Pharmacy school’s inaugural graduates flush with job offers

Cedarville University’s (CU) School of Pharmacy in Ohio recently held a hooding ceremony for its first PharmD graduates.

A total of 48 graduates received doctorate degrees during a Mayceremony at Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville, Ohio. The university’s pharmacy program is a three-year pre-pharmacy and four-year graduate study. The program has 168 students enrolled in the doctoral program and 115 students in undergraduate pharmacy classes.

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"The pharmacy program began with a computer, an office, and a vision, but has grown to include a new state-of-the art building, nationally recognized faculty, committed staff, practice labs, and a network of professional pharmacists," said Marc Sweeney, PharmD, the school’s founding dean. "It is exciting to see substantial growth in the school of pharmacy and I am eager to see where God will take the program."

Did CU students find work?

According to Sweeney, 15 of the 19 CU pharmacy graduates who applied for residencies were accepted. The residencies included placements at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Thirteen students have accepted full-time positions at hospital and retail chains, one student is opening an independent pharmacy, another has accepted a two-year fellowship, and several others are deciding between multiple offers. Sweeney said most of the jobs have been in the Midwest region of the country.

“In addition to the students' pursuit of pharmacy positions, I have had some companies interested in hiring the entire graduating class. Many students are struggling with too many offers,” Sweeney said.

Marc Sweeney“Some students are trying to determine where they want to live before committing to a position or region of the country.  In some cases, newlyweds or future weddings are delaying decisions,” he said.

Sweeney said he’s heard from several pharmacy chains that “could easily hire all of our students since they were in need of so many pharmacists.”

Kurtis Schultz of Cincinnati accepted a job with CVS in Dayton, Ohio.  "Cedarville University's School of Pharmacy has prepared me for my career by giving me the practical experiences that I needed to excel," Schultz said.

Another graduate, Juanita Draime of Dayton, Ohio, will remain at CU to complete a two-year, academic fellowship. "We have been well-equipped by the school of pharmacy to step out as Christian pharmacists and serve in a manner that will not only provide excellent patient care, but also reflect the love of Christ," Draime said.