Rear Admiral Richard M. Church, PharmD, College of Pharmacy Class of 2009 Convocation Keynote Speaker

UNM College of Pharmacy is pleased to announce that that the 2009 College of Pharmacy Convocation Speaker was Rear Admiral Richard M. Church, Pharm.D.   Dr. Church is regarded as the preeminent pharmacist in the Indian Health Service and the best known Native American pharmacist in the United States.  One of Dr. Churchs’ first positions in the IHS was in Shiprock and he had a courtesy appointment at UNM College of Pharmacy.    

A native of Michigan, he received his B.S. and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Michigan and completed his residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center. 

His leadership roles include his appointments as Chief Pharmacist for the Indian Health Service in 1987 and later the Public Health Service. Rear Admiral Richard Church has served as Director, Office of Public Health Support for the Indian Health Service since 2004. In this position, he provides national leadership in several critical public health support areas including medical epidemiology and disease prevention; national program statistics; program planning, evaluation, and research; and health professions support.