The University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy together with the College of Pharmacy and College of Health Related Professions (CHRP) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have established a new educational program to meet the needs for specialists in the field of nuclear pharmacy.  The Nuclear Education Online Program (www.nuclearonline.org) will use Web-based learning technology with local preceptors to increase the availability and accessibility of education for students and pharmacists interested in this specialty.

             Nuclear pharmacy is a branch of pharmacy that develops and studies diagnostic and therapeutic radioactive compounds.  The discipline concerns the preparation, dispensing and monitoring of radioactive drugs that are designed to detect and treat certain diseases in people.

             Both universities are nationally recognized for excellence in their nuclear pharmacy programs.  The CHRP has a well-defined educational program in Nuclear Medicine Technology and has already successfully presented Web-based course material by distance learning technology to university students in several other states.  Internet technology will enable the faculty members of the two universities to offer classes to students across the country and even around the world.  The new educational program will be available in March, 2001 to both pharmacy students and pharmacists seeking additional specialty training for nuclear pharmacy practice.

             The program involves 200 hours of education and 500 hours of experiential training.  Upon completing the program, students will be eligible for certification by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  The student-centered curriculum will include interactive Web-based course materials, discussion groups, preceptor-led activities and problem-based learning case studies.  Cases are based on actual clinical imaging studies and pharmacy situations.

             “Currently, about 20 pharmacy graduates enter nuclear pharmacy each year while the demand for pharmacists with training in this specialty is approximately 100 annually. Recruiting and training a pharmacist in this specialty is difficult and expensive,” said Jeff Norenberg, Pharm. D., BCNP, assistant professor of pharmacy at the UNM College of Pharmacy.  “In traditional programs, many hours of time must be spent away from home.  In contrast, the Nuclear Education Online program will provide this training in an effective and efficient manner without regard to locale.”

             The Nuclear Education Online program is directed by William Hadley, Ph.D., Dean of UNM College of Pharmacy; Larry D. Milne, Ph.D., Dean of College of Pharmacy at UAMS; and Ronald H. Winters, Ph.D., Dean of the CHRP at UAMS.  In addition to Norenberg, other participating faculty members include Nicki Hilliard, Pharm.D., BCNP; Paul Mann, Ph.D.; Martha Pickett, CNMT; Buck Rhodes, Ph.D.; Paul Thaxton, CNMT; Kristina Wittstrom, R.Ph., BCNP; and trained preceptors in the field.

             The 10-week training program will be offered 6-7 times per year.  Registrations for the first course beginning in March 2001 are now being accepted.  Preceptor training will begin in March at the APhA meeting in San Francisco.  Experienced nuclear pharmacists interested in becoming a preceptor should contact Kristina Wittstrom at (505) 272-3661 or aaaaa@unm.edu.