Phil Rodgers, Pharm.D., a clinical associate professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, has been selected to serve as the director for interprofessional education and practice.
Rodgers coordinates several courses in the School, including the Patient Care Experience 2 course (PHCY 718) and the Integrative Pharmacotherapy 2 course (PHCY 732), and teaches in several others. He also serves as a faculty adviser for the Carolina Association of Pharmacy Students and Kappa Psi. He participates in the practice collaborative between the School and the School of Dentistry clinics.
In his new role, Rodgers will help create and implement interprofessional education, research and clinical programs across UNC’s health sciences schools. The effort will be coordinated by the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice led by Assistant Provost Meg Zomorodi, Ph.D..
Each of UNC’s other health sciences schools, including the School of Dentistry, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, the School of Social Work, the Gillings School of Global Public Health, will also appoint a director of interprofessional programs.
“Interprofessional education is becoming an important component of the academic programs within all health sciences,” said Dhiren Thakker, Ph.D., interim dean of the School. “Each of UNC’s health sciences schools is making a strong commitment to this effort. I am delighted that Phil has accepted this very important role within our School.”
Rodgers will take over the role of guiding interprofessional education from Kimberly Sanders, Pharm.D., a clinical assistant professor who served as the director of interprofessional practice for the past two years. Sanders, who has been instrumental in developing interprofessional collaboration with the School of Dentistry, will continue to work closely with Rodgers in his new role.
Rodgers earned his B.S.Pharm and Pharm.D. at UNC. He held faculty positions at Virginia Commonwealth University and Duke University Hospital before returning to the School in 2012. He has also served as the School’s assistant dean of pharmacy practice partnerships.
“Phil’s past experiences in pharmacy practice, experiential education and teaching will serve him well in this new role,” Thakker said. “We look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead to significantly enhance our efforts in interprofessional education and practice.”