Meet Our Faculty and Staff
Diane Pacitti, Ph.D., R.Ph.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Saint Joseph College School of Pharmacy
Dr. Diane F. Pacitti received a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. Her overall research goal was to develop a new class of antibiotics targeted against Gram positive bacteria, specifically against Staphylococcus aureus. This new class of bactericidal antibiotics was aimed at the inhibition of the replicative DNA polymerase enzyme of Gram positive bacteria. Research included cloning and isolation of the DNA polymerase III (Pol III) gene from Staphylococcus aureus, obtaining its DNA sequence, expression and purification of the Pol III protein product in order to perform in vitro enzyme kinetics assays. Her doctoral research additionally included design, synthesis, and in vitro testing of novel guanine-analogs as specific Pol III inhibitors, and subsequent in vivo testing of guanine-analogs in mice.
Following a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Dr. Pacitti joined the faculty of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences-Boston, teaching Biochemistry to students enrolled in its pharmacy program housed at Western New England College. Following the discontinuation of the pharmacy program at Western New England College, Dr. Pacitti joined the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) in Worcester, in its inaugural year, where she taught Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, Herbal Pharmacology, and sections in Pharmacology, Physiology, and Over-the-Counter Drug Products. She wrote the charter document to found the gamma pi chapter of the Rho Chi National Pharmacy Honor Society at MCPHS-W, as well as serving as its faculty advisor. Dr. Pacitti most recently served as Chair, Department of Pharmacy Sciences, Director of the Pharmacy Technology Program, Director of Pre-Pharmacy Program, and Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts.
Dr. Pacitti holds professional memberships in the American Association of Hospital Pharmacy, the American Pharmacists’ Association, Western Massachusetts Pharmacists Association, Massachusetts Pharmacists Association, and Rho Chi Pharmacy Education Honor Society. She has been a Board Member of the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) Board, Department of Massachusetts Medical Assistance (DMA), University of Massachusetts Medical School; Worcester since 2002, and has been an Item Writer for NAPLEX®.
Dr. Pacitti is a licensed registered pharmacist who has continued to practice Pharmacy in a variety of community settings throughout her professional career. She is an APhA-certified immunizer for Flu vaccinations, and a certified Medication Therapy Management (MTM) provider with a primary taxonomy in Pharmacotherapy.
Outside of the classroom, Dr. Pacitti has taught cardio kick-boxing, Tae Kwan Do, Power Yoga, and enjoys gardening and reading.
