By Patrick M. Malone, Pharm.D., FASHP, Associate Professor, The Creighton University School of Pharmacy
SubscribeIn recent years, it has become increasingly evident that there is a shortage of pharmacists in the United States. This has been addressed in some cases by increasing the number of students in an established program or by establishing new schools of pharmacy. Creighton University Medical Center's School of Pharmacy and Health Professions has taken a new and unique approach to address the shortage.
It established the first web-based pathway to obtain the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree in 2001, which was originally funded by generous grants provided by the Institute for the Advancement of Community Pharmacy and other sources. This degree pathway is fully accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education and currently has approximately 110 students enrolled.
Pharmacy education programs generally consist of three parts, those being didactic (classroom type education), laboratories, and clerkships (working with practicing pharmacists in various areas, such as community pharmacies, hospitals and nursing homes). Students enrolled in this new degree pathway take their coursework over the Internet during the first three years of a four-year program.
Those classes are the same as taken by students enrolled in the traditional on-campus pathway, although they are taken in a slightly different order and are taken over the course of the entire year, rather than in a traditional Fall/Spring academic schedule. The laboratory sessions are completed in a condensed manner, typically over a couple of weeks on campus each summer. Clerkships are available at hundreds of sites throughout the United States and in some foreign countries. When possible, clerkships are scheduled near the students’ homes.
The major difference between the traditional on-campus and web pathways is the method in which students receive their classes. The on-campus pathway uses more traditional lectures and discussions. The web students, however, receive information via the Internet or CD-ROMs in the form of text, audio and/or video material. Discussions and group projects are conducted using e-mail, chat rooms and/or online discussion boards. These methods even allow students to work cooperatively on specific documents using such software as Microsoft’s NetMeeting.
Exams are usually taken over the Internet, although traditional paper based examinations are occasionally used. To ensure the security of the exam, the students use software that does not allow printing or cutting/pasting of material to or from disallowed programs. In addition, the software will not permit disallowed programs from even being accessed. This secure browser program is used in combination with banks of examination questions and examination proctors, who commonly include local librarians or school teachers (e.g., high school, elementary school) and has even included the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. These proctors are required to insure that students do not receive inappropriate assistance while taking exams, or communicate the contents of exams with others.
In the past, individuals wishing to become pharmacists had to attend one of more than 80 pharmacy schools located throughout the country, often requiring relocation. For some potentially excellent students, relocation is a major problem because of family concerns, finances or prior commitments. This program allows those individuals to satisfy degree requirements with a minimum time spent away from their family. In addition, this pathway serves the needs of students who prefer to work on their own, rather than to attend traditional classes. Some students also are using the pathway to switch professions from such fields as dentistry, podiatry, and engineering.
Students enrolled in this new pathway come from most of the 50 states, Canada and Bahamas. It is expected that in a few years the pathway will have students residing in other countries. Students in the pathway tend to be a few years older than average pharmacy students and often have a considerable amount of previous college credit. The initial online Pharm.D. class has five individuals with previous doctorates in various fields.
This new pathway to obtain a doctor of pharmacy degree appears to be providing a viable, unique approach, opening the profession of pharmacy to many excellent students who would not have the opportunity in the past. It is generating interest from other schools of pharmacy and use of this method of education in pharmacy is expected to increase over the next few years.