Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems

A student talking with a professor inside Pharmacy store

Cultivating Pharmacy Practice.
Driving Research and Scholarship.
Advancing Education.

The Department of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems (PCHS) advances the practice of pharmaceutical care and its role in the healthcare system for the benefit of patients & society through education, research, & service.

Featured Offerings

Cultivating Pharmacy Practice

PCHS is dedicated to the advancement of pharmaceutical care. Pharmaceutical care was originally conceptualized by faculty within our department and continues to be an integral focus to our departmental identity. Our faculty engage in a diverse array of pharmacy practice models and services in partnership with healthcare systems, health disciplines, and the community at large to provide high-quality patient-centered care. Our faculty meet this need through patient care, practice-based research, practice innovation, and education.  

Learn more about our practice faculty

Driving Research and Scholarship

Faculty and trainees within our department study the pharmacy profession, patient care behaviors, government policies, and the economic, clinical, and humanistic aspects of medications. 

  • Patient Care
  • Pharmaceuticals and Public Policy
  • Educational Research

Learn more about our research and scholarship

Advancing Education

PCHS embraces a leadership role in curricular innovation at the College. Our faculty are serving in leadership roles that are creating new learning experiences for Doctor of Pharmacy students and modeling innovative teaching and learning strategies in a variety of courses. 

  • Curricular Domains
  • PharmD Emphasis - Leadership
  • Advancement of Experiential Education
  • Innovations in Teaching
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Social & Administrative Pharmacy Graduate Program

Study the social, psychosocial, political, legal, historic, and economic factors that impinge upon the use, non-use and abuse of drugs. 

Learn more about SAPh Degree Programs

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Jean Moon and Dr. Jody Lounsbery

Dr. Jean Moon on left and Dr. Jody Lounsbery on right Broadway Family Medicine Named Clinical Training Site of Excellence

Dr. Ann Philbrick

Dr. Philbrick leads the College of Pharmacy in COVID-19 education programs

Research Spotlight

Prof. Ambrose in the Lab

Prof. Ambrose was invited to speak at the event, hosted at the University of Bonn (Germany), due to her expertise with the chemical exploration and analysis of Baltic amber.

Collage of workforce survey members

Dr. Schommer is a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems. He has devoted his career to teaching and research. Much of his work is related to the pharmacist workforce at both national and state levels.

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Slice of PIE Blog

Optimizing Meds, Creating Value, Transforming Practicc

Learn more about the Slice of PIE blog

News and Announcements

Joel Farley

Dr. Joel Farley, professor, Peters Endowed Chair in Pharmacy Practice Innovation, and director of graduate studies in social and administrative pharmacy, has been named the interim head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems (PCHS), effective Sept. 4, 2024.

Stephen Schondelmeyer

The term of service runs January 2024 through January 2028.

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Recognizes connections to Minnesota and College of Pharmacy as influential

Todd Sorensen

Dr. Todd Sorensen, professor and associate dean for strategic initiatives and innovations, has been named the recipient of the C. Edwin Webb Professional Advocacy Award.

Amy Pittenger Headshot

Dr. Amy L. Pittenger, head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems and professor, is the recipient of a 2022 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education as part of the 2021-2022 Distinguished Teaching Awards. 

Ann Philbrick

Ann Philbrick, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, BCACP, associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems, has been selected as an inductee into the Academy for Excellence in Clinical Practice.