College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Turns 25
Campbell University’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences kicked off its 25th anniversary celebration with a convocation in August. The College will commemorate the milestone throughout the academic year.
“I was thinking about the faculty members present for our first convocation. There were four of us, including myself, who started this school,” said Ronald Maddox, Dean of the College. “I couldn’t help but think about this in terms of where are today and where we were then.”
Established as Campbell University’s School of Pharmacy in 1986, it was the first new pharmacy program to open in the United States in more than 35 years when it was founded.
The pharmacy community paid close attention to Buies Creek when the new school opened its doors to 55 students in the charter class. As the first new pharmacy program in the U.S. in 35 years, some obvious questions were posed.
Would this school make it? What would be the reputation of its students and graduates?
In his role as founding dean, Maddox’s leadership and foresight sent the School on a pioneering mission. The institution was the first to offer an entry-level Doctor of Pharmacy degree in North Carolina, versus a bachelor’s degree, at a contentious time when the future of the PharmD degree was up in the air. It was the first school in the nation to offer a doctorate degree with a required community pharmacy rotation during fourth-year training.
But when the School’s charter class graduated in May of 1990, and later posted 100 percent on the national and state board exams, the questions about the program were answered. Campbell University’s School of Pharmacy had made its mark and was here to stay.
“Looking at the past 25 years, one of my most significant memories is when the charter class posted perfect board results,” said Maddox. “I was proud of our graduates, and these results proved that we laid a strong foundation for our program.”
In its 25th year, the program welcomed 108 first-year pharmacy students — nearly twice the size of the first group admitted. The School now offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in clinical research and pharmaceutical sciences and a professional degree in physician assistant studies. With this academic expansion, the School of Pharmacy became the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences in 2009.
— Andrea Pratt, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Doctor of Physical Therapy ApprovED
In connection with the proposed launch of its medical school, Campbell University is also working to begin its doctor of physical therapy degree in fall 2013.
The University will offer the three-year program through its College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences and plans to enroll 24 students the first year and 32 students subsequently after.
The program may start as soon as 2013, depending on the accreditation process, with a definite start date by fall 2014.
Public Health Degree Set for 2012
Fall 2012 will include a new public health degree, another step by Campbell University to address the shortage of public health professionals in rural settings.
The College of Pharmacy & Health Science will start accepting applications for the two-year program in November, with classes beginning in August 2012.
The degree will focus on training a public health workforce to reach not only these specific populations but also the local community in Harnett County and throughout central North Carolina.