Adam M Persky

Adam M. Persky is the Associate Dean of Professional Education and a Professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He holds a BS in Biology from Purdue University, an MS in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Florida. His postdoctoral work focused on pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics at UNC and GlaxoSmithKline.

Dr. Persky specializes in pharmacy education, emphasizing active learning strategies such as the flipped classroom, team-based learning, and evidence-based teaching practices. He has authored Foundations in Pharmacokinetics, a textbook enhanced with multimedia resources, and has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Atlantic Coast Conference Teaching Scholar distinction and the Distinguished Teaching Scholar title from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.

His research focuses on student learning behaviors, instructional design, and the integration of clinical relevance in foundational courses. Notable contributions include studies on retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and the impact of recorded lectures on knowledge retention. Persky has delivered over 100 workshops nationally and served as a mentor for faculty development programs.

• Education: BS (Biology, Purdue), MS (Exercise Science, UMass Amherst), PhD (Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florida)
• Awards: Best Overall Instructor (UNC), Atlantic Coast Conference Teaching Scholar, AAC&U Distinguished Teaching Scholar
• Labs/Teams: Faculty Fellow in CIPhER (Center for Innovation in Pharmacy Education and Research), leading initiatives in educational innovation.

His work bridges educational theory and practice, advocating for pedagogical approaches that enhance long-term retention and critical thinking in health professions education.