THOT member UT Tyler partnered with six local higher education institutions to launch a Pharmacy Early Assurance Program to increase the number of pharmacists locally.
The collaboration between UT Tyler’s Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy and other area colleges and universities gives high-performing undergraduate students a pathway to apply and enroll in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program at the Fisch College of Pharmacy.
“This partnership embodies the forward-thinking and collaborative solutions that THOT member hospitals implement to address Texas’ healthcare workforce challenges,” said Maureen Milligan, Ph.D., Teaching Hospitals of Texas CEO.
Nationally, 41 percent of health system pharmacy leaders reported a shortage of acute clinical pharmacies, and more than a third reported a shortage of ambulatory clinical pharmacists and acute pharmacists, according to a 2023 McKinsey survey. In addition, over the last decade, the number of applicants to Doctor of Pharmacy programs has declined, according to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
The partnering institutions include:
- Tyler Junior College
- East Texas Baptist University
- Panola College
- Sam Houston State University
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Trinity Valley Community College
From the press release:
“The Early Assurance Program exemplifies our dedication to fostering local talent and keeping our brightest minds in East Texas,” said Dr. Amy Schwartz, Fisch College of Pharmacy dean. “By offering this structured pathway, we are helping students achieve their dreams of becoming pharmacists while contributing to the health and vitality of our region.”
