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By University Communications
August 20, 2007

The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy this fall admitted 90 students into its PharmD (doctor of pharmacy) program, the largest incoming class since the degree program was initiated in 1985. In 1985, the program graduated seven students; last year’s incoming class numbered 89.

“As the only public college of pharmacy in the state, we take our role as provider of new pharmacists very seriously,” says J. Lyle Bootman, dean of the college. “We have been expanding our enrollment as much as possible to help meet the demand for new pharmacists in Arizona.”

Over the past few years, Arizona has repeatedly been ranked among those states with a high need for pharmacists, according to the Pharmacy Manpower Project, Inc. In August 2007, the western region of the United States had the highest demand for pharmacists in the country.

“There are 300 million people in the U.S. and only 200,000 pharmacists,” says Theodore Tong, associate dean of the UA College of Pharmacy, “and one-quarter to one-third of the pharmacists are planning to retire in the next five to 10 years. Add to that the aging of the population and the increasing number of prescriptions that are being written, and you can see we will have a high demand for pharmacists in the near future.”

The University of Arizona’s PharmD program ranks number four in the nation, according to America’s Best Graduate Schools 2006, published by U.S. News and World Report. The average science GPA (grade point average) of the 90 newly admitted students is 3.65 and their average score on the Pharmacy College Admission Test is 78.

College of Pharmacy Background
Total Fall 2007 enrollment in the college is 333 PharmD students and 85 master’s and doctoral students in the following fields:

• medicinal chemistry
• pharmacology & toxicology
• pharmaceutics
• pharmacoeconomics, policy and health outcomes
• clinical research

The enrollment statistics in the PharmD program reflect changing demographics and career choices:

• 61% of student pharmacists are women
• 38% of student pharmacists report being from underrepresented ethnic groups

See www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/media/facts for more information.