Focus on: Manchester Pharmacy School
Focus on: Manchester Pharmacy School
By Sarah Janssen of The News-Sentinel
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - 12:01 am
For Manchester Pharmacy School Dean Dave McFadden, excitement is building as the first day of the school year approaches.
He said a very strong group of 24 faculty members, a brand-new $19 million building and the first class of 70 students arriving in August all create exciting possibilities for the school.
McFadden has been working with the idea for the school since its conception in 2008 and long after its board approval in 2009. In May, McFadden was named as the school’s permanent dean when the previous dean left in November due to health reasons.
McFadden said there’s still a lot of work to be done in the building before move in on June 25, but the 75,000-square-foot building at the intersection of Interstate 69 and Dupont Road will boast new learning spaces for pharmacy students to focus on pharmacy practice, versus the science of pharmacy.
Spaces will allow for student collaboration and integrate state-of-the-art technology. Other unique spaces include interview rooms designated for students to practice their people skills.
Collaboration will also take place among faculty with the school’s integrated curriculum involving three to five faculty members in one course, each teaching in their specialized area.
The location of the building near the new Parkview Regional Medical Center and Dupont Hospital just minutes away, lends itself to partnerships between the school and local medical facilities.
McFadden said the school partners with the health care community in two ways: Ffaculty will work be working as practitioners and teach teaching on-site, and students will work be working with those faculty and other pharmacy professionals in more of internship-type situations.
Students will begin classes in the new facility Aug. 13.
The demand for pharmacy school seats is evident in the school’s “healthy” waiting list, McFadden said.
The school will accept 70 students in each class until it reaches a capacity of 270 to 280 students after four years. So far, this year’s waiting list is up to 470 students.
“Students will look for the opportunity to go where ever,” McFadden said.
He also said the first class of the school will be a unique group of “risk takers” enrolling in a school that doesn’t have an established reputation.
The majority of students are from the area and the state, but the school has attracted students from Texas, California and states along the East Coast.
