Valencia Partners with UF to Assist Students Interested in Pharmacy School

The University of Florida College of Pharmacy and Valencia College are partnering to give Valencia students an inside track to pharmacy school.
The two institutions announced the Pharmacy Early Assurance Program, or PEAP, will launch in October at Valencia’s Orlando campuses in Orange and Osceola counties.PEAP will assist Valencia students through the early process of becoming a pharmacist by providing workshops, mentoring and training opportunities. Participants who fulfill the requirements of the program will receive a guaranteed interview for the UF College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program.
“PEAP will help Valencia students better prepare for the pharmacy school application process and give them the knowledge and skills to become an outstanding candidate for any pharmacy college,” said Peter Swaan, dean of the UF College of Pharmacy. “Valencia students have traditionally performed very well in our Pharm.D. program, and our Orlando campus allows them the opportunity to stay in Central Florida while earning their professional pharmacy degree.”
Valencia students participating in PEAP will pair with a UF College of Pharmacy student for mentorship throughout the program. In addition, they will attend webinars and special events aimed at streamlining their path into pharmacy school.The Valencia students who complete PEAP and are admitted to the UF College of Pharmacy will receive priority in choosing which of UF’s three pharmacy campuses — Gainesville, Jacksonville or Orlando — they want to attend.

UF is the only pharmacy college to offer a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in Central Florida. More than 250 students are enrolled in the Pharm.D. program located at the UF Research and Academic Center in southwest Orlando. Its proximity to Valencia’s campuses made this an ideal partnership worth exploring.

“This partnership with the University of Florida opens up new program opportunities to Valencia College students who are interested in a career in the pharmaceutical field,” said Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College. “We believe the program will give our students a head start in preparing for a professional degree in pharmacy and allow them to stay in Orlando.”

PEAP at Valencia College becomes the second program established by the UF College of Pharmacy. In 2020, a similar program was launched at UF’s flagship campus in Gainesville. Since then, it has provided dozens of UF undergraduate students with a pathway to successfully apply to pharmacy school.

An open house will be held at the UF College of Pharmacy’s Orlando Campus from 3-5 p.m., Oct. 17, for those students interested in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. The deadline to apply to PEAP at Valencia College is Nov. 17. For more information, visit: https://admissions.pharmacy.ufl.edu/steps-to-apply/early-assurance-program/.


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