Alum Lisa Dolovich to become new dean of U of T's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Lisa Dolovich (BScPharm 1988, DPHarm 1995), who is currently interim dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, says there's never been a greater need for pharmacists as choosing, using or stopping medications becomes increasingly complex (photo by Steve Southon)

Professor and alumna Lisa Dolovich (BScPharm 1988, DPHarm 1995) will become the University of Toronto’s next dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. 

Dolovich, who is currently the faculty’s interim dean, will serve a five-year term beginning on July 1, 2020. 

“I am proud to be part of an environment where our students, staff and faculty are recognized worldwide for remarkable scholarship, ingenuity, creativity and impact,” Dolovich said. “We are the top-ranked faculty of pharmacy in Canada and number four in the world, so it’s a great honour to take on the role of dean at U of T.” 

A pharmacist and leading health services researcher, Dolovich is an internationally recognized scholar distinguished for her work on how individuals manage their medicine and health in the context of where they live. She has contributed to more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, has held more than $5 million in grants from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) as a principal investigator, over $26 million from CIHR as a co-investigator and co-founded the Ontario Pharmacy Evidence Network.

“Professor Dolovich’s keen insights and collaborative style have helped to stabilize the faculty during a period of transition. Her concerted efforts to bring faculty, staff and students together to discuss, plan and implement changes have moved important priorities forward,” said Cheryl Regehr, U of T’s vice-president and provost.

“The research environment at our faculty is flourishing”

In addition to being a leading professional pharmacy practice program, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is also home to the graduate department of pharmaceutical sciences and several prominent research centres where scientists and trainees investigate every aspect of the drug discovery process and the socioeconomic, ethical and safety implications of the use of medications. With more than 200 collaborations with leading scientists and institutions in over 40 countries across the world, the impact of the work is global.

“The research environment at our faculty is flourishing and I look forward to helping our faculty grow in our ability to make a lasting impact on health and society,” Dolovich said.

Like many other health professions, the practice of pharmacy is undergoing significant change. But with change comes opportunity, according to Dolovich.

“Our approach to choosing, using or stopping medications is becoming more complicated and so there has never been a greater need for pharmacist expertise within health-care systems.”