Doctor of Pharmacy

Program Overview

The PharmD program at KGI is a 4-year, full-time program requiring a minimum of 156-161.5 units, depending on the entering class year. It is meticulously structured around four key categories: basic sciences, clinical skills, professional development, and experiential education. A defining feature of KGI's PharmD is the integration of specialized certificates alongside the core PharmD degree, allowing students to gain in-depth knowledge in high-demand areas. These certificates include Medication Therapy Outcomes (MTO), Healthcare Management/Pharmacy Informatics (HCM/PI), and Medical and Clinical Affairs (MCA). The program includes extensive experiential education with 10 rotations (3 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences - IPPEs and 7 Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences - APPEs), totaling over 2,000 hours of practical experience.

Curriculum: The comprehensive PharmD curriculum at KGI is designed to provide a strong scientific foundation and practical clinical skills. Core courses cover a wide range of subjects, including "Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics," "Principles of Drug Action," "Pharmacokinetics," "Pharmacy Law and Ethics," "Biostatistics," "Drug Information, Study Design, and Literature Evaluation," and "Pharmacy Management." Integrated series courses focus on specific body systems and related drug therapies (e.g., Cardiology, Endocrinology, Infectious Disease). Students also engage in "Professional Development" series throughout the program, fostering critical thinking and communication skills. In addition to didactic coursework, extensive "Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs)" and "Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs)" are integral, immersing students in community, hospital, and other practice settings. The unique certificate programs require specific core and elective courses, allowing for specialization in areas like healthcare management, pharmacy informatics, or medical affairs.

Research Focus: The PharmD program at KGI incorporates an applied and translational research focus, aligning with KGI's broader mission to bridge scientific discovery and practical application in the life sciences. While it may not strictly involve a traditional bench-science PhD-style dissertation, the program cultivates "evidence-based decision making" and promotes "interdisciplinary translational and applied research." Students are expected to engage in projects that enhance healthcare, solve complex medication-related problems, and advance the practice of pharmacy. The curriculum includes courses like "Drug Information, Study Design, and Literature Evaluation," preparing students to critically analyze research and contribute to scholarly work. KGI's School of Pharmacy vision explicitly mentions "the translation of applied and clinical science breakthroughs to enhance the quality of life," highlighting an inherent research orientation towards practical impact in healthcare.

Industry Engagement: KGI's PharmD program is renowned for its exceptional industry engagement. It leverages KGI's strong ties with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors to provide students with unparalleled opportunities. This includes a required "Introduction to Industry" course for all first-year students, frequent industry speakers on campus, and active student organizations focused on industry. A significant highlight is the KGI Fellowship Program, which provides intensive, hands-on training in drug discovery, development, and commercialization, often leading to direct industry placements. Many graduates secure fellowships or positions in pharmaceutical companies, moving beyond traditional retail pharmacy roles. The curriculum is informed by industry leaders, ensuring graduates possess "cutting-edge knowledge and skills to advance the practice," and experiential education rotations frequently occur in diverse industry settings.

Global Perspective: The PharmD program at Keck Graduate Institute is increasingly incorporating a global perspective, recognizing the interconnected nature of healthcare and pharmaceutical innovation worldwide. KGI recently opened enrollment to international students for its PharmD program, actively seeking to foster "a more inclusive admissions process, encouraging diversity at the national and global levels." The institute is also establishing affiliation agreements and initiating conversations with various countries, including India, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia. This global outreach aims to train pharmacists who can effectively serve diverse, multicultural communities both within the U.S. and internationally, preparing them to "work as a member of a healthcare team" and make recommendations to "improve patient outcomes" on a global scale. The focus on areas like personalized medicine and pharmacogenomics inherently has global implications, as these advancements benefit patients worldwide.