Q&A: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy

Location: Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

Established: 1993

One key component of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy (TTUHSC-SOP) that sets it apart from other programs is the amount of training students receive in caring for actual patients.

TTUHSC-SOP marketing director Maegan Seymour told Pharmacy Times that the school’s students graduate with more clinical contact hours than what is required by accrediting and state licensing bodies or any other pharmacy program in the country.

“We are 1 of just a handful who require our students to complete training in geriatric, pediatric, and rural rotations,” Seymour said in an interview with Pharmacy Times.

Established in 1993, the TTUHSC-SOP building was officially dedicated in 1996, when the school welcomed 65 students into its classrooms. Since then, TTUHSC-SOP has grown across multiple campuses in Texas.

TTUHSC-SOP has been on the forefront of classroom technology. In fact, it was the first pharmacy program in the country to require all students to have laptop computers and to “deliver materials and email services in support of coursework,” according to the school’s website.

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

A: The biggest community outreach effort in which we participate as a school is called Medication Cleanout, which is conducted twice a year at our campuses in Amarillo, Abilene, and Lubbock. Medication Cleanout provides a venue for the public to dispose of unused and unwanted medications in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. It is organized by the Texas Panhandle Poison Center, which is managed by TTUHSC and the SOP.

Our students participate in various charitable events and fundraisers for many local, state, and national causes, including the Eveline Rivers Christmas Project, Toys for Tots, the Texas Ramps Project, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the Panhandle Food Bank, and many more. They have also developed Helping Hands, an event unique to the Amarillo campus where groups of our students donate their time for 1 Saturday to help various charitable organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the Downtown Women’s Shelter, and the Faith City Mission homeless shelter.

Q: What opportunities do students have for internships or co-ops?

A: Almost from the moment they arrive on campus, our students are afforded many opportunities for hands-on learning and training. In their third year, students spend half of their day in class and the other half essentially working as interns at required rotation sites.

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

A: Provide your patients with the best possible care, sustain your education process, and keep yourself up-to-date with the latest trends in pharmacy and health care, because the profession will continue to evolve and present you with new and challenging opportunities as your career moves forward.