How does WCU School of Pharmacy support students preparing for the NAPLEX exam?

The School, through the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) maintains contact with alumni in California, across the US, and internationally through professional association meetings, email, LinkedIn, social media, and alumni engagement events. OSA has invited alumni to engage current students and participate in on-campus or virtual events. Alumni also participated in video- interviews and testimonials about their experiences when in our PharmD program. We also take great pride in the fact that a graduate from our inaugural cohort (Class of 2018) returned to WCU to become a pharmacy faculty member after completing a post-graduate residency. Our alumni have also participated in panel discussions sponsored by Career Services to engage our current students in an audience Question and Answer format. Four alumni from the Class of 2018 are being video-interviewed so they can share their individual experiences while in the program in the School’s early years (2014-2018).

Where are the WCU School of Pharmacy graduates working today?

Our graduates practice in various pharmacy practice areas. For more information please click here.

How many years is a PharmD program?

WCU's PharmD program takes approximately 3 years to complete.

Are all pharmacists PharmD?

To become a pharmacist, you need to have a Doctorate in Pharmacy, which is abbreviated as PharmD.

Hybrid PharmD Program

About the Hybrid Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program

About the Hybrid Doctor of Pharmacy Program
Admissions Requirements
Curriculum
Transfer Policy
Tuition & Financial Aid
Scholarships
Accreditation
Mission & Vision
Experiential Education
Program Statistical Data
PharmD Student Handbook
Information Sessions
News and Events
Faculty

The West Coast University School of Pharmacy offers a hybrid Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, blending in-person and online learning experiences that can be completed in less than three years. Our hybrid PharmD program strives to help prepare graduates for the opportunities and challenges of contemporary pharmacy practice. Our interactive-learning environment emphasizes interprofessional clinical experiences with students from other health professions, extensive use of innovative technology, and a multitude of community engagement and outreach activities.

What Makes the WCU School of Pharmacy Unique?

Hybrid Format
Our hybrid program was designed to give you increased flexibility and access. Take the didactic section of the curriculum online and a complementary series of hands-on experiential courses in person.

Student Leadership
With a variety of student organizations and professional associations, you can choose to pursue a range of student leadership roles to develop soft skills and network with other industry professionals.

Dynamic Curriculum
Learn in an environment that emphasizes patient-centered care, interprofessional education, collaboration, communication, and leadership development.

Simulation Lab Experiences
Our experiential education and simulation offerings help prepare you for what employers need in pharmacy graduates. Develop skills and strategies for real-world application.

Community Engagement
Give back to the community through outreach events including wellness fairs, blood pressure screenings, immunization clinics, and more. These events offer student pharmacists robust opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills developed on campus while helping real patients.

NAPLEX Support
Passing the NAPLEX certification exam is an important milestone for every pharmacy student. At WCU, you’ll get support as you prepare for the exam, including one-on-one guidance and tutoring.

The School of Pharmacy seeks qualified applicants possessing a well-balanced background. Applicants are evaluated on a variety of criteria, including:

Academic achievement in all prerequisite coursework, particularly math and science courses
Evidence of strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Letters of recommendation (two from a math/science professor and the third letter from a pharmacist (supervisor), math/science professor, employer (supervisor), healthcare professional (supervisor), or liberal arts professor).
Engagement in extracurricular activities
Knowledge, understanding, or individual curiosity about the pharmacy profession and/or previous work in a pharmacy or healthcare setting

Application Process

In addition to specified prerequisites listed above, all applicants seeking admission to WCU School of Pharmacy must meet minimum technical requirements.

The hybrid Doctor of Pharmacy program is not eligible to enroll international F1 visa students.

To apply:

First-Year Applicants:

Submit the PharmCAS application
Detail interview process below

Transfer Applicants (P2, P3):

Submit the WCU Application
Detail interview process below

The Hybrid Interview Process aims to assess potential for success in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

Candidates who meet the admissions criteria will be invited to an Interview Day which includes:

Curriculum Overview with Q & A
“Meet the Dean” Session with Q & A
Faculty – Panel Interview (virtual)
Write a Contemporaneous Essay (virtual)
Information About Admission Decisions

Immunizations and Health Screening

The West Coast University School of Pharmacy policy on immunization and health screenings states students must have their immunization and health screening up to date with formal documentation from their healthcare provider. Our process is based on current CDC guidelines for healthcare professionals. Students must provide proof of screening, vaccination, and/or immunity to the Office of Experiential Education for the following:

Tuberculosis (TB) - TB screening procedures vary based on a student’s immunization/disease history.

Students who do not have a history of TB infection/disease or have not had positive TB test results in the past (regardless of BCG vaccination status) are required to have an initial TB skin test (TST) or QuantiFERON TB Gold or TSpot blood test within three months of matriculation (completed by student). Students who have a skin test only will be required to complete a second skin test within the first month of the program (provided by the school). (The second TST must be placed at least seven days after the first.) Annual testing is required thereafter.
Students who have a positive history of TB disease must provide documentation of positive TB skin test (TST) results and TB treatment and must complete the program TB symptoms form upon matriculation. Students must complete the symptoms form annually. Based on the results of the symptoms form additional action may be required.
Students who have tested positive for TB infection must provide documentation of positive TB skin test (TST) results and TB treatment, a negative two-view chest x-ray, and must complete the program TB symptoms form upon matriculation. Students must complete the symptoms form annually. Based on the results of the symptoms form additional action may be required. An additional negative two-view chest x-ray may be required by some clinical affiliates and will be the financial responsibility of the student.

Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap/Td) - Evidence of one dose of Tdap within 10 years of all program activities. If a student has received Td only, then a one-time dose of Tdap must be received, then boost with Td every 10 years.
Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) - Students born after 1957 must show immunity through documentation of a series of two doses of MMR vaccine (must be administered at least one month apart) OR laboratory evidence of immunity via positive antibody titer results. Students with negative or indeterminate antibody titer results will be required to complete the vaccination series.
Varicella (chickenpox) - Evidence of immunity is documentation of two doses of the varicella vaccine (administered at least 28 days apart with the last dose completed at least two weeks prior to clinical start date) OR laboratory evidence of immunity via positive antibody titers. Students with negative or indeterminate antibody titer results will be required to complete the vaccination series.
Hepatitis B - Evidence of immunity is documentation of three Hepatitis B vaccines (2nd injection administered at least 28 days after 1st injection, and the 3rd injection must be administered 6 months after the 1st injection or 5 months after the 2nd injection) OR laboratory evidence of immunity via positive antibody titer (titer must be obtained at least 30 days after the 3rd injection). Students with negative or indeterminate antibody titer results will be required to complete the vaccination series and an antibody titer 1-2 months after the third dose of the second series.
Meningitis - Evidence of vaccination or signed waiver.
Annual Influenza vaccination - While WCU does not require annual influenza vaccination, students are expected to fulfill the immunization requirements of clinical sites.
Hepatitis A - Positive/reactive Hep A Antibody Titer or proof of vaccination, if required by clinical site.
COVID-19 vaccination - While WCU does not currently require COVID-19 vaccination, students are expected to fulfill the immunization requirements of specific clinical sites that require this vaccination.

