Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program

Gatton College of Pharmacy offers the Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.). The Pharm.D. degree * is intended to prepare pharmacists who will be able to:

• provide patient-centered care, through the ability to:
  • design, implement, monitor, evaluate, and adjust pharmacy care plans that are patient-specific; address health literacy, cultural diversity, and behavioral psychosocial issues; and are evidence-based
  • manage a successful patient-centered practice (including establishing, marketing, and being compensated for medication therapy management and patient care services rendered)
• provide population-based care, through the ability to develop and implement population-specific, evidence-based disease management programs and protocols based upon analysis of epidemiologic and pharmacoeconomic data, medication-use criteria, medication use review, and risk-reduction strategies
• manage human, physical, medical, informational, and technological resources, through the ability to ensure efficient, cost-effective use of these resources in the provision of patient care
• manage medication use systems, through the ability to apply patient- and population-specific data, quality improvement strategies, medication safety and error reduction programs, and research processes to minimize drug misadventures and optimize patient outcomes; to participate in the development of drug use and health policy; and to help design pharmacy benefits
• promote the availability of effective health and disease prevention services and health policy through the ability to apply population-specific data, quality improvement strategies, informatics, and research processes to identify and solve public health problems and to help develop health policy

* Accreditation Standards and Key Elements for the Professional Program in Pharmacy Leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree. Adopted January 25, 2015. Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. 

Center for Advancement of Pharmacy Education Outcomes, adopted May 4, 2020

Domain 1 - Foundational Knowledge

1.1 Learner - Develop, integrate, and apply knowledge from the foundational sciences (i.e., pharmaceutical, social/behavioral/administrative, and clinical sciences) to evaluate the scientific literature, explain drug action, solve therapeutic problems, and advance population health and patient-centered care.

Domain 2 - Essentials for Practice and Care

2.1. Patient-centered care (Caregiver) - Provide patient-centered care as the medication expert (collect and interpret evidence, prioritize, formulate assessments and recommendations, implement and adjust plans, and document actiities).

2.2. Medication use systems management (Manager) - Manage patient healthcare needs using human, financial, technological, and physical resources to optimize the safety and efficacy of medication use systems.

2.3. Health and wellness (Promoter) - Design prevention, intervention, and educational strategies for individuals and communities to manage chronic disease and improve health and wellness.

2.4. Population-based care (Provider) - Describe how population-based care influences patient-centered care and influences the development of practice guidelines and evidence-based practices.

Domain 3 - Approach to Practice and Care

3.1. Problem Solving (Problem Solver) - Identify problems; explore and prioritize potential strategies; and design, implement, and evaluate a viable solution.

3.2. Educator (Educator) - Educate all audiences by determining the most effective and enduring ways to impart information and assess understanding.

3.3. Patient Advocacy (Advocate) - Assure that patients’ best interests are represented.

3.4. Interprofessional collaboration (Collaborator) - Actively participate and engage as a healthcare team member by demonstrating mutual respect, understanding, and values to meet patient care needs.

3.5. Cultural sensitivity (Includer) - Recognize social determinants of health to diminish disparities and inequities in access to quality care.

3.6. Communication (Communicator) - Effecitvely communicate verbally and nonverbally when interacting with an individual, group, or organization.

Domain 4 - Personal and Professional Development

4.1. Self-awareness (Self-aware) - Examine and reflect on personal knowledge, skills, abilities, beliefs, biases, motivation, and emotions that could enhance or limit personal and professional growth.

4.2. Leadership (Leader) - Demonstrate responsibility for creating and achieving shared goals, regardless of position.

4.3. Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Innovator) - Engage in innovative activities by using creative thinking to envision better ways of accomplishing professional goals.

4.4. Professionalism (Profesional) - Exhibit behaviors and values that are consistent with the trust given to the profession by patients, other healthcare providers, and society.

The Doctor of Pharmacy degree is conferred by East Tennessee State University upon certification by the faculty that the student has successfully completed all requirements. All required courses, practice experiences, and elective courses applied towards the degree must be completed with a minimum passing grade of C. The student must complete the entirety of the of the curriculum within six successive academic years from initial enrollment. This time limit may be extended for interruption by military service where enrollment is resumed immediately upon release from service. Other exceptions to the time limit may be granted by the Dean for extenuating circumstances.

In addition to completing the prescribed curriculum and meeting the scholarship requirements of the program, students must have satisfied all financial obligations to the College or University in order to qualify for graduation and receipt of the degree. 

This bulletin presents the offerings and requirements in effect at the time of publication, but is no guarantee that they will not be changed or revoked. However, adequate and reasonable notice will be given to students affected by any changes. This bulletin is not intended to state contractual terms and does not constitute a contract between the student and ETSU or Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy.

The curriculum structure for Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy can be found at: www.etsu.edu/pharmacy/academic_programs/curriculum.php

Students are required to complete four elective courses (totaling at least eight credit hours) with a minimum passing grade prior to beginning Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences. Only approved courses may be used to fulfill this requirement. External research/internship experiences may be utilized to meet requirements if approved by the Curriculum Committee.

Students are expected to enroll in electives as outlined in the curriculum; however, requests for enrolling in electives out of sequence or for completing more than one elective in a semester may be made through the Office of Academic Affairs.

Students participate in required Pharmacy Practice Experiences during all four years of the curriculum. Experiential education has two components, Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE). Both types of experiences are designed to give pharmacy students real world experience inside a pharmacy or pharmaceutical lab. A student will rotate through a number of experiences in order to become familiar with and understand the many different facets of the pharmacy field. The number of rotations and the scheduling of rotations vary based on student’s academic year. Participation in experiential education courses requires students to be in compliance with all immunization, and background check requirements, as well as any site specific requirements.

Students should refer to the Appendix of the Student Handbook for policies and procedures governing the experiential education program. The Handbook can be found on the web at http://www.etsu.edu/pharmacy/documents/student_handbook_aug_2020.pdf.

Pharm.D./Master of Business Administration degrees

Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy students can simultaneously pursue an MBA degree from the College of Business and Technology while completing the Pharm.D. degree. The program is designed to provide students with a broader perspective on business that will strengthen a graduate’s ability to engage in pharmacy management within a variety of health care settings. The joint degree program is structured such that students can complete both degrees within a four-year period of time by completing MBA courses at specified points in the Pharm.D. curriculum and during the summer following the second and third years of pharmacy school (see general curriculum structure below).

Pharm.D./Master of Public Health degrees

Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy students can simultaneously pursue an MPH degree from the College of Public Health while completing the Pharm.D. degree. The program is designed to provide students a broad perspective that could help solve health problems on a large scale and is an excellent choice for students interested in careers in public health leadership. The program requires 5 years to complete. Students enroll in MPH courses at specified points in the Pharm.D. curriculum (general curriculum structure below). During the fourth year of the joint degree program, students will devote one full year of study as an MPH student within the College of Public Health before returning for their fifth and final year at the College of Pharmacy.

Interested students should contact the Office of Academic Affairs (423-439-6334 or copaa@etsu.edu) for more information about the joint degree programs.