About Philadelphia College of Pharmacy

Throughout its 200-year history, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy has been a leader in defining and advancing the profession of pharmacy and innovating in the pharmaceutical sciences. From its founding, the college invited “the spirit of pharmaceutical investigation and research” in addition to its educational mission. Faculty, staff, students and alumni of the College continue this tradition as leaders and innovators in their fields. PCP is housed in the School of Health Professions at Saint Joseph’s University.

The mission of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy is to educate and develop students to become leaders and innovators in patient care, research and business who are differentiated by their professional and ethical values.

The College is distinguished by its leadership role and impeccable professional ethics establishing a global reputation for impacting the profession of pharmacy though advocacy, excellence in patient care, interprofessional collaboration, developing innovative practice models and research and development.

The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy will be globally recognized for developing learners who excel in innovative, compassionate, collaborative, evidence-based patient care, scientific and practice advancements and research.

To realize our vision, PCP will focus on six strategic goals:

1. Provide academic programs focused on student-centered learning experiences that develop professional competencies, build emotional and cultural intelligence and enable students to become leaders and innovators in patient care and research.
2. Cultivate a community of PCP students, alumni, faculty and staff promoting a continuum of professional growth and leadership.
3. Establish PCP as the leader in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences education through a focus on research and scholarship, partnership, innovation, entrepreneurism and student success.
4. Enhance continued quality improvement of PCP strategic planning through a comprehensive and integrated strategic planning, assessment and reporting process.
5. Maintain and expand a diverse portfolio of programs, services and research activities that support and expand the financial base and physical resources of PCP.
6. Foster a culture within the college that embraces and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion, and recruit and retain skilled, highly engaged and diverse groups of faculty, staff, students, administrators and leadership at all levels.

The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program at Saint Joseph’s University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education:

190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60603
312-664-3575, FAX 866-228-2631
Website: www.acpe-accredit.org

You must be licensed by the state in which you decide to practice. Each state has different licensure requirements, but all require graduation from an ACPE-accredited college of pharmacy, internship experience and the passing of examinations specified by the board of pharmacy within the state.

North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination

Every state will require you to take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), the national licensure exam for pharmacy. The exam is developed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) for use by the state boards of pharmacy as part of their assessment of competence to practice pharmacy. It is a valid and objective examination that tests your mastery of the most important aspects of competent practice, as defined in the NAPLEX competency statements. NAPLEX scores can be transferred from state to state. NAPLEX Pass rates for Philadelphia College of Pharmacy students can be found here.

Internship Experience

Practical experience and hours are required for licensure, but the experience hours vary from state to state. Some states’ requirements are satisfied by the sixth-year clerkship.

On-Time Graduation Rates

Percent of students who graduated within the specified 4 years of the PharmD program:

NAPLEX Passing Rates for First Attempts

Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Graduate Placements in Residencies and Fellowships

• 34 graduates from the class of 2023 graduates were matched with a PGY1 pharmacy residency program. This represents an 83% match rate (based on the number seeking residencies) and exceeds the national average. Residency placements included local health systems such as Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson Hospital and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Other graduates matched at more distant sites such as Memorial Health University Medical Center (Savannah GA) and HCA Florida Largo Hospital (Largo FL).
• 7 PGY-1 residents from the class of 2022 who applied for a PGY-2 residency matched (88% match rate). Programs included Jefferson Abington Hospital (critical care), Cooper University Hospital (emergency medicine) and Long Island Jewish Memorial (infectious diseases).
• 13 graduates from the class of 2023 earned placements in a pharmaceutical industry fellowships which is a significantly higher rate than other schools/colleges of pharmacy. Industry sites included companies such as Pfizer, Janssen, and Merck.
• At least 43% of the class of 2023 went on to postgraduate training.

The following are the technical standards that apply to all clinical training students in Saint Joseph’s University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program.

Technical standards are the non-academic admission criteria that are essential to participation in the University’s programs. These standards are categorized into the following areas: [1] communication; [2] cognition; [3] behavioral/professionalism; and [4] psychomotor skills. Applicants and students must have and maintain the ability to perform or meet these essential tasks, skills and standards with or without reasonable accommodations. By applying to and accepting admission to Saint Joseph’s University, you acknowledge that you have read and understand the Technical Standards and believe that you have the ability to meet them, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Saint Joseph’s University recognizes that a diverse campus community is essential to enriching intellectual exchanges and enhancing cultural understanding. The University values equality of opportunity, mutual respect, and an appreciation of diversity. As part of this commitment, the University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.1 The University is not required to waive these essential standards, because that would be a fundamental alteration of the nature of these programs. Please refer to the Disability Services Policy for more information.

Students with disabilities who believe they require an accommodation(s) to either meet these Technical Standards, to fully access the admissions process, and/or to participate in and benefit from the program curriculum and other programs and services of USciences, are encouraged to contact the TBD to participate in a confidential consultation. Accommodations are not retroactive; therefore, students are encouraged to contact the TBD as early as possible to allow for adequate time to consider and implement any approved accommodations.

