International Programs
Attendees at the Annual U.S. - Thai consortium meeting in Phuket, Thailand, June 1996
UIC College of Pharmacy Is Part of Thai-US Consortium for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education
by Janet P. Engle, Pharm.D., FAPhA
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Clinical Professor of Pharmacy Practice
UIC College of Pharmacy
The UIC College of Pharmacy is one of the ten colleges of pharmacy in the US that have a formal 14-year agreement with the eight public schools of pharmacy in Thailand. The long-term goal of the agreement is to expand the number of pharmacy schools and pharmacy faculty in Thailand. Currently, Thailand has about one pharmacist for every 8,000 citizens whereas the US has one pharmacist for every 2,00 citizens. Approximately 90 pharmacists will be sent from Thailand to one of the 10 US consortial schools over the span of the agreement to obtain a Pharm.D. or Ph.D. degree or residency and fellowship training. The pharmacists chosen by the Thai government to participate in this program must meet rigorous criteria including having graduated with honors from a Thai school of pharmacy, passing a special exam, and completion of an intensive English course program ensuring that students sent to the US are of very high quality. The Thai government awards scholarships to these pharmacists that pay for our out-of-state tuition, living expenses, etc. United States faculty are participating in short term visits to Thailand at Thai government expense. UIC College of Pharmacy facutly provide training programs, seminars and workshops in various areas of pharmacy practice. To date, more than 15 UIC pharmacy practice faculty have travelled to Thailand to provide instruction to Thai pharmacists. Thai faculty members have also beeen sent to US schools for short term visits to broaden their experience and encourage the development of collaborative research and clinical programs. The Thai government will supply all of the necessary funding for these visits.