School of Pharmacy

PCOM School of Pharmacy

In 2005, in response to an acute need for health care professionals in Georgia and the southeast, PCOM opened a branch campus in Suwanee, Georgia, in the Atlanta suburbs. In 2010, added a doctoral degree program with the opening of the PCOM School of Pharmacy, enrolling 79 students in its inaugural class. At present, PCOM School of Pharmacy Georgia Campus offers the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. PCOM School of Pharmacy has attained "Candidate" status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education in June, 2011. At PCOM School of Pharmacy-Georgia Campus, the faculty is comprised of skilled and proficient teachers, real-world practitioners, and pharmaceutical scientists, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for pharmacy education. The integrated curriculum stresses patient-centered care and preventive practices to produce competent and proficient generalist pharmacists upon graduation.

Research at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy

The faculty members at PCOM School of Pharmacy perform research in the areas of pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal chemistry, pharmacoeconomics, and clinical pharmacy. The pharmacy faculty members come from a variety of different backgrounds including academia, hospital and health-systems pharmacy, community pharmacy, and pharmaceutical industry. They have expertise and interest in a variety of clinically relevant areas including cardiology, diabetes, infectious disease, psychiatry, pharmacoeconomics, and pharmaceutical compounding. PCOM School of Pharmacy faculty members have access to new laboratory and animal facilities to support their research efforts, and clinical faculty members have access to patient populations which allow them to study the effectiveness of pharmaceutical therapy interventions.

The PharmD Program at PCOM

PCOM offers a 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program focusing on patient-centered care. The curriculum is divided between on campus didactic coursework, laboratory instruction, and required and elective experiential education rotations spanning a variety of pharmacy practice settings. The curriculum prepares students to be generalist pharmacists with the background necessary to practice in multiple healthcare settings. During the first 3 years of study, students take required courses and labs in biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, social/behavioral/administrative sciences, and clinical sciences. Elective courses allow students to enhance their knowledge of pharmacy related topics in specific areas. During this period of the curriculum, students take Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) rotations, where they are exposed to pharmacy procedures and settings and begin their hands-on education. Required IPPEs include hospital and community pharmacy practice rotations. PCOM also stresses laboratory instruction to facilitate the practical application of classroom information. Three state of the art teaching labs, including a sterile products lab, a pharmaceutics lab, and a pharmacy practice lab, are used to develop the skills of PCOM pharmacy students in preparation for 4th year rotations. The 4th and final year of the program consists of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) in which students are required to complete different rotations, each rotation consisting of 5 weeks in a particular pharmacy practice site. Required APPE rotations include community, institutional (hospital), ambulatory care, and general medicine pharmacy settings. Elective rotations are also available for students to pursue specific areas of interest. PCOM is partnering with numerous regional institutions within the state of Georgia to provide high quality experiential opportunities for its students.

A Growth Industry

The US Department of Labor Statistics reports that employment opportunities for pharmacists are expected to grow at a faster-than-average pace for the next decade as the large Baby Boomer generation retires and continues to age. The bureau also notes that employers are experiencing difficulty hiring and retaining qualified pharmacists, thus driving up salaries at a greater-than-average rate. These problems are particularly evident in the southeast, where demand fueled by retirees and immigrants has far outpaced the supply of new graduates.

Financial Aid and Assistance at PCOM

Student financial aid at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine may come from federal, institutional, or private sources. Most federal aid is need-based and covers both tuition and basic living expenses anticipated for the student. The PCOM Foundation makes available scholarship monies for students of exceptional merit. Numerous private sources, including corporations and philanthropic foundations, provide aid based on other factors, including need, merit, and work history.