MCW Pharmacy School Design & Development

Addressing health workforce needs by developing a School of Pharmacy at the Medical College of Wisconsin

Full Project Name:An Innovative Model for Educating the Pharmacists of the Future: Pharmacy school design & developmentPrincipal Investigator:George MacKinnon III, PhD, RPh, School of PharmacyCo-Investigator:Cheryl A. Maurana, PhD, Medical College of WisconsinAward Amount:$3,024,132

Award Date

June2015

Project Duration:32 months

Project Description Narrative:

In Wisconsin, there is a continuing maldistribution of pharmacists in both rural and urban medically-underserved communities. With an aging population and changing health care system that is emphasizing team-based preventive care, pharmacists must adapt and deliver primary care to meet the rising need.

Through this funding award, MCW aims to establish a School of Pharmacy curriculum that will prepare pharmacists to provide quality care in a team setting, reshaping pharmacist training in Wisconsin to focus on the pharmacist of the future. MCW will explore a three-year curriculum that is rigorous yet time efficient, allowing pharmacists to enter residency or the workforce more quickly. The program will emphasize interprofessional education to prepare pharmacists that deliver cost-efficient primary care within a team-based model of care.

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Recruited key faculty to teach in the MCW School of Pharmacy
Established two academic departments (Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Sciences)
Successfully completed the first phase of accreditation processes through Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
Launched the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum
Developed course schedule and delivery methods
Developed student and educational services
Ensured quality introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) and applied pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs)
Established best practices for admission processes, student services, and educational support. The Student Affairs Office conducted 30 visits to regional colleges and universities since November 2016
Leveraged AHW's investment with the addition of $205,000 in extramural funding

Project Updates:

• Recruited key faculty to teach in the MCW School of Pharmacy

• Established two academic departments (Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Clinical Sciences)

• Successfully completed the first phase of accreditation processes through Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education

• Launched the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum

• Developed course schedule and delivery methods

• Developed student and educational services

• Ensured quality introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) and applied pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs)

• Established best practices for admission processes, student services, and educational support. The Student Affairs Office conducted 30 visits to regional colleges and universities since November 2016

• Leveraged AHW's investment with the addition of $205,000 in extramural funding