New Three-Year Doctor of Pharmacy program at U of T a first in Canada

PharmD student Shahzil Sheikh on rotation at Women's College Hospital in Toronto.

The new pharmacy program prepares students to be confident, versatile pharmacists capable of thriving in a rapidly evolving world of health care and discovery.

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto is launching an accelerated three-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) that will enhance the integration of pharmaceutical and clinical sciences and help future pharmacists enter the workforce well-prepared and faster.

Typically offered over four years, the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) is a professional degree program required for entry-to-practice in pharmacy. A first in Canada, the change to a three-year program will mean a shift from nine terms of education delivered over four years to nine terms of education delivered over three years. “Graduates from our program will be ready to start their careers in pharmacy sooner and will be equipped to apply their knowledge and skills in a range of rewarding career paths,” said Jamie Kellar, Associate Dean Academic at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. “We are building on the strengths of our existing program and responding to the growing health care needs of the people and communities we serve as pharmacists.”

Applications for the new program will open at the end of the month, with the faculty preparing to welcome the first cohort into the three-year program in August 2025.

A vision for the future of pharmacy

Pharmacists are trusted and accessible health care professionals who play a vital role in delivering high-quality care. They support patients across various health care settings, from community pharmacies to hospitals, primary care teams, and long-term care facilities, to achieve optimal health outcomes from their medicines.

In many provinces, including Ontario, the scope of pharmacy practice is expanding, allowing pharmacists to take on even greater responsibilities. With rapid advancements in drug discovery and development, the pharmacy profession is evolving to meet the changing needs of patients and the broader health care system.

“Our new curriculum is being built to be flexible and adaptable while also increasing early exposure to clinical experiences for learners.”

“As the health care system and the health needs of our communities are increasing in complexity, pharmacy students must be prepared to work in new practice environments that we may not be able to anticipate today,” said Natalie Crown, Director of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. “Our new curriculum is being built to be flexible and adaptable while also increasing early exposure to clinical experiences for learners.”

Hands-on learning in real-world settings to be offered earlier

The new program structure is designed to enhance the integration of pharmaceutical and clinical science teaching, offering longitudinal early practice experiences throughout the first and second years of the program. “This approach of embedding students in practice environments with skilled practitioners emphasizes using skills and knowledge in real-world situations and helps learners apply new knowledge practically as they continue to build skills over time,” said Crown.

Engaging learners in curriculum renewal

The Curriculum Renewal team have worked to ensure that feedback and insights from current students and recent graduates have been incorporated into the reshaping the program structure and enhancing education delivery methods.

“As a student graduating from the four-year program, I am excited to see that the three-year program has fully integrated its therapeutics curriculum into one academic stream.”

“As a student graduating from the four-year program, I am excited to see that the three-year program has fully integrated its therapeutics curriculum into one academic stream,” said Adam Da Costa Gomes, who is currently completing his final year of the four-year PharmD program at U of T and participated in the project as a member of the student engagement committee. “As the "end users" of the program, it is critical that faculty understand the student experience and I really believe that the student insight has been invaluable to the development of the new three-year program.

Applications Open in September

Applications for the new three-year PharmD program will open later in September, with the faculty preparing to welcome the first cohort of students in August 2025.

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