The University of New England College of Pharmacy

Portland, Maine

Founded: 2008

Class Size: Approximately 100 students

To help fill the need for pharmacy education in the Northeast, the University of New England (UNE) College of Pharmacy welcomed its inaugural class in 2009. Since then, the faculty and students have strived to create a close-knit community on campus.

“The College of Pharmacy is located in the exciting city of Portland, which was rated #6 in a Forbes list of Best Cities for Young Adults,” said Dean Gayle A. Brazeau, PhD, in an interview with Pharmacy Times. “It’s an ideal location for those interested in experiencing city life with a community feel.”

This community allows students to develop close relationships with their professors, gain valuable experiences, and take advantage of unique opportunities throughout the 4-year PharmD program. The school is home to the Dallaire Drug Information Center, a training facility that serves as a rotation site for students in their fourth year of the program.

“Students gain exceptional hands-on, professional experience prior to graduation,” Dr. Brazeau said. “Students also work closely with faculty members who not only serve on the boards of top pharmacy associations, but also work as researchers to advance the field.”

Students of the pharmacy program also have the opportunity to study abroad. Short-term programs include 2-week health care immersions in Ghana and summer exchanges at the University of Granada in Spain.

^{The UNE College of Pharmacy is home to 3 teaching laboratories equipped with top-of-the-line research equipment.}

Q: What is unique about your school/program?A: The UNE College of Pharmacy is a tight-knit family. Our sense of community enables students to receive personalized attention from top-ranked faculty who support their personal and professional development. We are also a service-oriented school, committed to serving pharmacy and public health in our communities. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through interprofessional opportunities with local health care organizations. Additionally, we offer students the unique chance to study abroad in countries such as Thailand, Ghana, and Spain, providing them with a well-rounded, cultural experience.

Q: What is the teaching style or philosophy?A: We are a student-centric program, providing an intellectual, collaborative, and supportive environment to each individual. We embrace a culture of life-long learning, encouraging students to seek out research, independent studies, or even policy advocate opportunities with our faculty. The core purpose of the UNE College of Pharmacy is to educate student pharmacists about enhancing patient care and improving health care through research and scholarship.

Q: What opportunities do students have for internships or co-ops?A: Opportunities for students to gain practical experience begin in their first professional year. In addition to working interprofessionally with local hospitals and retail pharmacies, students can choose to explore specialized areas of focus such as laboratory research, drug regulation and policy, pediatrics, pharmaceutical industry, compounding, or long-term care. We are also growing our post-graduate opportunities with a 2-year Biopharmaceutical Fellowship with Synageva, and a Community Pharmacy Residency Program in partnership with Martin’s Point Health Care.

Q: What advice do you have for students who will graduate this year?A: I remind our students at every possible occasion to live their personal and professional lives by the words of author Claude T. Bissell: “Excellence can be obtained if you care more than others think is wise; risk more than others think is safe; dream more than others think is practical; expect more than others think is possible.’”