Timothy M. Chan Dean, USC School of Pharmacy 1985 Zonal Avenue, PSC 700 Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121 323-442-1369 Voice 323-442-1681 Fax knipe@hsc.usc.edu

A Message from the Dean

How many professions and occupations do you know that are voted the most honest and ethical by the public nine years in a row?

The answer is ONE, and it is that of the pharmacist.

It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the profession of pharmacy, and to the School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California, one of the most progressive schools of pharmacy in the United States, with a history rich in academic innovations and excellence. You may gather from the Gallup poll results cited above, the profession of pharmacy has had a remarkable record in serving the public. The on-going reform of health care provision in the U.S. assures a much expanded role for the pharmacist, shifting away from the traditional role of largely dispensing medications to one that is broadly focused on patient drug therapy. To achieve this expertise, a national Study Commission on Pharmacy acknowledged that "wide and forceful action to improve education has resulted directly in higher standards of practice with clearly increased benefits to those who receive professional services."

To help prepare you for the exciting expanded role as the therapeutic expert within the team of health care professionals, the USC School of pharmacy offers a strong science and practice-based curriculum with emphasis on skills in communication, the use of advanced technologies and business management.

Many opportunities await you when you graduate from the school with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. You may decide to practice in a community setting, in an out-patient clinic or in a hospital. You may serve as drug information scientist or regulatory consultant for a public or private organization; or you may choose to be a pharmacy consultant, independently or in partnership. Opportunities in sales, education, research and administration also exist in corporations managing health care financing, or manufacturing or distributing pharmaceuticals.

Graduates from the Pharm.D./M.B.A. program are highly sought by health care provider organizations. Teaching and pursuing research interests in a school of pharmacy can be very challenging and rewarding. Some students choose to continue in graduate studies for an additional degree. Whichever road you choose, it is evident that pharmacy is an expanding profession which provides career opportunities for qualified men and women.

The USC School of Pharmacy is situated in an academic health center which provides approximately 150 different educational and training programs for health professions students, with access to one of the largest teaching hospitals in the world. The school is housed in the John Stauffer Pharmaceutical Sciences Center building and the Center for the Health Professions, furnished with excellent lecture halls and laboratories.

Sincerely yours,

Timothy M. Chan, Ph.D.
Dean