HIGH POINT—It was a landmark day for medicine in the Triad on Tuesday as students at the area's first pharmacy school began classes.
Workers began construction on High Point University’s 220,000 square foot schools of pharmacy and health sciences in September.
"We're excited to bring a much-needed educational tool and resource to the Triad,” said Dr. Ron Ragan, dean of the pharmacy school. “We have the opportunity to train pharmacists to practice pharmacy the way it will be in the future."
While the school won't be finished until March, students in its inaugural class are learning at other places around the university.
"It is amazingly exciting,” said student Brittany McCoy. “We had our first day today, and it went very well."
The class of 60 students will graduate in 2020 with a doctorate in pharmacy.
"This building and this class of students with our faculty bring together a lot of important pieces of health care we've been lacking in the Triad over the past 30 to 40 years,” Ragan said.
Once complete, pharmacy students will work with their peers in the health sciences program for collaborative care learning. It's indicative of what they'll see in their careers in the future.
"I think it's great, because we're going to know how to talk to other medical professionals,” said student Jonathan Paez. “We'll know how to collaborate with them. Instead of just reading books, we'll be able to know how to diagnose them and work with our coworkers."
"Cross-professional training, so that not only pharmacy, but physician assistants and the physical therapists can collaboratively learn and grow,” said Vice President of Facilities Steve Potter.
Before they kicked off classes Tuesday, pharmacy students spent the day Monday doing service projects throughout the community.