Choosing a Pharmacy School
Pharmacy is the practice of preparing, dispensing and selling medicinal drugs. It also includes the science of pharmacology (the study of drug sources, their properties and actions) and the art of compounding (the mixing of ingredients to make medicines). Those who practise pharmacy are called pharmacists, chemists or apothecaries depending on the country in which they work.
In modern times, the pharmaceutical industry produces most of the medicines that pharmacists dispense to patients. This has diminished the scope for extemporaneous compounding and reduced the need for pharmacists to use manipulative skills such as the forming of bougies, cachets, pills and plasters. Despite these changes, the profession of pharmacy remains crucial to people’s health.
Pharmacists are qualified to answer most medical or drug-related questions and can help you decide what medication is right for you, how much to take and when. They can also check that your prescription won’t interfere badly with other drugs you may be taking or any health conditions you have.
If you’re planning to become a pharmacist, choosing the right pharmacy school is vital. You should look for a college with high North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) pass rates, as this is a strong indicator of how well the institution can prepare students for professional life. It’s also worth considering whether a pharmacy program offers opportunities to get involved in research, as this can boost your CV and improve your chances of getting a job once you finish your degree.
Pharmacy schools can offer many different types of programs and courses, from introductory studies to master’s degrees in pharmacy. Some specialise in particular areas of health care, such as community pharmacy or forensic pharmacy. Others have a more academic focus, providing a solid grounding in the theoretical foundations of pharmacy. These courses tend to be more suited to those who want to pursue an academic career or who have a particular interest in a subject area.
Before applying to a pharmacy program, you should ensure that it is accredited by the relevant national authority. You should also look for a school that has a good track record of educating pharmacists, and one that provides its students with plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
It is important to have a consistent definition of what constitutes pharmacy, irrespective of the individual context in which it is taught and practiced. The model we have proposed below is just such a starting point, and we hope that it can be used to reduce the ambiguity that exists in the terminology used to describe what constitutes the pharmacy sector as a whole. This would make it easier for policy-makers and other stakeholders to develop a clearer framework for pharmacy practice, research and education.
Pharmacy is the practice of preparing, dispensing and selling medicinal drugs. It also includes the science of pharmacology (the study of drug sources, their properties and actions) and the art of compounding (the mixing of ingredients to make medicines). Those who practise pharmacy are called pharmacists, chemists or apothecaries depending on the country in which they work. In modern times, the pharmaceutical industry produces most of the medicines that pharmacists dispense to patients. This has diminished the scope for extemporaneous compounding and reduced the need for pharmacists to use manipulative skills such as the forming of bougies, cachets, pills and plasters. Despite these changes, the profession of pharmacy remains crucial to people’s health. Pharmacists are qualified to answer most medical or drug-related questions and can help you decide what medication is right for you, how much to take and when. They can also check that your prescription won’t interfere badly with other drugs you may be taking or any health conditions you have. If you’re planning to become a pharmacist, choosing the right pharmacy school is vital. You should look for a college with high North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) pass rates, as this is a strong indicator of how well the institution can prepare students for professional life. It’s also worth considering whether a pharmacy program offers opportunities to get involved in research, as this can boost your CV and improve your chances of getting a job once you finish your degree. Pharmacy schools can offer many different types of programs and courses, from introductory studies to master’s degrees in pharmacy. Some specialise in particular areas of health care, such as community pharmacy or forensic pharmacy. Others have a more academic focus, providing a solid grounding in the theoretical foundations of pharmacy. These courses tend to be more suited to those who want to pursue an academic career or who have a particular interest in a subject area. Before applying to a pharmacy program, you should ensure that it is accredited by the relevant national authority. You should also look for a school that has a good track record of educating pharmacists, and one that provides its students with plenty of opportunities to gain practical experience in hospitals and other healthcare settings. It is important to have a consistent definition of what constitutes pharmacy, irrespective of the individual context in which it is taught and practiced. The model we have proposed below is just such a starting point, and we hope that it can be used to reduce the ambiguity that exists in the terminology used to describe what constitutes the pharmacy sector as a whole. This would make it easier for policy-makers and other stakeholders to develop a clearer framework for pharmacy practice, research and education.