School of Pharmacy to offer new PharmD/MPH dual degree

Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy will offer a new dual degree program in the fall of 2026 that combines a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) with a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Population Medicine from the School of Public Health, designed for incoming students seeking to integrate pharmacy practice with population health to advance community wellness and address broader public health challenges.

The PharmD/MPH dual degreereflects a national trend that recognizes the vital role pharmacists have in public health. Loma Linda University (LLU) is one of only three pharmacy schools in California, and among a limited number nationwide, to offer this dual degree.

"This program broadens a pharmacist's role from individual patient care to community health leadership," said Caroline M. Sierra, PharmD, associate dean of academic affairs at the School of Pharmacy. "Graduates will have the skills to improve drug therapy outcomes, influence health policy, and deliver essential public health services."

The combination of the PharmD and MPH degrees is one of the most requested dual degree options among prospective LLU student pharmacists, according to Sierra.

"Our dual degree program enables new students to complete both degrees in just four years - a year shorter than most other schools," said Sierra.

The School of Public Health's MPH in population medicine program is entirely online. Asynchronous to the pharmacy program, it allows students to integrate public health coursework into their in-person Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum with minimal scheduling conflicts.

Prospective students can learn more about the PharmD/MPH dual degree program by visiting the School of Pharmacy website.