Meet the Dean (SOP)

Mohammed Amirul Islam, PhD, RPh

Dean, School of Pharmacy

A warm welcome from the School of Pharmacy (SOP) at the American University of Health Sciences (AUHS). Located a few miles from the beautiful beaches of Southern California in Los Angeles County, AUHS provides a student-centric learning experience in the health professions. The SOP offers degrees in pharmacy and clinical research: Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS), Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) and the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD).

AUHS has a long tradition of serving the community, especially those who are underprivileged and underserved. The SOP’s mission is to instill in our graduates strong Christian values, prepare them to practice evidence-based patient care, educate them in pharmacy research and scholarship, and enable them to meet the health care needs of diverse patient populations.

To realize these goals, the SOP has implemented advanced curricula enabling students to be team-ready and to practice at the highest level of the profession upon graduation. The SOP is committed to creating a holistic interprofessional healthcare education geared towards new models of care that offer patients a team of healthcare professionals working collaboratively to improve their outcomes.

Our pharmacy students interact with the nursing students in the didactic, co-curricular, and experiential settings. Students take common healthcare classes, work in the simulation labs, and work at interprofessional sites across the Los Angeles area. Our commitment to the community is strengthened by the requirement that each student provide 100 hours of community service during their time at AUHS. The SOP aims to meet the need for culturally competent practitioners by recruiting and graduating diverse individuals from minority and underserved communities.

I encourage you to explore our website, visit our campus, and see how the AUHS SOP can help you make a difference in the lives of patients in your community.

Bio

Dr. Mohammed A. Islam, PhD, RPh, serves as Dean and Professor at the American University of Health Sciences School of Pharmacy, following his tenure as Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. An accomplished academic leader with more than two decades of experience, he has played a pivotal role in establishing and developing three pharmacy schools from inception to full ACPE accreditation, demonstrating exceptional leadership in curriculum design, assessment culture, and strategic planning. Dr. Islam holds a PhD and MPhil in Cardiovascular Pharmacology from Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University in Japan, along with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in pharmacy from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. His scholarly work spans curriculum development, interprofessional education, assessment, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, with numerous peer-reviewed publications and national presentations. A dedicated mentor and educator, he has taught integrated pharmacotherapy, self-care, and research electives while guiding faculty and students in scholarly growth, reflecting a sustained commitment to innovation, academic quality, and preparing future pharmacists for impactful, patient-centered practice.

Research Interests

· Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

· Pharmacy Education Innovation

· Curriculum Development

· Assessment & Quality Improvement

· Interprofessional Education

Published Research

1. Islam MA, Hossain A, Talukder RM. Assessing student course evaluation comments through the lens of cognitive load theory: Insights for best teaching practices. Pharmacy Education (in press). 2026
2. Islam MA, Kohzadi E, Zamirian L. Varieties and Forms of Capstone Experiences in US Pharmacy Education. Health Professions Education. 2026;12(1):13.
3. Islam MA, Yang S, Hussain A, Hye T. Machine learning–driven analysis of student evaluation comments: Advancing beyond manual coding through a combined approach. Curr Pharm Teach and Learn. 2025; 17(11):102446.
4. Islam MA, Yang S, Nguyen T. From Classroom to City Hall: Student Pharmacists Advocate for Public Health at City Council Meetings. Am J Pharm Educ. 2025 Jul 16:101473.
5. Islam MA, Hossain A, Dutta A, Uvero M. Student Pharmacists’ Reflections on Personal and Professional Development Following a Series of Longitudinal Faith-Based Courses. Am J Pharm Educ (2024), Volume 88 (11), 101305
6. Islam, MA, Le T, Yeganeh A and Hanna, M. Exploring the Status of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on the Website and Policy Documents of a Pharmacy Program: A Case Study. Health Professions Education (2024): Vol. 10 (2): Article 2. Available at: https://hpe.researchcommons.org/journal/vol10/iss2/2
7. Islam MA. A synergistic faculty leadership collaboration in developing, implementing, and evaluating a doctor of pharmacy curriculum. Pharmacy Education (2024) 24(1) 515 – 528. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2024.241.515528