NCPA Foundation – UAMS Pharmacy Ownership and Leadership Academy

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will be hosting the upcoming session of the NCPA Foundation-UAMS Pharmacy Ownership and Leadership Academy (POLA) on June 24 – 28, 2024. POLA is open to students nationwide, but our maximum enrollment for this session is 40 students. The POLA application portal will close February 16th.

Please consider applying soon if you are interested. We had over 120 applicants for POLA 2023.

POLA is a week-long academy focused on the fundamentals of pharmacy ownership and the importance leadership in our profession. The curriculum is specifically designed to help prepare students and equip them with the tools they need to be successful independent pharmacy owners. While the POLA curriculum focuses on pharmacy ownership, leadership, and self-awareness, some of the POLA curriculum is focused towards current P1 and P2 students (rising P2s and P3s in June) that are interested in competing in the NCPA business plan competition.

POLA 2024 will be in-person at the main UAMS campus in Little Rock, Arkansas. In June 2023 we hosted 45 students from 28 colleges/schools of pharmacy.

Registration and tuition for POLA are free. All student meals, supplies, transportation and events during the academy are provided (free) by the POLA endowment. However, students are responsible for their travel to and from Little Rock along with housing during their 5-day stay (Sunday – Thursday night). POLA lodging is at the Wyndham Riverfront, a nearby UAMS affiliated hotel with rates of $99 per night. Students are welcome to share rooms to reduce the housing expense for the week. Students may book alternative lodging if they choose but will have to travel to the Wyndham Riverfront daily to catch the shuttle to all POLA events.

We encourage all students to talk with your NCPA Advisor or Dean to see if your college/school can support your lodging/travel with a stipend to offset your expenses. In 2023 almost 70% of POLA attendees received travel/lodging support from their schools.

Click here to apply for POLA 2024

For more information visit the POLA website and follow us on Facebook. We hope to see you in June!

Thank you,

Seth Heldenbrand, Pharm.D.

Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Experiential Education

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

College of Pharmacy

seth@uams.edu

Work 501.686.6392; Fax 501.686.8104