ABSTRACT
The underrepresentation of minority and Hispanic students in the pharmacy profession not only reflects the inequities in access to this profession, but also a maldistribution of pharmacy services to the minority population. Financial, cultural and motivational issues play a part in impeding the accession of more Hispanic students into the profession of pharmacy. A lack of role models and professional images of pharmacy also act as barriers to the selection of pharmacy as a career option. Real or self-imposed language barriers restrict a student’s performance in the standardized PCAT examination as well as in didactic and clinical course work. The APhA proposes vigorous, long-term programs in recruitment, establishing a network of minority role models and the development of recruitment guidelines for colleges of pharmacy.
