Our Team

Houston Methodist Team

Dr. Polly Niravath, MD
Lois E, and Carl A. Davis Centennial Associate 
Professor in Cancer Research, Dr. Mary and Ron Nela Cancer Center 
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Academic Institue 
Houston Methodist 

EDUCATION
Weill Cornell Medical College 

CLINICAL INTERESTS
Breast Biopsy
Breast Cancer
Chemotherapy
Pagets Disease 

BOARD CERTIFICATION
• Medical Oncology | University of Southern California, Los Angelos, CA | 2011
• Hematolofy | 2011
• Internal Medicine | 2008

Residency 
Baylor College of Medicine-Houston, TX | 2008

FELLOWSHIP 
Baylor College of Medicine- Houstgon, TX | 2011

AFFLIATED HOSPITALS 
Houston Mewthodist Hospital 

CENTER MEMBERSHIP 
Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center

Texas Southern University Team

Veronica B Ajewole, PharmD, BCOP
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Texas Southern University
3100 Cleburne Street, Nabrit Science Building Rm 123
Houston TX 77004
Tel: 713-313-1217
Email: veronica.ajewole@tsu.edu

Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Oncology
Houston Methodist Hospital
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Oncology
Houston Methodist Academic Institute

EDUCATION
Postgraduate year 2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Postgraduate year 1 Pharmacy Residency, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Doctor of Pharmacy, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX
B.S in Biochemistry, Nigeria

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Oncology and Oral chemotherapy
• Community Engagement
• Health Disparities
• Maternal Child Health

RESEARCH GRANTS
• “Development of predictive model and social determinants-based interventions for aggressive prostate cancer among African American males”. $ 250,000, Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Minority Health, Minority Research Grant Program. October 2020 – September 2022. Role:
• “Center for Biomedical and Minority Health Research (CBMHR)” NIH/NIMHD-Research Centers in Minority Institutions Program (RCMI), U54MD007605, $8,632,113, 2020-2025, Role: Director, Community Engagement Core
• “Medication therapy management and reformulation of capecitabine”, NIH/NIMHD-RCMI, pilot project, U54MD007605, $32,000, 2019-2020, Role: PI, Pilot project $32,000
• “Texas Southern University Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Center” Agency: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, $59,992, April 2019 – March 2020, Role: Program Co-Director
• “Texas Southern University Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Center” Agency: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, $50,000, April 2018 – March 2019, Role: Program Co-Director
• “Oral Chemotherapy Medication Therapy Management to Improve Medication Adherence, Self-Care Abilities, and Quality of Life for Cancer Patients” Agency: Texas Southern University Seed Grant Program, December 2017 – November 2018, Role: Principal Investigator $6,000

SELECTED AWARDS AND HONORS
2020 Adjunct Assistant
2020 Best in clinical category poster presentation, National Pharmaceutical Association
2019 Best in clinical category poster presentation, Houston Methodist Cancer Symposium
2019 Program Mentor, Maternal and Child Health Student Training for Academic Readiness and Success
2019 Travel award, Houston Methodist Cancer Center
2018 Preceptor of the Year Nominee, Texas Southern University
2017 Faculty Seed Grant Award

COURSES
Oncology Practice Experience (6 credit hour)
Pharmacotherapy IIIA: Cardiovascular system disorders (3 credit hour), Team taught course
Pharmacotherapy IIIA: Immune system disorders (4 credit hour), Team taught course
Pharmacotherapy IIA: Endocrine System Disorders (3 credit hour) Team taught course
Pharmacotherapy IA: Nervous (4 credit hour) Team taught course
Pharmacy Practice II (2 credit hour) Team taught course
Integrated Pharmacy Practice lab II (2 credit hour) Course coordinator, Team taught course

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS, PATENTS, BOOK CHAPTERS, INVITED TALKS

