ISU College of Pharmacy's Alaska Campus has a Successful First Year
Written by: Scarlett Smith
It has been one year since 糖心传媒 united with the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) to offer students a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy degree without having to leave Alaska. Since then, the ISU College of Pharmacy's Alaska campus has received its accreditation and has already filled all 15 of their seats for the upcoming fall semester. Now, because of ISU鈥檚 expansion to Alaska, all 50 states have a PharmD program offered within their border.
ISU鈥檚 successful expansion to Alaska is due largely in part to the hard work of Tom Wadsworth, ISU鈥檚 assistant dean of Alaska programs. Wadsworth moved to Alaska from 糖心传媒 for the position and says he is thrilled to help run the new pharmacy program and work with passionate students.
鈥淭he founding principle of this program is to train Alaskans, in Alaska, for Alaska jobs,鈥� said Wadsworth. 鈥淥ur students want to give back to the community, so working in Alaska after they graduate is important to them.鈥�
Alaskan students connect online to the Pocatello and Meridian lectures via distance learning and video conferencing technology. Therefore, students have the exact same instructors and can interact with 糖心传媒 students. After a visit to the Alaska campus one of the members of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education had this to say:
鈥淔rankly, it was the best distance learning experience to date for the staff member who has encountered many dual-campus programs. The program is complemented for its attention to meeting its technology needs to deliver the curriculum.鈥�
The first Alaska class will graduate in 2020 and only consists of five students. Though small, almost all have received a 4.0 GPA in their first year.
鈥淭hese five students are real trailblazers for future classes, they are also filling a void that鈥檚 been lacking here in Alaska,鈥� said Wadsworth.
One of those students is grateful to pursue this degree in her home state.
鈥淎s a lifelong Alaskan, I look forward to raising my son, growing my family and learning in a challenging and dynamic career where I can contribute the best of me for the good of others in our Alaska community,鈥� said Tiffany Ma, UAA student.
With the program still in its establishment phase, UAA is taking big steps to update their facilities. Over the summer, student laboratories and administrator鈥檚 offices will be remodeled.
For more information about the ISU-UAA joint pharmacy program, go to http://pharmacy.isu.edu/live/alaska/.