Why Our Program?

The Utah Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship Program (UCPFP) at The University of Utah is centered in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology (DCP) within the Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine. In the 12 years our fellowship program has functioned, we have shown a consistent track record of accepting quality trainees who move on to great positions as a result of the training we provide. Our program’s mission is to train future clinical pharmacologists for positions in industry, regulatory agencies, and academics. This training focuses on preparing clinical pharmacology investigators to assume leadership roles in the development of innovative, high-impact clinical pharmacology related to investigations that advance our understanding of medical therapies in diverse populations, including special groups (e.g., neonatal, pediatric patients, etc.) and thereby drive the rational use of medicines. Our program’s mission is to train future clinical pharmacologists for positions in industry, regulatory agencies, and academics.

The DCP offers a two-year fellowship program, including mentoring, formal coursework, instruction, peer interaction, and clinical research experience in the setting of proper clinical management. Focus is placed on providing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for fellows to be successful clinical pharmacology investigators. Training is based on core requirements and an accepted fellow’s experience and professional goals.

The UCPFP provides a comprehensive training and research program as we focus on early and later phase studies in multiple and diverse at-risk populations through collaborations with all major medical subspecialties, involving the application and development of innovative quantitative methodologies such as physiologically based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling and simulation and disease progression analysis through our multidisciplinary pharmacometrics core, and are closely integrated with biostatistics and epidemiology, bio-informatics, pharmacogenomics, and health services and outcomes research.

Every track is open to fellows with advanced degrees (MD, PhD, PharmD, DDM, DNP, or DVSc). Track selection by fellows depends on individual preferences and goals in consultation with DCP faculty. In addition to the track-specific specialty coursework and experiences, our program offers a core set of coursework and experiences, providing multimodal pharmacology instruction and training that enhances fellows’ knowledge and subsequent appropriate use of medications, forming a strong foundation for clinical pharmacology.

Each fellow is assigned to an experienced investigator who provides direct mentorship within their group. Two additional mentors are assigned to monitor fellow progression regularly and are readily accessible for mentorship. Significant educational opportunities are provided to our fellows, including interdisciplinary activities, such as research seminars and conferences, and the graduate-level coursework training requirements. Fellows have access to suitable laboratory space and materials and are provided training in advanced technology and state-of-the-art clinically relevant techniques. Our fellows also gain experience with our Institutional Review Board and clinical pharmacology consultations.