The POLA 2026 application form is open
and will remain open until February 28th 2026.
Apply now at this link.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will be hosting the upcoming session of Pharmacy Ownership and Leadership Academy (POLA) from June 15-19, 2026. POLA is open to students nationwide, but our maximum enrollment for this session is 40 students. The POLA curriculum is designed for current P2 students (rising P3s), but we encourage current P1 students to apply as well. P1 students at accelerated programs (three-year Pharm.D. schools/colleges) will be preferentially admitted over P1s from four-year schools/colleges. We received 88 applicants for POLA 2025 and we expect high demand for POLA 2026. POLA 2026 will be an in-person event at the main UAMS campus in Little Rock, Arkansas.
What is POLA?
POLA is a week-long academy focused on the fundamentals of pharmacy ownership, leadership and self-awareness. The POLA curriculum is specifically designed to help prepare students and equip them with the tools they need to be successful independent pharmacy owners. All POLA attendees will prepare a team mini-business plan presentation utilizing best practices for competing in the NCPA Student Business Plan Competition. The college was proud to host 35 students for the 2025 event from 25 different institutions across 14 states.
Who Can Come?
POLA is open to student pharmacists nationwide. However, our maximum enrollment for POLA 2026 is 40 students. Contact your NCPA Chapter Advisor or Dean of Student Affairs about applying to POLA 2026. Applications are sent to all colleges in December/January each year.
When and where is POLA?
POLA is held on University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences campus in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The upcoming session will be June 15-19, 2026
POLA Curriculum Highlights
- What it takes to own a pharmacy
- How to write a real-world business plan and best practices for submitting a business plan to the NCPA Business Plan Competition
- Personal and professional development
- Self-awareness
- Importance of leadership in the pharmacy profession
How much does it cost to attend POLA?
Registration and tuition for POLA are free. All student meals are provided (free) during the academy, but students are responsible for their travel to and from Little Rock along with housing during their 5-day stay (Sunday-Thursday). POLA lodging is at a nearby UAMS affiliated hotel and can range from $60 to $120 per night, depending on if you are willing to share a multi-occupancy room or suite with other POLA attendees. Students are welcome to stay in alternate lodging but will be responsible for travel to and from the UAMS campus each day.
*** Please consider talking with your Dean or NCPA Chapter Advisor to see if they are willing to provide you with a travel/housing stipend to attend POLA 2026.
POLA 2025 Day-to-Day Breakdown
Day 1
Our first day served as an introductory day for POLA. We focused on topics such as Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, and Personal Finance. Lastly, we learned about pharmacy valuation using the formulas in the NCPA Digest.
Day 2
On the second day, the students got some fresh air at the Arkansas 4H Center. There they conducted several team-building exercises and worked through several mental and physical challenges in the group setting. They concluded the day working with their teams to determine a purchase price for their pharmacy.
Day 3
On our third day, the students learned how to generate a real-world business plan that you would submit to a lender. They were then immersed in information concerning financial documentation and current state of independent pharmacy ownership. We ended the night with our Ownership Social at Flying Saucer in downtown Little Rock.
Day 4
Thursday started with learning about best practices for competing in the NCPA Business Plan Competition and concluded with reviewing the NCPA Financials Digest. Then the students broke out into teams where they spent most of the day generating their business plan for the Friday presentation. The day concluded with the Owner Networking Dinner where local independent pharmacy owners shared their expertise and advice to our upcoming pharmacy owners
Day 5
Friday morning the teams presented their business plans and fielded questions from POLA faculty and attendees.
Student Testimonials
Katie See
UMKC School of Pharmacy at MU
“POLA has been one of the most impactful and eye-opening experiences of my pharmacy journey. I entered with an interest in policy and doubts about pharmacy ownership being a realistic goal in Missouri, but left with knowledge, friendships, and inspiration that established hope of the possibility of one day owning a pharmacy. The program not only taught me about leadership and ownership, but also reminded me why I fell in love with pharmacy in the first place.”
Valerie Ogle
Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy
“Attending POLA this past summer was a life-changing experience that made my dream of owning a small-town independent pharmacy feel real and within reach, even in a world that often says otherwise. Through immersive sessions, hands-on learning and practice, and mentorship from experienced pharmacy owners and business leaders, I gained invaluable knowledge that no textbook or webinar can teach. I left POLA feeling deeply inspired, empowered, and more confident than ever in my ability to successfully own and operate an independent pharmacy that will serve as a cornerstone of patient-centered care and exceed the healthcare needs of my community.”
Want to know more? Contact us!
Seth Heldenbrand, Pharm.D.
seth@uams.edu
501-686-6494
Associate Dean for Experiential Education, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice Department
UAMS College of Pharmacy
Schwanda Flowers, Pharm.D.
sflowers@ffb1.com
501-672-5040
Managing Director, PSD
First Financial Bank, Little Rock