Ronald Torry, PhD

Biography

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

As a professor, my goal is to help students become curious, confident and critical thinkers. Teaching is not simply transferring information; it's about sparking understanding in order to apply knowledge in new contexts. I challenge students to integrate concepts in biology, physiology, chemistry and pharmacology to ask questions, test ideas, and figure out how concepts fit together. I try to create a classroom that embraces productive struggle. I tell my students it's okay to be confused so long as they're confused at a higher level by the end of each class. Learning comes from wrestling with uncertainty, and my role is to guide them through that process toward deeper understanding. 

EXPERIENCE

1998 - Present:
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Drake University.
1993 - 1998:
Associate Scientist, Division of Experimental Pathology, Methodist Research Institute, Indianapolis, IN.
1991 - 1993:
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Anatomy Department and The Cardiovascular Center, University of Iowa.

1988 - 1991:
Department of Internal Medicine Research Fellow, Anatomy Department and The Cardiovascular Center, University of Iowa.

HONORS & AWARDS

• Ellis & Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology, 2022 - present
• Drake University, Madelyn M. Levitt Excellence in Teaching Award, 2020
• College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Teacher of the Year 2002 - 03, 2007-08, 2011-12, 2015-16, 2018-2019
• Drake University, Windsor Distinguished Professor of Science, 2006 - present
• Hartig Distinguished Professor Award 2006-07 and 2016-17
• Appointed Expert Evaluator: Medical, Health Sciences, Physiology Panel, Czech Academy of Sciences

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

• 2014-22: Faculty Representative, Board of Trustees, Execution Committee (formerly Buildings and Grounds Committee)
• 2019-21: Faculty Senate
• Chair, Selection Committee, Madeline Levitt Teacher Award

COLLEGE SERVICE

• 2023-26: Pharmacy Experiential Review Council
• 2023-26: Student Affairs Committee

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICE

• Editorial Board, Frontiers in Physiology, Vascular Physiology Section
• Fellow - American Heart Association
• Fellow - American Physiological Society, Cardiovascular Section
• Advisory Board Member - Iowa Physiological Society

STATE / NATIONAL SERVICE

• 2006-11: Editorial Board, American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology
• 2008-09: President, Iowa Physiological Society
• 2009-10: Chair, Physiology Section, Iowa Academy of Sciences
• 2023-26 - Pharmacy Experiential Review Council
• 2023-26 - Student Affairs Committee

Areas of Expertise

Work in my laboratory is focused on the regulation of vascularity in tissues:

1) Expression and function of Placenta Growth Factor (PlGF) in heart tissue. Development of a competent collateral circulation can limit the extent of tissue damage during myocardial ischemia. However, our understanding of the mechanism(s) that control angiogenesis in heart tissue is limited. One attractive hypothesis is that increased expression or bioavailability of endogenous angiogenic growth factors during ischemia may facilitate angiogenesis/vascular remodeling in ischemic tissue. Our research is designed to determine the expression and function of a potent angiogenic protein, PlGF, and its receptors during myocardial ischemia.

2) Role of angiogenic growth factors in abnormal pregnancies. Preeclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Although an understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the disease is not known, one hypothesis is that these placentae suffer from inadequate vascular development. Our research is designed to determine the role a naturally occurring angiogenic protein, placenta growth factor (PlGF), and its receptors have in the stimulation of blood vessel growth and function in the human placenta. Our ongoing studies are designed to determine the molecular regulation of PlGF and its receptor (Flt-1) expression in normal and abnormal placentae.

Courses Taught

• PHAR 132 - Pathophysiology
• MSCP 201 - Physiology + Pathophysiology I
• MSCP 203 - Physiology + Pathophysiology II

Education

• Bachelor of Science, Western Illinois University
• PhD- Physiology, Southern Illinois University

Latest Projects and Publications

Latest Publications:

Nicole Draker, DS Torry, RJ Torry. Placenta Growth Factor and sFlt-1 as Biomarkers in Ischemic Heart Disease and Heart Failer: A Review. Biomarkers in Medicine, Jun;13(9):785-799, 2019.

Munusamy S, *Hester M, Nelson MH, Torry RJ. Impact of Mindfulness Sessions and Weekly Wellness Messages on Pharmacy Students' Perceived Stress and Resilience. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2025:89(4),101385.

Shankar Munusamy, *Madelynn Aeilts, Carrie Koenigsfeld, Ronald Torry. Student Perceptions and the Impact of Mneumonics on Knowledge Retention and Application in Pharmacology Education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2025;89(9):101480.

Latest Projects:

Jamie Rusan, Ronald Torry.  Cardiovascular outcomes of SGLT2 Inhibitors Across Sex or Race in Patients with/out Diabetes and Heart Failure. 2022 American College of Clinical Pharmacy Virtual Poster Symposium, May 24-25, 2022.

Shankar Munusamy, Michael Nelson, Ronald Torry. Impact of Mindfulness Exercises and Weekly Wellness Messages on Pharmacy Students' Perceived Stress and Resilience. 2022 AACP Annual Meeting, Virtual Pharmacy Education, July 19-22, 2022.

Shankar Munusamy, Carrie Koenigsfeld, Ronald Torry.  Longitudinal Impact Assessment of Mnemonics Use on Pharmacy Students' Knowledge Retention, Application, and Exam Performance.  2022 AACP Annual Meeting, Virtual Pharmacy Education, July 19-22, 2022.

Riley Milroy, Donna Tuttle, Joy Bachmann, Craige Wrenn, Ron Torry. The Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Anxiety and Hair Corticosterone Concentrations in Stressed Laboratory Rats. Iowa Physiological Society Meeting, University of Iowa, November 15-16, 2024.

Nirjan Bhattarai, Jamie Rusan, Ronald Torry. Analysis of Racial Differences in Cardiovascular Outcomes of SGLT-2 Inhibitors in Patients with Heart Failure with/without Diabetes. Iowa Pharmacy Association Annual Meeting, June 15-16, 2023.