Pharmacies nationwide are contending with a persistent shortage of licensed pharmacists, including in North Carolina. Recent figures project around 14,000 pharmacist job openings each year, raising concerns about patient access and the sustainability of health services.

Asante and Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest have joined forces to create new core rotation sites for medical students in southern Oregon. Announced on June 9, 2026, this collaboration aims to strengthen the local healthcare workforce pipeline by expanding hands-on training opportunities.

In a historic move for Guam, the University of Guam (UOG) and New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine-Arkansas (NYITCOM) have announced a partnership creating the island’s first medical doctor degree pathway. This initiative offers students in Guam and the surrounding region a direct route to pursue a career in medicine without leaving their community.

Texas is taking steps to address its growing physician shortage by making it simpler for foreign-trained doctors to practice. The state joins 17 others that have adopted similar measures. About a quarter of Texas’s licensed doctors were trained abroad.

Dickinson State University and North Dakota State University have signed a statewide partnership to bolster pharmacy education and address critical workforce shortages. The agreement provides a three-year pre-pharmacy track and a two-year Early Admission Pathway for DSU students, aiming to meet the state’s demand for qualified professionals.