Welcome from the Dean Greetings from the School of Pharmacy at Union University! My hope is that this brochure will provide information about our program, as well as the unique learning atmosphere that a student will experience at the Union University School of Pharmacy. This truly is a pharmacy school built differently from the ground up. Our home on the campus, Providence Hall, is an incredible facility dedicated to the teaching of excellence in pharmacy education. It is beautiful, stateof-the-art, and futuristic in every way. Members of the School of Pharmacy Leadership were integrally involved in the planning and design of this building from the perspective of pharmacy practitioners and educators preparing future pharmacists to meet the healthcare challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. The resulting facility absolutely supports the accomplishment of these goals and our vision. Union University has been recognized for excellence by such prestigious national publications as U.S.News & World Report, Time/Princeton Review, Peterson’s Competitive Colleges, America’s Best Christian Colleges, and others. At Union, you will find education characterized by rigorous academic pursuit and authentic Christian commitment in a community of forward-thinking faculty, staff and students committed to these ideals. The School of Pharmacy was established in this same great tradition, educating and equipping young pharmacists to enter their practice as confident, prepared individuals motivated by excellence and a desire to serve. The challenges facing the health care community in the 21st century are numerous, and practitioners will need excellent pharmaceutical, professional and ethical training in order to deal with these challenges. Union University equips its students to competently practice in the complex and everchanging arena of pharmacy. Further, and most significantly, pharmacy education at Union University brings forward the University’s commitment to ask important questions about faith. At Union, we explore what the Christian faith and intellectual tradition bring to bear on the subject matter we study as pharmacists. I hope that you will take time to explore Union’s School of Pharmacy as a possibility for your professional training! I invite you to give us a call and schedule a visit to our campus. Come and see what makes us distinctly different. Blessings,
Sheila L. Mitchell, Pharm.D., FASHP Dean, School of Pharmacy The Union University Doctor of Pharmacy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60503 Phone 312-664-3575, Fax 312-664-4652, website www.acpe-accredit.org
A Different Kind of Pharmacy School The profession of pharmacy is ever changing. Now, more than ever, we are on the threshold of exciting new opportunities that could lead to greater discoveries of agents that will cure disease or alleviate symptoms. With these opportunities becoming more challenging, the need for rigorous pharmacy education must be addressed. In 2007, Union University selected the team that would lead the institution to open a School of Pharmacy. However, the goal was not merely to open another pharmacy school. This Leadership Team decided to make strategic changes to the typical pharmacy program.
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Having the opportunity to study pharmacy at Union has been a great blessing in my life. Pursuing the future I feel called to while being shaped by Christian leaders in the field is a chance like none other. Great things are happening at Union, and I am so honored to be a part of them. Whatever my future holds, I know my time here is preparing me well to make a difference in the lives of patients. Ashley Pugh, c l a s s
o f 2 014
Starting with the faculty and curriculum, the School of Pharmacy at Union University has taken bold steps toward a new approach to pharmacy education: • Challenging
students with courses in Non-Prescription
Drugs and Human Gross Anatomy during the first semester • Using
human patient simulator technology within the
first-year curriculum • Committing
to a small class size in order to enhance
personal interaction with professors • Designing
Providence Hall as a hands-on educational
environment where students can actively engage in community and hospital pharmacy practice simulation and scientific research
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Fulfilling the Core Values Excellence-Driven Beginning with the Leadership of the School of Pharmacy, Union University is promoting an Excellence-Driven academic culture that instills knowledge and advances understanding of biomedical, pharmaceutical, social, behavioral, administrative and clinical sciences. Through the recruitment of professors who are exceptional in their respective fields, student pharmacists benefit greatly from the depth of the faculty’s professional expertise, as well as from one-on-one personal and professional mentoring. Union students have been recognized both regionally and nationally for their work in pharmacy, placing among the top performers in organizational competitions that include a focus on patient counseling, non-prescription drugs, and the application of clinical skills. Our faculty members have received recognition in the areas of innovative teaching, patient counseling, and research. Union’s commitment to academic excellence challenges our students and faculty alike.
