Fifty students will be part of the first doctor of pharmacy class this fall as the School of Pharmacy in Regis University's Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions (RHCHP) officially opens its doors.
The new program will offer an entry-level doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree which will educate students to become practicing pharmacists. The doctor of pharmacy program will mark the second professional doctorate degree program to be offered at Regis University, joining the doctor of physical therapy.
"We are excited to start our pioneer class this fall," said Lane J. Brunner, dean of the School of Pharmacy, who holds a professional pharmacy degree from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. in pharmacy from the University of Georgia. "Through our innovative curriculum and teaching model, we believe that Regis University graduates will become pharmacy leaders who will shape the future of the profession."
The doctor of pharmacy program is offered in a 2+4 format (two years of prerequisite undergraduate coursework prior to applying to the four-year professional program). The program is unique among doctor of pharmacy programs, because students will be immersed in a fully-integrated curriculum using team-based learning. In this model, students are accountable for their own learning as well as learning how to work as part of a team. Class time is principally spent not listening to lectures, but solving real-life problems, applying concepts in use by practicing pharmacists.
In keeping with the University's Jesuit Catholic tradition of educating leaders in the service of others, the School of Pharmacy curriculum will include courses intended to help graduates improve patient outcomes by counseling patients on medication use, advocating patient safety and striving to minimize disparities in health care access, especially for marginalized populations.
"Regis University has a strong reputation for preparing excellent professionals in nursing, physical therapy, health information management and other health fields," said Patricia Ladewig, academic dean of RHCHP. "Establishing a School of Pharmacy is a logical next step for Regis in advancing our commitment to serve the health care needs of people of Colorado and beyond."
A shortfall of 157,000 pharmacists nationwide by the year 2020 has been projected by the pharmaceutical industry."There's a strong demand for pharmacists nationwide and in particular in Colorado," said Brunner, who also noted that only one other pharmacy school exists in Colorado.
In addition to its intensive curriculum, the RHCHP School of Pharmacy will endeavor to graduate empathetic, compassionate pharmacists. "What will distinguish our graduates from others will be their communication, critical thinking and team-building skills," Brunner said. "The mission of Regis University is nearly tailor-made for educating pharmacy students and where we need the profession of pharmacy to go in the future."