High Demand,
Real Impact
The Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy unites patient-centered care with health-system insights and analysis. Our faculty represent a wide range of clinical and research specialties—from community pharmacy and geriatrics to oncology and psychiatry.
"The Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy is home to recognized leaders in pharmacy education, practice and research. Our faculty’s nation-leading expertise addresses some of the most challenging and complex issues of health care—from managing chronic diseases, polypharmacy and addictive disorders to addressing health inequities and leading COVID-19 vaccination efforts. We attract students who share our commitment to innovation and our desire to solve intractable health issues, shape the future of the profession and improve the lives of people everywhere."
Tien M.H. Ng, PharmD, FHFSA, FACC, FCCP, BCPS, AQ Cardiology
Interim Chair, Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy
The department’s mission is three-fold:
Education
Research
Patient Care
Education
Education
- Preparing PharmD students for practice at the highest standards
- Providing advanced training to practitioners through postgraduate residencies and clinical scientists through postgraduate fellowships
- Enriching knowledge about drug therapies for health providers and the public
Research
Research
- Pursuing new knowledge and advances in pharmacotherapy and translational research.
Patient Care
Patient Care
- Providing patient care in a variety of settings that support teaching and research
- Promoting excellence in pharmacotherapy through clinical activities that assure safety, therapeutic efficacy and cost effectiveness
- Developing and supporting clinical practice sites for students
Meet the Faculty
Liana Asatryan, PhD
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
Liana Asatryan's research focus is the discovery and development of novel compounds for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
Steven W. Chen, PharmD, FASHP, FCSHP, FNAP
- Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, William A. and Josephine A. Heeres Chair in Community Pharmacy & Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
Steven Chen is a national leader on expanding the scope of pharmacy practice to improve patient outcomes and save health care dollars.
Michelle Chu, PharmD, BCACP, APh
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
Michelle Chu is the program director for PGY1 and PGY2 pharmacy practice residency for ambulatory care.
Houda Alachkar, PharmD, PhD
- Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
Houda Alachkar focuses on the identification and functional characterization of therapeutic targets in acute myeloid leukemia.
Dima M. Qato, PharmD, MPH, PhD
- Associate Professor of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Spatial Sciences
Leader in eliminating pharmacy deserts and promoting equitable access and safe use of essential medicines in the U.S. and globally
Melissa J. Durham, PharmD, MACM (she/her)
- Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Associate Dean of Organizational Success and Well-Being
Melissa Durham's expertise includes ambulatory care practice, community pharmacy-based patient care programs and pain management.
Department News
The USC School of Pharmacy is now accepting applications from students who wish to transfer to USC from a different PharmD program.
When Donna Keissami, PharmD ’08, published "Maddie Visits the Pharmacist," she fulfilled a lifelong dream of writing a children’s book. Here, she talks about how the book helps children understand prescribed medications and encourages students to use their pharmacy knowledge to "branch out" within the field.
Meet third-year PharmD student Jafar Essayli, whose experience working with elementary school students with special needs inspired him to pursue pharmacy. Here, the Cypress, Calif. native shares why he chose to attend USC Mann and how his past experiences with mentorship and teaching encouraged him to pursue an area of concentration in education.
As online education and virtual classrooms become the norm, students and teachers are tackling the new semester together with optimism and expertise.