Online Courses

MUSC’s online program is designed for students who would benefit from convenient access to courses that could complement their health care education. These courses can be ideal for students who need:

• Specialized education
• Classes not offered at their home institutions
• An elective to fulfill a requirement
• Portfolio enhancement for landing jobs and residencies

The courses draw on MUSC’s nationally-recognized programs in transplant and interprofessional education.

 

Clinical Immunology and Transplant

For more than 25 years, MUSC Health has served as the only solid organ transplant center in South Carolina. Pharmacists play a crucial role in its success, and the American Society for Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) has recognized the transplant service line with the Award for Excellence in Medication-Use Safety. 

The national award was in recognition of a multidisciplinary quality improvement project co-designed by course instructor, Nicole Pilch.

COP 502 Clinical Immunology and Transplant

The course will build upon principles of immunology to include monitoring the immune system, hypersensitivity reactions, and the principles of solid organ transplantation and role of a pharmacist in transplantation. 

Course Credit Hours: 2 
Prerequisite: second, third, or fourth year professional year standing 
Honors/Pass/Fail

Instructor

Nicole Pilch, PharmD, is a clinical associate professor of clinical pharmacy and outcomes sciences. 

• Earned her PharmD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before coming to MUSC for her residencies in pharmacy practice and critical care
• Earned a master of science in clinical research from the University of Cincinnati, where she was a transplant clinical research fellow
• Served as director of quality and outcomes for the Transplant Integrated Center of Clinical Excellence (ICCE) at MUSC
• Conducts research in patient safety transitions of care and transplant immune-suppression optimization 

Medical Terminology

MUSC has won multiple national awards and recognitions for its leadership in interprofessional education. The close collaboration between disciplines and the daily experience of working at the state’s premier academic health system gives MUSC faculty unique insights into the language of health care.

 

COP 627 Medical Terminology

This course provides a thorough knowledge of medical terminology, which is an essential building block in healthcare education. This course will aid the student in learning the language and terminology used in other healthcare courses and all areas of medical practice.

Course Credit Hours: 2
Prerequisite: none

Instructor

David Shirley ’02, Pharm.D., is an assistant professor of clinical pharmacy and outcomes sciences. 

• Earned his Pharm.D. from the MUSC College of Pharmacy in 2002
• Leader in the pharmacy profession, including serving as president of the South Carolina Pharmacy Association
• Practiced independent community pharmacy at the Prescription Center from 2002-2009 and as pharmacist-in-charge and compounding pharmacists at Plantation Pharmacy from 2009-2015
• Recognized for teaching excellence with MUSC enterprise-wide awards 2018 Teaching Excellence, Developing Teacher Award, 2017-18 Teacher of the Year Award (Class of 2021), twice nominated for Preceptor of the Year Award
• Expertise in interprofessional education (2017 MUSC Interprofessional Education Award), communications, multi-disciplinary experience including work in industry, independent community pharmacy, academic health system
• Teaching roles include Pharmacy Calculations, Compounding and Pharmaceutics Lab, Community Pharmacy Lab, Self Care Therapeutics, and Pharmacy Law and Ethics