MCV Foundation Commits Support for Pharmacy’s New Bachelor’s Program

By Paul Brockwell Jr. | Photo by Daniel Sangjib Min

Virginia has quickly become a nexus for pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, and the VCU School of Pharmacy – among the top 20 pharmacy schools in the country – is a leader in training the future workforce needed for the industry to thrive. The school ranks 21st in the U.S. for research funding from the National Institutes of Health and has been at the forefront of education and research across the profession for more than 125 years. 

We’re redefining pharmaceutical education.

K.C. Ogbonna, Pharm.D., M.S.H.A., dean, VCU School of Pharmacy

The regional renaissance became more evident last year after a succession of several major pharmaceutical companies announced multibillion-dollar investments in facilities to drive their research and manufacturing efforts around Virginia. Lily, AstraZeneca and Merck joined an already robust community of companies and organizations establishing a presence in the commonwealth. Many are aligning to research the best production methods for drugs and are committed to securing the U.S. critical drug supply chain by reestablishing domestic manufacturing. 

The anticipated need for trained pharmacy professionals will be great, and the School of Pharmacy early on sensed an opportunity to shape the future of that workforce by creating a Bachelor of Science program in pharmaceutical sciences. Many of the jobs coming to Virginia may not require advanced degrees but will demand specialized training, and this new bachelor’s program is designed to fill that gap. This program also provides a gateway for students to consider multiple career paths in pharmacy. 

“Demand has been energetic and tremendous,” said Keith Ellis, Ph.D., the program’s director and an associate professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. “It’s exciting to help develop the talent of the future to meet the current needs of our profession.” 

The undergraduate program is in its second year, and student demand for it continues to outpace capacity. Recognizing the new academic program’s importance to VCU and to the pharmaceutical industry landscape in Virginia, the MCV Foundation Board of Trustees recently approved a special funding request of $1.35 million to support its continued growth. 

“The School of Pharmacy will be a vital partner in this effort to train the profession’s future workforce,” said Steve Gaidos, chair of the MCV Foundation Board of Trustees. “This is one example of the many ways our foundation supports and fosters VCU Health and VCU Health sciences, and we look forward to continuing this type of partnership well into the future.” 

The special funding will help meet needs associated with expanded student interest and enrollment as the school adds education offerings. School leaders have also described a surge in interest from corporate partners who want to engage with the school due to its national reputation and unique array of programs. 

“We’re redefining pharmaceutical education,” said K.C. Ogbonna, Pharm.D., M.S.H.A., dean and Archie O. McCalley Chair at the School of Pharmacy. “This investment will allow us to meet growing demand for the new program sustainably while delivering an excellent education for our students.” 

If you would like to support the VCU School of Pharmacy, please contact Lori Cwalina, senior associate vice president for development of colleges, schools and units, at 804-828-0880 or cwalinal@vcu.edu.