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Research

Trainee Education & Research

Student Training & Research

Although issues such as misuse, diversion and other aspects of controlled substance prescriptions have been part of the college's Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) curriculum for decades, the "pharmacy academy" has made student education on these and emerging issues a national priority. In June 2016, UH College of Pharmacy announced its commitment to a new initiative led by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) to prioritize student education on misuse prevention.

An example of the college's commitment is by providing travel awards for students to attend the American Pharmacists Association Institute on Alcoholism & Drug Dependencies, an annual multiday program of workshops, panel discussions and other activities in Utah for students to better understand issues of addiction/dependencies, learn tools and strategies for recovery, and develop programs for implementation on campuses. Funding for future student attendance will be provided through The PREMIER Center.

In addition, students in the college's Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy Concentration of the Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree program and the Pharm.D. degree program will be actively engaged in research projects undertaken by center member faculty investigators.

Current Students

Prachet Bhatt

Prachet Bhatt

Dissertation Title/Field of Research: Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse

Major Advisor: Douglas Thornton
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Chijioke Okeke

Dissertation Title/Field of Research: TBD

Major Advisor: Douglas Thornton
Michael Okonkwo

Michael Okonkwo

Dissertation Title/Field of Research: TBD

Major Advisor: Douglas Thornton
Peterkings Jokoh

Peterkings Jokoh

Dissertation Title/Field of Research: TBD

Major Advisor: Douglas Thornton

Current Fellows

Choo

Lyn Yuen Choo, Ph.D., Pharm.D.

Position: Postdoctoral Fellow

Field of Research: Clinical and Translational Science, Implementation Science, Health Services Research
ohene

Lilian Ohene, Ph.D.

Position: Postdoctoral Fellow

Field of Research: Addiction Sciences

Past Students

Name Graduation Date Current Position
Tyler Varisco, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
 
 May 2021
Assistant Professor, University of Texas College of Pharmacy
Shweta Bapat, BPharm, Ph.D.
 
 December 2021
Research Associate 3- Patient Centered Research Team, Evidera
Precious Anyanwu, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
 December 2022
Health Outcomes Researcher
Vaishnavi Tata, Ph.D.
 August 2024 
N/A
Sahar Yazdanfard, M.S., Ph.D.
 May 2025
Manager, Health Informatics, UH College of Medicine/Humana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute
Olajumoke Olateju, Ph.D., M.S., BPharm.
 December 2025
Manager HEOR Strategy, Oncology, AbbVie

Past Fellows

Name Fellowship Dates Current Position
Veronica Brown, Ph.D.
 06/2018-05/2019
Contractor, Texas Department of State Health Services
Tamara Al Rawwad, Ph.D.
 10/2018- 6/2021
Tenure-track Assistant Professor, University of Texas RGV College of Social Work
Harshil Patel, Pharm.D.
 08/2021-08/2022
Clinical Pharmacist, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Randa Al Saadi, Pharm.D.
 08/2021-10/2022
Specialty Pharmacist, Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital
Alia Altaie, Pharm.D.
 09/2022-08/2023
Pharmacist-in-Charge, Legent Health, Legent Norht Houston Surgical Hospital
Mina Shrestha, Ph.D.
 10/2022-10/2024
Research Scientist, Possible Health; Affiliate Researcher, The PREMIER Center, UHCOP
Rudi Safarudin, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
 01/2023-8/2023
Faculty, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia; Affiliate Researcher, The PREMIER Center, UHCOP
Nina Smith, Ph.D., MPH
 07/2023-02/2025
Dissemination & Education Program Manager, VA Information Resource Center