WesternU College of Pharmacy welcomes first PhD cohort

Western University of Health Sciences' College of Pharmacy welcomed its inaugural class of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences this month. This represents a new era as WesternU opens its first PhD program in its 47-year history.

"This is a tremendous step forward for WesternU as we embark on our first PhD program in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences," said WesternU Provost Paula M. Crone, DO '92. "This program not only enhances our academic offerings but also positions us as a leader in groundbreaking research and innovation. We are excited to support and nurture the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs who will contribute to advancements in health care and science."

WesternU's College of Pharmacy received approval from WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in March to start the program.

"We now start a brand-new era at the College with an opportunity to build a prestigious PhD program that will attract future outstanding researchers and trailblazing entrepreneurs," said COP Dean Sunil Prabhu, BPharm, PhD. "I firmly believe that this achievement will truly elevate the intellectual enterprise and raise the brand image of our University, which will be attractive to future students in the health care professions and graduate programs."

The PhD-Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences program is the first PhD program at WesternU, which puts our University on par with other PhD-granting institutions, helps with our branding and image, and will allow our faculty to conduct uninterrupted, groundbreaking research that is sure to create new intellectual property, high quality publications and grant success, Prabhu said.

COP will offer PhD students a tuition waiver and a paid teaching assistantship - essentially, they receive a PhD education at no charge, said COP Director of Graduate Education Arbi Nazarian, PhD. PhD students will spend the first two years taking heavy course work. Upon passing a qualifying exam, the student then advances to PhD candidacy and focuses on their dissertation research.

COP built the infrastructure needed to support the PhD program in developing the Master of Science in Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences degree, which will continue to be offered.

"PhD programs are important because they are the foundation for doing high-level research at universities," Nazarian said. "Universities become famous by the research and innovation they produce. Research and innovations are oftentimes driven by PhD students and PhD programs at those universities."

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