MacKinnon Touts College of Pharmacy Successes During Annual Address

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, Dean Neil MacKinnon, PhD, gave his state of the college address to summarize the praise-worthy accomplishments of the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy during the 2016-2017 academic year. 

"It is one of our goals to train everyone to be a leader, to create a caring, compassionate attitude and make transformations at the college by doing things that no one else is doing on the planet,” says MacKinnon, who has witnessed the college’s strategic plan—Lead, Care, Transform—come to fruition through a multitude of faculty, student and staff efforts.

These accomplishments included:  

• Completing a $34 million renovation to the college’s physical plant, to include a new auditorium, new classrooms and laboratories and new student spaces.  
• Receiving $1.3 million in donations from 485 donors in fiscal year 2017, with three new endowments, and growing an engaged alumni base.
• Recognizing the first cohort of students in a recently offered graduate certificate and master’s program in pharmacy leadership.
• Establishing two academic programs in China, offering a master’s degree in cosmetic science with Chongqing Medical University and a master’s degree in drug development with Xiamen University.
• Raising student enrollment in the college from 457 students in 2013 to 505 in 2017.
• Increasing research funding from $8.9 million in 2015-16 to $9.3 million in 2016-2017.
• A 94.4 percent first-time pass rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) exam, compared to state average of 92 percent, and the national average of 90 percent. 
• A 96.1 percent first-time pass rate on the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) exam, compared to a state average of 92 percent, and a national average of 85 percent.
• New study abroad opportunities for PharmD students in Chile in 2017and in Scotland and Italy in 2018.

Additionally, MacKinnon highlighted the strength of the practice partner collaborations, which give students the opportunity to learn first-hand what area of pharmacy appeals to them and their passion. He also noted the critical role of advocacy and gave examples of how students are engaged in the shaping of legislation within the profession.

MacKinnon, whose contract was renewed in 2017 for an additional five-year term, is already looking to the future. 

"Our goal for next year is to hold ourselves accountable on our new strategic plan to see how we are doing in each area so that we can focus and hone in on areas of improvement,” he says.