References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Adult Immunization Schedule: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Updated April 20, 2017.) Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html

Specified immunizations and health screenings are required for all students unless medically contraindicated (health care provider documentation must be provided and based on CDC contraindication guidelines). By submitting immunization records, the student authorizes WCU to release the information in the WCU records to affiliated hospitals or clinics where a student is engaged in the clinical learning experience.

Additional immunization and/or health screening requirements beyond those mandated by the program may be required by a clinical affiliate. If so, students will be made aware of additional requirements and will need to ensure compliance at their own cost, as necessary. Immunization and health screening requirements will be reviewed annually by the program to ensure they minimally meet the most recent CDC recommendations, state-specific mandates, and affiliate policies. Students will be notified of changes to the immunization policy and given direction on how to complete any additional requirements, as necessary. Failure to comply with clinical site requirements for immunization and/or health screening resulting in incomplete supervised clinical practice experiences may enable students from completing the clinical year resulting in dismissal from the program.

Transfer Policy

School of Pharmacy Transfer School of Pharmacy Transfer and Advanced Standing Credit Policy

Individuals previously enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education may request advanced standing transfer into the West Coast University (WCU) accelerated hybrid PharmD program. Requests for transfer into the WCU School of Pharmacy accelerated hybrid PharmD program will be reviewed in a case-by-case basis in accordance with the requirements noted below, and is contingent upon space availability. Acceptance of transfer credit does not guarantee that student will enter the same academic year as the Pharmacy School they are transferring from.

Only grades of C (73%) or better are eligible for transfer.

In addition to meeting all requirements for admission to the WCU School of Pharmacy accelerated hybrid PharmD program, the following documentation must be submitted for review.

West Coast University Center for Graduate Study (CGS) Admission Application
Application Fee
Personal statement to the Dean outlining reasons for seeking a transfer to West Coast University School of Pharmacy.
A letter from the Dean of the originating College/School of Pharmacy outlining details of the applicant’s academic performance, and statement that transfer candidate is in good academic and professional standing. This letter must be in a sealed envelope with the respective Dean’s signature, addressed to the WCU School of Pharmacy Dean.
Two Letters of Recommendation from a Professional Reference (Faculty, Healthcare Professional, or University Administrator).
Official Transcripts from applicant’s current school/college/institution.
Official Transcripts from all institutions where prerequisite course work was completed.
Course syllabi for each pharmacy course completed at the school/college of origin.

Upon satisfactory submission and evaluation of the above documents, the transfer candidate will be notified to meet with the Assistant/Associate Dean of Student Affairs and the Assistant/Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for an interview.

If approval to transfer to WCU SOP is granted, the candidate will be contacted by the School of Pharmacy Student Affairs.and Advanced Standing Credit Policy

Individuals previously enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education may request advanced standing transfer into the West Coast University (WCU) PharmD program. Requests for transfer into the WCU School of Pharmacy PharmD program will be reviewed in a case-by-case basis in accordance with the requirements noted below, and is contingent upon space availability. Acceptance of transfer credit does not guarantee that student will enter the same academic year as the Pharmacy School they are transferring from.

Only grades of C (73%) or better are eligible for transfer.

In addition to meeting all requirements for admission to the WCU School of Pharmacy, the following documentation must be submitted for review.

West Coast University Center for Graduate Study (CGS) Admission Application
Application Fee
Personal statement to the Dean outlining reasons for seeking a transfer to West Coast University School of Pharmacy.
A letter from the Dean of the originating College/School of Pharmacy outlining details of the applicant’s academic performance, and statement that transfer candidate is in good academic and professional standing. This letter must be in a sealed envelope with the respective Dean’s signature, addressed to the WCU School of Pharmacy Dean.
Two Letters of Recommendation from a Professional Reference (Faculty, Healthcare Professional, or University Administrator).
Official Transcripts from applicant’s current school/college/institution.
Official Transcripts from all institutions where prerequisite course work was completed.
Course syllabi for each pharmacy course completed at the school/college of origin.

If approval to transfer to WCU SOP is granted, the candidate will be contacted by the School of Pharmacy Student Affairs.

The priority deadline for receipt of all WCU School of Pharmacy scholarship application materials is March 31st. All scholarship offers must be accepted within 10 business days of the offer being extended. Funds remaining from unaccepted offers may be given to additional applicants on a monthly basis.

Scholarships for Incoming Students

Presidential Academic Excellence Scholarship (up to 5 recipients)

$15,000 per academic year - up to $67,500 for the full 9 semester program
Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above
Must have a bachelor's degree
Renewable for 4.5 years—must maintain GPA of 3.25 or higher throughout the program
Must have accepted admission offer at the time of the scholarship offer

Mark Hacken Trustee Scholarship (up to 5 recipients)

$10,000 per academic year - up to $45,000 for the full 9 semester program
Must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 and above for the initial year offer
Must be a member of an underrepresented minority group (African-American, Hispanic, and Native American)
Renewable for 4.5 years—must maintain GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program
Must have accepted admission offer at the time of the scholarship offer
Must have accepted the scholarship within 10 business days of receipt of the offer being extended

Dean's Scholarship (up to 20 recipients)

Up to $5,000 per academic year
Must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above for the initial year offer
Renewable for 4.5 years—must maintain:
- GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program; and
- Excellence in service engagement
Must have accepted admission offer at the time of the scholarship offer
Must have accepted initial scholarship offer within 10 business days of the offer being extended

Scholarships for Current Students

Service Excellence Scholarship (Up to 10 recipients)

Must have active participation in at least one professional organization
Must have a proven record of leadership in community outreach and/or service agreement
Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher
Scholarship amount: $1,000 scholarship toward the following year's tuition

Leadership Engaging and Advancing Pharmacy (LEAP) Scholarship (up to 4 recipients)

Must maintain a leadership role in activities of a professional organization and/or student government
Must maintain a leadership role in a project that promotes pharmacy profession/practice
Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
Scholarship Amount: $2,500 scholarship toward following year's tuition.

Students interested in receiving the President's, Mark Hacken, and/or Dean's Scholarships described above must notify the program dean of their interest as a part of the program application process.

Scholarships will be applied toward required tuition and fees. Students who withdraw prior to program completion will forfeit future disbursements.

Scholarship for Fourth Year Students

The following scholarships may be offered over and above any other scholarship for which a student may qualify.

