A Welcome Message from the Dean

Greetings from the School of Pharmacy at Union University, where our emphasis is on our students!  Our core values are real and meaningful.  We are excellence-driven, Christ-centered, people-focused, and future-directed. 

This is an academically excellent, future-directed program taught by Christian faculty, premier in their respective fields, with a keen focus on successful development of you, the student, into being a leading pharmacy expert prepared for the healthcare landscape of tomorrow!

Our goal is quality not quantity as demonstrated by our intentionally small class size of fifty to sixty students per class.  We know our students as individuals, not merely as statistical members of a class. The successful matriculation of each of our admitted students through this remarkable program is our aspiration.

From our innovative curriculum including first year gross anatomy and non-prescription drug therapy, to our state-of-the-art, beautiful new pharmacy building, Providence Hall, housing an entire floor of futuristic simulation laboratories and well designed class and study rooms, a superior personalized student educational experience is our objective.

Union University, which was established almost 200 years ago, has a long tradition of excellence.  The University has been recognized for distinction by such prestigious national publications as U.S.News & World Report, Time/PrincetonReview, Peterson’s Competitive Colleges, America’s Best Christian Colleges, and others.  The School of Pharmacy was established in the same great tradition of academic excellence and distinction, illustrated by outstanding Board Exam scores, residency placement, and employment success rates of our graduates.

I hope that you will take time to seriously explore the Union University School of Pharmacy for your professional pharmacy education.  I invite you to call or schedule a visit to see what makes us distinctively different with our focus on YOU!

Blessings,

Sheila L. Mitchell, Pharm.D., FASHP

Overview

The mission of the Union University School of Pharmacy is to develop compassionate, comprehensively trained practitioners who are equipped to meet the immediate and future demands of pharmaceutical science and patient care in an ever changing health care environment. We accomplish our mission through the achievement of the Union University’s four core values: Excellence-Driven; Christ-Centered; People-Focused; Future-Directed.

Union University School of Pharmacy is located in Providence Hall on the Jackson, Tennessee campus of Union University. Providence Hall is a state-of-the-art building that houses not only multi-media classroom space, but also research laboratories for focused practice in both the basic science and clinical practice aspects of pharmacy education. Scientific research at Union occurs in the areas of medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and pharmacokinetics, as well as the social, behavorial and administrative sciences. Clinical laboratories allow for focused practice in the OTC or Non-Prescription Drugs lab and in the Center for Excellence in Health-Care Practice, where students have the opportunity to interact with human patient simulators.

Because of our intentional smaller class size of approximately 60 students per cohort, we emphasize teaching and learning in the classroom, via simulation exercises and small-group work, and through enhanced personal interaction with pharmacy professors. Our program consists of 2.5 years of didactic coursework and 1.5 years of advanced pharmacy practice experiences. Our students engage in community and hospital pharmacy practice experiences, as well as experiences in industry, laboratory and pedagogical research, infusion services, long-term care practice, management, and pharmacy organizations.

Residency Program and Post-Doctoral Fellowships

PGY1 Residency Program
Union University School of Pharmacy offers a Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency Experience that is in pre-candidate status by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The PGY1 Experience offers the resident clinical practice experience in community, ambulatory care and hospital settings. The pedagogy component allows the resident to prepare and present classroom lectures, oversight of lab exercises, and assist with IPPEs and APPEs. Elective activities include intensive care practice and drug informatics, in addition to extended opportunities in the aforementioned settings. The resident will develop their research and innovative service projects in these practice sites.

Features & Benefits:

• Clinical Practice Experiences
• Pharmacy Education Experiences
• Teaching Certificate
• Access to Union University’s first-class library facility
• Access to Wellness Facility
• Free entry to athletic, drama and musical events
• Faculty Parking Privileges

Post-doctoral Fellowship in Pharmacometrics
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the school of pharmacy has established a one-year fellowship in pharmacometrics. This fellowship is appropriate for a Pharm.D., Masters, or Ph.D. student or graduate with some training in pharmacokinetics. The student will work with Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty for training in pharmacometric data analysis. Training will be individualized to the student’s needs and interests, but will focus on skill sets useful for pharmacometric applications in drug development. Students will learn to model data with NONMEM and other related software. The fellowship will include a research project suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Successful completion of the fellowship and granting of the title “Fellow in Pharmacometrics, Union University School of Pharmacy”, will require the successful completion of a submission-ready manuscript for publication. Additionally the student will be required to demonstrate basic competency in data management and pharmacometric analysis. Competency will be demonstrated through the independent work performed during the research project.

