Pharmacy is not about handing out medications.

Pharmacists work with physicians and other health-care professionals to create, implement, and monitor drug treatment plans. Their clinical drug therapy knowledge, excellent problem-solving skills, and effective communication abilities make the difference between using a drug and using the right drug. Pharmacists apply their knowledge of drug interactions and their potential side effects, and communicate these risks to colleagues and patients of all ages and backgrounds.

The six-year Doctor of Pharmacy program begins with course work in basic sciences and targeted liberal arts. Throughout program, students take courses on professional work experience, including hard sciences like biochemistry, pharmaceutics, and immunology and specialized areas like therapeutic drug monitoring and drug information.

Experiential education is a critical component of the program. Co-op, for most students, begins the summer after sophomore year, and students practice in various settings throughout their academic career.

Pharmacists are found in places far beyond the neighborhood drugstore or the local hospital’s dispensary. They work in research, testing, and other roles for pharmaceutical industries, government agencies, and universities. With drug therapy an essential and increasingly complex part of modern health care, pharmacists are seen as the drug experts on a health-care team.