University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy

The University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy (UACP) is a private pharmacy school located in Buchanan County, Virginia. Its main campus is situated in the town of Oakwood, with additional facilities located in Grundy. The school was established in 2003, opened its doors to students in August 2005 ^[1], and now offers Virginia's only three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program. UACP's mission is to improve the quality of life for the residents of Central Appalachia through enhanced education, health care, and economic development. ^[2]

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History

Citing a need to address a higher than normal age adjusted mortality rate (42% higher locally as opposed to the rest of Virginia) and a national pharmacist shortage, local leaders began to explore the possibility of a new pharmacy school in the region. In 2003, the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors commissioned County Attorney and school founder Frank Kilgore to start the school. Spurred by the success of the Appalachian School of Law, the school continued to raise funds quickly and recruit its inaugural class. The school opened its doors in August 2005.^[1]

UACP, like the Appalachian School of Law, was envisioned to be an economic redevelopment tool. In its short existence, UACP is achieving that goal for the Buchanan County community. For example, as the school opened, 80 apartments were being built down the street. The school is forecasted to bring in $20 million per year to the local economy.^[3]

Academics

UACP offers a three year, accelerated, Doctor of Pharmacy program. (Most Doctor of Pharmacy programs last four years.) The school divides its programs into blocks and modules, allowing the student to study one area intensely before getting into another area of study.^[4]

The first year is full of required courses, including: Autonomic Nervous System and Central Nervous System Chemistry and Pharmacology, Basic Chemistry and Cellular Biochemistry, Cardiovascular, Renal, and Pulmonary Chemistry and Pharmacology, Clinical Toxicology, Communications and Interpersonal Skills Seminar, Compounding Lab, Early Pharmacy Practice Experience I and Forum, Endocrine Chemistry and Pharmacology, Gastrointestinal Tract and Skeletal Muscle Chemistry and Pharmacology, Hematology and Immunology, Introduction to Pharmacy, Introduction to Pharmacology, Metabolic Biochemistry and Basic Nutrition, OTC Products, Pharmaceutical Calculations, and Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics.^[5]

The second year also has many required courses, including: Applied Pharmacokinetics, Basic Concepts of Pharmacotherapy, Biostatistics, Pharmacy Practice Experience I (and II) and Forum, Drug Information Techniques and Clinical Research, Jurisprudence and Pharmacy Law I, Early Pharmacy Practice Experience II and Forum, Pharmacy Administration, Physical Assessment. These additional courses focus on pathology and pharmacology: Bone and Joint Disorders, Cardiovascular Disorders, Core Endocrine Disorders, EENT and Dermatological Disorders, Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders/Acid-Base Disorders, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Hematological Disorders, Infectious Diseases, Immunologic Disorders, Neurological Disorders, Oncologic Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders, Renal Disorders, Respiratory Disorders, and Urologic, Gynecologic and Obstetric Disorders.^[5]

Third year students have options to take electives. Students will also have the option of focusing their studies and practices to specific areas through clerkships and rotations.^[5]

Accreditation

UACP has been awarded Candidate status accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Such status is granted to schools with students enrolled but have no graduates. UACP will be eligible to apply for full accreditation after the first class graduates in the spring of 2008. ^[6]

Facilities

  UACP has two campuses located about 15 miles away from one another.

The main campus, located in Oakwood, Virginia, opened in the fall of 2006 to the second class of students enrolled at UACP. The site was formerly Garden High School, a Civilian Conservation Corps project of 1940, and it features a large lecture hall, a library, laboratories, offices, and a boardroom. The building has 25,000 square feet of space.^[7]

The secondary campus, known as the Slate Creek Campus, is located four miles east of Grundy, Virginia. These facilities opened in 2005 to the inaugural class as their primary facilities for study. The facilities are located in the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority Technology Park, which underwent renovations in order to house the school. The facility has 12,674 square feet of space including a library, student government offices, a lounge, laboratories, and faculty and administrative offices.^[7]

Student Life

Pharmacists in Community Service (PICS) Program

Each student is required to serve fifty (50) hours of community service per year as a requirement for graduation. Programs fulfilling this requirement are run by community based organizations that work in collaboration with UACP in order to educate local citizens on health issues and work with local leaders studying health problems.^[8]

Student Organizations

UACP currently has two student organizations, the Student Government Association and the Joint Organization Committee.

The Student Government Association (SGA) is divided by class with each class having a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, historian, and athletic directors for both men and women.^[9]

The Joint Organization Committee encompasses three organizations: American Pharmacists Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and the National Community Pharmacists Association and encourages student participation in the pharmacy profession.^[10]

References