Two new certificate programs at UH Hilo will help pharmacy students specialize after graduation
Student pharmacists will be able to earn a certificate in healthcare leadership or a certificate in health science research.
Students earning a doctor of pharmacy degree (PharmD) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo can now consider two specialization certificates to add to their credentials. The programs are offered at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.
Student pharmacists will be able to earn a certificate in healthcare leadership, which focuses on business administration, or a certificate in health science research, which focuses on research methodology. Both certificate programs will be available to students who begin the doctor of pharmacy program at UH Hilo in the fall of 2016.
“These certificates offer avenues not available at many other colleges,” says Matt Platz, vice chancellor for academic affairs. “They enrich the pharmacy program by helping PharmD students become more competitive in the job market. It’s a very exciting direction for our College of Pharmacy.”
A competitive edge for graduates
The new certificates are available to all PharmD students who have passed their first year as long as they have maintained a 3.0 grade point average, says Karen Pellegrin, director of strategic planning and continuing education at the pharmacy college.
The coursework for each certificate will utilize existing courses along with new or modified subjects that allow the program to run concurrently with work on the doctor of pharmacy degree.
“Through collaboration with the College of Business and Economics, the healthcare leadership certificate leverages our existing courses that are business oriented,” explains Pellegrin. “Students who complete this program will have a better understanding of the business side of the healthcare industry and, thus, will likely have a competitive advantage in the job market.
The health science research certificate gives students experience implementing a research project, says Deborah Taira, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice.
“This program aligns student coursework to support research activities in both academic departments of pharmaceutical sciences as well as pharmacy practice,” she says. “This will help our students be more competitive for postgraduate residency programs, which are increasingly required for jobs in clinical and academic settings.”
Both certificate programs have courses that are already required courses in the doctor of pharmacy program. In addition, both certificate programs require students to use their elective credits for certificate courses.
“This is just another way to give value added to the already valuable Pharm.D. degree,” says Pellegrin.
–Media release on the pharmacy college website.
