College looking ahead with new curriculum implementation

The Helix+ Curriculum is a bold and comprehensive redesign of the MUSC Pharm.D. program, crafted to meet the evolving demands of 21st-century healthcare. Launching in Fall 2027, Helix+ overhauls the first three years of the curriculum with a fully integrated, block-based model, primarily structured around organ systems.

The curriculum is designed to future-proof MUSC pharmacy graduates and emphasizes team-based active learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and core themes that include digital health, pharmacogenomics, patient advocacy, and evidence-based practice. Students will progress through scaffolded, longitudinal patient cases and competency-based milestone assessments, equipping them to deliver patient-centered, technology-enhanced, and value-based care.

Helix+ is not only a shift in content but a reimagining of how students learn and how faculty teach in interdepartmental teams. The new model invites continuous reflection and improvement by deeply integrating basic and clinical sciences across time and context. Helix+ ensures that students revisit and reinforce key concepts while applying them in meaningful, real-world scenarios. This dynamic educational experience supports the development of self-directed, reflective practitioners who are well-prepared for the demands of pharmacy practice today and tomorrow.

This curricular transformation reflects a two-year design and planning effort involving broad faculty collaboration and a commitment to alignment with updated national pharmacy education standards. Faculty and institutional approvals were completed in early 2025, followed by formal endorsement from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education in March 2025.

The Helix+ implementation timeline includes a robust faculty development initiative and course buildout throughout 2025 and 2026. The inaugural Helix+ cohort will matriculate in August 2027, ushering in a new era of pharmacy education that positions MUSC as a leader in innovation, curricular integration, and student readiness for rapidly evolving practice models.