Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy offers a program of professional study leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. The purpose of the program is to prepare graduates for a successful, lifelong career providing contemporary, patient-centered care in a variety of healthcare settings.

The U.S. healthcare system continues to undergo rapid change. The role of pharmacists and medication therapy in the healthcare system is evolving. We strive to prepare graduates who have the knowledge and skills to engage in innovative practice today and the desire for lifelong learning that will prepare them for what comes in the future.

We instill a strong foundation of knowledge in the basic sciences (e.g., pharmaceutics, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, anatomy and physiology), clinical sciences (e.g., therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, pathophysiology), and social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, economics, health, policy, management) while honing the skills that are needed to provide optimal care for patients (e.g., physical assessment, patient counseling, clinical decision-making).  

Our vision is to develop meaningful interprofessional education (IPE) activities where all students participate in both experiential and didactic settings. Through IPE, students understand the roles and responsibilities of health care professionals that are essential to patient care, gain first-hand experience in interdisciplinary collaboration, and develop their own individual professional identity as part of a larger team.  These competencies are designed so that graduating students are trained to work as a team in optimizing patient health and outcomes. The goal of the IPE curriculum is to provide students with a set of skills and attitudes necessary to practice in an interprofessional environment.

While knowledge and skills are essential, we also ensure that our students develop as responsible citizens with highly professional demeanors who advocate, serve, care, and lead.

Our Mission

Our mission is to develop pharmacists who will provide high quality health care and to make meaningful contributions to the science and practice of pharmacy.

Our Vision

We will be recognized as an exceptional pharmacy program through innovative education, contemporary practice, and valuable scientific contributions.

Our Values

Teamwork, Professionalism, Lifelong Learning, Cultural Competency, Personalized Attention, Community Engagement

Accreditation

Wilkes University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60603-3410; 312-664-3575; FAX 312-228-2631; www.acpe-accredit.org.

Professional Program

The Professional Program is four years and leads to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree after successful completion of a pre-professional program typically completed in two years. Graduates of the program are eligible for state examination to become licensed pharmacists. The four years of education consist of three years of mostly in-class (i.e., lecture, laboratory, discussion group) and one full year of experiential education.

Professional Standards

Students enrolled in the program of the School of Pharmacy are expected to endorse professional standards by subscribing to the Oath of the Pharmacist. Students are also expected to abide by the American Pharmacists Association’s Code of Ethics of the Profession.

Technical Standards

Students applying to and enrolling in the School of Pharmacy are expected to read, acknowledge, and understand the Technical Standards. These Technical Standards describe non-academic abilities that are required for admission to, continuation in, and graduation from the School of Pharmacy to obtain a Pharm.D. degree.

A candidate must have abilities and skills in the following five areas: 1) observational skills; 2) communication skills; 3) motor skills; 4) intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative skills; and 5) behavioral and social skills. Detailed descriptions of the Technical Standards are provided in the School of Pharmacy Application or by contacting the School of Pharmacy Dean’s office.

The School of Pharmacy is committed to helping students with disabilities complete the course of study leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree by reasonable means or accommodations. Candidates with documented disabilities, in accordance with Wilkes University policy, and as defined by section 504 of 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of1993, who may seek accommodations in order to meet the technical standards are encouraged to contact University College to discuss what reasonable accommodations, if any, the School of Pharmacy could make in order for the candidate to meet the standards.

The technical standards set forth by the School of Pharmacy are available at: https://www.wilkes.edu/academics/colleges/nesbitt-school-of-pharmacy/program-information/pre-pharmacy-guaranteed-seat-program/technical-standards.aspx

Progression Requirements

All students in the Professional Program of the School of Pharmacy are required to meet minimum standards for progression. Academic progression requirements include a minimum semester and cumulative pharmacy GPA of 2.0. Please see the NSoP student handbook for more details. Any course with a grade of 0.0 must be repeated. At the end of each semester, the progress of each student in the Professional Program will be reviewed. Students who fail to meet academic progression requirements in the professional program are placed on academic probation by the Committee on Progression. In more severe cases, students may be suspended or dismissed. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy notifies in writing such action to the student. Students should refer to the most recent version of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy Student Handbook for more details.

More inclusive policies, including, but not limited to, Technical Standards, acceptable classroom and experiential site behavior, alcohol and substance abuse, and other issues impacting the image of the professional program and the student, adopted within these guidelines are distributed annually to all students in the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy Student Handbook. Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) progression is described in the APPE Course Manual.