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I chose Union University to continue my pharmacy education because of the Christian values that Union holds. The School of Pharmacy is set apart because of their concern about more than just turning out numbers of pharmacists. They care about your spiritual growth and your personal professional development which is crucial in the world of pharmacy. Union does more than just claim that they have a Christian worldview, they actually teach it and show it to us on a daily basis. Drew Donaldson, c l a s s
o f 2 013
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Christ-Centered Throughout every academic pursuit in the School of Pharmacy, we provide a ChristCentered environment that focuses on the intellectual, spiritual, and moral development of students in committing themselves to the service of church and society. We begin from the vantage point of faith, which is integrated with learning across the curriculum, even as we struggle with difficult issues and carry on debate in the pursuit of truth. Courses such as Christian Faith and Pharmacy, Medical Missions, and Moral Reasoning in Healthcare equip Union students to think through the challenges and moral dilemmas pharmacists may face in their profession. These courses allow a guided discussion where thought is not diminished and truth is pursued.
People-Focused The faculty is committed to developing pharmacy students as practitioners who are People-Focused in providing optimum care based on evidence and best-practice standards. Through small group advising and personal student mentoring, the faculty extends investment beyond the classroom and takes an active interest in students, both professionally and personally. Along with the rest of the Union family, pharmacy students have found the importance of giving back to the greater Jackson community. Pharmacy faculty and students frequently take the opportunity to serve the community by providing patient counseling at health fairs, educating elementary and high school students about illegal drug use, and volunteering to serve with domestic and international mission opportunities.
Future-Directed The School of Pharmacy is committed to support an academic environment that fosters Future-Directed growth of students and faculty. This vital growth relates to education, practice, research, and scholarship initiatives. State-of-the-art research facilities provide faculty with the opportunity to teach students how chemical structure impacts and determines medicinal characteristics including activity, delivery, and duration of action. These research labs allow students to discover new ways of treating symptoms and managing diseases. Clinical education with pharmacy students is enhanced through the art of simulation education, which is done in collaboration with Union’s School of Nursing. The School of Pharmacy is providing students with hands-on experience that they will find in day-to-day practice. Our students will participate in clinical, “real-life� scenarios utilizing human patient simulators which allow them to provide care to patients with heart failure, respiratory distress, complications from labor and delivery, etc. This allows students to experience being part of a health care team in a controlled, risk-free environment.
General Admission Requirements Admission to the Union University School of Pharmacy is by committee action, based on the overall record and aptitude of the applicant. To be considered for admission, the candidate must meet the following requirements: • Applicants must complete all prerequisite requirements at an accredited institution recognized by American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). • A grade point average of 2.75 or greater on a 4.0 scale is required for pre-pharmacy coursework with a grade “C” or higher. The overall academic average for all courses completed must not be less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. • All applicants must also complete the online PharmCAS application. The application must be complete and include at least three references. • All applicants are required to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) and results should be submitted to PharmCAS. • All applicants will complete a Union University supplemental application. • An onsite interview is required as part of the admission process. Interviews are conducted by invitation only and will be sent via email. A writing sample will be required as part of the onsite interview. While there is a deadline of March 1 of the year in which admission is desired, applicants are encouraged to apply early as space is limited. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year until the class is filled. The Union University School of Pharmacy admits only one class per year in the fall semester. Admission to the School of Pharmacy requires the completion of prerequisite coursework listed below: Course *Biology or Zoology *General Chemistry *Organic Chemistry *Human Anatomy and Physiology *Physics I *Microbiology *Calculus *Statistics Written Composition Communications/Speech +Humanities Electives +Social Sciences Electives +General Electives
Semesters Quarters 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 3 1 1 2 3 2 3 1 2
+ Elective courses must conform to the following distribution Notes: Courses that will increase the strength of the and requirements: Humanities Electives include courses from applicant’s candidacy include Biochemistry, Immunology, arts, history, language, literature, or philosophy. Social Sciences Genetics and a second semester of Physics. Not all introductory Electives include courses from anthropology, economics, courses in the sciences, calculus, or statistics will be accepted political science, psychology, or sociology. General Electives in fulfillment of pre-pharmacy requirements. may be taken in any area(s) the student desires (Christian * For all science, calculus or statistics courses, the prospective studies, sciences, mathematics, humanities or social sciences). pharmacy student should take courses which are suitable for science majors intending graduate study and should include It is also strongly recommended that candidates gain work experience in a pharmacy setting prior to applying. laboratories when available. The calculus course(s) should include both differential and integral calculus.
