University of Florida

Pharmacoepidemiology can be defined as the application of epidemiologic reasoning, methods, and knowledge to the study of drug uses and effects (beneficial and adverse) of drugs in human populations. It aims to describe, explain, control and predict the uses and effects of pharmacologic treatments in a defined time, space and population. 1

With a concentration in Pharmacoepidemiology the student should be able to design a clinical trial, an observational study and conduct a meta-analysis. Methodological proficiencies include stating a hypothesis, developing research methods, and presenting a statistical analyses plan. The student should also be able to implement the study design, conduct the statistical analyses, interpret the findings and discuss them in the context of validity and relevance to healthcare, and prepare a publishable manuscript based on the findings. Central to the development of skills related to pharmacoepidemiology is furthermore familiarity with at least one large database, proficiency in secondary data analysis, operationalization of definitions of exposure and outcomes using administrative or clinical datasets, query languages and relevant statistical software packages.

Content-related knowledge includes basic pharmacology, advanced knowledge of regulatory and methodological aspects of drug approval, withdrawal and utilization.

Career prospects for individuals with PhD in pharmacoepidemiology include positions in academia, drug safety and health outcomes departments in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory / governmental agencies such as the FDA, and contract research organizations.

1 A. G. Hartzema, M. Porta, H. H. Tilson, Pharmacoepidemiology: An Introduction. Harvey Whitney Press 1998, Cincinnati.

 

For a list of courses in epidemiology and related fields that students can take in this concentration, click here

Below is a list of the recommended courses that can be selected for inclusion in the study plan in conference with the major advisor and the student’s committee for the Pharmacoepidemiology concentration. These are in addition to the core course requirements.

• GMS 6812 Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention & Control
• GMS 6814 Molecular & Genetic Epidemiology
• GMS 6815 Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology
• HSC 6507 Epidemiology
• PHC 6000 Epidemiologic Methods I
• PHC 6002 Epidemiology of Infectious Disease
• PHC 6003 Epidemiology of Chronic Disease
• PHC 6010 Data management for Statistical Computing for Epidemiology
• PHC 6011 Epidemiologic Methods II
• PHA 6268 Pharmacoepidemiology
• PHA 6662 Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management
• PHA 6717 Measurement in Pharmacy Administration Research
• STA 5223 Applied Sample Survey Methods
• STA 5503 Categorical Data Methods OR STA 6505 Analysis of Categorical Data
• STA 5507 Applied Nonparametric Methods
• STA 5701 Applied Multivariate Methods
• STA 6147 Statistical Methods for Health Sciences II
• STA 6167 Design of Longitudinal Research
• STA 6209 Design & Analysis of Experiments
• STA 6526 Nonparametric statistics
• STA 6177 Advanced topics in biostatistics (RTC, survival, Kaplan-Meier, proportional hazard model)
• STA 6934 Applied Survival Analysis*

In preparation of a scientific career the student my also select form the following courses:

• ALS 6046 Grant writing
• CLP 7934 Scientific writing for Publications and Grants
• GNS 6903 Manuscript and abstract writing
• VME6767 Issues in the responsible conduct of research
• GMS 6931 Ethical and policy issues in clinical research
• GMS 6181 Science of clinical research
• PHI 5405 Philosophy of Science
• PHI 5425 Philosophy of Social Science