First Pharmacogenomics Cohort Starts Program

The first Pharmacogenomics cohort of seven students gathered on August 23 and 24 for orientation. During the two-day orientation students visited the GW Foggy Bottom Campus, the GW Virginia Campus, and Shenandoah University. They met with program and university administration, toured the libraries, as well as took care of other logistical matters.

A joint program between GW's School of Medicine & Health Sciences and Shenandoah University's School of Pharmacy , the program utilizes the expertise of both schools to create a truly unique undergraduate program—the only one of its’ kind in the country. The students will receive a B.S. in Health Sciences from GW with a specialization in Pharmacogenomics.

Pharmacogenomics, the study of how a person's genetics affect the body's response to drugs, is a growing field. Genetic testing is being used to predict drug response and then tailoring drug therapies to individual patients is the cornerstone of this field.

The student first completes their undergraduate work by transferring into the full-time bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences after completing at least 60 credits. They are admitted as juniors or seniors. The junior year coursework focuses on basic sciences and will be taught by GW faculty.

In the senior year, students will be taught by Shenandoah University (SU) faculty with the curriculum that doubles for the first year of SU's Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program. During the senior year students can apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University and be admitted into the second year of the PharmD program. 

Program website
Press release annoucing new program