Even amid a global pandemic, the Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has continued to brand itself for the future.
It has been a little over a month since the FAMU Board of Trustees decided to recognize the impact of the college’s Institute of Public Health,approving a name change to the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health (CoPPS, IPH).
Since 1951, the college has witnessed major growth in pharmacy education and is now one of the largest colleges of pharmacy in the country.
But what is the main reason for the name change? Is it to continue the recruitment of more students?
Gallop Franklin, a graduate of the college and a visiting pharmacy instructor,said the program has always flourished.
“Throughout the years, the College of Pharmacy has changed drastically through the expansion of technology and space. There are now more ways for students to be a part of the program. Which brings up my thoughts of the building name change. In my opinion, it was a phenomenal move, because in the past some students did not realize everything that the College of Pharmacy has due to the college name in itself, but it is very diverse with many more amazing programs,” Franklin said. “The framework behind the name change is to become more reflective of what the college truly represents.”
Cynthia Harris, an associate dean and director of the Institute of Public Health since its inception almost two decades ago, talked about the name change in a press release.
“The name change elevates the Institute of Public Health and facilitates its evolution to an autonomous School of Public Health – as intended in the university’s strategic plan,” Harris said.
Several students said they were unaware of the name change.
Morenike Ogunnaike, a sophomore doctor of pharmacy candidate at FAMU, expressed her thoughts on the renaming of the building.
“The change was a great idea because not only does it have a nice ring to it, but more people will know that we have a public health program which will easily increase enrollment numbers back to what it used to be,” Ogunnaike said. “I believe it is a step in the right direction of the plethora of adjustments that need to happen within the college.”
With the help of Harris, students, and several IPH faculty members, the institute has partnered with Bond Medical Center to provide free coronavirus tests at Bragg Memorial Stadium since early May.