Shortage of pharmacists spurs USA to consider expansion/
USA eyes major move with pharmacy program
Mobile Register, November 2, 2004 Section: A Page: 4
Author: Jeff Amy

The University of South Alabama is studying whether it should open a pharmacy program, a move that would be a major expansion of health education for the school.

Patsy Covey, USA's vice president for academic affairs, said an initial feasibility study could be complete by the end of the year. Covey and other USA administrators emphasize that plans remain very preliminary, and that it's not certain USA will proceed with it.

In the mid-1990s, USA commissioned a previous study, but Covey said the school "never went beyond the basic looking stage," mainly because leaders didn't think the school could secure enough money for the program.

The move could spark opposition from Auburn University, the state's other public pharmacy school, if USA pulls down state money to aid its efforts. The two public schools could have a partnership opportunity, though. Some of Auburn's advanced students already train at USA's hospitals, and the school has three full-time faculty stationed there.

Two things are pulling USA toward pharmacy. The first is a national shortage of pharmacists. The second is that a pharmacy would bolster USA's already extensive health care offerings, with cross-fertilization that might aid physician training, the school's cancer research effort and other medical research.

Arthur Nelson, the pharmacy dean at Texas Tech University, is studying USA's prospects.

Students in pharmacy school seek a doctor of pharmacy degree. Most students apply after three years of college course work, although an increasing number attain a bachelor's degree. It takes another four years to earn the pharmacy doctorate. Some schools also offer master's and Ph.D. degrees, which represent advanced training beyond the initial pharmacy degree.

An industry group projects a shortfall of as many as 157,000 pharmacists in the United States by 2020, as drugs become a more important part of medicine, and as the American population ages. Those numbers not only represent the people behind the counter at CVS and Walgreens, but also pharmacists who work in hospitals and other settings.

"It's pretty tough in some areas to try to find pharmacists to work," said Bill Eley, the executive director of the Alabama Pharmacy Association.

The hot job market is fueling a boom in applications to pharmacy schools, and causing an increasing number of universities to start offering the program. The number of applications to pharmacy schools rose 42 percent from 2001-02 to 2002-03, according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, based near Washington, D.C.

Nationwide in 2002-03, there were nearly five applications for every seat available in an entering pharmacy class. At Birmingham's Samford University, McWhorter School of Pharmacy Dean Joe Dean said there were 1,200 applicants for 125 spots in this year's entering class.

Lucinda Maine, the executive vice president of the pharmacy college association, said six universities have hired a dean and are setting up new programs, and another six universities, like USA, are in the study stage.

Educating pharmacists is an expensive proposition at Alabama's two existing programs. At Samford, costs run about $12,500 per student per year, while tuition is $20,000. At Auburn, which also runs an even pricier Ph.D. program, costs average nearly $20,000 per student per year. Tuition for Alabama residents is $11,210 at Auburn, while out-of-state students pay $21,750.

"Opening up a school is really a very expensive event," said Lee Evans, dean of Auburn's Harrison School of Pharmacy.

USA would have to get approval from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to add the program. The 13,500-student school would also have to receive approval from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, the Chicago group that safeguards academic quality at 89 American pharmacy schools. Without that accreditation, graduates would not be allowed to sit for licensing exams in most states.

Both Auburn and Samford have expanded their programs in recent years - Auburn now has 454 students and Samford now has 480.

Evans didn't voice outright opposition to USA's plans, but he warned that it might be difficult to provide enough training opportunities in Mobile, saying there might not be enough pharmacists willing to take on students. Auburn's training operations are scattered all over the state.

He also said he thought the state would be better served to put more money into his school, saying it would be cheaper to expand than create another institution. He also voiced doubts over whether USA could afford pharmacy.

"The university doesn't have the resources to do it," Evans said.

Evans also said Auburn might consider opening a satellite program in Mobile, possibly in partnership with USA.

"If they decide there's a market, I will certainly be interested in talking to USA to see what we can do," the Auburn dean said.

The University of Florida, for example, operates three satellite programs. Maine said they're much cheaper than creating a free-standing school.

Covey said USA would be open to talking to Auburn. She said that USA won't go forward unless officials think the outlook is favorable.

"We will have to be very convinced that this is something we should do and that we can do it," Covey said.

This article reproduced with special permission from the Mobile Register.