History of Pharmacy

Pharmacy is a fast-growing, dynamic profession with diverse opportunities. Community pharmacies have existed in the U.S. since the 1920s, and the first Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program was introduced at the University of Southern California in 1950. From the 1960s onward, pharmacy gained higher professional recognition, evolving from a focus on chemistry, physics, and pharmaceutical manufacturing to a broader curriculum that now emphasizes disease diagnosis and treatment. Today, pharmacists play a vital role in advising and assisting patients in managing ailments, sometimes beyond traditional prescription filling.

Historically, pharmacy developed as an independent science in the early 19th century, though it had long been intertwined with medicine. Before pharmacists, apothecaries collaborated with priests and physicians. A key milestone was the Greek physician Dioscorides’ De materia medica (60–78 AD), a five-volume text on medicinal plants that influenced both medieval Europe and Islamic Golden Age scholars. In Japan, pharmacists were highly respected as early as the 8th century, with their roles codified in the Taihō and Yōrō legal codes.

Scope of Pharmacy

The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) and Pharmacy Technician programs are both vital to the healthcare system, each serving a distinct and important role. The Pharm-D program is a comprehensive five-year degree that produces drug experts with a wide range of responsibilities.

  • These professionals are crucial for patient-centered care, working in hospitals and clinics to manage and optimize medication therapy, ensuring patient safety and effective treatment.
  • They are the go-to source for in-depth drug information for both patients and other healthcare providers.
  • Beyond clinical practice, Pharm-D graduates are essential to the pharmaceutical industry, where they contribute to research and development, quality control, and regulatory affairs, ensuring the production of safe and effective medicines.
  • Their expertise is also needed in government agencies, academia, and public health initiatives.
  • The Pharm-D degree is a foundation for leadership and a career focused on improving health outcomes on both an individual and a community-wide scale.

Pharmacy Technician program is a two-year diploma that creates essential support professionals who are the backbone of a pharmacy's daily operations.

  • They play a critical role in ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of pharmacies in retail, hospital, and other settings.
  • Their primary importance lies in their ability to handle the technical and administrative aspects of dispensing medication, such as preparing prescriptions, managing inventory, processing insurance claims, and handling patient inquiries.
  • By taking on these vital tasks, they free up the licensed pharmacist to focus on more complex, clinical duties like patient counseling and medication therapy management.
  • Pharmacy technicians are the first point of contact for many patients, and their precision, attention to detail, and customer service skills are paramount to preventing medication errors and ensuring a positive and safe experience for the public.
  • Both programs are fundamental to a functional healthcare system, working together to deliver quality care and public health services.