MSU President Mike Nietzel met Thursday with University of Missouri-Kansas City officials about forming a cooperative program to provide a doctorate in pharmacy. He was expected to brief the Board of Governors at its meeting today in Kansas City.
The satellite site at MSU would offer students a chance to earn their doctorate without having to study in Kansas City.
The pharmacy program would be similar to one started between MSU and the University of Missouri-Rolla, which allows students to earn an engineering degree without transferring to Rolla.
Robert Piepho, dean of UMKC's school of pharmacy, said starting salaries for pharmacists range from $90,000 to $120,000.
"We're going to see if it's a doable program," Piepho said. "I'm optimistic we can make something happen."
Nietzel said MSU's interest in pharmacology is part of a statewide effort on the part of 13 four-year universities to help fill shortages in various health care occupations. By 2012, Missouri is expected to be short nearly 1,000 pharmacists.
"We have all agreed to work together to increase production of health care professionals. In pharmacy, there is a profound shortage," he said.
Nietzel said it may take several years for classes to start but the program is expected to begin with about 30 students a year.
"There are a lot of details to work out," Nietzel said.
It will cost at least $2 million to operate the program but funding could come from the state, if approved next session.
The degree would be granted by UMKC and annual fees for the program are about $16,000, Piepho said. The degree requires six years of course and clinical work.
Piepho said additional faculty and clinical sites would have to be secured in Springfield for the program.
Frank Einhellig, associate provost and dean of MSU's graduate college, said the university already offers many of the required chemistry and biology courses. However, it lacks specialized pharmacy chemistry courses.
"Additional staff would have to be hired for teaching specialty subjects," he said.
Einhellig knows firsthand about the pharmacist shortage, which he says will hit 157,000 nationwide by 2020.
Einhellig's son, Richard, is a pharmacist in Colorado.
"He can get a job overnight, anywhere," he said.
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