy from WSU in 1999. Dr. Gates then completed a one-year residency in geriatrics followed by a two-year fellowship in geriatrics, both of which were through WSU and the Providence Visiting Nurse Association of Spokane (PVNA).
His primary responsibilities include precepting 4th-year pharmacy students at the PVNA, where he serves as the clinical pharmacist, providing instruction for WSU’s Special Populations Course and other didactic courses, and participating in clinical research with the geriatrics team.
Dr. Gates served on the board of the Spokane Pharmacy Association from 2000-2004, including serving as president in 2003. He has been active with the Inland Northwest Multiple Sclerosis Society, serving on its Clinical Advisory Committee since 1999. He is currently the president of the Washington State Chapter of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. He was awarded the Young Pharmacist of the Year from the Washington State Pharmacy Association in 2003.
Dr. Gates’ focus area is medication management, especially as it relates to the homebound and geriatric population.
Contact information:
phone: 509-434-1739
email: brian_gates@wsu.edu
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Joshua J. Neumiller,
PharmD
Joshua J. Neumiller, Pharm.D. is Assistant Professor of Pharmacotherapy, Department of Pharmacotherapy, and a member of the Graduate Faculty, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, in the College of Pharmacy, Washington State University. In addition to being a member of the WSU Geriatrics Team, Dr. Neumiller is a member of the WSU Clinical Trials Research Team. He also precepts students in their final year of pharmacy school at Elder Services, a division of Spokane Mental Health, where he acts as a consultant pharmacist. In addition, he is the primary preceptor for a 6-week clinical research rotation.
Dr. Neumiller received a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, in 2003, and a Doctor of Pharmacy, magna cum laude, in 2005, from Washington State University. He completed a Specialty Residency in Geriatrics in 2007, and a Clinical Research Fellowship with an emphasis in Endocrinology in 2008, both at Washington State University. Dr. Neumiller is a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CGP), and a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (FASCP).
Dr. Neumiller was the recipient of the Achievement Reward for College Scientists from the ARCS Foundation in 2006, the Pharmacist’s Mutual Distinguished Young Pharmacist of the Year Award in 2009, the Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence from the MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, School of Medicine, University of Washington in 2009, and the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education Pharmacy Faculty Fellowship in Geriatrics in 2010.
Dr. Neumiller’s research interests focus on issues involving the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Neumiller’s research, commentaries, and reviews have appeared in numerous journals including: The Journal of Immunology, American Journal of Health-Systems Pharmacy, Current Therapeutic Research, The Diabetes Educator, Clinical Therapeutics, Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs, Annals of Pharmacotherapy, BioDrugs, American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, Southern Medical Journal, Drugs, Pharmacotherapy, and the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs.
Dr. Neumiller serves as Associate Editor for Diabetes Spectrum, published by the American Diabetes Association, and is a member of the Editorial Board of World Journal of Diabetes.
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Darren Shimanuki
PharmD
Dr. Darren Shimanuki is currently a geriatric resident with the WSU College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacotherapy, Elder Services of Spokane, and Providence Visiting Nurse Association (PVNA). Dr. Shimanuki earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the WSU College of Pharmacy in 2011.
As a student pharmacist, Dr. Shimanuki served as the president of the newly-developed American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) student chapter, an executive board member of the Professional Pharmacy Student Organization (PPSO), and was inducted into the Gamma Epsilon chapter of Phi Lambda Sigma (the national pharmacy leadership society). In addition, Dr. Shimanuki was nominated for the Respect, Excellence, and Service in Pharmacy (RESPy) award by the WSU Spokane faculty for his service in immunization clinics during the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009.
The primary responsibilities of Dr. Shimanuki at Elder Services and PVNA include precepting 4th year student pharmacists, performing medication reviews and education for patients, assisting in classroom and laboratory instructional activities for the College of Pharmacy, and developing manuscripts. His areas of interest include neurology, psychiatry, endocrinology, pain management and other chronic conditions affecting older adults.
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Gretchen Riker
PharmD
Dr. Gretchen Riker is a current resident in geriatrics with the Department of Pharmacotherapy at Washington State University (WSU) College of Pharmacy, Providence Visiting Nurses Association (PVNA), and Spokane Elder Services. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Studies in 2010 from Northeastern University and her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2011 from Northeastern University.
As a pharmacy student, Gretchen was active in various extracurricular student organizations, her nearest and dearest being the HUSKYS Clown. HUSKYS (Healthcare Using Silliness to Keep You Smiling) Clown is an organization based on the teachings of Dr. Patch Adams focusing on laughter, joy, and creativity as an integral part of healthcare. As co-founder of this organization, she helped organize clown trips which allowed members to openly interact with patients in various healthcare settings and hopefully bring a smile to their faces.
The primary responsibilities of Dr. Riker at PVNA and Elder Services include precepting fourth year pharmacy students, performing medication reviews, providing consulting services to clinical staff, educating patients and family members, and instructing WSU pharmacy students in the classroom and laboratory setting. Her areas of interest include: medication reconciliation and continuity of care through transitions of care, pharmaceutical consulting, particularly with homebound geriatric patients, and collaboration with staff through education and consultation to optimize medication management for patients.
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Additional Collaborators
Danial E. Baker, PharmD, Director, Drug Information Center, WSU College of Pharmacy
E’lise Balogh, Research Assistant, WSU College of Nursing
R. Keith Campbell, R.Ph., MBA, FASHP, CDE, WSU College of Pharmacy
Jonathan D. Carlson, MD, PhD, Neurosurgeon, Spokane
Eric Coleman, MD, MPH, Professor, University of Colorado Denver
David R. Greeley, MD, Neurologist, Spokane
Matthew E. Layton, MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor Medical Education Program, WSU; Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, UW
Terri L. Levien, PharmD, Clinical Associate Professor, WSU College of Pharmacy
Jamie Mark, ARNP, Neurology, Spokane
David Prabu, PhD, Professor and Associate Dean for Academics, WSU College of Communication
Maureen Schmitter-Edgecombe, PhD, Psychology, WSU
David A. Sclar, PhD, Director of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmacoepidemiology Research Unit, WSU College of Pharmacy
Robert Short, PhD, Biostatistician; Director Eastern Branch of the Washington Institute of Mental Health Research & Training
Travis E. Sonnett, PharmD, Clinical Assistant Professor, WSU College of Pharmacy
John Tarnai, PhD, Director of Social & Economic Sciences Research Center
Katherine Tuttle, MD, Nephrology, Executive Director for Research at Providence Medical Research Center; Clinical Professor Medicine, UWSOM; Professor of Basic Medical Sciences at WSU
John R. White Jr., PA, PharmD, Professor, WSU College of Pharmacy
Carol Wysham, MD, Endocrinology, Spokane
PatientMedicationSchedule |
Current researchprojects--------Current/ pastResidentsand Fellows---------About SpokaneThe Geriatrics Team is based at WSU Spokane, a city surrounded by many lakes and rivers, national forests, ski resorts, and trails. The Spokane River, located in the heart of the city, runs right beside the WSU campus. Bordering the river is the Centennial Trail, which runs for miles and is used by walkers, runners, bicyclers and bladers. |