USC School of Pharmacy Admissions Viewbook

UNPARALLELED PREPARATION FOR A REWARDING FUTURE

ONE INCOMPARABLE EDUCATION, MANY POWERFUL CAREER OPTIONS The nation’s pioneer in expanding the scope and impact of pharmacy education and the profession, USC also is renowned for attracting and preparing future leaders for the field.

The USC School of Pharmacy’s rigorous curriculum, customizable degree options, and emphasis on hands-on learning and interprofessional education provide you with unparalleled training. Our dedicated faculty and staff, legendary alumni network and partnerships with experts throughout the profession ensure you have the support and mentorship to succeed. And our location within a major academic medical center in the heart of a vibrant and diverse city offers extraordinary opportunities for internships and service learning.

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Top 10 Reasons to Choose USC

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Innovative Leadership / PAGE 2

Rigorous and Rewarding Curriculum / PAGE 4

Customizable Path / PAGE 7

Hands-on Experience / PAGE 8

World-Renowned Faculty / PAGE 11

Unparalleled Alumni Network / PAGE 12

Dynamic Academic Medical Center / PAGE 15

Location, Location, Location / PAGE 16

Global Impact / PAGE 19 Tam Phan ’20, Eliza Asherian ’18, Ndinda Domingos ’18 and Aram Akhverdyan ’20

Supportive Environment / PAGE 20

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#

INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP

9

1

nation’s top-rated private # pharmacy school #

1

h ighest passage rate in California on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (at 96.45%)

#

1

ost research funding m of any private pharmacy school

#

2

o ne of the top two recipients of pharmacy school funding from the National Institutes of Health

#

2

nation’s second-highest residency match rate

4

n ational ranking for highest starting average salary ($133,328) for pharmacy graduates, according to Becker’s Hospital Review

5

n umber of pharmacies owned and operated by the USC School of Pharmacy (more than any other school)

#

The USC School of Pharmacy leads the nation in advancing pharmaceutical care and education — shifting the profession’s focus from products to patients, transforming healthcare delivery and influencing policymaking, while continuing to fuel laboratory discoveries that foster breakthroughs in treatments and technology. We attract

number of Pinnacle 4 Awards from the American Pharmacists Association — a national record

students who share our commitment to innovation and our desire to solve intractable health issues, shape the future of the profession and improve the lives of people everywhere.

U .S. News & World Report rankings of the nation’s 125+ pharmacy schools

nnual sponsored research 700 aawards earned by USC

$

million

for biotech and other health-related research

NICHOLAS HOLLOWAY, PharmD Class of 2020

TODAY ’S E VER-COMPE TITIVE JOB M ARKE T.

WILL BE E X TRE MELY M ARKE TABLE PROFE SSIONAL S IN

UNPAR ALLELED OPPORTUNITIE S OUTSIDE OF THE

USC PROVIDE S A WORLD-CL A SS EDUC ATION ALONGSIDE

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

CL A SSROOM. USC TR AINS S TUDENTS TO BE LE ADER S WHO

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A Day in the Life

USC School of Pharmacy Dean Vassilios Papadopoulos

Follow us through a typical day at the USC School of Pharmacy.

07 00 AM

Fourth-year PharmD students go on interprofessional rounds, prepare and dispense medications, and monitor therapy at their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience locations — which include outpatient and inpatient settings, and elective options such as pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies or managed care organizations.

07 30 AM

Students give a presentation on depression at the Weingart Clinic in downtown Los Angeles.

PharmD 08 First-year students begin a full of classes with 30 day Pharmaceutics I.

AM

4

BOLDLY FIRST FIRST four-year bachelor’s degree in pharmacy

RIGOROUS AND REWARDING CURRICULUM

FIRST PharmD program FIRST clinical pharmacy program FIRST clinical clerkships for pharmacy students FIRST PharmD/MBA dual degree FIRST PhD in pharmaceutical economics and policy FIRST curriculum to integrate clinical and basic sciences FIRST workshops to facilitate clinical education

Earning your degree from the USC

FIRST MS in regulatory science

School of Pharmacy prepares you to be a leader throughout your career — no

FIRST PharmD/JD dual degree

matter what area of practice you pursue.

