Dr. Shawn D. Spencer has been appointed dean of the PCOM School of Pharmacy located at Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM)
in Suwanee, Georgia. He will begin this position on March 26, 2018.
Dr. Spencer is an alumnus of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy and a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences.
He brings more than 23 years of combined experience in pharmacy practice and education to PCOM, and has held a wide variety of academic leadership roles. He most recently served as the associate dean of institutional improvement at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he was a tenured professor of clinical pharmacology. In addition, he was the founding division director of pharmaceutical sciences at the Farleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy in Florham Park, New Jersey.
With experience working as a pharmacist in hospital and community pharmacy settings, Dr. Spencer has a research background as co-investigator on phase-1 cancer clinical trials conducted at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research in Bethesda, Maryland. In 2015, he was awarded a $2.5 million dollar NIH grant to establish an innovative Center for Research Education and Training Enhancement at Florida A&M University, which emphasizes development of soft-skills for students in support of their biomedical research to improve patients’ lives.
“It’s an honor to be joining the PCOM family and leading the School of Pharmacy into the next era of pharmacy education,” Spencer said.
According to Spencer, advancing pharmacy practice is one of the key drivers to improving the quality of life for citizens of Georgia and the surrounding states.
“We’re educating not just pharmacists, but leaders in our communities,” he added. “The School of Pharmacy is a top-50 private pharmacy program, which is evidence of the commitment of PCOM graduates, faculty and staff, and is in keeping with the 119-year legacy of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.”
PCOM Provost Dr. Kenneth Veit said he was pleased to announce Spencer's appointment.
“I wish to thank the current pharmacy leadership and faculty, under the direction of Michael Lee, PhD, interim dean for the School of Pharmacy, for the positive overall learning environment and the maintenance of academic excellence during this transition,” Veit said.
Veit also shared his appreciation for the search committee, led by Sara (Mandy) Reece, PharmD, vice chair and associate professor, pharmacy practice, for its work throughout the process.
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
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