The Department of Pharmacotherapy together with the Dean's Office have developed a pathway for students who are interested in simultaneously pursuing a PharmD and a PhD in Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research & Health Policy. This program is intended for students who are interested in a career in outcomes research applied to informed decisions of providers, patients and payers regarding new pharmaceutical therapies and associated technologies. It is constructed to intersperse the core curriculum requirements of the PhD program into the curriculum of the PharmD 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 PhD 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 PhD program.