Dubai, UAE – August 24, 2026 – The College of Pharmacy at Dubai Medical University (DMU) was honored to welcome Professor Joseph T. DiPiro, PharmD, an internationally renowned pharmacy educator, scholar, and academic leader, for a distinguished visit focused on the evolving future of pharmacy education and practice.

Professor DiPiro is Professor Emeritus and Past Dean at Virginia Commonwealth University, Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, and Dean Emeritus at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is a former President of both the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), and currently serves as a consultant to the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) International Services Program.

Professor DiPiro is particularly well known for his contributions to pharmacy scholarship. He served as editor of the internationally recognized textbook Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach for 13 editions, as well as Editor of The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education for 13 years. He has published more than 250 journal papers, books, book chapters, and editorials.

During his visit, Professor DiPiro met with the College of Pharmacy leadership team to discuss the current landscape of pharmacy practice in the UAE and the continued evolution of the profession globally. The discussion explored how pharmacy education can continue to evolve to prepare graduates with the knowledge, clinical competencies, technological capabilities, and professional skills needed to meet the demands of the national and global pharmacy workforce.

Professor DiPiro also toured the College’s advanced educational and research facilities, including the simulation facilities, sterile compounding laboratory, drug discovery laboratory, artificial intelligence and innovation facilities, and integrative medicine garden. The tour highlighted the College’s commitment to experiential, research-driven, and technology-enhanced pharmacy education.

A highlight of the visit was a one-hour presentation delivered by Professor DiPiro to faculty members and students, during which he shared insights from his distinguished journey in pharmacy and reflected on the transformation of pharmacy education and practice over the years.

Drawing on decades of experience, he discussed the expanding role of pharmacists, changes in pharmacy education, and some of the key challenges and barriers affecting the advancement of the profession. His presentation also addressed opportunities to further expand pharmacists’ contributions to patient care, including the importance of professional recognition and appropriate reimbursement for pharmacists’ services.

The session brought together perspectives from the United States and the evolving pharmacy landscape of the UAE, Gulf region, and wider Middle East, providing faculty members and students with valuable insights into the future direction of the profession.

Professor DiPiro’s visit provided an important platform for academic exchange and reinforced the College of Pharmacy’s commitment to engaging with international leaders, advancing innovative pharmacy education, and preparing graduates to contribute meaningfully to the evolving healthcare needs of the UAE and the global community.