Office of the Dean
(713) 743-6733
Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Rm 3046
Office of Research and Graduate Programs
(713) 743-7725
Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Rm 6007A
Office of Student and Professional Affairs
(713) 743-1239
Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Rm 3044
Office of Experiential Programs, Professional Program
(832) 842-8337
Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Rm 3044
Office of Academic Affairs
(713) 743-7347
Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., Rm 3046
Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences
(Ph.D. Program in Pharmacology/Pharmaceutics)
(713) 743-7725
Health 2 Building, 4849 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., 5th floor and 7th floor
Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research
MS Pharmacy Administration
(713) 743-7725
Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., 4th floor
Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy
Health 2 Building, 4349 Martin Luther King Blvd., 4th floor
(713) 743-7725
Dean:
F. Lamar Pritchard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs:
Tahir Hussain, Ph.D.
Executive Associate Dean:
Paige Pitman, Pharm.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs:
Elizabeth Coyle, Pharm.D.
Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs:
Brian Knoll, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Student and Professional Affairs:
Kimberly Nguyen, Pharm.D.
Assistant Dean for Experiential Programs:
Nancy Ordonez, Pharm.D.
Assistant Dean, Rio Grande Valley:
Ronnie Ozuna, Pharm.D.
Director of Business Operations:
Miranda McMorris, M.B.A.
Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences:
Ashok Kumar, Ph.D., Department Chair
Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy:
Rajendar Aparasu, Ph.D., Department Chair
Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research:
Kevin Garey, Pharm.D., Department Chair
About the Profession of Pharmacy
The College of Pharmacy, established in 1946, prepares students to enter into the practice of pharmacy and to function as professionals and informed citizens in a changing health care system and to assume important roles as drug information specialists and primary care providers.
Upon graduation, the new professional utilizes a foundation of skills in administrative, biological, clinical, and pharmaceutical sciences to take an active role in contemporary pharmacy practice - shaping policies and the future directions of the profession. Career options in pharmacy are virtually unlimited. From community to hospital practice, from home care to nuclear pharmacy, from clinical practice to basic science research in the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacists participate in areas that provide patient care and unravel the mysteries of human health. Employment opportunities are also available in academia.
Pharmacists educate health care professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, and patients in institutions and communities throughout the world. Pharmacists are responsible for supervising the drug distribution process, selecting appropriate drug therapies, determining drug dosages and routes of administration, and monitoring therapeutic outcomes. Working with other health care providers-physicians, nurses, veterinarians, and dentists-pharmacists complement the health care system by providing pharmaceutical care.
About Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences
In addition to training pharmacy professionals, the College of Pharmacy trains students for research careers as in Pharmacologic & Pharmaceutical Sciences. Through its Doctor of Philosophy programs, students are trained as future scientists that will contribute to the understanding of disease states and the development of new therapeutic interventions through basic science research. Graduates of these programs have opportunities in careers including (but not limited to) academic research and teaching, research and development in the pharmaceutical industry, and employment in federal regulatory agencies responsible for the review and approval of new therapeutic agents.
About the PharmD/PhD Program
Professional students often develop an interest in research and a desire to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences after completion of the Pharm.D. Below are general guidelines for such individuals; for more details, please consult Brian Knoll, Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs.
A Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. can be earned in the concentrations of Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Medicinal Chemistry, or Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy.
Research Experience
The essence of a Ph.D. degree is research. The most critical criterium of admission to the Ph.D. program is a strong commitment and drive to do research. During your professional years, you perform research in faculty labs to (1) test whether you really desire a research career; (2) enable faculty members to evaluate your research potential; and (3) get a start on a potential dissertation project.
If admitted to the Ph.D. program and upon completion of the Pharm.D., a student becomes a graduate assistant, earning a stipend and Graduate Tuition Fellowship (GTF) support to pay graduate tuition and fees.
Students MUST have research experience before being admitted to the Ph.D. program. There are several ways this can be done:
P1: Focus on your Pharm.D. studies during the first year (admission to the Ph.D. program requires excellent Pharm.D. grades). Think about research topics, survey faculty interests, talk to faculty and read the professional literature.
P2: You can take up to 2 SCH of Special Topics in faculty laboratories during the summer of P2.
P3: During the spring of P3, you can take 2 SCH of Special Topics in faculty laboratories, if you have not already done so in P2 (4 SCH is the maximum Special Topics allowed).
P4: APPEs require your complete attention, and research must be done only during the one 6-week rotation period that is allowable.
Note: Some students have also worked in laboratories during the winter break between fall and spring semesters on a volunteer basis.
Graduate Admission
Submit your credentials during the summer near the end of your P3 year:
- Letter of reference from a faculty member with whom you have done research.
