Overview

The School of Pharmacy at the Lebanese American University (LAU) is located in the city of Byblos, Lebanon. The school was officially established according to Decree number 9278 dated October 5, 1996 by the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education. This was in response to the growing healthcare needs in the country and the region for pharmacists who have advanced knowledge and practice skills in clinical pharmacy. The school is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).

The LAU School of Pharmacy is nationally and regionally recognized for its progressive pharmacy education. It enrolls around 460 students in its pre-pharmacy and pharmacy programs. It has a five-year B.S. in pharmacy program, a six-year Pharm.D. program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

Annually, the school graduates approximately 75 students with a B.S. in Pharmacy, and 30 students with a Pharm.D. degree. School graduates pursue post-graduate training or studies, or work in diverse fields such as in community, hospital or clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical sales, pharmaceutical industry, and academia.

Mission

The Lebanese American University School of Pharmacy prepares students to become leaders in the profession who are entrusted with the highest academic, professional and ethical standards. School graduates will practice pharmacy in various settings, optimize patient care through interprofessional collaboration, and undertake scientific pursuits. The school accomplishes its mission through excellence in education, innovation in research, and dedication in serving the profession and the community.

Vision

The Lebanese American University School of Pharmacy seeks to be recognized as a national and regional leader for outstanding pharmacy education and innovative practice and research, with the aims of providing excellent patient care, improving human health, and advancing scientific knowledge.

Core Values

Excellence: we aim at excellence in education and scholarly activities.

Innovation: we continuously bring novel ideas that enrich our academic programs.

Commitment: we are committed to professional and community services.

Teamwork: we value inclusiveness, diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Leadership: we take command in advancing pharmacy education and practice.

Integrity: we uphold ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conducts.

School Administration

The administrative leadership of the LAU School of Pharmacy consists of the Dean, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Department Chairs (Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy Practice), Director of Experiential Education, Residency Program Coordinator, Clinical Coordinator, and Co-curriculum Coordinator.

Staff

• Nadine Farhat, Science Laboratory Supervisor
• Reine El Khoury, Assessment Officer, Office of the Dean
• Manal Helou Nader, Senior Executive Assistant, Office of the Dean
• Pauline Hitti Salame, Lead Academic Assistant, Office of the Chairs
• Rana Shehab, Senior Academic Assistant, Office of the Dean (for Associate and Assistant Deans)
• Marie Sili, Lead Academic Assistant for Experiential Education

Degrees Offered

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy
• Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
• Master of Science (M.S.) in Pharmaceutical Development and Management

Certificates Offered

• Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency

Curricular Philosophy

To provide students with excellent education in biomedical, pharmaceutical, social, behavioral, administrative and clinical sciences that is sequentially delivered at the appropriate depth and breadth. The curriculum employs various teaching methods that emphasize active learning, interprofessional education and practice, and addresses diverse student learning abilities that maximize students’ problem solving skills and the pursuit of lifelong learning. It also equips graduates with the necessary competencies, skills and values to successfully practice in diverse fields of pharmacy and become socially responsible leaders in the profession.

Interprofessional Education

The IPE program uses a student-centered educational approach that builds on the curricula of the programs involved. Students learn through collaboration across disciplines, which ultimately enhances the quality of patient/client health and social care.

Common educational themes include communication; compliance and adherence; conflict negotiation; ethics in clinical practice; evidence-based medicine; health promotion; and patient safety.

IPE further extends to the clinical setting by engaging students and faculty in interdisciplinary teamwork and practice (IPP) at LAU Medical Center–Rizk Hospital.

Co-curricular Program

The co-curriculum complement and advance the learning that occurs within the formal didactic and experiential curriculum. The co-curriculum allows pharmacy students to participate in self-directed lifelong learning through personal and professional development activities that are aimed to enhance students’ knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes to become well-rounded practitioners. 

School of Pharmacy students must complete a set of co-curricular activities that complement their academic learning. Some of these can be part of students’ societies work, including the following:

Lebanese Pharmacy Student Association (LPSA) is a national non-political, non-religious, and non-profit student organization that was founded by LAU and is accessible to all pharmacy students in Lebanon.

The association’s main activities are:

• Raising awareness all over Lebanon and particularly in high schools about drug abuse, medication use, and many drug related topics;
• Facilitating volunteer opportunities at cancer centers, drug abuse rehab centers, elderly homes, and much more;
• Participating in annual health days in underprivileged areas where healthcare professionals from different backgrounds can gather to provide health care services for free; and
• Gathering all Lebanese pharmacy students in one annual GALA dinner.

Student Societies of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP) is a society that offers pharmacy students a platform to engage with other students, shape their own studies, connect globally to those within the pharmacy field, and build their future careers.

The society’s main activities are:

• Supporting career development;
• Participation in a Clinical Skills Competition;
• Arranging for health-system pharmacy speakers;
• Providing residency training information sessions;
• Supporting professional development;
• Engaging in projects directly related to health-system pharmacy practice; and
• Recruiting new members (SSHP + State Affiliate + ASHP)

No Apathy-Pharmacy & Health Awareness Student Society (NAPHASS) is a society of LAU pharmacy students who want to volunteer their time, knowledge and energy to reaching out to people and raising health awareness in LAU.

The society’s main activities are:

• Celebrating International Pharmacist day;
• Providing disease screening;
• Encouraging healthier lifestyles, especially among dorm residents;
• Clarifying health related misconceptions among students, such as appropriate use of antibiotics;
• Fundraising on campus for medical-related charities, such as cancer organizations;
• Providing services and outreach to underprivileged populations; and engaging in community outreach activities.

Contact Information

Byblos:

• Phone: Extension 2315
• Address: CHSC, Office 6103
• Website