Pharmacy Perspectives - Winter/Spring 2014 - (Page 3)

A LT ER EGOS WINTER/SPRING 2014 Thrill Seeker F rom helicopter skiing in the Rockies to sky diving over the plains, Assistant Professor Phil Reigan, PhD, epitomizes living on the edge. This self-described adrenaline junky got a taste for adventure while in the British Royal Air Force (RAF). Up until recently he was jumping out of airplanes on a regular basis, but he's had to put the brakes on his exploits as his wife recently gave birth to their first child. "Who knows? Parenting might prove to be the ultimate adventure!" says Dr. Reigan. HORSE SENSE ALUMNA AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CONNIE VALDEZ, PHARMD, IS AT HOME IN THE CLASSROOM AND ON THE RANGE. A several concussions while training and breaking horses, she decided to finish school, teach pharmacy and keep the horse riding for pleasure. Nowadays, Valdez gets her "horse fix" once a week when riding her Arabian on the Front Range trails or by visiting one of her Wyoming ranches where she is a co-owner. The Flying X Ranch, located 50 miles from Laramie, is a partnership operation which boasts approximately 24,000 acres, nearly 1,000 head of cattle and more than 100 horses. As Valdez describes, "It's kind of a private dude ranch." Her other ranch -Diamonds in the Ruff - is much smaller, co-owned with a friend and just across the river. Valdez on the range and rodeo circuit cowgirl at heart, Dr. Valdez grew up near Castle Rock where her family raised lamb, horses and sheep. A staple of the rodeo circuit during college and pharmacy school, Valdez' rodeo career peaked while she rode for the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). In addition to rodeo, Valdez worked with race horses and once toyed with becoming a jockey. For Valdez, being fearless and petite was an effective combination. "I was asked to put my education on hold so I could be a jockey. Although I would have loved it, I was not willing to step away from pharmacy school," says Valdez. Having experienced www.ucdenver.edu/pharmacy 3 http://www.ucdenver.edu/pharmacy

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Pharmacy Perspectives - Winter/Spring 2014