Retzky College of Pharmacy Addresses Shortage of Pharmacists in Rural Areas

Under a $864,000 grant from the McKesson Foundation, the UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy Rockford will undertake a number of initiatives aimed at getting more pharmacists into rural areas. Over the next three years, the grant will allow educators on the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford to expand the High School Pharmacy Camp to rural students interested in pharmacy careers. In addition, it will fund travel and housing stipends to give more student pharmacists experiential learning opportunities in rural communities, as well as support and engagement with pharmacists currently working in rural settings.

Dr. Heidi Olson, who directs the college’s Rural Pharmacy Education (RPHARM) Program, notes that the last 20 years has seen the closure of many small independent pharmacies that served rural communities. “Pharmacists are a great resource for their surrounding communities, and pharmacists in rural areas often end up bridging health care gaps created by barriers like limited income, shortages of health care professionals and hospital closures.” she said. “So it’s important that students understand how they can help patients overcome these barriers.”