The following courses are available in the nuclear pharmacy series as part of the Purdue University College of Pharmacy professional curriculum. In order to gain the 200 hours of didactic education required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for Authorized Nuclear Pharmacist (ANP) status, each of the following courses must be completed.

PLEASE NOTE: due to the revised structure of the pharmacy professional curriculum, these courses MUST be taken in the order in which they are laid out below. Students interested in this curriculum should carefully consider their elective choices as well as their preferences for IPPE scheduling when considering this specialization.

NUPH 49100: Introduction to Nuclear Pharmacy

Offered: Spring semester, First professional year
Format: One 50 minute lecture per week for the duration of the semester (16 week semester)
Credit:  1
Prerequisite: Admission to professional program
Course objectives: This course will serve as an introduction to nuclear pharmacy practice and serves as the first course in the nuclear pharmacy elective series. This course will provide basic information about the profession of nuclear pharmacy, as well as an introduction to basic principles and concepts of radioactivity, radiation safety, radiation biology and the roles of a nuclear pharmacist in typical practice settings.

NUPH 49200: Basics of Nuclear Pharmacy

Offered: Fall semester, Second professional year
Format: One 65 minute lecture per week (12 week semester), students must also register for one 110 minute lab session (multiple sections offered per week)
Credits:  1
Prerequisite: Successful completion of NUPH 49100
Content: This course is a lecture / laboratory course that is a continuation of the materials covered in NUPH 49100 with an emphasis on the daily tasks performed by nuclear pharmacists when working in a nuclear pharmacy. Students will handle small quantities of radioactive materials as they apply the fundamental principles of radiation and radiation safety to various activities performed daily in a typical nuclear pharmacy.

NUPH 49300: Regulatory Considerations for Nuclear Pharmacy Practice

Offered: Fall short course, Second professional year
Format: 120 minutes daily for the duration of the short course (14 days)
Credits:  2
Prerequisite: Successful completion of NUPH 49200
Content: This course includes both lecture and small group discussion and problem solving activities. This course utilizes the knowledge gained in NUPH 49200 to relate the practical safety skills covered in the laboratory course to the regulatory requirements set forth by various regulatory agencies.

NUPH 49500: Applied Nuclear Pharmacy

Offered: Fall semester, Third professional year
Format: One 65 minute lecture per week (12 week semester), students must also register for one 110 minute lab session (multiple sections offered per week)

Credits:  1
Prerequisite: Successful completion of NUPH 49300
Content: This course is a lecture / laboratory course focusing on radiopharmaceutical products, especially issues related to preparation of these agents.  Students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on laboratory experience preparing various radiopharmaceutical products. Students will be required to prepare and perform quality control checks on radiopharmaceutical products, then prepare and dispense unit dose prescriptions for mock patient use. Students will also focus on practical skills related to sterile product compounding as they apply to radiopharmaceutical preparation.

NUPH 49400: Clinical Aspects of Nuclear Pharmacy Practice

Offered: Spring semester, Third professional year
Format: One 110 minute lecture per week
Credits:  2
Prerequisite: Successful completion of NUPH 49500
Content: This course is offered in a lecture / small group discussion and problem solving format. Content included focuses on the radiopharmaceuticals used in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Following a review of basic principles of drug design, radiopharmaceutical chemistry and product compounding stills, students will focus on the clinical applications of specific radiopharmaceuticals used in current practice. Emphasis will be on both SPECT and PET radiopharmaceuticals.

NUPH 49600:  Nuclear Pharmacy Case Studies

Offered:  Spring and Fall semester.  One or two meetings per week (depending on credits assigned) at time agreeable to all students enrolled in course
Credits:  1 or 2
Prerequisite:  2nd or 3rd professional year
Content:  This course is an interactive case studies course in which we discuss the clinical aspects of various patients (all of whom have had a nuclear medicine study in their diagnostic workup).  Students will be assigned a case weekly for review and study and during the course meeting, this patient will be discussed focusing on aspects such as disease state, drug therapy, differential diagnosis, etc.  Students do not need to have an extensive knowledge of nuclear medicine procedures prior to signing up for this course 

Clerkship in Nuclear Pharmacy

Offered: Fourth professional year
Format: 4 week rotation in a centralized nuclear pharmacy or hospital based nuclear pharmacy laboratory. Locations will vary depending on site availability and interest
Prerequisite: Successful completion of NUPH 49500
Content: Students will spend 4 weeks in a nuclear pharmacy to gain appreciation for the daily operations found in this area of practice. Students will be involved at various levels depending on the practice site requirements. 

OTHER OFFERINGS

The following are other elective / for pay opportunities that students interested in enhancing their nuclear pharmacy experience may wish to pursue. For more information, please contact Dr. Weatherman.

Laboratory research: Students who are interested in radiopharmacy practice can elect to complete a research elective with Dr. Weatherman in which the student chooses a specific project of interest (clinical or practice based), develops a research plan for completing the project, then implements and carries out the research in the nuclear pharmacy lab. Students who successfully complete a project are also encouraged to prepare and submit their research for presentation at national meetings with a nuclear pharmacy emphasis.

Academic research: Students who are interested in academic endeavors (teaching, book writing, etc) can work with Dr. Weatherman in developing and enhancing content provided in the nuclear pharmacy professional curriculum as well as in post graduate training and continuing education programs. Projects will be based on student interest and current academic needs.

Teaching assistant: Students who have successfully completed the NUPH 49200 laboratory course can participate as a teaching assistants for that course the following year.