Get to know: NEOMED
We probably all know someone like this: You say good morning when you pass in the hall, you chat while waiting for your coffee order and you see them at University events and programs. But you don’t really know who they are or what they do at NEOMED.
We’re here to help with the new feature, “Get to know NEOMED”! Each week we’ll share brief profiles of some new faces and some long-time staff.
This week we feature Dr. Altaf Darvesh, Caitlyn Squibbs and Lucky Tisch.
Altaf Darvesh, M.Pharm., Ph.D.
What is your role here at NEOMED?
I interviewed for a faculty position on a cold, snowy day in February 2007, and NEOUCOM was kind and trusting enough to give me a job! As I approach two decades of service, I am an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the College of Pharmacy. I also hold faculty appointments in psychiatry (College of Medicine), specialty dentistry (Bitonte College of Dentistry) and the College of Graduate Studies.
What do you enjoy most about your work
There is nothing more rewarding than sparking curiosity in our students and watching them grow!
I LOVE TO TEACH!
I LOVE TO TEACH!
I LOVE TO TEACH!
What is a fun fact about yourself?
Ever since high school, I have been fascinated by history—specifically ancient Indian history—and seriously considered becoming a historian. As fate would have it, I went to pharmacy school instead, and the rest is history! I still pursue history in my spare time; the more I read, the more I realize how much there is left to discover. 😊
Caitlyn Squibbs
What is your role here at NEOMED?
My official role is veterinary technician [in the Comparative Medicine Unit] but I do a little bit of everything from animal husbandry to surgery assisting to ordering to training.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I have absolutely fallen in love with training people. I train vet tech students that come here for labs and I have gotten into helping train some PI technicians to help them better their handling skills. Being able to see the excitement on people's faces when they finally are able to figure out how to do something really brings me joy.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
A fun fact about myself is I would love to travel to Madagascar. A very very hopeful retirement goal!
Lucky Tisch
What is your role here at NEOMED?
I am the director of communications and development for the Best Practices in Schizophrenia Treatment (BeST) Center in the Department of Psychiatry. We have three Coordinating Centers of Excellence in the department, and although my position is under the BeST Center, I collaborate between all three to promote the work we do in the field of mental health, more specifically serious mental illness. Expanding access to evidence-based mental health training across the state ensures that clinicians and others in intersecting fields are equipped with skills to support people living with mental illness. My primary responsibilities include developing and designing marketing content to promote our programs; building strategic partner communications; outreach to potential program partners through conferences, networking opportunities and other engagement activities; identification and development of funding opportunities and proposals; and supporting reporting requirements for funders.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The mission of helping individuals living with serious mental illness through education and by improving the systems that interact with them is really important work. It is fulfilling to see the impact that we make in all of our coordinating centers while also recognizing that there is still much more to be done. The constant opportunities to learn and the variety of responsibilities make every day unique and rewarding. Most importantly, I have the privilege of working alongside exceptional people. When you are surrounded by colleagues who genuinely care about the mission and enjoy what they do, it reinforces your purpose and makes the work even more impactful.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
This is my second time working here! I worked in the library in my senior year of high school when it was NEOUCOM. It is really cool to see the growth and change in the landscape from then until now.