Students Faculty Classroom

George E. MacKinnon III, PhD, MS, RPh, FASHP, FNAP

Founding Dean, School of Pharmacy

GeorgeMacKinnonIII_BioDr. MacKinnon was appointed Founding Dean of the School of Pharmacy at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in 2015. He received his BS (Pharmacy) and MS (Hospital Pharmacy) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy, completing post-graduate pharmacy residency training at University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics. He earned his PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago. He is a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Medical Sciences from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2022. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FASHP) and Distinguished Scholar Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP).

Dr. MacKinnon leads the MCW School of Pharmacy in delivering a dynamic and innovative Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum. The school achieved full accreditation status in 2020 after graduation of the first class. Post-graduate residency placement rates for graduates have surpassed the national levels, affirming that MCW is producing PharmD graduates that aspire and are accepted in post-graduate training programs nationally. He works to expand pharmacist care models in collaborative approaches with colleagues at Children’s Wisconsin, Froedtert Health, Zablocki VA in Milwaukee, and other clinical partners.

“Dean MacKinnon led the school to full accreditation in the minimum possible time and has matriculated high quality students who are curious innovators who already are expanding the impact and scope of pharmacy practice through attainment of residencies at a rate higher than the national norm, and through their successful practices throughout the country,” said John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, the MCW President and CEO.

Dr. MacKinnon has assisted in the establishment of four academic pharmacy programs, two as founding dean. He has participated in four federally funded interprofessional training and educational grants involving medicine, nursing and pharmacy. His research supports expanding pharmacist care models (e.g., immunizations, primary care, pharmacogenomics) in collaborative approaches to team-based care and principles of team-science.

He advocates for pharmacist models of care at state and national levels. Dr. MacKinnon played an instrumental role in modifying immunization regulations for student pharmacists and advancing legislation that resulted in pharmacists being recognized as non-physician providers under Medicaid in Wisconsin in 2020 and 2021 respectively. His service to boards includes the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin and Vivent Health. In 2022, he was named Council of Deans Chair-elect by AACP.

His previous appointments include Founding Dean of Pharmacy & Vice Provost for Health Sciences at Roosevelt University Chicago, Vice President of Academic Affairs with the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, and Director of Global Health Economics & Outcomes Research of Abbott Laboratories. He has edited two books (Embedded Pharmacists in Primary Care and Understanding Health Outcomes & Pharmacoeconomics) and serves on editorial boards: Pharmacy, Pharmacy Times, and Wisconsin Medical Journal.

In 2021, Dr. MacKinnon was recognized in BizTimes Milwaukee’s “Notable Heroes in Health Care” for work in immunizations both pre- and post-pandemic. He was awarded the 2022 Winston J. Durant Lecture Award from the University of Wisconsin Health Pharmacy Department, recognizing past UW Hospital pharmacy residents who exemplify significant contributions to the mentoring of future leaders, advancement of pharmacy practice and healthcare systems, and demonstration of leadership within the profession.

Contact Us

Office of the School of Pharmacy Dean
Medical College of Wisconsin
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226

Migdalia Rosario, MBA

Executive Assistant to Dean of School of Pharmacy

mrosario@mcw.edu

(414) 955-2855

Medical College of  Wisconsin Google map location