Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) and Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) have entered into a new agreement that will facilitate opportunities for RVCC pre-pharmacy graduates who are interested in pursuing a doctorate degree in pharmacy (PharmD) at FDU College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Florham Park.
According to the agreement, each year five qualified RVCC students who receive an Associate of Science in Biological Sciences following the Pre-Medicine and Pre-Pharmacy track will be granted an interview for possible admission into FDU’s PharmD program, as long as they fulfill certain requirements. These include: maintaining the requisite grade point average in their RVCC major, as well as the individual prerequisite courses; finishing 66 prerequisite undergraduate credits within four academic years; and submitting the required letters of recommendations, one of which may be from a pharmacist.
FDU also will offer admission support and guidance to eligible RVCC students, as well as information sessions at RVCC about the university’s PharmD program.
“We are excited to enter into this new partnership with Fairleigh Dickinson University, which offers an incredible opportunity for RVCC students interested in a career in pharmacy,” said Dr. Sarah Imbriglio, RVCC Dean of STEM. “The agreement also will enable students to continue their higher education, complete a doctorate in this highly competitive field, and remain close to home and their communities.”
Added Dr. Anastasia Rivkin, Dean, FDU College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: “We are excited about our collaboration with RVCC to create a pathway into FDU’s Doctor of Pharmacy program. The pharmacy profession is rapidly evolving, and pharmacists have many exciting career paths, including direct patient care in community and hospital settings, as well as jobs in pharmaceutical industry, managed care, and many others. Pharmacists are medication therapy experts who are essential healthcare professionals on clinical teams. Pharmacists work with doctors, nurses, physician assistants and others to improve patient health. We look forward to collaborating with RVCC to have their qualified students join FDU’s Doctor of Pharmacy program and to welcome them into our FDU College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences community.”
About FDU College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is part of the division of FDU Health. The significant growth in its health science programs now allows for expanding student learning and social spaces and welcoming all health sciences students. Each profession has its own unique identity; having all professions housed within the college creates a variety of interprofessional opportunities as students learn, train and develop together into health professionals prepared for the rapidly changing world of healthcare. Its faculty and staff focus on helping transform neighboring communities by preparing students to be empathetic and resilient healthcare providers. The college prides itself on having built a community that focuses on student success and provides a distinctive student-centered experience that aligns with students’ lives and goals, builds a close-knit collaboration of scholars, elevates students’ prospects, creates diverse career opportunities and responds to the unique talents and interests of the population.
