About Robert E. Brutcher, PharmD, PhD, MS
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Dr. Robert E. Brutcher is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, where he teaches pharmacology and foundational biomedical sciences within the osteopathic medical curriculum. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University, a PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at the National Defense University. His educational background integrates basic science, clinical pharmacology, and health systems leadership.
Dr. Brutcher is a retired U.S. Army Pharmacy Officer (Colonel) whose career included operational assignments, senior clinical leadership at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and faculty appointments at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. These experiences inform his teaching of pharmacology, clinical reasoning, and medication safety.
Courses Taught
- Pharmacology in preclinical medical education
Educational Interests
- Mechanism-based pharmacology education
- Integration of pharmacology with clinical reasoning
- Development of COMLEX-style assessment and learning resources
- Active learning and case-based instruction in medical education
Research Interests
- Clinical pharmacology and translational research
- Psychopharmacology and substance use disorders
- Leadership development in health professions education
- Medication safety and evidence-based prescribing
- Translating military healthcare innovations into civilian practice
Selected Publications
- Sacarny A, Safran E, Steffel M, Dunham JR, Abili OD, Mohajeri L, Oh PT, Sim A, Brutcher RE, Spevak C. Effect of Pharmacist Email Alerts on Concurrent Prescribing of Opioids and Benzodiazepines by Prescribers and Primary Care Managers: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Health Forum. 2022;3(9):e223378.
- Brutcher RE, Kurihara C, Bicket MC, et al. Compounded Topical Pain Creams to Treat Localized Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2019;170(5):309–318.
- Abili OD, Warusha S, Giunta R, Gobourne P, Brutcher R, Hodgson J, Mohajeri L, Spevak C. Naloxone Education: Patient Perspectives. Journal of Pain. 2021;22(5):600.