UH Hilo pharmacy college set to launch new doctor of pharmacy online track in January; application deadline Dec. 1
The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy is launching a new Doctor of Pharmacy Extended Online Track for working adults and others who can’t attend classes and labs full-time on campus.
The pharmacy college at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has announced a new online track for students to earn a pharmacy doctorate (PharmD).
In addition to the traditional on-campus program in Hilo that accepted its first PharmD cohort in 2007, the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy is launching a new Doctor of Pharmacy Extended Online Track for working adults and others who can’t attend classes and labs full-time on campus.
The new program, known as the PharmD-XO track, is scheduled to launch in January 2026. Those interested can apply online; the deadline to apply to start in January is December 1, 2025.
“We are very excited about offering this new, attractive pathway for prospective learners and look forward to serving and supporting them toward their pharmacy journey at the (college),” says Dianqing Sun, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and director of distance education at the pharmacy college.
Sun says that in addition to attracting potential national and international applicants, the new program is a much needed resource for Hawaiʻi, allowing aspiring pharmacists to continue living and working throughout the state in their island communities while pursuing a doctor of pharmacy degree.
Online PharmD track with real-life immersion experiences
Despite it being primarily an online program, the new PharmD-XO track includes immersion experiences for laboratory and experiential learning.
The new track has the same admissions criteria, curricular didactic, experiential courses, and graduation requirements as the traditional on-campus track. But the PharmD-XO is unique because it is offered over five-and-a-half years to help learners balance their personal and professional responsibilities as they earn their degree.
The first four-and-a-half years include online foundational coursework, with a requirement to be on campus in Hilo once a year for two to four weeks to acquire essential clinical skills in the laboratory and practice settings.
The final year of the PharmD-XO track is identical to the traditional PharmD track and requires learners to engage in full-time advanced pharmacy practice experiences in preparation for their licensure board exam, employment, or postgraduate residency training in various pharmacy settings.
UH Hilo’s PharmD program is the only program with an online component that guarantees all clinical rotations can be completed in Hawaiʻi. For those who hope to be employed in Hawaiʻi, this feature offers unparalleled networking opportunities with potential future employers.
UH Hilo also has housing available within walking distance of the pharmacy college, providing a convenient option when students are required to be on campus for the hands-on portions of the curriculum.
-Read full story at UH Hilo DKICP News.
