SectionsMSU, UMKC partner for doctorate
Nixon, legislators visit campus to announce $2.1 million in state funding
Kathryn Wall
Issue date: 9/15/09 Section: News
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"Over the past four or five years, Missouri State University has been involved in many special announcements, and, in my opinion, I don't think we've had one that's any more important to the citizens of Missouri than the one we will make today," Nietzel said.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City will set up a $2.1 million satellite program on Missouri State's campus, beginning fall 2011, to address a projected shortage of pharmacists specifically in the Ozarks and in Missouri in general.
"We are facing a critical shortage of health care professionals in the Show-Me State," Nixon said. "Today we simply don't have enough folks who are trained to prepare for these positions in Missouri. Our population is aging quickly and the demand for health care services is increasing every day."
The current program at UMKC and the satellite program at the University of Missouri-Columbia, which is identical to the plan for Missouri State, only takes about one in five applicants, said Bob Piepho, dean of the pharmacy college at UMKC.
With the new satellite program at Missouri State, 30 more students would have the opportunity to get their pharmacy degree and more pharmacists would have the opportunity to stay local.
"Many times we have student come up to Kansas City . . . they meet their sweetheart in Kansas City, and they don't come back home," Piepho said. "By keeping the program here, we will optimize the chance for those students to stay down here."
Leo Morton, chancellor at UMKC, said pharmacists in the area have been fighting for a local program, and the Caring for Missourians plan provided the needed funding.
The Caring for Missourians plan was approved by Missouri's General Assembly this summer and will provide $40 million to different health care education initiatives throughout the state. Nixon was on campus earlier this summer to announce one of the first initiatives to benefit from the state funding - Missouri State's nursing program.
Students in the pharmacy program will be enrolled at UMKC and will be required to participate in the interview process as part of admission in Kansas City. Their degree will be through UMKC.
Nietzel said all courses and internships are anticipated to take place in Springfield for students enrolled in the satellite program and will combine courses taught by UMKC faculty via distance learning technology along with classes taught by Missouri State faculty.
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