Academic Honors Scholarship

Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
Must have a third-year PCOA ranking of 75th percentile or higher
Scholarship Amount: $5,000 scholarship toward fourth year tuition

Academic Merit Scholarship

Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
Must have a third-year PCOA ranking between 50th and 75th percentile
Scholarship amount: $2,500 scholarship toward the fourth year of tuition

Each of the above scholarship offers for new and current students is exclusive of the other offers, and each recipient will be selected at the discretion of the program using a scholarship rubric.

A student will receive the amount for the highest level for which the student was eligible and selected. For example, if the student is selected for both a Presidential Academic Excellence Scholarship and a Dean Scholarship, then that student will receive only the Presidential Scholarship. Only one scholarship will be offered per student.

The priority deadline for receipt of all Pharmacy scholarship application materials is March 31^st. All offers must be accepted within 10 business days of receipt of the scholarship offer. Funds remaining from unaccepted offers may be offered to additional applicants on a monthly basis.

Presidential Academic Excellence Scholarship (up to five recipients per year)

$15,000 per academic year - up to $67,500 for the full 9 semester program
3.50 and above cumulative GPA
Must have a Bachelor's degree
Renewable for 4 1/2 years - must maintain GPA of 3.25 or higher throughout the program
Student must have accepted admission offer at the time of the offer

Mark Hacken Trustee Scholarship (up to five recipients)

$10,000 per academic year - up to $45,000 for the full 9 semester program
3.00 and above cumulative undergraduate GPA for the initial year offer
Member of an under-represented minority (African-American, Hispanic, and Native American)
Renewable for 4 1/2 years - must maintain GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program
Student must have accepted admission offer at the time of the scholarship offer
Must have accepted offer within 10 business days of receipt of the offer

Dean's Scholarship (up to twenty recipients)

Up to $5,000 per academic year
2.75 and above cumulative undergraduate GPA for the initial year offer
Demonstrate excellence in service engagement
Renewable for 4 1/2 years - must maintain

GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout the program; and
Excellence in service engagement

Student must have accepted admission offer at the time of the offer
Must have accepted initial offer within 10 business days of receipt of the offer.

Scholarships for Current Students

Service Excellence Scholarship

Up to 10 recipients may be granted per year
Criteria:

Active participation in at least one professional organization
A proven record of leadership in community outreach and/or service agreement
Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher

Scholarship Amount: $1,000 scholarship toward following year's tuition

Leadership Engaging and Advancing Pharmacy (LEAP) Scholarship

Up to 4 recipients may be granted per year
Criteria:

Leadership role in activities of a professional organization and/or student government
Leadership role in a project that promotes pharmacy profession/practice
Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher

Scholarship Amount: $2,500 scholarship toward following year's tuition.

Students interested in receiving the President's, Mark Hacken, and/or Dean's Scholarships, described above, must notify the program Dean of his/her interest as a part of the program application process.

Scholarships will be applied toward required tuition and fees. Students who withdraw prior to program completion will forfeit future disbursements.

Scholarship for Fourth Year Students

The following scholarships may be offered over and above any other scholarship for which a student may qualify.

Academic Honors Scholarship

Criteria:

Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
Third year PCOA ranking of 75th percentile or higher

Scholarship Amount: $5,000 scholarship toward fourth year tuition

Academic Merit Scholarship

Criteria:

Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
Third year PCOA ranking between 50th and 75th percentile

Scholarship Amount: $2,500 scholarship toward fourth year tuition.

Each of the above scholarship offers for new and current students is exclusive of the other offers and each recipient will be selected at the discretion of the Program using a scholarship rubric. A student will receive the amount for the highest level for which the student was eligible and selected. For example, if the student is selected for both a Presidential Academic Excellence Scholarship and a Dean Scholarship, then that student will receive only the Presidential Scholarship. Only one scholarship will be offered per student.

Programmatic Accreditation

West Coast University School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60603-4810, 312-644-3575; fax 866-228-26431, web site www.acpe-accredit.org. The Doctor of Pharmacy program at WCU of received accredited status in 2018. The accreditation term granted for the Doctor of Pharmacy program extends until June 30, 2024. The professional program of the School and its accreditation status is designated on ACPE's website, www.acpe-accredit.org. PLEASE NOTE THAT LICENSURE TO PRACTICE AS A PHARMACIST IS REQUIRED IN EVERY STATE. HOWEVER, THE EXAM AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS VARY BY STATE. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESEARCH THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE STATE IN WHICH YOU PLAN TO PRACTICE. To learn more Click Here.

Mission

The hybrid Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at West Coast University combines a dynamic evidence-based curriculum with hands-on practical experience giving students a wider understanding of the entire healthcare field.

We use the combination of enhanced communication and teamwork skills, advanced technology, and interprofessional education to educate and train students to become flexible, inspired, and team-oriented pharmacists that improve patients' lives.

Vision

We are committed to providing students with a learning environment that emphasizes patient-centered care, interprofessional education, and leadership development. We constantly work towards creating a culture of scholarship among faculty and students and strive to lead the pharmacy profession to the forefront of an integrated and innovative practice.

Benefit from Experiential Education

The purpose of providing experiential education is to help develop the student’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes/values as the student progresses through the curriculum. Practice Experiences, including both Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs), are designed to provide a structured learning process for students to be able to demonstrate the Program Learning Outcomes upon graduation. Students will have the opportunity to integrate, apply, reinforce and reflect on their practice abilities.

The overall goals of the Experiential Program are to:
(1) Develop entry-level pharmacists to practice at most major pharmacy sites.
(2) Prepare students to achieve the various competencies detailed in the Program Learning Outcomes.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Experiential Education to obtain further information:
West Coast University | School of Pharmacy
Office of Experiential Education
590 N. Vermont Ave Los Angeles CA 90004
Telephone: (323) 284-4799
eFax: (213) 377-5489
e-mail: expedu@westcoastuniversity.edu

Below are the previous Doctor of Pharmacy program outcomes. Data for the hybrid PharmD program will be available in 2024. (The data below is based on the program accreditor’s (ACPE) standards and definitions.)

