Using Social Media to Advocate for the Pharmacy Profession

Pharmacy Times spoke with Suzanne Soliman, PharmD, BCMAS, about how pharmacists can get involved on social media and use it to educate the public about the value of pharmacists. Soliman herself has founded the Pharmacist Moms Group, one of the most successful Facebook groups of all time, as a space for pharmacist moms to collaborate.

Perceptions of the pharmacy profession are changing, Soliman said, and increasing awareness of the many services pharmacists provide can continue pushing the profession forward. Sharing images and stories about the work pharmacists do is essential, and social media is a great tool to do that, Soliman said.

“That’s really my goal right now,” Soliman said. “My goal is to help change the perception, improve the perception of the pharmacist, and let everyone know everything that we have been doing and that we will continue to do for our patients and for our profession.”

For pharmacists looking to begin using social media as a professional tool, Soliman said the first step is to choose a platform, whether that’s Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or something else. Choosing what type of content you want to provide is also important, she said, and that can include a blog, videos, or other forms of communication.

Soliman also said building a community is always necessary to both build relationships as well as gain a following. This community is what will carry the message to a wider audience, helping to advocate for the pharmacy profession.

Finally, social media can also provide an opportunity for pharmacists to continue educating patients. Younger patients, in particular, might be embarrassed to walk into a pharmacy and ask questions, Soliman said, but they’re more willing to ask online.

“There are so many options for pharmacists to provide value, even with prescriptions, drug interactions, taking different medications, and offering that advice to patients,” Soliman concluded. “Patients are looking for this advice.”