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College of Pharmacy
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INDEX |
Donald E. Letendre, Dean
Joan M. Lausier, Associate Dean
E. Paul Larrat, Associate Dean
Entering freshmen are admitted to URI’s six-year entry-level Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, described on the next pages. The college also awards two graduate degrees: the Master of Science (M.S.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in pharmaceutical sciences, offered by both departments, Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy Practice.
The six-year Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum is patterned on accepted programs of study recommended by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, and other interested organizations. The Doctor of Pharmacy is accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois, 60602; acpe-accredit.org).
Medication therapy management is the responsible provision of drug therapy to achieve specific outcomes that improve a patient’s quality of life. A pharmacist, in cooperation with a patient and other healthcare professionals, designs, implements, and monitors a plan of care that will produce desired patient outcomes. A key element in medication therapy management is that the pharmacist accepts personal responsibility in achieving the desired outcomes. In learning to provide medication therapy management, pharmacy students must exhibit the highest level of ethical behavior and moral values in all of their decision-making, as well as in their actions both in and outside of the college. Furthermore, students must acknowledge that the profession and medication therapy management are based foremost on caring, trust, and communication for the benefit of patients and society in general. All students must be committed to maintaining these standards, to fostering the professional development of other pharmacy students, and to responding appropriately when the ethical and moral standards of the profession have been breached.
Graduates of our program have a strong record of passing the national licensing examination (NABPLEX). Average scores over the past five years are in the 90 percentages, with scores for 2006 graduates taking the exam for the first time at 93%. The program in pharmacy provides preparation for community and institutional pharmacy practice. In addition, students have opportunities through the selection of professional electives to commence a specialization in one of several areas of pharmacy, including hospital, clinical, manufacturing, medical supply servicing, drug analysis, administration, and research.
A recent survey of alumni indicates that 62% work in a community practice setting, while 14% work in hospitals. Others work in the pharmaceutical industry (7%), long-term facilities (4%), HMO’s (2%), federal agencies (2%), specialty areas (5%), and 4% work in academia. Job responsibilities vary from staff pharmacists, manager, clinical specialist, consultant, executive, to professor. Seventy-one percent agree that their educational experience at URI contributed to their leadership abilities in the profession.
Pharmacy students must request transfer from University College to the College of Pharmacy at the end of three semesters. Only those pharmacy students having a 2.50 grade point average or better in required preprofessional courses (CHM 101, 102, 112, 114, and 227; BIO 101, 121, 242, and 244; MTH 131; and MIC 201) with no grade less than C- in any of these courses, and an overall grade point average of 2.00 will be admitted at this time. Successful candidates must maintain a grade point average of 2.50 in prerequisite courses. Applicants with an average between 2.00 and 2.50 in these courses will be considered for admission on a competitive basis along with other URI undergraduate students and transfer students from other institutions at the end of four semesters. Applicants with a grade point average of less than 2.00 for the designated preprofessional courses will not be considered for admission to the college. For purposes of admission among transfer applicants, all of the preprofessional courses listed above, plus CHM 226, 228, STA 307, and BCH 311 (or equivalent courses) must be completed. All applicants must have a 2.50 in these courses, and successful candidates will be competitively selected from the applicant pool.
Beginning in the professional curriculum third year (P1) students should have their own laptop computer for use in the classroom. There are lease and purchase options at the University Bookstore for interested students.
Unless otherwise indicated, courses offered by the college are restricted to pharmacy majors.
Students must earn a minimum grade point average of 2.00 overall and 2.20 in all professional courses in order to qualify for graduation in the Pharm.D. program. Students can repeat up to ten credits of pharmacy courses in which they received a C- or less in order to achieve the 2.20 GPA graduation requirement.
The student whose cumulative GPA in professional courses falls below a 2.00 at the end of any semester will be dismissed from the program. Students will not be allowed to proceed into their sixth-year (P4) rotations without at least a 2.00 GPA in required professional pharmacy courses.
Professional and/or legal exigencies arise from time to time which may necessitate changes in a pharmacy course, progression, and/or graduation requirements. Students should review their status with academic advisors on a timely basis and refer to current publications for updated information.
Students in certain other New England states may enroll in pharmacy under the New England Regional Student Program. (See page 32.)
Students desiring external transfer into the first professional year must complete the required preprofessional science and math course work with at least a 2.50 grade point average to be considered. Admission is highly competitive and seats may not always be available. Students may transfer credits for courses in which they have earned a C or better. Questions concerning the transferability of specific courses and of the evaluation process should be directed to the associate dean of pharmacy.