Graduation Data

Year	Students Entering/Graduating	On-Time Graduation Rate *
2022	73/52	71.2%
2021	62/46	74.2%
2020	60/53	88.3%

* On-Time Graduation Rate: The percentage of students who complete the program during the same calendar year as declared upon matriculation

Graduation Data

Year: 2022
Students Entering/Graduating	73/52
On-Time Graduation Rate	71.2%
Year: 2021
Students Entering/Graduating	62/46
On-Time Graduation Rate	74.2%
Year: 2020
Students Entering/Graduating	60/53
On-Time Graduation Rate	88.3%

* On-Time Graduation Rate: The percentage of students who complete the program during the same calendar year as declared upon matriculation

NAPLEX Pass Rates

Year	First-Time Pass Rate *
2022	79.2%
2021	77.3%
2020	68.6%

*First-Time Pass Rate: The percentage of graduates who take and successfully pass the licensure examination on their first attempt

CPJE Pass Rate

Examination Window	Overall Pass Rate *	WCU First-Time Pass Rate **
May 2022 – September 2022	63.1%	62.2%
October 2021 – April 2022	44.7%	50%
April 2021 – September 2021	55.9%	46.2%
October 2020 – March 2021	50.8%	48.6%
May 2020 – September 2020	63.7%	53.1%
December 2019 – April 2020	47.5%	37.5%

* Overall Pass Rate: The pass rate for all CPJE test takers

**First-Time Pass Rate: The percentage of graduates who take and successfully pass the licensure examination on their first attempt

CPJE Pass Rate

Examination Window: May 2022 – September 2022
Overall Pass Rate	63.1%
WCU First-Time Pass Rate	62.2%
Examination Window: October 2021 – April 2022
Overall Pass Rate	44.7%
WCU First-Time Pass Rate	50%
Examination Window: April 2021 – September 2021
Overall Pass Rate	55.9%
WCU First-Time Pass Rate	46.2%
Examination Window: October 2020 – March 2021
Overall Pass Rate	50.8%
WCU First-Time Pass Rate	48.6%
Examination Window: May 2020 – September 2020
Overall Pass Rate	63.7%
WCU First-Time Pass Rate	53.1%
Examination Window: December 2019 – April 2020
Overall Pass Rate	47.5%
WCU First-Time Pass Rate	37.5%

* Overall Pass Rate: The pass rate for all CPJE test takers

**First-Time Pass Rate: The percentage of graduates who take and successfully pass the licensure examination on their first attempt

Employment After Graduation¹

	2021	2020
Employed within the profession of pharmacy	73.5%	73.0%
Completing post-graduate education or residency training	5.9%	13.5%
Licensed / Not employed in the field	20.6%	13.5%

*Student Respondents: 68% for 2021 and 67% for 2020

¹Employment After Graduation: The percentage of student respondents by employment category within one year post-graduation

Employment After Graduation¹

: Employed within the profession of pharmacy
2021	73.5%
2020	73.0%
: Completing post-graduate education or residency training
2021	5.9%
2020	13.5%
: Licensed / Not employed in the field
2021	20.6%
2020	13.5%

*Student Respondents: 68% for 2021 and 67% for 2020

¹Employment After Graduation: The percentage of student respondents by employment category within one year post-graduation

For all students, the PharmD Student Handbook is designed to help you navigate through your time in our program. The Handbook collects academic standards, policies and procedures, student resources, as well as expected behaviors in a single location.

Check it out here.

If you are considering getting your Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)– we invite you to attend an Information Session.

News and Events

The School of Pharmacy encourages participation in events that foster networking between students in different schools and programs, promote leadership development, and enable community service.

WCU PharmD Students Gain Valuable Research Experience

As part of a research elective course under Dr. Parto Khansari’ s supervision, two of the rising Professional Year 3 students, Mersedeh Kolyaei and Matthew Nadybal, are gaining intensive and cutting-edge research experiences during Summer 2022 at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) under the supervision of Dr. Marc Vidal, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and Dr. David E. Hill, CCSB Associate Director.

Pharmacy Students

Pharmacy Students Test Debate Skills in Mock Trials

In a first-of-its-kind contest, pharmacy students from across the country competed in a mock trial competition launched by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Based on a teaching innovation developed and implemented by West Coast University professor Dr. Ettie Rosenberg, the Mock Trial Project won Honorable Mention in the 2017 AACP Innovations in Teaching Competition. This year, for the first time, student teams from participating pharmacy programs engaged in a courtroom-style debate over controversial topics in pharmacotherapy, pharmacy practice, healthcare, and/or public health which impact the pharmacy profession. The final top two teams will compete in person in Grapevine, Texas on July 23 in front of an audience of faculty from PharmD programs nationwide.

Core Faculty

Kurt Wargo, PharmD

Dean and Professor of Pharmacy Practice

Dr. Wargo received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kent State University in 1997 and his Doctorate in Pharmacy from Creighton University School of Pharmacy in 2002. In 2003, he completed a Postdoctoral Residency at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. Dr. Wargo served on the faculty of Auburn University School of Pharmacy and the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Huntsville School of Medicine from 2003-2015. There he practiced pharmacy in internal medicine and infectious diseases. In 2015, Dr. Wargo became the regional dean of Wingate University in Hendersonville, NC where he led the school of pharmacy and physician assistant program. In 2020, Dr. Wargo became the dean of the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy in Clinton, SC. Dr. Wargo is board certified in pharmacotherapy and in 2016 was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Dr. Wargo has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters during his career.

Parto Khansari, PhD

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Contact Information
Email: PKhansari@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography

Dr. Khansari holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences (Neuropharmacology) from University of the Pacific, M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from San Francisco State University, and a Bachelor degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from California State University Northridge. Dr. Khansari has held several administrative positions in pharmacy education and served as Assistant Dean and Department Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences at California Northstate University, CA and Associate Dean at Stony Brook University, NY. Dr. Khansari has received a certificate in “A Systems Approach to Assessment in Health Professions Education” from Harvard Macy Institute, MA.

As a Certified Team Based Learning (TBL) Trainer Consultant, she has led numerous national and international workshops and has published on innovative and active learning in pharmacy education. She has mentored other educators to become TBLC certified trainers and has over 10 years of experience teaching pharmacology utilizing TBL pedagogy.

Prior to joining academia, over a period of 12 years, Dr. Khansari has held various positions at several biotech and pharmaceutical companies with increasing responsibilities to lead and support internal drug discovery and development in the area of ischemic stroke and inflammation. She has several peer-reviewed publications in this area and currently serves as Deputy Editor of Inflammopharmacology, Springer Journal.

Gauri Sabnis, PhD

Assistant Dean of Assessment and Accreditation and Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Contact Information
Email: gSabnis@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Sabnis received her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in India from the University of Poona and Ph. D. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Her doctoral and post-doctoral training efforts focused on the endocrine therapy of breast cancer. Dr. Sabnis has over 15 years of research experience. Prior to joining WCU, Dr. Sabnis was grand-funded Assistant Professor at University of Maryland, School of Medicine, where she worked on the strategy of re-sensitizing endocrine therapy resistant breast cancer through combination with targeted therapy. She has received numerous awards for her research from organizations such as American Association of Cancer Research, Endocrine Society and has published over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts in journals such as Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics and Endocrine Related Cancer. She also serves as a reviewer for over 10 peer-reviewed international journals. Dr. Sabnis has taught pharmacology to medical students, graduate students, and dental hygiene students for over 5 years.

Ettie Rosenberg, PharmD, JD

Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Professor of Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: eRosenberg@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Ettie Rosenberg earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Southern California, and Juris Doctor (JD) from Southwestern University School of Law, both in Los Angeles.

