Pharm-to-table: NGU and Palm Atlantic University’s science majors join forces
Keely Lyons, Staff Writer
Students seeking a degree in medicine without working with needles and bodily fluids, look no further. Your calling may be a degree in pharmacy, and North Greenville University has just united with Palm Beach Atlantic University to make your calling a reality.
On Aug. 22 2022, Gene Fant, president of North Greenville, signed an articulation agreement to institute a degree program that will allow NGU’s biology program and Palm Beach Atlantic University’s pharmacy program to synchronize in a special way.
As a current representative of the university, Fant played an instrumental role in connecting the two colleges. Paul Thompson, professor of history and dean of science at NGU said, “Before Dr. Fant became our president, he was provost and chief academic officer at Palm Beach Atlantic.”
When Fant came to NGU, he saw similarities in both school’s values and wanted to create a bridge between the two science programs, says Thompson.
Speaking on behalf of the two university’s compatibility, Thompson said, “We have partnered with one of the only Christ-centered pharm d. programs in the nation.” Thompson said, “Anything that is consultative or advisory is helping and of course in a Christian worldview, helping people is [also] teaching and educating them.”
If a student meets the right criteria, they would have the ability to switch to Palm Beach Atlantic for what would be their senior year at North Greenville and move to Palm Beach a year early, saving a year of college, says Thompson.
In order to begin the transfer process to PBA, students must complete important prerequisites before packing their bags for South Florida.
Amy Ouellette, health career coordinator at NGU, said, “It’s actually really good we have these requirements for internships for shadowing. Then the student really gets immersed and they get to see whether they think it would be a good career for them.”
Biology students would have to let their academic advisors know about their interest in the program ahead of time to make sure they are on track with their requirements.
PBA recommends biology majors do shadowing hours with a pharmacist and have them compose a letter of recommendation, as well as one from their academic advisor, said Ouellette.
NGU has chosen to promote Christ-centered ideologies, even with its partnerships. Ouellette said, “Any profession you go into is important to be Christ-centered because the world is so full of distractions and things that can pull you from your faith.” Keeping your faith in Christ will keep people morally and ethically grounded and maintain principles in the pharmacy profession, said Ouellette.
