Master in Clinical Pharmacy (MCP)

Goals

The goals of the Master in Clinical Pharmacy program are;

• Equip and enable Clinical Pharmacists to become change agents and to meet the challenges in a changing healthcare system in the country and deliver specialized patient-centered and evidence-based clinical pharmacy services.
• Adopt national and international best practices in clinical pharmacy education.
• Improve research productivity in clinical pharmacy and promote the professional development of pharmacists.
• Enhance the quality of care to a specialized clinical level provided by graduates to the community it serves.
• Encourage self-development and collaborative practice.

Outcomes

The Outcomes of the Master in Clinical Pharmacy is based on American College of Clinical Pharmacy competencies for Clinical Pharmacists with additional research outcome.

1. Direct patient care
2. Pharmacotherapy knowledge
3. System-based care and population health
4. Communication
5. Professionalism
6. Continuing professional development and
7. Research

Program Coordinator:

Dr. Syed Wasif Gillani
Acting Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice

Study Plan

Semester – 1

C H – Credit Hours, L H – Lecture Hours, N L H – Non-Lecture Hours

Semester – 2

C H – Credit Hours, L H – Lecture Hours, N L H – Non-Lecture Hours

Specialization courses (One of the following to be selected in Semester 2)

* minimum three students and available specialized site of rotation.

Year 2

C H – Credit Hours, L H – Lecture Hours, N L H – Non-Lecture Hours

Specialization rotations (One of the following to be selected in Year 2)

Admission Requirements Academic Year 2020-21

• Applicants shall meet all admission criteria for entry into the higher education programs offered by the University, as laid down in the Standards (2019) published by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs, UAE.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy or Pharm D from an accredited University in the UAE or equivalent one from outside the UAE.
• Distinct undergraduate performance of minimum cumulative grade point average(CGPA) of 3.0  on a 4-point scale, or equivalent grade (B)
• The Applicant must have proficiency in spoken and written English. The applicant can fulfil the English proficiency requirement via the TOEFL, IELTS, or UA CESL Endorsement Exam, minimum requirements are listed below. TOEFL and IELTS test scores must be dated within two years of the year of enrolment.

• • EmSAT: Score of 1400 and above
  • TOEFL: Score of 79 on the iBT or 550 PBT (web-based) test or higher.
  • IELTS: Overall score of 6 is required, with a score of no less than 5 on any individual band or module.

Conditional Graduate Admission Read More

Required Documents: 

• Attested copy of the Baccalaureate degree and official transcripts of credit/s earned from an accredited Institution of higher education previously attended
• Equivalency Certificate of the Baccalaureate degree from the Ministry of Education, UAE.
• Passport copy and Emirates ID Card (For UAE Nationals Family Book and Ethbara)
• Valid English Proficiency Scoresheet (EmSAT/IELTS/TOEFL etc.)
• Passport-size Photographs x 5
• Two letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Statement of purpose

MCP 610: Essentials of Clinical Pharmacy Practice

This course covers higher levels of evidence utilization in clinical pharmacy practice. It focuses on advanced search and critical appraisal skills. Critical writing of high-quality reports on evidence is also practiced. Patient-centered practice principles to protect patient values and achieve clinical outcomes are addressed. The components of ethics, laws and regulations in complex clinical practice situations considering cultural sensitivity. This course empowers students to understand and experience innovations in pharmacy practice. Development of innovative ideas to promote the professional practice with integration of knowledge, skills, and competence to clinical pharmacy practice is key to this course.

MCP 611: Advanced Clinical Pharmacokinetics

This course covers advanced level of clinical pharmacokinetic services to improve patient outcomes in complex clinical situations. Explain therapeutic drug monitoring in key clinical specialties. The course covers the process that results in advanced clinical decision making in complex cases and evaluate the merit of it.

MCP612: Advanced Pharmacotherapy 1

This course covers advanced pharmacotherapy knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes through activities. The learning happens with studying complex clinical cases. It enables students to evaluate and recommend advanced pharmacotherapy decisions.

