Development of a nontraditional PharmD program offered jointly between a private and public University

In 1995, the faculties at the Southern School of Pharmacy at Mercer Univers ity, and the College of Pharmacy at the University of Georgia, began develo ping a joint nontraditional PharmD program. Neither faculty knew if this wa s even possible because of the major differences (private versus public, hi gh tuition Versus modest tuition) between the two schools. However, the pro ject made sense from financial, political, and practical viewpoints. After much work and little compromise, licensed pharmacists in Georgia have an ou tcome-based, unique, flexible, and efficient nontraditional program. In 199 8, each University approved the program and a pilot class of sixteen studen ts began in October of that year. A second class of 15 students started, Au gust 1999.