Top Pharmacy Professors

A degree in pharmacy does not guarantee success. You first need the right teachers and mentors. To that end, we’ve scoured the Internet to find the most cutting-edge, influential, and exceptional pharmacy professors teaching today. These professors are leaders in their fields, trend-setters for pharmacological research, and noted speakers and educators. Learning from them might not only arm you with fundamental information and prepare you to enter the workforce, but also connect you with someone who could very well put you on the road to professional excellence, and help mentor you through challenges and opportunities. 

Jean M. Nappi

Jean M. Nappi

PharmD

Medial University of South Carolina - Charleston , SC

Dr. Nappi has served both her school and her community graciously, taking on leadership positions in both. She acted as the Treasurer for the ACCP from 1988-1992, then as the President-Elect (1993) and President (1994) of the organization. Her passion is for cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, and she has received the ACCP Educator Award and Clinical Practice Award. 

C. Lindsay DeVane

C. Lindsay DeVane

PharmD

Medical University of South Carolina - Charleston , SC

One of the most published professionals in the field of Neuropsychopharmacology, Dr. DeVane has over 285 publications to his credit about how the brain responds to different pharmacological elements. In 2013, DeVane took on the position of Editor-in-Chief of Pharmacotherapy - the main publication of the ACCP. He has also currently funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) to study autism pharmacotherapy.

Leslie Benet

Leslie Benet

PhD

University of California - San Francisco - San Francisco , CA

Named by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) as one of the most highly cited researchers in pharmaceutical science, Dr. Benet has had a huge impact on the field of pharmacy. In addition to teaching at the University of California - San Francisco, the best pharmacy program in America, he has received the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Pharmaceutical Research and Science (APhA-APRS) Ebert Prize for contributions over a lifetime. He has received eight honorary doctoral degrees for his work, published over 530 papers, and established 11 patents in the areas of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and drug delivery systems. 

Eleanor Vogt

Eleanor Vogt

PhD, RPh

University of California - San Francisco - San Francisco , CA

Dr. Vogt is one of the most acclaimed pharmacy policy researchers, and has received numerous awards for her teaching and leadership. In 2004, she was awarded the Presidential Chair for the University of California - San Francisco, the top-rated pharmacy school according to the U.S. News and World Report (2015). In addition, she was a 2003 APhA Foundation Pinnacle Award recipient and Senior Fellow and Founding Member of the National Patient Safety Foundation at the AMA, as well as a co-recipient of the Jane Boggess Advancement of Pharmacy Practice Award in 2009, and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Leadership Award in 2004. 

Bradley Phillips

Bradley Phillips

PharmD, BCPS, FCCP

University of Georgia - Athens , GA

Bradley Phillips is a professor and Head of the Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy program at the University of Georgia. His current research focuses on cardiovascular treatments for patients with sleep apnea. He has published several papers on his findings, in journals like the American Journal of Hypertension and Pharmacotherapy. Phillips also is serving as the Treasurer of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). 

Alexander Mankin

Alexander Mankin

PhD

University of Illinois - Chicago - Chicago , IL

Dr. Mankin originally hails from Russia, where he gained a MS, Ph.D., and Doctorate of Science in Molecular Biology. He is one of the finest teachers of Pharmaceutical knowledge and research, and has earned the Teacher of the Year Award, Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Paul R. Dawson Biotechnology Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

Edith A. Nutescu

Edith A. Nutescu

PharmD, MS, FCCP

University of Illinois - Chicago - Chicago , IL

Edith Nutescu is an Associate professor with joint appointments in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and the Department of Pharmacy Systems Outcomes and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy. She is an established clinical scientist with over 150 publications in the field of thrombotic disorders and anticoagulant medication safety. As such, she was recently appointed as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Pharmacotherapy, The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy. She also serves as Co-Director of the Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomic Research and the Co-Director of the Personalized Medicine Program at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy, one of the top 20 pharmacy schools in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report (2015).

James A. Trovato

James A. Trovato

PharmD, MBA, BCOP, FASHP

University of Maryland - Baltimore , MD

Dr. Trovato serves as a professor as well as the program director for the PGY-2 Oncology Pharmacy Practice Residency Program, which prepares students to participate in a real-world Oncology practice. He also acts as a member of the Board of Directors for ASHP, and previously acted as the President for the Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP).