MCP 614: System-Based Care & Population Health

This course reviews the current components of system-based care and population health. This course analyzes the roles and responsibilities of each professional and healthcare program and how they coexist as part of the current health care practice. Quality of health care delivery as specific to different populations is also evaluated. Emphasis will be on preparing clinical pharmacists to implement population-specific intervention plans which will influence health outcomes, health determinants and policies.

MCP 620: Antimicrobial Stewardship

This course covers innovative and current best practice use of antimicrobial agents in advanced and complex clinical conditions. Evaluation of antimicrobial use at prescriber, pharmacist, and nurse levels to match with best practices. It also includes approaches to develop methods to improve rational utilization of antimicrobials.

MCP621: Research Methodology and Biostatistics

This is an advanced course in biostatistics and research methodology. This course coversdifferent methods used in pharmacy research. It includes detailed methods of qualitative and quantitative research designs. The supporting biostatistics is also discussed.

MCP622: Advanced Pharmacotherapy-II

This course covers advanced pharmacotherapy knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes through activities. The learning happens with studying complex clinical cases. It enables students to evaluate and recommend advanced pharmacotherapy decisions.

MCP623: Research Seminar

This is an advanced course of research and presentation skills. In this course, students will give seminars about types of clinical study, designing, sample size determination and power of study and other statistics relevant to clinical pharmacy research. The next round of presentations is on the research projects identified that will lead to thesis submission. A protocol is to be submitted to ethics committee for approval of the proposed research.

MCP632: Internal Medicine -I

The Internal medicine I rotation focuses on management of conditions commonly encountered in internal medicine. The focus of this training is to develop specialized practice in patients with advanced and complex conditions encountered in internal medicine. Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process is practiced in this rotation to improve patient care. Demonstration of leadership, advocacy, and innovation in improving the services are practiced.

MCP633: Internal Medicine II

The Internal medicine II focuses on management of conditions commonly encountered in internal medicine. This rotation is similar to internal medicine I. It is to compliment and add extra complex cases, especially in surgery. The focus of this training is to develop specialized practice in patients with advanced and complex conditions encountered in internal medicine. Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process is practiced in this rotation to improve patient care. Demonstration of leadership, advocacy, and innovation in improving the services are practiced.

MCP 631: Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Rotation

This course empowers students to practice in ambulatory care set up at an advanced level. It focuses on specialized patient care by assisting them in every step of the visit. Evaluate and improvise the pharmacists’ care process model at ambulatory care setting.

MCP 632: Critical Care Pharmacy Rotation

This rotation empowers students to practice in critical care, especially with complex clinical cases. The opportunity is to be part of delivery of highly advanced and specialized critical care. Improvements in process and quality of pharmacists provided critical care services are essential.

MCP 640: Practice-based Research Thesis

Research plan is prepared in Semester 2 and ethics approval shall be taken before in early year 2 to start research. Research continues throughout year 2 and ends with submission of a thesis. Broad area of research is in the specialization that students undergo with selected specialization course and specialization rotation.

Specialization Courses

MCP 650: Advances in Cardiac Pharmacotherapy

This specialization course covers specialized management of cardiac diseases. It included advanced and specialized pharmacotherapy in management of complex cardiovascular cases. The practice approaches to the clinical specialty prepares the students to provide advanced care.

MCP 651: Parenteral Nutrition, IV Therapy & Sterile Preparation

This specialization course covers specialized management of nutritional diseases. It included advanced and specialized pharmacotherapy in management of complex and high risk parenteral nutrition therapy. The practice approaches to the clinical and pharmaceutical specialty prepares the students to provide advanced care.

MCP 652: Advances in Infectious Disease Pharmacotherapy

This specialization course covers specialized management of infectious diseases. It included advanced and specialized pharmacotherapy in management of complex infection cases. The practice approaches to the clinical specialty prepares the students to provide advanced care.

MCP 653: Advances in Renal Pharmacotherapy

This specialization course covers specialized management of renal diseases. It included advanced and specialized pharmacotherapy in management of complex renal disease cases. The practice approaches to the clinical specialty prepares the students to provide advanced care.