Her contributions include: “Commentary: Digging Deeper: Examining DEA Proposed New Rule to Enhance Cultivation of Marijuana for Research Exposes Conflict of Interest for DEA (JCPhP, Summer 2020) “Research Brief: A Pilot Study on Pharmacy Law Education across Doctor of Pharmacy Programs” (AJPE, 2019); “Common Legal Issues Confronted in Pharmacy Practice: Avoiding Common Legal Issues Confronted in Pharmacy Practice: Evaluating Prescriptions with PRN Wording and Calling for Refills” (JCPhP, 2019); “New Schools; Innovation at Its Best! Implementation and Lessons Learned from a Mock Trial as a Teaching- Learning and Assessment (CPTL, 2018); “Interpretation of California's Marijuana Regulation after Proposition 64, and Pharmacy Practice Roles in Medical Marijuana Dispensing against Federal Enforcement Risks (JCPhP, 2018); “Laws Expanding the Pharmacist’s Role in Patient Care (CPJ, 2017); “Deliberate Integration of Student Leadership Development in Doctor of Pharmacy Programs” (AJPE, 2016).

Dr. Rosenberg received Honorable Mention in the 2017 AACP Innovations in Teaching Competition (April 2017) for her portfolio submission “Development, Implementation, and Lessons Learned from a Mock Trial as a Teaching and Assessment Activity in a Required Evidence-Based Practice Course” pioneering an active learning strategy in pharmacy education which develops student competencies in both the affective and cognitive domains. The mock trial project has since expanded to incorporate a second PharmD program (2017-2018), a “virtual” competition between two PharmD programs (2019), and in 2020 a “virtual” mock trial in response to declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, and implementation of remote-teaching/learning.

Eric Kobayashi, PharmD

Assistant Dean, Experiential Education and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: EKobayashi@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Eric Kobayashi earned his Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy and completed an accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Sepulveda Veterans Affairs Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Kobayashi’s pharmacy practice career bridges 30 years of experience in acute care pharmacy, clinical informatics, and pharmacy administration.

Dr. Kobayashi has extensive experience in Pharmacy Informatics and Technology with a passion for engineering workflow management. Dr. Kobayashi’s endeavors include establishment of a Pharmacy Informatics Program, collaborative formation of Pharmacy Shared Services, and joint transformation of Medication Management with innovative redesigning of patient care and technology workflows.

Dr. Kobayashi’s commit to teach, mentor, and coach is founded on his philosophy that servant leadership advances growth for those he serves as well as his own personal growth. Having the opportunity to precept student pharmacists for over 15 years, Dr. Kobayashi looks forward to the journey of serving West Coast University School of Pharmacy student pharmacists in their development to become future pharmacists.

Fred Farris, PhD

Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Professor

Contact Information
Email: frFarris@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Farris earned his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Purdue University and completed a post doctorate training program at the University of Rochester. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he teaches in pharmaceutical science arena and serves on a variety of academic committees. He was most recently the Department Chair of Pharmacy Practice at Manchester College School of Pharmacy.

Prior to that, he served as the Department Chair of Pharmacy Practice and Administration at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and as the Department Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Mercer University School of Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. He has nearly forty years of pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences teaching experience and twenty-five years of administrative faculty experience. He has overseen numerous graduate students and authored a large number of scientific papers.

William Ofstad, PharmD

Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Professor

Contact Information
Email: wofstad@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Ofstad earned his B.A. in Chemistry from Whitman College concurrently with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, and a Pharm.D. from the University of California San Francisco. He completed an ambulatory care and cardiology focused Pharmacy Practice Residency with Kaiser. His past administrative roles include serving as Assistant Dean for Education, Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning, Director of the Center for Team-Based Learning and President of the Northern California College of Clinical Pharmacy. He has served as chair for multiple college and university committees and serves nationally on the steering committees for the Team-Based Learning Collaborative and Academy of Process Educators. His primary research focus is in teaching and learning including team-based learning, team building, simulation, and interprofessional education.

His practice experience includes ambulatory care pharmacy at UC Davis Medical Center and Sacramento County Department of Public Health. He is a licensed Advanced Practice Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Among his goals as department chair is to promote a student-centered, collaborative, creative culture to advance the program through collective excellence in teaching, service and scholarship. He values working as one cohesive team, unlocking growth in everyone, cascading communication, essential integrity, and the transformation of education.

Dr. Ofstad is a father of two boys, Apollo and Orion, and husband to Amy, who is also a pharmacist. He has an open door (open Zoom, open Teams) policy, so please feel free to connect anytime.

Catherine Van, PharmD

Director of Experiential Education and Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: cVan@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Catherine Van received her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with summa cum laude from University of California, Irvine. She then earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Western University of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Rho Chi Honor Societies.

Dr. Van completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice residency at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, where she obtained a post-doctorate teaching certificate. During the residency, her focus was on inpatient glycemic management service. Besides that, she served as a preceptor for both IPPE and APPE pharmacy students while contributing to patient care in collaboration with other health care professionals. Dr. Van also has outpatient experiences through practicing as a staff pharmacist at community pharmacies where she provides medication therapy management service and immunization. Her areas of interest include glycemic management, cardiology, transitions of care, and interprofessional education.

Eman Atef, BSc, Ms, PhD

Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Contact Information
Email: EAtef@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Atef earned her Masters in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy from MCPHS-Boston University.

She has sixteen years of pharmaceutical sciences teaching experience. She taught at both MCPHS-Boston and CNSU- Elk Grove. Before WCU she held an associate professor position for 7 years at CNSU, where she taught in the PharmD program. Prior to that she taught for 9 years at MCPHS, led a research team and mentored many Masters and PhD students, in addition to directing the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Program.

She taught many courses in the PharmD and PhD programs such as Pharmaceutics, Pharmacokinetics, Advanced Physical Pharmacy, Dosage Form Design among others.

She authored scientific papers and presentations in formulation, pre-formulation, and pharmacokinetic simulation

Leanne Coyne, PhD

Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Contact Information
Email: LCoyne@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Coyne earned her B.Sc. in pharmacology and Ph.D. in neuropharmacology from the University of Sunderland in the U.K. Throughout her academic career, Dr. Coyne has taught in a variety of areas, including neuroscience topics including neuroscience, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal pharmacology, physiology, and pathophysiology.

After her Ph.D., Dr. Coyne went on to complete post-doctoral positions studying the electrophysiological characteristics of stem-cell derived neurons at the University of Durham in the U.K. and University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

Following her post-doctoral studies, Dr. Coyne continued her academic career, becoming a member of the founding faculty at California Northstate University’s College of Pharmacy. She then moved on the University of Tyler in Texas where she also served in administrative positions as the Director of Assessment and an interim role as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. While at the University of Tyler, Dr. Coyne began to study the impact of virtual reality on learning, a research interest that she has continued to pursue. Dr. Coyne moved back to California in 2019, as a Professor at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at California Health Sciences University and joined West Coast University in 2021.

