Mission
The mission of the Office of Continuing Professional Development at the USC School of Pharmacy is to offer postgraduate education that provides pharmacists, other healthcare professionals, and scientists with the opportunity to maintain and update knowledge and skills necessary to effectively function in the ever-changing healthcare arena. Our goals include:
- Serving alumni, supporters, and other friends (e.g., voluntary faculty, QSAD members)
- Contributing to the visibility and impact of the USC School of Pharmacy locally, nationally, and internationally
- Developing innovative content and methodology in postgraduate education
Accreditation
The University of Southern California School of Pharmacy is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education, as well as certificate programs. We were pioneers in the area of continuing pharmacy education, approved as one of the first ten such providers in the nation by ACPE; in fact, in June 2004, our provider status was extended for the maximum six years by the ACPE Board of Directors to the year 2010.
Scope of Programs
The USC School of Pharmacy, Office of Continuing Professional Development, offers continuing education programs, conferences and seminars that focus on enhancing therapeutic knowledge and sharpening the skills of today's pharmacy professional. Pharmacists from managed care, community, hospital, industry and academia are able to earn continuing education credit as well as sharpen those skills necessary to remain current and competitive in contemporary pharmacy practice. At the current time, program offerings consist of partial or multi-day programs. Recent topics include asthma, diabetes, drug abuse, hypertension, psychiatric disorders, immunization training, sleep disorders and pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research.
Future continuing education program plans include an annual roster of travel programs, an expanded list of local and weekend programs at the USC Health Sciences Campus, an array of certificate programs, and web-based and home-study offerings that can be easily accessed.