EXPANDING HORIZONS: INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

EXPANDING HORIZONS

EXPANDING HORIZONS

by Susan L. Wampler

As part of a global university consistently ranked among the top U.S. institutions for international-student enrollment, the USC School of Pharmacy has engaged for decades in academic and scientific exchanges with partners from around the world. With a current total of 50 such alliances, these relationships now extend throughout Asia, Europe, Australia, South America, the Middle East and Africa.

“The field of pharmacy knows no borders,” says Terrence Graham, chief international officer and associate dean for graduate education and postdoctoral studies. “International experiences help USC School of Pharmacy students develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to excel as global healthcare professionals.”

Dean Vassilios Papadopoulos adds: “In addition to our worldwide connections, with our location in Los Angeles, an economic hub for the Pacific Rim, we are uniquely positioned as a bridge between East and West. Our Office of Global Initiatives advances the strategic goals of the School of Pharmacy and the university, enhances the learning experience of our students and strengthens the school’s reputation as a global leader. And through our network of international partners, the school is advancing the health of communities worldwide.”

Educational and Cultural Exchange

For more than 30 years, the school’s regulatory science program has fostered meaningful global exchanges, including training and courses on the ground in China, Korea, Ethiopia and other locations, while welcoming students and faculty from overseas for short- and longterm visits to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, faculty across the school collaborate on research with peers around the world.

Today, USC pharmacy students benefit from a wide range of international experiential, service-learning and research opportunities, while their foreign peers are drawn to the school’s innovative International Student Summer Program (ISSP)—a four-week course that integrates learning in drug development, clinical treatment, regulatory science and healthcare marketing.

Yasi Mojab, a dual-degree PharmD and MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences student, helped facilitate ISSP over the past two years. The experience has even led her to consider a career in academia. “The mentorship I received as a course assistant for the program has shaped me into a leader and has broadened my global perspective on pharmacy,” she says.

The program is also transformative for participating international students.

“This program is very unique and has introduced me to various areas in pharmacy that I never knew existed,” says Donghyun Kim, a student at Kyung Hee University in South Korea.

Anujith Geetha Sekhar, a student at Manipal Academy of Higher Education in India, adds: “Learning about the different approaches to pharmacy in various countries has been fascinating. I’m considering returning to USC in the future to pursue one of the many programs the school offers.” Learning about the different approaches to pharmacy in various countries has been fascinating. I’m considering returning to USC in the future to pursue one of the many programs the school offers.”

ANUJITH GEETHA SEKHAR, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India Yi Ting (Judy) Wu participated in ISSP in 2017 when she was a PharmD student at Taipei Medical University. That summer experience piqued her interest in regulatory science and led to her return to USC to pursue an MS in the field. “USC has achieved great success in international efforts in providing various learning opportunities and bringing in more young talent from around the world,” she says.

In addition, USC’s new Graduate Certificate for Advanced Pharmacy Practice program provides a pathway to residency or licensure for non-U.S.-trained pharmacists with advanced degrees.

International Student Body

The USC School of Pharmacy’s many degree programs remain a magnet for international students—and for their domestic counterparts who want to gain a thoroughly global perspective on the field of pharmacy. As is typical for the Doctor of Pharmacy program, 60 of the 177 entering students in the Class of 2026