Skaggs School of Pharmacy

Patient care is at the center of pharmacy practice. As the medication experts on the health care team, our students will be prepared to promote the health and well-being of individuals and communities.  Our curriculum supports interprofessional education and focuses on the development of professional leaders engaged in service.

The Skaggs School of Pharmacy was established in 1907 at Montana State College, was transferred to the University of Montana in 1913, and resides in the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences. The Skaggs School of Pharmacy consists of two departments, Pharmacy Practice and Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. The entry-level doctor of pharmacy program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 135 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago IL 60603-4810, telephone (312) 664-3575, (800) 533-3606; FAX (312) 664-4652; Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education website (http://www.acpe-accredit.org/)

The curriculum offered by the Skaggs School of Pharmacy consists of a six-year program leading to the entry-level Pharm.D. degree. The first two years, or pre-professional portion of the curriculum, are spent in studies of the basic biological and physical sciences, and in course work necessary to satisfy the University general education requirements. During the first three years of the professional program, students devote their time to the study of the biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice. Areas of study include biochemistry, microbiology, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, social and administrative pharmacy, and therapeutics. The final professional year is entirely experiential and designed to fully prepare students to enter the profession as pharmacist patient care providers.

A program of selected electives allows the student to obtain further educational experience in specialized areas. Students in the professional program may choose elective courses in community pharmacy practice, management, research and teaching, hospital and institutional pharmacy practice, and a variety of therapeutic-based topics.

In addition to their formal educational program, to become registered pharmacists, students must complete practical experience under the direction of registered pharmacists and pass the NAPLEX and MPJE exams administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

Career opportunities exist in the fields of community pharmacy, ambulatory care pharmacy, hospital and other institutional pharmacy, federal or state government service, public health agencies, and with the pharmaceutical industry. Those with advanced degrees or residency training are in demand for research positions and in pharmaceutical education.

High School Preparation: In addition to the general University admission requirements, algebra, trigonometry, biology, chemistry, physics and a course in computers are recommended.

Pre-pharmacy Program:  The pre-pharmacy curriculum, which requires a minimum of two years of full-time study, may be taken at any accredited college or university. Students at the University of Montana-Missoula may enter the pre-pharmacy program during any semester. It is recommended that students considering pharmacy as a major declare a pre-pharmacy major as early as possible in order to receive appropriate advising. Upon designating pre-pharmacy as a major, students will be assigned an advisor within the pharmacy program.

Professional Pharmacy Program:  Students must apply for admission to the professional program. Class size in the professional pharmacy program is restricted and admission to the program is competitive. For information on program requirements and the application procedure, refer to Prospective Students on the pharmacy program website (http://health.umt.edu/pharmacy/)

Department of Pharmacy Practice

Michael P. Rivey, Chair

The Department of Pharmacy Practice provides academic course work for the Doctor of Pharmacy and Masters degrees, conducts research in the broad area of health care, and provides service to the profession of pharmacy and other health care disciplines.

Faculty

Professors

Douglas R. Allington, Professor

Donna G. Beall, Professor and Director, Student Affairs

Jean T. Carter, Ph.D., Professor and Coordinator, Assessment

Vincent J. Colucci, Professor

Gayle A. Hudgins, Professor and Director, Experiential Programs

Sarah Johnston Miller, Professor

Michael P. Rivey, Professor and Chair

Associate Professors

Annjeanette E. Belcourt-Dittloff, Associate Professor

Sherrill Brown, Associate Professor

Kendra Procacci, Associate Professor

Assistant Professors

Kerry J. Haney, Assistant Professor

Rory Johnson, Assistant Professor

Kimberly Madson, Assistant Professor

Ian McGrane, Assistant Professor

Instructor

Lisa Venuti

Emeritus Professors

David S. Forbes, Professor and Dean

Lori J. Morin, Professor and Assistant Dean

Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Elizabeth A. Putnam, Chair

The Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences offers a curriculum in support of the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and graduate programs in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. Degree programs include the M.S. in Neuroscience, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry; and the Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design, Toxicology, and Medicinal Chemistry. These programs provide education and training in pharmacology, toxicology, neurobiology, neurochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and molecular genetics. Program graduates are well prepared for careers in academia, government and industry.

Faculty

Professors

Howard D. Beall, Professor and Associate Dean

Richard J. Bridges, Regents Professor and Director, Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience

Fernando Cardozo-Pelaez, Professor

J. Douglas Coffin, Professor

Andrij Holian, Professor and Director, Center for Environmental Health Science and Toxicology Graduate Program

Michael Kavanaugh, Professor

Diana I. Lurie, Professor

Nicholas Natale, Professor and Director, Medicinal Chemistry Graduate Program

Curtis W. Noonan, Professor and Director, Graduate Education and Research

Elizabeth A. Putnam, Professor and Chair

David M. Shepherd, Professor

Charles M. Thompson, Professor

Associate Professors

Philippe Diaz, Associate Professor

Darrell Jackson, Associate Professor and Coordinator, Graduate Education

Keith K. Parker, Associate Professor

Mark A. Pershouse, Associate Professor and Director, Pre-medical Science Program

Kevan Roberts, Associate Professor

Jerry R. Smith, Associate Professor and Coordinator, Pre-Pharmacy Program

Erica L. Woodahl, Associate Professor and Director, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Design Graduate Program

Assistant Professors

Yoon Hee Cho, Assistant Professor

Kasper Hansen, Assistant Professor

Travis Hughes, Assistant Professor

Monica Serban, Assistant Professor

Lecturer

David S. Freeman

Jayme Hartzell

Research Professor

Helene Bazin-Lee, Research Professor

David Burkhart, Research Professor

Andrea Stierle, Research Professor

Donald Stierle, Research Professor

Research Assistant Professors

Fanny Astruc-Diaz, Research Assistant Professor

Celine Beamer, Research Assistant Professor

Zeina Jaffar, Research Assistant Professor

Christopher T. Migliaccio, Research Assistant Professor

Sarjubhai A. Patel, Research Assistant Professor

Thomas Rau, Research Assistant Professor

Emeritus Professors

Todd G. Cochran, Professor

Charles L. Eyer, Professor

Vernon R. Grund, Professor and Associate Dean

Rustem S. Medora, Professor