Pathways for quality pharmacists are nearly boundless.

Medication use has assumed a significantly greater role in 21st century healthcare than in the past. Important new prescription medicines, biologics, nonprescription medicines, devices, and complementary and alternative therapies offer consumers, patients, and health professionals exciting and powerful tools for disease prevention, control, and cure. The medication component of overall healthcare spending is a considerable portion of total health dollars as well.

As a result of this evolution in healthcare more attention is now paid to managing the pharmaceutical component of health services. It is increasingly apparent to colleagues in other health professions, to private and public sector decision makers and to consumers, that quality healthcare requires access to the knowledge and skills of a well-trained medication use specialist. That specialist is a graduate of one of the nation’s colleges and schools of pharmacy.

Choose from 60 career paths—and counting.

There are more than 60 career paths—and counting—for pharmacy school graduates. For example, you are probably aware that the future of pharmaceutical industries is bright given the emerging discoveries in genomics and in an increasing understanding of the molecular basis of many diseases. With this bright future, however, there exists a real need to employ significant numbers of pharmaceutical care experts.

The nation needs 70,000 new pharmacists in 2 years

Estimates indicate that by 2012, there will be a need for 70,000 new pharmacists. By 2020, there will be a need for 420,000 pharmacists—a shortfall in the workforce of 157,000 pharmacists. Field experts are predicting a nationwide shortage of pharmacists due to changes in the insurance industry and in federal regulations of pharmaceuticals, an aging population, and a dramatic increase in the number of prescriptions advertised and dispensed to the public. In the changing landscape of healthcare, the demand for qualified pharmacists combined with new and exciting opportunities in pharmacy makes a career in pharmacy incredibly attractive.

Recognizing that opportunities now exist for pharmacy graduates to work with patients directly as consultants on medication use and as health educators, in addition to opportunities in drug development, research and health policy, it is not surprising that applications to Doctor of Pharmacy programs increased 10% in California (compared to 8.7% nationally) between 2004 and 2005. The establishment of the CCSP demonstrates an effort to educate and produce pharmacists to meet the local, state, national, and international needs to advance the future of pharmaceutical sciences.

With so many opportunities for Doctor of Pharmacy graduates, the field is experiencing rapid growth. CCSP is in a prime position to respond to the changing dynamics within the field.