University Times

Last week, at a meeting of Pitt's School of Pharmacy faculty and staff, the proverbial torch was passed from the out-going dean to the newly named interim dean.

Randy P. Juhl, pharmacy dean for the last 16 years, has been promoted by Chancellor Mark Nordenberg to Pitt's senior administration as vice chancellor for research conduct and compliance. He was serving as associate vice chancellor in addition to performing his duties as dean. (See page 3.) Current pharmacy Associate Dean Patricia D. Kroboth was promoted to interim dean by Arthur S. Levine, Pitt's senior vice chancellor for Health Sciences.

Both appointments are effective July 1.

Levine told the June 20 pharmacy assembly that he has asked Kroboth to serve as interim dean for two years "to sustain the stability and momentum of the school. A year from now we will launch a formal national search for a permanent dean."

Levine referred to Kroboth as a driving force in American pharmaceutical sciences and research. "Pat has distinguished herself as a researcher nationally, even internationally, including [publishing] more than 75 papers, and receiving funding from the NIH [National Institutes of Health]. She is a superb mentor who knows how to translate research to the bedside."

Juhl said he expected a smooth transition for the new school leader. "Pat's been taking on increasing roles of responsibility here over the years," Juhl pointed out. "She's been chair at one time or another of both of our departments [pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy and therapeutics]. At times, the basic scientists and the clinicians don't always see eye to eye even though they have a lot in common, and Pat's in a good position to bridge that gap. She shares the characteristics I have: We're both Ph.D.s who have clinical interests."

Kroboth said, "I'm grateful for the support I've already received today and the confidence in me you've expressed. I will need that over the next two years."

Kroboth said her main responsibility will be to build on the accomplishments of Juhl, who in the last few years brought the school from 30th in the country to 6th in NIH funding. "Our educational, research, practice, fund-raising, efficiency, and alumni support programs are all in such good shape because of Randy. He has left us a legacy of excellence."

In addition to being associate dean for faculty and academic planning, Kroboth is a professor and, since 1988, has chaired the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Her efforts in research and education, specifically in clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, led to the development of the Clinical Pharmaceutical Scientist Ph.D. Program in 1984, one of the first translational research training programs in the U.S. She also helped establish the Pharmacodynamic Research Center at Pitt, which was among the first such centers to focus on drug response.

Kroboth is an elected fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.

She earned a B.S. in pharmacy from the University at Buffalo, and holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in pharmaceutical sciences from Pitt's School of Pharmacy, where she has been a faculty member since 1980.

–Peter Hart