Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy

1884

Location: Ada, Ohio

Class Size: 165

The Ohio Northern University (ONU) Raabe College of Pharmacy prepares students to become not only pharmacists, but also citizens.

With a class size of 165, roughly 1000 current students in the program, and more than 6500 alumni, Raabe is one of the largest pharmacy colleges in the country, Dean Steven J. Martin, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, FCCM, said in an exclusive interview with Pharmacy Times.

Raabe is also 1 of only 9 schools to offer direct entry into the professional PharmD program, offering a 0-6 pharmacy experience.

The Class of 2014 saw a pass rate of 97.02% on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination. In addition, 96% of pharmacy students in 2014 were employed full-time or enrolled in graduate or professional school within 6 months after graduation.

A: The profession of pharmacy continues to grow and expand. The need for pharmacists is anticipated to grow by more than 30% over the next 15 years, making the pharmacy profession an attractive career in health care.

ONU is a unique setting to begin that career. The scenic, safe, and modern campus rests on nearly 342 acres in the heartland of America. Its location provides a quaint, small-town atmosphere that complements the friendly environment found on campus.

Five years on campus allows for a rich undergraduate experience, while students are prepared for roles as health care providers and patient advocates.

Q: What is the teaching style or philosophy?

A: The pharmacy program prepares students to be “practice-ready,” allowing extensive patient care experiences throughout the 6-year curriculum. Students learn to be primary care providers through a focus on improving health in the underserved community of Hardin County, Ohio.

In addition to traditional patient care experiences, as well as community outreach and staffing in its Drug and Health Information Center, students at ONU are immersed in an integrated educational style that brings foundational pharmaceutical sciences, clinical sciences, and social and administrative sciences together in learning modules. Students learn to practice in interprofessional teams to prepare for health care delivery in a variety of settings.

Q: What are some community outreach activities or programs the school participates in?

A: All students participate in health-risk screenings, wellness and health education programs, immunization events, medication education and medication therapy management sessions, and other direct patient care services.

Student organizations sponsor many outreach activities, such as cancer awareness programs, childhood obesity intervention, drug-abuse prevention programs, and national events such as Script Your Future Medication Adherence Challenge, Generation Rx, and Operations Diabetes-Heart-Immunization. Student organizations also compete regionally and nationally, and the college’s National Community Pharmacy Association (NCPA) chapter was 2014 Chapter of the Year, as well as the winners of the NCPA Legislative Advocacy Challenge.

Immersion in the profession of pharmacy for 6 years allows students to develop key leadership skills, which have been recognized by their selection to national offices in professional organizations, such as president of the Student National Pharmacists Association, and Senior Student Leadership Council Members for NCPA.

A: Many ONU pharmacy students engage in paid internships in a variety of pharmacy care settings throughout the program. In addition to paid internships, students take advantage of the campus location in a rural, medically underserved community, to utilize pharmacy patient care experiences built into the program to help close the health care gap in the region, as well as reduce the need for students to travel extensively to gain practice experience.

Q: What advice do you have for students who will graduate this year?

A: For our 2015 graduates, I have 3 streams of advice. Develop excellent personal leadership skills to prepare you for the challenges and opportunities that will undoubtedly arise throughout your career. Create a broad foundation for your career through as much training, credentialing, and distinction as possible. And, help everyone you can, including patients, friends, family, students, and strangers. There’s no greater reward than helping someone who needs what you can do.