Adam Kassan, PhD

Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Contact Information
Email: aKassan@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Kassan graduated from the Lebanese University in Lebanon with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and worked for several years as a clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) in Lebanon. He is currently a licensed CLS in the state of California. Subsequently, he went on to earn his Master’s and PhD degree in Cell Biology and Biomedicine at the University of Barcelona, Spain. His research during these graduate years focused on lipid involvement in liver regeneration. Following this, Dr. Kassan moved to the University of California, San Diego to work in research as a postdoctoral fellow. The main focus of his research was the cellular mechanisms involved in ischemic heart disease. He also led research projects studying neuroscience in the field of mental health and neuronal regeneration.

Dr. Kassan’s involvement in many projects has given him extensive experience in research. He was awarded a grant by the National Institute of Health (NIH) for his works. Dr. Kassan has contributed to the scientific community through publications of many papers and presentations of his research at many national and international meetings, and has mentored many undergraduate students interested in research. He is currently serving as a reviewer for peer-reviewed scientific journals such as The British Journal of Pharmacology.

Su Lee, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCIDP

Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: sLee@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Lee received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. She completed an ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency at University of Minnesota Medical Center, and a two-year ACCP accredited fellowship in the Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT. For the last 10 years, Dr. Lee has taught Pharmacotherapy in Infectious Diseases and Oncologic Disorders and Clinical Pharmacokinetics at University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Appalachian College of Pharmacy. She has also practiced Antimicrobial Stewardships and trained numerous students at Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD and Holston Valley Medical Center, Kingsport, TN, as a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist with Added Qualification in Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Lee obtained her Bachelor and Master of Science in Pharmacy at the Seoul National University, College of Pharmacy, Seoul, South Korea, and completed two-year residency at Seoul National Hospital including Therapeutic Drug Monitoring/Total Parenteral Nutrition and Pediatric Oncology.

Dr. Lee won Clinical Excellence of Teaching Awards and a Preceptor of Excellence award from Appalachian College of Pharmacy, a Young Investigator Award from Connecticut Infectious Diseases Society and has published articles in peer-reviewed journals including Annals of Oncology, Journal of Infections, and Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. She presented numerous original research posters in international meetings including Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), and Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Dr. Lee has been a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Society of Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Her research/practice interests include antimicrobial pharmacodynamics and Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs.

Maya Leiva, PharmD, BCOP

Associate Professor for Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: MLeiva@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Maya Leiva, PharmD, BCOP is a Hematology and Oncology Pharmacist and holds a Board Certification in Oncology Pharmacy. She received her pharmacy degree at Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy in 2010. Prior to pharmacy school, she completed her B.S. in Microbiology and was an NIH Fellow in the RISE program while pursuing her M.S. in Microbiology. In addition to practicing in three states, she has held multiple faculty appointments at pharmacy schools across the U.S. She has served as a preceptor to pharmacy students and pharmacy and medical residents and fellows. She has subspecialties in supportive care, immunology, clinical informatics, disaster preparedness, oncology stewardship, and health equity.

She most recently assisted the Inova health System to complete its first Health Equality Index survey through the Human Rights Campaign and spearheaded the development of a cancer health equity program. Her clinical research interests include the use of phytocannabinoids in the supportive care of cancer patients, optimizing supportive care measures for patients experiencing treatment related toxicities, reducing health disparities among historically marginalized communities spanning from cancer screening to diagnosis and treatment, and implementation of oncology stewardship to reduce financial toxicities to patients and health care.

Her passion for addressing disparities also extends into her scholarship interests. She is committed to assessing how social determinants of learning impact the student experience in a terminal clinical degree as well as the longitudinal implementation of cultural humility and trauma informed care curriculum from didactic to experiential education throughout the life span of a clinician's career. She has a collaboration with UCSF and Fresno State Faculty around interdisciplinary education and the opioid crisis and additional collaborations with Dana Farber and the CDC Foundation.

Jessica Louie, PharmD, BCCCP, APh

Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: jLouie@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Louie believes people are capable of incredible things…if they feel confident in their environment and have opportunities to contribute authentically to all areas of their lives. Dr. Louie is at her best when she is able to push beyond the boundaries to think outside the box, challenge her team to raise the bar and help navigate the path towards simple solutions.

Dr. Louie earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Louie completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and a PGY2 Critical Care Specialty Residency at University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics. During her residencies, she obtained a post-doctorate teaching certificate. She is a Board-Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP) and Advanced Practice Pharmacist (APh). Dr. Louie has taught students both in the didactic and clinical settings, and provided patient care along with fellow residents and practitioners in an interprofessional team setting.

Dr. Louie leads the well-being initiatives for students and has a special interest in burnout prevention, resiliency, digital marketing and entrepreneurship. She hosts The Burnout Doctor Podcast and loves to reach beyond the classroom to help students and healthcare professionals. Dr. Louie is the CEO and Founder of Clarify Simplify Align, Find Your Script and Petite Style Script. She is a Certified KonMari Coach (KonMari Method) and uses this in her simple processes to avoid overwhelm and help others lead with confidence and curate lives they love. Dr. Louie’s previous research experiences are in the areas of critical care, infectious disease and cystic fibrosis with prospective and retrospective studies showcased at international meetings.

Glenn Morataya, PharmD

Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: gMorataya@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Morataya completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at UC Irvine and received his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from Touro College of Pharmacy. His many years of management experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry prepared him for an extensive administrative role at his current clinical practice sites. He most recently developed and implemented Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs at institutions including Glendora Community Hospital and Chino Valley Medical Center, where he is an active member of the ASP Committee and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. His experience and qualifications recruits his activity during surveys conducted by California Department of Public Health, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the California State Board of Pharmacy.

Dr. Morataya also played an integral role in the west coast expansion of an MTM business model integrated into specialty pharmacy sites for east coast based affiliates. His passion for direct patient interaction has sustained a long-lasting rapport and affiliation with his east coast colleagues for numerous years.

As a native Los Angelino, he is excited and committed for the opportunity to work alongside West Coast University pharmacy students to support the Los Angeles community through public health services and community outreach functions.

Rahul Nohria, PharmD

Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: rNohria@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Rahul Nohria earned his pharmacy degree from Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy. He then completed a two-year fellowship at American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). The first year of the fellowship was dedicated to developing an interprofessional education video game called MIMYCX. The second year of his fellowship was focused on student affairs at the AACP headquarters. In addition, he obtained a teaching certificate through Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy. His current research interests include active learning strategies, interprofessional education, and communication.

