As Baby Boomers age pressure on this country's healthcare system will rise. Specifically an already diminishing pharmacist population will feel the burden. There's a shortage of 700 pharmacists here in Missouri.
Missouri State University is trying to help with a solution to the problem. Through a collaborative effort MSU will bring a satellite program of the 6 year UMKC Pharm D program to campus.
The UMKC prgram is already accredited, which greatly reduces the cost of starting the program at MSU. MSU president Mike Nietzel says MSU's program would still have to meet the same accreditation standards. Nietzel says the university has seen tremendous interest from the students. The earliest MSU could start a pharmacy program would be fall of 2009. It would admit 30 students every year.