DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN CLINICAL PHARMACY

BACKGROUND

The field of pharmaceutical care is dynamic and changing rapidly. The emergence of new diseases coupled with resistance and tolerance to drugs provide new challenges that require innovative and creative ways to surmount them. The mainstay to combat these challenges is high caliber research that requires competent human resource in various fields of healthcare. The main goal of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Pharmacy program is to develop researchers and practitioners who have wide knowledge about their area, strong research skills which are demonstrated by generating new knowledge, well equipped with translational competencies to undertake a range of careers, and competencies to work in different cultural contexts. In order to effectively pursue this course, the graduate students are expected to have certain attributes. These include independence, innovation and creativity. In addition, they should have the ability to develop in-depth knowledge of research area, critically read research papers, apply suitable research methods to rigorously explore a given problem, aspiration to do high quality work and publish in highly reputable venues, communicate effectively, integrate with scientific community and effectively collaborate with other researchers.

OBJECTIVES

1. Demonstrate rational use of drugs to patients and healthcare providers in order to enhance efficiency and effectiveness on their utilization.
2. Formulate pharmaceutical care plans for patients to optimize treatment and therefore
3. Operate healthcare facilities effectively so that the quality of services is improved.
4. Conduct health research and disseminate the findings to foster innovation and creativity in healthcare.
5. Provide drug information and toxicology services to patients, healthcare providers and the public.  
6. Design novel and innovative research that open new frontiers and generate original knowledge in the chosen area(s) of specialization

PHILOSOPHY

Pharmaceutical services in recent years have expanded significantly beyond medicine preparation and distribution. These evolutionary changes are characterized by greater involvement of pharmacists in medicine related decision making and patient care. To continuously improve patient care, there is need to optimize the use of medication in order to enhance health and prevent diseases by producing clinical pharmacy specialists. It is, therefore, important to keep the training of clinical pharmacists relevant and hence the need to review the curriculum to incorporate the changing trends. The philosophy of patient centered care is the current trend in pharmacy practice globally.

RATIONALE

The field of pharmaceutical care is dynamic and changing rapidly. The emergence of new diseases coupled with resistance and tolerance to drugs provide new challenges that require innovative and creative ways to surmount them. The mainstay to combat these challenges is high caliber research that requires competent human resource in various fields of healthcare. The main goal of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Pharmacy program is to develop researchers and practitioners who have wide knowledge about their area, strong research skills which are demonstrated by generating new knowledge, well equipped with translational competencies to undertake a range of careers, and competencies to work in different cultural contexts. In order to effectively pursue this course, the graduate students are expected to have certain attributes. These include independence, innovation and creativity. In addition, they should have the ability to develop in-depth knowledge of research area, critically read research papers, apply suitable research methods to rigorously explore a given problem, aspiration to do high quality work and publish in highly reputable venues, communicate effectively, integrate with scientific community and effectively collaborate with other researchers.