Pharmacology and Therapeutics

DR. CHRISTIAN URUAKA, (MBBS., PGD(Edu)., M.Sc., PhD., FIPMLD, FIOASD)

The Current Head of Department

Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Pharmacology is the study of the actions of drugs on living systems. This includes a proper understanding of the general principles of drug action and a sound knowledge concerning the important drugs affecting the various systems of the body such as the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal, endocrine and other body systems.

The core philosophy is to enhance existing and acquire new knowledge in Pharmacology and Therapeutics by conducting and promoting innovative research in keeping with international best practices. To become a top ranked research intensive academic center in the disciplines of Pharmacology and Therapeutics both nationally and internationally

The course is offered to first year clinical students (400 level) of the MBBS (Bachelor of medicine/surgery) program. The aim of the department is to demonstrate and impart to students and clinicians the ability to recognize disease based on both gross and microscopic changes that occur with disease states and an understanding of autopsy pathology.

Staff list in the Department

Name	Rank	Area Of Specialization	Email

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Department is responsible for the training of medical students on the pathological basis of disease processes, teaching on etiology, pathogenesis, morphology, and clinical consequences of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions. Students are thought on making diagnosis using cells, tissues using the microscope and whole organ examination at autopsy.

STRUCTURE OF THE UNIT

The Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics is among the Department that was established following the commencement of the training of Medical and Other allied Health Professionals of the College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University in the 2015/2016 Academic Calendar. The Department commenced academic activity in 2019/2020. The Pioneer academic staff were recruited in the 2019/2020 Academic session. The Department drew much inspiration from the University act establishing Departments, Faculties and Colleges.

The Department is committed to encouraging and promoting the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without prejudice to ethnicity or religion.

The Head of Department is the administrative Head of the Department. The Head of Department takes directives from the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, headed by the Dean.

Departmental meetings are held periodically, while emergency meetings are convened as the need arises. Staff members are free to make suggestions for the improvement of the Department during meetings. Such suggestions are forwarded through the Dean of the Faculty to the College Board, headed by the Provost and subsequently to the Senate for consideration and approval.

ACHIEVEMENTS/BREAKTHROUGH

The Department has had its major achievement in obtaining full accreditation of its programme with the National University Commission (NUC) and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) within the short period of establishment of the Department.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

The major academic programme of the Department is teaching, research and learning which it carries out in the Medical Programme (MBBS) and as a servicing Department to the Nursing Programme (BNSc), Anatomy Programme (B.Sc), Physiology (B.Sc), Biochemistry Programme (B.Sc) as well as Medical Laboratory Programme (BMLS).

POST-GRADUATE PROGRAMME

Master of Science in Clinical Pharmacology.

PROSPECTS

To train students to become skilled health care workers in Pharmaceutical industries in the area of drug discoveries and development.
Promote interdepartmental, interfaculty and international collaborative research.
Promote academic excellence through quality teaching and knowledge dissemination.
Promote and enhance publications from students and academic staff.

To develop the Department as a centre of excellence for safety and efficacy assessment of medicines.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMMES

The core philosophy is to enhance existing and acquire new knowledge in Pharmacology and Therapeutics by conducting and promoting innovative research in keeping with international best practices. To become a top ranked research-intensive academic center in the disciplines of Pharmacology and Therapeutics both nationally and internationally.

OBJECTIVE

AIMS

To bridge the gap between drug discovery and therapy as in the area of efficacy, safety and effectiveness of medications in humans, to discover new lead compounds and to understand the mechanisms of action of drugs.

To disseminate knowledge to other allied health courses/practitioners and graduate students through quality teaching. The purpose of teaching is to impact relevant information to the students in a manner that allows them to develop their analytical and intellectual capabilities, thus instructing them in the methods by which knowledge is acquired, with emphasis on self-reliance and continued self-education.

OBJECTIVES

To train students to become scientists and researchers in health-related industries.
To train students to have relevant and broad knowledge in Pharmacology that will enable them to specialize in different areas of the field.
To impact knowledge on the students concerning the understanding of properties of drugs and the mechanism by which they produce their effects in diseased conditions.
To train students to be able to correlate knowledge obtained from other disciplines to that of Pharmacology and be able to apply knowledge of Pharmacology to patient therapy.
Students are expected to exercise scientific reasoning and make logical deductions with regard to drug action.