As a pharmacist, I care about the profession. A college of pharmacy is closing and this is a good time to reassess the status of the profession of pharmacy. I do not know much about the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy but reports indicate that it is closing. From previous NAPLEX numbers, it appears that they graduated approximately 35 students over the last few years. I have followed NAPLEX trends very closely and noticed that they were very low on NAPLEX pass rates. The reason cited for the closure is the lack of interest from students. Current students will be able to finish their degree, so that is a bit of positive news and obviously the right thing to do.

Pharmacy school is very rigorous. Combine that with large loans, negative reports on working conditions, and alternative career options, you might understand why application numbers are declining. First attempts of the NAPLEX have fallen dramatically. In just 2 years, NAPLEX first attempts dropped from over 14,000 (2021) to approximately 11,500 (2023). Indeed, there are fewer students in pharmacy school and pursuing a career in pharmacy.

Change Continues

I’m so torn by the issue of having a lower number of pharmacists in the United States. We can provide tremendous value and education about medications. There are more medications to know and learn every year. Continuity of care seems to get worse over time with more and more specialization as well as more healthcare workforce turnover. It feels like no one is looking at the entire patient medication picture anymore. The demand for pharmacists should go up in the long run.

On the flipside, retail/community pharmacies have been closing at rapid rates. This understandably reduces the demand for pharmacists. Factory-like and corporate conditions steal the joy from many pharmacists that I’ve talked to. The majority of pharmacists get satisfaction from helping people, educating patients, and being a trusted resource for drug knowledge.

With the dramatic closing of retail/community pharmacies across the country, the profession of pharmacy will continue to change. Pharmacy schools will continue to be impacted by this trend. I hope the fewer and fewer of us that remain can retool and reshape it into something amazing.

I continue to work as a geriatric consultant pharmacist and enjoy my work. There are options within the profession that are desirable and obviously, that message isn’t getting the students who may consider a PharmD degree.

What do you think? Is closing a college of pharmacy helpful? Are fewer colleges of pharmacy better in the long run? Does this hurt patients if there are fewer pharmacists? What should we change within the profession?

Thank you all for your continued support of my blog!

Eric Christianson, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP