OCCUPATION: Pharmacy

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Pharmacy is the third largest health profession in the United States, and growing, with many jobs available in a variety of opportunities. New breakthroughs in research are impacting the treatment of diseases, making pharmacy an exciting, cutting-edge career.

Pharmacists, through the medicine and information they provide, play a vital role as an important member of the healthcare team. Pharmacists are regarded as highly trained healthcare providers and have CONSISTENTLY been ranked as one of the most trusted professionals.

Pharmacy is an exciting blend of:

• Science
• Healthcare
• Direct patient contact
• Computer technology
• Business

There are many factors affecting the increasing demand for pharmacists:

• An increasingly aging, sicker population that uses up to three times as many medications as younger adults
• Newer, complicated medication therapies requiring knowledgeable pharmacists to educate patients
• Gaining popularity of alternative medicines puts pharmacists in a strategic position to advise patients and healthcare providers on the appropriate use of these medicines
• Soaring healthcare costs give pharmacists the opportunity to recommend the most beneficial therapy at a reasonable cost for each patient

  Opportunities in Pharmacy

  Traditionally, the pharmacist has been perceived as the "person behind the counter" who dispenses your prescriptions. However, the role of the pharmacist has expanded in order to meet the needs of patients and other healthcare professionals.

  Pharmacists are healthcare providers who not only dispense medications, but also manage patients' medications to improve their quality of life. There are many settings where a pharmacist could practice and impact patient care such as:

• Retail/Community Pharmacy
  
• Hospital
  
• Nursing Home
  
• Pharmaceutical Company
  
• College

  ...and many more!

  How to prepare to be a Pharmacist or Technician:

• Choose math and science classes in high school
• Participate in a student health organization like Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
• Participate in a shadow or mentor program with a pharmacist or technician
• Work at your local community pharmacy or hospital
• Discuss pharmacy as a career with a pharmacist or technician
• Obtain additional information by visiting the colleges of pharmacy and the Michigan Pharmacists Association links available from this site