UH appointed a dean for the College of Pharmacy on Tuesday to succeed interim dean Mustafa F. Lokhandwala, who took over in September 2008.
University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Dr. F. Lamar Pritchard was named the dean of the College of Pharmacy at UH. He will begin his duties Aug. 1.
‘Lamar Pritchard has a track record of success in leading organizational teams in both the academic and industry sectors,’ Provost John Antel said in a press release. ‘I am confident he is the right person to sharpen our focus on the health science and health care delivery, and he will help us strengthen our partnerships with the Texas Medical Center. Our students will benefit greatly from having him as their dean.’
At ULM, Pritchard has served as dean of the College of Health Sciences, from July 2004 to July 2005, and dean of the College of Pharmacy, from August 2005 until he begins his term with UH.
Pritchard, who earned a B.S. in pharmacy and Ph.D. in pharmacy administration at the University of Georgia, brings a lot of experience in the field. This includes working in clinical and hospital pharmacies. He was a faculty member at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and a medical science manager at Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Pritchard was one of four finalists from a national search chaired by College of Optometry Dean Earl Smith, who visited campus and participated in open forums in April.
The committee chose Pritchard because he provides medical science and research support. He has also targeted research initiatives for major medical academic/research centers in the D.C., Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina regions.
Pritchard comes to a program that has more than 50 years of experience in preparing students to become leaders in their fields.
The UH College of Pharmacy provides research opportunities in a city known for its advancements in medicine.
Pritchard said he was impressed with the faculty, staff, students and credible heritage of the college during his campus visit and the ‘leadership at the top’ of the University.
‘President Khator and Provost Antel are extremely talented and have very high expectations for the University,’ Pritchard said. ‘I have been afforded a wonderful opportunity to work with leaders of their caliber.’
Pritchard said he will be working on increasing funds for the pharmacy program, building a new pharmacy facility, recruiting faculty and developing the UH Center for Drug Discovery.
‘This would allow our program to compete nationally with other tier one programs across the country, such as the University of California at San Francisco, the University of Maryland and the University of Florida,’ he said.
Pritchard looks forward to coming to Houston and having the opportunity to work with the Texas Medical Center.
‘I am also excited about the vast collaborative opportunities that exist on the UH campus and at the Texas Medical Center,’ he said.
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