Reconsidering Pharmacy: We Need to Turn Career Regret into Career Options.

Declining interest in pharmacy as a career is a growing concern. This commentary investigates the factors contributing to career regret among pharmacy graduates, based on data from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy National Graduating Student Survey. We identify 3 key contributing factors: workplace environment, professional identity formation, and marketing of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. We argue that students observe, in many work environments, a lack of autonomy, repetitive tasks, and unfulfilling work. This leads to diminished job satisfaction and disillusionment. Additionally, marketing tactics and curricular structures can inadvertently contribute to career regret. We propose potential interventions, emphasizing the need for improved working conditions, more versatile roles in pharmacy, and enhanced career development services within colleges/schools of pharmacy. Additional research is needed to fully understand career regret and the steps that academic institutions can proactively take to mitigate career dissatisfaction among their graduates.

Initial Employment Plans of PharmD Graduates from Ten Public Colleges/Schools of Pharmacy, 2018-2022.

OBJECTIVE: Since 2009, the Big Ten Pharmacy Assessment Collaborative has surveyed their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) graduates regarding their first employment plans. The current study updates the results from 2013-2017, since which the nationwide demand for pharmacists decreased, then increased again due to COVID-19. METHODS: Quantitative first-position employment data from 2018-2022 were tracked among 6687 Big Ten PharmD graduates. Outcomes included job/residency/fellowship placement; satisfaction with placement; salary; time spent searching; and perceived difficulty finding placement. RESULTS: Over the study period, 5276 usable surveys were received (survey participation rate 79%). Respondents who reported applying for employment (2699) spent nearly 3 months searching for a position, although 64% had received employment offers before graduation. Annual salaries in pharmacy positions of at least 32 h per week (excluding residencies or fellowships) trended downward from $113,754 in 2018 to $99,175 in 2021, rebounding to $114,097 in 2022. Approximately 42% of respondents who applied for jobs reported difficulty finding a position in 2018 and 2019, decreasing to 20% in 2022. In total, 73% of respondents were satisfied with the offers they received, with 72% finding positions in their preferred job setting. An average of 57% applied for residencies from 2018 to 2022, nearly 10% higher than 2013-2017, with 76% of applicants matching. An additional 19% planned to pursue additional academic degrees, fellowship training, or both. CONCLUSION: From 2018 to 2022, Big Ten PharmD graduates found pharmacy-related first positions to the same extent as did Big Ten PharmD graduates from 2013-2017, at similar salaries.

Report of the 2023 AACP Council of Deans Taskforce on Pharmacy Research and Scholarship.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to provide the conclusions from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Council of Deans (COD) Taskforce on Research and Scholarship. FINDINGS: The charges and the findings of the committee are: (1) Define the scholarship needs/opportunities to strengthen the outputs. The committee recommends that AACP update its definitions of research/scholarship to include discovery, integration, application/practice, and teaching/learning. A deployed survey demonstrated a high Special Interest Groups research/scholarship interest. (2) Assemble a toolkit of grant and scholarship resources to assist colleges/schools. The AACP should update the existing funding opportunity listing and combine it with additional resources. (3) Create a framework for effective research collaboration and mentorship. The AACP should identify key areas of pharmacy research and experts to serve as mentors and to meet with external stakeholders. (4) and (5) Consider the need for and purpose of a COD standing committee for research and scholarship. Explore the value of a formal research dean's subcommittee. It was recommended that AACP form a research/scholarship committee or Special Interest Groups and create the Pharmacy Scholarship, Research, and Graduate Education pre-meeting to the Interim Meeting. (6) Identify key statements/outputs of the COD that need to be prepared for publication/sharing. We recommended the key statement/outputs in the areas of discovery, integration, application/practice, and teaching and learning. SUMMARY: The taskforce reviewed the state of research and scholarship across the Academy and provided recommendations with the goal of advancing research across all areas of the pharmacy profession.

Perceptions of PGY1 pharmacy resident research, final projects, and associated publication outcomes.

