150 Years of Impact: Leading the Next Chapter with Dean Vicki Ellingrod

As the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy celebrates 150 years of advancing healthcare, we look not only to where we’ve been — but where we’re going.

At the center of that future is Dean Vicki Ellingrod, PharmD, FCCP, FACNP, a nationally recognized researcher, leader and the first woman to serve as dean in the College’s 150-year history. This milestone isn’t just historic — it reflects the evolution of pharmacy, science and leadership itself.

A Journey Rooted in Purpose

Dean Ellingrod’s path into pharmacy began with a desire to make a difference in patients’ lives.

After earning both her BS in Pharmacy and PharmD from the University of Minnesota, she went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in psychopharmacology and pharmacogenetics at the University of Iowa.

It was there, working directly with patients on a medical psychiatry unit, that her passion took shape. Understanding not just what medications work, but why they work differently for each person. That question would go on to define her career.

A Leader in Every Sense

Over the course of her career, Dean Ellingrod has built an internationally recognized research program focused on pharmacogenetics, the study of how genetic differences impact medication response, particularly in mental health. Her work has been supported by major institutions including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the FDA and industry partners across the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

Dean Ellingrod’s influence extends far beyond the lab. She has helped shape the field of pharmacy and psychiatric pharmacology at a national level through leadership, collaboration and scholarship. She is:

• A founding member of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists
• A fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy
• A scientific editor for Pharmacotherapy
• An editor of the widely used DiPiro Pharmacotherapy textbook

Her leadership spans research, education and the broader pharmacy profession — helping shape the field at every level.

A Historic First and a Forward Focus

As the first female dean in the College’s history, Dean Ellingrod represents both a milestone and momentum. Her leadership reflects a College that continues to evolve — expanding who leads, who innovates and who is represented in the future of pharmacy.

But her focus isn’t on being the first. It’s on what comes next.

Her vision is both ambitious and deeply rooted in opportunity:

• Tuition scholarships for every student across all College of Pharmacy programs
• Expanded research funding to empower faculty to take bold risks and accelerate discovery
• Named professorships for every faculty member, recognizing excellence and elevating impact

“I want our students to be part of a research enterprise that discovers the next blockbuster drug, or part of the care team that innovates and changes the future of practice,” said Ellingrod. 

Because when students, faculty and researchers are fully supported, the ripple effects extend far beyond campus — we all benefit from these advancements.

Looking Ahead

Under Dean Ellingrod’s leadership, the College of Pharmacy is not only continuing its legacy — it is redefining it. She brings together research, education and patient care with a clear purpose: to create meaningful, lasting impact.

Her journey, from student to clinician, researcher to dean, reflects the very mission of the College itself: to advance and positively improve healthcare through innovation, discovery and education.

As we celebrate 150 years, her story reminds us that progress is driven by those willing to ask bigger questions, take bold steps, lead with conviction not convention, and invest in what comes next. And with that leadership in place, the next 150 years are already in motion.

“The future of pharmacy depends on the people we invest in today — our students, our staff and our faculty.”