Taking the Lead

UHCOP Alumna, Ph.D. Candidate Selected for ACCP Leadership Development Program 

Feb. 6 — University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP) Ph.D. candidate and Pharm.D. alumna Junghwa Park (’22), is one of only five individuals nationwide accepted into the American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP) 2024 Leadership Development Program.

Structured to provide a holistic approach to developing and enhancing leadership skills, the six-month program is designed to develop a leadership mindset, empower participants to increase their potential for success, and create opportunities for potential ACCP leaders. The program is open to students/trainees and early-stage to mid-level professionals, including junior faculty.

“With a strong desire to transform my passion into a refined skill set, I am excited to embark on this new chapter,” Park said.

In her Ph.D. program, Park is working under the supervision of UHCOP’s Diana S-L. Chow, Ph.D., FNAI, Paula and John J. Lovoi Sr. Endowed Professor of Drug Discovery and Development, professor of pharmaceutics, and director of the Institute for Drug Education and Research. Park and Chow are investigating the use of a medication, riluzole, which has been approved by the Food & Drug Administration for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, as a novel therapeutic for acute spinal cord injury. Most recently, Park’s research abstract was ranked among the top 16 submissions for the 2023 ACCP Annual Meeting Sept. 10-12 in Bellevue, Wash., which earned her a travel award to present her poster at the meeting.

Park holds various leadership positions both within and outside the school. She serves as a student representative on the UHCOP Strategic Planning Committee, Graduate Studies Committee, and the organizing committee for the Clinical and Translational Research Symposium. Additionally, she serves as a steering committee member for ACCP, the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and The International Society of Pharmacometrics. As her engagement with these organizations expanded, so did her aspiration to take on leadership roles.

"My goal is to enhance my leadership skills to become a more effective team player and leader, contributing not only to our University of Houston College of Pharmacy but also to other organizations and ultimately my field of clinical pharmacology," Park said.