The University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s College of Pharmacy and Tusculum University have signed a memorandum of understanding to assist students in completing an undergraduate degree at Tusculum and enrolling in the UTHSC College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program.
Under the agreement, Tusculum students, who are in their final year of completing all prerequisite courses, meet the required grade point average, and apply before the priority deadline, are guaranteed an interview for acceptance and admission to the College of Pharmacy. Although admission is not guaranteed, the agreement provides a clear pathway for Tusculum students to pursue a career in pharmacy. Students accepted for admission will be able to pursue a PharmD, making them eligible for licensure required to practice.
The UTHSC College of Pharmacy is ranked among the Top 20 nationally and No. 6 in the country for the number of students matched for a residency. The college has locations in Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis. It is ranked No. 6 in National Institutes of Health funding and has conducted extensive research in the oncology realm to discover novel small molecule therapeutics for various cancers. Other research areas include the development of new drugs and delivery systems to treat bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, examination of vascular physiology, modulation of hormonal systems, obesity, acute kidney injury, metabolic syndrome, and conditions such as epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation, retinal diseases, and substance abuse. More details about the college are on the college’s website.
The agreement developed from a visit to Tusculum by Kara Bowen, director of admissions and recruitment in the College of Pharmacy, a couple of years ago. “When Tusculum chemistry faculty offered the opportunity to tour in 2021, I was thoroughly impressed with the state-of-the-art labs in the Meen Center, the rigorous natural science curriculum, and the research opportunities students have,” Bowen said. “Having a strong foundation in chemistry, biology, and anatomy and physiology is crucial to success in a graduate pharmacy program. I am confident the caliber of Tusculum’s program will prepare students to continue their passion beyond their bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy.”
Read more at our UTHSC news site.