The pharmacy program will relocate to the USF Health Downtown building and welcome its freshman PharmD class to the new location.
The USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy (TCOP) has completed its building expansion and relocated its PharmD program to the USF Health Downtown building, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held July 30 to celebrate the move.
The move represents an opportunity for the innovative pharmacy program to expand its physical space, technology and creative learning instruction methods.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, USF, USF Health, community leaders, students and guests shared their excitement over the journey TCOP took to design, build and occupy the new facility.
“University of South Florida’s location on Water Street allows us to play a leading role in the development of Tampa’s world-class medical and research district. The addition of the Taneja College of Pharmacy to this state-of-the-art facility will provide innovative learning opportunities for our students and better position the university to serve the healthcare needs of our region and state,” said University of South Florida President Leah Law. “This move reflects the University of South Florida’s commitment to partnering with the community to create a healthier future, and I look forward to all that our students, faculty and staff will accomplish in our new home.”
“We are deeply grateful that the Taneja family shares our vision for the future of health education and has partnered with us to create the most innovative pharmacy program in the nation,” said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president for USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “This new space is designed to allow flexibility and foster innovation and entrepreneurship. This will be the home base for the future of pharmacy.”
During the ceremony, Kevin Sneed, PharmD, executive vice chancellor for USF Health and dean of the USF Health Taneja School of Pharmacy, reflected on the founding of the faculty, when the first pillars of the program were defined: geriatrics, pharmacogenomics, informatics and technology, and leadership.
“That vision of the future has proven to be remarkably accurate, as we find ourselves in the midst of the next great evolutionary moment in drug development,” said Dr. Sneed. “DNA/RNA/peptide and gene therapies are being invented at a rapid pace, and our Taneja College of Pharmacy is poised to train future pharmacists for this new wave of pharmaceutical therapies. As you walk through our new physical space, featuring the mesmerizing and stunning artistry of our exceptional architectural team, Gresham Smith, imagine that in this new location we will be training the best pharmacists in the country, ready to eagerly embrace and master the most complex drug modalities, research and manufacturing the world will ever know.”
“Please join us on this bullet train heading towards the future of pharmacy and healthcare!”
The new 30,000-square-foot facility for the School of Pharmacy occupies approximately one and a half floors of the building and includes elements that will enhance the pharmacy program, including:
- Clinical Learning Center: A dedicated space for students to learn advanced compounding techniques and hone their clinical skills. The space also serves as a resource for pharmacist clinicians and others to further their medical knowledge through continuing education programs.
- Collaborative “makerspaces” and “pitch” rooms: The unique space will provide a creative environment for student groups such as ITEHC (Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship in Healthcare), fostering new ideas and discoveries and creating the ability to prototype new health-related devices. In conjunction with this, a “pitch” room will be created providing a dedicated space for TCOP entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to potential partners and investors.
- Community Outreach: Plans are made to offer the space as a resource for young people from the surrounding area to experience the health professions through direct engagement and gamification, building on the long-standing and successful community outreach program already in place at the Taneja College of Pharmacy.
- Flexible learning spaces and modular classrooms: At the heart of the building’s design is flexibility to meet the learning needs of students today and the adaptability of the spaces for those of the future. Spaces are organized to keep students and faculty aloof from technology, and rooms can be reconfigured for different learning modules and scenarios.
- Holographic technologies in the educational framework: A hologram will be installed in the central classroom to enhance the learning experience for both students and faculty, fostering a more immersive and engaging teaching environment and allowing anyone to “transport” into the classroom from anywhere. Unlike traditional two-dimensional remote platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, holographic technology is revolutionary in that it allows students to experience a real classroom environment, deepening their understanding and connection to complex material.
- Student Success: It also has student-only spaces, including common areas, lounges and private counselling spaces, as well as key staff to address student needs from admissions to advising and graduation.
It is likely that TCOP students will benefit most from this new space, both because of its location in downtown Tampa and its impact on pharmacy education.
“Without the help of everyone here today, this beautiful building and cutting-edge advances in pharmacy education would not have been possible,” fourth-year pharmacy student Joseph Diamond said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “You are the dream creators who make students’ dreams come true, so on behalf of myself and all of the students who will have the opportunity to use this incredible facility now and in the future, I want to thank you all.”
The new space was designed by architecture, engineering and design firm Gresham Smith, with PURE Project Management leading the project. The design integrates with the building’s existing mechanical, electrical and life safety systems and expands on many of the classroom technologies and innovative education initiatives already in place at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
The USF Health Downtown Building opened on Water Street in Tampa in January 2020, welcoming the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and the Heart Institute MD program. In the several years between breaking ground on the new USF Health Downtown Building and its opening, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine saw a dramatic increase in recruitment activity and the level of students applying to the MD program.
Already a leader in attracting some of the best pharmacy students in the state of Florida, the USF College of Pharmacy is set to feel an even greater impact in both student and faculty recruitment efforts from the allure of its new location in the fast-growing Water Street Tampa neighborhood in downtown Tampa.
The possibility of the College of Pharmacy relocating to USF Health Downtown began in August 2019 when the college announced a generous $10 million gift from the Taneja Family Foundation, the largest philanthropic donation to a college of pharmacy in Florida.
Jugal Taneja and his family attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 30 and expressed how proud he and his family are that their donation is making an impact on the pharmacy program at USF.
“Today, we are not only dedicating this new building, we are giving a ray of hope to future generations,” said Taneja. “This facility is more than just a brick and mortar building; it embodies our commitment to preparing the workforce that will shape the future of healthcare. Imagine the lives that this College of Pharmacy graduates will impact: the families who benefit from their expertise, the communities they serve, and the medical advancements they contribute to. By investing in their education today, we are ensuring that our future leaders will continue our shared values of service, integrity, and excellence. Let us celebrate this new beginning, not only for this school, but for every student who walks through these doors. This is a transformative opportunity that will enrich not only their lives, but the lives of countless others. Together, we are planting a seed of hope, and I can’t wait to see how it blossoms.”
The USF Health Taneha College of Pharmacy was established by the Governor of Florida in 2009 and welcomed new students in August 2011. From the beginning, the pharmacy program sought to build an innovative program that would pioneer both pharmacy curriculum and clinical experiences. Today, the Taneha College of Pharmacy welcomes 85 new students annually into its PharmD program and has expanded its offerings to include specialist degree programs, advanced degrees, research-focused degrees and a master’s degree suited to students interested in working in the pharmaceutical industry.
Article by Sarah Worth, Photos by Allison Long, Video by Ryan Rossey, USF Health Communications & Marketing
