Meet Christopher Westrick, PharmD ‘11, @ Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

“Patients are referred to me for chronic disease education and management for conditions like diabetes, smoking cessation, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and anticoagulation. I can start, stop, or change medicines, and order and evaluate pertinent laboratory values. After a patient establishes with me, I typically see them about once per month until their condition improves, at which point the visits become more spaced out.”

What’s to love: “Helping patients understand their disease states and watching them improve. I have patients tell me ‘nobody has taken time to explain that to me before.’”

Skills needed: communication, relationship building, resourcefulness, willingness to fight for patient rights.

Meet Kara Sosinski, PharmD ‘18, @ Cleveland Clinic

“I optimize electronic health records and pharmacy automation. Typical projects include adding alerts, building scoring systems, tracking inventory, creating medication lists and pars for dispensing cabinets, and regulating cartfills and dispense locations. I work alongside managers, nurses and pharmacists who make requests or are affected by new functionality to ensure that the changes are not disruptive but provide maximum benefit.”

What’s to love: “The teamwork required to complete large projects that affect the entire health system. It’s interesting to receive improvement requests daily and brainstorm ways to make others’ workflow smoother.”

Skills needed: critical thinking, organization, ability to work independently, time management.

Meet Ashley Duty, PharmD ‘12, @ Children’s Mercy Kansas City

“I manage 23 pharmacists working in hematology/oncology and general medicine/surgery for a children’s hospital. I also coordinate our sterile compounding operations. Most drug manufacturers do not make things ready-to-use for pediatrics. Pediatric pharmacists must become experts in choosing the right concentration and dosage form for their patients and making those manipulations. We care for babies who weigh only four pounds up to teenagers who are adult sized.”

What’s to love: “The people who work in pediatrics are compassionate and focused on the care and healing of children.”

Skills needed: empathy, detailed-oriented, strong knowledge of drug information.

Meet Kellie Musch, PharmD ’15, @ OhioHealth Columbus

“I oversee all pharmacy services at seven freestanding emergency departments. My team of pharmacists and technicians supports pharmacy operations with order verification, dispensing, compounding, checking and delivery. Additionally, we work with nurses, advanced care providers and physicians to recommend drug therapy, assist with emergency response, perform medication reconciliation and to independently manage post-discharge culture review to make sure the ‘bug matches the drug.’”

What’s to love:  “Making a positive impact on a patient’s life by choosing the right drug for his or her disease, organ function, weight, and age.”

Skills needed: motivation, adaptability, drive, organization, time management.

Meet Michael Cox, PharmD ‘00, @ Loxo Oncology

“I am the medical lead on the development of new drugs for children with cancer. I work with clinical research teams at hospitals throughout the world to design and conduct trials, and also with regulatory authorities like the Food and Drug Administration to lead drugs through the approval process. Every day is different as I work with bench top researchers to develop new drugs based on newly discovered targets in the cancer genome, and also with academic collaborators to publish and present data at global scientific conferences.”

What’s to love: “It’s great to hear how our drugs are changing outcomes for children diagnosed with cancer. While there are setbacks and failures, we learn from those and try again. We never sit and wait, we forge the path forward.”

Skills needed: perseverance, adaptability, innovation, desire to never stop learning.

Meet Kelsey Rife, PharmD ‘12, @ VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland

“As clinical program manager, I oversee our pharmacy intern program, chair our Residency Advisory Committee, and serve as a liaison to pharmacy schools on the coordination of training at our facility. I also maintain a clinical practice in gastroenterology/hepatology that is expanding from hepatitis to include the management of post-transplant, inflammatory bowel disease, and other chronic liver disease patients.”

What’s to love: “The diversity and flexibility of my position. I’ve had the chance to lead many novel process improvement projects that have measurable outcomes, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our day-to-day work.”

Skills needed: leadership, organization, time management, communication.

Meet Alison Haas, PharmD ‘12, @ Jackson Center Pharmacy & Wellness Center

“I own and operate an independent community pharmacy. My husband and I started the pharmacy from scratch in a small Ohio town that had been without a pharmacy for five years. On a daily basis, I counsel patients, fill prescriptions, and run pharmacy operations with tasks like bookkeeping, inventory management and payroll. We also offer customers many enhanced services such as adherence packaging, medication synchronization, and immunizations.”

What’s to love: “Nothing can match the opportunity to take care of the friends and neighbors who live in my small community. The relationships I develop with my patients is by far the most rewarding aspect of what I do.”

Skills needed: entrepreneurial spirit, business skills, communication, relationship-building.

