Pharmacy School "Brain Drain" Stirs Concern

A ?brain drain? at the nation?s pharmacy schools is threatening to aggravate the already critical shortage of pharmacists in many parts of the country. A survey of 67 US colleges of pharmacy conducted by the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (AFPE) identified a total of 417 vacant teaching posts at these schools. These vacancies represent a potentially serious shortfall in view of the rapidly growing need for more pharmacy graduates.

The vast majority of the vacancies (nearly 95%) are for full-time instructors, and the greatest need is for teachers of core disciplines (pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical science). AFPE is working with other pharmacy groups to raise money for a scholarship campaign to attract more students to teaching careers in pharmacy. The aim of the effort, called ?Investing in the Future of Pharmacy Education,? is to raise $12 million to fund scholarships for students preparing for pharmacy teaching positions.