Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) offers a four-year course of study leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.

The curriculum, rooted in basic, biomedical, and pharmaceutical sciences, is designed for students to acquire knowledge of the scientific underpinnings of pharmacy practice. The social, behavioral and administrative sciences that inform pharmaceutical care are integrated throughout the curriculum.

Pharmacy practice arenas of therapeutics, drug information, pharmaceutical care, and experiential education permeate each year through Pharmacy Practice Experiences (PPE). PPE capitalizes on community outreach and service learning that taps into Hawaii’s cultural values and diverse biosphere inclusive of its Native Hawaiian Health systems and community practices that embody cultural healing and alternative therapeutics. The wide range of medical specialties available among different healthcare institutions throughout the United States and U.S. Territories such as Guam, American Samoa and Puerto Rico provide clinical sites to fulfill ACPE requirements.

UH Hilo – DKICP embraces the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) five core competencies for the health science disciplines as key components of the curriculum. These include patient safety, patient centered care, team relationships, technologically informed practices and inter-professional education (IPE), which are also endorsed by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

UH Hilo DKICP annually accepts up to 50 students for Fall admissions.

Eligible Student Pharmacists may also opt for an add-on Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacy Studies (B.A.P.S) degree and/or a certificate in Health Sciences Research, Healthcare Leadership, or Rural Health.

On this page:

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Pono (Hawaiian word meaning excellence, moral qualities, correct): Live and practice professional conduct in the proper way
   1. Ensure optimal health outcomes for people of all cultures, races/ethnicity, genders, lifestyle habits and socioeconomic levels
   2. Demonstrate personal and professional attributes of an ethical, reflective, and responsible pharmacist
2. Demonstrate and apply the foundational knowledge and skills of contemporary pharmacy practice
   1. Demonstrate expertise in medication use and delivery, population health, and practice
   2. Access, evaluate, and apply relevant scientific and patient centered knowledge and information to support evidence-based healthcare
   3. Utilize electronic and other technology-based systems and evaluate its impact on patient safety, efficiency, privacy, and patient and health care services
   4. Think critically, prioritize effectively, identify and implement solutions
   5. Demonstrate strong decision-making skills and the ability to justify those decisions
   6. Deliver quality health care through health promotion and disease prevention
   7. Utilize an integrative health approach to treating the whole patient with a wide range of preventive and treatment modalities
3. Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide optimal patient care
   1. Demonstrate mutual respect, understanding and the value of working as a team in the delivery of patient-centered care
   2. Learn with and from other healthcare professionals
   3. Educate others on the role of the pharmacist in improving health outcomes
4. Communicate and educate effectively with individuals and groups
   1. Educate, advocate, and collaborate utilizing effective and professional communication
   2. Read/interpret and listen using effective communication to identify and manage problems and foster collaborative care
5. Lead, innovate and create through professional development
   1. Drive and manage discovery, innovation, and entrepreneurship to improve patient care and advance the pharmacy profession

Curriculum

See the PharmD Curriculum and the Experiential Program.

Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacy Studies degree (B.A.P.S.)

Students earning the Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacy Studies degree (B.A.P.S.) attain broad and thorough knowledge in the liberal arts and basic sciences, as well as specialized education in the field of pharmacy, both didactic and experiential in nature. These students are well positioned to take advantage of numerous educational and career opportunities in diverse areas, including positions in pharmacy, health care, or medicine, or may continue on in research, business, and academia.

The B.A.P.S. degree also acknowledges the achievement of students who complete a minimum of four years of college education, including rigorous course work in the basic and pharmacy sciences, on their path to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.

Optional Add-on Certificates

Health Science Research Certificate

The Health Science Research Certificate is designed to give DKICP PharmD students an introduction to research methods as well as experience completing a research project. Students will develop an understanding of research methodologies, data management, statistical analysis, data visualization, and ethical considerations in Human Subjects Research. This certificate will equip students with the skills and knowledge required to excel in research endeavors. By blending theoretical foundations with practical applications, students will develop a diverse toolkit to engage effectively in research initiatives in the domain of practicing pharmacists. Topics for research projects will vary based on student interest, mentors, and available data.

Rural Health Graduate Certificate

The mission of the Rural Health Graduate Certificate program is to produce PharmD graduates who are equipped with the knowledge and experience needed to thrive as a pharmacist working in rural settings.

Healthcare Leadership Certificate

The Healthcare Leadership Certificate provides PharmD students a basic foundation in business administration, with a concentration in healthcare leadership. Students who complete this program will gain an understanding of the business-side of the healthcare industry, with an emphasis on pharmacy practice and the pharmaceutical industry.

Pharmaceutical Science Innovation Certificate

The Pharmaceutical Science Innovation Certificate program is designed to give DKICP PharmD students a basic foundation in pharmaceutical sciences research methods, with a focus on Hawaii’s unique ecosystem, including locally grown natural products, natural products, and other infectious diseases. Students who complete this program will understand the principle of drug discovery and development techniques and challenges, including pre-clinical research to support FDA- approval drugs. This proposed program is offered by faculty in the Pharmaceutical Sciences (educator experts in drug discovery of natural products, medicinal chemists, pharmaceutics, and pharmacologists).

Veterinary Pharmacy Sciences Certificate

The Veterinary Pharmacy Sciences Certificate is designed to offer DKICP PharmD students a concentrated introduction to veterinary medicine, veterinary pharmacy sciences, veterinary prescribing and compounding focusing on jurisprudence, ethics and regulations, and veterinary communication and collaboration. Students will possess knowledge and skill base related to veterinary drug calculations, preparation, common animal diseases, pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy, as well as veterinary toxicology, veterinary endocrinology, veterinary anesthesiology and controlled substances, and gain pharmacy practice experiences through animal health-related tasks. A specialized focus on One Health and the connections among animal, human and environmental health will be emphasized. For example, the concept that humans, animals and the world we live in are inextricably linked as well as the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment. The concept behind One Health has existed for centuries. But even today studies in the areas of human, animal and environmental science are largely conducted independently, and obvious connections may be missed. As the human population continues to grow and our relationships with animals continue to evolve, understanding the interdependencies of people, animals and the environment becomes even more critical to our collective health and safety (AVMA.org). Students who complete these curricula will have a better ability to serve veterinary pharmacies, veterinarians, their patients and their clients.