The Nesbitt School of Pharmacy (NSoP) does not replace grades for courses in which a 2.0 or higher passing grade has been earned. If the first time taking a course results in a passing grade of 2.0 or higher, this grade will be used to calculate prerequisite and overall GPA for all purposes in the NSoP This policy applies to the pre-professional and professional programs.

Experiential Curriculum Component

Experiential learning is a critical component of the curriculum at Wilkes. Before being placed in an experiential setting, all students are required to:

• possess an active Pennsylvania Pharmacy Intern License;
• possess professional liability insurance,
• have documentation of immunizations,
• pass a physical examination,
• be certified in Basic Cardiac Life Support (healthcare provider with live component) and Basic First Aid,
• have criminal background checks complete and clear, per site requirements, by an approved provider; and
• complete and clear other site-specific requirements, such as FBI fingerprint check, PA child abuse background check, drug screen, TB testing, etc.
• complete HIPAA and OSHA training
• maintain personal health insurance

These criteria are fully described throughout the curriculum, including deadlines and ramifications of non-compliance.

The Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) consists of a number of different experiences. During the summer following successful completion of the P-1 year, students will complete a 2-week (80 hours) Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE I). The second professional year (the P-2 year) includes 40 hours of IPPE II during the fall and/or spring semester. In addition, students will complete a 2-week (80 hours) IPPE III during the summer after the P-2 year. In the third professional year(P-3) of the professional program, the curriculum includes 80 hours of IPPE IV (Clinical Telepharmacy). IPPE V is a self-directed IPPE and consists of 20 hours of independent pharmacy-related, service-oriented learning earned during the P1 through P3 years. IPPE’s occur at practice sites and in the community in locations not on campus.

The Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) occurs during the fourth professional year (the P-4 year) of the professional program. Each student will be assigned to 7 rotations (5-6 weeks each) comprising a total of 1440 hours, some of which may be at some distance from the Wilkes-Barre area. As much as possible, The School of Pharmacy will assist in locating safe, affordable housing for APPEs. Since patient care is a continuous activity, some experiences may be conducted outside of regular school/business hours. Note also that APPE start and end dates do not adhere to the regular university calendar. The student is responsible for paying all transportation, site requirement, and housing costs for all experiential components of the curriculum, except where noted.

Graduation, Degree and Licensure Requirements

It is the student’s responsibility to meet all graduation requirements, and it is expected that all students accepted into the Pharm.D. Program will meet regularly and frequently with their advisors to ensure timely progress toward their Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Graduation is dependent on successful completion of all required and elective course requirements in the School of Pharmacy (see Progression Requirements) AND completion of all General Education Requirements mandated by Wilkes University.

A student entering the Professional Program with a bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university is exempted from the University’s General Education Requirements, but is not exempted from the prerequisite entry requirements prescribed by the School of Pharmacy for entry into the Professional Program. Students applying with degrees or courses from foreign colleges or universities will be evaluated to ensure significant portions of the General Education Requirements are satisfied. Prerequisite course requirements must still be met.

All non-degreed students entering the Professional Programs are encouraged to complete the General Education Requirements prior to beginning the Professional Curriculum. As mentioned, a student may be deficient in two General Education requirements and be granted admission into the program. Student will receive consultation and documentation from their advisor that these courses must be completed prior to graduation. Students with more than two deficient General Education courses may appeal to the Student Affairs Committee of the School of Pharmacy for consideration. This requirement is in place since there is no room within the professional curriculum, including summers, to complete the courses. As a matter of record, non-degreed students who have successfully completed the second professional year (P-2) in the School of Pharmacy AND completed all General Education Requirements will be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Science degree. The pass-through B.S. degree does not meet eligibility requirements for licensure as a pharmacist; it is only intended to acknowledge the academic achievement of students completing four years of university-level education.

Pharmacy licensure is governed by state law. All states require graduation from an accredited School or College of Pharmacy. Additional requirements for licensure should be requested from the state in which licensure is sought. It is the student’s responsibility to fulfill all requirements for the state in which they seek licensure. Students must contact that State Board of Pharmacy for all appropriate paperwork. For further information, please contact the Dean’s Office in the School of Pharmacy.

The School of Pharmacy reserves the right to revise the Pharmacy Curriculum at any time in order to prepare students for future practice roles, meet new accreditation requirements and to incorporate innovations in instruction.