SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
About the School of Pharmacy
The School of Pharmacy at the James Cook Medical University offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses (in collaboration with the School of Postgraduate Studies) across Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy including the new integrated Master's degrees in Applied Pharmaceutical Science
The philosophy of the School of Pharmacy is to produce passionate pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists who are adept in addressing many of the major healthcare challenges that we will all face in the 2020s and beyond.
PROGRAMMES
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) - 4 Years
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) / Bachelor of Science (BSC) - 6 Years
- Doctor of / Pharmacy (PharmD) / Master of Public Health (MPH) - 4 Years
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) / Master of Science (MSc) - 4 Years
- Pharmacy (PharmD)) / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - 7 Years
- Masters of Pharmacy (MPharm) - 2 Years
CURRICULUM
The First year of Pharmacy school consists of intensive coursework in biomedical science, pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, principles of drug action, and immunology, as well as literature analysis, professionalism, ethics, and general patient management. After mastery of basic concepts, students apply concepts of pathophysiology and pharmacology to single disease state pharmacotherapy. Student pharmacists also participate in weekly clinical skills training and a one-week community or institutional experiential rotation at the end of the semester. There are no educational requirements during the summer following the first year.
The Second rigorous year of the Doctor of Pharmacy education continues with therapeutic decision making in each major system/disease state, as well as infectious disease therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, health policy, and weekly clinical skills training. Students select two introductory pharmacy practice experiences on quality and safety in community pharmacy (four weeks) and health system pharmacy (three weeks) practice settings, to be completed during the summer following the second year.
The Third year challenges students with concepts of pharmacotherapy of multiple disease states. Pharmacy practice management and leadership, pharmaceutics, pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics, public health pharmacy, and pharmacy law are also emphasized, and weekly clinical skills training continues. Student pharmacists explore personal areas of interest through a wide variety of electives, pathways, and dual degrees. Students begin advanced pharmacy practice experiential rotations during the summer following the third year.
Upon completion of didactic requirements, in 4th year student pharmacists are off-campus during the entire fourth year for advanced pharmacy practice experiences including required community, institutional/health-system, acute care/general medicine, and ambulatory care rotations, as well as patient care and non-patient care elective experiences. Individual learning and mentoring takes place through interaction with and supervision by qualified preceptors. Each graduate will have successfully developed the competencies, professional judgment, and habits of lifelong learning of an independent pharmacy practitioner.
In the Fourth Year students are recommended to write a research thesis, for publication in reputable pharmaceutical journals and the David Harrington School of Pharmaceutical sciences journal as a requirement for graduation.
COURSES
Pharmaceutical Calculations, Biochemistry, Physiology, Anatomy, Pathology, Pharmacognosy Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Pharmacotherapy Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Community Pharmacy Practice, Emergency Pharmacy Practice, Paediatric Pharmacy Practice, Public Health Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacy Management, Pharmacy Ethics/Jurisprudence, Pharmaceutical Microbiology & Biotechnology, Research Thesis.
ELECTIVES
Starting in their first year, students have various elective options to personalize their experience, and these opportunities continue into their advanced experiential rotation year as P4s.
ELECTIVE OPTIONS INCLUDE:
Advanced Pharmacogenomics, Effective Leadership and Advocacy, Introduction to Integrative Medicine, Introduction to the Poison Center IPE, Medication Management in Mental Health, Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics, Pharmacotherapy of Solid Organ, Transplantation Pharmapreneurship Seminar.
Integration between courses and within courses, continuous intentional application to increase material reinforcement
Focus on pharmacy practice skills, personal and professional development, team work, and communication skills
Block schedule with two blocks per semester and 4 – 5 courses per block
POSTGRADUATE PHARMACY EDUCATION
Our Postgraduate Pharmacy Education programme provides postgraduate clinical training in either general (PGY1) pharmacy practice or within a specialized (PGY2) area of pharmacy practice. These experiences prepare our residents for advancement within the profession of pharmacy. After specialist training, Pharmacists get conferred with a Master of Clinical Pharmacy (M.Clin.Pharm.) in specialized Pharmaceutical fields and a Specialist Certificate. In affiliation with the school of Postgraduate Studies, we offer Ph,D. and Postdoctoral programmes in various non Clinical Pharmacy fields.
At our Postgraduate Pharmacy Education Programme, trainees;
- Complete a research project under the direction of a faculty mentor;
- Complete an advanced academic teaching certificate;
- Have access to a world-class, online medical library;
- Receive travel support and an excellent benefit.
Our Postgraduate Pharmacy Education Programme provides you with essential clinical training and leadership development to make you an integral member of the health care team.
DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL PHARMACY PRACTICE
- Clinical Pharmacy Practice - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Pharmacotherapy - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Clinical Veterinary Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Paediatric Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Oncology Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Ambulatory Pharmacy - D.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Geriatric Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Emergency Medicine Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & C.S.T. (2 Years)
- Infectious Disease Pharmacy -M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Transplant Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & C.S.T. (2 Years)
- Cardiology Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Psychiatric Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Compounded Sterile Preparation Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Nuclear Pharmacy - M.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Community Pharmacy - D.Clin.Pharm. & Specialist Certification (2 Years)
- Transitional / Preliminary - Specialist Certification (1 Year)
- Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Community Pharmacy, Clinical Veterinary Pharmacy, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Toxicology,Pharmacotherapy - Certificate of Clinical Fellowship (1 Year)
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
- Medicinal Chemistry - Ph.D. & Post - Doctoral Fellowship Program. (offered In Affiliation with the School of Postgraduate Studies). (3 Years)
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICS
- Pharmaceutics - Ph.D. & Post - Doctoral Fellowship Program. (offered In Affiliation with the School of Postgraduate Studies). (3 Years)
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
- Pharmacology & Therapeutics - Ph.D. & Post - Doctoral Fellowship Program. (offered in Affiliation with the School of Postgraduate Studies) (3 Years)
DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY
- Pharmacognosy - Ph.D. & Post - Doctoral Fellowship Program. (offered in Affiliation with the School of Postgraduate Studies) (3 Years)