Publications
• Ajewole VB, Ngujede AE, Oduguwa E, Dongarwar D, Kaur M, Knight C, Jackson M, Nguyen U, Roshan T, Simpson J, Vouffo I, Olaleye OA, Salihu HM. A Surveillance System for the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J MCH AIDS. 2020;9(3):350-353. doi: 10.21106/ijma.411. Epub 2020 Aug 9.
• Thompson J, Onyenaka C, Oduguwa E, Dongarwar D, Gendra S, Coker V, Kutse S, Blanco M, Nwangwu O, King C, Enamorado E, Bakare O, Ajewole VB, Spooner KK, Salemi JL, Aliyu MH, Salihu HM, Olaleye OA. Trends and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Rates of Pre-eclampsia by HIV Status in the US. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2020 Aug 4;. doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00826-3.
• Dongarwar D, Taylor J, Ajewole V, Anene N, Omoyele O, Ogba C, Oluwatoba A, Giger D, Thuy A, Argueta E, Naik E, Salemi JL, Spooner K, Olaleye O, Salihu HM. Trends in Appendicitis Among Pregnant Women, the Risk for Cardiac Arrest, and Maternal-Fetal Mortality. World J Surg. 2020 Jul 31;. doi: 10.1007/s00268-020-05717-6. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32737556.
• Dongarwar D, Ajewole VB, Oduguwa E, Ngujede A, Harris K, Ofili TU, Olaleye OA, Salihu HM. Role of Social Determinants of Health in Widening Maternal and Child Health Disparities in the Era of Covid-19 Pandemic. Int J MCH AIDS. 2020;9(3):316-319. doi: 10.21106/ijma.398. Epub 2020 Jul 29. PubMed
• Ajewole VB, Cox JE, Swan JT, Chikermane SG, Lamoth B, Iso T, Okolo LO, Ford CL, Schneider AM, Hobaugh EC, Baker KR. Incidence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy within 12 weeks of starting neurotoxic chemotherapy for multiple myeloma or lymphoma: a prospective, single-center, observational study. Support Care Cancer. 2020 Apr;28(4):1901-1912. doi: 10.1007/s00520-019-05006-6. Epub 2019 Jul 29. PubMed PMID: 31359183
• Ajewole VB, Solomon JM, Schneider AM, Heyne KE. Development and implementation of an electrolyte replacement protocol in the outpatient oncology infusion centers of a large academic healthcare system. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2020 Mar 4;:1078155220907671. doi: 10.1177/1078155220907671. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32131681
• Solomon JM, Ajewole VB, Schneider AM, Sharma M, Bernicker EH. Evaluation of the prescribing patterns, adverse effects, and drug interactions of oral chemotherapy agents in an outpatient cancer center. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2019 Oct;25(7):1564-1569. doi: 10.1177/1078155218798150. Epub 2018 Aug 31. PubMed PMID: 30170514.
• Ajewole VB, Edmondson L, Mclean E, Heyne K, Rice L. New Formulation of Bendamustine and Occurrence of Phlebitis: A Report of Two Unique Patient Cases. J Hematol Oncol Pharm. 2019; 9(2):32.
• Qin Q, Ajewole VB, Sheu TG, Donohue R, Singh M. Successful treatment of a stage IIIC small-cell carcinoma of the ovary hypercalcemic subtype using multi-modality therapeutic approach. Ecancermedicalscience. 2018;12:832. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2018.832. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 29910829; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5985749

