History

The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences was established in 1990 when the School of Pharmacy pharmaceutical sciences faculty requested and were granted permission to separate from the reorganized College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The rationale for the request was to focus our efforts in achieving the mission of the School of Pharmacy. The Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences offerings currently encompass the Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees in pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology, and the Master of Science in pharmacy administration.

Facilities

Richard King Mellon Hall of Science, a four-story structure dedicated in 1968 and an award-winning building designed by Mies van der Rohe, houses faculty's offices of the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences as well as classrooms and laboratories. Graduate faculty offices and a significant amount of the GSPS' modern laboratory space are located on the more than 30,000 sq. ft. fourth floor of Mellon Hall. The Center for Pharmaceutical Technology is located in the basement of Mellon Hall with an industrial pharmacy laboratory for research on pharmaceutical process development, including a globally respected effort in continuous manufacturing and process analytical technology.

Academic Programs

Degrees and areas of study in the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

M.S. programs that include a thesis (Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology) require a minimum of 30 post baccalaureate credit hours, including 24 credits of course work, two credits of seminar, and six credits of thesis research.
  • M.S. Medicinal Chemistry
  • M.S. Pharmaceutics
  • M.S. Pharmacology
Non-thesis M.S. degrees are offered in Industrial Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, and Pharmacology disciplines and require a minimum of 30 post baccalaureate credit hours.
  • M.S. Medicinal Chemistry (Non-Thesis)
  • M.S. Industrial Pharmacy (Non-Thesis)
  • M.S. Pharmaceutics (Non-Thesis)
  • M.S. Pharmacology (Non-Thesis)
In cooperation with the John F. Donahue Graduate School of Business, the Pharmaceutics discipline offers a joint program combining the M.S. in Industrial Pharmacy (a non-thesis degree) and an MBA, requiring concurrent graduate-level enrollment in both the Graduate School of Business and the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

A combined 72 credits for these two degrees (30 credits for the M.S. in Industrial Pharmacy and 42 credits for the MBA) is reduced to 62 credits through credit-sharing.

  • M.S. Industrial Pharmacy/MBA
Ph.D. programs require a minimum of 60 post-baccalaureate semester hours, including a minimum of 36 credits of course work and 12 dissertation credits. All graduate programs are designed for individuals who have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, pharmacy, allied health sciences, the social and behavioral sciences or business or other appropriate fields. 
  • Ph.D. Medicinal Chemistry
  • Ph.D. Pharmaceutics
  • Ph.D. Pharmacology

Administration

James K. Drennen, III, Ph.D.
Dean of the School of Pharmacy and the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Director of the Duquesne University Center for Pharmaceutical Technology

Monica L. Skomo, B.S. Pharm., PharmD
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Administration

Carl Anderson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs

Amy Woods, PharmD, M.S. Leadership
Assistant Dean of Student Services

Pamela Hucko Koerner, B.S. Pharm., PharmD
Associate Dean of Curriculum and Professional Engagement
Director of the Pharmacy Alumni Association

Anthony J. Guarascio, PharmD
Division Head of the Pharmacy Practice Division
Director of Global Education
Director of the Giant Eagle Center for Pharmacy Practice

Wilson Meng, B.S. Pharm., Ph.D.
Division Head of the Pharmaceutical, Administrative and Social Sciences Division

Ira S. Buckner, Ph.D.
Director of Assessment

Jennifer Padden Elliott, PharmD
Director of the Center for Integrative Health
Fritzky Family Endowed Chair

Tiffany K. Hatcher, PharmD
Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion

Marsha McFalls, PharmD
Director of Educational Technology
Director of Distance Learning Program and Online Program

Branden D. Nemecek, PharmD
Director of Residency Programs

Kurt Wolfgang, PharmD
Director of Post Graduation Preparation

Elizabeth J. Barton, PharmD
Director of the Center for Pharmacy Care

Debra N. DiBiasi, M.S.
Director of Business, Administration and Marketing

Thomas Falcione, B.S. Pharm.
Director of Experiential Education

Kara Findley, PharmD
Assistant Director of Experiential Education

Jason Stack, Ed.D., MBA
Assistant Dean of Recruitment and Retention 

Christopher Hagan, M.Ed.
Director of Student Progression and Advancement

Michael Kurilla, M.Ed.
Director of Continuing Education and Certificate Programs

Faculty

Jennifer Padden Elliott
Fritzky Family Chair of Integrative Medicine and Wellbeing
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Duquesne University

Karen M. Fancher
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Duquesne University
B.S. Pharmacy, Duquesne University

Gale E. Garmong
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Anthony J. Guarascio
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., West Virginia University

Tiffany K. Hatcher
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Hampton University

Christa Kirk
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., University of Kansas

Pamela Hucko Koerner
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Duquesne University
B.S. Pharmacy, Duquesne University

Holly Lassila
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Dr. P.H., University of Pittsburgh
M.P.H., University of Pittsburgh
B.S. Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh


Robert V. Laux, Jr.
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Pharmacy, Duquesne University
B.S. Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh
B.S. Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh

Jamie L. McConaha
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Duquesne University

Marsha McFalls
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Duquesne University
B.S. Pharmacy, Duquesne University

Courtney A. Montepara
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Philadelphia College of Pharmacy

Branden D. Nemecek
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center
B.S. Biochemistry, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Christine K. O'Neil
Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Duquesne University
B.S. Pharmacy, Duquesne University

Michael W. Perry
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Ohio Northern University

Rebecca Schoen
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Purdue University

Monica L. Skomo
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Duquesne University
B.S. Pharmacy, Duquesne University

Autumn L. Stewart-Lynch
Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Duquesne University

Kurt Wolfgang
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Duquesne University

David E. Zimmerman
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Pharm.D., Philadelphia College of Pharmacy
Jordan R. Covvey
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Administration
Ph.D., University of Strathclyde (Scotland)
Pharm.D., University of Kentucky
Patrick T. Flaherty
Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
Ph.D., University of Iowa
B.S., University of Pittsburgh

Aleem Gangjee
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
School of Pharmacy Distinguished Professor, Adrian Van Kaam Chair in Scholarly Excellence
Ph.D., University of Iowa
M.S., Indian Institute of Technology
B.S., Indian Institute of Technology

Marc W. Harrold
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
Ph.D., The Ohio State University
B.S. Pharmacy, Duquesne University

David Lapinsky
Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
Ph.D., The Ohio State University
B.S. Pharmacy, Duquesne University
Carl A. Anderson
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
B.S., California State University-Fullerton

Ira S. Buckner
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics
Ph.D., University of Iowa
B.S., Illinois State University

James K. Drennen, III
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
B.S. Pharmacy, Duquesne University

Jelena M. Janjic
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Dipl.Farm., Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Wilson Meng
Professor of Pharmaceutics
Ph.D., University of Southern California
B.S. Pharmacy, University of Maryland

Devika Soundara Manickam
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics
Ph.D., Wayne State University
M.S.C., Wayne State University
B.S., University of Madras

Sam Sprowls
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Ph.D., West Virginia University

Peter L.D. Wildfong
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics
Ph.D., Purdue University
Dip. Pharm., R&D Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology (Canada)
B.S., McMaster University (Canada)

Jane E. Cavanaugh
Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State College of Medicine
B.A., Franklin & Marshall

Rehana K. Leak
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
M.Sc., University of Pittsburgh
B.A., Barnard College

Lauren A. O'Donnell
Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
B.S., University of Delaware

Paula A. Witt-Enderby
Professor of Pharmacology
Ph.D., University of Arizona
B.S., University of Illinois
Professor Emeriti