FIRST professional doctorate in regulatory science

During our innovative, four-year PharmD program, you will enroll in 15 to 18 units each semester. Foundational courses in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, socialadministrative and clinical sciences along with Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences comprise the first three years. The final year focuses on Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences in settings throughout greater Los Angeles and beyond, as well as a capstone course.

ONLINE EXTRAS / Learn more about our groundbreaking curriculum and how a USC degree will help prepare you for a wide range of exciting career opportunities at pharmacyschool.usc.edu

According to a March 2017 study reported in The Washington Post, pharmacy manager and pharmacist rank No. 2 and No. 5 among the top-paying jobs in the U.S.

FIRST master’s degree in Healthcare Decision Analysis

In addition to health fairs and other opportunities to practice patient care, students are encouraged to attend professional conferences, present abstracts and posters, network with leaders in the field, and compete with peers in such areas as clinical skills and compounding.

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LYNDSIE OKUMURA, PharmD Class of 2018

TO LE ARN AND S TRIVE TO BECOME A LE ADER IN PHARM AC Y.

FROM USC WITH THE CONFIDENCE AND TOOL S TO CONTINUE

AT THE TOP OF OUR LICENSE S. I A M CERTAIN I WILL GR ADUATE

THE CURRICULUM TRULY PREPARE S S TUDENTS TO PR AC TICE

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Top: Associate Dean for Student Affairs Susie Park teaching a class Bottom: Garine Tomassian ’19, Irene Chen ’18, Devin Panlasigui ’19 and Marisa Jones ’19 discussing a poster presentation

6

AM

Third-year PharmD students work on scholarly projects individually or in teams. This new requirement engages analytical skills and exposes students to the process of scientific inquiry — invaluable skills no matter the career path.

Ana Barron ’19, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Rory Kim and Alexandra Silva ’19

SANDY ON, PharmD Class of 2019

11 00

S TART MY OWN PRIVATE PR AC TICE.

AM

Second-year PharmD students meet for their Therapeutics: Pharmacokinetics class.

DIREC TOR IN A HOSPITAL PHARMAC Y — OR E VEN

10 30

WITH AN MBA IN ADDITION TO MY PHARMD,

AM

Students in the SHARE Clinic shadow pharmacists providing medication reconciliation and medication therapy management to underserved patients in East Los Angeles.

I HOPE TO TAKE ON POSITIONS SUCH A S

09 00

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SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION

CUSTOMIZABLE PATH

Add a concentration to your PharmD degree by completing 12 units in one of the following areas:

» Comprehensive Medication Management and High-Risk Populations » Education » Health Systems and Care Management » Pharmacy Entrepreneurship » Pharmaceutical Industry » Public and International Health » Research DUAL DEGREES Earn two complementary, in-demand degrees simultaneously. We offer dual degrees in pharmacy and:

» Business » Doctor of Philosophy » Law » Gerontology » Global Medicine » Healthcare Decision Analysis » Public Health » Regulatory Science We offer a breadth of opportunities to reflect your interests and goals, or help

SPECIALIZED ELECTIVES

you explore and find your passion — all

Personalize your PharmD with elective courses such as:

while differentiating yourself in the job market. Tailor your degree by pursuing an area of concentration, dual degree, certificate or specialized electives.

Take advantage of unique training opportunities through industry, health systems, government, corporate and international internships.

ONLINE EXTRAS / Learn more about how to customize

your education at pharmacyschool.usc.edu

» Basic Research Design » Clinical Problem Solving » Community Pharmacy » Complementary/Alternative Therapeutics » Healthcare Needs of Special Populations » Health Systems Pharmacy » Geriatric Pharmacy » Marketing and Development in the

Pharmaceutical Industry » Medical Spanish for Pharmacists » Pharmacy Practice in Women’s Health » Sleep and the Pharmacologic Management of Its Disorders » Travel Medicine

8

1,740

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

hours of experiential learning

300 field sites

400

volunteer faculty and preceptors

We pioneered experiential pharmacy education and remain an innovator in preparing you for practice in a variety of settings. During your first three weeks, you will receive intensive, hands-on training in immunization and screening tests. Your skills will be further honed through frequent participation in local health fairs — one is held nearly every week throughout the year. We lead the nation in such community outreach, and our students and faculty also engage in global service-learning activities, helping underserved populations around the world.

