Rethinking the Pharmacy Workforce Crisis by Exploring Unconventional and Emerging Career Pathways and Training

Abstract

Pharmacy programs face a challenge in ensuring that all graduates obtain jobs that fulfill their goals and ambitions as pharmacists, given the limited availability of conventional positions in the workforce. Thus, it is imperative to explore and discuss the availability and needs of the positions that are unconventional but promising. To achieve this exploration, it is important to (1) recognize technical and nontechnical skill sets that pharmacy graduates possess at graduation, (2) identify unique pathways to help students explore job alternatives, and (3) educate faculty and students of employment opportunities beyond the traditional setting if desired or necessary. Students must become aware of the opportunities existing in both conventional (pharmacist clinician) and unconventional (pharmacist innovator) pharmacy careers and be able to articulate the translational skills from their training. Pharmacy programs and faculty can better support students by fostering the development and marketing of their skills.