“It never hurts to ask.” A statement uttered by so many people, but one that rings true for Auburn student Mary Layton Lancaster and changed the trajectory of her graduate education.

Applying for admission to Auburn’s Harrison College of Pharmacy (HCOP), Lancaster also had an interest in business. HCOP offers some dual degrees, but when she asked about a Pharm.D./MBA, that was not one currently offered. Simply asking the question, though, proved to be the catalyst in HCOP and the Harbert College of Business collaborating to offer the dual degree at Auburn.

“The Auburn MBA program searches high and low to connect talent with opportunities. Fortunately, in this case, we were able to build a relationship and show the value of aligning pharmaceutical studies and business,” said Jim Parrish, executive director of Full-Time and Online Graduate Programs

Lancaster has always had the brain for STEM. While growing up, she aspired to be a teacher and later a mathematician. With her mother working as a graphic designer and her father in logistics, pharmacy, let alone health care, was not at the forefront of her career goals.

“From a young age, I was really interested in both math and science as they came naturally to me,” said Lancaster. “I’m the only one in my family who went into health care, so I really didn’t know what that looked like.”

When deciding what to major in for her undergraduate degree at Clemson University, her parents’ alma mater, Lancaster decided to continue to pursue the science field. Biochemistry is the branch of science dedicated to how chemical processes affect living organisms. With biochemistry comes a large overlap with pharmacology, Lancaster’s gateway to pharmacy.

“I was originally going the medical school route,” said Lancaster. “After my freshman year I got a job at a pharmaceutical wholesaler. I worked there for two summers, and I really got to understand the business side of pharmacy and what that looks like. So, it helped me become more interested in pharmacy as a career.”

Path to the Plains

Like many others that find their way to the Plains, Lancaster had visited Auburn’s campus at an early age.

“I originally applied to Auburn for pharmacy school because I came to a Clemson versus Auburn football game when I was 10 years old and I loved the atmosphere and people,” said Lancaster. “My alma mater does not offer a pharmacy school, so I thought to myself, I loved Auburn when I came the first time, so let’s try it again.”

Training pharmacists for more than 135 years, HCOP is committed to preparing the next generation of leaders and change agents in the profession. Part of that preparation includes learning how to work as part of an interprofessional health care team, a vital component of the Practice Ready Curriculum.

“When I wanted to apply to pharmacy school, I did my research and saw that Auburn offers the Practice Ready Curriculum where we integrate all our classes on top of each other and that was unique,” said Lancaster. “I also liked the emphasis on team-based learning and getting to build strong relationships with my classmates.”

During her undergraduate studies, Lancaster picked up a business minor after working at a pharmaceutical wholesaler. Her interest in business only grew stronger as she continued her education, but pharmacy was still the priority. When making the final decision to attend HCOP, Lancaster had one more box the college had to check off: the ability to simultaneously complete a master’s in business administration while in pharmacy school.

“At the time, Auburn did not offer a dual Pharm.D./MBA program. In my candidate interview with the college, I had asked administration if this was something they would consider implementing,” said Lancaster.  “After my interview, HCOP collaborated with the Harbert College of Business to make this dual degree program a possibility.”

"The College of Business is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and establishing successful partnerships to benefit our students, such as our ventures with the Harrison College of Pharmacy, the Ginn College of Engineering, and the College of Veterinary Medicine,” said Michael Wesson, associate dean of Graduate and Executive Programs. “Additionally, students can pair their MBA with specialty master's degrees in finance, information systems, and supply chain management. All of these concurrent degree programs provide a broader education for our Auburn graduates, making our students highly competitive in the job market and well-prepared for diverse career paths."

In what would have traditionally taken approximately several years to complete, Lancaster had the ability to pursue both degrees concurrently.

“As one of this year’s selections for Poet’s & Quants Online MBA Best and Brightest, Mary excelled and mastered the academic challenges that were before her to successfully complete her degrees,” said Parrish.

With the help of understanding classmates, Lancaster was able to grow her support system three-fold.

“Dr. Paul Jungnickel helped set up the framework of this program to which I am extremely grateful,” said Lancaster. “During my time here, Dr. Karen Marlowe and Dr. Lea Eiland have been amazing supporters for me with balancing two degrees and encouraging other pharmacy students to pursue this program.

“Additionally, having my teammates keep me accountable with pharmacy work and understanding my additional workload was a game changer. My classmates are the reason I was able to do both degrees at the same time.”

A Future in Pharmacy

In August, Lancaster finished her MBA and is continuing her work as a pharmacy intern at the East Alabama Medical Center Apothecary. Long term, her story remains unwritten.

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“The MBA has helped open multiple learning and professional opportunities through rotations and my work at the hospital. At the end of the day, a pharmacy is a business and having this experience will make me a better pharmacist in the future.” Mary Layton Lancaster

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With a post-graduate residency and a specialty in mind, Lancaster has a big spring coming up. In May, she will participate in the formal HCOP graduation ceremony, only a few weeks before getting married later in the month. Not only did Lancaster meet her soon-to-be-husband at Auburn, but he also proposed on the rooftop of a Harbert College building.

Lancaster paved the way for herself and all future pharmacists at HCOP who want to pursue the MBA path.

“I am proud to have been the first to initiate this program, and I am looking forward to seeing all of the students who participate in the future,” said Lancaster.

This story is excerpted from a longer article published by the Harrison College of Pharmacy.

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Learn more about the Harbert College of Business MBA program.