Patrick Chan

Patrick Chan, BA, PharmD, PhD, serves as Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration and Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management at Western University of Health Sciences' College of Pharmacy. He maintains a clinical practice site at Olive-View UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar, California, where he provides advanced pharmacy practice experiences and research opportunities for students.

Education:

• BA in Integrative Biology (2000) - University of California, Berkeley
• PharmD (2003) - University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2009) - University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA

Research Interests:

Dr. Chan's primary research focus centers on the intersection of mental illness and substance abuse, specifically examining patients with concurrent conditions including major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder combined with substance abuse involving alcohol, cocaine/amphetamine, or opioids. His work aims to develop and evaluate strategies to reduce abuse-related hospitalizations through comprehensive pharmacotherapeutic approaches.

His previous research has delved into clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling, particularly investigating the delayed onset of therapeutic action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the underlying control mechanisms. Additionally, he has explored molecular changes in opioid addiction, focusing on the role of adenylyl cyclase and the cAMP/PKA system in addiction pathways.

Grants and Funding:

• 2010 Western University of Health Sciences Intramural Grant: "Abstinence from repeated cocaine use induce depressive-like behavior"

Clinical Practice and Teaching:

Dr. Chan maintains an active clinical practice at Olive-View UCLA Medical Center, where he provides advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE) and research opportunities for pharmacy students. His clinical research elective programs allow students to develop research skills by investigating clinical outcomes in patients with dual diagnoses of mental illness and substance abuse disorders.