About the College

Message from the Dean

Welcome to the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo where people matter, communities are important, and we live our mission and values. At the DKICP, we strive to work closely with one another to achieve shared goals – the success of our students, the health of our communities, and the wellbeing of our families. And we do so while embracing a deep sense of responsibility (kuleana) for our place (aina) and each other (ohana).

Now is an exciting time to be entering the profession of pharmacy, given the myriad of career pathways that the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree presents. Graduates from our program have become successful clinicians, scientists, educators, and managers, who are employed by pharmacies, hospitals, universities, and pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. Our alumni include innovators and leaders who advance practice, advocate on behalf of their patients, and/or run their own businesses.

At the DKICP, your journey is our focus. Our students start building their professional identities early. From the first year in the PharmD program, our future pharmacists immerse themselves in introductory pharmacy practice experiences at hospitals and other clinical settings, while building knowledge and skills in the classroom. Our future pharmacists enhance their learning through health and educational outreach in our communities, and advocacy efforts to advance the scope of pharmacy practice in Hawai’i and beyond. Our future pharmacists embrace opportunities to distinguish themselves through specialized certificates in rural health, research, healthcare leadership, and veterinary pharmacy along with nationally recognized certifications in immunization, point-of-care testing, and medication therapy management.

Here at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, we are working each and every day to create a better future – for ourselves, our families, and the people and communities we serve. We do so by connecting learning, living, and aloha, and invite you to become a part of our pharmacy family.

A Historical Perspective: How the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Began

“The conception of the College of Pharmacy came from the Island, with a higher religious power helping along the way.” — Pat De Leon, Former Chief of Staff to Senator Daniel K. Inouye

Accreditation and Program Disclosure

• The on-time graduation rate for the most recent graduating class in the single degree pathway, i.e., the percentage of a class cohort completing the curriculum in 4 academic years. 78.7% for the Class of 2023.
• The most recent year’s NAPLEX® results for first-time takers as found on the NABP website: 69.7% for the Class of 2023.

Measures of student achievement for the most recent graduating class

• Class of 2024 - Residency Match rate= 86%

• Class of 2023 - The number of graduates in the class cohort entering residencies, fellowships, or graduate school: 8 (11%) entered residencies.

• Class of 2023 - The number of graduates who also received a certificate:

  • Rural Health Certificate: 5 students
  • Healthcare Leadership Certificate: 5 students
  • Health Science Research Certificate: 4 students

• Class of 2022 - The percentage of graduates in a class cohort employed in the profession of pharmacy during the first year after graduation (including residencies and fellowships): 71% (9% other; 20% no information)

Number of Graduates by Year