UW School of Pharmacy Selects Business Manager/Educator to Lead MSHSA Degree Program

A former corporate manager and pharmacy business leader has been selected as director of the University of Wyoming’s School of Pharmacy Master of Science in Health Services Administration (MSHSA) program.

Elliott Sogol, the current director of postgraduate education for the pharmacy school in the UW College of Health Sciences, brings a balanced mix of experience in both business management and graduate-level education instruction.

Sogol’s previous roles included serving as the senior vice president of strategy for Pharmacy Quality Solutions and group manager in the health care professional service group for the Target Corp. He also served as manager of one of the corporation’s pharmacies, and he has held leadership positions in the corporate, and research and development divisions within GlaxoSmithKline.

Sogol also held positions in academia at Campbell University School of Pharmacy and the University of Illinois-Chicago. He received his professional and graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. He currently holds adjunct faculty appointments at Campbell University, the University of Minnesota and the University of North Carolina.

UW’s MSHSA program is a fully accredited online program intended for new or midcareer health professionals, including pharmacists, nurses, physical therapists, first responders and other non-health care professionals looking to advance their careers in the pharmaceutical and health care fields.

Students can complete the program at a pace that suits their personal circumstances, by either a full-time, two-year track or taking as much as six years as part-time students.

“One of our main strengths is our students,” Sogol says. “They come from diverse backgrounds all across the country and bring many different perspectives to our discussions.”

In addition to postgraduate students, current graduate-level as well as non-degree-seeking students are invited to enroll in the MSHSA program as a way to enhance managerial and planning skills for entering the health care business sector.

Four key career directive tracks are offered through the MSHSA program: biopharmaceutical regulatory compliance; health economics and outcomes; health institution leadership; and health quality and improvement. Each can be tailored to focus more directly on the career development needs of each student.

“Our program is student centered,” Sogol says. “Our faculty include experts from throughout the pharmacy health care industry whose experience will prove valuable when applying their teachings to our students’ career paths. These experts work closely with our students, either in an advising capacity or providing mentorship, depending on the students’ circumstances and program track.”

The mission of the department is to provide excellent instruction to educate future leaders in the health care field, he adds.

The application deadline for admission to the fall semester is Aug. 1.

For specific information about the MSHSA program, and to submit an application, visit the website at www.uwyohealthadminms.org/.