Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2016

Doctor of Pharmacy School of Pharmacy Receives Full Accreditation Status This summer, Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy received full accreditation status from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The official notification, received July 11, makes Cedarville just one of 130 professional pharmacy schools in the nation. “This is a significant achievement for Cedarville University,” said Marc Sweeney, Dean of the School of Pharmacy. “Launching and establishing an accredited Doctor of Pharmacy program is challenging and requires a significant amount of resources and expertise.” The accrediting organization cited many reasons for the strong accreditation statement, including that the pharmacy students are “the strength of the program,” are “game-changers,” and are professional, articulate, motivated, and passionate about the program. ACPE commended Cedarville’s School of Pharmacy for its mission of addressing needs of the underserved through service learning, including local and international missions. “We believe that Christian pharmacists can play a significant role in serving people in the health care system because they are motivated beyond their own individual achievements,” said Sweeney. The ACPE evaluates schools using 30 different standards that address areas such as processes, outcomes, financial stability, infrastructure, and resources. The evaluation also included more than 100 interviews with students, preceptors, faculty, and staff. “The process was lengthy and challenging, which sometimes affects the workload and morale of everyone involved,” said Sweeney. “In our case, we have been very fortunate to have such a great group of faculty, staff, and students to carry us through to success.” “I particularly want to thank [former President] Dr. Bill Brown, the Trustees, and the leadership team, who had the vision to launch the School of Pharmacy,” said Cedarville President Thomas White. “Dr. Marc Sweeney has provided insightful and steady leadership for eight years in bringing the school this significant recognition.” Currently there are 261 students enrolled in the pharmacy program at Cedarville University; 170 are in the professional program. Pharmacy students are “game- changers” ... professional, articulate, motivated, and passionate. Program Highlights Pharm.D. § § Conservative biblical foundation informs ethics, decision-making, and commitment § § Students develop a patient-centered philosophy that matches problem-solving with compassion to treat the whole person § § Medical doctors on faculty and classes taught with Cedarville’s nursing school promote collaborative approach to health care § § Training in hospitals, local pharmacies, research labs, and other pharmacy settings in the U.S. and abroad ensures a balanced, comprehensive education § § Fully accredited with the program’s strength commended by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education “Looking back at my time here, I can guarantee I would not have become the bold, confident, Christian pharmacist that I am at any other program.” Kasandra Chambers ’13, Pharm.D. ’16 Learn more and apply: cedarville.edu/pharmacy Cedarville Magazine | 15