Communication

Students must be able to:

1. Communicate professionally, effectively and sensitively with patients and all members of the healthcare team, both in person and in written form, that reflect professional values and those of the University.
2. Retain, recall, and deliver information in an efficient and timely manner.
3. Accurately share and record information from patients’ records, through history taking, and through communications with the healthcare team.
4. Participate in class discussions/group projects/practice labs for the purpose of delivery and receipt of scientific/medical information.
5. Identify and describe changes in affect, including facial expression, mood, emotions, activity and posture, of others in the classroom and clinic, and respond appropriately.
6. Communicate effectively with others from varied social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.
7. Explain to other healthcare professionals, patients, and/or caregivers the reason(s) for treatment, preventative measures, disease process, monitoring plans and need for referral.

Cognition

Students must be able to:

1. Analyze, interpret and integrate information during patient examinations and throughout patient management to make clinical decisions.
2. Retrieve, recall, retain, and apply medical, scientific, and professional information and literature in the classroom and in clinical experiences.
3. Utilize effective clinical judgment and problem-solving skills to address difficulties in a timely manner within all learning environments.
4. Multi-task, prioritize and perform tasks in an accurate, logical, and sequential manner.
5. Accurately perform scientific measurements and calculations in clinical environments.
6. Demonstrate the ability to learn effectively through a variety of modalities including, but not limited to, classroom instruction, remote learning, asynchronous learning, small group discussions, laboratory experiences, individual study and preparation and presentation of written and oral reports.
7. Acknowledge limitations of knowledge and/or performance in order to obtain appropriate supports and provide optimal patient care.

Behavioral/Professionalism

Students must be able to:

1. Exercise professional judgment to maintain patient safety and well-being.
2. Display professional behavior, including, but not limited to, punctuality, dependability, organization and responsibility.
3. Self-manage to adapt to rapidly changing environments.
4. Respond promptly and professionally to stressful situations.
5. Display integrity, interpersonal skills, motivation, compassion and concern for others.
6. Self-reflect, be receptive to feedback and modify behavior to improve skills, patient-client relationships, and patient/client outcomes.
7. Establish and maintain mature, sensitive, effective relationships with patients, families, students, faculty, staff, preceptors/supervisors and other professionals under all circumstances.
8. Demonstrate appropriate assertiveness, delegate responsibilities and function as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
9. Identify and take responsibility for one’s own actions and decisions, inclusive of seeking supervision and/or consultation in a timely manner.
10. Demonstrate respect for differences in cultures, experiences, identities, values and ethics among others.
11. Recognize and respond appropriately and in a timely manner to potentially hazardous situations, including those that are life-threatening.
12. Respect the confidential relationship between healthcare practitioner and patient and not violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) or other applicable confidentiality obligations.
13. Abide by both the Saint Joseph’s University’s Code of Conduct2 and the professional standards of practice in accordance to the respective Oaths of Healthcare Professionals.

Psychomotor/Motor

Students must be able to:

1. Use technology to accurately record information and convey critical health-related documentation.
2. Elicit patient information through palpation, auscultation and perform emergency procedures such as CPR in clinical settings.
3. Possess sufficient psychomotor abilities and manual dexterity, or functional equivalent, to proficiently demonstrate all program-specific competencies, including, but not limited to:
   1. Operating educational and medical equipment and technology to prepare an intravenous product (IV), give an intramuscular injection (IM), or subcutaneous (SQ) injection.
   2. Accurately compounding and preparing pharmaceutical products for dispensing to patients.

Candidates must acknowledge, upon application to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program, that they understand the technical standards.

References:

1 Saint Joseph’s Disability Services Policy

2 Saint Joseph’s Code of Conduct

For more than 100 years, Remington has been the definitive reference for all aspects of the science and practice of pharmacy and is used for pharmaceutics, therapeutics and pharmacy practice courses in primary curricula. Since the first edition was published, pharmacists have used this book as a comprehensive one-stop reference.

Remington: The Science & Practice of Pharmacy is the most widely used textbook and reference work on pharmaceutical sciences in the nation. Publication of the text was begun as Practice of Pharmacy in 1886 by Joseph Price Remington, professor and later dean at the University. Subsequent to his death, the copyright to this text was assigned to the University by the heirs of Professor Remington.

Remington has provided a comprehensive source of knowledge about the science and practice of pharmacy. The book provides information to help both students and practitioners serve effectively as members of the health professions team. The 22nd edition was published in 2012.

Either by invitation, achievement or interest, PCP students with a passion for learning and advancing the profession discover worthwhile opportunities with our national groups and campus organizations.

Honors Societies

• Rho Chi - National Honor Society of Pharmacy
• Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS - Pharmacy Leadership Society)

Professional Associations

• Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)
• Academy of Student Pharmacists, American Pharmacists Association (APhA-ASP)
• American College of Apothecaries (ACA)
• American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)
• Drug Information Association (DIA)
• Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO)
• National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)
• Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, Student Chapter (PCPediatric)
• Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity
• Student Society of Health-System Pharmacy (SSHP)