Archived News | Return to News Center

Aug. 18, 2003

ULM's Dean of Pharmacy Moves to Administrative Team

Dr. William Bourn, Dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Louisiana at Monroe since 1986, has been promoted to the position of Associate Vice President for Health Sciences Development in University Advancement, pending approval of the Louisiana Board of Supervisors. Bourn will continue to serve as dean until a new dean is put into place.

As the Associate VP for Health Sciences Development, Bourn's duties will include Project Director for the Health Sciences Building; Project Director for Pharmaceutical Care for Elderly/Underinsured/Indigent; a Liaison to PhRMA and other governmental and privately-owned health care organizations; and expanding health sciences private fundraising.

Bourn will also be working to develop and expand relationships and communication between health care agencies and ULM administration and academic department heads. He will also be charged with the task of developing and expanding relationships and communication between health sciences alumni and ULM administration and academic department heads.

While dean, Bourn guided the development and implementation of the Doctor of Pharmacy program at ULM, enrolling its first students in Fall 1998. Since then, he has seen the pharmacy program grow.

"Now that we have the Doctor of Pharmacy program in place (having graduated two classes), new funding for it, and our accreditation in good shape, I am looking forward to concentrating my efforts on a number of new challenges we must face in order to further strengthen the health sciences programs on the ULM campus. We have other wonderful health sciences programs at ULM of high quality, but which have significant needs. We are going to find ways to meet those needs," said Bourn about his new position.

ULM President, James Cofer, says, "Bill Bourn's service to ULM has been outstanding. He will take on many projects that are vital to health sciences at ULM since it is one of our most expensive programs. We are delighted to be able to continue to use the talents of Bill to further enhance health sciences at ULM."

Bourn says in his new role, he also plans on conducting special activities for students in an effort to solidify long-term allegiances and, where appropriate, include alumni and other potential support groups in activities involving students.

"Dean Bourn listens to the students, and encourages feedback from them at every possible opportunity. He is always open to finding ways to improve the School of Pharmacy. He encourages students to get involved as much as they can--whether it be a an event supporting the School of Pharmacy or an event supporting the university. He always supports the students, the faculty, and alumni in endeavors to better ourselves, and expects us to live up to the highest standards of the profession of Pharmacy," said ULM Pharmacy graduate, Caitlin Curtis. Curtis is currently working in a residency at the University of Wisconsin.

Bourn has made many friendships both on and off campus. One colleague says that Bourn's help and expertise in the area of Pharmacy has been a blessing to the ULM Pharmacy program. "When I was told that Dean Bourn was making a career move I wanted to make sure that he knew how much I appreciate the support he has extended to the Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, in general, and to my discipline of Pharmaceutics, in particular. His support of our research program has contributed to the success we have recently achieved. In addition to his support of research, he has guided the School of Pharmacy through the arduous process of transitioning from the Bachelor of Science degree to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. In addition to being an advocate for Pharmacy in Louisiana and a strong supporter of ULM, he is a friendly man, always willing to help. I wish him continued success," said Dr. Bill Kolling, ULM Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutics.

Bourn has served ULM in many capacities. Before becoming dean, he was the Director of the Toxicology Program beginning in 1982. As director, he developed and implemented the curriculum for a new Baccalaureate program in Toxicology. Bourn was also the Coordinator of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Nuclear Pharmacy from 1979 to 1986. In July 1982, he became a Professor of Pharmacology, and in 1977, he was an Associate Professor of Pharmacology. From 1974-1977 he was an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at ULM.

Bourn attended the New Mexico Military Institute in 1960-61 as a Pre-Pharmacy major. He received his B.S. from the University of New Mexico in the College of Pharmacy in 1967; his major was Pharmacy. Bourn received his Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in the Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy and College of Medicine in 1974 with a major in Pharmacology, and a minor in Physiology.

Bourn belongs to many professional organizations including the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American Pharmaceutical Association, American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, Louisiana Pharmacists Association (of which he was president in 1994-95), Louisiana Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, 5th District Pharmacists Association and the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

Bourn stays active in organizing methods to keep ULM's College of Health Sciences in the forefront when it comes to donors and recognition. One of Bourn's special accomplishments while dean was the formation of the Dufilho Society, a donor organization for the College of Pharmacy, having categories of corporate and individual donors based on 10-year pledges.

Another major accomplishment as dean was overseeing development of the Louisiana Drug and Poison Information Center in the School of Pharmacy. This Center receives over 80,000 calls per year (24 hours a day/7 days per week), nearly half of which are human exposures. At a cost of slightly over $800,000 per year, it is estimated to save the State over $8,000,000 in medical expenses.

Other major accomplishments include oversight of the development of the Office of Outcomes Research and Evaluation (ULM's role in the DHH Medicaid Prescription Drug Program). This is a program that has developed over a number of years from a small ($40,000) annual contract with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to a budget this year of $4,400,000. The ULM-employed staff attends to over 250,000 calls per year, and the program is estimated to save the State over $60 million dollars per year and oversight of the development of three one-million dollar endowed chairs (Toxicology, Pharmacology, and Clinical Pharmacy Practice).

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with ULM.