hi hi,
i'm a canadian pharmacist lookinging into doing my "non-traditional Pharm D." i've found 4 schools: florida, boston, idaho, colorado. any recommendations or sharing of experience would be very much appreciated.
thanx
Hi, just to clarify. I'm staying Canada for the on-line portion, then will do my rotations in the US. I plan to practise in Canada as well when I've completed my Pharm D.
I graduated from Florida's WPPD program in Dec 2009. I thought I got a decent education. It was definitely work. I wouldn't consider it an online program though. You have the option of regional meetings where you meet 3 Saturdays each semester (= 9 times a year). I lived 90 minutes from my regional site. The farthest came from about 3 hours away. At these meetings, we took tests, gave case presentations, workshops, etc. You also have the option of meeting one weekend a semester (in Florida or Las Vegas - locations may have changed since I graduated). Weekly conference calls are required if you choose this remote option.
Florida's program doesn't require traditional rotations but something called clinical practice assessments instead (CPAs). You have to do 12 CPAs a year (36 total). You are required to go to Gainesville, FL your first year to complete some of the CPAs. All CPAs have to be done on US soil. Florida does provide opportunities for you to do CPAs at Shands in Gainesville. You sign up for these in one week increments and it does cost $$.
In your last year, you have to write a paper. Not too hard, but it is time-consuming.
I can't tell you anything about the other schools.
