Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 4/3/2023 9:24:00 AM
Mary Paine, PhD, RPh, Professor, Washington State University, Spokane, WA
What does receiving the 2023 Rawls-Palmer Progress in medicine award mean to you?
This award is extremely meaningful to me on several fronts. First, I was honored even to have been nominated considering the long list of previous distinguished awardees, two of whom include my PhD advisor, Dr. Ken Thummel, and post-doc supervisor, Dr. Paul Watkins. Contributing to their legacies gives me great pride. Second, the exquisitely written nomination letter, led by Dr. Erica Woodahl, was as – if not more – meaningful to me as the award. I had suggested to Erica ten potential co-writers/co-signees, the majority being ASCPT members. She contacted every one of them – each of whom has contributed to my professional and personal journey in unique ways – and all of them obliged. I remain very touched. Third, as a former practicing pharmacist, I truly believe our research has contributed in meaningful ways to pharmacotherapy for patients, the taxpayers who are the ultimate funders of the work. Although we have made great strides, I believe we are still in the early stages regarding how best to study the clinical relevance of our natural product-drug interactions. With the ever-increasing variety and availability of these products, which are often perceived to be safe, evidence-based information about how best to avoid or manage the complex interactions will remain paramount. This award represents a stamp of confirmation.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
Establishing myself as one of a handful of individuals who have devoted their career to the challenging area of natural product-drug interactions. I am particularly proud of the many unique human clinical research studies we have completed. One natural product of increasing interest is the emerging botanical, kratom, which can elicit opioid-like effects if consumed in sufficient quantities. I believe our recent studies involving kratom will pave the way for future studies to determine whether it can be used in beneficial ways. A plethora of drugs is derived from natural products. Could kratom be the next one?
Do you have a favorite tip or trick for clinical practice or research that you want to share with fellow members?
Regarding clinical research studies, be persistent, yet patient, with the review process, which will always include IRB approval and in some cases, an IND or IND waiver and for a subset of those cases, legal approval. Determine the deadlines for the relevant documents and work your way back to develop a realistic timeline. Remind yourself that one major objective of a given study is participant safety. Work with the reviewers by providing them with concise, yet sufficient, information to determine whether the study contains adequate safety measures. I love to quote one of my longstanding clinical research co-investigators, Dr. John White: “Smile and give them what they want.”
What is your favorite society memory?
I have three. I greatly enjoyed working with a fabulous editorial team during my five-year tenure as an associate editor for Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Our face-to-face meetings were particularly memorable, with our last one being held at the new ASCPT headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Scott Waldman, MD, PhD, was an inspiring Editor-in-Chief and Sharon Swan was our glue that held everything together. Speaking of Sharon, another special memory is having a delightful dinner with her while she was in Spokane. We dined at one of my favorite downtown restaurants, which included savoring a glass of wine. Finally, socializing with old friends face-to-face at the Annual Meeting always brings fond memories. I look forward to seeing many of them who I have not seen in three dimensions in the last three years!
When you aren't working, how do you spend your time?
Thanks in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have taken up running. Weather permitting, I try to average at least five miles, three times per week. I have completed two half marathons and plan to complete at least one within the next year. Running is not only physically, but also mentally beneficial. By the time I come back from a run, I have invariably resolved work-related issues and prioritized upcoming tasks, giving me focus and motivation. Other than running, I spend my free time binging on television shows or movies I have recorded (I have yet to succumb to streaming services), hanging out with my family and friends, and trying new recipes.
Dr. Paine has been a member of ASCPT since 2006.
