Amy M. Franks

Amy M. Franks serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy. She has directed the Teaching Certificate Program for nearly two decades (2005-2024) and currently co-directs it (2024-present). Her teaching portfolio includes Pharmacology II courses covering cardiovascular agents (antiarrhythmics, antithrombotics, dyslipidemia treatments, diuretics, antihypertensives, anti-ischemics, and heart failure drugs), alongside electives in teaching therapeutics and independent research, plus leadership of the Faculty Interest Group (FIG) monthly discussion series.

Education

• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy
• Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy Research Fellowship, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy

Research Interests

Dr. Franks specializes in educational scholarship within pharmacy practice, with core expertise in scholarly writing development, faculty mentoring systems, and qualitative research methodologies. Her work critically examines promotion/tenure criteria, student evaluation frameworks, and gender-specific challenges for women faculty. She investigates structural barriers to academic productivity while maintaining secondary research in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy—particularly drug interactions and adherence—and pharmacist roles in emerging areas like medical cannabis regulation.

Publication Trends

Her recent publications (2020-2025) reveal a concentrated focus on academic pharmacy systems: 80% address faculty development, scholarly writing, and promotion processes, often using qualitative approaches to analyze institutional policies. Key themes include peer mentoring efficacy (especially for women), student evaluation interpretation, and adapting education to crises like the pandemic. Earlier work (2010-2018) bridges clinical cardiovascular research with educational innovation, such as patient communication courses, but her trajectory clearly prioritizes educational leadership over clinical pharmacology.

Honors & Awards

• Top 25 Reviewer, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (2020)
• Nominee, UAMS Outstanding Woman Faculty Award (2019)
• UAMS Phenomenal Woman Award (2019)
• Arkansas College of Clinical Pharmacy Education Award (2015)
• UAMS Chancellor’s Faculty Teaching Award (2005, 2008)
• College of Pharmacy Class of 2008 Award for Outstanding Faculty Member
• UAMS College of Pharmacy Student Body Teacher of the Year (2005)
• UAMS College of Pharmacy Dean’s Teaching Incentive Award (2005)
• UAMS CARE Recognition for Compassion, Attitude, Respect, Excellence (2004)

Advising and Grants

Dr. Franks has mentored faculty through the Teaching Certificate Program (2005-present) but no student advisees are listed. Her grant leadership includes COBRE-supported scholarly writing initiatives, evidenced by the 2024 program evaluation article. She co-chaired the 2020-2021 AACP academic affairs committee, securing institutional resources for pandemic-era education adaptation. Current grant activities focus on cross-disciplinary writing development and peer mentoring infrastructure.

Labs and Teams

She co-founded the Faculty Interest Group (FIG) for monthly academic discussions and led interprofessional teams establishing a student-run community free clinic. Her scholarly writing program operates as a campus-wide collaborative initiative with a Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), while her teaching therapeutics course design involves communication skills teams focused on motivational interviewing and patient-centered care models.