- A personal statement addressing these four items:
- Describe your career interests, as well as short- and long-term professional goals.
- Describe your research experiences and skills
- Explain the reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in your selected concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Provide any additional information that you would like the graduate admissions committee to consider.
The graduate admissions committee also will obtain Pharm.D. admissions credentials from the Pharm.D. admissions office and conduct interviews. The decision should be made by the end of September; the date is chosen so that students have time to make alternative career plans in the event of a negative decision yet allows sufficient time for faculty to develop stipends if admission is granted.
Graduate Enrollment
After graduating with your Pharm.D., you would be enrolled as a Ph.D. student and begin receiving a stipend as either a Research or a Teaching Assistant beginning the summer after graduation. From this time, all graduate tuition and fees would be paid by the university (in the form of Graduate Tuition Fellowship).
For further discussion, contact Brian Knoll, Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs.
About the PhD Programs in Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy (PHOP)
PHOP as a research area encompasses issues dealing with the various topics involved in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Management, Health Outcomes Research, Pharmacy Business Administration, Pharmaceutical and Pharmacy Management, Pharmaceutical Marketing, Consumer Health Behavior, Managed Health Care Issues, Health Policy Development, Pharmaceutical Care, Health Systems Operations, and Information Systems in Health Care.
In PHOP research, these topics are considered in a systematic and scientific manner to conduct inquiry and evaluate drug therapy decisions by measuring and analyzing patient outcomes for the evaluation and improvement of access, effectiveness, and quality of care. The mission of this program is to develop outstanding graduates to assume leadership positions in the field of pharmacy outcomes research for careers in academia, government, and industry-related health care organizations. Graduates of this program will be prepared to become scientists, directors and professors with a philosophy based on excellence in teaching, research and service in the areas of pharmacy administration.
About the MS Program in Pharmacy Leadership and Administration
The MS Program in Pharmacy Leadership and Administration is a post Doctor of Pharmacy graduate degree program taking full advantage of the resources of the world’s largest medical center, the 24-month Houston Program in Pharmacy Leadership and Administration offers unique learning, teaching and collaboration opportunities to train the next generation of pharmacy leaders.
The University of Houston College of Pharmacy offers a Master of Science in Pharmacy Leadership and Administration, with PGY1 and PGY2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration (HSPA) residency programs from seven leading Texas Medical Center institutions.
Texas Medical Center institutions with HSPA residencies participating in the Houston Program: Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Harris Health System, Houston Methodist Hospital, Memorial Hermann Health System, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Texas Children’s Hospital, and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
About the PharmD/MBA Program
The College of Pharmacy and the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston offer a joint degree program that enables students to prepare for careers in which the understanding of both business and pharmacy is critical. This program provides students with the opportunity to complete the degree requirements of a Doctorate of Pharmacy and a Master of Business Administration in a shorter period of time than if the degrees were pursued independently.
About the Spanish Certificate Program
The Certificate in Spanish for the Professions in the Global World is designed for students who anticipate careers in which they will need to interact with Hispanic communities in the U.S. or abroad and who wish to continue the study of Spanish language and culture for specific professional purposes: business, social work, medical, journalism and mass communications, education, hotel and restaurant management or law. The profession‐specific course for this option for the certificate includes experiential learning through fieldwork and/or public service. Students preparing for their professional lives often are not aware of the usefulness of knowledge of the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures across the professions within the United States. This Certificate raises student awareness so that they might pursue Spanish for a specific profession before they are active professionals. Through this Certificate, students derive their own answers to common questions such as: Why is there a language requirement at this university? What can I do with my Spanish when I’ve finished the language requirement?
About the College
Students at the College of Pharmacy have at their disposal virtually every resource and opportunity they need to acquire a first-class education in pharmacy. In the college’s new facility the students have state of the art classrooms, pharmacy practice labs including a mock pharmacy and sterile compounding room. In these state of the art facilities, students learn techniques in the patient care process by role-playing situations they would experience as pharmacists. For study and research needs, students can take advantage of the health sciences library on campus or the world renowned Texas Medical Center Library. The students have the opportunity to train with physicians, medical students and members of our clinical faculty.
Graduate students in Pharmacology/Pharmaceutics have available to them the research laboratories of the College of Pharmacy and can interact with faculty and students in related disciplines such as biology/biochemistry, chemistry, vision sciences, chemical and biomedical engineering. At the Texas Medical Center, our graduate students have the opportunity to take classes and participate in collaborative research projects with faculty at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, the Methodist Hospital, and the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston. Current training areas include cardiovascular/renal and neuro-pharmacology, signal transduction and cellular signaling mechanisms, novel drug delivery systems, structural biology, drug absorption and kinetics, and novel dosage forms.
Accreditation
The College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and holds membership in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
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