With a heavy heart, Keck Graduate Institute President Dr. Sheldon Schuster announced the passing of Dr. Robert Stein, Professor of Practice for Pharmacy Law & Ethics and Healthcare Information Technology, on December 28, 2022.
Stein was a founding faculty member in KGI’s School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and pioneered a unique program in Law and Ethics education.
“Bob was highly respected as a teacher and mentor to our students and a highly valued colleague to us all,” Schuster said. “I hope we remember Bob for his passion for the students, sharp wit, compassion, and dignity!”
Stein joined KGI in July 2014. He received his PharmD from the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy and his JD from Western State University College of Law. Previously, he practiced in various clinical, management, and consulting roles, most recently in clinical Informatics and Information Technology as applied to healthcare.
His professional interests focused on developments at the intersections of pharmacy law, ethics, healthcare technology and analytics, and e-discovery of health records. Stein was involved in the national dialogue (both clinical and legal) over the role of pharmacists in recommending and monitoring the use of medical cannabis.
Stein was an active member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the American Society for Pharmacy Law, and the Orange County Bar Association.
He was a panelist in Western State University College of Law’s symposium on medical marijuana, presenting a healthcare professional’s view. He participated on numerous committees for ASHP and is a past member of the Health Information Management Systems Society’s national Public Policy Committee.
A funeral service for Stein was held on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at Mount Olive Memorial Park and Mortuary in Costa Mesa. KGI is planning a remembrance for him on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, on KGI’s campus; more details will be shared soon.