MSU pharmacy program sets sights on $2M funding

A joint Doctor of Pharmacy program between Missouri State University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City will receive $2 million in funding if the current version of the state budget passes the General Assembly.

State Rep. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, announced the funding in a news release Thursday. He said $2 million has been designated for the program, with help from several House colleagues including Reps. Allen Icet, Jay Wasson and David Sater.

UMKC and MSU finalized an agreement in September that will allow MSU students to earn a UMKC Doctor of Pharmacy degree in Springfield. The program will use specially equipped classrooms and distance learning technology to offer UMKC classes on the Springfield campus.

"Institutions of higher learning play a tremendous role in preparing students for the future and the competitive marketplace," Dixon said in the release. "The PharmD program provides a way to address an acute shortage of health professionals."

The funding is not guaranteed, as the budget still must go through a lengthy approval process, but MSU President Michael Nietzel expressed a positive outlook.

"We remain optimistic about it remaining in the budget because the program is so compelling on many levels," Nietzel said in the release. "It addresses urgent health care needs, it leads to jobs that are waiting to be filled, and it serves as an excellent model of how two universities can collaborate to serve the needs of Missourians."