by Sarah Mummert, Student Writer
The school of pharmacy at Cedarville University is building a legacy of success. In the last nine years, the school has consistently seen a residency match rate for its Doctor of Pharmacy graduates exceeding the national average.
Cedarville’s match rate for this year’s graduating class is 82.6%, exceeding the national average of 75.98%.
This year, students received residencies at many national health centers known for excellence, including The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, as well as local centers, including Dayton Children’s Hospital and the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy.
The school of pharmacy’s residency match rates for Pharm.D. graduates showcases the exceptional preparation these students receive. As part of the school’s relentless pursuit of transformation, Cedarville pharmacy graduates are well prepared with critical thinking skills for advanced practice as a pharmacist, with active and experiential learning built into the curriculum.
“We are very intentional in helping students integrate their faith with their practice,” said Dr. Justin Cole, chair and associate professor of pharmacy practice and director for the Center for Pharmacy Innovation. “As a result, our students are recognized for their ethics, integrity and professionalism, all of which are desired by residency program directors.”
Landing residency positions puts pharmacy graduates in a position to be agents for change early in their careers, something that just over half of the graduating class has accomplished.
“In the U.S. health care system, we do a good job of helping sick people get well, but we don’t always do a good job of keeping them from becoming patients. We have more of a sick care system than a health care system,” Cole said. “We need great pharmacists with advanced training who are ready to change that paradigm, and landing residencies helps our graduates do just that.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is a Baptist university with undergraduate programs in arts, sciences, and professional programs, and graduate programs. With an enrollment of 5,456 students in 175 areas of study, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio and is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including its Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), and high graduation and retention rates. For more information about the university, visit cedarville.edu.