Outlining strategic pillars to improve patient health
By Deanna L. Kroetz, PhD, BS Pharm '85, dean and professor at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy
I recently surpassed my one-year anniversary as dean at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, and we’ve accomplished so much together. The passion and commitment to excellence I see reflected in our faculty, staff, students and alumni motivate me each day. We have much to be excited about heading into the new year!
Last month, we launched our college’s 2025-2029 strategic plan. Our strategic pillars include Education, Research, Practice, Outreach and Engagement, People and Culture, and Resources. By focusing on our priorities under these guiding themes, we are committing to continuous improvement and innovation. I truly believe our strategic plan will chart our path to improve human health. However, this work cannot be done in a vacuum. We must expand our partnerships with those whose missions align with ours to achieve this lofty goal.
This work is already starting. Recently, the Ohio State College of Pharmacy was awarded a significant grant from the McKesson Foundation to establish the Pathways and Recruitment Opportunities for Pharmacy Exploration and Learning (PROPEL) program. The program’s primary goals are to elevate awareness of pharmacy careers among middle and high school students in medically underserved communities, increase enrollment in pharmacy training pathways and provide professional training focused on caring for underserved patients.
The pharmacy field is certainly facing challenges, including limited pharmacists and pharmacies in rural and urban areas. One of the critical issues we aim to address through the PROPEL initiative is the existence of pharmacy deserts – areas where access to pharmacy services is severely limited. These pharmacy deserts contribute to significant health disparities, particularly in rural and urban underserved communities. Under the leadership of Drs. Nicole Kwiek and Jen Rodis, the PROPEL program will leverage Ohio State’s position as an urban public land-grant institution and its partnerships with Ohio University and Columbus State Community College to build a stronger, more capable pharmacy workforce, ultimately training outstanding providers prepared to return to their communities and increase access to pharmacist-provided care.
As we look ahead, I am filled with optimism and determination. Our strategic plan and the PROPEL program are just the beginning of what we can achieve together. I invite you to join us on this journey, support our initiatives and engage with us as we strive to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our communities.