In just five years, Danny Pham, Pharm.D., has gone from a new pharmacy school graduate to a clinical pharmacist and Residency Program Coordinator (RPC), an impressive trajectory that feels fitting for someone who seems to be drawn to fast paced action. Whether caring for patients, mentoring residents, or pursuing his clinical interests, Dr. Pham continues to embrace opportunities that challenge him to grow.
Residency Training at UCI Health and Huntington Health
An Orange County native, Dr. Pham earned his bachelor’s degree at UCI before completing his Pharm.D. at CUSP. After graduation, he pursued postgraduate training through a PGY-1 residency at UCI Health and a PGY-2 in Emergency Medicine (EM) at Huntington Health, before returning to UCI Health, where he currently practices as a clinical pharmacist and Residency Program Coordinator.
Why Dr. Danny Pham Chose CUSP’s Three-Year Pharm.D. Program
What initially drew Dr. Pham to CUSP wasn’t just location, but its accelerated Pharm.D. program. “I wanted to complete a three-year program so that I could start practicing as a pharmacist as soon as possible, but I also loved the fast pace of an accelerated program.” He was also drawn to CUSP’s smaller class size, recognizing that it would allow him to build stronger relationships with classmates and faculty while opening doors for more meaningful opportunities. Through CUSP’s experiential curriculum, Dr. Pham was exposed to a wide range of pharmacy practice settings, helping him discover his passion for acute care while building the clinical foundation that prepared him for postgraduate training.
Underlying Dr. Pham’s career path is his curiosity and desire to understand the “why” behind clinical decisions. At CUSP, he found cardiology to be one of his most influential courses, inspired by Dr. Tsu’s emphasis on understanding how medications work and practicing evidence-based medicine. During an APPE rotation, he experienced firsthand the importance of being able to explain not only what recommendation to make, but why that recommendation was appropriate. “Ever since then, I always approach everything with a questioning attitude. Understanding the why makes you a stronger clinician and allows you to practice beyond just pure memorization.”
Becoming a Residency Program Coordinator at UCI Health
Building on the foundation he developed at CUSP, Dr. Pham pursued residency training to further strengthen his clinical skills. His residency experiences also shaped his perspective on mentorship and teaching, inspiring him to help guide future pharmacists. After completing his PGY-1 and PGY-2 training, he returned to UCI Health as the PGY-1 RPC. “I have always had a passion for teaching and precepting learners,” he said. “When the opportunity arose, I knew that I would love to have a bigger role in the residency program and help teach and foster pharmacy residents the same way my RPD and RPC did during my residencies.”
Transitions of Care Pharmacy and Advice for Future Pharmacists
Although Dr. Pham completed a PGY-2 in EM, his current practice focuses on Transitions of Care (TOC) and Internal Medicine (IM). “Whenever I tell people that I did my PGY-2 in EM, they ask me why I’m a TOC/IM pharmacist and not an EM pharmacist. I tell them that I still love EM, but I love the impact I am able to make in my position to a broader patient population.” During his training, Dr. Pham discovered that TOC and IM allowed him to apply medication expertise across a wide range of disease states while making an impact that extends well beyond the initial hospital admission. Today, Dr. Pham serves as the primary preceptor for the PGY-1 TOC rotation, a rotation he helped establish early in his career. He encourages students interested in managing diverse disease states, bridging acute and ambulatory care settings, and improving healthcare processes to explore TOC as a potential specialty path.
Reflecting on his own career journey, Dr. Pham encourages pharmacy students to remain open to unexpected opportunities. “A lot of students go into pharmacy school already knowing what they want to do, but I always recommend having an open mind and really understand all that a pharmacy degree can offer.”
As a preceptor, RPC, and CUSP alumni mentor, Dr. Pham continues to carry forward the lessons he learned throughout his own education and training. Starting with CUSP, he found his answer to “why pharmacy” and hopes future pharmacists do the same. “I am so grateful for my experience in pharmacy school at CUSP. I really wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for my professors, preceptors, and classmates that helped spark the passion of pharmacy for me. My biggest overall advice to future pharmacists is to make the most of pharmacy school and always thrive to be the best pharmacist that you can.”
