STC, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy partner to prep more pharmacists
The lower Rio Grande Valley is one of two areas of Texas with the lowest number of licensed pharmacists per 100,000 people. Alarming? Many South Texas leaders think so and that is why South Texas College and the Texas A&M University Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy are teaming up to prepare more pharmacists to meet a growing demand.
The two institutions signed an agreement at the end of April, which would ensure that any South Texas College student who earns the college’s Associate of Science, Field of Study Pre-Pharmacy degree, will be guaranteed that all of their courses will transfer to the Rangel College following admission.
“We will be sending you our very best students and know that you will take great care of them,” said STC President Shirley A. Reed. “We also hope that they will return here to practice.”
STC launched its Pre-Pharmacy Program in fall 2009 and currently 17 students are majors in the program. The college anticipates another 40 students to declare a pre-pharmacy major in fall 2010.
“We currently have five students in our college that have taken classes at STC and they are doing well,” said Dr. Charles Robertson, associate dean of student affairs for the Irma Rangel College. “It’s a competitive process to get the best professional for you. Pharmacy is a life-long process and that’s what we are preparing the students for. It’s one of the most trusted professions for a reason.
“South Texas has some very fine students and we are very proud of them,” he added. “We want the ones who truly perform and we have found them here and are proud to say that. We look forward to a very long association with South Texas College.”
The Texas A&M Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy will celebrate the graduation of its first cohort of students on May 15, 2010. The college annually admits between 75 and 80 students. Among the young college’s accolades is a 98 percent retention rate. Additionally, the college is the only college, out of more than 100 in the nation, to receive an exemplary rating on three of the 30 national rating criteria for pharmacy schools.
“We are very excited about this new opportunity for our students and our college,” said Dr. Ali Esmaeili, dean of bachelors programs and university relations for STC. “This agreement marks the 100th such agreement STC has in place with colleges across the world, further showing our commitment to access and opportunity for all our students.”
For more information about STC’s Pre-Pharmacy Program contact Dr. Max Abbassi at 956-872-8312 or Dr. Theresa Garza at 956-872-3024.
