UNE partners with Saint Joseph's College to create pharmacy career pathway

Photo / Evan Loignon, Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Saint Joseph's College President James Dlugos, left, and University of New England Provost Joshua Hamilton sign an agreement Friday that creates a smooth transition for qualified Saint Joseph's undergraduates to matriculate to UNE's four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program.

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By Staff

The University of New England and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine signed an agreement Friday that gives qualified Saint Joseph’s students a new pathway to becoming pharmacists in Maine.

The partnership — which comes on the heels of UNE’s agreement with University of Maine School of Law giving its marine sciences undergraduates a faster track to a law degree — is intended to create a seamless transition for Saint Joseph’s College students pursuing careers in the pharmacy profession.

“Today’s pharmacists are doing far more than working behind pharmacy counters,” the two schools said in a joint statement. “They serve as wellness and medication experts and invaluable members of integrated health care teams. As the field of pharmacy continues to expand, UNE and SJC are partnering to train qualified health professionals to care for the state.”

The partnerships “4+4 Program” provides a smooth transition into UNE’s four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program to Saint Joseph’s students who have completed 16 specific pre-pharmacy courses as part of their medical biology degree and who have met all other program requirements. Candidates must declare their intention of enrolling in the program by February 1 of their third year of college.

UNE Provost Joshua Hamilton and Saint Joseph’s President James Dlugos finalized the agreement in Friday’s signing ceremony at Saint Joseph’s MacBride Laboratory.

"We are excited to provide high-caliber students at Saint Joe’s with a seamless transition to UNE, where they will learn the skills to prepare them for an array of career paths in the pharmacy profession,” Hamilton said in a news release.

"Given our commitment to wellness and sustainability at Saint Joseph's College, we welcome partnerships that provide a path for our students to pursue careers that meet the workforce development needs in Maine and beyond,” Saint Joseph’s Vice President and Chief Learning Officer Michael J. Pardales added. “This agreement with the University of New England's doctor of pharmacy program is an excellent opportunity for our students."