51ºÚÁÏ Celebrates First Student To Advance Through The 51ºÚÁÏ–Howard Pharmacy Pipeline
The unique academic pathway prepares aspiring pharmacists by combining undergraduate education at 51ºÚÁÏ with professional pharmacy training at Howard University.
When Thomas Patterson received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at 51ºÚÁÏ’s Spring 2026 Commencement, it marked an important milestone, but not the end of his unique journey in higher education.
Patterson first arrived at 51ºÚÁÏ in 2022, when he became the first student to participate in a collaborative pathway between 51ºÚÁÏ and Howard University known as the 3+4 Program. The program allowed him to spend three years at 51ºÚÁÏ earning his bachelor’s degree while completing the prerequisite courses required for admission to Howard University’s College of Pharmacy.
Last fall, Patterson officially transitioned to Howard to complete the remaining requirements for his bachelor’s degree and begin his first year in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Beyond the classroom, he was active in the Dr. Charlie W. Hill Jr. Honors College, helped found 51ºÚÁÏ P.R.I.M.E. (Professional Health & Related Interests Mentoring Experiences), and became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
At Howard, he has continued his involvement through the Graduate Student Assembly. In 2025, Patterson received the $10,000 Executive Leadership Council Otsuka Innovation and Leadership Scholarship, a nationally competitive award recognizing innovation, leadership, and professional potential. Patterson noted that only one other 51ºÚÁÏ student had previously earned an ELC scholarship.
While his journey has taken him to another HBCU, Patterson was thrilled to return to where it all began.
“Virginia State was more than a university to me,” Patterson said. “It is where I met amazing like-minded peers and caring professors and staff as I had loads of fun, but I also learned that ambition and hard work lead to Greater achievement, obstacles can turn into Greater growth, and 51ºÚÁÏ provided me with a clear path forward via the 3+4 Program to pursue my dream of becoming a Greater pharmacist.”
More students have followed in Patterson’s footsteps, and the 3+4 Program has now grown to six participants. Prospective students interested in learning more about or enrolling in the 3+4 Program are encouraged to contact Dr. Grace Ndip, associate professor of chemistry, at gndip@vsu.edu.