CEDARVILLE, Ohio, March 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cedarville University's Center for Pharmacy Innovation, the Ohio Pharmacists Foundation (OPF) and the Ohio Pharmacy Association (OPA) began a groundbreaking partnership to advance the expanding role of the pharmacist in American health care. The agreement, signed March 4, will take effect in April.

Cedarville, OPF and OPA signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship between Cedarville's Center for Pharmacy Innovation (CPI) and the OPF/OPA's Center for Entrepreneurship.

The relationship will develop training for pharmacists and student-pharmacists to create viable, sustainable business models, provide a partner for OPA pilot programs where students and pharmacists can carry out initiatives to improve patient care and facilitate the exchange of innovative ideas between Cedarville faculty, students and Ohio pharmacy leaders.

"Both OPA and the Center for Pharmacy Innovation share the goal of developing both pharmacists and student pharmacists into the next innovators and entrepreneurs in healthcare," commented CPI's director, Dr. Justin Cole. "I believe this strategic partnership will synergize these efforts."

Each organization brings unique capabilities that will create stronger outcomes in entrepreneurship and innovation.

"We teach people how to run a business," noted Dr. Ernie Boyd, executive director of the Ohio Pharmacists Association. "We teach how to take clinical information that students have learned in pharmacy school and make it work in the market. What we're not as good at is working on grants and projects and engaging some of the most cutting-edge research. So when Dr. Marc Sweeney, dean of the School of Pharmacy at Cedarville University, and I started talking, it became pretty clear we each have strengths."

Boyd noted that patients will be the big winners from this new collaboration.

"When most people think of a pharmacist, they think of counting trays and that sort of thing, but with the Doctor of Pharmacy education that they're providing at Cedarville, and our other six colleges around the state, these pharmacists are capable of much more. What's most important about this collaboration is what it's going to do for the patients in Ohio."

Cedarville is the only school in a partnership of this kind with the OPA/OPF Center for Entrepreneurship.

Cedarville University has an enrollment of 4,193 undergraduate, graduate and online students in 150 areas of study. Cedarville is recognized for its Christian worldview and rigorous academic programs, including its Doctor of Pharmacy program. Visit www.cedarville.edu.

SOURCE Cedarville University

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