Accelerated Dual Degree BS/MS in Pharmacogenomics

Dr. Shannon Kinney, PhD

What is your related educational background and current research focus?

I earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Roswell Park Cancer Institute in association with the State University of New York at Buffalo. My thesis research focused on epigenetic changes in prostate cancer. I also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at New England Biolabs, where I continued to study epigenetic gene regulation. I now run a research lab where I study the roles of DNA modifications in gene expression in normal and cancer models. I also complete educational research on best practices for teaching pharmacogenomics.

What piqued your interest in pharmacogenomics?

When I was a first-year graduate student, my father was diagnosed with leukemia. He was treated with chemotherapy and had very severe toxicities that resulted in his being admitted to the ICU. He eventually did recover, but dealt with the long-term effects of the treatment. Although I am grateful for the years that I still had with him, as I learned more about the links between genetics and response to medication, I began to wonder if the use of pharmacogenomic testing could have limited the toxicities that he experienced. Now, when I teach others about pharmacogenomics, I try to emphasize that genetics may only be one point to consider while treating a patient, but for some patients, it could be the difference between life or death.

What is the best aspect of the WNE Master of Science in Pharmacogenomics program?

I learn from doing, so for me, the best part of this program is how hands-on it is. Many courses are designed to be interactive and problem-based. In addition, students get into the laboratory for a pharmaceutical techniques course during the fall semester and then spend six weeks during the summer semester in the lab and working with clinicians at their sites. Students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-life situations, and learn the skills they need to work in whatever area of pharmacogenomics best suits them. Now that we have a hybrid pathway, I'm dedicated to ensuring our MSPGx-HP curriculum includes interactive and skill-based learning.

Alisha Ghoussein, Class of 2026

Pictured from left to right: Dr. Christine Anderson, Dr. Shannon Kinney, Dr. Arin Whitman, and Alisha Ghoussein, Class of 2026, in the center. Dr. Kinney is the MS in PGx program coordinator and is a key faculty member across several courses, including the 6-week applied PGx lab experience. 

Dr. Anderson and Dr. Whitman led the 6-week clinical pharmacogenomics experience, providing students with hands-on, real-world application of PGx principles. 

At Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, I had the opportunity to enroll in a dual-degree program that allowed me to obtain both a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master’s in Pharmacogenomics (PGx). I have recently completed the MS in PGx program over the summer and am expected to graduate with both degrees in May 2026.

During my second and third pharmacy professional years, I completed a variety of courses within the master’s program, including Data Analytics and Biostatistics, Advanced Genetics and Genomics, Intro to Gene and Genetic Counseling, Bioinformatics, and an Analytical Techniques Lab. I also had the opportunity to complete a 6-week applied pharmacogenomics experience, where I performed PCR testing on my DNA as well as others to detect a specific gene variant, providing me with hands-on lab experience. I really enjoyed this course because it provided me with an opportunity I wouldn’t typically experience in the pharmacy curriculum. I have also recently completed a 6-week clinical pharmacogenomics course where I was able to apply everything I had learned throughout this program to a real-world setting.

During the clinical experience, I had the opportunity to go to an oncology ambulatory care clinic and experience how genetics and pharmacogenomics are used in patients' daily care. Alongside my fellow classmates, we began creating a pharmacogenomics clinic at WNE, which is expected to open in the summer of 2026. During the rotation, we even created a PGx Podcast, called SNPs and Scripts, where we discuss anything and everything relevant to genetics and pharmacogenomics. Be on the lookout for the podcast to air on Spotify shortly! Finally, I was provided with the opportunity to present at a CE conference focused on pharmacogenomics. Topics varied from pediatrics, psychiatry, and oncology. My presentation was on the  “Representation, Risk and the Reality of PGx in Oncology".

Overall, this dual degree program has provided students like me the chance to expand on my PGx knowledge beyond what is taught in the pharmacy curriculum, and receive firsthand insight into how PGx can be used to personalize medication therapy and make treatment truly patient-centered. Pharmacogenomics is the future of precision medicine, and the WNE Master’s in PGx program is equipping students with the tools to explore this new era of medicine.

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has partnered with Bay Path University to create new opportunities for students pursuing advanced study in the rapidly growing fields of genetic counseling and pharmacogenomics. 

Genetic counseling plays a vital role in today’s healthcare system. Counselors work with patients and families to interpret genetic testing results, assess inherited risks, and guide treatment and prevention strategies. Their expertise is increasingly critical in fields such as oncology, prenatal and reproductive health, rare disease diagnosis, and precision medicine. Pharmacogenomics—the study of how genes affect a person’s response to medications—complements genetic counseling by enabling more personalized prescribing practices that improve outcomes and reduce adverse effects. Graduates of both programs will be able to work in clinical settings as highly skilled professionals, ready to contribute to advances in personalized medicine and patient care.

Benefits for COPHS students

Bay Path University will reserve at least five (5) interview seats in each annual cohort of students entering its MSGC program for qualified graduates (e.g. a 3.5 minimum cumulative GPA) of the Western New England University MSPGx program who apply by December 15. In addition, these students will be guaranteed 6 transfer credits from MSPGx courses (PHRSC 551 Introduction to Genetics and Genetic Counseling and PHAR 522 Pathophysiology) where students earned a grade of B or higher.

Benefits for Bay Path students

Western New England University will reserve at least two (2) seats in each annual cohort of students entering its MSPGx/MSPGx-HP programs for qualified graduates (e.g. a preferred 3.5 minimum cumulative GPA) of the Bay Path University MSGC program who apply by April 1. In addition, these students will be guaranteed 6 transfer credits from MSGC courses (GEN600: Medical Genetics I and GEN615: Pathophysiology) where students earned a grade of B or higher.