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Graduate Studies

PhD in Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research & Health Policy

The University of Utah College of Pharmacy is part of the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, with state-of-the-art classroom, research and library facilities available to students pursuing graduate education. The Department of Pharmacotherapy has a long, rich history in the provision of high quality post-graduate training for pharmacy practitioners and outcomes researchers. Students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research Program are highly motivated with backgrounds in a pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, health economics, or other healthcare field.

Students graduate with core competencies in health economics, epidemiology, research design, and statistics. They are also prepared to be independent outcomes researchers trained to generate evidence to support health policy decisions regarding pharmaceuticals and related technologies. Graduates of our program currently apply these sills in a broad range of career settings including the pharmaceutical industry, academia, institutional pharmacy, community pharmacy, and managed care organizations.

We require a statement of purpose, CV, transcripts, score reports (GRE for US applicants and GRE and TOEFL for International applicants) and three letters of recommendation from all applicants.

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PhD in Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research

Our PhD in Outcomes Research program offers students a unique opportunity to study pharmacotherapy outcomes research in the context of a sophisticated academic health science center. 

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Nancy Nickman, MS, PhD, RPh

Director, Graduate Program

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Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry together with the Dean's Office have developed a pathway for students who are interested in simultaneously pursuing a Pharm.D and a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry. This program is intended for students who are interested in a career in basic or clinical research for the discovery and development of new pharmaceutical therapies. It is constructed to intersperse the core curriculum requirements of the Ph.D. program into the curriculum of the Pharm.D. program, making course substitutions where feasible. In doing this, we minimize curriculum redundancy between the two programs while ensuring that the student is adequately prepared for the demands of both degree programs.

During the joint program pathway, students undertake research in the summers between their P1-P3 years. Students are also expected to use at least one clerkship rotation for research. The program is structured so that students can take their Ph.D. qualification exams during their P5 year and their pharmacy licensure exam at the normal time after completion of the P4 year. Following P4 year, the students engage in full time research to complete the Ph.D. program.

Students who are interested in pursuing this pathway should apply to the Pharm.D. program first. Students are accepted into the Ph.D. program during their P1 year if the student meets the program admissions criteria and there is appropriate research mentoring and support for the student. Interested students should contact the Director of Graduate Admissions in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry for application procedures and information.

Students enter directly into the Pharm.D./PhD program. Curriculum based on application to the Med Chem program during the P1 year. First class would be summer rotations

International Students. International students are encouraged to apply to either of the Interdepartmental Graduate Programs as appropriate. Students interested in research in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry would then join a Medicinal Chemistry laboratory in their second year.

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Graduate Program in Biological Chemistry

Graduate studies in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry are dedicated to research and education at the interface of the chemical and biological sciences.

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Mailing Address and Links to Forms

Terri Elder-Hale

Department of Medicinal Chemistry
30 South 2000 East, 307 SKH
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-5820
University of Utah
Phone: (801) 581-5581

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Ph.D. in Pharmacology & Toxicology

The Graduate Program in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Utah offers training for the Ph.D. degree. Since 1948, more than two hundred individuals have been trained by this program. Our graduate students (see current graduate students page) hail from all regions of the country, and enjoy close working relationships with their faculty mentors, rich and diverse research opportunities, and flexible programs of study based on their individual needs and interests. Students gain didactic teaching and public speaking experience by participating in our professional teaching, journal club and seminar programs.

Students generally enter the PhD Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology through the Bioscience PhD Programs of Biological Chemistry or Molecular Biology www.bioscience.utah.edu . or via the Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience  www.neuroscience.med.utah.edu

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PhD Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology

Students generally enter the PhD Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology through the Bioscience PhD Programs of Biological Chemistry or Molecular Biology www.bioscience.utah.edu . or via the Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience  www.neuroscience.med.utah.edu

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For additional information regarding the Graduate Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, please contact:

Melaney Mckellar, Administrative Manager
Phone: 801-213-6440
Email:  Melaney.Mckellar@pharm.utah.edu

Dr. Philip Moos, Director of Graduate Studies
Phone:
 801-585-5952
Email:  philip.moos@.utah.edu

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Molecular Pharmaceutics

The Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics offers a Ph.D. degree program through the Graduate School of the University of Utah. The program seeks to prepare graduate students to function independently, competently and technically in a variety of settings including academic, research, administrative, business management, legal, regulatory and investment career tracks.  This goal is accomplished through formal didactic courses, seminars and journal clubs, laboratory research rotations, and dissertation research. Every attempt is made by the faculty to help the student complete the program in a timely fashion. Typically, students graduate within 5 years of entering the program, although the nature of some projects and approaches requires a longer time commitment for full completion of the dissertation work.

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PhD Molecular Pharmaceutics

The department of Molecular Pharmaceutics is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive campus community of students from every financial background. 

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Mailing Address and Links to Forms

Hallie McCarthy
Graduate Student Coordinator
Phone: 801-581-6731

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PharmD/PhD Pathway

The Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Pharmacotherapy together with the Dean's Office, have developed a pathway for students who are interested in simultaneously pursuing a Pharm.D and a Ph.D. This program is intended for students who are interested in a career in basic or clinical research. It is constructed to intersperse the core curriculum requirements of the Ph.D. program into the curriculum of the Pharm.D. program, making course substitutions where feasible. In doing this, we minimize curriculum redundancy between the two programs while ensuring that the student is adequately prepared for the demands of both degree programs.

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PHARMD/PHD PATHWAY

Students can explore their enthusiasm for a career in basic or clinical research by enrolling in a supervised, paid research project with a faculty mentor during their P1 summer. At the end of the P-SURF program, students can decide whether or not to continue working on the same (or related) research project with the same (or different) mentor during their P2 year. At the end of the P2 year, student and advisor can then choose whether or not to transition the project into the student’s required PharmD project in the P3 & P4 years.

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James Herron, Ph.D.

Executive Associate Dean, Professional Education

Phone:

  • (801) 581-7303
  • (801) 587-9966
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