If you intend to pursue a career in pharmacy, knowing about the accredited pharmacy schools in Kentucky is worthwhile.
Pharmacists, also known as chemists or druggists, are health professionals who control, formulate, preserve, and dispense medications, as well as provide advice and counseling on how to use medicines to achieve maximum benefit, minimize side effects, and avoid drug interactions.
They also provide primary care in the community. Pharmacists receive university or graduate-level education to learn about drug biochemical mechanisms and actions, drug applications, therapeutic roles, side effects, potential drug interactions, and monitoring parameters.
Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology are all related to this. Patients, physicians, and other healthcare providers rely on pharmacists to interpret and communicate this specialized knowledge. An undergraduate or postgraduate pharmacy degree from a recognized university is frequently required for pharmacists to be considered for registration. In many countries, this entails a four- or five-year program to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in pharmacy.
Since 2003, students in the United States have been required to complete a doctor of pharmacy degree in order to become a licensed pharmacist.
Following an undergraduate degree or other approved courses, the doctor of pharmacy degree usually requires four years of study at an accredited college of pharmacy.
Related: 6 Best Accredited Pharmacy Schools in Illinois
To practice as a pharmacist, you must be registered with the regulatory agency in your country, state, or province. Often, a pharmacy graduate must have completed a certain number of hours of experience in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
If the regulatory body governs an entire country, the prospective pharmacist will usually be subjected to a written and oral examination prior to registration. A national examining board administers the required examination if its jurisdiction is limited to a specific jurisdiction, such as a state or province.
Depending on the country, pharmacists must have a Bachelor of Pharmacy, Master of Pharmacy, or Doctor of Pharmacy degree, among other qualifications.
Pharmacy Schools in Kentucky
The most common pharmacist positions are those of a community pharmacist (also known as a retail pharmacist, first-line pharmacist, or dispensing chemist) or a hospital pharmacist, both of which instruct and counsel patients on the proper use and side effects of medically prescribed drugs and medicines. There are two pharmacy Schools in Kentucky, here is a little information on them.
1. University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) has a successful history as one of the country’s leading pharmacy schools. Since its inception in 1870, the College has consistently been ranked among the top ten programs in the country, and it is currently ranked sixth in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Graduates of UKCOP have among the highest first-time pass rates on the national licensing exam (98% in 2018).
UKCOP provides the kind of global education that ensures you’ll be a leader in your field. UKCOP is a preeminent institution for clinical pharmacy education, located on a full health care campus with a level 1 trauma center, the Children’s Hospital, and a VA hospital. What is now the UK College of Pharmacy was founded in 1870, just five years after the University of Kentucky, as the Louisville College of Pharmacy, an independent institution modeled after the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.
After more than a decade, faculty, staff, and students relocated to Lexington permanently. They have been at the forefront of pharmacy education, practice, and research for over 150 years. And they didn’t do it alone.
Their story extends beyond the walls of their building, research labs, and classrooms. It’s the story of a group of people who work tirelessly to improve care and save lives. The four-year PharmD program trains you to think critically and collaborate as part of a team in order to have a long-term impact on the communities and people you will serve. They offer the type of PharmD that will position you as a leader in your field.
The admissions process at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy is intended to identify future pharmacy leaders. Academics, extracurricular involvement, diversity, motivation, communication, teamwork, ethics, and problem-solving skills are all valued in our admissions process. As a result, the learning environment is rich and challenging, encouraging innovation, inquiry, and leadership.
Contact: +1 859-257-9000
Address: Lexington, KY 40506, United States
Read also: 3 Accredited Best Pharmacy Schools in Wisconsin
2. Sullivan University
Sullivan University, located in Louisville, Kentucky, is a private institution of higher learning dedicated to providing educational enrichment opportunities for its students’ intellectual, social, and professional development.
The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has accredited Sullivan University. As the foremost drug information expert, the pharmacist is an essential member of the healthcare team.
They understand the complexities of modern medicine, as well as the implications of natural herbs and traditional medicine.
To provide safe and effective therapy, pharmacists communicate with patients and other members of the healthcare team. They are advocates for the patient’s well-being, community leaders, and researchers and scientists.
The following educational programs are offered at Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: Pharmacy Technician Program, Master of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Master of Science in Pharmacist Care Delivery and Systems Thinking, and PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency Programs.
They take pride in providing high-quality educational experiences with the ultimate goal of graduating top-tier clinicians. Their faculty and staff foster a family culture, and their low student-to-faculty ratios allow for personalized instruction and advising. Furthermore, their community relationships enable them to provide premier clinical sites, ensuring that learners receive high-quality, hands-on experiences.
Before admission to the Sullivan University program, the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (PharmD) requires 72 semester credits (108 quarter credits) of prerequisite coursework, which equates to a two to three-year completed program. The Sullivan University PharmD program is a three-year professional program available on the Louisville campus.
Mission: To provide equitable and inclusive education in order to develop diverse and innovative pharmacists who serve communities and improve health.
Vision: To achieve exceptional well-being by improving the lives of one student, one patient, and one community at a time. Compassion, Leadership, Excellence, Advocacy, and Respect are values.
A three-year accelerated program is available at the Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. In the first and second years, students attend school year round to complete the didactic portion of the curriculum.
The third year of the program is an experiential component in which students work in a variety of practice settings to hone clinical and communication skills. Sullivan students enter the workforce earlier than their cohorts at other schools, despite the fact that the program is demanding.
Contact: +1 502-456-6505
Address: 3101 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40205, United States
Conclusion on the Pharmacy Schools in Kentucky
A pharmacist is an essential member of a healthcare team, and once licensed, a pharmacist can pursue a variety of career paths. Currently, a pharmacist license requires a doctorate degree from a pharmacy school, and post-graduate training may be required depending on a person’s interests and where they want to practice.
The pharmacist, in addition to having many different opportunities in health care, also plays an important role in pharmaceutics and can work in research and development. Overall, once a pharmacist graduates and is licensed, they have a plethora of career options.
In general, a pharmacist’s responsibilities revolve around ensuring the safe and effective delivery of medication. Their work day in the healthcare industry will consist of making recommendations to providers about which medication to use to treat disease states.
They will also be involved in medication dispensing, which is more commonly associated with pharmacists. This includes ensuring that a patient’s medication is appropriate and safe, packaging the medication, and then giving the medication to either the patient or another health care member who will administer the medication.
Another important aspect of a pharmacist’s job is to provide information. This can be done through presentations to other providers or by providing individualized information to each patient.