Future doctors, nurses, clinicians and medical researchers have had education and training opportunities along Grand Rapids' Medical Mile for several years. And now,
Ferris State University says it has added the area's first pharmacy college to the growing mix of healthcare training options along Michigan Street NE.
University, city and state leaders will cut the ribbon to a new 26,000-square-foot, $9.1 million pharmacy education hub on Friday, Feb. 3., when the
College of Pharmacy will officially open its doors to its new location on the 7th floor of 25 Michigan NE.
Pharmacy students have been part of the Grand Rapids healthcare landscape since the 1970s, says Steve Durst, college of pharmacy dean, but students have been located around the city for clinical training, and haven't had a central hub for training, studying and collaboration with neighboring training programs.
The school, which opened unofficially in early January, is home to some 150 third-year and 80 fourth-year pharmacy students.
"Michigan Street has three healthcare programs with
Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine,
Grand Valley State University's Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences and now Ferris's College of Pharmacy," says Dean Durst. "This brings with it a great opportunity for collaboration, particularly focused on inter-professional education and understanding how to work on a medical team, as well as having the
Van Andel Research Institute for research opportunities and graduate education."
Durst says first- and second-year pharmacy students will still study on Ferris's Big Rapids campus.
The new facility offers a combination of typical classrooms and large classrooms, with technology to connect a number of Ferris locations for distance learning. Gathering spaces for a handful of students as well as a student lounge equipped for larger groups give students spaces to connect with each other and study. The facility also offers a clinical skills room where students can receive hands-on training.
Source: Steve Durst, Dean, Ferris State University College of Pharmacy
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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