PharmD Faculty
Core Faculty
Kurt Wargo, PharmD
Dean and Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Email: kwargo@westcoastuniversity.edu
Dr. Wargo received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Kent State University in 1997 and his Doctorate in Pharmacy from Creighton University School of Pharmacy in 2002. In 2003, he completed a Postdoctoral Residency at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. Dr. Wargo served on the faculty of Auburn University School of Pharmacy and the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Huntsville School of Medicine from 2003-2015. There he practiced pharmacy in internal medicine and infectious diseases. In 2015, Dr. Wargo became the regional dean of Wingate University in Hendersonville, NC where he led the school of pharmacy and physician assistant program. In 2020, Dr. Wargo became the dean of the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy in Clinton, SC. Dr. Wargo is board certified in pharmacotherapy and in 2016 was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Dr. Wargo has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters during his career.
Parto Khansari, PhD
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: PKhansari@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Khansari holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences (Neuropharmacology) from University of the Pacific, M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from San Francisco State University, and a Bachelor degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from California State University Northridge. Dr. Khansari has held several administrative positions in pharmacy education and served as Assistant Dean and Department Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences at California Northstate University, CA and Associate Dean at Stony Brook University, NY. Dr. Khansari has received a certificate in “A Systems Approach to Assessment in Health Professions Education” from Harvard Macy Institute, MA.
As a Certified Team Based Learning (TBL) Trainer Consultant, she has led numerous national and international workshops and has published on innovative and active learning in pharmacy education. She has mentored other educators to become TBLC certified trainers and has over 10 years of experience teaching pharmacology utilizing TBL pedagogy.
Prior to joining academia, over a period of 12 years, Dr. Khansari has held various positions at several biotech and pharmaceutical companies with increasing responsibilities to lead and support internal drug discovery and development in the area of ischemic stroke and inflammation. She has several peer-reviewed publications in this area and currently serves as Deputy Editor of Inflammopharmacology, Springer Journal.
William Ofstad, PharmD
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Email: wofstad@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Ofstad earned his B.A. in Chemistry from Whitman College concurrently with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, and a Pharm.D. from the University of California San Francisco. He completed an ambulatory care and cardiology focused Pharmacy Practice Residency with Kaiser. His past administrative roles include serving as Assistant Dean for Education, Director of the Office of Teaching and Learning, Director of the Center for Team-Based Learning and President of the Northern California College of Clinical Pharmacy. He has served as chair for multiple college and university committees and serves nationally on the steering committees for the Team-Based Learning Collaborative and Academy of Process Educators. His primary research focus is in teaching and learning including team-based learning, team building, simulation, and interprofessional education. His practice experience includes ambulatory care pharmacy at UC Davis Medical Center and Sacramento County Department of Public Health. He is a licensed Advanced Practice Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Among his goals as a leader is to promote a student-centered collaborative, creative culture to advance the program through collective excellence in teaching, service and scholarship. He values working as one cohesive team, unlocking growth in everyone, cascading communication, essential integrity, and the transformation of education.
Dr. Ofstad is a father of two boys, Apollo and Orion, and husband to Amy, who is also a pharmacist. He has an open door (open Zoom, open Teams) policy, so please feel free to connect anytime.
Gauri Sabnis, PhD
Assistant Dean of Assessment and Accreditation and Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: gSabnis@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Sabnis received her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in India from the University of Poona and Ph. D. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Her doctoral and post-doctoral training efforts focused on the endocrine therapy of breast cancer. Dr. Sabnis has over 15 years of research experience. Prior to joining WCU, Dr. Sabnis was grand-funded Assistant Professor at University of Maryland, School of Medicine, where she worked on the strategy of re-sensitizing endocrine therapy resistant breast cancer through combination with targeted therapy. She has received numerous awards for her research from organizations such as American Association of Cancer Research, Endocrine Society and has published over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts in journals such as Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics and Endocrine Related Cancer. She also serves as a reviewer for over 10 peer-reviewed international journals. Dr. Sabnis has taught pharmacology to medical students, graduate students, and dental hygiene students for over 5 years.
Ettie Rosenberg, PharmD, JD
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Professor of Pharmacy Practice
Email: eRosenberg@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Ettie Rosenberg earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Southern California, and Juris Doctor (JD) from Southwestern University School of Law, both in Los Angeles.
