William Carey University Names Dean of Proposed New Pharmacy School

William Carey University (WCU) is planning to open a pharmacy school at its campus in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the university has just announced the proposed school’s pharmacy dean.

Michael Malloy, PharmD, will be spearheading the leadership of the school. Dr. Malloy comes from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, where he held positions as dean, professor, and chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice. He has a total of 29 years of experience in pharmacy education, including 11 years as a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Auburn University.

Dr. Malloy earned his doctorate from State University of New York in Buffalo and completed his residency at the Veterans Administration Hospital/University of Florida in Gainesville.

The proposed dean seems to have big plans for WCU. He has already prospected hospitals and other health care establishments in the surrounding area to see if they are interested in collaborating with the soon-to-be school of pharmacy, according to WCU.

His hope is that the school of pharmacy draws the attention of students from all over the world.

"In Worcester, I have students from Saudi Arabia, Korea, everywhere. I think we can do that here," Dr. Malloy told The Sun Herald.

Options for obtaining a pharmacy degree in Mississippi are currently limited to only the University of Mississippi. As a result, many residents are forced to study out of state. WCU’s pharmacy school would help combat a critical demand for pharmacists in the area, according to the university

“William Carey University has made great strides in filling unmet needs in the health care field,” WCU President Tommy King, PhD, said in a press release. “Our mission is to prepare individuals to work in underserved areas of the Gulf South and the nation.”

The university has a proposed start date of 2018 with a projected $4 million start-up cost. To date, more than $3.4 million has been raised, according to a school press release.

Although additional start-up funds still need to be raised, Dr. King said there are professors from around the country already showing interest in coming to the school.

“We are stepping out on faith to go ahead and make this move now,” Dr. King said. “We trust the people of the coast and others to support our efforts.”

Anticipated enrollment for the school’s initial class is between 60 to 70 students. The school said it hopes to employ 20 to 25 faculty and staff.

Once fully established, WCU stated that its school of pharmacy will ideally promote and shape the growth of the health care industry along the Gulf Coast and across the state.

The school will also double as the base for a national diabetic research, treatment, and prevention institute.