Post-doctoral Fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences has developed a post-doctoral fellowship in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry whose primary focus is the design and synthesis of compounds with medicinal properties, particularly in the areas of cancer, anthrax, and tuberculosis. The department has state-of-the-art research laboratories with the latest in analytical instrumentation including a Bruker Avance III 400 MHz spectrometer and a Waters UPLC-MS. The fellowship runs from August 1 to July 31 and is renewable up to three years based on funding and faculty interest. Qualified applicants will have a PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or related field with experience in laboratory synthesis. Applications are reviewed on an on-going basis.

Key Faculty

Founding Dean Dr. Sheila Mitchell received her B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees from the University of Tennessee. Prior to joining Union University School of Pharmacy she was the founding Director of Pharmacy Services at the Methodist Hospital Germantown for 21 years. During her time there she led five major pharmacy and hospital expansion projects, developed and implemented comprehensive clinical pharmacy services, and implemented a USP-797 compliant sterile products preparation program recommended as a role model across the country by JCHAO surveyors. Some of Dr. Mitchell’s most notable contributions to the profession of Pharmacy lie in her vast number of professional leadership roles on both a state and national level.

Associate Dean of Academic Administration & Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. George DeMaagd received his Pharm.D. degree from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at St. Lawrence Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. Prior to join Union University School of Pharmacy Dr. DeMaagd spent five years as an Assistant Director/Clinical Pharmacist at a community hospital in Michigan where he was also a clinical instructor for the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. He served as a full time faculty at Campbell University School of Pharmacy and then later as a faculty member at Ferris State University where he achieved the rank of Professor. Dr. DeMaagd is board certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist.

Assistant Dean of Student Services & Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. Kim Jones received her B.S. from Middle Tennessee State University and her Pharm.D. from the University of Tennessee. She went on to complete a pharmacy practice residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. Prior to joining Union University School of Pharmacy Dr. Jones served as clinical pharmacist at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. She was the PGY-1 Residency Program Coordinator and Director as well as the ACPE Continuing Education Administrator. Dr. Jones is board certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist.

Professor of Pharmacy Practice Dr. David Kuhl received his Pharm.D. degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He went on to complete a critical care/nutrition support residency at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis followed by a two year fellowship in critical care at the University of Tennessee. During his second year of fellowship Dr. Kuhl was awarded the ASHP fellowship in critical care drug therapy. Prior to joining Union University School of Pharmacy he has served as a faculty member for both the University of Toledo and the University of Tennessee. He also served as a clinical pharmacist at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis in the general intensive care unit as well as a clinical pharmacist and director of clinical services at Baptist Memorial Healthcare in Memphis. Dr. Kuhl has received several teaching awards during his career.

Director of Experiential Education Dr. Mark Stephens received his B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees from the University of Tennessee and completed a pharmacy practice residency at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis. Prior to joining Union University School of Pharmacy Dr. Stephens served as a clinical pharmacist at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis and as Associate Professor for the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. He then served as Director of Pharmacy and Disease Management for Memphis Managed Care Corporation before becoming Director of Clinical Pharmacy for AmPharm Health Services of Parsons. Dr. Stephens is board certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist.

Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences Dr. Blake Watkins received his B.S. from Union University and his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Georgia. His Ph.D. research was under the direction of Professor Robert S. Phillips and involved working on the synthesis of small molecule inhibitors of tyrosine phenol lyase. His post doctoral research was under the direction of Professor Mitchell A. Avery at the University of Mississippi focusing on the total synthesis of naturally occurring antifungal agents and ultrahigh pressure cyclization reactions. Prior to joining Union University School of Pharmacy Dr. Watkins worked as a Research Scientist and later as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Mississippi. He was also heavily involved in curricular development for the Regents School of Oxford working to develop and implement a solid, classically Christian science and math curriculum, emphasizing “hands-on” learning with the goal of instilling a deep love for creation and its Creator.

Chair of Pharmacy Practice and Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Jodi L. Taylor, Pharm.D., BCPS, received her B.S. degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 2004 and her Pharm.D. degree from the University of Tennessee, Memphis in 2008. She received the Pharmacy Student Government Association Professionalism Award in 2007 and the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Leadership Award in 2008. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Taylor became board certified as a Pharmacotherapy Specialist in 2009. Her practice interests include Critical Care, Cardiology, and Nutrition. Prior to joining Union University as Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Dr. Taylor served as Instructor of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Tennessee, Memphis.

Research and Labs

Students in the Pharm.D. program at Union University have the opportunity to participate alongside faculty in a variety of research endeavors, many of which are outlined below. We have designed a curriculum that allows students, not only the opportunity but also the time to participate in lab-based or pedagogical/educational research. Although, a relatively small liberal arts university, Union University has invested significantly in the acquisition of state-of-the-art research equipment including a Waters UPLC-MS system and a 400 MHz Bruker NMR, both equipped with autosampler technology.