Her contributions include: (1) “Feasibility of Virtual Mock Trials as a Parallel Teaching-Assessment Activity for Student Pharmacists at Two American Pharmacy Programmes during COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond” (Pharmacy Education, 2021); (2) “Commentary: Digging Deeper: Examining DEA Proposed New Rule to Enhance Cultivation of Marijuana for Research Exposes Conflict of Interest for DEA (JCPhP, Summer 2020); (3) “Research Brief: A Pilot Study on Pharmacy Law Education across Doctor of Pharmacy Programs” (AJPE, 2019); (4)“Common Legal Issues Confronted in Pharmacy Practice: Avoiding Common Legal Issues Confronted in Pharmacy Practice: Evaluating Prescriptions with PRN Wording and Calling for Refills” (JCPhP, 2019); (5) “New Schools; Innovation at Its Best! Implementation and Lessons Learned from a Mock Trial as a Teaching- Learning and Assessment (CPTL, 2018); (6)“Interpretation of California’s Marijuana Regulation after Proposition 64, and Pharmacy Practice Roles in Medical Marijuana Dispensing against Federal Enforcement Risks (JCPhP, 2018); (7) “Laws Expanding the Pharmacist’s Role in Patient Care (CPJ, 2017); (8) “Deliberate Integration of Student Leadership Development in Doctor of Pharmacy Programs” (AJPE, 2016).
With the inception of the Mock Trial Project, Dr. Rosenberg pioneered an active learning strategy in pharmacy education which develops student competencies in both the affective and cognitive domains. The Mock Trial Project received Honorable Mention in the 2017 AACP Innovations in Teaching Competition (April 2017) based on her portfolio submission “Development, Implementation, and Lessons Learned from a Mock Trial as a Teaching and Assessment Activity in a Required Evidence-Based Practice Course.” Since then, the mock trial project has expanded to incorporate a second PharmD program (2017-2018), a “virtual” competition between two PharmD programs (2019) as well as cross-institutional collaboration between students at two pharmacy programs via Blackboard Collaborate®️ a learning management system (2019).
Lessons learned from those experiences facilitated a quick response to the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and with the sudden transition to remote-teaching/learning, a “virtual” mock trial was implemented, serving as a final course exam. The following year, a pharmacy elective featured lessons in advocacy and a virtual mock trial (2021). Continuing from this successful journey of scholarly exploration in pharmacy education, the mock trial project gained recognition and support from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Continuing Professional Development Section. In 2022, this recognition led to an inaugural AACP Mock Trial Competition, which offered an opportunity to students at all pharmacy programs to submit a letter of intent, compete in semi-final virtual mock trial; and for the two prevailing teams to face each other in-person at the AACP Annual Meeting held in July. The annual AACP Mock Trial Competition is now in its second year (2023).
Eric Kobayashi, PharmD
Assistant Dean of Experiential Education and Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: EKobayashi@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Eric Kobayashi earned his Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy and completed an accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Sepulveda Veterans Affairs Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Kobayashi’s pharmacy practice career bridges 30 years of experience in acute care pharmacy, clinical informatics, and pharmacy administration. Dr. Kobayashi has extensive experience in Pharmacy Informatics and Technology with a passion for engineering workflow management. Dr. Kobayashi’s endeavors include establishment of a Pharmacy Informatics Program, collaborative formation of Pharmacy Shared Services, and joint transformation of Medication Management with innovative redesigning of patient care and technology workflows.Dr. Kobayashi’s commit to teach, mentor, and coach is founded on his philosophy that servant leadership advances growth for those he serves as well as his own personal growth. Having the opportunity to precept student pharmacists for over 15 years, Dr. Kobayashi looks forward to the journey of serving West Coast University School of Pharmacy student pharmacists in their development to become future pharmacists.
Catherine Van, PharmD
Director of Experiential Education and Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: cVan@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Catherine Van received her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with summa cum laude from University of California, Irvine. She then earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Western University of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Rho Chi Honor Societies.