656: Advances in Oncology Pharmacotherapy

This course covers specialized management of oncology diseases. It includes advanced and specialized pharmacotherapy in management of complex cancer cases. The practice approaches to the clinical specialty prepares students to provide advanced care.

Specialization Rotations

MCP 660: Cardiology Rotation

This specialization rotation facilitates practice opportunities to abilities gained from specialization course in cardiology. The focus of this training is to develop specialized practice in patients with even advanced and complex cardiovascular conditions. A parallel research in the broad area of cardiology prepares students to be specialist cardiology clinical pharmacists.

MCP 661: Parenteral Nutrition Rotation

This specialization rotation facilitates practice opportunities to abilities gained from specialization course in parenteral nutrition. The focus of this training is to develop specialized practice in patients with even advanced and complex conditions that require parenteral nutrition. A parallel research in the broad area of parenteral nutrition prepares students to be specialist nutrition support clinical pharmacists.

MCP 662: Infectious Disease Rotation

This specialization rotation facilitates practice opportunities to abilities gained from specialization course in infectious diseases. The focus of this training is to develop specialized practice in patients with even advanced and complex infectious disease conditions. A parallel research in the broad area of infectious diseases prepares students to be specialist infectious diseases clinical pharmacists.

MCP 663: Nephrology Rotation

This specialization rotation facilitates practice opportunities to abilities gained from specialization course in nephrology. The focus of this training is to develop specialized practice in patients with even advanced and complex renal conditions. A parallel research in the broad area of nephrology prepares students to be specialist nephrology clinical pharmacists.

MCP 665: Oncology Rotation

This rotation facilitates practice opportunities to abilities gained from specialization course in oncology. The focus of this training is to develop specialized practice in patients with even advanced and complex oncology conditions. A parallel research in the broad area of oncology prepares students to be specialist oncology clinical pharmacists.

Specific Completion Requirements of the Master in Clinical Pharmacy Program includes:

• Completion of 38 credits
• A minimum CGPA of 3.0
• A minimum pass mark of 70% (Grade C) for each course. A pass in Rotations and Thesis.
• A minimum attendance of 80% with each didactic courses and 100% attendance in rotations.
• A successful defense of thesis submitted in the prescribed format.

Graduates can advance their career as:

• Specialized Clinical Pharmacists in Hospitals and Clinics
• Pharmacy Administrators at Hospitals, Clinics, or Pharmacies
• Clinical staff at Pharmaceutical Industries, e.g., medical affairs
• Teaching Staff and specialty Preceptor at Universities
• Clinical Consultants at the Ministry of Health
• Research Staff at Clinical Organizations
• Pharmacy benefit managers in health insurance industry
• Pharmacotherapy specialists in health systems

Fiaz Ahmed, Infection Control Physician, Thumbay University Hospital, UAE

Sally Arif, Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Midwestern University, USA

Danial Baker, J. Roberts and Marcia Fosberg Distinguished Professor, Washington State University, USA

Ayman Ahmad Chkhis, Clinical Pharmacist, Al Kuwait Hospital, Dubai, UAE

Sahar Elnajjar (Alumna of GMU MCP Program), Pharmacist, Mediclinic Parkview Hospital, UAE

Wasim S. El Nekidy, Senior Specialist Pharmacotherapy, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

Muhammad Umar Hafeez, Pharmacy Manager, Response Plus Medical, UAE.

