An agreement between Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the Suwanee campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s PCOM School of Pharmacy allows eligible ABAC students to enter the pharmacy school after completing their junior year of college.

TIFTON — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students seeking careers as pharmacists will be able to earn doctoral degrees a year early at PCOM Georgia, according to a press release.

The Suwanee campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is the home of the College’s PCOM School of Pharmacy.

“We are very excited about this new venture with PCOM, which is sure to be of tremendous benefit to our students and the broader region,” said Dr. Matthew Anderson, dean of the ABAC School of Arts and Sciences. “This agreement will allow students to complete their combined bachelor and doctoral level education in a shorter time frame, which will make this advanced training more accessible and prepare more pharmacists to enter the workforce.”

The agreement will allow eligible ABAC students to enter the pharmacy school after completing their junior year of college, according to Shawn Spencer, dean of the PCOM School of Pharmacy. Students who meet the School of Pharmacy requirements may enroll before graduating from ABAC and have the opportunity to earn a combined BS-PharmD while at PCOM Georgia.

After completion of the second year of pharmacy school, these students will be eligible to receive their bachelor’s degree from ABAC having earned the required credits during their first two years at PCOM Georgia.

“We’re very pleased about ABAC’s partnership with us and will continue to support Georgia residents entering the region’s healthcare workforce,” said Spencer.

An articulation agreement similar to the agreement with ABAC is also in place at Middle Georgia State University in Macon and Valdosta State University in Valdosta.

“Now with two campuses in Georgia, PCOM strives to impact all regions of the state,” said PCOM President and CEO Jay S. Feldstein. “With this new partnership with ABAC, we will save our students from the South Georgia region both time and tuition dollars in hopes that they will return to South Georgia to practice pharmacy.”