Message from the Dean

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

With the equinox on the horizon, spring is just around the corner and a return to warmer days. Our students are in the thick of their studies, but for our fourth-years, graduation and the first step into the pharmacy profession is closer than ever. Our students will be entering a workforce impacted by  the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Retirement, which has led to an acute decline in health care workers across the country and in Washington state. Recruiters from chain and independent pharmacies to health care systems have repeatedly expressed the dire need for pharmacists—particularly in rural and urban underserved areas in Washington. We also know that the peak impact of declining health care providers, including pharmacists, has yet to be felt.

Solving these long-term health care issues is at the core of our mission at the college. With help from donors and the university, we are bolstering our programs to ensure Washington and the country has a steady stream of specialized and highly trained health care workers.

One way we are meeting this growing demand is reaffirming our commitment to the Yakima Valley. Our Doctor of Pharmacy program in Yakima aims to meet students where they are, ensuring that students from every corner of the State have access to premier training and resources—whether they are in underserved urban centers or rural areas. Unlike traditional PharmD programs, WSU pharmacists are armed with the knowledge to play a bigger role in patient care, such as counseling and educating patients, monitoring medication use, or collaborating with other health providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients.

To counter the impending shortfall in health care workers, we will also launch a new pathway to fast-track students who show potential in the health sciences. Working with the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, we will be launching a bachelor of science in pharmaceutical and medical sciences degree with our first cohort to start fall 2024. The new program will create a pipeline for various health related degrees, including our Doctor of Pharmacy program. The degree will help to launch students into health care-focused professional programs, strengthen WSU’s existing graduate program, serve as a catalyst for biotech workforce development in Spokane, and provide a path for graduates of Community Colleges of Spokane who want to stay close to home.

While this is a great start for us, more needs to be done and we need everyone’s help. The decline in health care workers affects us all. Currently, Washington state has one of the highest demands for pharmacists in the nation. The only states with higher demand than Washington are Vermont, Connecticut, and Alaska. That’s good news for graduates who will be in high demand. The bad news is we are nowhere near supplying this growing need for pharmacists. Along with our colleagues at the University of Washington, we are actively working to meet the needs of our state, however current enrollment trends mean that only 200 Doctor of Pharmacy students will be seeking employment this year.

You can help to reverse this trend by recruiting promising students into the pharmacy profession, offering financial and professional support for students in our PharmD program, and partnering with us on pathways into pharmacy. Our focus in the next few years is singular – recruit the best talent and provide access to a broad and diverse group of students that want to make a difference, and ensure they have the financial support to thrive.

The Coug spirit puts Cougs first. I know we can ensure a healthier future for all Washingtonians by working together towards this common goal.

Sincerely,

Mark Leid, Professor and Dean
WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences