Kishi named associate dean of student and curricular affairs

Donald Kishi, PharmD, UCSF School of Pharmacy health sciences clinical professor of pharmacy, has been named the School's associate dean of student and curricular affairs by Dean Mary Anne Koda-Kimble, PharmD. The appointment was effective September 1, 2009.

As associate dean, Kishi is responsible for ensuring that the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) academic program is delivered exceptionally well and assessed continually. He also oversees the academic health and progress of individual PharmD program students and serves as a key mentor to the School's pharmacy students through the day they graduate.

"I can think of no other faculty member in our School who is in a better position to take on these important responsibilities," said Koda-Kimble. "Don has been on the faculty since he earned his PharmD here in 1968. During this time, he helped shape the role of the clinical pharmacist and the clinical curriculum, served as deputy director of pharmaceutical services and vice chair of the department of clinical pharmacy, directed the clinical pharmacy residency program, and taught many courses."

Kishi's teaching covers the spectrum of professional courses, from introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences to pharmacy administration, and from study design to therapeutics. During his academic career at UCSF, Kishi estimates that he has taught and mentored more than 4,000 pharmacy students and 500 pharmacy residents.

Kishi's current interests include faculty mentoring, cultural diversity, health care disparities, pharmacy practice and education in Japan, pharmacists' roles in preventive medicine and health care promotion, and the professionalism of student pharmacists.

"When the dean asked to see me, given all of the budgetary turmoil, I was anticipating that it might be time to exit stage left and retire! Instead, she asked me to consider this position, and I was elated." Kishi explained. "I have had the opportunity to work with Associate Dean Cindy Watchmaker and her great Office of Student and Curricular Affairs staff through admissions interviews, orientation for new students, and white coat ceremonies, and I look forward to continuing and growing those relationships.

"With respect to our individual students and student organizations, they are the best in the country, and they have worked hard to achieve the awards and other recognitions that they have so rightly earned. Given the difficulty of our curriculum, my goal will be to mentor them toward working smarter, not harder, to not only maintain, but achieve, more of their already nationally recognized community service and professional leadership goals. So, am I happy about this appointment, yes!"

Kishi brings to the position additional experience as an active member of the UCSF campus, including service to the UCSF Medical Center and to Academic Senate committees. He has served as president and board of trustees member of the School's Pharmacy Alumni Association. He has been very involved with the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP), having served as its president and on various committees and task forces. In 1989, Kishi was named by CSHP as Pharmacist of the Year. In 2001 he received CSHP's Distinguished Service Award. He has served on the board of directors as well as on several councils and task forces of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. He has been active, as well, on committees and task forces of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

"Don's professional experience is trumped only by his professional wisdom," says Koda-Kimble.

Kishi will work closely with Cynthia Watchmaker, MEd, MBA, associate dean and director of the Office of Student and Curricular Affairs who administers the School's PharmD program.

The PharmD program offered by the UCSF School of Pharmacy continues to rank as number one among doctor of pharmacy degree programs in the United States according to results of a survey conducted in 2007 and published online on March 26, 2008 by U.S. News & World Report.

Tags

Category:
Sites:
School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, PharmD Degree Program, Dean's Office

About the School: The UCSF School of Pharmacy aims to solve the most pressing health care problems and strives to ensure that each patient receives the safest, most effective treatments. Our discoveries seed the development of novel therapies, and our researchers consistently lead the nation in NIH funding. The School’s doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree program, with its unique emphasis on scientific thinking, prepares students to be critical thinkers and leaders in their field.