Dave Forbes, Dean of the University of Montana’s pharmacy school makes whirlwind trip to Senate panel

It’s not often Washington, D.C., powerbrokers ring your phone and ask for an appearance – especially when you live in Montana.

So when Dave Forbes, dean of the University of Montana’s pharmacy school, got the call last week, his surprise quickly gave way to a scramble.

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

http://missoulian.com/articles/2004/07/30/news/local/news03.txt

This is how it went: The invite came late last Monday from a staffer for the Senate Finance Committee. On Tuesday, Forbes was throwing a presentation and prepared remarks together. Wednesday was spent flying across the country, and on Thursday he told the committee about UM’s program.

Now that he’s back on familiar turf, Forbes said the trip, as hectic and as last minute as you can get, was a rare opportunity for UM to gain more recognition.

It was his chance to thank the committee for federal granting programs that have bolstered UM and encourage the committee to keep the funding coming.

"It was a great opportunity to put a human face on what happens to their money," Forbes said. "In Montana, it means a lot."

The meeting, which was led by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, took place in the committee’s hearing room in the Dirkson Senate Building. Also in attendance, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo.

Despite the hearing’s title – "The Role of Higher Education Financing in Strengthening U.S. Competitiveness in a Global Economy" – Forbes said UM’s presence was appropriate.

Access to and affordability of higher education are two issues that need to be tackled if the United States is to remain competitive, Forbes said.

"Improved access," he told the committee, "leads to a healthier community, which is more competitive."

Forbes said he used his time in the limelight "to try and talk to those folks about what their investment has done to help one state."

Forbes talked about Montana’s bottom-of-the-list economic rankings. He talked about how 14.6 percent of Montanans live in poverty and 43.6 percent of Montana youths are classified as low income and uninsured. He talked about the 64,000 American Indians who live in Montana, making up the state’s largest minority group but less than 3 percent of students enrolled in state universities. In Montana, he said, just 0.6 percent of the state’s pharmacists are American Indian. Eighty-two percent of the counties meet the Health Professional Shortage Area definition, he said, and 57 percent of the counties are medically underserved areas.

A healthier population and educated citizenry, Forbes commented, can only increase the United States’ vision to be competitive in a global economy.

"I wanted them to know their programs have made a difference and we are thankful for them," he said. "I also put in a plug to create more scholarships for American Indians who are interested in the health services."

The pharmacy school is ranked among the top 10 programs in the nation – a mark of distinction – that receives federal grants in a competitive granting process.

UM and it’s students have thrived because of federal funding, Forbes said. More than a third of UM’s pharmacy students come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and most of those students are the first in their families to receive a higher education.

The federal monies have allowed the school to help those students replace loans with scholarships, Forbes said, which means they have less debt upon graduation.

"We have too many students these days who work too much, work too many hours so that they can afford school, and they don’t have the time to really focus on their academics," Forbes said.

"Students are scared – rightfully so – of debt," he said. "But if we can break the cycle, and we can offer great jobs at the end of the rainbow, it’s going to be a huge difference for people, especially students who come from rural places and disadvantaged backgrounds."

Forbes said he has no idea what kind of impact he made with the committee. But he hopes the requested 200 written copies of his presentation will prompt some positive action – and more funding.

"What I hope happens, is that now, more people will learn what we are doing out here," Forbes said. "And that the federal funding we receive is making a difference."

Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at [email protected]