Education

Overview

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry faculty members teach PhD students to think creatively and openly, and to explore ideas that cross traditional fields of study. They also prepare doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students with scientific knowledge fundamental to clinical practice.

Degree programs

The department is responsible for aspects of the following degree programs:

PhD graduate degree programs

Department faculty members teach in many PhD graduate degree programs.

The School of Pharmacy administers these five programs:

  • PhD in Bioengineering, San Francisco arm (BioE)
    Director: Todd McDevitt, PhD
    The Bioengineering Graduate Program is jointly offered by UCSF and the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) through the UCSF/UCB Joint Graduate Group in Bioengineering (UCSF/UCB JGGB). It combines the resources in biomedical sciences at UCSF with the excellence in engineering, physical, and life sciences at UCB.
  • PhD in Biological and Medical Informatics (Bioinformatics pathway) (BI)
    Director: Ryan Hernandez, PhD
    The Bioinformatics pathway of the Biological and Medical Informatics Graduate Program prepares scientists to harness and apply the power of data analysis tools to understand the complexities of human biology.
  • PhD in Biophysics (BP)
    Director: Tanja Kortemme, PhD
    The Biophysics Graduate Program prepares scientists to explore the intricacies of living systems through the application of physics and chemistry.
  • PhD in Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB)
    Director: Charles Craik, PhD
    Associate Director: Jason Gestwicki, PhD
    The Chemistry and Chemical Biology Graduate Program prepares scientists to explore the molecules in complex living systems and to investigate how molecules influence health and disease.
  • PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics (PSPG)
    Director: Deanna Kroetz, PhD
    The Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program prepares independent, creative leaders in the pharmaceutical sciences, who can apply genetics and genomics to the development of safe, effective drugs for patients.

PharmD and MD professional degree programs

  • Vice Dean: Sharon L. Youmans, PharmD, MPH
    • Experiential Programs Director: Valerie Clinard, PharmD
    • Regional Program Directors:
      • Fresno: (unfilled)
      • Greater Sacramento: Tiffany Pon, PharmD
      • Los Angeles / Orange County: Robin Corelli, PharmD
      • North Bay: Kirsten Balano, PharmD
      • San Francisco Bay Area: Valerie Clinard, PharmD

Faculty members in the three School of Pharmacy departments develop and deliver the School’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program, which is administered by the Dean’s Office. Faculty members outside the School also teach in the PharmD program.

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry faculty members also teach in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree program, which is administered by the School of Medicine Dean’s Office.

  • PharmD
    The PharmD professional program prepares pharmacists to lead and innovate in pharmacy practice, policy, and science; to remain lifelong experts in the safe and effective use of medicines; and to contribute to patient-centered care within health care teams.
  • MD
    The MD professional program emphasizes self-directed learning, connections across disciplines, and competency-based education.

Postdoctoral programs

Postdoctoral scholars, including fellows

Postdoctoral scholars add to the intellectual rigor of the department while furthering their own research. See Office for Postdoctoral Scholars.

The department welcomes inquiries from postdoctoral research fellows who have received fellowship funding for postdoctoral study by an extramural agency.

Faculty members usually prefer to receive directly from respected research colleagues the names of prospective postdoctoral scholars.

Inter­disciplinary approach

PhD education is a highly interdisciplinary endeavor at UC San Francisco—a natural outgrowth of UCSF’s hallmark interdisciplinary approach to research.

The education of health professional students is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary as issues of health care cost, quality, access, and disparities in the United States call for dramatic changes in how care is delivered.