Do you have a passion for pharmacy?
Have you ever looked at the insert accompanying a prescription drug and wondered how the drug was synthesized? Have you looked at the structure of a drug and wondered how the structure was even determined? Are you curious about the mode of drug action? Have you ever wondered why some drugs are addicting and some are not? Have you ever wondered about the difference between a prescription drug and its over-the-counter analog? If you have ever wondered about these things, then maybe you should consider a career in pharmacy.
Pharmacists play a key role in helping patients feel better and get well as quickly as possible. Pharmacists can be instrumental in improving the health of patients by choosing the best medicines and helping to avoid side effects. There are often multiple medications available on the market to treat a single disease or ailment. Pharmacists work with prescribers to determine the best drug- and non-drug therapy for a patient’s particular illness, age, gender, health, etc. Pharmacists screen patients for drug allergies and adverse drug effects.
Since pharmacies are often located within a residential community and in common shopping places like grocery stores, pharmacists are generally considered the most accessible member of the healthcare team. Patients can often visit their local pharmacist to seek advice about the medications they are taking without making an appointment. Pharmacists may also provide other services such as immunizations, asthma care, blood pressure monitoring services, cholesterol screening, diabetes disease management, smoking cessation consultation, bone density scans for osteoporosis screening, anticoagulation management clinics and more.
Contact the Advisor
Vicky D. Ellis
Program Advisor
850-769-1551 extension 2856
vellis@gulfcoast.edu
Akiko Nakamura, PhD
Program Advisor
850-769-1551 extension 5148
anakamura@gulfcoast.edu