Clinical Professor Michelle Z. Farland, Pharm.D., has been appointed as the inaugural chair of the Department of Pharmacy Education and Practice in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. In this role, she will lead the college’s largest department, overseeing nearly 40 faculty members across the Gainesville, Jacksonville and Orlando campuses.
As chair, Farland will be responsible for faculty recruitment, mentorship, performance evaluations and assigning teaching, patient care, research and service roles. Additionally, she will contribute to the college’s leadership team, helping to shape the institution’s future.
Farland’s appointment follows nearly two years in interim leadership roles, during which she helped establish the Department of Pharmacy Education and Practice in May 2024. The restructuring was designed to enhance collaboration among research faculty, clinical pharmacists and pharmacy educators, ultimately strengthening the college’s academic and clinical programs.
“Launching a new department is no small feat, yet Dr. Farland has approached the task with unwavering leadership and vision,” said Peter W. Swaan, Ph.D., M.Pharm., dean of the UF College of Pharmacy. “She has been a champion for her faculty, recognizing their unique strengths and helping them thrive within the college’s broader mission. Her selection as inaugural chair will position the department well for continued growth and success.”
Farland’s leadership philosophy centers on faculty support and development, ensuring that pharmacy educators and practitioners have the resources they need to thrive.
“My primary interest in serving as chair is to support the faculty in advancing their work,” Farland said. “I was fortunate to have leadership that encouraged my own professional exploration, and I want to do the same for others.”
Farland’s vision includes expanding the college’s residency and fellowship programs while ensuring faculty have the autonomy to explore innovative educational and clinical initiatives. She believes that by empowering faculty, the department can advance pharmacy education, patient care and advocacy for the profession.
“We have pharmacists with experience in a wide variety of practice areas and diverse approaches to teaching,” Farland said. “My role is to understand each person’s unique talents and contributions and determine how we can combine them to collectively move the college forward.”
Farland joined the UF College of Pharmacy in 2015 and earned a promotion to clinical professor in 2021. Before stepping into the interim chair role, she led the Division of Community-Based Pharmacotherapy. Her research and scholarly interests focus on the outcomes of team-based learning and alternative grading approaches, earning her numerous teaching accolades, including the prestigious 2025 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award. She also completed a two-year term as president of the Team-Based Learning Collaborative from 2019-21.