PharmD-XO: A New Path for Aspiring Pharmacists

UH Hilo’s innovative solution to Hawaiʻi’s healthcare shortage problem is a new extended, online degree program at DKICP

Group portrait of four UH Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) students smiling, two wearing white lab coats, standing in front of a wall of pharmacy shelving. Students from the UH Hilo DKICP program, which is expanding access to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree with the new PharmD-XO option

In a groundbreaking move to bolster Hawaiʻi’s healthcare workforce, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) is launching an innovative pathway for aspiring pharmacists. The new PharmD-XO (extended online) track is designed for working adults and neighbor island residents, allowing them to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree without having to leave their jobs or communities.

Portrait of Dr. Rae Matsumoto, Dean of the UH Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP), who is launching the new PharmD-XO program. Dean Rae Matsumoto

“Here in Hawaiʻi, we’ve known for a long time that we have a physician shortage,” explained Rae Matsumoto, PhD, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, who noted that on Hawaiʻi Island alone, the community has only 60% of the primary care providers it needs. “What we’re doing in the College of Pharmacy is really trying to leverage pharmacists to be able to bridge some of that gap.”

For Precious Asuncion — a pharmacy buyer born and raised on Molokaʻi — the dream of becoming a pharmacist felt impossible. Leaving her island, her job, and her parents who depend on her was simply not an option. Could she have pursued pharmacy school without an online option? “No,” Asuncion said firmly. “I’m a full-time caregiver for my parents. This allows me to go to work, go to school, and still support my family. You can’t ask for more,” the 29-year-old Kamehameha Schools Kapālama graduate said. “I’m just so grateful this opportunity came about.”

Precious Asuncionstands with Kimberly Mikami Svetin, president of Molokaʻi Drugs Inc., in front of the pharmacy sign. Kimberly Svetin (left) and Precious Asuncion (right) at Molokaʻi Drugs location

Kimberly Mikami Svetin, president of Molokaʻi Drugs, says the PharmD-XO program is a game-changer. It means she can invest in talented employees like Asuncion — who she calls a “superstar” — without losing them while they pursue their degree. For the island’s only pharmacy serving 7,000 residents, that changes everything. “I am a huge proponent of growing our own,” Svetin says. “Having someone like Precious complete this program would be unbelievable. She will continue serving the community she loves — and that loves her back — with even greater skill, becoming the first in her family to earn not just a bachelor’s degree but a Doctor of Pharmacy.”

Dean Matsumoto says for years she’s heard the stories from local employers who struggled to meet their community’s needs when aspiring pharmacists had to leave their jobs to move to Hilo to study. The new PharmD-XO 5.5-year track solves that problem.

Coursework is primarily online and asynchronous, allowing students to balance their studies with work and family. Students only travel to Hilo once a year for two to four weeks of intensive, hands-on lab work, with on-campus housing available. The program is the only one of its kind to guarantee all clinical rotations can be completed in Hawaiʻi — giving students vital experience in the communities they intend to serve.

Two UH Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) students smiling and collaborating on a laptop in a classroom. Students review PharmD-XO application now available

A UH Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) student in a white lab coat working at a counter in a pharmacy lab, with rows of medication bottles visible behind him. DKICP student applies his studies in the skills lab

“This is a much needed resource for our island state,” said Dr. Dianqing Sun, Director of Distance Education for DKICP, who stressed that because the PharmD-XO track was designed for working adults, the admissions process is holistic and accessible, and not just about GPAs. This approach opens the door for passionate, experienced individuals who are ready to take the next step in their healthcare careers.

Asuncion says the new pathway makes her dream of giving back to the island home she loves attainable. “Most of this community is my family. They helped raise me, so giving back to them means everything.”

The inaugural PharmD-XO cohort of up to 20 students will begin in January 2026. With applications reviewed on a rolling basis, prospective students are encouraged to apply early.

Asuncion’s advice to fellow aspiring pharmacists is clear: “Opportunities like these are very rare to find, and when they do come around, I just tell people to go for it!”

Applications for the first cohort are due by December 1, 2025. To learn more or to start your application, visit the PharmCAS application portal.

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