A model for supporting and training clinical pharmaceutical scientist PhD students.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To enhance the clinical training and financial support of graduate students in a Clinical Pharmaceutical Scientist PhD Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. DESIGN: The School of Pharmacy and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center entered into a collaborative agreement to develop the Clinical Scientist Associate (CSA) program, as well as financially support students enrolled in a Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD program. These clinical training experiences are in addition to the didactic and laboratory experiences in the pharmaceutical sciences graduate program. ASSESSMENT: Since 2002, three students have participated as CSAs, simultaneously working on their graduate research and meeting the requirements of the CSA program. CONCLUSIONS: The CSA program is a novel model for clinical training and support of post-PharmD graduate students enrolled in a PhD clinical pharmaceutical scientist program.