Moving Ahead, by Degrees

Graduate programs and students continue to advance in the world of health education

The College’s venture into graduate health programs began in 2010 with the opening of the PC School of Pharmacy. Nine years later, the pharmacy school continues to make strides in pharmacy education. Meanwhile, the Physician Assistant Studies Program welcomed its first cohort this past fall. And the newest graduate health program, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program, is scheduled to begin in 2021.

Pharmacy Scores Above the National Average

Sixty-six of the 68 students in the PC School of Pharmacy Class of 2019 passed the pharmacists’ licensure exam on their first attempt when they took it last spring. This first-time pass rate of 97.06% is more than 6% higher than the national average.

Dr. Cliff Fuhrman, professor at the PC School of Pharmacy, credits the curriculum, the faculty and preceptors and the students for the high pass rate.

“(Our curriculum) has extensive learning in various areas of therapeutics, calculations and drug names and usages,” Fuhrman said. “I believe the combination of the curriculum and our faculty and preceptors providing excellent teaching and application skills contributed to these results.”

The PC School of Pharmacy graduates’ average test score was higher than the score from graduates at other pharmacy schools across the nation too.

NAPLEX scores can range from 1 to 150. On average, PC students scored a 101.16. On average, students at other pharmacy schools across the country scored 96.80.

Diabetes Education Program Audit

The Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy Wellness Center is a nationally accredited program through the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE). Drs. Tiffaney Threatt and Eileen Ward are diabetes care and educational specialists who dedicate approximately three days a week to working with patients to help them better understand and improve their diabetes.

The AADE fully accredited the program for another four years following a sucessful audit in November.

“As pharmacists and diabetes educators, we can help patients understand their medications and conditions in order to improve their long-term outcomes and avoid complications,” Threatt said. “PC School of Pharmacy is dedicated to serving the community, and diabetes education is one way we can do this.”

The Wellness Center serves approximately 150 patients each year. Most have Type 2 diabetes. More than one out of 10 South Carolinians are diabetic, and Laurens County is above the state average.

New Pharmacy Dean

Dr. Kurt Wargo began serving as the dean of the PC School of Pharmacy on Feb. 1.

Wargo had served as the interim dean of the Wingate University School of Pharmacy since August. Previously, he was the regional dean for Wingate’s Pharmacy School campus in Hendersonville. Wargo also taught in Hendersonville, first as an associate professor and then as a full professor while serving as regional dean.

“It is certainly an exciting time to join the PC School of Pharmacy with so many positive things happening,” Wargo said. “I look forward to leading the school into our next phase.”

Wargo brings significant experience in administration, fundraising, enrollment management, student retention and student success to his role as dean of the PC School of Pharmacy.