Pharmaceutical Sciences

This course provides an opportunity for PS-I, PS-II, and PS-III students to work with individual faculty mentors on projects of variable scope. Included activities could be library, laboratory, and/or survey-type research; assistance with syllabus development of future elective courses; or other activities agreed on between the student and mentor and approved by the appropriate department chair.

This course provides an overview of issues related to biologics beyond those commonly prescribed.  Focus will be on nucleic acid and cell-based therapies, biotechnology-derived vaccines, and proteins and monoclonal antibodies prescribed for less common disease states such as hemophilia. Background information related to production, storage and handling, and cost will be discussed as they relate to analytical techniques, patient education and counseling. Related topics include cloning, biopharming, genetic testing, and the Human Genome Project.

This course begins with a general overview of pharmacy throughout history, with special emphasis placed on United States pharmacy and pharmacy associations.  The course ends with lectures focused on the history of the opioid epidemic, and a history of pandemics.

This course is offered in conjunction with the annual Industry Pharmacists Organization Value in Industry Case Competition.  The student team designs a cohesive drug development and commercialization plan for a theoretical new molecular entity.  The VIP Case Competition highlights four key functional areas:  Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, and Marketing/Market Access.  The competition encourages teamwork and fosters leadership development within the IPhO chapter.  The final deliverable will be a video submission of the presentation. 

This course provides an understanding as to what can happen to the environment (personal and wildlife) in the presence of chemicals associated with pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). This course focuses on identification of PPCP sources and entry points, removal strategies, as well as documented and potential cause/effect relationships between specific chemical products/byproducts and wildlife species. When relevant, potential cause/effect relationships between these chemical entities and human systems (e.g. reproductive system) will be explored.

This course provides an overview of the mechanisms and therapeutic uses of fat- and water-soluble vitamins, antioxidants, macro- and micro-minerals, and enteral nutritional support products. Topics include the use of anti-oxidants, multi-vitamin choices, potential toxicity and drug interactions, as well as nutritional support/supplement selection for infants and adults. The mechanism-based approach used in this module allows the student pharmacist to more easily identify, organize, and recommend various therapeutic agents for a wide variety of patients.

This course will provide future healthcare professionals a basic understanding of the endocannabinoid system and the related pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of medicinal cannabis. The use of medicinal cannabis in the management of pain, anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy, PTSD, and chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting will be discussed. Historical, legal, and ethical issues will also be discussed. Patient education points associated with adverse effects, as well as potential drug-cannabis and nutrient-cannabis interactions will be emphasized.

This laboratory-based course will expose students to more advanced compounding techniques, formulation/dosage forms, and equipment. Lecture topics will include compounding safety, legislation, accreditation, marketing, and sources of compounding information and supplies

Botanical dietary supplements are used by at least 1/3 of the population as a component of complementary and integrative health with mainstream medical practice. Health care professionals should develop knowledge and skills necessary to aid patients in making rational decisions about their use. This elective focuses on the utility of drugs from natural sources in practice today, and surveys the products of plants and animals, and various complementary modalities of medicine that impact health.

This elective is focused on non-traditional, non-pharmacological healing therapies that are not herbal product based. Lectures, in-class activities, a field trip, and a guest speaker session are expected. Topics at least include crystals, breathing/meditation, water/sound/frequencies, sleep, color/chakra/auras, geographic/energy vortices, and the power of mind. Participants are expected to be receptive to learning about each topic, including participation during the in-class experiences. Students should expect to learn entry-level knowledge sufficient to permit meaningful patient education.

This course is focused on discussing and learning to prepare various extemporaneously compounded dosage forms, while understanding and fulfilling all legal requirements.

This course will discuss biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetic parameters. Topics covered include but are not limited to: mathematical descriptions of time course of drug absorption, distribution, and elimination; physicochemical properties of drugs and relevant physiologic factors that affect drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; relationship between drug concentration and clinical responses; pharmacokinetic variability caused by differences in body weight, age, sex, genetic factors, diseases, and drug interactions; and applications of pharmacokinetics and pharmaceutics to clinical situations.