Medha D Joshi, Ph.D.

Dr. Medha D. Joshi is a tenured Professor and the current Chair (Head of the Department) of the Department of Pharmaceutical Science at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. She holds a joint appointment as a full professor with both the College of Pharmacy and the College of Graduate Studies, reflecting her diverse academic contributions. As a respected leader in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, Dr. Joshi has established herself as a driving force in both research and education. In her role as Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Dr. Joshi oversees academic programs, fosters departmental growth, and mentors faculty and students.

Dr. Joshi's academic journey began with a deep commitment to the field of pharmaceutical sciences, culminating in her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), University of Mumbai in 2007. Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Vandana B. Patravale, her doctoral research focused on particulate drug carriers, a key area in modern drug delivery systems. Her work contributed significantly to the understanding of the role of particulate systems in enhancing drug bioavailability and reducing its toxicity. Before embarking on her Ph.D., Dr. Joshi earned her Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm.) in Pharmaceutics from NDMVP Samaj’s College of Pharmacy, Nashik, affiliated with Pune University and Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm.) from Pune University

She is the principal investigator on cutting-edge research focused on Nanomedicine for Drug Delivery. Her research aims to improve therapeutic efficacy and minimize side effects by utilizing nanoscale technologies to optimize drug delivery systems. Dr. Joshi's research efforts are marked by a strong commitment to securing both federal and intramural/extramural funding, having written numerous grants to support her ongoing research projects. Dr Joshi has expertise in lipid based drug delivery systems including solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), micro emulsions, self emulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDs), nanosuspensions, and liposomes, targeted drug delivery etc. Her research program at Midwestern university is focused on application of nanoparticulate targeted delivery a) amelioration of nephrotoxicity using lipid nanoparticles b) to neurogenetic peptides for their delivery to the blood brain barrier and b) reduction of maternal-fetal toxicity of drugs across the placental barrier. Dr. Joshi’s research has been widely published in leading journals, and she has been a key figure in several collaborative research projects aimed at advancing drug delivery technologies. She has more than 40 peer reviewed research articles, 2 patents and 3 book chapters to her credit. She has been invited to more than 20 international presentations and has more than 90 proceedings and conference abstracts to her credit. She has been a Principle Investigator and co-investigator on several intramural and extramural grants such as Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery foundation, NIH AREA grant etc. She also serves the research community by being of editorial board and being a peer reviewer for grant submissions and manuscripts to numerous journals.

Dr. Joshi is deeply committed to educating the next generation of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. Dr. Joshi’s teaching portfolio includes directing and instructing several core and elective courses within the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) program at the College of Pharmacy. As the course director and sole instructor for Pharmaceutical Calculations (PSCIG 1540) and Pharmaceutics-I (PSCIG 1541), she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the classroom, preparing students for the critical challenges of pharmaceutical practice. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Joshi also serves as a research advisor for students in the Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) program, guiding graduate students through the process of scientific inquiry and research.

Dr. Joshi continues to inspire and lead future generations of pharmaceutical professionals and researchers through her dedication to teaching, mentorship, and innovative research.