ONLINE EXTRAS / Learn more about our extensive

experiential and service-learning opportunities at pharmacyschool.usc.edu

Patient care experiences increase in scope and complexity as you progress through the program.

During the first two years, you work in community and hospital pharmacy settings.

In your third and fourth years, you choose electives that broaden your knowledge in areas of special relevance to your chosen career path.

25+

health fairs each year

5

school-owned and –operated pharmacies

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ALAINA AUSTEL, PharmD Class of 2019

KNOWLEDGE WITH RE AL-WORLD APPLIC ATION THROUGH SERVICE.

S TIMUL ATING ENVIRONMENT COMBINES COLL ABOR ATIVE CL A SSROOM

NICHE AND TR ADITIONAL PHARM AC Y SE T TINGS. THE UNIQUE AND

Our large number of dynamic student organizations offers you the opportunity to organize and lead major activities — such as advocacy efforts, scientific seminars, health education workshops, health screenings, networking events, interprofessional clinics and much more.

USC OFFER S A WIDE R ANGE OF LE ARNING AND CONNEC TIONS IN

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

Top: Students prepare IVs in the school’s state-of-the-art sterile compounding laboratory. Middle and bottom: Students provide free health screenings at dozens of community health fairs every year.

10

Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs Steven Chen, shown here with patient Michael Metcalfe, has received three Pinnacle Awards — one of the highest honors in pharmacy — for his work in safety-net clinics.

12 00 PM

Leaders in the American Pharmacy Student Alliance discuss logistics for the upcoming Legislative Day, in which they will host pharmacists and policymakers from across the state.

12 00 PM

Officers in the school’s 20 student-run organizations meet to plan upcoming health fairs and events — including smoking cessation and asthma awareness workshops, immunization clinics, poison prevention presentations, and hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol and osteoporosis screenings.

12 30 PM

A lunchtime panel discusses the dangers of prescription medication abuse and opioid addiction.

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and complex issues of our time — from managing chronic disease and controlling healthcare costs to defeating cancer, Alzheimer’s and addiction. The size and breadth of our faculty — 75 full-time, 10 part-time and hundreds of clinical professors — make it easier for you to find a mentor (or several) whose interests complement and support your professional goals. They go out of their way to provide the tools and support you need to thrive.

ONLINE EXTRAS / Learn more about our extraordinary and diverse faculty at pharmacyschool.usc.edu

Our faculty members are committed to innovation, to the thorough preparation of our students for future leadership, and to the expansion of the scope of the profession as a crucial player in healthcare.

CRAIG LUIS, PharmD Class of 2020

addresses some of the most challenging

DIVISION OF THE FDA’S OFFICE OF CLINIC AL PHARM ACOLOGY.

and service. Their nation-leading expertise

SPEND A SUMMER WORKING IN DRUG DE VELOPMENT IN THE PEDIATRIC

leaders in pharmacy education, research

A dozen of our faculty hold patents, including Dean Vassilios Papadopoulos, with 28 licensed patents.

BEC AUSE OF DR. SUSIE PARK’S OUTRE ACH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNIT Y TO

You will be taught by acknowledged

AND WISDOM HAVE HELPED ME LE ARN THE MANY ROLES OF THE PHARMACIST.

WORLD-RENOWNED FACULTY

THE FACULT Y ARE HAPPY TO SERVE A S MENTOR S, AND THEIR GUIDANCE

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

generations of Trojans, as well as the network’s extension to every corner of the globe. Our pharmacy alumni are integral to the school’s success. They serve as preceptors, mentors, coaches and guest lecturers, and they identify employment opportunities for students and fellow graduates. More than half of Southern California’s pharmacists are Trojans, so you will have ample opportunity to meet and network with leaders in a wide range of pharmacy-related careers.

ONLINE EXTRAS / Learn more about the renowned Trojan Family network at pharmacyschool.usc.edu

Our many student organizations offer additional outlets for networking with pharmacy professionals and industry leaders, as well as plentiful social and community outreach opportunities to enrich your time at the school and prepare you for your career.

