UH Hilo names interim associate dean of College of Pharmacy

After a positive vote from the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents on January 28, Supakit Wongwiwatthananukit will serve as interim associate dean for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) while the University conducts a nation-wide search to fill the vacant position. Former Associate Dean Edward Fisher announced his departure from UH Hilo in December.

Wongwiwatthananukit, who is known as Dr. Supakit by the students, has been on faculty in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at DKICP since 2008, first as assistant professor, then as associate professor in 2011. A patient-oriented researcher who is a licensed pharmacist in Hawaiʻi, Illinois and Thailand, he has been active in mentoring student leaders in pharmacy and is the advisor for the College’s Rho Chi Society, the academic honor society in pharmacy. He also has taken the lead in establishing agreements with four universities in his native Thailand, and initiated and coordinated the membership of DKICP into the US-Thai Consortium.

“The College will be undergoing constant scrutiny by the national accreditation board so it’s key that the leadership maintains the level of excellence already established,” said Matthew Platz, vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Dr. Wongwiwatthananukit is admired and respected by students and faculty alike because of his personable style and work ethic, but he also has the academic background to help lead in this curriculum-based position during this key time.”

He earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Prince of Songkhla University, Songkhla, Thailand. He went on to receive his Pharm.D. summa cum laude at the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as his master’s degree in science and his Ph.D. from Purdue University. He is certified in Tobacco Intervention Skills by the Hawaiʻi State Health Department and in Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery for a Faculty Trainer by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

“Dr. Wongwiwatthananukit possesses a strong and demonstrated commitment to a high quality professional and graduate education, student success and retention, and faculty recruitment and development,” said Interim Dean Carolyn Ma. “He has facilitated and coordinated department program guidelines and reviews, worked on diversity initiatives and staff recruitment and retention, professional development, and faculty mentoring for DKICP. He is most definitely a leader in our College.”