Dr. Van completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice residency at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, where she obtained a post-doctorate teaching certificate. During the residency, her focus was on inpatient glycemic management service. Besides that, she served as a preceptor for both IPPE and APPE pharmacy students while contributing to patient care in collaboration with other health care professionals. Dr. Van also has outpatient experiences through practicing as a staff pharmacist at community pharmacies where she provides medication therapy management service and immunization. Her areas of interest include glycemic management, cardiology, transitions of care, and interprofessional education.
Eman Atef, BSc, Ms, PhD
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: EAtef@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Atef earned her Masters in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy from MCPHS-Boston University.
She has sixteen years of pharmaceutical sciences teaching experience. She taught at both MCPHS-Boston and CNSU- Elk Grove. Before WCU she held an associate professor position for 7 years at CNSU, where she taught in the PharmD program. Prior to that she taught for 9 years at MCPHS, led a research team and mentored many Masters and PhD students, in addition to directing the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Program.
She taught many courses in the PharmD and PhD programs such as Pharmaceutics, Pharmacokinetics, Advanced Physical Pharmacy, Dosage Form Design among others.
She authored scientific papers and presentations in formulation, pre-formulation, and pharmacokinetic simulation.
Fred Farris, PhD
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: frFarris@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Farris earned his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Purdue University and completed a post doctorate training program at the University of Rochester. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, he teaches in pharmaceutical science arena and serves on a variety of academic committees. He was most recently the Department Chair of Pharmacy Practice at Manchester College School of Pharmacy. Prior to that, he served as the Department Chair of Pharmacy Practice and Administration at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and as the Department Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Mercer University School of Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. He has nearly forty years of pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences teaching experience and twenty-five years of administrative faculty experience. He has overseen numerous graduate students and authored a large number of scientific papers.
Leanne Coyne, PhD
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: LCoyne@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Coyne earned her B.Sc. in pharmacology and Ph.D. in neuropharmacology from the University of Sunderland in the U.K. Throughout her academic career, Dr. Coyne has taught in a variety of areas, including neuroscience topics including neuroscience, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal pharmacology, physiology, and pathophysiology.
After her Ph.D., Dr. Coyne went on to complete post-doctoral positions studying the electrophysiological characteristics of stem-cell derived neurons at the University of Durham in the U.K. and University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.
Following her post-doctoral studies, Dr. Coyne continued her academic career, becoming a member of the founding faculty at California Northstate University’s College of Pharmacy. She then moved on the University of Tyler in Texas where she also served in administrative positions as the Director of Assessment and an interim role as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. While at the University of Tyler, Dr. Coyne began to study the impact of virtual reality on learning, a research interest that she has continued to pursue. Dr. Coyne moved back to California in 2019, as a Professor at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at California Health Sciences University and joined West Coast University in 2021.
Parna Haghparast, PharmD, BCPS
Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: PHaghparast@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Haghparast is a registered pharmacist with Board Certification in Pharmacotherapy. She has a variety inpatient, outpatient and academia related experiences. Dr. Haghparast earned her Pharm.D. degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She completed an ambulatory care and psychiatry focused residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch‐Correctional Managed Care (UTMB‐CMC). She provided care to inmates in a variety of pharmacist run-clinics such as ASTHMA/COPD, hypertension/hyperlipidemia, psychiatry, and anticoagulation. In addition, she was involved in medication use evaluation, drug class reviews and creation of disease management guidelines.
Post residency, she followed her passion for teaching by completing a Post-Doctoral Academic Fellowship at University of Houston, College of Pharmacy (UHCOP). Throughout her fellowship she was involved in both clinical (inpatient and outpatient) and academia related activities.
At West Coast University, Dr. Haghparast serves in multiple School and University level committees. Additionally, she is heavily involved in coordinating and teaching in variety of therapeutics courses and skills lab.
Dr. Haghparast enjoys scholarly activity and loves involving her students in her research projects. Dr. Haghparast has been involved in multiple research projects including book chapters and scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL). Her research interests include mental health, substance use disorders and chronic disease management.
Adam Kassan, PhD
Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: aKassan@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Kassan graduated from the Lebanese University in Lebanon with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and worked for several years as a clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) in Lebanon. He is currently a licensed CLS in the state of California. Subsequently, he went on to earn his Master’s and PhD degree in Cell Biology and Biomedicine at the University of Barcelona, Spain. His research during these graduate years focused on lipid involvement in liver regeneration. Following this, Dr. Kassan moved to the University of California, San Diego to work in research as a postdoctoral fellow. The main focus of his research was the cellular mechanisms involved in ischemic heart disease. He also led research projects studying neuroscience in the field of mental health and neuronal regeneration.