Busuyi Olotu, BPharm, MSPharm, PhD

Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: bOlotu@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Olotu received his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. After over 7 years of pharmacy practice in Nigeria in academia, retail, and hospital settings, Dr. Olotu immigrated to the US where he received his Masters and PhD degrees in Health Outcomes and Pharmacy Practice (formerly Pharmacy Administration) from the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. Soon after, Dr. Olotu completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship in Health Economics and Outcomes Research at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Olotu’s primary teaching area is Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Science. His research interests are in the area of health outcomes such as pharmacoeconomics, pharmacoepidemiology, comparative-effectiveness research involving drug utilization and assessment of safety and risks, health outcomes of patients with chronic disease including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and renal disease, survey research, retrospective database analysis, and retrospective chart reviews using electronic health records.

Dr. Olotu has served in various capacities including as reviewer for International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE), Academy of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Dr. Olotu is a member of the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society.

Ani Avoundjian, PharmD

Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Dr. Avoundjian earned her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from California State University, Los Angeles. She then earned her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Pharmacy. Dr. Avoundjian completed a PGY1 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice Residency at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy. During residency, Dr. Avoundjian taught students in the didactic and clinical settings while obtaining a teaching and research certificate. Her clinical training is in chronic disease state management including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking cessation, asthma, COPD, and anticoagulation.

Dr. Avoundjian’s longitudinal project focused on patient and provider preferences for telemedicine. As a student, she also conducted research in the scholarship of teaching and learning by measuring PharmD student retention of medicinal chemistry and assessing the impact of co-curricular activities on PharmD outcomes at USC.

Through her experiences, Dr. Avoundjian aims to be an excellent role model and mentor to incoming and current students at West Coast University and wishes to help them become exceptional leaders of the pharmacy profession.

Ayda Awaness, PhD

Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Contact information
Email: AAwaness@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Awaness has worked for many years in academia and retail pharmacies. She received her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, followed by her Masters and PhD degrees in Pharmaceutics and Pharmacological Sciences, all from Baghdad University, School of Pharmacy.

She worked as Assistant Professor in the Pharmaceutics Department for many years; she then moved to Jordan and worked as Assistant Professor in Al-Isra University, Pharmacy School in Amman, Jordan.

Prior to joining West Coast University, she worked for many years as Pharmacy Educator at different educational institutions in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Dr. Awaness has many publications related to the field of pharmaceutics and pharmacological sciences, but is most interested in the field of pharmaceutical formulations and ocular drug delivery systems. Her main approach is to improve a novel eye drop for the prevention and treatment of cataract.

Dr. Awaness is ASHP certified for sterile compounding; she has ASHP and AACP membership.

Parna Haghparast, PharmD, BCPS

Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: PHaghparast@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Haghparast is a registered pharmacist with Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy. She has a variety inpatient, outpatient and academia related experiences.

Dr. Haghparast earned her Pharm.D. degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She completed an ambulatory care and psychiatry focused residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch‐Correctional Managed Care (UTMB‐CMC). She provided care to inmates in a variety of pharmacist run-clinics such as ASTHMA/COPD, hypertension/hyperlipidemia, psychiatry, and anticoagulation. In addition, she was involved in medication use evaluation, drug class reviews and creation of disease management guidelines.

Post residency, she followed her passion for teaching by completing a Post-Doctoral Academic Fellowship at University of Houston, College of Pharmacy (UHCOP). Throughout her fellowship she was involved in both clinical (inpatient and outpatient) and academia related activities.

At West Coast University, Dr. Haghparast serves in multiple School and University level committees. Additionally, she is heavily involved in coordinating and teaching in variety of therapeutics courses and skills lab.

Dr. Haghparast enjoys scholarly activity and loves involving her students in her research projects. Dr. Haghparast has been involved in multiple research projects including book chapters and scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL). Her research interests include mental health, substance use disorders and chronic disease management.

Yuqin Hu, PharmD, RPh, MS

Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: YHu@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Hu received her B.S. in Biology and her M.S. in Zoology from Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an, China, and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from California Health Sciences University (CHSU). In addition, she did doctorate research in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing. Prior to joining WCU, Dr. Hu served as an Academic Fellow and Post-Graduate Instructor, as well as an Assistant Professor, at CHSU.

During her initial career Dr. Hu taught biology in secondary schools as well as genomics and biology teaching methods at Xinjiang Normal University in Urumqi, China. Later she conducted molecular biology research via DNA mapping and genome sequencing at the University of California, Davis. She has taught many courses in the PharmD program including Patient Care series, Pharmaceuticals, and Natural Medicine.

She is involved with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the Team-Based Learning Collaborative (TBLC). Dr. Hu is passionate about teaching with focus on creating a safe learning environment, instilling critical thinking, and mentoring students to become well-rounded pharmacists. Her practice interests include clinical settings and innovative pharmacy services.

Catherine Hughes, PharmD

Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: CHughes@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Hughes received her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She then earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the accelerated program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Worcester. Dr. Hughes completed her ASHP accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency in acute care at Adventist Health Glendale. During residency, Dr. Hughes served as a preceptor for both IPPE and APPE students on rotation while obtaining a post-doctorate teaching certificate through West Coast University, School of Pharmacy.

Her longitudinal project focused on the impact of pharmacist intervention on patients that suffered an acute myocardial infarction. Her areas of interest include internal medicine, infectious disease, and transitions of care. Dr. Hughes is also a member of Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society.

Nadia Khartabil, PharmD, BCGP

Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Dr. Khartabil is Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist and Advanced Practice Pharmacist. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at the Lebanese American University and obtained a post-doctorate early drug development certification from University of Southern California. Currently, Dr. Khartabil has a master’s degree of Advanced Science in Clinical Research from the University of California, San Diego. Her research interests include investigating barriers of access to care, specifically in the geriatric population.

She has over 15 years of experience in various pharmacy practice settings. She is an advocate for preventive health and has established walk-in immunization services for University of California-San Diego Health system patients. She established medication therapy management programs to reach out to the geriatric population in rural areas. Dr. Khartabil led pharmacy practice conferences, had the opportunity to precept student pharmacists, and assisted in conducting interprofessional objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). Dr. Khartabil also guided collaborative practice agreements for pharmacist-run refill clinics and student-run free clinics.

Dr. Khartabil believes in open door policy, welcome questions and is passionate to make each pharmacy learning experience a positive one.

Tina Menedjian, PharmD

Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact Information
Email: TMenedjian@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Menedjian obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Her Doctor of Pharmacy degree was conferred by Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, in 2019. She then completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Kaiser Permanente (KP) Medical Center in Riverside, California, where she obtained a post-doctorate teaching certificate through ASHP. Her PGY1 provided versatile training in ambulatory care, acute care, and transitions of care pharmacy settings, in addition to longitudinal leadership and research development. Through training at KP, Dr. Menedjian also established a solid foundation and interest in preventative care and mind-body wellness.