DEVIN PANLASIGUI, PharmD Class of 2019

of USC graduates to supporting new

ADVICE FOR OUR PROFE SSIONAL AND PER SONAL GROW TH.

reflects the longstanding commitment

NE T WORK USC HA S, WHICH IS SO WILLING TO PROVIDE VALUABLE

reason. Our motto “lifelong, worldwide”

THROUGHOUT MY EDUC ATION. NO OTHER SCHOOL HA S THE ALUMNI

The Trojan Family is legendary, with good

GIVEN ME A TRE MENDOUS A MOUNT OF ADVICE THAT HA S HELPED

UNPARALLELED ALUMNI NETWORK

I HAVE MORE MENTOR S THAN I C AN COUNT, AND E ACH HA S

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SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

375,000+ USC alumni

17,000+ USC pharmacy alumni

Cedars-Sinai Chief Pharmacy Officer Rita Shane, PharmD ’78, with students on rotation

01 00 PM

Students attend an internship information session with hospitals and clinics from throughout Southern California.

01 30 PM

First-year students study pharmacogenomics, strengthening their clinical knowledge and skills.

02 00 PM

Second-year PharmD students meet in small groups with their assigned resident for their weekly case conference.

Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Tien M.H. Ng, one of only two pharmacists honored with admission into the inaugural group of Heart Failure Society of America fellows, with students at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center

03 30 PM

Student members of the American Pharmacy Student Alliance give a poison prevention presentation at nearby Murchison Elementary School.

04 00 PM

Students needing extra help meet with their peer tutors.

students 04 PharmD associated with the 40 California Pharmacists

PM Association hold a

Generation Rx Education event at the Variety Boys and Girls Club.

DARAVAN RATH, PharmD Class of 2019

AC ADE MIC /SCIENTIFIC E XCHANGE S AND MUCH MORE.

INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL PHARM AC Y E XPERIENCE S,

E XPOSE S S TUDENTS TO DIFFERENT SE T TINGS,

USC’S BROAD NE T WORK OF UNIQUE CLINIC AL SITE S

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SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

DYNAMIC ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER SELECT RESEARCH AND TEACHING COLLABORATIONS

» California Institute of Technology

» Cedars-Sinai Health System » City of Hope National Medical Center

As the only private school of pharmacy on

» Children’s Hospital

a major health sciences campus, the school

Los Angeles

benefits from a vibrant, interdisciplinary

» Los Angeles County+USC

atmosphere. You will regularly interact with students and faculty from other health disciplines through weekly rotations to observe all aspects of healthcare in action. This unparalleled setting also offers invaluable internships and shadowing at our three adjacent medical centers, as well as regional hospitals, clinics and niche practice sites. And you’ll gain exposure to both MediCal and private insurance patients, garnering insights that will serve you throughout your career.

ONLINE EXTRAS / Learn more about our interprofessional educational opportunities, research collaborations and benefits of our location on the USC Health Sciences Campus at pharmacyschool.usc.edu

Medical Center

» Keck Hospital of USC » USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

» USC Verdugo Hills Hospital » Veterans Administration Medical Center

» RAND Corporation

broadest possible career options and opportunities for hands-on education, with a wide array of disease states, an incredibly diverse patient population and a broad range of practice sites. You’ll also enjoy the famous Los Angeles climate and unmatched cultural and recreational amenities.

ONLINE EXTRAS / Learn more about the benefits of studying, living, working and playing in the City of Angels at pharmacyschool.usc.edu

DAVID LEE, PharmD Class of 2019

populous county, Los Angeles offers the

CRE ATE L A S TING IMPAC T ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIE S.

the nation’s most ethnically diverse and

NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIE S TO BE PART OF INNOVATIVE RE SE ARCH AND

in which to live and study pharmacy. As

CLINIC AL AND PHARM ACEUTIC AL RE SE ARCH. A S A S TUDENT, YOU HAVE

Southern California is an ideal location

BIG ADVANTAGE BEC AUSE IT PROMOTE S INNOVATIVE IDE A S FOR BOTH

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

THE DIVER SIT Y OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE AROUND LOS ANGELE S IS A

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SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

DIVERSITY

140

countries

224

languages

religious 600 groups

CULTURE

80

theaters

300

museums

+ performing 1,000

arts groups CLIMATE/TERRAIN days of 292 sunshine/year

miles of 76 coastline

4

mountain ranges

Top and middle: Los Angeles provides easy access to the mountains, beaches and desert, as well as countless cultural and recreational activities. Bottom: Jenny Thao Huynh ’19 and Marisa Jones ’19 take advantage of the school's proximity to the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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7,000+ international students at USC

32 School of Pharmacy global partners

8 USC international offices

24

Trojan international alumni clubs

A USC School of Pharmacy team treated 600 patients with chronic diseases on a recent trip to Romania.

