Welcome to About Us
The University of Utah College of Pharmacy's focus on innovation and imagination is the basis of a tradition that has led the college to its premier standing. Of the 130+ pharmacy schools in the United States, the University of Utah College of Pharmacy has consistently ranked in the top ten pharmacy schools on the basis of research funding awarded by the National Institute of Health. We are proud of where we've been, and where we're going.
- 1917: Pharmaceutical education in the Utah began as a department of pharmacy within the University's medical school.
- 1927: Funding was eliminated and the department was closed; students already enrolled were allowed to finish, the last two graduating in 1930.
- 1946: The present College of Pharmacy, giving the profession equal status with other University colleges, was established, largely through the efforts of the Utah Pharmaceutical Association.
- 1947-70: L. David Hiner, Ph.D., arrived as the College's first Dean, serving as his own architect to transform the second and third floors of the old women's gymnasium into pharmacy space. The first laboratory benches and tables did not stand steady, students had to wait in line to use one of two balances, and bottles were so scarce that those from the previous laboratory had to be washed by the next class.
- 1949-50: The College achieved a Class "A" accreditation rating from the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education in "an incredibly short time," and the first class received the baccalaureate in pharmacy.
- 1953: The first Ph.D. degree from the University of Utah College of Pharmacy was awarded.
- 1955-65: The four-year undergraduate curriculum was refined, physical facilities were remodeled, and a new, five-year baccalaureate program was developed. The Student Chapter of the American Pharmaceutical Association and pharmaceutical fraternities were organized. By 1965, the faculty had grown from the original three (which included Ewart A. Swinyard, Ph.D., the College's second dean) to six, one of whom was only part time. The groundwork was laid for quality programs in professional and graduate education.
- 1965-75: L.S. Skaggs Hall on the University of Utah Health Sciences Center campus was dedicated and became pharmacy's home. The College created the Center for Human Toxicology and was instrumental in setting up the Utah Poison Control Center-important specialized facilities for drug-related research, education, and service.
- 1970-76: Ewart A. Swinyard serves as the 2nd Dean of the College of Pharmacy.
- 1975-85: The Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program began. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance facilities were added. Scientific investigation and graduate studies were emphasized. The Doctor of Pharmacy Program enhanced the clinical and professional experience components of the pharmacy program.
- 1976-89: Harold H. Wolf serves as the 3rd Dean of the College of Pharmacy.
- 1985-95: The Center for Controlled Chemical Delivery was established. Continued growth was accommodated in the University's Research Park and, in 1994, some pharmacy programs moved into the new Biomedical Polymers Research Building.
- 1994-2009: John W. Mauger serves as the 4th Dean of the College of Pharmacy.
- 2002: The College of Pharmacy began the current PharmD program- An entry-level, four-year, Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Students could now choose between a PharmD degree, a Ph.D., or a concurrent enrollment pathway to achieve both. The University of Utah College of Pharmacy is one of the few colleges in the nation that offer this concurrent enrollment pathway.
- 2009: Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new L. S. Skaggs Jr. Research Building that will house all four departments and more under one roof.
- 2009-2013: Chris Ireland serves as the 5th Dean of the College of Pharmacy.
- 2016: The L. S. Skaggs Jr. Research Building was completed, adding onto the former L.S. Skaggs Hall. Together, they are the L. S. Skaggs Pharmacy Institute.
- 2017-Present: Randall Peterson becomes the 6th Dean of the College of Pharmacy.
Welcome to the University of Utah College of Pharmacy. As you will explore in these pages, the College of Pharmacy is home to many top pharmacy students, leading edge research programs, and practiced health care providers.
We are committed to excellence and innovation in the education of future pharmacists, research in the pharmaceutical sciences, and service to our community and profession. As leaders in the application of pharmaceutical sciences to personalized medicine, we are helping transform patient care through the discovery of novel therapeutics and the optimization of outcomes for existing medications.
Whether you are a prospective student, a researcher, a health care professional, or an interested community member, I invite you to explore our community and contact us to continue the conversation. We’d love for you to join us in the crucial venture of transforming healthcare through pharmacy innovation.
Randall T. Peterson, PhD
The Mission of the University of Utah College of Pharmacy is to:
1
Advance health care related to optimal medication outcomes through education and training.
2
Discover, develop and disseminate new biomedical knowledge and technology.
3
Provide pharmacy-based services and outreach activities to the community.
The University of Utah College of Pharmacy supports the missions of the University of Utah and the University of Utah Health Sciences Center.
Vision Statement
The Vision of the University of Utah College of Pharmacy is to become recognized globally as the premier college of pharmacy through inter-professional collaboration and interdisciplinary-based lifelong learning, research, and patient care.
Value Statement
Academic excellence will be pursued in an environment that respects the individual, instills integrity and professionalism, assures ethical behavior, creates a desire for life-long learning, and recognizes the principle of academic freedom.
Sustaining Principles
To fulfill our Mission and achieve the objectives stated in our Vision, our Sustaining Principles are:
- Be at the forefront in education, research, and patient care.
- Employ interdisciplinary approaches in education, research, and patient care.
- Promote and model lifelong learning, professionalism, and community service.
- Establish and implement an evaluation plan that will assess achievement of the mission and goals.
Goals of Professional Curriculum
Prepare pharmacists in a research-intensive, academic health center to be exemplary professionals who enable progress in healthcare by incorporating biomedical research advances into practice, serve as medication experts, and who advocate for and defend the public health.
To educate and train clinical-scientists and clinician-educators to be effective leaders in academic pharmacy.