Michael Parker, Ph.D.

Dr. Michael Parker joined the College of Medical Sciences at Nova Southeastern University in 2004 and currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology.  He also serves as Professor of Biomedical Sciences in both the NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel Colleges of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD) and NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (KPCOM).  Dr. Parker was elected NSU MD Faculty Council Vice President in 2017 and assumed the role of President in 2019.

Prior to joining NSU, Dr. Parker received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of San Diego.  He pursued a doctoral degree in the laboratory of Dr. Charles Luetje in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.  He continued his training as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratories of Dr. Stanley Froehner at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Dr. Guoping Feng in the Department of Neurobiology at Duke University.  Dr. Parker’s research interests have included receptor-ligand interactions and the stability and function of cholinergic synapses as well as renal physiology/pharmacology.   

During his time at NSU, Dr. Parker has been involved in teaching pharmacology to medical, dental, optometry, and physician assistant students.  He was appointed Chair of the Department of Pharmacology in 2008 and serves on multiple university committees. 

Dr. Parker is a native of Miami who grew up racing sailboats in Biscayne Bay and beyond as well as following professional and collegiate sports in South Florida.  He continues to sail, is an avid tropical gardener and still loves the “U.”