She maintains involvement with local pharmacy associations, the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP), and the Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) Pharmacy Leadership Society. With her role as academician, she aims to inspire and mentor students to become clinically astute and compassionate providers, excellent collaborators within the multidisciplinary healthcare settings, and innovative leaders within the pharmacy profession.

Marc Salvatus, PharmD, BCPS

Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice

Contact information
Email: Msalvatus@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography

Dr. Salvatus received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. He then earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from West Coast University, School of Pharmacy (WCU SOP), as a member of the inaugural class. Dr. Salvatus completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Adventist Health Glendale, where he obtained a post-doctorate teaching certificate through WCU SOP. His longitudinal project involved assessing the impact of a pharmacist-driven protocol to optimize antibiotic use in patients with pneumonia.

Dr. Salvatus has taught students in both the didactic and clinical settings. He is board-certified in pharmacotherapy, and he currently practices as a clinical pharmacist in an acute care community hospital where he focuses on internal medicine, antimicrobial stewardship, and transitions of care. Dr. Salvatus currently serves as a faculty advisor for the West Coast University student chapter of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). He strives to create an open and safe learning environment for his students and is passionate about mentoring them in their professional journey.

Joe Su, PhD

Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Contact Information
Email: JSu@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Dr. Su earned his B.S. in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley and his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He completed his postdoctoral training at Pacific University Oregon investigating the in vitro anti-inflammatory functions of natural products under the supervision of Dr. Deepa Rao.

Dr. Su's lab is interested in the use of natural products in complementary and alternative medicine, focusing on botanical entities popular in traditional medicine (e.g. Turmeric Root, Senna Leaf, Goji Berries, Boswellia Bark, Black Pepper Fruit). Despite tightening federal regulations on the dietary supplement industry, consumers continue to self-medicate with natural products that generally have not demonstrated clinically significant results ($6.9 billion in US retail sales in 2015, American Botanical Council). The primary challenge in understanding the safety and efficacy of natural products lies in elucidating their multiple active ingredient composition. Mechanistic understanding of these phytochemicals will not only lead to improved patient safety but also to improved patient-centered care. Our current disease state of interest is chronic inflammation, which is implicated in the top killers in the United States: heart disease and cancer.

Dr. Su is an active member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Prior to academia, Dr. Su led operations at SUSS Technology, a dietary supplement manufacturing company in Las Vegas, NV. Dr. Su is passionate about empowerment and success through positive reinforcement. Currently, he is applying these principles to his two toddler boys with mixed, yet interesting results! Joe is a super nerd who loves analyzing team-based games ranging from Dodgers baseball to League of Legends.

Staff

Alexander Castaneda

Program Assistant

Contact Information
Email: AlCastaneda@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Alex has been with WCU since Summer 2019 and has contributed to the success of the program by providing administrative support to the School of Pharmacy. Before being brought on to the WCU School of Pharmacy team, Alex was previously employed at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Diego, CA where he was brought on as the Flex Weekend Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program Assistant. After a few months and a new-found passion for Higher Education, Alex was quickly promoted to the role of the lead residential DPT Program Assistant, while also taking on the role of the university’s Tutoring Program Manager.

Alex also has an extensive professional background in Business Administration, Social Media Management, and most recently, Project Management. He recently received the “Asana Project Management” certificate from the University of San Diego, and is now aiming to become a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) in the near future.

Annie Mouradian, MA

Student Affairs Advisor

Contact Information
Email: aMouradian@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Annie received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Communication Studies from California State University Northridge. As an undergraduate at CSUN, she served on the board of the Communication Association as the Publicist and held a position as a Student Ambassador through the San Francisco Regional Center.

As the Student Advisor in the School of Pharmacy, Annie is able to integrate her knowledge and skills in communication with her passion for encouraging student growth and success throughout their academic journey. Prior to her current role as a student services professional, she served as the Administrative Assistant in the School of Pharmacy, maintaining operational efficiency and supporting over 20 faculty in both departments of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Aside from higher education, Annie has experience in various professional settings, including client services and public relations.

Brenda Chum

Experiential Education Coordinator

Contact Information
Email: BChum@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Brenda Chum is from Long Beach, CA and received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Certificate in Health Care Administration from California State University, Long Beach. She has over 5 years of working in a school and medical setting. Brenda always enjoyed working with students and patients in both fields and it is very rewarding and exciting to be part of the WCU team as she have always wanted to be in a career that involved an educational setting.

Christina Collard, MA

Admissions Advisor

Contact Information
Email: cCollard@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Christina Collard received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from California State University San Bernardino and earned her Master of the Arts degree in Management from the University of Redlands School of Business. She is a current member of the prestigious Whitehead Leadership Society (WLS) at the University of Redlands, School of Business. Her career has encompassed a diversity of roles including Assistant Vice President, Senior Business Control Manager at Bank of America where she worked across 16 lines of businesses improving business processes. In addition, she worked as an AVP Senior Mortgage Manager where she managed over 100 mortgage and credit card collections associates in a call center environment. Christina began working at West Coast University in 2018 as an Admissions Coordinator and soon after was promoted into her current role as an Admissions Advisor for the School of Pharmacy. She plans to pursue a Doctorate in Management and further her career in higher education.

Matthew Martinez

Coordinator, Experiential Education

Matthew Martinez is from Pasadena, CA and received his Bachelor of arts in English Literature from Whittier College in 2019. After college, Matthew has developed solid administrative skills, mostly within the legal field, but has fostered working experience from different vocations. Matthew was also a freelance writer during 2020 and found passion in understanding and analyzing a wide variety of topics and stories. He is ready to bring this affection to the education field and is excited to be involved with the WCU faculty where he will be helping students fulfill their academic journeys and professional goals.

Reanna Gibbs

Academic Support Coordinator

Contact Information
Email: RGibbs@westcoastuniversity.edu

Biography
Reanna has over five years of experience working as an academic advisor and coordinator for on-ground and online universities and colleges. She has worked at universities and college across the nation, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Reanna has worked alongside a diverse group of individuals and continues her collaboration in projects across the country. She uses her background and experiences to connect with students and help them achieve their academic goals.

Reanna earned her bachelor’s degree from UC Riverside while competing as a Division I collegiate athlete in both women’s soccer and women’s track and field. Following her bachelor’s degree, she coached collegiate athletics for several years, which included mentoring and advising student-athletes in academics and academic NCAA compliance. She completed her master’s degree at The University of Concordia, Irvine in athletic administration.

Currently, Reanna is enrolled in a Doctor of Education program. In addition, she continues her involvement in cultural and non-profit organizations. She is a leader in her community and strives to learn how she can positively impact students and those around her. Reanna has a passion for helping others to dream big and make those dreams become a reality.

Hybrid* Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

We offer an accelerated hybrid* Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program, blending in-person and online learning experiences that can be completed in less than three years.

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