Dr. Kassan’s involvement in many projects has given him extensive experience in research. He was awarded a grant by the National Institute of Health (NIH) for his works. Dr. Kassan has contributed to the scientific community through publications of many papers and presentations of his research at many national and international meetings, and has mentored many undergraduate students interested in research. He is currently serving as a reviewer for peer-reviewed scientific journals such as The British Journal of Pharmacology.
Su Lee, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCIDP
Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: sLee@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Lee received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. She completed an ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency at University of Minnesota Medical Center, and a two-year ACCP accredited fellowship in the Center for Anti-Infective Research and Development, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT. For the last 10 years, Dr. Lee has taught Pharmacotherapy in Infectious Diseases and Oncologic Disorders and Clinical Pharmacokinetics at University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Appalachian College of Pharmacy. She has also practiced Antimicrobial Stewardships and trained numerous students at Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD and Holston Valley Medical Center, Kingsport, TN, as a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist with Added Qualification in Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Lee obtained her Bachelor and Master of Science in Pharmacy at the Seoul National University, College of Pharmacy, Seoul, South Korea, and completed two-year residency at Seoul National Hospital including Therapeutic Drug Monitoring/Total Parenteral Nutrition and Pediatric Oncology.
Dr. Lee won Clinical Excellence of Teaching Awards and a Preceptor of Excellence award from Appalachian College of Pharmacy, a Young Investigator Award from Connecticut Infectious Diseases Society and has published articles in peer-reviewed journals including Annals of Oncology, Journal of Infections, and Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. She presented numerous original research posters in international meetings including Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), and Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Dr. Lee has been a member of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Society of Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Her research/practice interests include antimicrobial pharmacodynamics and Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs.
Jessica Louie, PharmD, BCCCP, APh
Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: jLouie@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Louie believes people are capable of incredible things…if they feel confident in their environment and have opportunities to contribute authentically to all areas of their lives. Dr. Louie is at her best when she is able to push beyond the boundaries to think outside the box, challenge her team to raise the bar and help navigate the path towards simple solutions.
Dr. Louie earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree and Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California (USC). Dr. Louie completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and a PGY2 Critical Care Specialty Residency at University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics. During her residencies, she obtained a post-doctorate teaching certificate. She is a Board-Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP) and Advanced Practice Pharmacist (APh). Dr. Louie has taught students both in the didactic and clinical settings, and provided patient care along with fellow residents and practitioners in an interprofessional team setting.
Dr. Louie leads the well-being initiatives for students and has a special interest in burnout prevention, resiliency, digital marketing and entrepreneurship. She hosts The Burnout Doctor Podcast and loves to reach beyond the classroom to help students and healthcare professionals. Dr. Louie is the CEO and Founder of Clarify Simplify Align, Find Your Script and Petite Style Script. She is a Certified KonMari Coach (KonMari Method) and uses this in her simple processes to avoid overwhelm and help others lead with confidence and curate lives they love. Dr. Louie’s previous research experiences are in the areas of critical care, infectious disease and cystic fibrosis with prospective and retrospective studies showcased at international meetings.
Glenn Morataya, PharmD
Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: gMorataya@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Morataya completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at UC Irvine and received his Doctorate of Pharmacy degree from Touro College of Pharmacy. His many years of management experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry prepared him for an extensive administrative role at his current clinical practice sites. He most recently developed and implemented Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs at institutions including Glendora Community Hospital and Chino Valley Medical Center, where he is an active member of the ASP Committee and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. His experience and qualifications recruits his activity during surveys conducted by California Department of Public Health, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the California State Board of Pharmacy.
Dr. Morataya also played an integral role in the west coast expansion of an MTM business model integrated into specialty pharmacy sites for east coast based affiliates. His passion for direct patient interaction has sustained a long-lasting rapport and affiliation with his east coast colleagues for numerous years.
As a native Los Angelino, he is excited and committed for the opportunity to work alongside West Coast University pharmacy students to support the Los Angeles community through public health services and community outreach functions.
