Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., has received a $35 million grant from Lilly Endowment to launch a School of Pharmacy. The grant–the largest in Manchester College history–will help the college develop its first doctoral program on a Fort Wayne campus, surrounded by regional hospitals, pharmacies, and health care facilities and services.
Responding to the national shortage of pharmacists and openings in pharmacy schools, Manchester announced last fall its plans to seek accreditation for a doctoral program in pharmacy, with the first classes beginning in fall 2012. When accredited, the School of Pharmacy will enroll 265 students in an intensive four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Speaking on behalf of Lilly Endowment, Sara B. Cobb, vice president of education, said, “The school will further important efforts in Indiana to increase opportunities for education and careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) disciplines. The endowment believes this support should add significantly to the intellectual capital in northeast Indiana and enhance the vibrant life sciences sector growing throughout the state.”
“Lilly Endowment is making a powerful impact on the college’s ability to focus on the most important work before us: building a distinctive, academically strong, mission-centered School of Pharmacy,” said Manchester president Jo Young Switzer. “This grant enhances our tools to attract exceptional faculty in a highly competitive market.”
Recruiting and hiring are under way for faculty in pharmacy practice, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacy administration, and biomedical science, said Philip J. Medon, vice president and founding dean of the School of Pharmacy. “Pharmacists practicing in patient-care environments will comprise the majority of the faculty. Pharmacy students will work side-by-side with pharmacists and other members of the health care team in medical care facilities and pharmacies in the community.” (For more visit www.manchester.edu/pharmacy .)
— Jeri S. Kornegay is director of media and public relations for Manchester College.