Pharmacy School Celebrates 30 Years of Early Entry Program

OXFORD, Miss. – In 1994, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy associate dean Marvin Wilson was looking for a way to increase the school’s recruitment efforts. 

Wilson, associate dean for 20 years, was proud that the university was the only one in the state to have a pharmacy program, but no path existed to allow students to “start” the professional program as freshmen.

With this in mind, Wilson decided that the school should focus on a younger audience. His goal was to find a way for students entering as freshmen to avoid having to compete to get into the professional program years down the road. Thus, the Early Entry program was born.

High school seniors who applied and were accepted to the new program were promised a spot in the professional program and introduced to professors who would teach their classes down the road.

“They already felt like part of the family before they even started the professional coursework,” Wilson said.

Donna Strum, current dean of the School of Pharmacy, noted that the creation of the Early Entry program 30 years ago allowed students to gain knowledge and experience in areas that the traditional path would not provide. 

“Dr. Wilson’s foresight in creating a program that allowed students to begin their pharmacy journey earlier than usual has significantly contributed to our school,” Strum said. “It paved the way for countless students to immerse themselves in the profession early on.”

Today, students in the Early Entry program enjoy more than a guaranteed spot in the professional program. They enjoy specialized tutoring, professional advancement opportunities and the chance to be part of the Living-Learning Community.

“I’m glad I applied to the program because it allowed me to form relationships with the pharmacy faculty and students and create a supportive network before being thrown into the professional program,” said Kiley Gazzo, a fourth-year professional student from McComb.

“The Early Entry program also helped prepare me for the professional program by providing me with a solid foundation in essential pharmacy concepts that made the transition to advanced coursework smoother. The early exposure to experiences and clinical environments helped me develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that I use on a daily basis on my APPE rotations.” 

The School of Pharmacy will celebrate the program’s milestone at the Ole Miss-Oklahoma pharmacy tailgate on Oct. 28.