First students at new College of Pharmacy to begin classes next week at UNT Health Science Center

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Classes at the new UNT System College of Pharmacy begin Monday, making it the first pharmacy school in North Texas and the only one in the state situated on the campus of an academic health science center.

The College of Pharmacy's location in the middle of UNT Health Science Center's 33-acre campus means that its pharmacy students will be trained alongside future physicians, biomedical researchers and other health professionals already studying at the graduate university in Fort Worth. It is one of five schools that make up the Health Science Center.

"Since its founding, UNT Health Science Center has been an institution with a strong focus on primary care, and the College of Pharmacy supports that mission," said Michael R. Williams, DO, MD, MBA, President of the Health Science Center. "Teamwork is essential in the health-care field, and pharmacists are a critical part of that team."

Under the leadership of its founding dean, Myron Jacobson, PhD, the College of Pharmacy will integrate research, medication management and teamwork across health professions. The program emphasizes the important relationship between patient and pharmacist.

"A pharmacist's detailed knowledge of therapies is vital to finding healthy solutions for patients, and we want to ensure our graduates are at the forefront of that spectrum of patient care," said Dr. Jacobson, who is among approximately 20 faculty members leading the college.

The inaugural Class of 2017 comprises 82 students selected from among nearly 350 applicants. The majority of them are from Texas, with the largest block coming from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

They will undertake three years of classroom study, laboratory work and early clinical experiences. Fourth-year students cycle through advanced clinical rotations. At the end of their studies, students will receive a doctorate of pharmacy, known as a PharmD degree.

UNT Health Science Center

The UNT Health Science Center comprises the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, School of Health Professions and the UNT System College of Pharmacy. Key areas of inter-professional strength include aging and Alzheimer's disease, applied genetics, primary care and prevention. 

SOURCE UNT Health Science Center