Pharmacy Career Booklet

Many Paths

Many Possibilities

Pharmacists are medication experts, problem-solvers, and leaders in healthcare. As patients’ most accessible health care provider, pharmacists play a critical role in maintaining and improving patient health and are recognized for the valuable role they play in improving medication use and patient outcomes. Pharmacists have various roles in pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, public health and government agencies, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Community and Primary Care Pharmacists

Provide medication therapy management and primary care services.

•compounding, medication reviews, and patient counseling

•patient care services like immunizations, health screenings, and medication synchronization; test and treat for COVID, flu, strep, and HIV

•digital health and remote patient monitoring to manage chronic diseases

i am caring for patients

Public Health Pharmacists

Lead efforts focused on helping society improve public health.

•disease prevention and control, health screenings, and immunizations

•drug abuse prevention and treatment

•family planning and maternal health

i am preventing diseases

“I am committed to providing optimal patient care for the underserved and advocating for resources needed to better health-related outcomes in the state of Mississippi.”

Christina Epps, PharmD MS State Department of Health

Hospital and Health-System Pharmacists

Lead and participate in activities to ensure appropriate medication therapy for patients.

•participating member of medical team rounds for drug therapy management and monitoring

•perform pharmacy services like antimicrobial stewardship, infusion services, and drug diversion prevention

•formulary management, medication safety, and quality improvement

•informatics, data analytics, and quality outcomes

i am improving medication use

Clinical Specialty Areas

Expand your possibilities by specializing.

Pediatrics

Geriatrics

Oncology

Pharmacotherapy

Ambulatory Care

Critical Care

Nuclear

Transplant

Psychiatric

Emergency Medicine

Infectious Diseases

Nutrition Support

Cardiology

Pain Management

Pharmacists may develop specialized skills and experience to care for specific patient populations. By specializing, they bring unique medication expertise and value to the healthcare team.

Pharmaceutical Industry Pharmacists

Work in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies that develop, manufacture, distribute, and market medications.

•medication research and development

•clinical research

•medical and regulatory affairs

•sales and marketing

“Being a pharmacist allows me to fulfill my passion for evidence-based medicine and patient advocacy. In my current role, I am able to affect healthcare on a much broader scale, from designing and executing clinical studies to educating other healthcare professionals.”

Carl Lowe, PharmD Medical Science Liason at AstraZeneca

Managed Care Pharmacists

Responsible for medication management programs to ensure appropriate medication therapy at an affordable cost for patient populations in managed care organizations or health plans.

•medication management and patient education services

•pharmaceutical benefit management and formulary development

•telepharmacy and digital health services

i am providing medication information

Veterinary Pharmacists

Make and dispense medications to treat conditions in animals and are often employed by pharmacies, animal hospitals, and zoos.

“I love that every day I have is different and presents new challenges. I get to utilize everything I learned in school in unique out-of-the-box ways.”

Alexandria Gochenauer, PharmD Pharmacy Manager, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Research Pharmacists

Engage in biopharmaceutical research from drug discovery and development, to clinical trials, to patient outcomes research, and pursue careers in research organizations and other research facilities.

i am innovating for the future

“As a pharmacist, the most meaningful aspect of being involved in research is the impact novel treatments, formulations, and delivery systems can have in the lives of patients.”

Robert Welch, PharmD, Director of the National Center for Cannabis Research and Education, The University of Mississippi

Nuclear Pharmacists

Prepare radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive material) used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, such as cancer, in nuclear medicine departments or outpatient diagnostic clinics.

Long-Term Care Pharmacists

Optimize medications for patients in nursing homes, assisted living communities, rehabilitation centers, and other long-term care facilities.

Home Infusion Pharmacists

Prepare and administer infusion therapies, including antibiotics, chemotherapy, and parenteral nutrition, for patients in their homes.

“There are many areas and practice settings where pharmacists are utilized. Healthcare is ever-changing, and we have known for a long while that pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals.”

Leah Simmons, PharmD, Co-Owner of North MS Vital Care

Unique Pharmacy Fields

As a Pharmacist, you have the ability to BUild your legacy Through Creating and serving!

Military Service

Cosmetics Industry

Dr. Allyson Brennan has combined her knowledge of pharmacy and love for cosmetics to pursue building a cosmetic brand that offers safe, natural skin care products to customers. She is now the owner and founder of Emogene & Co. Skincare in Nashville, TN, where she uses her degree in pharmacy and her love for cosmetics to help others in their skin health journey.

Dr. Brandon Hardin is a pharmacist for the US Navy. He has integrated his love for pharmacy with the dedication to serve his country and community, contributing to their well-being. He had the opportunity to serve a patient that was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat and truly make an impact in the lives of others.

Getting down to business!

Strong Average Starting Salary: $129,410 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Flexible hours:

Make your schedule, or even be the boss!

Job Security:

13,400 new jobs annually (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Pharmacy Roles

Pharmacist roles are constantly expanding and changing. Here are some of the places you can BUILD YOUR LEGACY and define your future in pharmacy!

Personalized Medicine/Pharmacogenomics

Selecting medication therapies based on the interpretation of a patient’s genetic profile.

Specialty Pharmacy Services

Caringing for patients who need medications with specialized packaging, distribution, administration, or monitoring, while understanding reimbursement policies.

Telepharmacy and Digital health

Providing medication management services, remote patient monitoring, patient education, and other primary care services utilizing technology.

Pharmaceutical benefits and population health

Optimizing value-based care for patient populations, often using health analytics to improve the quality of care, while reducing costs.

Primary care services

Expanding services to include prevention, wellness, and treatment to meet the needs of patients.

Expanding Medication Experts

Pharmacists are...

•The most accessible and visible healthcare provider.

•Leading

healthcare teams.

•Redefining

medicine.

•Conducting

research to advance the future of medicine.

•Making a difference for patients and communities.

Government Agencies

Work in health departments, the FDA, the CDC, Medicare and Medicaid, and Veterans Affairs providing clinical pharmacy services, conducting research, and leading public health efforts.

Professional Associations

Medical Communication Companies