July 26, 2010
Shot in the arm | Maine universities gear up to meet demand for Rx jobs
By Jackie Farwell
Two of Maine’s universities are moving forward with new pharmacy programs, hoping to meet the demands of a booming industry. The pharmaceutical market is expected to grow 4% to 6% globally in 2010 to more than $825 billion, according to Pharmaceutical Drug Manufacturers, which researches the industry. In Maine, jobs for pharmacy technicians are predicted to grow at a rate of nearly 33%, while positions for pharmacists are pegged to grow more than 22%, the Department of Labor has found.
Hoping to stay ahead of the curve in a state with more than its fair share of baby boomers are:
- The University of New England, whose pharmacy school earned candidate status from an accreditation council earlier this month, according to the Portland Press Herald. The school’s doctor of pharmacy program likely will be awarded full accreditation once it graduates students, according to the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education’s website. Graduates of the program, which began admitting students last year, will be given the same privileges as graduates of an accredited program. The program has 100 students, and another 100 will begin this fall.
- Husson University, which earlier this month announced its doctor of pharmacy program has received candidate status from the accreditation council. Rod Larson, dean of Husson’s School of Pharmacy, says the status represents a first step for the program that he hopes will lead to final approval by ACPE, according to a press release from the university. The program’s candidate status means it is in the developmental stage and has not yet had a graduating class, but is expected to achieve full accreditation. The first class is scheduled to graduate in 2013. Applications for the program have increased from 155 to 645 over the past year.
Jackie Farwell
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