Head of Thematic unti: Dr. David Nyamu
Welcome to the Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice thematic unit home page! This is the largest thematic unit at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, and houses more than 50% of all the undergraduate courses offered at the department. The undergraduate courses taught in the unit entrench several disciplines within the profession of Pharmacy and provide the students with knowledge and expertise that prepares them all-round as Pharmacy Professionals.
These courses are mainly taught during the clinical years of the undergraduate program and include Social and Behavioral Pharmacy, Pharmaceutics, Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy Management & Leadership, and Pharmacy Law & Ethics.
The thematic unit boasts of offering FIVE (5) postgraduate programs within the department:
Masters Programs
1. Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy
2. Master of Pharmacy in Industrial Pharmacy
Ph.D. Programs
1. Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Pharmacy
2. Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Pharmacy
3. Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutics
Our postgraduate students pursuing Industrial Pharmacy are attached to the pharmaceutical industries during their industrial rotations for hands-on experience. The Clinical Pharmacy postgraduate students are deployed in referral hospitals for experiential learning. These specialized courses place the graduates in the high cutting-edge in the market in teaching and research institutions, regulatory bodies, hospitals, pharmaceutical industries, faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, Kenyan Government programs, Pharmacotherapy Clinics, and many more. Moreover, the Department intends to mount more postgraduate programs that are market-driven and with a customer focus.
It is our endeavor to equip our students with professional ethics and appreciation of the value of service to their profession and society. In order to achieve this goal, the unit lays emphasis on interdisciplinary teamwork to impart lifelong education of a well-rounded up Pharmacist. Consequently, the unit has set up collaborations with local partners to provide consultancies on pharmaceutical product formulation development, production processing, and training on various matters related to pharmacy practice.
To improve in students learning, the unit has set up two practice sites. The Pharmacy Practice and Drug Information Unit (PPDIU) is a model community Pharmacy housed within the unit and serves as an active learning site for our students. The Pharmaceutical Product Development and Research Unit (PPDRU) formulates and produces high-quality Pharmaceutical Products such as hand-sanitizing gels (UNISAN™ GEL) and surface disinfectant cleaner (UNISURF™) and distributes them for internal institutional use within the University of Nairobi and beyond. Additionally, the undergraduate students go for the pharmacy and clinical rounds within the hospital.
We boast of a diversified group of personnel: academic, technical, administrative, and research assistants. The unit comprises staff with keen interests and emphasis in the field of Pharmaceutics & Drug Delivery, Nanotechnology, Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacogenetics, Pharmacoeconomics, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacometrics, Pharmacy Law & Ethics, Community Pharmacy, Pharmacy Management, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Social & Administrative Pharmacy, Epidemiology & Biostatistics as well as health economics. The members of staff are profoundly committed to achieving excellence in teaching, research, and community service undertakings.
Our Clinical Pharmacy team is regularly engaged in teaching students and provision of pharmaceutical care services across the hospitals within the country, but mainly: Kenyatta National Hospital, Mbagathi District Hospital, Kiambu level IV Hospital, Thika Level IV Hospital, Nakuru County and Referral Hospital, and Mama Lucy Hospital, among others. The Industrial Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics team is involved in offering pharmaceutical care services within the hospitals, industries, and community pharmacies.
We take pride in the accomplishments of our dedicated staff and students not only in research but also in academics. Indeed we are proud that all our academic members of staff have earned PhDs in various disciplines. We applaud the award of grants, fellowship, and scholarships to our staff members and postgraduate students. Through the dedication of its staff, The unit is enthusiastic about increasing its research activities and publications in the coming year despite the many challenges occasioned by lack of finance, inadequate staffing, and the COVID 19 pandemic.
We greatly value and encourage the comments and inputs from customers, friends, and everyone else reading this message. You may also visit our unit website to learn more about what we offer. You are kindly encouraged to pay a visit to the unit and enjoy what we do as we serve humanity.
God bless you! God bless Kenya!
Thank you.
David G. Nyamu, PhD
Chairman