Dear Friends,
Welcome to the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. I am honored to welcome you to the pharmacy community. Together—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends—we share a powerful connection. That connection lies in the education of future pharmacy professionals, in research that benefits humankind, in service to the profession, and answering the needs of our greater community. Words can only begin to form a picture of all we do.
Our college recently completed a year-long celebration of 125 years of pharmacy education at Iowa. By looking back we saw how important this institution has been to the state, our nation, and the world. From a modest start with a single faculty member in Iowa’s first pharmacy education program (and only the fourth in the nation), our faculty today educate almost 600 PharmD, Masters, and PhD students, carry out cutting-edge research, are innovators in pharmaceutical care, and are leaders in the profession.
Today, our students continue to be involved in a range of activities that benefit the community and the profession. Alumni help us welcome each new class of students to the profession via the White Coat Ceremony. Of note is the College’s new 1885 Society, a new recognition club that will carry on a long and rich history of high-quality education and training by providing unique opportunities for mentoring and professional development of our students and graduates.
We have recently begun to design and plan for the construction of a new building that will upgrade our existing 1996 addition. The education of our students and cutting edge research efforts have too long been challenged by outdated facilities. A five-year plan supports both new construction and modernization of the existing facility.
Whether it’s educating students in need, continuing to mold the field of pharmacy, or researching new ways to deliver care, words can only begin to form a picture of all that we are. It’s a great time to be a part of the UI College of Pharmacy family!
Yours,
Donald E. Letendre
Dean