San Diego, CA – UC San Diego Health and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences(SSPPS) are seeking a Chief Pharmacy Officer/Professor and Associate Dean for Professional Practice(CPO-AD) who will serve as the senior pharmacy executive for the health system and a key academic leader within SSPPS. This leader will provide oversight and strategic support for the full scope of pharmacy clinical services at UC San Diego Health, including drug expenses of $796M and 641 FTEs. The position reports primarily to the senior leadership of the health system and has a reporting line to the School of Pharmacy for the administration of the academic training mission. This person will succeed Dr. Charles E. Daniels, one of the leading experts in pharmacoeconomics, safe medication systems, medication use quality, and quality pharmacy patient care, who has served as CPO-AD since 2004.
UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, integrating nationally recognized patient care with leading-edge research, education, and clinical innovation. It includes three hospitals, including the main academic medical center, many specialty institutes, and a broad ambulatory network, a growing affiliate network, and is consistently ranked among the top health systems in California and the nation for specialty care. The UC San Diego Health's pharmacy department became the first organization in the nation to be named an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Certified Center of Excellence in Medication-Use Safety and Pharmacy Practice, recognizing the health system's pharmacy department for outstanding innovations, top-tier medication safety practices, and high-quality clinical outcomes. UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the #6 ranked pharmacy school in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, advances patient care, pharmaceutical research, and the education of future pharmacists and scientists through its close integration with UC San Diego Health.
The next CPO-AD will provide strategic vision and leadership for all pharmacy services, medication management systems, and clinical training across the academic health enterprise that supports UC San Diego as a national leader in clinical pharmacy practice. This critical leadership role is directly responsible for all aspects of the strategic, operational, and clinical practice of the pharmacies across UC San Diego Health. The CPO is a key member of the UC San Diego Health leadership team and is also expected to be a national leader on public policy related to pharmacy services such as 340B. The CPO is expected to continue to grow and strengthen the pharmacy program, further develop the partnership between the health system and SSPPS, enhance the learning experience for future trainees, and advance the field of pharmacy in the national landscape.
The successful CPO-AD will be an innovative, collaborative, and visionary executive with a demonstrated record of advancing comprehensive pharmacy services through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and academic partnership. This leader will possess a strong national reputation and a proven ability to develop and execute a forward-looking vision that enhances clinical quality, research, education, and financial performance across complex healthcare environments. Experience within a large academic medical center, large integrated health system, or similarly sophisticated pharmacy enterprise is essential, along with a history of serving in influential leadership and governance roles that shape organizational strategy and professional practice. The successful candidate will possess the credentials, scholarly achievements, and leadership experience necessary to qualify for appointment at the Clinical Professor level within a School of Pharmacy.
For confidential nominations or expressions of interest, please contact the WittKieffer search team at [email protected].
The total base compensation will be in the range of $415,000-$515,000, plus up to 15% max annual incentive. The posted UC Salary scales set the minimum pay at the appointment as determined by appointment type and if applicable, rank and/or step. The base pay range for this position is $278,700-$374,400. Salary is negotiated annually. For clinical faculty, total compensation is in the range of $415,000-$515,000, plus incentives. UC Salary information can be found here: 2025-2026 Academic Salary Scales.