What Our Alumni Are Saying
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I chose Union University School of Pharmacy because it simply felt right when I came for an interview. The Dean and faculty were genuinely interested in knowing who I was as an individual, what I stood for and why I wanted to be a pharmacist. My experience at Union has led me to four of the best years I could have imagined. I received an outstanding education in an environment built on Christ and with people who feel like a second family to me. I graduated with personal and professional relationships that will last a lifetime. Union truly invested in me as a future pharmacist and as a person. For that reason alone, it is because of Union’s School of Pharmacy that I truly feel prepared for and excited about my career as a pharmacist. Ashley Turner, Pharm.D., P h a r m a c i s t w i t h Ta r g e t, N a s h v i l l e , T N
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I knew that Union University had a reputation for excellence in academics so I was not worried about being a part of the School of Pharmacy’s inaugural class. I had an unbelievable pharmacy education experience. I met many wonderful people (including my wife!) and was challenged throughout my experience. I built great relationships with the faculty due to the smaller class size. These relationships helped me greatly in the classroom but also in networking for my residency. I was able to participate in a medical mission trip to Belize, which was a wonderful experience. I definitely made the right choice in attending the Union University School of Pharmacy and was very well prepared to start my career as a pharmacist. Houston Wyatt, Pharm.D., P G Y 1 R e s i d e n t, S a i n t T h o m a s H o s p i ta l , N a s h v i l l e , T N
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After interviewing there was no doubt that UUSOP was the school for me. At that point in my life, I needed more than just a pharmacy education and UUSOP gave me exactly what I was seeking to help me grow spiritually and professionally. My experience was an extreme challenge, yet one of the most rewarding and fulfilling journeys that I will never forget. Making the transition from pharmacy intern to pharmacist was an eye opener but I was prepared thanks to UUSOP. Mike Jackson, Pharm.D., P h a r m a c i s t w i t h W a l m a r t, At l a n ta , G a
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Choosing UUSOP was an easy decision for me. I attended Union as an undergraduate majoring in Chemistry and quickly fell in love with this school. I loved the Christian atmosphere, the beautiful campus, and the small class size at UUSOP that allowed me to get to know and interact closely with both classmates and faculty. Our school has been blessed with knowledgeable, gifted faculty members who care deeply about our academic performance and our lives both in and out of the classroom. I had the opportunity to be involved with several professional organizations and to participate in a medical mission trip to Belize. I cannot imagine better preparation to start my pharmacy career as a PGY1 resident than the education I received at Union. Alydia Snyder, Pharm.D., PGY1 Resident, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, Jackson, TN
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Student Life at Union The Union University School of Pharmacy is a challenging program where students are pushed to be the best they possibly can. We want students to study hard but also have a rich, student-life experience. A typical day for a pharmacy student begins with class — typically from 8 am – 12 noon. Afternoons may include lab sessions, electives, or studying. Pharmacy students spend a great amount of time in Providence Hall, which is why we have several study rooms throughout the building, as well as a student lounge and a Drug Information Center with computer stations, a copier and printers. Students move through the program as a cohort, meaning that from day one, a class of students takes all the courses in the curriculum together, except electives. The class progresses through the program together all the way to graduation. Cohorts become a family, a support system of peers sharing the same experiences on a day-to-day basis. In addition to opportunities for involvement with their class, there are many pharmacy-related organizations in which students can get involved. Classes and student organizations hold social and community service activities throughout the year. Examples of activities include attending a crawfish boil, going to a Jackson Generals minor league baseball game, providing health-screenings for Jackson’s underserved population, and educating students in local elementary and high schools on the dangers of prescription drug abuse or other health-related issues. Pharmacy students may also participate in the Union University undergraduate intramural sports system. This is a great way to relieve stress and enjoy time with peers. With flag football, basketball, softball, and soccer, students should be able to find just the right sport to nurture their inner-athlete. About Jackson, Tennessee Jackson, known as the Hub City, is located approximately 80 miles east of Memphis and 120 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40. Jackson is the largest city between Memphis and Nashville and serves as a healthcare and manufacturing hub in West Tennessee. With a population of approximately 65,000 in the city limits and approximately 100,000 in the county, Jackson is a thriving and growing community.
1050 Union University Drive Jackson, Tennessee 38305 731.661.5979 uu.edu/programs/pharmacy
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