Two NMSU alumni have been engaged in promoting a joint New Mexico State University-University of New Mexico program that could bring more pharmacists to the southern part of the state.

State Rep. Joni M. Gutierrez ’81 ’84, D-Doña Ana, has been lending prominent support to the much-needed Cooperative Pharmacy Program introduced to the 2006 Legislature by Rep. John Heaton, D-Eddy, a pharmacist and 1961 graduate of UNM, and cosponsored by NMSU alumna Sen. Mary Kay Papen ’78, D-Doña Ana.

Their efforts were among the highlights of a historic meeting at New Mexico State University in September 2006, when the boards of both universities met to discuss issues in higher education and join in support of needed programs in the state.

The Cooperative Pharmacy Program would address the dire shortage of pharmacists in southern New Mexico. The regents agreed that a collaborative six-year pharmacy program between the two large research universities should be a top priority for the 2007 Legislative session.

UNM has the only College of Pharmacy in the state. But many of its top students are alumni of NMSU, the regents were told. One such student, Tiffany Montoya, addressed the regents and encouraged an expedited process for students in southern New Mexico who want to study pharmacy.

“Southern New Mexico has about 40 registered pharmacists for every 100,000 people in the 19 counties south of Bernalillo County,” said John Pieper, dean of UNM’s College of Pharmacy.

Yet in and around Albuquerque, there are about 115 pharmacists for every 100,000 people.

Jeffrey Brandon, dean of NMSU’s College of Health and Social Services, noted during his presentation that UNM and NMSU have a history of collaboration on health issues that includes working together on the Border Health Education Training Center, and “several degree programs such as the master of social work, the doctorate of nursing and the doctorate of public health program scheduled to begin in 2009.”

The two universities would recruit in the southern part of the state for the six-year program. Residents from in and around the area would attend NMSU for the first two years, UNM for the next three and then return to NMSU and southern New Mexico for a final year of service.

The proposed $516,250 budget for the Cooperative Pharmacy Program would fund 10 students largely based on academic achievement. It would provide for $150,000 in scholarships. Another $210,000 would go for two faculty positions in NMSU’s College of Health and Social Services.

Gutierrez said her support for the program stems not only from her concern for the well-being of her constituents, but also from her own family history. Her father, Ralph Gutierrez, is fondly known as “the father of pharmacy in southern New Mexico.”

Gutierrez says she worked in her father’s pharmacy and remembers how he “worked from 9 in the morning until 9 or 10 at night. He couldn’t find another pharmacist to work there.” Her grandfather, Jesus Gutierrez, also was an “old-time pharmacist” in the early 1900s, she says.

Pieper told the regents he wished the program was an original idea, but it is modeled after what he called a successful program already in effect between the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Texas at Austin.

Nonetheless the regents of both universities expressed support.

“This pharmacy program represents a new spirit of cooperation between the two largest universities in the state,” said NMSU Regents President Steven Anaya. “While we remain competitive on the athletic field, we are committed to building strong partnerships in the classroom. Our goal is to focus our combined resources to the best advantage of our students.”

The regents also approved joint support of several legislative initiatives as they discussed issues facing higher education in the state. Among them is a move to increase the number of, and funding for, graduate assistantships. They also agreed the funding formula through which money is allocated to the schools should reflect the different challenges faced by the research universities.

“It’s important for the state to know that the large research universities in New Mexico play in a different arena and face different market forces than other colleges,” NMSU President Michael Martin told the regents. “We are competing with universities such as Georgia Tech and Michigan State. The policies must reflect that.”

Susan McKinsey, director of news at the University of New Mexico, and Bob Nosbisch ’86 ’93 contributed to this story.