Posters
• Ajewole VB, Oyinkansola Akindele, Uzoamaka Abajue, Okwuoma Ndulue, Jazzmin J. Marshall, Yhenew T. Mossi. Racial Disparity and Representation in Clinical Trials Leading to the Approval of Oral Chemotherapy from 2017-2019. Houston Methodist Cancer symposium, August 2020
• Ajewole VB, Collins Enwerem, Oyinkansola Akindele, Solomon JM, Schneider AM, Heyne KE. Electrolyte replacement protocol presentation, TSHP Conference, September 2020
• Ajewole VB, Ka Wong, Michell Nguyen, Andre’ Phillips, Zain Malik. Impact of a Pharmacist-led Oral Chemotherapy Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Program in a Large Academic Medical Center. TSHP Conference, September 2020
• Ajewole VB, Tasha Roshan, , Alma Mendoza, Huan Xie, Yuan Chen, Kirk Heyne. Impact of Medication Therapy Management on Capecitabine, an Oral Chemotherapy Agent. Houston Methodist Cancer symposium, August 2020
• Ajewole VB, Adesola Adenote, Aarongeorgeson Fung, Leslie Ibenana. Trends of oral chemotherapy approval by the Food and Drug Administration: A 10-year retrospective review. Houston Methodist Cancer symposium, August 2020
• Ajewole VB, Oyinkansola Akindele, Uzoamaka Abajue, Okwuoma Ndulue, Jazzmin J. Marshall, Yhenew T. Mossi. Racial Disparity and Representation in Clinical Trials Leading to the Approval of Oral Chemotherapy from 2017-2019. Houston Methodist Cancer symposium, August 2020
• Ajewole VB, Tasha Roshan, , Alma Mendoza, Huan Xie, Yuan Chen, Kirk Heyne. Impact of Medication Therapy Management on Capecitabine, an Oral Chemotherapy Agent. Dec 2019. RCMI National symposium.
• Ajewole VB, Collins Enwerem, Oyinkansola Akindele, Solomon JM, Schneider AM, Heyne KE. Electrolyte replacement protocol presentation, ASHP Midyear Clinical meeting. Dec 2019
• Olaleye OA, and Ajewole VB. Pre-Clinical Drug Development and Community Engagement. University of Houston and Baylor College of Medicine Teaming Workshop, UH Student Center South. May 23, 2019.
• Ajewole VB, Tran Mary, Bianca Alexandra. Oral chemotherapy Medication Therapy Management, TSU research week poster presentation, March 2019.
• Onyinye Nwangwu, Jamalena Thompson, Sumaya Gendra, Vidella Coker, Seun Kutse, Mayra Blanco, Collins Onyenaka, Charlee King, Elza Enamorado, Oluwatoyin Bakare, Veronica B Ajewole, Kiara K Spooner, Jason L Salemi, Hamisu M Salihu, and Omonike A Olaleye. The Prevalence of Pre-eclampsia in Hospital Pregnancy Discharges: Racial Disparities and Maternal HIV Status. MCH Group 1, TSU Research Week, March, 2019.
• Ajewole VB, Collins Enwerem, Oyinkansola Akindele, Solomon JM, Schneider AM, Heyne KE. Electrolyte replacement protocol presentation, Houston Methodist Cancer symposium, August 2019.
• Ajewole VB, Collins Enwerem, Oyinkansola Akindele, Solomon JM, Schneider AM, Heyne KE. Implementation of electrolyte replacement protocol in a large academic institution: ASHP conference Dec 2019.
• Ajewole VB, Solomon JM, Schneider AM, Heyne KE. Implementation of electrolyte replacement protocol in a large academic institution: HOPA conference March 2018
• Ajewole VB, Tran Mary, Bianca Alexandra. Oral chemotherapy medication therapy management to improve medication adherence among cancer patients in an academic medical Center: Houston Methodist Cancer Symposium, August 2018
• Ajewole VB, Tran Mary, Bianca Alexandra. Oral chemotherapy medication therapy management to improve medication adherence among cancer patients in an academic medical Centre: Dec 2018. ASHP Midyear clinical conference
• Ajewole VB, Cox JE, Swan JT, Chikermane SG, Lamoth B, Iso T, Okolo LO, Ford CL, Schneider AM, Hobaugh EC, Baker KR. Characterization of Chemotherapy- Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Prospective Pilot Study; 5th Annual Houston Methodist Cancer Symposium, August 2017
• Solomon JM, Ajewole VB, Schneider AM, Sharma M, Bernicker EH. Assessment of the prescribing patterns, adverse effects, and drug interactions of oral chemotherapy agents; ASHP Clinical conference December 2017 ASHP Clinical conference
• Solomon JM, Ajewole VB, Schneider AM, Sharma M, Bernicker EH. Assessment of the prescribing patterns, adverse effects, and drug interactions of oral chemotherapy agents; Vizient Clinical conference December 2017 Vizient Clinical conference
• Olaleye OA, Isichei AC, Ajewole V, Bhat S. and Liu JO. The Discovery and Development of New Chemotherapeutic Agents for Hospital Acquired Infections. Stanford Medicine X, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, September 2017.

Invited Talks
• Ajewole VB. “Pre-Clinical Drug Characterization and Formulation Development” 2nd Annual ADME: Lead Characterization and Optimization Conference, Oct. 22 2020
• Ajewole VB. Electrolyte replacement protocol presentation, NCODA Annual conference, Orlando, Florida. October 2019
• Ajewole VB. (Goals + Hard work)Mentors = Great Impact, RCMI annual conference, Texas Southern University research week March 2019
• Ajewole VB. Clinical pearl of drug interaction in oncology. Fall 2017 Pharmacy preceptor conference Texas Southern University. Continuing Education by Accredited Council for Pharmacy Education.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND MEMBERSHIPS
• Breast Cancer Awareness Education sessions at Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations
• Colon Cancer Awareness Education sessions at Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations
• Prostate Cancer Awareness Education sessions at Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations
• Peer Reviewer: The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, Journal of Pharmacy Technology and Patient Education and Counselling
• Clinical rotation Preceptor, PGY2 Oncology residency program, Houston Methodist Hospital
• Minor and Major Project Preceptor, PGY2 Oncology residency program and PGY1 Pharmacy residency program, Houston Methodist Hospital
• Continuous Education preceptor, PGY2 Oncology residency program and PGY1 Pharmacy residency program, Houston Methodist Hospital

 

 

Program Manager, Breast Cancer Screening & Prevention Center

Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy & Health Science | 3100 Cleburne, Nabrit Science Bldg. Room 139B|Houston TX 77004

(713)-313-4424| xiomara.ardon@tsu.edu

Education | Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Master of Public Health-MPH