In this course students gain a thorough and detailed understanding of the processes governing drug absorption and disposition that influence systemic concentrations, which mediate drug effect and/or toxicity. With satisfactory completion of this course, students will gain knowledge of the processes that influence systemic drug concentrations and effects. In addition, the student gains the skills required for drug dosing in patients, identification of drug-drug interactions at the pharmacokinetic level, and the influence of disease on drug elimination. Collectively, these skills aid in the development of the student as a capable practitioner who provides optimal drug therapy to achieve positive outcomes that improve patients’ quality of life. Core Concepts included in the course are: - Basic principles of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) - Steady state and the relationship between drug dosing rate and average steady-state concentration - Bioavailability and bioequivalance - Linear and nonlinear pharmacokinetics - Influence of disease states on drug disposition - Influence of patient characteristics (age, weight, gender, genetics) on drug disposition - Principles of drug therapy individualization in the clinical setting - Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of narrow therapeutic index drugs that are monitored