The University of Makati has achieved a 100-percent passing rate in the Pharmacist Licensure test given by the Board of Pharmacy last month, Mayor Abigail Binay announced on Friday.
Binay commended the 10 graduates of Bachelor of Science Pharmacy-College of Allied Health Studies who were among the 2,784 passers out of 5,079 examinees throughout the country.
The 10 board passers are namely—Abdel Rauff Baharan, Kristelle Kylah Cabuso, Cristina Ching, Jan Maverin Cruz, Madame Myrin Donato, KC Rolainne Gabriel, Rhea Mae Laolao, Mary Jane Miguel, Karen Mae Pascua, and Jasmin Kae Sistoso.
“We take pride in the achievements of our home-grown professionals. They do justice to the sizeable investments being made by the city government in the education of the youth,” Binay said.
The mayor reiterated her challenge to the UMak officials and faculty to aim for a 100 percent passing rate in all related board examinations. “Our university has already produced board topnotchers and consistently maintained high passing rates over the years. Let us set the bar higher and aim for 100 percent,” she urged.
The 10 board passers comprised the second batch of graduates of the UMak Center of Pharmacy, the first of its kind in the country, which was opened in 2012 to address the growing demand for pharmacists. Last year, its first batch of graduates also posted a 100-percent passing rate.
Last July, 29 UMak graduates also passed the Radiologic Technology Licensure Exam, achieving an 80.56 percent passing rate which is higher than the national average passing rate of 46.36 percent.
The newly-certified Radiologic Technologists from UMak were Mikaela Balagapo, Vername Bueno, Axl Calixto, Jose Paolo Cruz, Kimchille Diaz, Dessa Joy Dineros, Jillian Mae Dipalac, Roger Louise Gonzaga, Gerlie Gonzales, Paul Jacob Ibañez, Angela Grace Irlanda, Ivy Hope Labador, Nikee Marie Likiyan, Joshua Lennin Llorente, Maridel Mabanag.
Sydny May Mapua, Karissa Mariano, Kim Darryl Olaya, Anna Palabyab, Zenilie Perez, Diosa Rasonable, Hannah Rivera, Jonadab Robledo, Clariza Jane Sanchez, Kris Zhel Solis, Kayla Marie Suyat, Rizza Mae Turingan, Andriana Angelika Umengan, and Dave Jerome Villaraza.
UMak is known for pioneering in course offerings that adhere to the “Think global, act local” paradigm. Its Center of Pharmacy offers a six-year ladderized program consisting of the following two-year courses: Associate of Applied Science in Pharmaceutical Technology; Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy with added specialization in Pharmaceutical Marketing, and Doctor of Pharmacy.
UMak president Tomas Lopez said the program has been designed so that graduates of Associate of Applied Science in Pharmaceutical Technology can already work competently as skilled pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist in settings such as a community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy or a healthcare institution.
On the other hand, those who want to be a licensed pharmacist may continue for two more years to obtain a degree in Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, which offers added specialization in Pharmaceutical Marketing.
Lopez said that the added specialization in pharmaceutical marketing equips graduates with needed skills for a career in pharmaceutical sales, marketing, management, market research or related fields within the health care industry. He noted that the university has been in collaboration with pharmaceutical industry players to strengthen the graduates’ competencies in the said fields.
Licensed pharmacists have various work opportunities such as dispensing pharmacists in community or hospital pharmacies and as manufacturing pharmacists (quality control, quality assurance, research and product development, etc.) in the pharmaceutical industry. They may also have a career in the academe, clinical research, government service, business and many others.
Moreover, the center offers Doctor of Pharmacy (Phar.D.), a two-year professional continuing program that further enhances the global competitiveness of B.S. Pharmacy graduates. A B.S. Pharmacy graduate is required to complete the said program to qualify for private professional practice in Clinical Pharmacy and Medication Therapy Management, or a career in the provision of pharmaceutical care (more patient-focused), whether here or abroad.
Meanwhile, the university opened the four-year program on Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology (RadTech) in 2011, joining the few universities in the country offering the said course. RadTech graduates are in demand not only in the USA and Europe but also in Middle Eastern countries where Filipinos are highly regarded.
In the July 2016 RadTech board exam, 25 out of 30 examinees from UMak passed, including three who landed on the top ten.