ABSTRACT
All pharmacists, regardless of practice setting or experience, share the same mission: to help patients make the best use of their medication. This chapter presents the general characteristics of pharmacists and how they are educated and trained. It covers information on what pharmacists do, their titles and career paths, how much demand there is for pharmacists, and the rewards of being a pharmacist. Pharmacists hold positions as staff members, supervisors, managers, teachers, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Some pharmacists have advanced training in pharmacy and work in specialized areas. Residencies exist chiefly to train pharmacists in professional practice and management activities. Residencies provide experience in integrating pharmacy services with the comprehensive needs of individual practice settings and provide in-depth experiences leading to advanced practice skills and knowledge. A lot more automation and technician help may be needed to make sure pharmacy takes good care of patients in the future.