During a weeklong pharmacy course, you’ll discover the expanding role pharmacists play in improving patient lives. You will gain insight into the various science disciplines involved in the research and development of pharmaceutical products and patient care. This camp will evolve as you first learn the history of pharmacy and then progress through an enriching set of hands-on experiences that will expose you to a vast array of pharmacy disciplines. With the guidance of experienced ONU faculty and health care leaders in the area, you will learn drug modeling, design and development; work in a compounding lab; venture into the field of pharmacy where you will visit multiple pharmacy settings; perform research on drug information; and learn more about the expanding role of pharmacists in patient care, assessment and counseling. Lastly, through hands-on lab and research experiences, you will learn the steps required to manufacture a product and how to counsel patients on the use of medications. All of this will prepare you to present your final project to ONU faculty and your parents. Note: the class size is limited to 20 students per week (no exceptions). 2020 camp dates are June 14-19 and June 21-26. Register Now.

Experience counts, and you’ll get plenty of it by venturing out into the region with our award-winning community engagement programs. You’ll come to understand how pharmacists fill health care gaps in rural communities through preventative programs like mobile clinics, health risk assessments, health education and primary care services. By the time you graduate, you’ll have already made a difference. And that’s just the beginning. Learn more.

Learning in the classroom and labs is important, but practicing pharmacy puts your knowledge and skills into action by helping people to live healthier lives. Through practice opportunities on and off campus, you’ll experience the profession of pharmacy guided by an experienced preceptor. We have relationships with more than 1,500 practice sites across the country for both Introductory Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). We go above and beyond to find experiential learning opportunities tailored to your interests and needs.
 

For more information, contact Pat Parteleno, director of experiential programs (419-772-1866); Jennie Grundey, assistant director of experiential programs (419-772-2290); or Lauren Krepps, experiential coordinator (419-772-2418).

Graduate outcomes

On-time graduation rate, NAPLEX passage rate for graduates, MPJE passage rate for graduates, Residencies (percentage of graduates entering PGY1 residency).

Accreditation

The Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy degree is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education

135 S. LaSalle St.

Suite 4100

Chicago, IL 60603-4810

Phone: 312-664-3575

Fax: 312-664-4652

www.acpe-accredit.org

The Higher Learning Commission

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400

Chicago, IL 60602

Phone: 312-263-0456

Fax: 312-263-7462

www.hlcommission.org

The Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy has been fully accredited by ACPE. The next onsite evaluation of the College of Pharmacy is scheduled for 2023-24.

- Accreditation Standards and Guidelines

- Student Complaint Policy and Procedure

GRADUATION RATES

Three-year average (2017-19) 87%

NAPLEX PASSAGE RATES FOR 2016-18 GRADUATES

NAPLEX Passage Rate: The most recent year's NAPLEX results for first-time takers as found on the NABP website and three-year average:

Three-year average (2016-18) 92.51%

MPJE PASSAGE RATES FOR 2016-18 GRADUATES (MOST RECENT YEAR AND 3-YEAR AVERAGE)

MPJE Passage Rate: The most recent year's results for first-time takers as found on the NABP website and three-year average:

Three-year average (2016-18): 91.29%

RESIDENCIES (% OF GRADUATES ENTERING PGY1 RESIDENCY):

The Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University continually exceeds the high standards of pharmacy education. The program is distinctive in that it offers students professional pharmacy and patient-care experiences within the very first year of course work. This is aided by the hands-on, real-world patient experiences that are part of the College of Pharmacy's Experiential Education Dept. Throughout its prominent history, the college has graduated pharmacists who have the luxury of choosing from a vast array of career options. Many alumni have successful pharmacy practices and are active in local, state and national health-related organizations and research. More than one-quarter of all pharmacists in Ohio are Ohio Northern alumni.

 Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum (for students entering in or after Fall 2019)

** This course will be taken in ONE of these semesters; not both

^ There are a variety of courses available for the Elective IPPEs. This will be taken in ONE of the following sessions: P4 Fall, P4 Spring, Summer between P4-P5

Caring for the health needs of rural and underserved populations is a specialty in itself. These patients face different health issues than people in cities and towns and to best serve them, rural health care provider should receive specialized training and hands-o experience working with these populations.

The Rural and Underserved Health Scholars Program will prepare you for rural practice by providing opportunities to develop your leadership skills, gain patient care experience and learn research techniques necessary to understand the unique needs of rural and underserved populations.

Upon completion of this multi-year certificate training program, you will be ready to face the challenges of rural practice by complementing your degree with a specialized skill set.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Seminars – learn about various topics related to rural health, such rural health care and project development.

• Patient experiences – care for patients in rural settings and shadow health care providers who practice in rural settings.

• Research experience – design, implement and evaluate research related to rural and underserved patient populations, in collaboration with faculty members.

• Leadership experience – utilize our tools and guidance to solidify strong leadership skills necessary to enact change in rural and underserved communities.

