Cedars, April 2016

IN-DEPTH: SCHOOL OF PHARMACY Comparing Pharmacy Graduate Programs

Cedarville’s young pharmacy graduate program keeps up with its Midwest and faith-based competitors

by Emily Day and Jen Taggart S tudents in Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy are already mak- ing their mark in healthcare, despite the program’s youth. As the first class of doctoral students graduates on May 7, who are Cedarville’s competitors in the pharma- cy profession? What professional opportu- nities or concentrations do other graduate programs offer pharmacy students? Cedars researched six pharmacy grad- uate programs at Midwest or faith-based institutions to provide a summary of Cedar- ville’s competition. Ohio Northern University Ohio Northern University’s pharmacy program began in 1884, 13 years after the university itself was founded. The Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern has a direct entry program, meaning students are enrolled into the program their first year of college and receive their doctorate of pharmacy in six years.The Raabe Col- lege of Pharmacy said on its website that its mission is to “prepare pharmacists who im- prove health, serve others, lead change and advance the profession.” Steve Martin, dean of the College of Pharmacy, said the college is located in a ru- ral setting with an underserved population, which allows students to learn service. “Because of our rural area and the un- derserved community in which we live, we prepare students to provide and care for those who are underserved,” he said. Students serve the community through ONU Healthwise, a program run by faculty, students and other healthcare profession- als. ONU Healthwise provides blood pres- sure screenings, vaccinations, diabetes care, and more. Ohio Northern University, located in Ada, Ohio, is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The Raabe College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

students.

In addition to simply earning a phar- macy degree, Belmont University offers a dual degree program in which students can earn both a Master of Business Administra- tion and a doctorate in pharmacy. Extracurricular opportunities for phar- macy students include Belmont University’s College of Pharmacy Chapter of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists, the university’s chapter of the Nation- al Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and Phi Lamda Sigma. Belmont University, located in Nash- ville, Tennessee, said on its website that it is “a student-centered Christian community.” The College of Pharmacy was granted full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education in the 2011-2012 academic year. University of Findlay The University of Findlay College of Pharmacy was established in 2004, and like Ohio Northern, it offers a six-year direct en- try program in which college freshmen may enroll. The first two years of the program are general education requirements. The third year includes an introduction to pharma- ceutical sciences, as well as beginning su- pervised experience under a professional pharmacist. The fourth and fifth years allow students to learn pharmacy science more in-depth and choose from electives in oth- er areas, such as diabetes management or pediatrics. During the third, fourth and fifth years, students shadow a practicing phar- macist. In the sixth year, students take part in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experi- ences (APPES), which are also known as rotations. These are practical experiences required by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education for every accredited pharmacy school. Acceptance into the College of Phar- macy is contingent upon students having at least a 3.0 GPA and an ACT score of 23 or an

Campbell Bortel/Cedars

Jessica Ward, a first-year graduate pharmacy student, works with fellow graduate students in lab class. Cedarville’s School of Pharmacy was founded in 2008 and will graduate its first class of students this May.

Belmont University

Test (PCAT).

The graduate pharmacy program at Belmont has five concentration areas. These areas include pharmacotherapy, informa- tion management, pharmacy management and pharmacy missions/public health. Philip Johnston, dean of the College of Pharmacy at Belmont, said the concen- tration areas are like minors for pharmacy

Belmont University’s College of Phar- macy, founded in 2007, enrolls up to 85 students per year and has an 11:1 faculty to student ratio. To be accepted into Belmont’s College of Pharmacy, students must have completed 64 credit hours of other course- work, have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and pass the Pharmacy College Admission

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April 2016