Visit D’Youville at its upcoming Spring Open Houses and learn more about its Pharmacy program.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for pharmacists over the next 10 years is projected to increase in hospitals and clinics, as these facilities will need more pharmacists to oversee the medications prescribed to patients and to provide patient care.
As the large baby-boomer generation continues to age, it will increasingly have a need for more prescription medicines than younger people. The growing rates of chronic diseases will increase and, as a result, the demand for prescription medications and need for more pharmacists will increase.
The role of the pharmacist continues to change and develop. Not only do they dispense medications to patients, but their duties also include counseling, medication management, and preventive care screenings.
Pharmacists must have a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy professional degree (Pharm.D.) as well as be licensed, which requires passing two exams. The median annual salary for pharmacists in May 2018 was $126,120.
Locally, D’Youville offers its pharmacy students insight into growing areas of need in a competitive job market, accompanied with small class sizes, which make it easier to build meaningful relationships between students and their professors.
Katherine Sullivan, who is graduating in 2020, says that the close-knit community allowed her to work on a project alongside one of her professors, which was published in the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York Journal.
"They just really want you to succeed," she says of her professors." They are always around to help so that you can reach your full potential. They have an open door, and I love that accessibility!"
Fellow student Jordan Scott, graduating in 2021, was selected to conduct laboratory research last year, and will be conducting clinical research on infectious diseases next semester. “It was awesome to be able to develop analytical skills and work closely with my professor on this project.”
Being aware of the growing demand, and the various settings for pharmacists to work in, D’Youville uses an interprofessional education (IPE) model where students learn in groups comprised of other students from the College’s eight healthcare programs – physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, nurse practitioner, dietetics, chiropractic, and pharmacy.
These unique IPE experiences allow for pharmacy students to gain a better understanding of their own roles in the healthcare system and how they interact with other professions in real-world settings.
Mirroring these situations helps lead to better communication skills and lasting impacts for students which translates into improved quality of care and better patient outcomes after they graduate.
D’Youville’s graduates are well-prepared to begin their careers. “My time here provided me with the education to pass my boards and be a competent pharmacist, but also taught me important life skills such as professionalism, teamwork, and problem solving,” adds Sullivan.
“D'Youville provided me with the ability to grow as a professional through course work and extra-curricular activities which is an invaluable part of my education,” says Scott.
Students interested in the doctoral program can visit D’Youville on April 24. Students interested in undergraduate pharmacy can visit on March 20 or April 10.
To talk to an admissions counselor, email admissions@dyc.edu, call 716-829-7600 or visit dyc.edu/visit