Pharmacotherapy
Chair message
The Department of Pharmacotherapy is driving innovation in patient care. Our faculty are passionate educators, researchers, and clinicians dedicated to preparing students to improve health outcomes through smart, effective medication management.
Students gain hands-on skills in communication, professional development, pharmacotherapy, and applied patient care—while also exploring advanced topics like pharmacokinetics, drug information, and evidence-based practice. With expertise spanning diabetes care, geriatrics, teaching innovations, and new practice models, our faculty bring real-world impact directly into the classroom.
Through partnerships with clinical sites across Washington and beyond, students step into meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare them to lead in diverse practice settings. We’re also proud to champion our Rural Health Initiative, addressing the unique needs of rural and underserved communities.
Whether through research, clinical practice, or community engagement, the Department of Pharmacotherapy is shaping the next generation of pharmacists who will transform patient care—locally and globally.
Go Cougs!
Kim McKeirnan, PharmD
Interim Chair, Department of Pharmacotherapy
What is Pharmacotherapy?
Pharmacotherapy refers to the use of medications to treat or prevent diseases. It involves the selection, administration, and monitoring of drugs to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.
About Us
Our Faculty
Our faculty are national leaders shaping the future of pharmacy. They hold key roles in national pharmacy and health care organizations, guiding public policy, patient care, advancing drug safety and integrity, and driving research on today’s most urgent health challenges. They’ve helped pioneer the expanded role of pharmacists on health care teams—setting the standard for the rest of the nation. From discovery to patient care, our faculty are dedicated to helping people live longer, healthier lives.
Our Research
Pharmacotherapy department faculty have published groundbreaking research which have influenced public policy on a national scale. Research publications include flu shot administration in pharmacies, to health care savings through expanded roles of the pharmacists. Currently, our faculty lead research on substance use disorder, rural health outcomes, novel therapies for diabetes, and medication management for older patients.
Our Partners
Our faculty practice and teach with several clinical partners throughout the region including Providence, MultiCare, the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, and others. Thanks to strong partnerships with health care systems in the region, our students gain invaluable hands-on experience in hospitals, specialized clinics, long-term care facilities in both urban and rural settings.
Academic Programs
Our faculty teach in the Doctor of Pharmacy program in Spokane and Yakima giving students hands-on experience in patient care such as nasal swabs, immunizations, medication therapy management, and counseling. Students can focus their studies in specialized tracks in the Rural Health Initiative or Research Honors curriculum with an emphasis on patient-centered care.
