Overview
The Combined PharmD-MBA program is a five-year combined degree offered by the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the Rotman School of Management.
Today’s competitive business environment demands integrative thinkers who are flexible and possess an acute business sense. Together, these two prestigious programs are redesigning business and pharmacy education to produce the leaders organizations need to succeed in healthcare today.
As the complexity of healthcare delivery increases, the need for pharmacists who also have management training and expertise will continue to grow. The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree is the new standard in pharmacy education, combining in-class, laboratory, and experiential components to ensure that graduates have the knowledge, skills, and experience to succeed as front line healthcare providers. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is widely recognized as the premier degree in business worldwide; MBA graduates work in both the public and private sectors, and are able to blend their professional experience with additional knowledge and skills in business management.
To complete both a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and a Rotman MBA, you are signaling to the marketplace that you are intelligent, knowledgeable, and ambitious. Get the knowledge, skills, and experience to succeed as both a front line healthcare provider and a confident business leader.
Advantages
While many pharmacists are able to practice effectively without additional degrees, those individuals who are involved in administration, management, business ownership, or other managerial activities, will likely find the additional training available through an MBA program can be a distinct asset. Pharmacists with MBAs are found in both the public and private sectors, working in government, academia, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, consulting companies, and their own private practices. The additional knowledge and skills acquired through an MBA program can provide pharmacists with unique advantages and opportunities across different sectors.
For most students, the greatest value in a combined degree program is the opportunity to complete two degrees together in less time than it would take to receive both degrees separately. In the case of the Combined PharmD-MBA program, it would take a total of six (6) academic years to complete the two degrees separately. Under the combined degree model, it will only take five (5) academic years to complete (though the combined degree model requires two (2) additional summer terms of clinical rotations/work). Students with a strong and clear focus for their future academic and career plans will see the immediate benefit of saving time and consolidating their learning experience through the Combined PharmD-MBA program.
Application Process
To participate in the Combined PharmD-MBA, you must apply to and be admitted to both the PharmD and MBA programs separately.
The program is only offered to students who have completed at least one 4-year degree (e.g. BSc, BA, BComm, BEng) prior to enrolling in the PharmD program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Students who have not yet completed a 4-year degree from an accredited university are not eligible to apply. Prior completion of a 4-year degree is a University of Toronto/Rotman School of Management required and is not negotiable.
Each September, an information session will be held for second year PharmD students interested in learning more about the Combined PharmD-MBA program. This session will describe the admission requirements, outline the application processes, and explain the opportunities presented by this unique Combined PharmD-MBA program. Interested students are encouraged to speak with the Combined PharmD-MBA Program Coordinator to discuss the program and begin planning. Only second year students in the PharmD program at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy are able to apply for admission to the Combined PharmD-MBA program.
During Year 2 of the PharmD program, students must complete and submit all admission requirements for the Full-Time MBA program offered by the Rotman School of Management by the posted deadlines.
Please note that the Rotman School of Management has five different admissions rounds, each with their own deadlines. To be considered for admission to the Combined PharmD-MBA program, second year PharmD students must complete and submit their applications by the Round 1 or Round 2 deadlines.
If you are accepted into the Full-Time MBA program at Rotman, you will need to notify the Combined PharmD-MBA Program Coordinator (insert email address) to be transferred into the Combined PharmD-MBA program. At that time, you will be directed to defer your acceptance into the Full-Time MBA program for one academic year to allow you to complete the remainder of the degree requirements for the PharmD degree.
Program Overview
Upon successful completion of Year 2 courses and acceptance into the Full-Time MBA program, you will be expected to complete all PharmD course and rotation requirements. At the conclusion of Year 2, you will be required to complete Early Practice Experience II (EPE II) in May. Following the successful completion of EPE II, you will be required to complete Transitional Pharmacy Practice Experience I (TPPE I), a five-week Combined PharmD-MBA program experiential education rotation that will generally run from late July to late August. This TPPE rotation satisfies PharmD clinical rotation requirements for your degree.
Following the successful completion of your TPPE I rotation, you will enrol in Year 3 of the PharmD program and take all required and elective courses for the fall term. During this term, you will have the opportunity to take PHM389 (Research Project) to begin an early exploration of management and business issues in Pharmacy.
In January of Year 3, Combined PharmD-MBA students will begin Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations. In early January, you will complete an Experiential APPE Transition course designed to help you succeed in your experiential rotations. From January to August of Year 3, you will complete six (6) APPE rotations, per Faculty requirements, as organized by the Office of Experiential Education. Upon successful completion of your final (6th) APPE rotation, you will have completed all required courses and rotations for the PharmD degree.
Please note: as you will be participating in rotations that occur over the summer, you will be required to pay a summer tuition fee per University of Toronto policy.
Beginning in September of Year 4, you will enroll directly in the Full-Time MBA program at the Rotman School of Management. Your first term MBA courses will qualify as Electives for the PharmD degree. Consequently, you will complete all degree requirements for the PharmD program by December of Year 4, and graduate (with your original class) the following June. During this term, you will take the required MBA courses plus one additional self-directed course in Pharmacy, and will consequently be co-registered as both a Rotman School of Management and Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy student.
In the winter term of Year 4, you will have completed all requirements of the PharmD program, and will therefore no longer be registered as a Pharmacy student. Instead, you will be registered solely as a Rotman School of Management student beginning in January, and will be enrolled in MBA courses exclusively from this point forward.
In year 5 (beginning in September and ending in May), you will complete all remaining Rotman School of Management MBA degree requirements and graduate with an MBA degree with that class.
Cost
The cost of the Combined PharmD-MBA is significant, but the advantages of completing these two world-class programs concurrently are worth the additional investment.
The tuition fee differential between the PharmD and MBA programs is considerable. As a result, the Faculty is currently exploring opportunities for bursaries, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid for students participating in this program.
Additionally, students are encouraged to apply for any financial aid or awards programs administered at the Rotman School of Management once they have been accepted to the MBA program.