Dean Lisa Dolovich reappointed for second term

Professor Lisa Dolovich has been reappointed for a second term as Dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, effective July 1, 2025, to December 30, 2030.  

Dean Dolovich began her leadership as Interim Dean in 2019, just prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, guiding the Faculty through a time of significant challenge and adaptation. Since then, she has led the Faculty through a transformative first term marked by renewal, strategic collaboration, and academic innovation.

“I am honoured and delighted to continue in my role as Dean. The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is consistently ranked as the top pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences Faculty in Canada and among the top globally,” said Dolovich. “Central to advancing that leadership is investing in exceptional talent. We have an outstanding team of faculty and staff who cultivate our potential to continue to grow and meet the moment of new approaches to research and education.  Every day I am amazed by the impact that members of our community have on science, education and health care.”

Over the past term, Dean Dolovich has made leadership growth and development a clear priority across both administrative and academic portfolios. She has strengthened the Faculty’s internal organization, resulting in a high-performing and well-positioned administrative team, and has enabled more faculty members to step into new roles with confidence and capacity. A significant focus has been on faculty renewal, with 10 new faculty members hired and recruitment for five additional positions currently underway, bringing new energy and expertise to U of T’s academic health sciences community.

Advancing pharmacy practice, research and strengthening community

An influential voice in pharmacy and health services research Dean Dolovich, who is also a pharmacist, has significantly contributed to advancing pharmacists' role within interdisciplinary, team-based care models in Ontario. At a pivotal time for the profession, her work has helped establish the evidence base for professional pharmacy services and chronic disease management in pharmacy settings, directly informing policy and practice.

As Dean, she has worked to increase engagement with alumni and external partners, creating the first Dean’s Advisory Council and supporting the launch of new alumni events that have expanded opportunities for connection and collaboration.  

Under her leadership, the Faculty has also deepened its involvement in major university-wide and interdisciplinary initiatives, including  PRiME, BioHubNet, the Network for Improving Health Systems (NIHS), TC3, CRAFT, the Institute for Pandemics, and the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Governance, Accountability and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector.

Leveraging expertise in AI for drug discovery, development, and formulation, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy has also become a hub for the Acceleration Consortium and has built a self-driving lab that combines AI and robotics to design and optimize formulations that will improve bioavailability, stability and efficacy of a variety of drugs.

“We know that AI has transformational potential for health care and therapeutic innovation. It’s an exciting time in this space and I am committed to growing our expertise in AI-enabled research and education to ensure we continue to be a destination for students who will be well prepared as future leaders in science and health care,” she said

Flagship Discovery Pharmacy provides health services to the U of T community

Physical renewal has been another key area of focus. In the iconic Leslie L. Dan Faculty of Pharmacy building, located in the heart of Toronto’s world-renowned research and discovery ecosystem, she has championed significant upgrades to the atrium, student study and meeting spaces, and enhanced lab facilities, creating a more welcoming, functional, and future-ready environment. 

In 2024, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy celebrated the grand opening of the flagship Discovery Pharmacy, located in the refreshed atrium space.  The Discovery Pharmacy combines personalized pharmacy services with cutting-edge research and education. Faculty, students, and staff from U of T can access essential services like prescription filling and vaccinations, specialized care programs, health and medicine education, and health orientations tailored for international students.

Canada’s first three-year Doctor of Pharmacy Program

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy was the first English-language Faculty in Canada to offer the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program in 2013. Building on this leadership, the Faculty has undertaken a major curriculum renewal for the PharmD program, launching Canada’s first three-year PharmD with the first cohort set to start in August 2025. “The three-year PharmD will enhance the integration of pharmaceutical and clinical sciences and help future pharmacists enter the workforce well-prepared and faster,” said Dolovich. “Our faculty, staff and partners have been working with dedication and vision to develop a curriculum that builds on our strengths and will help shape the future of our profession, and it has been exciting to be part of it. It has been especially gratifying to have the support of our hospital partners across TAHSN and around Ontario, and so many of our community pharmacy colleagues.”

As she begins her second term, Dean Dolovich is looking ahead to the renewal of the Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, continuing the development of education and research partnerships across U of T and showcasing the impact of the groundbreaking research led at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.

Please join us in congratulating Dean Lisa Dolovich on her reappointment.