From The Dean

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We, at UB's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, are proud of our tradition of providing a sound professional and clinical education leading to degrees in pharmacy and an outstanding environment for research in the pharmaceutical sciences. We do not, however, regard these as separate activities — they are linked, and advances in one area stimulates research and teaching in the other.

Drug therapy represents a major component of modern medicine — cures for fatal diseases, treatment of acute conditions, and management of chronic conditions have made it possible for people to live longer, more productive lives. More than 13,000 prescription drugs are available in the United States and, particularly with the newer more potent drugs that have highly specific cellular "targets," the management of drug therapy is one of the most important challenges in health care management. We are facing that challenge with the entry-level Pharm. D. program, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The extensive educational program will prepare the pharmacist, as a disease manager, to be a member of the disease management team consisting of physicians, non-physician providers and other allied health professionals. The pharmacist participates in the drug use decision making process and in some instances is responsible for the selection of the appropriate medication(s), dosage form(s), dose(s) and dose schedule(s).

The pharmaceutical sciences derive their basic strengths from the interdisciplinary nature of the programs. Thus, medicinal chemistry, resting securely on a foundation of creative synthetic organic chemistry, expands to use biochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology, and computational chemistry. Pharmaceutics links analytical chemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology and toxicology, sophisticated kinetics (pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics), clinical medicine, and, more recently, engineering. Biochemical pharmacology embraces chemistry, molecular biology, physiology, and biochemistry. Interdisciplinary programs involving all three of the pharmaceutical sciences, as well as other departments in the University, take advantage of the broad range of expertise available at UB.

The intellectual diversity of the pharmaceutical sciences is matched by the range of employment opportunities including:

• clinical and basic research in institutes, universities, and pharmaceutical companies
• in government and regulatory agencies
• in business and legal affairs

The future holds much promise for those entering the field of pharmacy and/or pharmaceutical science. If you, like me, find expanding horizons a cause for excitement, enjoy the stimulation of interdisciplinary pursuits, and welcome a career of disciplined diversity, I offer you a sincere invitation to join us.

    Wayne K. Anderson, Ph.D.

Dean, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences