PIKEVILLE, Ky. — An agreement that will provide qualified Appalachian College of Pharmacy (ACP) students the opportunity to simultaneously earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pikeville (UPIKE) while completing their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree at ACP was jointly announced Wednesday by officials at UPIKE and ACP.
A formal signing ceremony was held January 9 at the Health Professions Education Building on the campus of the University of Pikeville.
Under the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement, beginning in the 2019 spring semester, ACP students will be able to enroll in UPIKE-Coleman College of Business’s MBA program, which transitioned to a fully-online format in August 2018. The program also offers classes year-round.
“The ability for our students to be able to simultaneously earn their MBA’s from UPIKE while they are completing their pharmD degrees here at ACP is a significant enhancement to the education students will be able to obtain while studying at ACP,” said ACP Dean Susan Mayhew. “Possessing business skills is important in any business, but it is increasingly important for today’s pharmacists, many of whom chose to open their own pharmacy businesses, or whose business skills serve as an additional reason for an employer to consider hiring them.”
UPIKE’s MBA program prepares learners for successful careers by providing relevant curriculum and experiences on a flexible schedule. With three specializations available – professional, healthcare and entrepreneurship – students are empowered to customize their education to best suit their ambitions.
UPIKE faculty and staff look forward to collaborating with ACP to equip pharmacy students with valuable skills, as well as to help shape education in Central Appalachia.
“UPIKE’s Coleman College of Business (CCOB) strives to meet needs in the region with appropriate academic programs,” said Howard Roberts, Ed.D., MBA, CCOB dean. “The delivery of healthcare is becoming increasingly complex and, therefore, healthcare providers must increase their business acumen. Pharmacists who have developed skills in areas such as accounting, finance, strategic planning and cost-effectiveness are in high demand.”