PURPOSE: To describe the publication rate and the research landscape of postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residency programs within the Great Lakes Pharmacy Resident Conference (GLPRC) region. METHODS: This study was comprised of two elements. The first was a retrospective cohort evaluation of previously presented GLPRC research abstracts and publication rates. The second was a 45-question survey of current GLPRC PGY1 residency program directors (RPDs). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate publication rates of PGY1 abstracts submitted to the GLPRC. Secondary objectives included describing RPD perceptions of the value of research, identifying perceived barriers to research completion, and characterizing current and ideal components of residency research programs. RESULTS: A total of 447 PGY1 abstracts were reviewed; 47 (10.5%) resulted in manuscript publication within a peer-reviewed journal. There was no significant difference in publication rates between years (9.5% in 2013 vs 13.8% in 2016 vs 7.4% in 2019, P = 0.166). One hundred ten PGY1 RPDs in the GLPRC region were invited to participate in the survey, with 33 (30%) responses received. The majority of programs (94%) required manuscript submission to the RPD prior to graduation; however, only 12% required submission for peer-reviewed publication. Major barriers to research completion included lack of preceptor time and knowledge regarding the research and publication process, as well as lack of resident interest and knowledge of the process. CONCLUSION: The current publication rate of PGY1 research abstracts presented at the GLPRC remains at approximately 10%, which is unchanged from a previous investigation. RPD perceptions of the research process and barriers also remain largely unchanged or less favorable.

Clinical pharmacy specializations at a school of pharmacy: Development and implementation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Specializations within doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs allow student pharmacists to advance their knowledge and expertise in a specific area of pharmacy. The purpose of this manuscript is to expand the knowledge of pharmacy specializations within a PharmD program by describing two patient care specializations at a school of pharmacy and their assessment strategies. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: A pediatric pharmacotherapy and acute care pharmacotherapy specialization are described. The development of the specializations and assessment strategies are discussed. Student feedback in addition to postgraduate training and employment in specialization area are used to continually assess the specializations. FINDINGS: Sixty students completed the patient care specializations by completing the specialization coursework, which included extra assignments and a research project. A total of 34 students (57%) who completed the specializations also completed postgraduate year one training. SUMMARY: Patient care specializations allow students to develop skills used in specialty areas, and these added skills may help them be successful in finding postgraduate training related to the specialization. Creating detailed specialization requirements and assessment strategies may ensure that the specialization is of appropriate rigor to enhance specialty-specific skills and knowledge. This report can help other schools of pharmacy with their plans for developing a specialization at their institution.

Compounding Education in US PharmD Curricula.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of compounding education (CE) offered in United States (US) doctor of pharmacy curricula. METHODS: A 24-item survey instrument addressing various aspects of CE was developed and validated. An email containing the link to the survey instrument was shared with instructors of compounding at 122 of 141 accredited schools and colleges of pharmacy in the US. RESULTS: Of these, 112 schools and colleges responded, rendering a survey response rate of 91.8%. Survey results indicate that CE is offered to a similar extent either as a required standalone course or as integrated instruction as part of a standard course. Whereas 70.8% of programs reported mostly hands-on training in CE in their curricula, there were about 11% programs that mostly offered didactic instruction in CE. Dispersed systems and semisolid formulations are the most prepared in nonsterile compounding, while proper hand washing, garbing, and gloving are the most taught techniques in sterile compounding. Compounding education is delivered principally by pharmaceutics faculty (62.3%) compared to practice faculty (32.1%). CONCLUSION: The survey determined the extent to which CE is addressed across different schools and colleges of pharmacy in the US. Although some institutions lack minimal nonsterile or sterile compounding facilities, they may improve by modeling the established programs in the country. Leadership at pharmacy institutions may need to allocate funds for CE, and support faculty who instruct in compounding.

[BUTTOBE, A Training Program for Future Medical Innovators, Has Been Proposed as an Advanced Doctoral Program at the Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences].

To overcome the decline in the number of students advancing to doctor of philosophy (PhD) courses in graduate schools in Japan, the government of Japan launched a new five-year program in 2021: Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING). SPRING is overseen by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as an integrated program that provides outstanding PhD course students financial support in an amount equivalent to their living expenses and research expenses, as well as career development and human development courses and support. The proposed advanced doctoral program for medical innovators at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences was selected for SPRING support under the theme of "Beef Up Toyaku talents TO go BEyond the borders" (BUTTOBE). This report describes the purpose and current activities of the BUTTOBE program.

Recommitting to AACP Engaged Governance for the Common Good: Report of the 50th Anniversary Commission to Reimagine the AACP House of Delegates.