Robert S. Beardsley

Robert S. Beardsley

RPh, PhD

University of Maryland - Baltimore , MD

Dr. Beardsley's focus is on educational innovation, patient care and counseling, and human behavior theory. His teaching methods have earned him the Robert Chalmer's Distinguished Educator Award from the AACP, as well as Outstanding Teacher of the Year from three School of Pharmacy graduating classes. Dr. Beardsley is currently acting as a member of the Board of Directors of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and is a past Chair of the Council of Deans for the AACP. 

Stuart T. Haines

Stuart T. Haines

PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM

University of Maryland - Baltimore , MD

Dr. Haines's courses focus on ambulatory care, cardiovascular topics, and pharmacological education techniques. He is an active leader in a number of professional organizations, having served as the 2006-2007 President of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and a current member of the Board of Directors for the APhA Foundation. He is also a prolific writer, and is the Editor-in-Chief of iForumRx, an online journal for ambulatory pharmacy specialists.

Mary Lynn McPherson

Mary Lynn McPherson

PharmD, BCPS, CPE

University of Maryland - Baltimore , MD

Dr. McPherson is known as one of the best pharmacological educators in all of the college systems. In 2013, she received the Robert K. Chalmers Distinguished Pharmacy Educator Award from the AACP because of her groundbreaking teaching methods and excellence in training outcomes. She also received the University of Maryland Teacher of the Year Award. She currently serves as the President of the American Society of Pain Educators. 

David Smith

David Smith

PhD

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor , MI

Dr. Smith is a celebrated writer, researcher, and leader in the fields of anticancer drugs and experimental therapeutic pharmacology. He has received the James R. Gillette Drug Metabolism and Disposition Best Paper Award from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) in both 2002 and 2008.

Philip Portoghese

Philip Portoghese

PhD

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis , MN

Dr. Portoghese acts as a Distinguished Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. His work focuses on the design and synthesis of ligands that are selective to different opioid receptors. He has been honored for both his research and teaching, having earned the Certificate for Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Service from the University of Minnesota, as well as awards from the American Chemical Society, European Federation of Medicinal Chemistry, and College on Problems of Drug Dependence.

Gary C. Yee

Gary C. Yee

PharmD, FCCP, BCOP

University of Nebraska - Omaha , NE

Dr. Yee teaches Pharmacotherapy III, Applied Biochemistry, and other advanced pharmacology courses at the University of Nebraska. When he's not teaching, he is heavily involved in professional organizations such as the ACCP, where he served as President Elect from 2012-2013, and President from 2013-2014. He has also published and presented vital research in the areas of stem cell transplantation and the effects of bisphosphonates on multiple myeloma. 

Christine Oramasionwu

Christine Oramasionwu

PharmD, PhD

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill , NC

Dr. Oramasionwu is passionate about pharmaceutical outcomes and policies, especially as they affect underserved, minority, and international populations. She has published a number of highly influential papers about HIV/AIDS treatment in both the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, her college, UNC - Chapel Hill is the second best pharmacy school in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report 2015.

Robert L. Talbert

Robert L. Talbert

PharmD

University of Texas - Austin - San Antonio , TX

Because of both his publication contributions and service in many pharmacological organizations, Dr. Talbert is one of the most respected pharmacists in the nation. He has penned more than 120 professional papers and is one of the editors of the definitive pharmacotherapy manuals, Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach. He has also been a leader in the field, serving as research and special interest Chair for the ASHP, AACP, as well as being the past President of the ACCP. 

Steven S. Rough

Steven S. Rough

RPh, MS

University of Wisconsin - Madison - Madison , WI

Dr. Rough is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, which is the fifth best pharmacy school in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report (2015). He is also the Program Director for the Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency and Masters Program at the UW hospital. In addition to his teaching and post-graduate mentoring, Rough serves as a member of the ASHP Board of Directors. 

Methodology

Each of the members on this list have been chosen through careful research based on the following criteria:

  • Active Teaching. All of these professors are actively teaching or mentoring students at an accredited college.

  • Publication. Many of these professors have been published in online or print professional journals.

  • Thought Leadership. Professors on this list have been chosen due to their leadership in the pharmaceutical community, based on speaking engagements, public leadership, or social media presence.

  • Extracurricular Involvement. Each of these individuals are involved in both teaching and outside professional engagements, such as professional communities, educational organizations, and industry associations.

Maggie O'Neill
Maggie O'Neill Writer

Maggie O'Neill is a journalist from Northern Nevada, specializing in interviews and educational feature stories.