Thanks to a generous $378,000 grant from Daiichi Sankyo, the University of Florida College of Pharmacy is establishing its first fellowship program at the Jacksonville campus. The Clinical Research in Community Oncology Fellowship will launch July 1, in alliance with Cancer Specialists of North Florida, a physician-owned and operated oncology practice that has been delivering comprehensive cancer care in North Florida for more than 30 years.
Daiichi Sankyo’s grant will support two fellows for two years, as they will gain important clinical and research experience in a community oncology setting. The fellows will train under the direction of Jessica Huston, Pharm.D., a clinical assistant professor in the UF College of Pharmacy.
“This fellowship provides an incredible opportunity for pharmacists to train in a community oncology setting and contribute to meaningful clinical research,” said Peter W. Swaan, Ph.D., M.Pharm., dean of the UF College of Pharmacy. “We are deeply grateful to Daiichi Sankyo for their generous support, which allows us to establish a new training opportunity in Jacksonville and prepare the next generation of pharmacy leaders in oncology.”
The fellowship will provide advanced training in multiple areas of pharmacy, including clinical practice, independent research, and teaching. Working alongside health care professionals at Cancer Specialists of North Florida, the fellows will deliver direct patient care through prescription management, medication counseling, and interdisciplinary collaboration. They will also support innovative research related to community oncology care, conduct data analysis, and contribute to clinical trials.
At the UF College of Pharmacy, the fellows will play an active role in education by leading skills lab sessions, participating in the teaching certificate program, co-precepting advanced pharmacy practice experience students, and delivering seminars and webinars for Pharm.D. students exploring fellowship opportunities.
“This fellowship program will equip participants with the training and expertise to be competitive in any career path in pharmacy — whether they choose academia, clinical practice, industry, or another field,” Huston said. “My fellowship training guided me into a career in academia, and it’s exciting to know our new fellows will have the same opportunity for career exploration through their training with Cancer Specialists of North Florida and the UF College of Pharmacy.”
About Daiichi Sankyo
Daiichi Sankyo is a global pharmaceutical company with corporate origins in Japan. They provide innovative products and services in more than 30 countries and regions worldwide. With more than 120 years of scientific expertise, the company draws upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help patients. For more information, visit https://www.daiichisankyo.com/.