New partnership creates transitional pathway for students interested in pharmacy
MARYLAND – “Someone can tell you what the job is like and that this is what the career path will look like, but there aren’t many opportunities to understand what it’s like to be in a pharmacy program,” UMES’ School of Pharmacy and Health Professions Dean Sean Vasaitis said.
A new partnership between Wor-Wic Community College and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore looks to remove that barrier and increase access for students interested in pharmacy. “In the first semester for students in our pre-pharmacy program or those who express interest can get connected that early to a transfer advisor at UMES. They can start discussing what that program is going to look like.,” Wor-Wic Director of Advising & Title III Paul Fields said.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) stands as a gateway for Wor-Wic students to make a smooth transition into UMES’ Doctor of Pharmacy program. “You’ll be able to learn how to treat patients as well as dispense. Pharmacist can work in communities, in hospitals, and in different industries,” Vasaitis said.
Vasaitis said the program is also an opportunity for learners to save time and money on the path to their degrees. “It’s actually phenomenal that you can do two years of undergraduate work and come right here to the program and three years later have a doctorate degree. You can go out and start saving lives, making a good living, and having an impact,” Vasaitis said.
Vasaitis added that the Eastern Shore is a rural area which presents a unique set of challenges for the health care workforce. Yet, he says their answer to combating that is to home grow talent and keep them here. “This is addressing health care shortages on the Eastern Shore. If you have someone who’s come through Wor-Wic with family here, they’re likely to want to stay here when they graduate,” Vasaitis said.
UMES says with the industry continuing to see advancements, it’s important that students are exposed to the newest technology. They’ll be able to do so thanks to the university’s new pharmacy building that opened earlier this year.
UMES is actually the only HBCU in the country offering a three-year doctoral program in pharmacy.
To be eligible for the program, students must have earned their high school diploma and be admitted to Wor-Wic.
There are also a variety of scholarships and other funding opportunities available to students that could potentially same them up to 40% on tuition at UMES.
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