������Ƶ

������Ƶ is partnering with two Oregon community colleges to streamline the path to a degree in pharmacy, increasing access and opportunities for careers in healthcare.

in Salem and in Roseburg have entered into agreements with Pacific’s School of Pharmacy, based at the university’s Hillsboro Campus, to create pathway programs toward a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Beginning in Spring 2026, students will be able to complete their pre-pharmacy coursework at Chemeketa and Umpqua, then transition into Pacific’s accelerated three-year or extended five-year Doctor of Pharmacy pathways.

The partnership continues the expansion of pathways to clinical programs offered by Pacific, the No. 1 private preparer of healthcare professionals in Oregon.

“This pharmacy track partnership provides students with a unique, clearly defined, and accessible route to pursue an advanced healthcare career through our Doctor of Pharmacy degree,” said Marketa Marvanova, dean of Pacific’s School of Pharmacy. “This partnership strengthens Oregon’s healthcare workforce pipeline by expanding educational access, promoting career growth, and supporting local students who aspire to make a meaningful impact in patient care and community health.”

Students enrolled in the pharmacy tracks will benefit from early engagement with Pacific, including participation in professional and educational opportunities, personalized application support and waived application fees. Participants in the track will also be able to enroll in Pacific’s Jump Start Early Assurance Program, which provides conditional admission to the School of Pharmacy and preferred access to faculty and special events before starting at Pacific.

The partnerships provide opportunities to streamline a student’s path to a career in healthcare. Since 2006, Pacific has offered its signature accelerated three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program — one of the few of its kind in the region.

In 2023, Pacific became the first school or college of pharmacy in the nation to launch an extended five-year Doctor of Pharmacy pathway, designed to provide greater flexibility for working professionals and students with family or financial commitments. The five-year pathway allows students to maintain employment of approximately 30 hours per week throughout their first four years of studies while remaining enrolled full-time.

Like many areas of the healthcare sector, the demand for pharmacists continues to grow, especially in Oregon.  The predicts that employment opportunities for pharmacists are expected to grow by 5% through 2034. At the same time, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects a shortage of nearly 5,000 pharmacists nationwide by 2036.

According to the Oregon State Pharmacy Association, more than 200 pharmacies in Oregon have closed since 2008, including those at regional chain Bi-Mart in 2021 and more than 30 Rite Aid locations when the national retailer declared bankruptcy in 2025.

“Together, these three-year and five-year pathways represent the only such options available in Oregon and Washington, offering students accessible routes to a rewarding and impactful healthcare career,” Marvanova said. “We are preparing practice-ready pharmacists who play vital roles in patient care, medication management and community health across Oregon and beyond.”