WesternU Names College of Pharmacy Dean
Max Ray, PharmD, MS, has been named dean of the College of Pharmacy at
Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU), effective November 1.
Dr. Ray, who is a professor of pharmacy practice at the College, as well
as director of WesternU’s Center for Pharmacy Practice Research &
Development, was selected to lead the College after a six-month search
following the resignation last spring of Founding Dean Harry Rosenberg.
“”Max had the training, education and skills we’re looking for,”” said
George Charney, DO, FAOCA, FAODME, executive vice president of academic
affairs/chief academic officer. “”His background – in hospitals, and in
academia – will serve us well as the College continues to be a leader in
the education of pharmacy professionals.””
In addition to his work at the College, Dr. Ray’s professional experience
includes hospital pharmacy practice, pharmacy education and association
management. He has been a pharmacy manager both at the Medical University
of South Carolina Hospital (MUSC) and the University of California-San
Diego (UCSD) Medical Center.
He has been a faculty member of the colleges of pharmacy at the University
of Tennessee, MUSC, and the University of California-San Francisco. He
served as director of the division of clinical pharmacy at MUSC for five
years.
For 10 years he was the director of the professional practice division and
director of accreditation services for the American Society of Hospital
Pharmacists and was executive vice president of the California Society of
Hospital Pharmacists for five years.
Dr. Ray has authored more than 60 publications in pharmacy literature and
has given more than 400 presentations at professional meetings.
In addition, in late September he was project director of a conference in
Baltimore, Maryland, of experts from around the country which discussed a
re-engineering of the health care industry’s medication-use system.
“”I believe pharmacy education has a major responsibility to help
practitioners clarify their roles and to make their maximum contribution
to society,”” Dr. Ray said. “”The faculty at the College of Pharmacy
recognize and accept that responsibility and I look forward to helping us
move in that direction.””
Dr. Ray said he intends to work with the College’s faculty and staff to
expand the College’s research efforts in the pharmaceutical sciences,
exploring additional “”creative use”” of the College’s current use of Web-
based instruction, and adding facilities for the growth of the College’s
professional practice programs, among other goals, he said.
“”We want to ensure that our graduates are well prepared for a wide range
of professional opportunities and that they become recognized as excellent
practitioners,”” he said.
The College of Pharmacy, founded in 1996, has 377 students enrolled in the
four-year program that leads to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.
The College’s Charter Class will graduate in June.
