Leah Sera

Dr. Leah Sera is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP). She also serves as Associate Dean for Recruitment and Admissions at UMSOP and holds an associate faculty position at the University of Maryland Graduate School. Her clinical specialties include pain management, palliative care, and medical cannabis science.

Dr. Sera earned her PharmD from UMSOP (2010), followed by residencies in pharmacy practice and pain management/palliative care. She completed a master’s in instructional systems development at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2017). She leads the nation’s first Graduate Studies in Medical Cannabis program at UMSOP, overseeing the MS in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics and associated certificate programs.

Her research focuses on medical cannabis therapeutics, opioid stewardship, and pharmacy education innovation. She has presented widely on cannabis science, palliative care, and pain management at national conferences such as the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting and the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists.

In academic leadership, Dr. Sera teaches courses in medical cannabis history/policy, evidence-based medicine, and required Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum topics. She mentors students in capstone projects and has developed novel pedagogical approaches for pharmaceutical education.

Her presentations and publications address critical issues in clinical pharmacy practice, including polypharmacy risks, opioid-induced constipation management, and interdisciplinary approaches to palliative care. She actively contributes to shaping medical cannabis education and policy through her academic and administrative roles.