Busuyi Olotu, BPharm, MSPharm, PhD
Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: bOlotu@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Olotu received his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. After over 7 years of pharmacy practice in Nigeria in academia, retail, and hospital settings, Dr. Olotu immigrated to the US where he received his Masters and PhD degrees in Health Outcomes and Pharmacy Practice (formerly Pharmacy Administration) from the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. Soon after, Dr. Olotu completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship in Health Economics and Outcomes Research at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy.
Dr. Olotu’s primary teaching area is Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Science. His research interests are in the area of health outcomes such as pharmacoeconomics, pharmacoepidemiology, comparative-effectiveness research involving drug utilization and assessment of safety and risks, health outcomes of patients with chronic disease including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and renal disease, survey research, retrospective database analysis, and retrospective chart reviews using electronic health records.
Dr. Olotu has served in various capacities including as reviewer for International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE), Academy of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Dr. Olotu is a member of the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society.
Joe Su, PhD
Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: JSu@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Su earned his B.S. in Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley and his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He completed his postdoctoral training at Pacific University Oregon investigating the in vitro anti-inflammatory functions of natural products under the supervision of Dr. Deepa Rao.
Dr. Su’s lab is interested in the use of natural products in complementary and alternative medicine, focusing on botanical entities popular in traditional medicine (e.g. Turmeric Root, Senna Leaf, Goji Berries, Boswellia Bark, Black Pepper Fruit). Despite tightening federal regulations on the dietary supplement industry, consumers continue to self-medicate with natural products that generally have not demonstrated clinically significant results ($6.9 billion in US retail sales in 2015, American Botanical Council). The primary challenge in understanding the safety and efficacy of natural products lies in elucidating their multiple active ingredient composition. Mechanistic understanding of these phytochemicals will not only lead to improved patient safety but also to improved patient-centered care. Our current disease state of interest is chronic inflammation, which is implicated in the top killers in the United States: heart disease and cancer.
Dr. Su is an active member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Prior to academia, Dr. Su led operations at SUSS Technology, a dietary supplement manufacturing company in Las Vegas, NV. Dr. Su is passionate about empowerment and success through positive reinforcement. Currently, he is applying these principles to his two toddler boys with mixed, yet interesting results! Joe is a super nerd who loves analyzing team-based games ranging from Dodgers baseball to League of Legends.
Ani Avoundjian, PharmD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: avoundjian@westcoastuniversity.edu
Dr. Avoundjian earned her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from California State University, Los Angeles. She then earned her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Pharmacy. Dr. Avoundjian completed a PGY1 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice Residency at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy. During residency, Dr. Avoundjian taught students in the didactic and clinical settings while obtaining a teaching and research certificate. Her clinical training is in chronic disease state management including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking cessation, asthma, COPD, and anticoagulation.
Dr. Avoundjian’s longitudinal project focused on patient and provider preferences for telemedicine. As a student, she also conducted research in the scholarship of teaching and learning by measuring PharmD student retention of medicinal chemistry and assessing the impact of co-curricular activities on PharmD outcomes at USC.
Through her experiences, Dr. Avoundjian aims to be an excellent role model and mentor to incoming and current students at West Coast University and wishes to help them become exceptional leaders of the pharmacy profession.
Ayda Awaness, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: AAwaness@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Awaness has worked for many years in academia and retail pharmacies. She received her Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, followed by her Masters and PhD degrees in Pharmaceutics and Pharmacological Sciences, all from Baghdad University, School of Pharmacy.
She worked as Assistant Professor in the Pharmaceutics Department for many years; she then moved to Jordan and worked as Assistant Professor in Al-Isra University, Pharmacy School in Amman, Jordan.
Prior to joining West Coast University, she worked for many years as Pharmacy Educator at different educational institutions in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
Dr. Awaness has many publications related to the field of pharmaceutics and pharmacological sciences, but is most interested in the field of pharmaceutical formulations and ocular drug delivery systems. Her main approach is to improve a novel eye drop for the prevention and treatment of cataract.
Dr. Awaness is ASHP certified for sterile compounding; she has ASHP and AACP membership.
Bin Deng, PharmD, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: bdeng@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Bin Deng received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He then earned his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from California Northstate University College of Pharmacy (CNUCOP).
