UCSF → School of Pharmacy → About the School → Plans → Pressing Ahead in New Directions: Strategic Course 2007-2012 → Participants → Dean

Dean

Mary Anne Koda-Kimble, PharmD

Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Thomas J. Long Chair in Community Pharmacy Practice PharmD degree, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco Licentiate in Pharmacy, California Specialty: diabetes, pharmacy education and practice, pharmacy leadership and change

As a PharmD student here at UCSF in the 60s, a faculty member, and eventually as chair of the department of clinical pharmacy, then as the administrative leader of the School I have seen it all. Our scientists are developing more precise understandings of how current and future drugs might work at molecular levels and how our own genetics might affect drug action. We have gone through two full-scale revisions of our PharmD curriculum: the first, which helped define pharmacy as a clinical profession nationwide and the second, which will redefine the pharmacist's versatility in policy, health outcomes research, and science as well. We have seen the rise and development of exciting new graduate programs that bring together chemistry and biology, genetics and pharmaceutics, as well as biology and informatics. Our clinicians continue to push the boundaries of practice and to share the lessons learned with our students.

Our goal is to use our knowledge to improve the health and well-being of the people we serve through the best use of medicines. As a public institution we are public servants. We are responsible for making sure that what we do and what we learn benefits the public. The evidence says we are succeeding. This I can attribute to the bright, innovative, and generous people who make up our School community and the collaborative nature of our colleagues at UCSF.

Image credit: Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover Photography

Go to: A description of the dean's role or More about Dr. Koda-Kimble