Please note: at this time, external transfers are not being considered for admission to the professional curriculum (year 3).
Faculty
Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences: Professor Chichester, chairperson. Professors Cho, Kislalioglu, Lausier, Letendre, Needham, Rodgers, Rosenbaum, Shaikh, Shimizu, Swonger, Yan, and Zia; Associate Professors Babson and Zawia; Assistant Professors Akhlaghi, Deng, King, Parang, and Rowley.
Pharmacy Practice: Professor Owens, chairperson. Professors Barbour, Dufresne, Hume, Larrat, and Tempkin; Associate Professor Pawasauskas; Assistant Professors Bratberg, Charpentier, Cohen, Cowles, Feret, Goren, Kogut, LaPlante, Lin, MacDonnell, Marcoux, Matson, Mersfelder, Orr, Taveira, Tortora, Quilliam, and Ward.
Six-year Entry Level Pharm.D. Curriculum Requirements
A total of 189 credits is required for graduation. Proficiency in the American Red Cross standard first aid and community CPR is also expected of each student prior to graduation. Prior to advanced practice experiences, students must be certified in physical assessment.1
First YearFirst semester: 15 credits
CHM 101 (3), 102 (1); COM 100 or WRT 104 or 105 (3); BIO 101 (4); one 3-credit elective (3); and URI 101 (1).
Second semester: 17 credits
CHM 112 (3), 114 (1); MTH 131 (3); COM 100 or WRT 104 or 105 (3); BIO 121 (4), and one 3-credit elective (3).
Second YearFirst semester: 17 credits
CHM 227 (3); ECN 201 (3); MIC 201 (4); BIO 242 (3), 244 (1), and one 3-credit elective.
Second semester: 17 credits
BCH 311 (3); CHM 228 (3), 226 (2); STA 307 (3), and 6 credits of electives.
First Professional Year (P1)First semester: 14 credits
PHP/BPS 311 (2), BPS 301 (2), 303 (2), 305 (2), 313 (2), 318 (1), 321 (2); PHC 317 (1)2; and PHP 350 (0).
Second semester: 16 credits
PHP/BPS 312 (2); BPS 322 (2), 325 (2), 326 (1); PHP 324 (2), 316 (3), 351 (0), PHC 327 (1)2, and one 3-credit elective.
Second Professional Year (P2)First semester: 14 credits
PHP/BPS 409 (2); BPS 416 (1), 421 (2); PHP 413 (2), 450 (0); BPS/PHP/STA 411 (3); NFS 444 (3); PHC 417 (1)2.
Second semester: 15 credits
PHP/BPS 410 (4), BPS 403 (3), 422 (2); PHP 414 (2), 451 (0); Professional Tracking (3); PHC 427 (1)2.
Third Professional Year (P3)First semester: 17 credits
BPS/PHP 504 (3), 515 (1), 518 (3); BPS 521 (2); PHP 503 (2), 513 (2); PHC 517 (1); and Professional Tracking (3).
Second semester: 17 credits
PHP/BPS 510 (2), 516 (1); BPS 522 (2); PHP 504 (3), 514 (2); PHC 527 (1)2; and Professional Tracking (6).
Fourth Professional Year (P4)
First semester: 15 creditsSecond semester: 15 credits
To complete the curriculum, students must complete PHP 591, 592, and 593 (Clinical Clerkships, 5 credits each) plus PHC 594 (Tracking Practicum, 5 credits) during the sixth year (P4) in any sequence. These are all capstone experiences in the program.
Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Tracks. As part of URI’s professional degree program, students will select professional course work in areas of individual interest. This is an opportunity to focus in a particular area of practice through the completion of 12 credits of course work and a focused advanced practice experiential rotation (PHC 594). Students in the community practice, pharmacotherapy, pharmacoepidemiology/pharmacoeconomic, or research track will be assigned an additional track advisor in their area of concentration.
Pharmacy Practice
The Department of Pharmacy Practice offers a diverse selection of elective course work that allows students to select from a wide variety of practice areas, or more focused practice areas such as community practice, pharmacotherapy, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, or drug information and technology.
Students selecting the pharmacy practice track have the most discretion in selecting professional course work. Students in the pharmacy practice track may take any four College of Pharmacy elective courses (for a total of 12 credits) or choose from the following selection: PHP 430, 440, 460, PHP/BPS 519, 520, 540, 542, 550, 555, 560, 580; PHC 305; HSS 530; WRT 333; PSY 460; NFS 551 and 552; and MSI 310. Students in the pharmacy practice track will complete an advanced practice rotation (PHC 594) in any area of practice of their preference.
