One could say that Concordia University Wisconsin pharmacy school students have this program "down to a science," as they exceeded national residency match averages for a third successive year.
Over 68 per cent of the Class of 2020 pursuing accredited residency program matching successfully received placements this spring, higher than the 62.9 per cent national average according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). In addition, six members of the Class of 2019 successfully early committed and matched to pharmacy graduate year two residencies, also higher than the national average.
Founded in 1942, ASHP’s National Resident Matching Program provides an unbiased way for matching an individual applicant’s preference across the country. The entity is comprised of nearly 45,000 pharmacists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across the country.
“We’re extremely proud of all our students and the training they receive through our curriculum,” said Sarah Peppard, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, assistant director of experiential education. “These residency match results continue to affirm that they are well-prepared to pursue their desired career options.” Concordia’s curriculum has placed a high emphasis on exposing students to the myriad number of pharmacy careers available to them since its inception, according to Peppard.
“We’ve worked with our community partners to create rotation experiences and curricular pathways that provide opportunities to develop essential skills to be strong pharmacy resident candidates and pharmacy residents,” added Peppard.
“It takes a number of people working together – faculty, staff and administration – to have these great results occur three years in a row,” noted Emily Bryant, PharmD, BCPS, an assistant professor.
Customarily lasting one year and beginning in June or July, the optional pharmacy residencies take place in hospitals, community pharmacies and managed care organizations. Concordia’s pharmacy residents are primarily serving in Wisconsin, with 20 of the 28 in the Badger state.
Concordia’s first class of 71 pharmacy students, named “Genesis,” held its first year of classes in Regents Hall while the school was being built following an August 6, 2010 groundbreaking.
For more information about CUW’s School of Pharmacy, please visit http://www.cuw.edu/pharmacy
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