Before joining UH College of Pharmacy, Dr. Thornton practiced as a board-certified, clinical pharmacist while completing his Ph.D. in Health Services and Outcomes Research at West Virginia University. Before finishing the Ph.D. in 2017, he graduated from the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy with a professional pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) and completed a post-graduate year-1 pharmacy practice residency at Saint Mary's Medical Center in Huntington, WV. His research focuses on optimizing the management of pain and opioid use disorder though the effective use of medications and related health care services. Through his opioid-related research projects, he has worked with patients, pharmacists, law enforcement officers, and faculty as well as undergraduate, professional, and graduate students. He is currently working with multiple federal and state organizations to prevent prescription drug misuse in Texas and beyond.