With the growing availability of large health databases and real-world evidence, pharmacoepidemiology has become crucial to public health and clinical decision-making. A new course at the USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences will provide hands-on practice in the innovative methods of interdisciplinary pharmacoepidemiologic research. The first class starts in spring 2025.
“Pharmacoepidemiology lies at the intersection of pharmacology and epidemiology, aiming to ensure that drugs are safe when broadly prescribed and used,” says Dima Qato, director of the Mann School’s Programs on Medicines and Public Health and the Hygeia Centennial Chair in Clinical Pharmacy. Qato will teach the course, CXPT 650: Advanced Pharmacoepidemiology Methods, sharing the advanced analytical techniques essential for understanding drug safety, efficacy and utilization.
“In the U.S. healthcare system, drug-related issues significantly impact health outcomes, and the need for rigorous data analysis to guide safe medication practices has never been greater,” she explains.
Delivered online through live, interactive sessions, the class is designed for students with a variety of backgrounds and interests, including public health, epidemiology, pharmacology and data analytics. “This course equips students with the skills to address urgent healthcare challenges through data-driven insights,” Qato notes.
The two-unit course includes didactic lectures and reading assignments. Students may elect to receive four units by completing an applied pharmacoepidemiology analysis and presentation.
CXPT 650 serves as an extension to existing USC courses in pharmacoepidemiology, including PM 512 Introductory Epidemiology Methods, CXPT 550 Pharmacoepidemiology and PM 511 Categorical Data Analysis.
“Students passionate about advancing medication safety, improving health outcomes and mastering leading-edge epidemiologic methods will find this course particularly valuable,” Qato says. “It will benefit those aiming for careers in academic research, public health agencies, regulatory bodies or the pharmaceutical industry.”
CXPT 650: Advanced Pharmacoepidemiology Methods is open to MPH, MS and PhD students at USC. More information can be found at USC Schedule of Classes.
