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 in the catalog 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 Pharm D students an introduction to basic research methods as well as experience completing a research project. Students will receive an introduction to research methodology in pharmacy, including clinical studies, analysis of existing data, program evaluation and big data designs. Students will also receive training in human subjects research and scientific writing. Topics for research projects will vary based on student interest, mentors, and available data. To earn the certificate, 6 semester credits of a P4 academic research rotation must be successfully completed.

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.