College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences confers 206 degrees

206 pharmacy graduates receive degrees from Campbell University program

Sarah Mills | GlobalBeat

Campbell University’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences awarded 206 degrees during spring commencement exercises.

The graduating class included 152 Doctor of Pharmacy recipients and 54 graduates from other health sciences programs. Saturday’s ceremony marked the largest pharmacy class in the college’s 37-year history.

Campbell established North Carolina’s first pharmacy school in 1986 to address rural healthcare shortages. The program maintains partnerships with 5,000 practice sites across the state. Graduates typically enter community pharmacies, hospitals, and clinical practices.

“We’re sending these new pharmacists into communities that desperately need them,” said College Dean Ronald Maddox. The class included 42 first-generation college students. Nearly 60 percent of graduates accepted positions in underserved areas.

The pharmacy program expanded clinical rotations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students administered 15,000 vaccines at Campbell-run clinics. Many graduates completed specialized training in medication therapy management.

Sarah Chen, this year’s valedictorian, will join Duke University Hospital’s oncology pharmacy team. Chen conducted research on rural cancer patients during her rotations. She plans to open a specialized pharmacy in her hometown of Williamston.

“We learned that geography shouldn’t determine your access to quality medications,” Chen told reporters after the ceremony. Her capstone project focused on expanding clinical pharmacy services to eastern North Carolina.

The college reported a 96 percent job placement rate for pharmacy graduates. Average starting salaries reached $118,000 annually. Recruiters from 85 healthcare organizations attended pre-graduation job fairs.

Campbell operates satellite campuses in Research Triangle Park and Raleigh. The main campus in Buies Creek houses simulation laboratories. Students practice compounding medications and patient counseling sessions.

Graduate Kayla Thompson received three job offers before commencement. She accepted a position at Cape Fear Valley Health System. Thompson completed rotations at six hospitals during her final year.

“My rotations showed me how pharmacists prevent medication errors,” Thompson said. She will specialize in psychiatric pharmacy services. Thompson plans to pursue board certification within two years.

The ceremony included recognition of preceptors who supervised student rotations. These practicing pharmacists logged 125,000 training hours with students. Each graduate completed 2,000 clinical rotation hours across various practice settings.

Background

Campbell University’s pharmacy program began after state officials identified critical pharmacist shortages in 1985. The private Baptist university invested $12 million to establish the college. Initial classes enrolled 40 students in a renovated science building.

The program pioneered satellite campuses and distance learning for pharmacy education. Campbell became the first private university in North Carolina to offer pharmacy degrees. The college added physical therapy and physician assistant programs in 2009.

What’s Next

Fall pharmacy enrollment applications increased 15 percent following graduation. The college plans to add pharmaceutical engineering degrees by 2026. Dean Maddox expects another record class size for 2025 commencement.