College of Pharmacy Timeline
2025
Dean Lynda S. Welage steps down and Dean R. Kip Guy begins.
2024
The College of Pharmacy Residency Program celebrates 25 years of innovation, camaraderie and pioneering Minnesota ambulatory care.
2022
The University's Center for Allied Health Programs which included the Medical Laboratory Sciences and Occupational Therapy Program joins the College of Pharmacy.
2017
Dean Marilyn Speedie steps down and Dean Lynda S. Welage begins.
2016
New epilepsy drug approved by the FDA. Carnexiv is the second drug product for epilepsy whose development originated with the college’s epilepsy research group. The first was rectal diazepam (Diastat).
2016
U.S.News & World Report ranks the College of Pharmacy #2 in the nation.
2013
College of Pharmacy receives Lawrence C. Weaver Transformative Community Service Award.
2013
The new pharmacy curriculum launches.
2012
Pharmacy Alumni Society receives Program Extraordinaire Award from the U of M Alumni Association.
2011
Pharmacy Alumni Society named Outstanding Society of the Year by the U of M Alumni Association.
2010
E-learning initiative launches. It includes a portfolio of online courses for undergraduates, other health professional students and practicing pharmacists.
2010
Launch of REACH Institute to support the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. In 2012 it was renamed to the Wulling Center for Innovation and Scholarship in Pharmacy Education.
2010
The PharmD/MBA dual career program begins in partnership with Labovitz School of Business and Economics (Duluth).
2009
A medication therapy management (MTM) benefit is established by the college to expand to all eligible employees and dependents enrolled in the University’s health plan.
2009
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) are offered to give first and second year pharmacy students exposure to pharmacy practice through three-week Community and Institutional IPPEs
2008
The student-run HOPE (Health of People Everywhere) Clinic begins seeing patients. The clinic is operated by medical and pharmacy students from the University of Minnesota Duluth campus. It provides no-cost care to uninsured and underinsured community members under the supervision of licensed physicians and pharmacists, while offering students hands-on, interprofessional clinical experience.
2008
The College of Pharmacy launches the Center for Leading Healthcare Change in an effort to fill the widening gap in pharmacy leadership.
2008
The PharmD/MBA dual degree program begins in partnershp with Carlson School of Management (Twin Cities).
2007
The Life Sciences building renovation in Duluth is completed and renamed Paddock Laboratories Pharmaceutical Education Center.
2007
The Leadership Emphasis Area track is first offered.
2007
The college celebrates the first graduating class from the Duluth campus.
2006
First annual student-organized Pharmacy Gala held in memory of Michelle Mentzer, a first year student who died of leukemia in 2005.
2005
The UMN College of Pharmacy is a founding member of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education.
2005
The Center for Orphan Drug Research is established.
2005
Extensive planning for a new pharmacy curriculum starts with a projected implementation date of 2013.
2004
“Pharmaceutical Care Practice” is first published and authored by faculty members Robert Cipolle, Linda Strand and Peter Morley.
2004
Pharmacy Alumni Society receives Program Extraordinaire Award from the U of M Alumni Association.
2003
The first PharmD White Coat Ceremony is held as a symbolic gesture to instill professionalism in the students beginning clinical rotations.
2003
The Duluth campus opens featuring learning spaces made possible by gifts from Paddock Labs and Cub.
2002
The College of Pharmacy formally announces expansion to the Duluth campus.
200
A new graduate studies track begins in Experimental & Clinical Pharmacology. The new program is designed to train students as clinical scientists.
1999
The COP formalizes its PGY1 program and establishes a two-year Pharmaceutical Care Leadership Residency Program.
1998
The COP launches the “DP4” or “Doctor of Pharmacy Program for Practicing Pharmacists.” The program admitted pharmacists from Minnesota and South Dakota for four years. By the time of its closing in 2007, 112 pharmacists received their PharmD degree through this program.
1998
The anti-AIDS drug Abacavir (Ziagen™) is commercialized.
1997
The FDA Approves Diastat (R) a diazepam rectal gel used to treat seizures. The research to develop Diastat was a collaboration between the college and Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc., a local pharmaceutical company.
1997
The nation’s first Rural Health School begins. Pharmacy students are teamed with medical, nurse practitioner and physician assistant students to learn about patient care in Moose Lake, New Ulm and Grand Rapids.
1996
Dean Weaver leaves and Dean Marilyn Speedie begins.
1995
The College of Pharmacy receives $13.5 million from the Peters Estate to fund endowed chairs, student scholarships, the Peters Institute, and other programs.
1995
The Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory opens to replace the dispensing and science labs when the college shifted to a PharmD program.
1995
The College of Pharmacy establishes its first ambulatory care residency position in Paynesville.
1995
The College of Pharmacy moves to an all PharmD program.
1994
Dean Weaver returns.
1992
Dean Banker leaves.
1986
Century Mortar Club Endowed Chair Est.
1984
Dean Weaver leaves and Dean Gilbert S. Banker begins in 1985.
1981
The College of Pharmacy's first Endowed Chair in Pharmacy is established.
1981
The six-year, entry-level PharmD program is first offered.
1981
The College of Pharmacy moves into “Unit F” of the Academic Health Center, which is later named Weaver-Densford Hall.
1971
The PharmD program begins as a two year post-graduate course of study (a 2+3+2 model).
1965
Dean Hager leaves for University of North Carolina and Dean Lawrence C. Weaver begins in 1966.
1963
The College of Pharmacy moves to Appleby Hall.
1957
Dean Hager argues for the reactivation of the College of Pharmacy Alumni Association.
1957
Dean Rogers retires and Dean George P. Hager begins.
1954
The College of Pharmacy's five-year bachelor's degree is now the first professional degree in Minnesota.
1946
The University of Minnesota’s OT Program begins soon after World War Two ends. Graduated OTs serve combat veterans in their quest to re-integrate into society.
1936
Dean Wulling retires and Dean Charles H. Rogers begins.
1929
College of Pharmacy graduation is now a requirement for registering as a pharmacist in Minnesota. Prior to this, roughly ½ of each pharmacy class would drop out early and simply start practicing.
1927
The College of Pharmacy's four-year bachelor's degree becomes the first professional degree for pharmacists in Minnesota.
1922
The University of Minnesota begins offering courses in Medical Technology for Clinical and Laboratory Technicians.
1913
College of Pharmacy moves to what will later be called Wulling Hall.
1906
College of Pharmacy students and faculty operate a “free dispensary” for the public until 1912.
1896
College admits women (4) for the first time. Since then there have been sizable numbers of women in most pharmacy classes.
1896
FIrst pharmacy graduating class of six.
1892
First pharmacy class admitted; student fees totaled $95.
1892
Dean Frederick J.Wulling starts.
1891
Minnesota decides to establish a College of Pharmacy.
1883
Minnesota Pharmacists Association founded.