USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy opens new home in downtown Tampa

The pharmacy program moves into the USF Health Downtown building and welcomes its incoming PharmD class to its new home.

The USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy (TCOP) completed its buildout and has moved its PharmD program into the USF Health Downtown building, celebrating the effort with a ribbon cutting ceremony July 30.

The move serves as an opportunity for the innovative pharmacy program to expand its physical space, technology and creative learning pedagogies.

At the ribbon-cutting, USF, USF Health and community leaders, students, and guests shared the joy of TCOP's journey to design, build and occupy the new home.

"The University of South Florida's Water Street location allows us to play a leading role in growing Tampa's world-class medical and research district. Adding the Taneja College of Pharmacy to this state-of-the-art facility will provide innovative learning opportunities for our students and help our university better serve the health care needs of our region and state," said USF President Rhea Law. "This move reflects USF's commitment to working within our communities to create a healthier future, and we look forward to everything our students, faculty and staff will achieve in their new home."

"We are deeply grateful that the Taneja family shares in our vision for the future of health education and have helped us create a pharmacy program that will rank among the most innovative in the nation," said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. "This new space is designed to allow for flexibility and promote innovation and entrepreneurship. It will be ground zero for the future of pharmacy."

At the ceremony, Kevin Sneed, PharmD, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy, recalled the founding of the college, when the inaugural pillars of the program were defined: Geriatrics, Pharmacogenomics, Informatics and Technology, and Leadership.

"That vision for the future has proven to be very accurate, as we now find ourselves in the midst of the next big evolutionary moment in medication development," Dr. Sneed said. "DNA/ RNA/ peptide and gene therapies are rapidly being invented, and our Taneja College of Pharmacy is poised to train the future pharmacy clinician for this new wave of medication therapy. As you walk through our new physical space, with the tantalizing and stunning artistry from our fine architectural team Gresham Smith, please envision that it is in this new home where we will be developing the nation's finest pharmacists, all prepared to eagerly embrace and master the most complicated medication modalities, research, and manufacturing that the world has ever known.

"I invite all of you to join us on the Bullet Train to the Future of Pharmacy and health care!"

The new 30,000-square-foot home for the pharmacy college fills about one and a half floors of the building and includes components that enhance the pharmacy program, including:

• Clinical learning center: A dedicated space to learn advanced compounding techniques and hone clinical skills for students. This space will also be a resource for pharmacist clinicians, and others, to advance their health care knowledge through continuing education programs.
• Collaborative 'maker space' and 'pitch' room: A unique space offers a creative environment for student groups, such as ITEHC (Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship in Healthcare), to cultivate new ideas and discoveries resulting in the ability to generate prototypes of new health-related devices. Coupled with this is a 'pitch' room, meant to provide a dedicated space for TCOP entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to potential partners and investors.
• Community outreach: Plans are in place to offer space as a resource for youth in surrounding areas to experience health professions through direct engagement and gamification. This will build upon long-standing successful community outreach programs already taking place with the Taneja College of Pharmacy.
• Flexible learning spaces and modular classroom: At the heart of the buildings design is flexibility to allow for the learning needs of today's students, as well as adaptability of the space for future students. The spaces are configured so students and faculty can remain untethered to technology, the rooms can be reconfigured to accommodate various learning modules and scenarios.
• Holographic technology in the educational framework: The central classroom with hold a hologram to elevate the learning experience for both students and faculty, foster a more immersive and engaging educational environment, and 'transport' anyone from anywhere into the classroom. Holographic technology is a departure from conventional two-dimensional remote platforms like Microsoft Teams or Zoom in that it can let students experience a lifelike classroom setting, enhancing their understanding and connection with the complex material.
• Student Success Wing: There are also spaces dedicated to students including commons areas, lounges, and a private counseling space, as well as the key staff associated with students' needs, from admissions to advising to graduation.

It's likely the TCOP students who benefit most from the new space, for both its location in the heart of Tampa and its impact on pharmacy education.

"Without the help of the people here today, this beautiful building and all of its state-of-art advancements in pharmacy education would not be possible," said fourth-year pharmacy student Joseph Diamond at the ribbon-cutting event. "All of you are the dream makers that make the dreams of the students become reality. So, on behalf of myself and all the students that will have the opportunity to use this amazing facility, both present and in the future, I would like to thank you."

The new space was designed by architecture, engineering and design firm Gresham Smith, with PURE Project Management leading the project's progress. The design integrates with the building's existing mechanical, electrical and life safety systems, and will extend many of the classroom technologies and innovative educational initiatives already in place for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

The USF Health Downtown building opened in Water Street Tampa in January 2020, welcoming the MD program for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, and the Heart Institute. Across the years from groundbreaking to opening the new USF Health Downtown building, the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine experienced drastic upticks in recruitment efforts and caliber of students applying to the MD program.

Already a leader for attracting Florida's best pharmacy students, USF's pharmacy school will likely feel further impact in both student and faculty recruitment efforts due to the appeal of its new location in the burgeoning Water Street Tampa district of downtown Tampa.

The potential for the College of Pharmacy to move into USF Health Downtown began in August 2019, when the College announced a generous $10 million gift from Taneja Family Foundation, the largest philanthropic gift to a pharmacy school in the state of Florida.

Jugal Taneja and his family attended the July 30 ribbon-cutting ceremony, acknowledging the pride he and his family have in seeing their gift impact USF's pharmacy program.

"Today, we are not just inaugurating this new building; we are igniting a beacon of hope for future generations," Mr. Taneja said. "This institution represents more than just bricks and mortar; it embodies our commitment to nurturing the minds that will shape the future of health care. Imagine the lives that will be touched by the graduates of this pharmacy college-the families who will benefit from their expertise, the communities they will serve, and the advancements in medicine that they will contribute to. By investing in their education today, we are ensuring that these future leaders carry forward our shared values of service, integrity, and excellence. Let us celebrate this new beginning, not just for this school, but for every student who walks through its doors. This is a transformative opportunity, one that will enrich not only their lives but also the lives of countless others. Together, we are planting the seeds of hope, and I can't wait to see how they flourish."

The USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy was established by the Florida Board of Governors in 2009 and welcomed its charter class in August 2011. From the start, the pharmacy program set out to build an innovative program that would be a pacesetter in both pharmacy curriculum and clinical experience. Today, the Taneja College of Pharmacy welcomes 85 new students each year for its PharmD program, and has expanded its offerings to include master's degrees suited for students interested in pursuing a professional degree program, an advanced degree, a degree focused on research, or a degree for those interested in working in the pharmaceutical industry.

Story by Sarah Worth, photos by Allison Long, video by Ryan Rossy, USF Health Communications and Marketing

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