The 50th Anniversary Commission to Reimagine the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) House of Delegates (HOD Commission) was charged to consider and recommend changes to the AACP Board of Directors and AACP HOD regarding a broad range of issues related to the HOD. The 2021-2022 HOD Commission met virtually many times throughout the year as 2 sub-groups and a full commission, using Basecamp for shared documents and timelines, and it provided interim reports to the Board of Directors in November and February. A survey of 2022 delegates was developed and administered; responses from 163 delegates informed final recommendations as described in the report. The HOD Commission affirms the need for and purpose of AACP's HOD and urges that all schools/colleges of pharmacy recommit to engaged governance for the common good.

Utilization of a "Diversity Index" to Assess Racial Diversity of US School of Pharmacy Graduates.

OBJECTIVE: Diversity in the training environment for health professionals is associated with improved abilities for graduates to care for diverse populations. Thus, a goal for health professional training programs, including pharmacy schools, should be to pursue representation among graduates that mirrors that of their communities. METHODS: We evaluate racial and ethnic diversity among graduates of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programs across the United States (US) over time. Using a "Diversity Index", we quantify the relative racial and ethnic representation of each program's graduates compared with that of college-age graduates nationally and within the geographic region of the respective pharmacy school. RESULTS: Over the past decade, the number of US PharmD graduates increased by 24%. During this time, the number of Black and Hispanic PharmD graduates significantly increased. Still, representation of minoritized populations among graduates continues to be significantly lower compared with US benchmark populations. Only 16% of PharmD programs had a Diversity Index that matched or exceeded their benchmark comparator Black or Hispanic populations. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the significant opportunity that exists to increase the diversity of graduates of US PharmD programs to better reflect the diversity of the US population.

Doctor of pharmacy as a career option: a cross-sectional study exploring PharmD students and practitioners expectations in Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) investigate the expectations and preferences of PharmD students and practitioners regarding their role in the health care system, and (2) to contrast those expectations and preferences of PharmD practitioners with real-life practice in Jordan. METHODS: Two cross-sectional descriptive questionnaires were used to collect data from PharmD students and PharmD practitioners in Jordan. A total number of 330 students and 280 practitioners were interviewed. The responses to all questions were encoded, entered, and summarized as frequencies and percentages or as means and standard deviations. Comparisons between groups were performed using Chi-square test. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Both PharmD students and practitioners chose working as a clinical pharmacist in a hospital as their first-choice job. However, their second and third jobs choices were significantly different as practitioners opted for income as a main criterion for job selection. Interestingly, salary expectations by PharmD students were significantly higher than the reality as reported by PharmD practitioners. Both students and practitioners placed the work environment as the highest priority criterion for making a work choice on the work environment. In general, both students and practitioners agree on the ideal roles of PharmD graduate with the issues of prescribing and compounding responsibilities being the ones with the highest disparity between practitioners and students. Significant differences were found between the student's and practitioner's perceptions of the ideal role of a PharmD in and the current professional practice in Jordan. CONCLUSION: Job preferences and salary expectations differ significantly between students and practitioners. Professional orientation of PharmD. students should be implemented to minimize misconceptions of their job nature, availability, and compensations. The fact that students do not prefer to work in a community pharmacy should be addressed by educational institutions and professional organizations. The prescribing and compounding responsibilities of pharmacists should be also emphasized in the curricula of pharmacy schools and worked in by professional organization to achieve optimal implementation in real-life practice.

Re-examining the Entry-to-Practice PharmD Experiment.

Since 2000, the Doctor of Pharmacy degree has served as the entry-level credential for pharmacy practice in the United States, Some 20-plus years following the complete transition to an entry-level clinical doctorate in pharmacy, a re-examination of the outcomes of this move and the trajectory of the profession is merited. Particular attention might be given to the increasing diversity within pharmacy and the myriad of practice types. Regardless of the path forward, intentional and critical appraisals of both the pros and cons of the entry-level Doctor of Pharmacy, as well as the future of pharmacy practice, are warranted. Nursing is a case study in contrast to pharmacy, with its multiple degree and training programs and its hierarchical and graded system of practice. Nursing practice clearly links progressive levels of education to increasing clinical privileges.

Sculpting a teaching and learning curriculum to better meet the career needs of postgraduate year 1 and 2 pharmacy residents.

