MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology

Eric Silk

Department Chair of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Clinical Associate Professor

Office: M 729

(208) 373-1802

ericsilk@isu.edu

Dr. Silk is the Chair of the Clinical Psychopharmacology Program and a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy at Idaho State University. Dr. Silk has an extensive history of experience in psychopharmacology and assessment of psychological, neuropsychological, and substance use disorders.

Dr. Silk earned a B.S. in psychology from Michigan State University. He completed a M.A. in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He then worked as a Research Coordinator at the Substance Use Research Center at the New York State Psychiatric Institute affiliated with the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. His Ph.D. is in Clinical Psychology with a Specialization in Neuropsychology from Nova Southeastern University. He also completed a post-doc M.S. in psychopharmacology at Nova Southeastern.

Dr. Silk’s career path led him to Wyoming, where he continued to teach, developed a psychological practice, and pursued leadership in the Wyoming Psychological Association. He was an associate professor of psychology at Northwest College and is currently an Assistant Lecturer at University of Wyoming and University of Idaho. He was the president of the Wyoming Psychological Association from 2017-2018. Dr. Silk is a licensed clinical psychologist in Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho.

Jen Adams, PharmD, EdD

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor
Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, Pharmacy Law

Office: M757

(208) 373-1868

jenadams@isu.edu

Jennifer Adams, PharmD, EdD, a graduate of Boise State University, Idaho State University, and The George Washington University is currently employed as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs  at the Idaho State University, providing oversight for the PharmD curriculum, experiential education, interprofessional education, and assessment.

Her previous experience includes working in hospital and community pharmacy settings and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) with student pharmacists, helping them to develop as professionals and leaders in the pharmacy profession. Dr. Adams's experience at APhA includes developing and managing several national patient care programs, as well as the National Patient Counseling Competition. Dr. Adams also served for nearly 10 years as the Senior Student Affairs Advisor at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, providing leadership and oversight for association national student affairs activities including PharmCAS, PCAT, the Pharmacy Career Information Council, and student recruitment.

She has received national awards in recognition of her leadership skills and is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American Pharmacists Association, Phi Lambda Sigma - the pharmacy leadership society, the Idaho Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the Idaho State Pharmacists Association.

Mark Austin

Professor

(208) 282-4003

markaustin@isu.edu

Dr. Austin’s research has focused on the molecular neurochemistry of the serotonin system in major depressive disorder. During his career it become evident that major depression is a very heterogeneous disorder that is associated with a high rate of other serious medical comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia, diabetes, obesity and repetitive concussion syndrome. Dr. Austin has begun to develop a broader research program that has expanded and evolved into investigating epigenetic, developmental, cytoskeletal and signal transduction mechanisms underlying depression, chronic stress, obesity and repetitive traumatic brain injury. His research projects involve a multi-disciplinary approach that encompasses neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, neuropharmacology, biochemistry, and molecular biology disciplines and utilize a variety biochemical and molecular biological techniques as well as in vitro cell culture and in vivo small rodent models.

Dr. Austin is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. He earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Washington State University. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular and behavioral neuroscience at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, MD.

Noah Harper

Associate Laboratory Manager, Bioskills Lab Supervisor

(208) 373-1828

harpnoah@isu.edu

Noah Harper is the Supervisor of the Bioskills Laboratory and has been integral in its development. He is actively engaging groups both locally and nationally to foster the success of this unique enterprise. In his position as the Associate Laboratory Manager, Noah assists in the supervision of the Gross Anatomy Laboratory, including training and oversight of Lab Technicians and Interns.

Noah joined the Treasure Valley Anatomy & Physiology Laboratories as a Laboratory Specialist in August, 2015 and was promoted to Bioskills Supervisor and Associate Laboratory Manager in July, 2016. He received his training in the anatomical sciences at the University of Utah and began teaching anatomical sciences in 2007. Noah is an active member of the American Association of Anatomists and has served on the Public Affairs and Strategic Planning Committees. As an outdoor enthusiast, Noah spends his free time exploring the mountains and river canyons surrounding the Treasure Valley and beyond.

Christopher Owens, PharmD, MPH

Associate Vice President for Health Sciences, Professor
Interprofessional Education, Medical Ethics

Office: Gravely Hall 136

(208) 282-2762

chrisowens@isu.edu

Dr. Christopher T. Owens, PharmD, MPH, serves as Associate Vice President for Health Sciences at Idaho State University and is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences at the L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy. He works on the Pocatello campus. He earned his PharmD from ISU in 2002 and his MPH in 2013. He also earned a Certificate in Biomedical Ethics in 2017. He completed a residency in Ambulatory Care at the Southeast Idaho VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in 2003 and worked as a prn community pharmacist for over 15 years and a clinical pharmacist at Health West in Pocatello.

For over 20 years, he has taught and published on professionalism, ethics, evidence-based integrative health, and population health topics. He has lectured on clinical topics as well as health care ethics at Idaho State University since 2003 and has been part of the interprofessional curriculum task force with the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine since 2020. Dr. Owens has served as president of the Healthcare Ethics Special Interest Group (SIG) for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and is passionate about advancing interprofessional education, working collaboratively to promote evidence-based patient care and population health, and preparing an appropriately-trained healthcare workforce for rural settings and underserved populations.

G. Lucy Wilkening

Clinical Associate Professor

(208) 373-1802

lucywilkening@isu.edu

Dr. Wilkening is a Clinical Associate Professor of Clinical Psychopharmacology in the College of Pharmacy at Idaho State University. She also provides mental health management services in the ISU Integrated Mental Health clinic. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy. Dr. Wilkening completed an ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice residency, and graduated as Resident of Distinction from the psychiatric pharmacy specialty residency at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. 

Dr. Wilkening is an active member of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP), and serves as an editor for AAPP’s peer-reviewed publication, the Mental Health Clinician. She is also active in AAPP's Government Affairs committee. Her other professional affiliations include the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society, Phi Delta Chi, and the Rho Chi Pharmacy Honor Society.

Dr. Wilkening’s research interests include: innovative, integrated approaches to treating mental illness, impacts of teaching strategies on student interactions with patients with mental illness, and integration of prescribing psychologists into primary care services.