After graduation, he stayed with CNUCOP as a graduate teaching assistant before starting his PGY1 residency in Community Pharmacy Practice with the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. After residency, Dr. Deng completed an Ambulatory Care and Academic Fellowship with Purdue University College of Pharmacy. During the fellowship, Dr. Deng focused on developing collaborative practice agreements with nursing faculty at Purdue University, in addition to precepting APPE students on ambulatory care rotations. After completing his fellowship training, he returned to CNUCOP and served as a Clinical Assistant Professor.
Dr. Deng’s practice experience includes developing new practice sites at Wellspace Health in Sacramento, with an emphasis in chronic disease state management. Dr. Deng is a Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) with additional certificates in diabetes management. His research interests include transitions of care, primary care in medically under-served areas, and teaching and learning.
Yuqin Hu, PharmD, RPh, MS
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: YHu@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Hu received her B.S. in Biology and her M.S. in Zoology from Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an, China, and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from California Health Sciences University (CHSU). In addition, she did doctorate research in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing. Prior to joining WCU, Dr. Hu served as an Academic Fellow and Post-Graduate Instructor, as well as an Assistant Professor, at CHSU.
During her initial career Dr. Hu taught biology in secondary schools as well as genomics and biology teaching methods at Xinjiang Normal University in Urumqi, China. Later she conducted molecular biology research via DNA mapping and genome sequencing at the University of California, Davis. She has taught many courses in the PharmD program including Patient Care series, Pharmaceuticals, and Natural Medicine.
She is involved with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), and the Team-Based Learning Collaborative (TBLC). Dr. Hu is passionate about teaching with focus on creating a safe learning environment, instilling critical thinking, and mentoring students to become well-rounded pharmacists. Her practice interests include clinical settings and innovative pharmacy services.
Catherine Hughes, PharmD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: CHughes@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Hughes received her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She then earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the accelerated program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Worcester. Dr. Hughes completed her ASHP accredited PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice residency in acute care at Adventist Health Glendale. During residency, Dr. Hughes served as a preceptor for both IPPE and APPE students on rotation while obtaining a post-doctorate teaching certificate through West Coast University, School of Pharmacy.
Her longitudinal project focused on the impact of pharmacist intervention on patients that suffered an acute myocardial infarction. Her areas of interest include internal medicine, infectious disease, and transitions of care. Dr. Hughes is also a member of Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society.
Nadia Khartabil, PharmD, BCGP
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: nkhartabil@westcoastuniversity.edu
Dr. Khartabil is Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist and Advanced Practice Pharmacist. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at the Lebanese American University and obtained a post-doctorate early drug development certification from University of Southern California. Currently, Dr. Khartabil has a master’s degree of Advanced Science in Clinical Research from the University of California, San Diego. Her research interests include investigating barriers of access to care, specifically in the geriatric population.
She has over 15 years of experience in various pharmacy practice settings. She is an advocate for preventive health and has established walk-in immunization services for University of California-San Diego Health system patients. She established medication therapy management programs to reach out to the geriatric population in rural areas. Dr. Khartabil led pharmacy practice conferences, had the opportunity to precept student pharmacists, and assisted in conducting interprofessional objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). Dr. Khartabil also guided collaborative practice agreements for pharmacist-run refill clinics and student-run free clinics.
Dr. Khartabil believes in open door policy, welcome questions and is passionate to make each pharmacy learning experience a positive one.
Tina Menedjian, PharmD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: TMenedjian@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Menedjian obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Her Doctor of Pharmacy degree was conferred by Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, in 2019. She then completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Kaiser Permanente (KP) Medical Center in Riverside, California, where she obtained a post-doctorate teaching certificate through ASHP. Her PGY1 provided versatile training in ambulatory care, acute care, and transitions of care pharmacy settings, in addition to longitudinal leadership and research development. Through training at KP, Dr. Menedjian also established a solid foundation and interest in preventative care and mind-body wellness.
She maintains involvement with local pharmacy associations, the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP), and the Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS) Pharmacy Leadership Society. With her role as academician, she aims to inspire and mentor students to become clinically astute and compassionate providers, excellent collaborators within the multidisciplinary healthcare settings, and innovative leaders within the pharmacy profession.
