Spotlight on MCOE Faculty
Name: Lawrence M. Brown
Degree: PharmD, PhD
Title: Associate Professor, Vice-Chair Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director of Graduate Studies in Health Outcomes and Policy Research; Department: Pharmaceutical Sciences
Professional Degree(s): PharmD from the University of the Pacific, and PhD in Social and Administrative Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota
Leadership Experience:
Former APhA-ASP Chapter President
Former APhA-ASP Speaker of the House
Former APhA Speaker of the House
Former Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity National President
Current UTHSC Faculty Senate President-Elect
Current APhA Board of Trustees Member
How did you become interested in the field of pharmacy? What first drew you to the field?
The short version is that I was a Pharmacy Technician in the U.S. Air Force, back in the late 80's. I enjoyed pharmacy so much that I went to pharmacy school after I got out of the Air Force. I liked the patient interaction, and the ability to use my knowledge to keep patients healthy.
What is your specialty? Why is it important to the field?
My specialty as a researcher is studying the economic and clinical outcomes of pharmacist provided MTM, and improving medication adherence. But I'm a community pharmacist at heart. Community pharmacy is so important because it is where pharmacists can have the most interaction with patients and the most impact on patients' health. Once Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Services are fully embedded into community pharmacies nationwide, you are going to see the most significant improvement to the health care system in decades. Preventable drug-related morbidity and mortality will decrease, as will preventable hospitalizations and overall health care costs. MTM really is a common sense approach to improving health care.
How did you decide you wanted to become a professor/work at an institution of higher learning?
I could have taken a job as a researcher for a pharmaceutical company and made a ton of money, but I prefer the academic environment. I enjoy teaching and interacting with students, I love being able to set my own research agenda, and I appreciate the flexibility academia allows for me to give back to my profession and the community through volunteer and elected positions. At the end of my life, it will be more valuable to me if I can look back and say that I was able to help change the profession for the better and that change was responsible for better health outcomes for patients. Money is fleeting, but doing something that really makes a difference in people's lives will last forever. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, I never would have thought I would be a professor one day. But thanks to my military training and experience and the help and support of a lot of mentors, I'm able to do something I really love.
How did you end up at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center?
That's simple. My name came up when Dean Gourley was asking professors if they had any stellar PhD students graduating soon. Dean Gourley liked what he saw and recruited me to join the faculty. That was almost eight years ago, and I don't regret my decision to join the UT family. This is an excellent institution with phenomenal faculty and students, that is located in a metropolitan area that allows for a great quality of life and place to raise a family.
Lawrence M. Brown, PharmD, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
College of Pharmacy
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
847 Monroe Avenue, Room 205-G
Memphis, TN 38163
Tel: (901) 448-1455
Fax: (901) 448-2379
E-mail: LB@uthsc.edu
Contact Us
College of Pharmacy
Minority Center of Excellence
847 Monroe Ave. Suite 226
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: 901-448-6036
Fax: 901-448-7053
