Sullivan University College of Pharmacy (Photo by Sullivan University)

About a month ago, on a cold and rainy October morning, the first new pharmacy school in over 50 years in Kentucky opened its doors on Gardiner Lane just off Bardstown Road.  The only other college of pharmacy in the state is at the University of Kentucky.  The new building represents a $10 million investment transforming the old Nolan Office Building (designed by Nolan & Nolan Architects) into the first doctoral program at the University.  The renovations were designed by Studio Kremer Architects.

The first class of 74 began studies in July and are on the fast-track to a three-year degree.  Just over half of the students are from the surrounding region, with the remaining coming to Kentucky from across the nation.  A national search for school dean landed Dr. Hieu Tran in 2006.  He began accreditation processes and a faculty search that led to this year’s inaugural class.  Besides classrooms, the new program includes high-tech research labs and a drug-information call center.

As Louisville is preparing itself to lure private investment in the medical and research industries, the college should help turn out well educated pharmacists and researchers.  With its national draw, the program will also help expose Louisville to the pharmaceutical and medical trades and, the school hopes, bring economic benefits to the city.  Graduates of pharmacy programs make on average $100,000 out of school.  Once the program is established, Sullivan University expects around 100 graduates a year.

[ Update: 2008.11.20 - Added architectural and historical data. ]

• Sullivan University College of Pharmacy (Official Site)