Julio Duarte, Pharm.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacotherapy and translational research in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, has been appointed the Debbie DeSantis Term Professor. Endowed professorships are among the highest honors a college can bestow on a faculty member and are reserved for scholars of national and international acclaim.
The three-year professorship appointment acknowledges Duarte’s career achievements while recognizing his continued ascent as a leader in precision medicine research. He currently leads two R01-funded projects and manages nearly $11 million in active research funding. Duarte has authored more than 75 publications and is deeply committed to mentorship, having supervised nearly 25 students and trainees.
Duarte has demonstrated a strong commitment to service through numerous leadership roles, including chair of the college’s Faculty Governance Council and membership on both the research and graduate education committees. He also serves as co-director of the Center for Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine and graduate coordinator for the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research. In 2024, he received the UF College of Pharmacy Teaching and Service Award in recognition of these contributions.
The Debbie DeSantis Term Professor was established in the UF College of Pharmacy in 2021. DeSantis graduated with honors from the UF College of Pharmacy with a bachelor’s degree in 1982, began her career as a pharmacist in a chain pharmacy and rose to chief and district supervisor positions. She later joined Rexall Sundown, where she became vice president of operations, and in 1997, began work in the product development department. DeSantis’s efforts earned her the position of senior vice president of product development at Rexall Sundown’s parent company, Nutricia USA. Her professional interests are in the field of pharmacognosy, which is the study of natural products. She received a UF Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015.