Belmont University’s School of Pharmacy announced today that it has signed an affiliation contract with Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), assuring the new program’s students a training site in an academic medical center. The agreement will enable students to learn a broad spectrum of skills and competencies while at Vanderbilt, including dispensing of pharmacy products, management techniques, drug information and patient focused care.
Phil Johnston, Dean of Belmont’s School of Pharmacy, indicated that while the Vanderbilt agreement is the first major affiliation, it will not be the last. “We have interest in working with other regional medical centers and hospital corporations,” said Johnston. “Each agreement will be tailored to the needs of students and the attributes of the institution. These agreements and the collaborative teaching that goes on is required by the credentialing body over pharmacy education. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education will expect us to work with the best sites possible for all of the pharmacy student experiences we provide.”
In addition to hospitals, the School will be working with chain pharmacies, independent pharmacies, health care management institutes and research facilities.
Belmont’s School of Pharmacy was first established on June 1, 2007, and will enter its first class of 70 students in the fall of 2008. The school will be part of a the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing, which currently includes studies in social work, nursing, physical therapy and occupational therapy.
The School of Pharmacy at Belmont will be a four-year, graduate program with a foundation in clinical and practical learning. By opening a School of Pharmacy, Belmont will help alleviate a growing problem, a shortage of pharmacy positions projected to call for 1,060 new pharmacy positions needed in Tennessee and over 157,000 nationwide. The School of Pharmacy’s Web site is now online at www.belmont.edu/pharmacy .
Pictured at the official signing of the agreement are the following: (seated, l-r) Dan McAlexander, Belmont Provost; James R. Knight, VUMC Director of Pharmaceutical Services; and Johnston; (standing, l-r) Jack Williams, Belmont Dean for Health Sciences; David Gregory, VUMC Assistant Director for Pharmaceutical Services; and Steve Huffines, VUMC Associate Director of Pharmaceutical Services. Others signing the agreement but not pictured were Wendy Leutgens, Assistant Hospital Director, and Martin P. Sandler, Associate Vice Chancellor for Hospital Affairs, of VUMC administration.
