News Releases

Regis University to Offer the Nation’s First 0-5 PharmD Program

  • Sheryl Tirol
  • November 08, 2023

The University’s pioneer Early Assurance PharmD program for high school seniors

Regis University will be the first institution in the United States to offer a 0-5 Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Early Assurance program. This limited-access program will begin in the fall 2024 semester and will be offered to graduating high school seniors dedicated to earning a Doctor of Pharmacy.   

As medication experts on the healthcare team, pharmacists ensure medication appropriateness, improve medication adherence and coordinate care transitions, among other responsibilities. Pharmacists also work in roles such as clinical trials, regulatory affairs and medical affairs helping with the development of innovative drugs. With a projected 13,400 job openings annually for the next decade, demand for trained pharmacists is great and growing.

Due to the rising demand for pharmacists across the nation, the pharmacy faculty, in collaboration with J.T. Smith, Dean of Admissions, developed this new accelerated pathway. This program is intended to not only meet the need for pharmacists but also provide an alternative for students who are eager to start their careers promptly.

"We are thrilled to offer the 0-5 PharmD program to students. We recognize the shortage of pharmacy professionals, particularly in the retail sector, that needs to be addressed,” said Samit Shah, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions. “With this program, students can be admitted into our doctoral program directly from high school and graduate with their PharmD degree in only five years.” 

The University’s 0-5 Early Assurance program will offer this cohort small classes, world-class faculty-mentors, opportunities to engage in service learning activities and interprofessional education (IPE), and the development of leadership skills. The program also features team-based learning (TBL), hands-on experiential education, and connects students with a vast network of pharmacy professionals.  

The 0-5 PharmD Early Assurance program will additionally offer this select group of passionate high school seniors a significant award: a $150,000 merit scholarship over the five-year program ($30,000 per year).

To qualify for the program, students must: 

  • Enter the program with a 3.5 high school grade point average (GPA) and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA until graduation,
  • live on the Regis campus for the first two years of the program, at minimum,
  • and pursue the set course schedule, remaining with the same cohort for all five years of the program. 

“We are excited to be offering the nation’s first 0-5 PharmD program for high school seniors,” said Senthil Kumar, D.B.A., Senior Vice President and Chief Enrollment Officer. “This program provides students with a unique accelerated pathway to a rewarding career, making a Doctor of Pharmacy affordable and accessible.”

 

 

 

About Regis University

Established in 1877, Regis University is a premier, globally engaged institution of higher learning in the Jesuit tradition that prepares leaders to live productive lives of faith, meaning and service. Regis University, one of 27 Jesuit universities in the nation, has two campus locations in the Denver metro area and extensive online program offerings with more than 6,000 enrolled students. It is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution. For more information, visit www.regis.edu.

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