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The Daily Tar Heel

System Considers 2nd Pharmacy School

Two UNC-system campuses, WSSU and ECSU, would like a pharmacy school to help alleviate a system shortfall.

Administrators at both Elizabeth City State and Winston-Salem State universities are interested in hosting a pharmacy school.

The investigation into whether the UNC system needs another pharmacy school began last year at the request of state legislators who believe there is a shortage of pharmacists in the state.

Gretchen Bataille, UNC-system senior vice president for academic affairs, said the plans are still in preliminary phases. "There haven't been any proposals yet," she said. "We are doing a study."

UNC-Chapel Hill is the only school in the UNC system with a pharmacy school. Officials estimate that an additional school would cost between $15 million and $30 million.

ECSU Chancellor Mickey Burnim said he is hopeful that Elizabeth City State will be chosen as the site for the proposed pharmacy school.

"We would view it as a statewide resource and an economic development component," Burnim said. "No one will benefit more than northeast North Carolina. A school of pharmacy would draw new students and help Elizabeth City State meet goals for enrollment."

But Melvin Johnson, WSSU vice chancellor for academic affairs, said the campus would be the most appropriate site for a new pharmacy school because it already has complementary resources.

"We think WSSU is in a great position based on the health science school and life science school that we have to supplement a pharmacy school," Johnson said, adding that centers in the community would support a school.

"The Baptist Medical Center has proposed to partner with us for courses as well as the wellness centers in the community," he said. "We've already had a preliminary program with consultants. We are in a good position with resources to support the program."

Amy Fulk, spokeswoman for Sen. Marc Basnight, D-Dare, said the senator wants the pharmacy school to be established at ECSU. "(Basnight would) like to see opportunity through higher education programs throughout the state, not focusing on one geographic area," Fulk said.

Burnim said politics will inevitably play a role in a decision. "Realistically anything funded by the General Assembly has some element of politics in it," he said. "Anyone who would suggest there will be no political considerations would not be looking at it realistically."

But Johnson said politics should not be a significant factor in the decision.

"The primary thing is not to put it into the realm of politics based on meeting needs of the citizens in North Carolina," he said. "The overriding considerations are the demand, the available resources, and the strength of other programs."

Both Burnim and Johnson said they are certain a new pharmacy school at their universities would not drain resources or students from the UNC-CH pharmacy school.

"The whole intent would be to add to production of the pharmacists in North Carolina," Burnim said. "It is designed to make additions, not to transfer students from one to another."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.

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