Alumna Named University of Michigan College of Pharmacy Dean

May. 20, 2022

Dr. Vicki Ellingrod has been named dean of the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, effective July 1, 2022. Ellingrod is an alumna of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy where she received her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1992 and her Doctor of Pharmacy in 1994.

“Thinking back to my days at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, becoming a Dean was never in my plan,” said Ellingrod. “But my bachelor’s and PharmD program’s emphasis on research and leadership skills coupled with exceptional clinical training, really provided me a strong foundation on which to build.” 

Ellingrod is a senior associate dean at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, and also a professor of psychiatry in the Medical School and an adjunct professor of psychology in the college of Liberal Science and Arts.  She has 16 years of service at the University of Michigan, having joined the College of Pharmacy’s Department of Clinical Sciences in 2006 as an associate professor with tenure, as well as in the Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry. She was promoted to professor in 2012.

Among her many leadership roles at the University of Michigan, Ellingrod has served as associate chair of the Department of Clinical, Social, and Administrative Sciences between 2013-15 and associate dean for research and graduate education from 2016-20. She was appointed senior associate dean in 2020. She also serves as Associate Director for Translational Educaiton and Training within the Michgian Institute for Clinical Research (MICHR) which is supported by the NIH through the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program. 

Ellingrod is one of only three PharmDs who have received fellowship status within the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), a premier psychiatry organization.  In 2012, she was awarded the MICHR Clinical Translational Science Mentor Award. Her current service to the profession includes an editorial role for scientific publications such as Pharmacogenomics & Personalised Medicine, Pharmacotherapy, and the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. She is also an editor of the textbook, DiPiro’s Pharmacotherapy A Pathophysiolgical Approach. 

She is a proactive promoter and champion of diversity, equity and inclusion, and a successful scholar, educator, and administrator who has dedicated her career to mentoring the next generation of pharmacy and translational science leaders. She has mentored a diverse group of pharmacy trainees at all levels, as well as trainees outside of pharmacy.  Under her leadership, the number of MICHR female and underrepresented trainees has more than doubled for these programs.  

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Dr. Ellingrod when I was at Michigan and know she will bring exceptional leadership to their college. Similar to all of our alumni, Vicki’s accomplishments make me incredibly proud,” said Dr. Lynda Welage, dean of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.

See the full release on the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy’s website.