Page 7 - RxBound-Winter2016-extended
P. 7
How it all began…
I Lee Grunden, PhD, Professor of
n early May of 1990, Dr. Pumerantz asked
Pharmacology in WesternU’s College of
Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP),
to work on a special assignment to provide
input on the potential benefits and drawbacks of
establishing a College of Pharmacy. By January
1991, Dr. Pumerantz was corresponding with the
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
(NACDS), and attendance at the NACDS
Pharmaceutical Conference that same year proved
to be a welcoming and encouraging experience.
The NACDS focus on the importance of interaction
with patients was consistent with osteopathic
thinking. The Small Chain Drug Committee was
also interested in discussing with COMP a five-year
Baccalaureate program in pharmacy in Pomona.
Later in 1991, the California Pharmacist
Association (CPhA) newsletter of November 11th
reported that COMP was seriously considering
establishing a College of Pharmacy, and that
Dr. Pumerantz and Matt Weyuker, Executive
Director of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of
California (OPSC), visited CPhA in October. It also
stated that school officials were leaning toward
offering a BS degree with a PharmD add-on.
Perhaps the impetus came from the fact that the
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM)
was well on its way in establishing its own College
of Pharmacy during this time period. Apparently
chain drug operators across the country, and
particularly in California, were keeping a close
watch on its development, including Dr. Pumerantz
who followed Chicago’s development and studied its
financial projections. By March 1991, he held an
all-day meeting to explore and discuss the various
components of a College of Pharmacy, topics on the
agenda included the shortage of pharmacy schools,
potential degree programs, political challenges, the
pharmacy profession, the growing demand for
pharmacists, accreditation, faculty needs, facilities
and equipment requirements, licensing, budgets, and
funding.
The WesternU Institutional Strategic Planning
Committee (ISPC) would be the vehicle that would
guide the future direction of the college. It identified
institutional strengths, weaknesses, threats, and
opportunities, one of which was the perceived
shortage of pharmacists. In September 1991,
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 5
I Lee Grunden, PhD, Professor of
n early May of 1990, Dr. Pumerantz asked
Pharmacology in WesternU’s College of
Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP),
to work on a special assignment to provide
input on the potential benefits and drawbacks of
establishing a College of Pharmacy. By January
1991, Dr. Pumerantz was corresponding with the
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
(NACDS), and attendance at the NACDS
Pharmaceutical Conference that same year proved
to be a welcoming and encouraging experience.
The NACDS focus on the importance of interaction
with patients was consistent with osteopathic
thinking. The Small Chain Drug Committee was
also interested in discussing with COMP a five-year
Baccalaureate program in pharmacy in Pomona.
Later in 1991, the California Pharmacist
Association (CPhA) newsletter of November 11th
reported that COMP was seriously considering
establishing a College of Pharmacy, and that
Dr. Pumerantz and Matt Weyuker, Executive
Director of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of
California (OPSC), visited CPhA in October. It also
stated that school officials were leaning toward
offering a BS degree with a PharmD add-on.
Perhaps the impetus came from the fact that the
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM)
was well on its way in establishing its own College
of Pharmacy during this time period. Apparently
chain drug operators across the country, and
particularly in California, were keeping a close
watch on its development, including Dr. Pumerantz
who followed Chicago’s development and studied its
financial projections. By March 1991, he held an
all-day meeting to explore and discuss the various
components of a College of Pharmacy, topics on the
agenda included the shortage of pharmacy schools,
potential degree programs, political challenges, the
pharmacy profession, the growing demand for
pharmacists, accreditation, faculty needs, facilities
and equipment requirements, licensing, budgets, and
funding.
The WesternU Institutional Strategic Planning
Committee (ISPC) would be the vehicle that would
guide the future direction of the college. It identified
institutional strengths, weaknesses, threats, and
opportunities, one of which was the perceived
shortage of pharmacists. In September 1991,
WesternU, College of Pharmacy 5
