Page 14 - RxBound Winter 2015 Extended
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IPBP – WesternU’s Nontraditional PharmD Program: One of only six in the US
By Bill Burrows, Director of Development
The WesternU International Post-Baccalaureate PharmD stated, “When I first helped start this program in 2003, we
(IPBP) program, started in 2003, offers a unique training could not have imagined the demand for this program, which
opportunity for international graduates with a bachelor’s continues to this day. We are proud of this program as it not
degree (or equivalent) in pharmacy. Like most Colleges/Schools only brings international diversity to our campus, but also a
of Pharmacy in the United States, WesternU requires four years world of talent from all corners of the globe.” Currently, the
of professional training following two to four years of College receives, on average, 150 applications each year for the
prepharmacy coursework. The IPBP program admits up to 20 20 available seats. The process of admission into this program
American and/or foreign trained pharmacists with a bachelor’s is quite rigorous.
degree (B.S. or equivalent) who wish to earn a Doctor of Before the IPBP students commence their studies in the second
Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Applicants are admitted in year of the program, they are required to attend a mandatory
advance standing into the second year of the traditional one month orientation program. This orientation is designed
PharmD program and bypass the first year completely. to prepare the students for the unique block curriculum
Thereafter, the program is completed within three years, and system at the COP, and covers important study topics, such as
the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree is awarded. immunizations, Objective Structured Clinical Examination
The IPBP program has been extremely successful in attracting (OSCEs), statistics, and the U.S. health care system. The dean
well qualified international pharmacists, and, to date, has also hosts a welcome lunch for the IPBP students each year
graduated almost 200 pharmacists from 27 different where faculty and staff have the opportunity to get to know
countries. In the November 10, 2014 issue of Drug Topics, the the new students.
WesternU College of Pharmacy was featured as one of six Welcoming the newest IPBP class, Dean Robinson reiterated
colleges of pharmacy in the United States currently offering a the importance of the high quality of education offered at
nontraditional PharmD program like the IPBP program. WesternU, and congratulated the students on achieving their
Started as the Mid-Career PharmD Program (MCPP) in 2003, goal of pursuing the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. “You have
the IPBP program has graduated almost 200 pharmacists, and been admitted into the PharmD program after an extremely
today attracts a truly international pool of applicants from 27 rigorous process,” he told the new class. “You should feel
countries. Commenting on the success of the program, Dr. Sunil proud of yourselves, and I am confident that you will have
Prabhu, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs great success with our curriculum, and that you will go on to
have very successful careers in pharmacy.”
Graduates 2005-2014
Armenia 1 Cuba 1 Iran 1 Kenya 1 Saudi Arabia 1 United Kingdom 1
Bangladesh 2 Egypt 1 Ireland 1 Malaysia 1 South Africa 1 Vietnam 5
Burma/Myanmar 1 Ghana 3 Israel 2 New Zealand 2 South Korea 26
Canada 1 Iceland 1 Jamaica 2 Nigeria 1 Taiwan 12
China 7 India 70 Japan 2 Philippines 6 Uganda 1
12 WesternU, College of Pharmacy
By Bill Burrows, Director of Development
The WesternU International Post-Baccalaureate PharmD stated, “When I first helped start this program in 2003, we
(IPBP) program, started in 2003, offers a unique training could not have imagined the demand for this program, which
opportunity for international graduates with a bachelor’s continues to this day. We are proud of this program as it not
degree (or equivalent) in pharmacy. Like most Colleges/Schools only brings international diversity to our campus, but also a
of Pharmacy in the United States, WesternU requires four years world of talent from all corners of the globe.” Currently, the
of professional training following two to four years of College receives, on average, 150 applications each year for the
prepharmacy coursework. The IPBP program admits up to 20 20 available seats. The process of admission into this program
American and/or foreign trained pharmacists with a bachelor’s is quite rigorous.
degree (B.S. or equivalent) who wish to earn a Doctor of Before the IPBP students commence their studies in the second
Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Applicants are admitted in year of the program, they are required to attend a mandatory
advance standing into the second year of the traditional one month orientation program. This orientation is designed
PharmD program and bypass the first year completely. to prepare the students for the unique block curriculum
Thereafter, the program is completed within three years, and system at the COP, and covers important study topics, such as
the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree is awarded. immunizations, Objective Structured Clinical Examination
The IPBP program has been extremely successful in attracting (OSCEs), statistics, and the U.S. health care system. The dean
well qualified international pharmacists, and, to date, has also hosts a welcome lunch for the IPBP students each year
graduated almost 200 pharmacists from 27 different where faculty and staff have the opportunity to get to know
countries. In the November 10, 2014 issue of Drug Topics, the the new students.
WesternU College of Pharmacy was featured as one of six Welcoming the newest IPBP class, Dean Robinson reiterated
colleges of pharmacy in the United States currently offering a the importance of the high quality of education offered at
nontraditional PharmD program like the IPBP program. WesternU, and congratulated the students on achieving their
Started as the Mid-Career PharmD Program (MCPP) in 2003, goal of pursuing the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. “You have
the IPBP program has graduated almost 200 pharmacists, and been admitted into the PharmD program after an extremely
today attracts a truly international pool of applicants from 27 rigorous process,” he told the new class. “You should feel
countries. Commenting on the success of the program, Dr. Sunil proud of yourselves, and I am confident that you will have
Prabhu, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs great success with our curriculum, and that you will go on to
have very successful careers in pharmacy.”
Graduates 2005-2014
Armenia 1 Cuba 1 Iran 1 Kenya 1 Saudi Arabia 1 United Kingdom 1
Bangladesh 2 Egypt 1 Ireland 1 Malaysia 1 South Africa 1 Vietnam 5
Burma/Myanmar 1 Ghana 3 Israel 2 New Zealand 2 South Korea 26
Canada 1 Iceland 1 Jamaica 2 Nigeria 1 Taiwan 12
China 7 India 70 Japan 2 Philippines 6 Uganda 1
12 WesternU, College of Pharmacy
