University of New England

UNE breaks ground for first Maine facility devoted to pharmacy studies and research

PORTLAND, Maine – The University of New England celebrated the groundbreaking for its new College of Pharmacy building at a ceremony held on April 30, 2008 on the University’s Westbrook College Campus in Portland.

The College of Pharmacy building is UNE's first “Green” building registered for LEED certification, and the first modern building in the state dedicated exclusively to pharmacy education and research.

Jacque Carter, UNE provost; John Cormier, dean of the College of Pharmacy; Danielle Ripich, UNE president; and Vincent E. Furey, Jr., chair of the Board of Trustees. Click to see a photo album from the event.

Addressing more than 150 attendees at the groundbreaking, John Richardson, Maine's commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, thanked the University on behalf of Gov. John Baldacci, saying, “the University of New England will become the place to generate research, jobs and improve the quality of life in Maine.”

Background
The new $12.3 million, 48,000-square-foot College of Pharmacy building will be completed in the summer of 2009 and will house rooms for pharmacy practice, sterile products and pharmaceutics labs, a drug information center, classrooms and offices for faculty and administration.

In addition, the research floor, with over 10,000 square feet of assignable space, has been designed to accommodate six principal investigators with laboratory and core equipment space. Designed by Port City Architecture and built by Allied/Cook Construction, both of Portland, the building is registered for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

With the construction of the College of Pharmacy building, the University’s plans to begin its four-year Pharm.D. graduate program in 2009 are well underway. The Maine State Board of Education has given its unconditional approval, and final accreditation application materials will be completed in May of 2008. Fifty-three prepharmacy students are currently enrolled on the University’s campus in Biddeford.

James Cohen, Portland city councilor and former mayor, who grew up and attended school nearby, spoke about the University’s plans and how well they fit in with the vision put forth by the City of Portland: “Having pharmacy students and research in Portland fits in with the creative economy.” Cohen added that he looks forward to these new classes of graduates entering the workforce from UNE.

New Pharmacy Appointments
At the groundbreaking ceremony, John Cormier, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, announced the following new staff appointments:

• Associate Dean: Curt Cyr, Ph.D., from Maine, with a B.S. from the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and a M.S. in cell biology and Ph.D. in pharmacology from New York University.
• Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences: John V. Schloss, Ph.D., born in St. Louis and raised in the Midwest, with his B.S. degree in biology from the University of Tulsa and his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Graduate School.
• Chair of Pharmacy Practice: Roberta M. Barber, Pharm.D., MPH. Barber received both her B.S. in pharmacy and her doctor of pharmacy degrees from the Albany College of Pharmacy. Barber’s appointment will be unique within the College in that she will retain her current position as director of pharmacy services at Maine Medical Center. 

Vincent E. Furey, Jr., chair of the Board of Trustees; Danielle Ripich, UNE president;  James Cohen, Portland city councilor; John Cormier, dean of the College of Pharmacy; and John Richardson, Maine's Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development

“UNE has a strong working relationship with Maine Medical Center and Roberta’s appointment as our Chair of Pharmacy Practice solidifies that partnership,” said Pharmacy Dean Cormier. Speaking of the College’s work with numerous pharmacists and organizations throughout the region, he added, “Even before I arrived here in 2006, I was getting calls from practicing pharmacists who wanted to partner with us in this great venture.”

President Danielle Ripich
UNE President Danielle Ripich, Ph.D., acknowledged and thanked the many UNE trustees; faculty and staff; pharmacy and hospital representatives with whom the College is working; several Maine state legislators; financial supporters; and Sandra Featherman, president emeritus.

In her remarks President Ripich explained that “UNE’s research orientation differentiates us from most other pharmacy schools in the country and any other pharmacy school in northern New England. We have the ambitious and very achievable goal of being one of the top-ranked pharmacy schools in the nation.”

In addition to those mentioned above, attendees represented supporters from around the state: Maine senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Congressman Tom Allen could not attend, but sent their congratulations.

Support

The new College of Pharmacy was awarded a $1 million lead gift from the Hannaford Charitable Foundation, one of the largest grants it has ever awarded. The grant will help fund the construction of a clinical practice laboratory designed and fully-equipped to serve as a model pharmacy to provide state-of-the-art and realistic hands-on experience for students, better preparing them for professional practice. Students will learn how to compound prescription products, take the necessary steps to dispense a prescription and interact with and counsel patients and practitioners.

In addition to the Hannaford Charitable Foundations lead gift, UNE's College of Pharmacy secured significant funding from the Libra Foundation, the Betterment Fund, and pharmacist and UNE trustee Brian Dallaire.

LEED Design
Among the College of Pharmacy building's many green design elements, the building's water use will be minimized by highly efficient plumbing systems and appropriate landscaping; the exterior envelope and innovative mechanical systems including chilled beams and heat recovery units will optimize energy performance; construction waste will be recycled, reused, or otherwise diverted from landfills; building materials will have a high recycled content and be locally sourced; and to maintain a healthy indoor environment, building finishes will be low (or no) VOC (volatile organic compound) and contain no urea formaldehyde.

(Press release posted April 30, 2008)