Albany pharmacy college to launch student-operated pharmacy

ALBANY, N.Y. — Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences announced that it will open a student-operated pharmacy, with funding from Rochester Drug Cooperative.

Licensed pharmacists will manage the pharmacy with student support and it will function as a “collaboratory” that partners with local health care providers and will not offer non-clinical consumer products.

“Most students interested in the business of pharmacy have to learn it through on-the-job training that occurs after they graduate,” Larry Doud, CEO of Rochester Drug Cooperative, said. “Through this effort, ACPHS students will be able to participate in an innovative and entrepreneurial experience while still in school, learning both advanced pharmacy practices and the business skills required to operate a successful pharmacy.”

The student-operated pharmacy will allow students to develop this training early.

“The unique learning environment of the student operated pharmacy will help prepare our student pharmacists to excel in this new era of health care and ensure they are not only ‘practice-ready’ when they graduate, but that they are able to take it one step further and go beyond practice-ready,” ACPHS President Greg Dewey said.



In addition to training the next generation of pharmacists, the initiative — which is still seeking a location in Albany — will serve an economically disadvantaged area.