Miriam C. Purnell, Pharm.D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration
Program Director, PBC Rural Health Disparities and Social Inequities
Education
Academic Leaders Fellowship Program (2017)-American Academy of Colleges of Pharmacy-Washington, D.C.
Drug Information Residency (1997)-Janssen Research Foundation-Titusville, NJ
B.S. Pharmacy/Pharm.D. (1996) – Pharmacy-Philadelphia College of Pharmacy-Philadelphia, PA
Bio
Dr. Purnell teaches in the areas of drug information, literature evaluation, evidence-based medicine, and scientific writing. She also precepts students on advanced pharmacy practice experiences and serves as the advisor for the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) student chapter at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Prior to joining UMES, Dr. Purnell worked in pharmaceutical industry for more than 12 years, including 7 years in the field of Drug Information. She held various roles at Janssen Research Foundation and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals including Specialist, Manager, and Director. She joined UMES in 2009 as an Assistant Professor/Director of the Drug Information Center. Prior to her current role as Department Chair, she served as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and was responsible for directing and overseeing recruitment, admissions and matriculation of students, and student organization operations. Dr. Purnell was named Interim Chair of Pharmacy Practice and Administration in Aug 2017 and became permanent Chair in January 2019. She is primarily responsible for overseeing department operations and supervising department staff, managing the department budget, and providing mentorship to the faculty in the areas of teaching, scholarship/research, and service. She also provides administrative oversight to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program in Rural Health Disparities and Social Inequities. Additionally, she serves as an active member of the School’s Executive Committee and contributes to the development of School policy and strategic planning. Dr. Purnell is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Maryland Pharmacist Association, and CPFI.
Areas of Interest
Drug information, predictors of student success, cultural competence, spirituality in healthcare