04 45 PM

A group of doctoral students prepares to present their research findings at an international pharmacoeconomics conference in Vienna.

05 00 PM

A team of students meets with Associate Professor Naomi Florea to plan their summer service learning trip to Romania.

05 30 PM

Participants in the Medical and Pharmacy Student Collaboration hold a clinic at the Center for Community Health in South Los Angeles.

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the European Union, Australia, South America and Africa. With our location in Los Angeles, the capital of the Pacific Rim, the school is uniquely positioned as a bridge between East and West.

Our activities abroad include student exchanges and internships, joint scientific meetings and research collaborations, and clinical pharmacy and management training programs for foreign colleagues.

And each year, USC pharmacy students and faculty travel internationally for service-learning efforts that aid communities in need around the globe.

ONLINE EXTRAS / Learn more about our international partnerships and programs at pharmacyschool.usc.edu

Recent ServiceLearning Trips

Belize Ghana Jamaica Mexico Romania Uganda

TAM PHAN, PharmD Class of 2018

that now extend throughout Asia,

HELP DIAGNOSE, TRE AT AND M ANAGE PATIENTS.

maintained international partnerships

IN AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TE A M ALONGSIDE PHYSICIANS TO

For more than 25 years, we have

SUPPORT THE UNDERSERVED POPUL ATION IN ROMANIA, WORKING

GLOBAL IMPACT

ONE ME MOR ABLE E XPERIENCE WA S MY TRIP ABROAD TO

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY

20

SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT NEXT STEPS

» N ow that you’ve learned more

You will have easy access to peer tutoring, mentorship from faculty, alumni and preceptors, and other support to help you succeed and make the most of your pharmacy education.

Throughout your second and third years, you’ll work in small case conference groups led by pharmacy residents, who provide additional mentoring and share practical insights. And when it comes to financing your education, some 130

More than 90 percent of our students receive some form of financial assistance.

about the benefits of a USC School of Pharmacy education, we invite you to attend an information session and tour our Health Sciences Campus and school facilities. You’ll meet students and faculty to gain a firsthand look at the camaraderie and supportive environment that are an essential part of the Trojan Family experience. If you’re ready to begin the application process, you’ll find detailed instructions on our website to guide you through each step.

If you have questions or need more information, we’re here to help.

generous donors fund scholarships each year, including support for continuing students based on academic performance and/or financial need.

ONLINE EXTRAS / Learn more about our collegial environment, as well as financial aid, scholarship support and other ways to help manage the financial aspects of your education, at pharmacyschool.usc.edu

We offer several need-based, lowinterest loans, nonneed-based loans and private loan programs, as well as scholarships for incoming and continuing students.

06 30 PM

PharmD students from all class years attend a Rho Chi alumni mixer, where they network with graduates representing a wide range of pharmacy career paths.

07 00 PM

07 30 PM

A small group of second-year students gathers for dinner and a study session.

Several classmates and friends share a ride to L.A. Live for a concert.

PharmD 08 USC students prep the Quiz Bowl 00 for tournament to

PM

be held at the upcoming California Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists seminar.

ELIZA ASHERIAN, PharmD Class of 2020

FROM USC IS E XCEPTIONAL. IT’S WORTH E VERY PENNY.

THE VALUE OF E ARNING YOUR PHARM AC Y DEGREE Ashley Valiente ’20, Sammy Chaaban ’20 and Godfred Marfo ’20 studying in the new campus residential facility Currie Hall

Office of Admission USC School of Pharmacy 1985 Zonal Avenue, PSC 206A Los Angeles CA 90089-9121 323-442-1466 pharmadm@usc.edu pharmacyschool.usc.edu

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING MICHELE KELLER

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WRITER/EDITOR SUSAN L. WAMPLER

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DESIGN WARREN GROUP | STUDIO DELUXE