The College of Pharmacy welcomed Theodore Nguyen in July 2020 as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science.

Clinical Assistant Professor Nguyen’s primary role involves providing pharmacologic recommendations for the Adult Inpatient Supportive and Palliative Care consult service at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He participates in clinical rounds and reviews pharmacological symptom management for all three palliative care clinician teams.

He is frequently consulted to physically examine and provide clinical recommendations in the management of complex and uncontrolled symptoms. Nguyen hopes to collaborate with social workers to improve patient care transitions by reviewing discharge medications and identifying opportunities to reduce or discontinue pharmaceutical dependence.

Outside of the hospital setting, Nguyen teaches and is involved with the palliative care certificate program at the College of Pharmacy. He also serves as a clinical faculty member for The University of Iowa Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship.

Nguyen’s position allows him to work in a horizontal practice model, where his team values every members’ contribution in optimizing holistic patient care. Through clinical practice and involvement with healthcare trainees, his goal is to advocate for pharmacist involvement in palliative care and promote many palliative care principles in general medical practice, such as aligning medication therapy with patient goals.

“My passion for palliative care is rooted in my holistic approach to patient treatment,” says Nguyen. “We do not just treat a disease state. We take the time to listen to patients and hear their stories to obtain their perspective of what is truly important in their medical care.”

Nguyen is in the process of developing a mobile application for symptom management in collaboration with fellow palliative care pharmacists Lorin Fisher, Kashelle Lockman, and James Ray. The app will give providers a resource for symptom management and serve as a teaching tool. Its aim is to optimize patient care while also increasing knowledge of palliative services among providers. Initially the tool will remain internal to the University of Iowa, with the possibility of expansion to other sites at a later date.

A native of Santa Ana, CA, Nguyen earned his PharmD at the University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He was recruited after a successful residency in Pain Management and Palliative Care in the College of Pharmacy.