Medicinal Chemistry/Pharmacology. Our research efforts in the areas of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology center on disease etiology and treatment. We have a two-fold approach to disease treatment. The first involves rational, computer-aided drug design, while the second involves synthesis of natural products or designed libraries of compounds. Currently our research is focused on the development of novel anti-cancer therapeutic agents of natural origin, as well as the design and synthesis of libraries of compounds geared toward the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis and anthrax exposure.

Pharmaceutics. Research in pharmaceutics includes studying the stability of compounded formulations, dosage forms and drug delivery systems. This includes a broad perspective of delivering various small molecules and large molecules (e.g. vaccines and proteins) in their most stable form to treat numerous diseases such as inflammation and cancer which have taken a major toll on the human population. This involves creating a delivery platform of formulation and efficient processing of microparticles and nanoparticles for protein pharmaceuticals, controlled-release biodegradable and targetable particle drug delivery systems prepared by one-step spray drying. A long-term research goal is to develop a strategy where a vaccine, when formulated in a delivery vehicle (micro- and nanoparticles with specific excipients/adjuvants) can behave in a desired manner to stimulate the body’s immune recognition system and facilitate a long lasting potent memory to a particular disease.

Pharmacokinetics. In pharmacometric research we analyze the results of drug studies using computer intensive techniques. This requires a basic understanding of pharmacy as well as math and programming skills. Pharmacometrics is an integrating discipline that pulls information together from a variety of sources and specialties and harmonizes the findings and the communication of the knowledge gained from drug studies.

Pharmacometric research evaluates the results of drug studies, whether in animals or human subjects. The results of these trials are analyzed to create mathematical descriptions of drug concentrations over time, and/or drug effects over time, following the administration of drugs. This research tries to explain this information and to find reasons why one study subject may differ from another. We look for measurable reasons such as body-weight, age, gender, level of kidney and liver function, and even measures of genetic markers which might predict drug levels or effects. With such mathematical understanding, we try to answer important questions regarding patient care, such as what dose should be given to a particular patient or group of patients to maximize the benefits of a drug while limiting its side-effects.

Mathematical descriptions, or models, of the drug properties can also be used to answer questions about the design of future drug studies. Using mathematical models, new study designs can be simulated in a computer to test conditions which haven’t been studied in reality. We use these approaches to design better drug studies, so we can get more useful information from fewer subjects and with greater confidence in the results.

Tuition and other Financial Information

Tuition (including student fees) for the 2015-2016 academic year is $34,100. Information on how to apply for graduate financial assistance can be found at www.uu.edu/financialaid/graduate/howtoapply.cfm.

Recognitions, Honors & Awards

Union University is consistently recognized as a top-tier university by U.S. News & World Report as well as one of “The Best Southeastern Colleges” by the Princeton Review. The School of Pharmacy at Union University is blessed with award winning faculty and students.

Dr. Sean King received a $1,000 grant from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation Million Hearts campaign. The Million Hearts Campaign titled “Heart to Heart Community Health Fairs” aims to support initiatives focused on heart health in all 50 states. Only one pharmacy program from each state was eligible to receive this grant and the UUSOP was chosen. The NACDS campaign’s initiatives took place during the 2013 Union University Employee Health & Benefits Fair.

The specific outreach taking place at the Health & Benefits Fair raised greater awareness of the ABCS of heart health: Appropriate aspirin therapy, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management and Smoking cessation.

Dr. Kim Jones has been appointed to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) national Council on Education and Workforce Development for the 2013-2014 year. The council is concerned with ASHP professional policies related to the quality and quantity of pharmacy practitioners in hospitals and health systems. Within the Council’s purview are: student education; postgraduate education and training; specialization; assessment and maintenance of competence; credentialing; balance between workforce supply and demand; development of technicians; and, related matters.

Several students were selected to receive the following awards and scholarships: the Walmart Scholars Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy; the CVS Caremark Scholarship for Academic Excellence; the Mary Louise Anderson Scholar for 2013 from the American Pharmacists Association Foundation; and the Excellence in Public Health Pharmacy Practice Award from the United States Public Health Service.

Faculty and students continue to present research at state and national meetings throughout the year. Faculty members are also publishing book chapters and papers in their respective area of pharmacy expertise.

Missions

Faculty and students participate in international and local mission work. Medical mission trips in the past have included work in Honduras and Belize. Faculty and students also participate in community activities such as health screenings, prescription drug abuse prevention education, heart health and diabetes education as well as food drives for area food banks.

University/School History

Union University, founded in 1823, has rich history in Tennessee. For more detailed information about Union University visit www.uu.edu/about/. The Union University School of Pharmacy has just accepted its sixth class and graduated its first class in May of 2012.

Other Information

Union University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60503, 312/664-3575; FAX 312/664-4652, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.