The Field of Pharmacy at Northeastern University
Pharmacy is a multidisciplinary field that integrates science, healthcare, technology, business and counseling. It offers career opportunities in drug discovery, pharmacology, clinical research, consulting and management, medication management, and patient education. Pharmacists also serve as experts in disease recognition and emergency response, as well as being important members of the hospital team that helps deliver effective, high-quality care.
Despite the widespread public perception that pharmacists only sell medicine, pharmacies provide much more. They are an integral part of the health care team and offer services such as immunizations, medication consultations, blood pressure monitoring and cholesterol screening. They are responsible for identifying the best medication options based on a patient’s individual needs, medical history and financial situation, as well as ensuring that all medications are properly prescribed and used. They also work closely with physicians to help them make the most informed drug selections for each patient’s situation, providing guidance and assistance with diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
In addition to direct patient care, pharmacy professionals are involved in the research, development, production, packaging, quality control and marketing of pharmaceutical goods. They are often employed by a pharmaceutical company as representatives or managers to advocate for the use of their products and to inform practitioners about these drugs.
The earliest compilation of herbal medicines was the Sushruta Samhita, an Indian Ayurvedic text attributed to 6th century BC. Other early texts were the Ebers Papyrus and Edwin Smith Papyrus, which contained information about medicinal herbs dating back to 1550 BC. Later, ancient Egypt was the center of a thriving medical industry, with pharmacists and apothecaries responsible for preparing and dispensing medicinal drugs to their patients.
Today, more than 90 percent of Northeastern’s pharmacy students, says Booth, pursue careers in retail and hospital pharmacies. But many others choose to work in a variety of other settings and explore different pathways within the profession. Some become researchers, focusing on issues like pharmacogenomics, which seeks to understand how genetic variations influence an individual’s responses to medications, allowing personalized treatment for more effective results. Others work in healthcare administration, working on issues such as reimbursement, policy and regulatory affairs.
Other pharmacists continue to practice clinically, primarily in hospitals and nursing homes. They are able to monitor the effectiveness of medications and help their patients manage their conditions with diet, exercise, lifestyle and other strategies. This type of practice is gaining in popularity because it helps lower costs by reducing medication waste and unnecessary tests, according to several studies. It also provides more interaction with patients, and may help prevent the overuse of medication in some cases.
A final area of pharmacy involves assisting in the development and implementation of new medications, as well as providing guidance to the manufacturing process. This includes advising on the formulation, production and labeling of new drugs to ensure that they are safe and effective for patients, and are properly stored. They are also required to provide training and support for the staff that work with them, as well as help develop policies related to the sale of new medicines.
Pharmacy is a multidisciplinary field that integrates science, healthcare, technology, business and counseling. It offers career opportunities in drug discovery, pharmacology, clinical research, consulting and management, medication management, and patient education. Pharmacists also serve as experts in disease recognition and emergency response, as well as being important members of the hospital team that helps deliver effective, high-quality care. Despite the widespread public perception that pharmacists only sell medicine, pharmacies provide much more. They are an integral part of the health care team and offer services such as immunizations, medication consultations, blood pressure monitoring and cholesterol screening. They are responsible for identifying the best medication options based on a patient’s individual needs, medical history and financial situation, as well as ensuring that all medications are properly prescribed and used. They also work closely with physicians to help them make the most informed drug selections for each patient’s situation, providing guidance and assistance with diagnosis, treatment and prevention. In addition to direct patient care, pharmacy professionals are involved in the research, development, production, packaging, quality control and marketing of pharmaceutical goods. They are often employed by a pharmaceutical company as representatives or managers to advocate for the use of their products and to inform practitioners about these drugs. The earliest compilation of herbal medicines was the Sushruta Samhita, an Indian Ayurvedic text attributed to 6th century BC. Other early texts were the Ebers Papyrus and Edwin Smith Papyrus, which contained information about medicinal herbs dating back to 1550 BC. Later, ancient Egypt was the center of a thriving medical industry, with pharmacists and apothecaries responsible for preparing and dispensing medicinal drugs to their patients. Today, more than 90 percent of Northeastern’s pharmacy students, says Booth, pursue careers in retail and hospital pharmacies. But many others choose to work in a variety of other settings and explore different pathways within the profession. Some become researchers, focusing on issues like pharmacogenomics, which seeks to understand how genetic variations influence an individual’s responses to medications, allowing personalized treatment for more effective results. Others work in healthcare administration, working on issues such as reimbursement, policy and regulatory affairs. Other pharmacists continue to practice clinically, primarily in hospitals and nursing homes. They are able to monitor the effectiveness of medications and help their patients manage their conditions with diet, exercise, lifestyle and other strategies. This type of practice is gaining in popularity because it helps lower costs by reducing medication waste and unnecessary tests, according to several studies. It also provides more interaction with patients, and may help prevent the overuse of medication in some cases. A final area of pharmacy involves assisting in the development and implementation of new medications, as well as providing guidance to the manufacturing process. This includes advising on the formulation, production and labeling of new drugs to ensure that they are safe and effective for patients, and are properly stored. They are also required to provide training and support for the staff that work with them, as well as help develop policies related to the sale of new medicines.