Cynthia Richard

Cynthia Richard is an Associate Professor (Teaching Stream) in the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo, serving as Associate Director of Curriculum and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Policy. Her expertise spans pharmacology, nutrition, and natural health products, with a focus on innovative educational strategies in pharmacy and healthcare training. She holds leadership roles in curriculum design, interprofessional education, and student well-being initiatives.

Dr. Richard’s research emphasizes medical education methodologies, including experiential learning, virtual clinical assessments, and burnout mitigation strategies for healthcare students. She has pioneered activities like 'Check-In' to address mental health in pharmacy education and designed interprofessional programs such as 'RnRx' for palliative care training. Her work bridges clinical practice and education, addressing both professional development and student support systems.

Her scholarship spans oncology research, investigating chemotherapeutic mechanisms and cancer cell migration pathways, alongside foundational studies on malnutrition immunology and vitamin D receptor signaling in leukemia. While her recent focus leans toward educational innovation, her earlier work contributed to understanding cancer biology and drug interactions.

Dr. Richard’s contributions extend to peer review systems in teaching evaluation and professionalism assessment in pharmacy curricula. She actively shapes undergraduate policy within the Faculty of Science, ensuring alignment between academic standards and evolving healthcare needs. Despite no explicitly listed awards, her role in institutional leadership underscores her impactful contributions to academic governance and curriculum development.