Francis B. Palumbo, PhD, JD
Executive Director, Center on Drugs and Public Policy

Dr. Palumbo co-founded the Center on Drugs and Public Policy in 1988 and served as its Associate Director until 1998 when he assumed the directorship and the responsibility for leadership and direction of this drug policy research center. At the present time, the Center has 10 faculty associates and approximately 17 staff who collectively are involved in several millions of dollars of projects.

In addition to research, teaching and administration at the School of Pharmacy, he also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Law  where he teaches food and drug law. His research and other scholarly activities have been focused on a number of related areas: health services research, food and drug law and regulation, drug use review, drug use in the elderly, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research.

During 25 years at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Dr. Palumbo has held a number of positions. He was initially recruited as an Assistant Professor and rose through the academic ranks to Full Professor in 1992. In addition, he has served as an acting department chair, a department chair of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Science with a staff of 18 full-time persons (nine faculty and nine support staff). He also served as Special Assistant to the Dean and Interim Associate Dean for Administration where he was responsible for overseeing design and construction of a new teaching building, as well as human resources for the School of Pharmacy and some budgetary responsibilities.

Dr. Palumbo received his JD from the University of Baltimore Law Center and his PhD from the University of Mississippi.