Marc Salvatus, PharmD, BCPS
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Practice
Email: Msalvatus@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Dr. Salvatus received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. He then earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from West Coast University, School of Pharmacy (WCU SOP), as a member of the inaugural class. Dr. Salvatus completed an ASHP accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Adventist Health Glendale, where he obtained a post-doctorate teaching certificate through WCU SOP. His longitudinal project involved assessing the impact of a pharmacist-driven protocol to optimize antibiotic use in patients with pneumonia.
Dr. Salvatus has taught students in both the didactic and clinical settings. He is board-certified in pharmacotherapy, and he currently practices as a clinical pharmacist in an acute care community hospital where he focuses on internal medicine, antimicrobial stewardship, and transitions of care. Dr. Salvatus currently serves as a faculty advisor for the West Coast University student chapter of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP). He strives to create an open and safe learning environment for his students and is passionate about mentoring them in their professional journey.
Staff
Alexander Castaneda
Program Assistant
Email: AlCastaneda@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Alex has been with WCU since Summer 2019 and has contributed to the success of the program by providing administrative support to the School of Pharmacy. Before being brought on to the WCU School of Pharmacy team, Alex was previously employed at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Diego, CA where he was brought on as the Flex Weekend Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program Assistant. After a few months and a new-found passion for Higher Education, Alex was quickly promoted to the role of the lead residential DPT Program Assistant, while also taking on the role of the university’s Tutoring Program Manager.
Alex also has an extensive professional background in Business Administration, Social Media Management, and most recently, Project Management. He recently received the “Asana Project Management” certificate from the University of San Diego, and is now aiming to become a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) in the near future.
Annie Mouradian, MA
Student Affairs Advisor
Email: aMouradian@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Annie received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Communication Studies from California State University Northridge. As an undergraduate at CSUN, she served on the board of the Communication Association as the Publicist and held a position as a Student Ambassador through the San Francisco Regional Center.
As the Student Advisor in the School of Pharmacy, Annie is able to integrate her knowledge and skills in communication with her passion for encouraging student growth and success throughout their academic journey. Prior to her current role as a student services professional, she served as the Administrative Assistant in the School of Pharmacy, maintaining operational efficiency and supporting over 20 faculty in both departments of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Aside from higher education, Annie has experience in various professional settings, including client services and public relations.
Brenda Chim
Experiential Education Coordinator
Email: BChim@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Brenda Chim is from Long Beach, CA and received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Certificate in Health Care Administration from California State University, Long Beach. She has over 5 years of working in a school and medical setting. Brenda always enjoyed working with students and patients in both fields and it is very rewarding and exciting to be part of the WCU team as she have always wanted to be in a career that involved an educational setting.
Matthew Martinez
Experiential Education Coordinator
Contact Information
Email: MatMartinez@westcoastuniversity.edu
Matthew Martinez is from Pasadena, CA and received his Bachelor of arts in English Literature from Whittier College in 2019. After college, Matthew has developed solid administrative skills, mostly within the legal field, but has fostered working experience from different vocations. Matthew was also a freelance writer during 2020 and found passion in understanding and analyzing a wide variety of topics and stories. He is ready to bring this affection to the education field and is excited to be involved with the WCU faculty where he will be helping students fulfill their academic journeys and professional goals.
Reanna Gibbs
Academic Support Coordinator
Email: RGibbs@westcoastuniversity.edu
Biography
Reanna has over five years of experience working as an academic advisor and coordinator for on-ground and online universities and colleges. She has worked at universities and college across the nation, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Reanna has worked alongside a diverse group of individuals and continues her collaboration in projects across the country. She uses her background and experiences to connect with students and help them achieve their academic goals.
Reanna earned her bachelor’s degree from UC Riverside while competing as a Division I collegiate athlete in both women’s soccer and women’s track and field. Following her bachelor’s degree, she coached collegiate athletics for several years, which included mentoring and advising student-athletes in academics and academic NCAA compliance. She completed her master’s degree at The University of Concordia, Irvine in athletic administration.
Currently, Reanna is enrolled in a Doctor of Education program. In addition, she continues her involvement in cultural and non-profit organizations. She is a leader in her community and strives to learn how she can positively impact students and those around her. Reanna has a passion for helping others to dream big and make those dreams become a reality.
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