Mohamed Hisham, Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, UAE

David Holdford, Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA

Kiran Kumar, Specialist (Asstt. HOD), Thumbay University Hospital, UAE

• Thomas, D., Abdalla, A., McKeirnan, K., & Khalifa, S. (2021). Standard-Setting for Continuing Education Assessment of Select New Competencies. Journal Of Continuing Education In The Health Professions, Publish Ahead of Print. [link]
• Suliman, E., Thomas, D., Elnour, A., Robin, N., & Maas, M. (2021). Systematic review on the choice of antibiotics for management of complicated urinary tract bacterial infections and acute pyelonephritis. Drugs & Therapy Perspectives, 37(10), 470-479. [link]
• Gillani, S.W., Vippadapu, P. and Gulam, S.M. 2021. Physician-reported barriers and challenges to antibiotic prescribing in surgical prophylaxis: a structured systematic review. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research. [link]
• Mahmood, R., Gillani, S.W., Saeed, M., Vippadapu, P. and Alzaabi, M. Impact of pharmacist-led services on antimicrobial stewardship programs: a meta-analysis on clinical outcomes. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, 2021. [link]
• Gillani, S.W., Mahmood, R.K., Al-Salloum, J.M., Saeed, M.W. Therapeutic Considerations in the Management of Diabetes among Patients with Chronic Kidney Failure. International Medical Journal. 2021 Feb 1;28(1). [link]
• Alshamsi, R., Gillani, S.W., Almheiri, K., Gulam, S.M. Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of Oral Antidiabetic Medication in Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review. International Medical Journal. 2021 Feb 1;28(1). [link]
• Al-Salloum J, Thomas D, AlAni G, Singh B. Interprofessional Care of Emergency Department Doctors and Pharmacists: Crossing a Collaboration Chasm. Inov Pharm [Internet]. 2020 Jun 9. [link]
• Alzaabi FM, Almheiri KS, Al-Saeedy DY, Zachariah S. Value of pharmacist interventions: patient medication adherence measured with clinical outcomes. The International Journal of Pharmacy Practice. 2020 Mar 25. [link]
• Zachariah S, Al-Tamimi M, Vippadapu P, Shenouda W, Thomas D. Value of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis by enoxaparin with anti-factor Xa trough concentration monitoring in surgical care. Pharmacy Practice. 2020 Feb 17. [link]
• Al Saeedy, D., Gillani, S.W., Al-Salloum, J., Moosvi, A., Eissa, M., & Mohiuddin, G.S. (2020). Comparative Efficacy of Beta-Lactams and Macrolides in the Treatment of Pediatric Pneumonia: a Systematic Review. Current Pediatric Reviews, 16. doi: 10.2174/1573396316666200907115800. [link]
• Mahmood, R.K., Gillani, S.W., Saeed, M.W., Hafeez, M.U., & Mohiuddin, G.S. (2020).  Systematic review: Prescribing pattern of antibiotics in outpatient and emergency department in Gulf region.  Frontiers of Pharmacology. DOI:10.3389/fphar.2020.585051. [link]
• Mukhtar, M., Thomas, D., Mohiuddin, G.S., Hiselius, J., & Burton, A. Effectiveness of Clinical Pharmacist Collaborative Care in Resolution of Antibiotic Drug-Related Problems in an Intensive Care Unit. The Internet Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2020; 18(1): 1-7. [link]
• Hani, N., Zachariah, S., Thomas, D., Cooper, J.C. Pharmacist-led heart failure patient focus group using mobile apps-based intervention mix. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research. 2020 Dec 19. [link]
• Huda, A.A.T., Gillani, S.W., Maryam, A.A.A., Mohiuddin, G.S. (2020). Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of Lipid Lowering Agents Use among Diabetes Patients: A Systematic Review of Literature. International Medical Journal. 27(6):681-685. [link]
• Mahmood, R.K., Gillani, S.W., Saeed, M.W., Ahmad, U., Mohiuddin G.S., Gnana, K.(2020). Understanding the Safety and Efficacy of Cyclosporine Versus Mycophenolate Mofetil in Patients with Renal Failure and Type II Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review of Literature. International Medical Journal. 27(6):677-680. [link]
• Elnajjar. S., Thomas. D., Tabbara. O., Baker. D. (2020). Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats analysis on choice of multi chamber bag or compounded parenteral nutrition. International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 11(SPL4), 2298-2303. [link]
• Alagheband. Z., Zachariah. S., Thomas. D., Dixon. D.L. (2020). Lipid profile outcome gaps of Arabs and South Asians receiving chronic Statin therapy. International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 11(SPL4), 2194-2200. [link]