Dr. Clark emphasizes her focus on the student experience in her new role.
NSU has named a new dean in the College of Pharmacy, Dr. Michelle A. Clark, effective Aug. 24. Dr. Clark has served as the college’s interim dean, executive associate dean, interim associate dean for Research and Graduate Education and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences since 2001. She has helped establish the college’s Ph.D. and Master of Science program in Pharmaceutical Sciences and has been a founding member and faculty advisor for the Student National Pharmaceutical Sciences Association, according to an NSU News press release. “Having Dr. Clark continue to be part of the NSU family was the best choice we could make,” said President George Hanbury to NSU News. “I look forward to seeing where she will lead the College of Pharmacy in the future. This is an exciting time in the history of the university.” “I’m looking forward to putting a vision together that can move the college forward, to getting us to that higher level of exposure for the university, to putting us on that top 100…” said Dr. Clark. “It’s an exciting time for us. I intend to make that be my vision, to be more known. My primary focus, though, is on the human experience — the student.” Dr. Clark added that, as students graduate, she aims to have them be excited to be an alumni of the university. Dr. Clark explained that they are in the process of making some exciting changes to the College of Pharmacy, including a curriculum blueprint that focuses on a modular class structure. The next phase to be implemented will include tracks or concentrations that will make graduates from the college stand out when they go into the field. Students can currently graduate with a concurrent degree such as a master’s degree, but for students who do not want to pursue this path, they will be able to obtain a Pharm.D. with a speciality that is reflective of the students’ interests, such as project management or research. Dr. Clark has worked towards promoting the pharmacist’s role in healthcare by doing research and encouraging students to be advocates for their profession. “When you ask a layperson what they think a pharmacist does, they’ll tell you ‘oh, they work at Walgreens or CVS, filling our prescriptions,’ but there’s so much more to what a pharmacist can do,” said Dr. Clark. “In particular, in the setting of healthcare, a pharmacist is an absolutely essential member of [the team]. The pharmacist is the guru when it comes to medication therapy management. We know the most about the drugs that our patients are taking and the interactions that can occur with these drugs.” For students who are interested in pharmacy, Dr. Clark explained that they need to focus on two things: their academics and developing their soft skills like communication. Graduate programs require a rigorous amount of work that necessitates a strong foundation before applying. “First, focus on your academics, make sure that you take the courses that will allow you to be successful. But the other thing I would advise is to get involved [and] show your leadership qualities because going into any health care field, including pharmacy, you’re expected to stand out. You’re now going to be the advocate for your patient,” said Dr. Clark. While Dr. Clark has several facets of her vision to improve and develop the College of Pharmacy, she is making sure they revolve around NSU and the student experience
