The Regimen

With the 2025 Rhode Island legislative session gavelled out, we are back for our annual law update- the Rhode Island Legislative Achievements in Pharmacy, in partnership with Drug Topics!

Keep listening to find out about this record-breaking year for the number of new pharmacy laws passed (six!), hear how two new URI pharmacy grads helped while on their public health rotations, and discover the perspective on these new laws from a national pharmacy policy leader.

Welcome back to The Regimen, with a special bonus episode from now Dr. Madi Hartling, as we discuss music therapy and its intersection with the pharmacy practice. Special thanks to our special guest Sam Shriner for providing her insight and expertise!!

Pharmacists in Silicon Valley? Yeah… it’s a thing.

In this final episode of Beyond the Counter, our special series spotlighting pharmacists in innovative and unexpected roles, we’re going deep into the world of HealthTech. Meet Dr. Joseph Bizier, pharmacist and Head of Clinical Program Design at Verily—yes, that Verily, the Alphabet (Google) company revolutionizing precision health.

Join hosts Dr. Chansonida Uk and Dr. Jef Bratberg as they chat with Dr. Bizier about his journey from pharmacy to tech, what clinical design looks like at a cutting-edge digital health company, and how pharmacists are shaping the future of healthcare through data, design, and digital innovation.

Whether you're a student, a practicing pharmacist, or just curious about the evolving role of healthcare professionals in tech, this episode is for you.

🎧 Let’s go beyond the counter—into Silicon Valley.

🚀 Ever wonder where a pharma fellowship can take you? Dr. Brindley Rospars shares her journey—straight to leadership at J&J.

In this episode of Beyond the Counter, a mini-series from The Regimen, we speak with Dr. Brindley Rospars, Associate Director at Johnson & Johnson. Brindley shares an inside look at her pharmaceutical industry fellowship experience—what it entailed, how she navigated it, and the pivotal role it played in launching her career into leadership. If you're curious about nontraditional pharmacy roles and the power of fellowships, this episode is for you.

Curious about pharmacy fellowships? Whether you're exploring industry roles, deep in the application process, or wondering what a “functional area” even means—this episode is for you.

Host Chansonida Uk (URI PharmD '25) and Dr. Jef Bratberg are joined by Aminah Islam (URI PharmD '25) and Soeun An (URI PharmD '25), two incoming fellows, to unpack the fellowship journey: from applications and mentorship to interviews and building your portfolio. Plus, some rapid-fire Q&A fun to wrap it up.

💡 Learn how pharmacists and students can advance public health through advocacy, education—and maybe a fellowship.

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🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & more!

In this episode of The Regimen, part of our Beyond the Counter series, we sit down with Natalya Salganik, a current PhD student in Health Outcomes at the University of Rhode Island. Natalya shares her journey transitioning from a career in retail pharmacy to the world of research and academia. We dive into the challenges she faced along the way, including personal adversities that ultimately fueled her decision to pursue a PhD. Her story is one of resilience, growth, and redefining what it means to be a pharmacist beyond the counter.

Chansonida and Jef explore roles of pharmacists beyond the counter, one being personal care and cosmetics. Dr. Ethan Melillo shares his career journey, from working as a pharmacy cashier to becoming a social media influencer and now senior manager at L'Oreal, emphasizing the importance of skincare education for pharmacists and addressing medical misinformation. The conversation concluded with a rapid-fire Q&A session and Ethan's future plans, including his continued efforts to educate people about skincare and work with various brands.

In this episode, we dive into an exciting shift happening at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and education. Join us as we chat with pharmacists who are pioneering a health and wellness machine right inside the College of Pharmacy. From promoting preventive care to empowering students with on-demand wellness resources, this innovative initiative is reshaping how future pharmacists think about patient care. Tune in to hear how this small machine is making a big impact—and why it just might be the future of pharmacy.

Guest Speakers: Dr. Katherine Houlihan and Dr. Ginger Lemay

🎙️ Season 17 Trailer – The Regimen Podcast

Welcome to Season 17 of The Regimen!

This season, your hosts Chansonida Uk, PharmD Candidate ’25, and Dr. Jeffrey Bratberg are bringing the energy and diving deep into the bold, the hot topics, and the fascinating world of pharmacy and public health. From navigating the impact of HHS funding cuts to exploring how pharmacists are stepping beyond the counter to take on expanded roles in patient care—this season is packed with timely conversations and expert insights.

Expect fresh perspectives, engaging conversations, and a lineup of special guests from across the pharmacy universe, sharing stories, challenges, and the evolving landscape of healthcare.

Stay tuned—Season 17 is just getting started!

This week we continue our conversation on body-affirming care with Dr. Joe Nardolillo, PharmD, BCACP. Tune in as we discuss common misconceptions and how to provide the best care possible.