Mississippi getting another pharmacy school in 2018

William Carey University (WCU) in Mississippi is proceeding with plans to start a pharmacy school at its Biloxi campus. The pharmacy school would be the second in the state.

The school, scheduled to open in 2018 with 60-70 students, will offer PharmD degrees. WCU officials said the pharmacy school would employ 20-25 faculty and staff members.

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Michael MalloyWCU said a market study it conducted identified a need for another pharmacy school in Mississippi. WCU President Tommy King said Mississippi and surrounding states are underserved in all medical specialties, including pharmacists. He added that students from Mississippi are forced to go to out-of-state pharmacy schools every year.  

“William Carey University has made great strides in filling unmet needs in the healthcare field,” King said. “Our mission is to prepare individuals to work in underserved areas of the Gulf South and the nation.”

Thus far, the university has raised $3.4 million for the school. It’s estimated that an additional $12-$15 million will be needed to build and equip the school.

“Today’s announcement would not be possible without the support provided by donors and the Gulf Coast community,” King said. “We appreciate their generosity as we work together to improve the health and wellness of the people of Mississippi.”

The proposed school will also serve as the base for a national diabetic research, treatment and prevention institute. Earlier this month, WCU announced it had hired Michael Malloy, PharmD, as the dean for the proposed pharmacy school.

Since 2000, Malloy had held several positions at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, including dean, professor, and executive director. Malloy earned doctorate from State University of New York in Buffalo and completed his residency at the Veterans Administration Hospital/University of Florida in Gainesville. He earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Miami and the University of Florida.

“[This is] the opportunity to create a healthcare profession that can impact the entire coast,” Malloy said. “Because everyone goes to a pharmacy, everyone needs a pharmacist.”