Accreditation is ahead for NEOUCOM pharmacy unit

The program has 600 applicants vying for only 75 student slots this fall.

STAFF REPORT

ROOTSTOWN — The Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM) has moved a step closer to full accreditation for a Doctor of Pharmacy program.

NEOUCOM’s College of Pharmacy was recently awarded candidate status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

“Attaining candidate status is a significant milestone on the road to full accreditation,” said Dr. David D. Allen, dean of the College of Pharmacy. “Candidate status provides great validation for the remarkable progress of our program and the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff and students.”

ACPE accredits Doctor of Pharmacy programs offered by colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States and selected non-U.S. sites. For a program offered by a new college or school of pharmacy, ACPE accreditation generally involves three steps: Precandidate status, candidate status and full accreditation. NEOUCOM’s College of Pharmacy was awarded pre-candidate status in January 2007.

To achieve candidate status, a program must have students enrolled, but not yet had a graduating class. Full accreditation is awarded to a program that has met all ACPE standards for accreditation and has graduated its first class. The ACPE will consider the College of Pharmacy for full accreditation following the graduation of students from the program in 2011.

“This is a tremendous achievement for our institution,” said Dr. Lois Margaret Nora, NEOUCOM president. “Attaining candidate status is a stamp of approval on our curriculum, faculty, student services and facilities. It verifies that we have the processes in place to sustain academic program quality and to achieve our institutional mission and goals.”

The first class of 75 pharmacy students was admitted last fall.

Allen said the program has received nearly 600 applications from students seeking admission for the 2008-2009 school year, a 240 percent increase over 2007 applications. Only 75 openings are available.

“This is extremely encouraging, and a testament to the quality of and need for the pharmacy program,” said Allen. “There is a critical shortage of pharmacists across the nation, and it is going to exist for quite a few years. We are looking forward to growing our program to meet even more needs in the years ahead.”