Students interested in community practice are encouraged to take PHP 440, Pharmaceutical Care for Special Populations; PHP/BPS 519, Self Care II; and PHC 594 in an area of advanced community practice. Students may select their other two courses from any of the other professional electives offered by the college or from those listed above. Students who focus their elective courses in this way can have the “Community Practice Track” distinction listed on their transcript.
Students interested in pharmacotherapy are encouraged to take at least two courses from the following: PHP 430, Advanced Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Pharmacotherapy; PHP 460, Palliative Care; PHP 520, Advanced GI and Endocrine Pharmacotherapy; PHP 555, Advanced Neuropsychiatric Pharmacotherapy or PHP 560, Advanced Cardiovascular and Renal Pharmacotherapy; and PHC 594 in an area of specialized pharmacotherapy practice. The remaining two courses may be selected from any professional elective offered by the college or from the Pharmacy Practice electives listed on the previous page. Students who focus their elective courses in this way can have the “Pharmacotherapy Track” distinction listed on their transcript.
Students interested in pharmacoepidemiology and/or pharmacoeconomics are encouraged to take at least two courses from the following: PHP 540, Principles, Methods, and Applications of Epidemiology; PHP 550, Pharmacoepidemiology; PHP 580, Pharmacoeconomic Analysis; and PHC 594 in an area that focuses on the application of pharmacoeconomics or pharmacoepidemiology. The remaining two professional courses may be selected from the pharmacy practice electives listed on the previous page or any other College of Pharmacy elective courses. Students who focus their elective courses in this way can have the “Pharmacoepidemiology/Pharmacoeconomics Track” distinction listed on their transcript.
Students interested in drug information and technology are encouraged to take PHC 305 and MIS 310, and PHC 594 in an area of drug information. The remaining two courses may be selected from any College of Pharmacy professional course or from the pharmacy practice electives listed on the previous page. Students who focus their elective courses in this way can have the “Drug Information and Technology Track” distinction listed on their transcript.
Basic Research
The Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences offers a research track for highly motivated students. Students will focus on learning the theory and practice of laboratory research techniques, the evaluation and quantification of results, and on understanding and interpreting scientific literature. They will develop skills for oral and written communication of hypotheses, methods, and interpretations, and will carry out basic scientific research in one of the following four areas of specialization: medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics, or pharmacology and toxicology. Students will develop a program of study in conjunction with a faculty advisor in their area of interest. All students will take at least 12 credits of course work at the graduate level. During the last year of study, students will take PHC 594—under the direction of a faculty member—as their tracking experience. Students who focus their elective courses in a manner consistent with their program of study in one of the areas of research outlined below can have the “Research Track” distinction listed on their transcript.
Students in the basic research track may also be able to apply and work toward an M.S. degree in one of the following areas of study:
Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy: Molecular mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis; combinatorial chemistry; solid-phase peptide synthesis; screening, isolation, and structure elucidation of physiologically-active natural products; biosynthesis of microbial and plant natural products; herbal medicine.
Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics: Design, development, production, evaluation, and regulatory approval of pharmaceutical and self care products as well as pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies using virtual, clinical, and preclinical data, often with an emphasis on population approaches.
Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics: Health and economic outcomes research pertaining to pharmacotherapy as used in human populations. Specializations include medication adherence, decision and cost-effectiveness analyses, post-marketing surveillance, epidemiologic methods, and quality improvement and measurement.
Pharmacology and Toxicology: Research projects explore the mechanisms involved in various disease states and their pharmacological intervention, and mechanisms of toxicity of various environmental agents. Ongoing topics include the effects of hormonal imbalances and antihypertensive agents on cardiac function and metabolism in hypertension, diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, effect of septic shock on drug metabolism, developmental neurotoxicity of environmental agents, hepatoxicity and nephrotoxicity of heavy metals, interindividual variation in metabolism of heterocyclic amine carcinogens, regulation and genetic heterogeneity of enzymes involved in drug and xenobiotic metabolism, calcium- and non-calcium mediated pathways of cell death, and the development of inhibitors to cell signaling events.
Double Major in Pharmacy and French. Qualified students can graduate in six years with both a Pharm.D. degree and a B.A. degree in French. Students must complete at least two five-week rotations in a French-speaking country and earn 30 credits of French, six of which must be from 400- level courses. French 101 and 102 do not count among the mandatory 30 credits. It is recommended that students wishing to double major come to URI with four years of high school French and advanced placement credits.
1 PHP 900
2 Interactive learning courses will be shared by PHP and BPS under the code of PHC.
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