UC Academic Health Center Graduates Secure Lucrative Jobs

CINCINNATI—Students graduating from the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Pharmacy won’t be worrying about what they will do now—100 percent of PharmD graduates have accepted high-paying jobs or are heading to pharmacy practice residencies.

They are among more than 330 students graduating June 10 from UC’s colleges of pharmacy, allied health sciences and nursing.

The three colleges will participate in the all-university commencement at Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center, which is expected to attract 17,000 guests. The colleges of nursing and pharmacy begin with a 9:45 a.m. processional, and the allied health event is at 1:45 p.m. All winter 2006 and spring 2006 graduates are invited to march in the ceremonies.

“Our program is selective and challenging,” says Daniel Acosta, PhD, dean of the College of Pharmacy. “We’re proud of our students for their accomplishments and are elated that every single one of them will have a job or is continuing their education. The pharmacy profession pays well—our graduates have an average starting salary of $96,000.”

Among the College of Pharmacy graduates is the first class to graduate from the master’s of science program in drug development, which began in 2004. Additional students will complete the program in August.

The College of Nursing will graduate 116 undergraduates and 11 master’s and doctoral candidates. Students will take the registered nurse exam in July.

“There’s a shortage of nurses across the country,” says Andrea Lindell, DNSc, dean of the College of Nursing. “It’s a rewarding though very demanding career, but our graduates are well prepared to take on those challenges.”

The College of Allied Health Sciences will graduate 108 students, including 39 in communication sciences and disorders, the largest class in the college.

One hundred fifty medical students graduated from the College of Medicine May 28. Nearly one-third will stay in Cincinnati for residency training. An additional 27 graduates will complete their training at other Ohio hospitals, with the rest heading out of state.

The College of Pharmacy, one of the oldest pharmacy colleges in the United States, offers both professional practice (PharmD) and graduate (MS and PhD) degrees.

Founded in 1889, the College of Nursing was the first school in the country to offer a baccalaureate program in nursing. The college currently has over 1,000 students, including undergraduate, graduate and PhD candidates, making it the 12^th largest nursing school in the United States in terms of student and faculty, according to U.S. News & World Report. The college is also in the top 6 percent in research funding.

The College of Allied Health Sciences, UC’s 16^th college, was founded in 1998 to unite programs spread throughout the university, including communication disorders, nutrition, genetic counseling, medical technology and physical therapy.

In the last six years, the college has added programs and nearly tripled its enrollment—from 470 students in 2000 to more than 1,260 in 2005. The college anticipates that number will increase this fall.