Congrats to Chris Finch, PharmD, who has been appointed Dean of the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy effective August 1, 2026.
Chris is a Memphis native, a first-generation pharmacist, and a proud alumnus of The University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy. After earning his PharmD in 2000 and completing a residency at Methodist University Hospital, he dedicated more than two decades to serving both the profession and his alma mater.
His contributions began as an affiliate faculty member while he practiced as a critical care pharmacy specialist and later served as Director of Pharmacy at Methodist University Hospital. He subsequently joined the College full-time, where he has provided distinguished leadership as Professor and Chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science.
Under his leadership, the department launched its Rural Health Program, increased faculty practice and affiliation revenue by nearly 50%, and fostered a culture of engagement, excellence, and retention.
Notably, no faculty member hired during his tenure left to pursue a position elsewhere—a remarkable testament to his leadership, mentorship, and commitment to creating an environment where faculty can thrive.
Chris often says that UT Health Science Center gave him “opportunity”—the opportunity to learn from internationally recognized faculty, to be mentored by leaders such as Drs. Tim Self, Brad Boucher, and Marie Chisholm-Burns, and to grow into the kind of leader that a top-tier college of pharmacy would one day recruit to lead.
Today, his career stands as a reflection of that journey and the transformative power of those opportunities.