PURPOSE: To describe implementation of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy (OUCOP) teaching and learning curriculum (TLC) for postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) residents, including the required components, evaluation structure, residency graduate outcomes and perceptions captured by a survey following program completion, generalizability to other institutions, and opportunities for future directions. SUMMARY: As part of their residency training, pharmacy residents are required to develop and refine teaching, precepting, and presentation skills. To meet the required and elective competency areas, goals, and objectives on teaching, precepting, and presentation skills, many American Society of Health-System Pharmacists-accredited residency programs have utilized TLC programs. OUCOP offers 2 distinct TLC programs for PGY1 and PGY2 residents, respectively. CONCLUSION: The OUCOP TLC program provided residents with opportunities for development of teaching and presentation skills in a variety of settings. The majority of residency graduates currently practice as a clinical specialist, and the majority lecture, precept, and deliver continuing education presentations. Graduates felt that the mentorship and diversity of teaching activities were the most beneficial qualities of the program. In addition, the majority noted that mentorship in lecture preparation was helpful in creating presentations after graduation. On the basis of the feedback from the survey, several changes have been made to better prepare residents for their postgraduate careers. TLC programs should conduct ongoing assessments to continue to foster the development of precepting and teaching skills for residents' future careers.

Perceptions of PGY-2 Oncology Programs on Financial Toxicity Education and Preparedness.

Cancer patients experience a rising monetary burden due to increased direct and in-direct costs associated with cancer treatment. This as a result has an adverse effect on the financial well-being of a cancer patient, also known as financial toxicity. Currently, there is a lack of literature surrounding the implementation of financial toxicity in post-graduate oncology residency training for pharmacists. The objective of this study was to describe the perceptions of PGY-2 oncology pharmacy residents and residency program directors on the incorporation of financial toxicity within their training programs and to assess self-perceptions of their level of abilities and experience managing financial toxicity for patients.A qualitative RedCap electronic survey was emailed in December 2020 to resident and directors of PGY-2 oncology programs in the United States.Out of 40 respondents, 64% of residency program directors were highly comfortable with the concept of financial toxicity, while 73% of pharmacy residents were uncomfortable with the concept of financial toxicity within their program. Furthermore, a majority of residents were either uncomfortable or highly uncomfortable managing financial toxicity for patients. In addition, the most commonly utilized method of incorporating the concept of financial toxicity in all programs was through specialty pharmacy and patient assistance programs (PAPs); residents also preferred these methods along with guest speakers to provide this training.Financial toxicity concepts should be considered as an educational standard and incorporated through unique methods of education. We suggest introducing the concept through guest speakers, followed by practical applications integrated in specialty pharmacies and PAPs.

Evaluation of the Use of Social Media and Virtual Meeting Platforms in the Pursuit of Pharmacy Residency Training.

Introduction: The American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) and American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Residency Directories are two of the more traditional resources available to pharmacy students and residents looking for post-graduate programs. More recently, social media platforms have grown as an innovative means of resident recruitment and program marketing. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of social media by both PGY1 and PGY2 candidates in their pursuit of post-graduate training through the disbursement of a survey. Methods: A survey consisting of 14 questions ranging from multiple-choice questions to free-text options was emailed out to the Office of Experiential Education from 141 ACCP-accredited pharmacy schools and 1341 ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program Directors, requesting them to forward the email to their students or residents. Results: There were a total of 714 respondents to the survey. A majority of surveyors were in the process of completing a PGY1 residency training program (70.6%). The most common platform used to research pharmacy residency programs was the ASHP directory (97.3%). A majority of respondents did not use social media to research residency programs (66.7%). Out of the ones who did use social media, Instagram was the most common platform used and provided the greatest insight into the residency program. About 60% of respondents preferred Zoom as the virtual meeting platform during interviews. Conclusion: Although social media may not be the main source of information candidates are using, residency program accounts can provide residency programs with a free additional tool for recruitment.

Conducting Multicenter Residency Research.

PURPOSE: Conducting well designed pharmacy resident research projects has inherent challenges including inadequate sample size, a lack of time, decreased generalizability, and inadequate research support. A way to overcome these barriers is through conducting multicenter research projects. However, this approach may also bring new challenges. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide a general approach for pharmacy preceptors and leaders on implementation of multicenter residency research. SUMMARY: This article includes a general approach to conducting multicenter research from experienced individuals based upon their successes and failures. A timeline-based format is presented to lay the groundwork for implementation of this approach. Key topics in this paper include establishing a research overview committee, research question development, Institutional Review Board considerations, site recruitment, authorship discussions, resident coordination, protocol development, data collection, manuscript development, and considerations after residency. The approach maintains a critical focus on the individual residents ability to achieve American Society of Health-System Pharmacists accreditation standards for conducting research while operating in a collaborative manner. CONCLUSION: Conducting multicenter residency research projects requires a team-based approach and advanced planning. This approach has the potential to improve pharmacy resident project quality.