• Service opportunities – develop and implement service-learning opportunities to address needs and opportunities in a rural, underserved community.

For application questions, please contact Emily Eddy or Michelle Musser. 

Mission

We prepare pharmacists who improve health, serve others, lead change and advance the profession.

Vision

To lead the nation in the preparation of practice-ready pharmacists who serve as primary care providers and team leaders.

Values

We value our family members, faculty, staff, students and alumni through collaboration, community, diversity, excellence, faith, integrity and service.

In the ever-changing world of pharmacy, and with the evolving role of pharmacists as primary care providers and health educators, our duty to the citizens in our community has changed to meet the demands of patients. Since 2010, the Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy has provided health and wellness resources to the community through the outreach efforts of ONU HealthWise, a multidisciplinary team of ONU faculty, students and interdisciplinary health care specialists under the supervision of licensed professionals. Learn more.

With more than a dozen professional, honorary Greek and student-government organizations on campus devoted to the pharmacy profession, getting involved outside the classroom is distinctly ONU. By participating in student organizations, you’ll develop leadership skills and a teamwork mindset. You’ll also build your network with pharmacists around the country, and have the chance to travel, attend and present at professional and scientific conferences.

Professional organizations

• Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)
• American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)
• American Pharmacist Association–Academy of Students of Pharmacy (APHA-ASP)
• Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI)
• National Community Pharmacist Association (NCPA)
• Personalized Medicine Coalition (PMC)
• Polar Pediatrics
• Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP)
• Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA)
• Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP)

Honoraries and Greek

• Kappa Epsilon (Professional Pharmacy Fraternity)
• Kappa Psi (Professional Pharmacy Fraternity)
• Phi Lambda Sigma (Pharmacy Leadership Society)
• Rho Chi (Pharmacy Honor Society)

Student government

• Pharmacy Council

If you are interested in research, you’ll discover opportunities to work side-by-side with ONU professors in a variety of venues, including laboratory, epidemiologic, public health and clinic research projects. Many ONU pharmacy students serve as authors on scientific papers and present research findings at regional and national conferences. High-impact learning experiences like these are distinctly ONU. Learn more.

I. Observation Skills 

All candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the Raabe College of Pharmacy must be able to observe: 

• Lectures; 
• Recitation/Seminar presentations; 
• Experiments; 
• Practice-based activities; and 
• Patients at varied distances from the candidate. 

II. Communication Skills 

All candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the Raabe College of Pharmacy must be able to: 

• Effectively and efficiently communicate in oral and written English; 
• Effectively communicate with patients, caregivers and all members of the health care team; 
• Communicate with compassion and empathy; 
• Communicate efficiently with instructors and peers as well as recognizing and employing non-verbal communication cues; 
• Understand the role of professional communication within the field of pharmacy; and 
• Rapidly elicit information from patients using sensitive and effective communication including information from non-verbal cues. 

III. Motor Skills 

All candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the Raabe College of Pharmacy must have sufficient sensory and motor skills including exteroceptive sense (touch, pain, and temperature), proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibratory), and motor function as well as functional use of the senses of equilibrium needed for diagnostic skills to: 

• Provide adequate patient care and assessment utilizing diagnostic equipment and procedures, 
• Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and other functions required for an emergency response in a timely manner; 
• Provide injections for immunization; 
• Utilize compounding techniques and equipment; 
• Safely and effectively prepare and handle sterile products and perform aseptic techniques; 
• Dispense pharmaceutical compounds and monitor their effects in a patient. 

IV. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities 

All candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the Raabe College of Pharmacy must be able to: 

• Solve problems using varied skills, including: 

1. Measurement 
2. Mathematical calculations 
3. Reasoning 
4. Analysis 
5. Synthesis 
6. Evaluation 

• Incorporate new and changing information obtained during an exercise or patient encounter and modify plans to take that information into account; 
• Identify and communicate the limits of one’s knowledge, when appropriate; 
• Consistently, quickly and accurately integrate all information received by whatever sense(s) employed; 
• Learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data; and 
• Perform the above abilities in a reasonable amount of time consistent with the task at-hand. 

V. Behavioral Attributes 

All candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the Raabe College of Pharmacy must be able to: 

• Read, understand and abide by the Professional Code of Conduct put forth by the Raabe College of Pharmacy; 
• Exercise good judgments in all situations, including but not limited to online communications; 
• Learn to competently function in stressful situations, be flexible and adapt to change; 
• Possess integrity, passion, empathy, concern and interpersonal skills; 
• Exhibit ethical decision making and behavior; 
• Create mature and effective relationships with patients; and 
• Have good moral character, decent values and principled judgment meet the ethical standards set forth by the pharmacy profession