Provost Carl Lejuez announced today that Philip M. Hritcko has been named dean of the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. Hritcko, named to a two-year term, will be the ninth dean in the School’s history. He has been interim dean of the School since June 2019. He is also a clinical professor of pharmacy practice.
“Phil has provided consistent and thoughtful leadership for the School of Pharmacy since becoming interim dean. We received consistent feedback from UConn’s administration, as well as School of Pharmacy faculty, staff and student leaders in favor of recognizing Phil’s leadership with the title of dean of the School,” said Lejuez, UConn’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “I am confident that he will continue to advance the School in alignment with President Katsouleas’ goals: doubling research, providing life transformative education, and supporting economic development in Connecticut.”
Hritcko has overseen a rise in funded research, improvements to the student pathway to the Pharm.D. degree, and an increase in students coming into the program despite the challenges the pandemic has created. The School has also seen an increase in philanthropic funding, much of which comes in the form of student support, including scholarships and improved learning spaces.
The School of Pharmacy’s rise this year to 29 in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Pharmacy Programs rankings is directly related to increases in research dollars and publications. According to AACP data, the UConn School of Pharmacy is number seven in the nation among schools with fewer than 50 faculty members.
Of note, the School’s professional and graduate school learning experiences have been enhanced with innovative new tools, curriculum, and opportunities that increase job preparedness for both Ph.D. and Pharm.D. graduates. In addition, the School’s Office of Continuing Education has become an important resource for practicing pharmacists seeking fact-based non-politicized information, particularly concerning COVID-19.
“Providing our students access to the best preparation for expanding pharmacist roles in health care is a priority. I look forward to helping the UConn School of Pharmacy through its accreditation cycle while continuing to grow its research, faculty, and stature,” said Hritcko.
Hritcko earned his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and doctor of pharmacy cum laude from the Albany College of Pharmacy of Union University in Albany, New York. He has worked at UConn in the School of Pharmacy since 2003. Prior to becoming interim dean he was associate dean for admissions and student affairs, and before that, assistant dean for experiential education in the Office of Experiential Education for 12 years.
Earlier in his career, he was responsible for the design and implementation of a pharmacist-managed Anticoagulation Clinic within the Veterans Administration (VA) Connecticut Healthcare System. He also practiced as a registered community pharmacist for 15 years.
Hritcko is an active member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) where he was Speaker of the House of Delegates from 2013-15. He is also an AACP Fellow and participated in the 2008-2009 AACP Academic Leadership Fellows Program and is a past chair of the AACP Experiential Education Section. In addition, he is an active member and past president of the Connecticut Pharmacists Association (CPA). He was the 2019 recipient of the CPA’s American Pharmacists Association (APhA ) Bowl of Hygeia Award, given annually to a pharmacist who demonstrates outstanding community service efforts.
