Contact
Duquesne University School of Pharmacy
Bayer Learning Center
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
412.396.6393
duq.edu/pharmacy
Our History
Founded in 1925, the Duquesne University School of Pharmacy has been led by eight deans in its nearly 100 years of existence. Each dean's tenure closely paralleled major changes in pharmacy education, pharmacy as a profession and pharmacy practice.
During the 30 years (1925-1955) of founding Dean Hugh C. Muldoon's leadership, the dominance of independent community pharmacy, the emergence of hospital pharmacy, and the implementation of the four-year bachelor's degree in pharmacy, which adhered to the tradition of a comprehensive university education, were essential developments in pharmacy at Duquesne and nationally.
Tensions within community and hospital pharmacy practice, the growth of the pharmaceutical industry, and the somewhat controversial move to a five-year baccalaureate that incorporated liberal education in a predominately pharmaceutical sciences curriculum, characterized the short term (1955-1961) of John G. Adams, Ph.D., as the second Duquesne pharmacy school dean.
Dean John S. Ruggiero, Ph.D., led the school during a period (1961-1970) in which the integration of clinical pharmacy and elective options into the five-year B.S. in Pharmacy curriculum and the relocation of the pharmacy school from Canevin Hall to the fourth floor of the new campus science building Mellon Hall for improved classroom, faculty and research facilities, were critical developments.
As Dean (1970-1981), Bruce D. Martin, Ph.D., oversaw a substantial increase of pharmacy school student enrollment and of faculty numbers and the creation of a competency-based, outcomes-oriented curriculum that balanced the pharmaceutical sciences with the clinical, social, behavioral and administrative sciences and integrated a controlled experiential education component.
During the lengthy deanship (1981-1998) of Douglas H. Kay, Ph.D., the faculty addressed the move toward the pharmaceutical care model in pharmacy education and practice and the implementation of the six-year professional doctoral degree program that would be a requirement for pharmacist licensure by the early 21st century.
As Dean (1998-2006) R. Pete Vanderveen, Ph.D., and the faculty continued to evaluate, revise and update the competency-based, outcomes-oriented Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum, to enhance physical and fiscal resources, and to develop new initiatives to address the challenges and potentialities in the ever-changing pharmacy practice and health care environment.
Under Dean (2007-2020) J. Douglas Bricker, Ph.D., the School of Pharmacy started the Weekend Doctor of Pharmacy Program, the first of its kind in the nation, as well as the first Pharm.D. online program at Duquesne. Dean Bricker has also put into place a strategic five-year plan to prepare pharmacy students for the challenges of pharmacy practice in the 21st century. Under his leadership, three Academic Research Centers and an extensive Academic Partners Program were established.
Under the leadership of Dean James K. Drennen, III, Ph.D., (2020-present), the School of Pharmacy earned re-accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
Our Mission
The mission of the Duquesne University School of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences is to educate and mentor students who advance the profession of pharmacy and pharmaceutical research to improve the health outcomes of patients and their communities.
Our Vision
The vision of the Duquesne University School of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences is to develop professionals, through student-centered experiences, who are recognized leaders, innovators and advocates in all areas of pharmacy practice and research.