Advanced Pharmacology for the Health Professional

Catalog description

This course provides a comprehensive foundation in advanced pharmacology with a focus on safe, evidence-based medication management for common acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan. Building on the principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenetics, students will explore the mechanisms of drug action, clinical applications, side effects, adverse reactions, interactions with herbal, nutritional, and lifestyle factors, and rational drug selection within and across therapeutic drug classes. Legal aspects of prescriptive authority are addressed, along with strategies for aligning medication management with diagnosis, pathophysiology, and health promotion and maintenance goals. Special considerations for vulnerable and diverse populations are addressed, integrating social determinants of health and cultural factors into medication management.