Pharmacy education has been in an almost constant state of change for the past 150 years, since the era when a pharmacist learned by being an apprentice. That era was followed by a combination of apprenticeships and courses at local apothecary schools, and then by matriculating in schools of pharmacy for degree programs that gradually have been extended over the years.
When you start looking, "you find pharmacists at every level of every endeavor and every industry that touches on health care," said pharmacy consultant Marsha K. Millonig, MBA, R.Ph., president of Catalyst Enterprises in Minneapolis. "Pharmacists have gone from making drugs to managing the use of drugs. But in a larger sense, pharmacists are doing what we have always done, evolving with society to find a role and fill it."
What started as an innocent hobby has become a full-time and expanding art business for Philip McCarthy. The founder of Apothecary Images, McCarthy began collecting antique and historic pharmacy items nearly 20 years ago. "Pharmacists invited me into their basements to see their antique and historic items," he explained. "I fell in love with anything related to pharmacy."
Any combat veteran will acknowledge that the two most important members of his squad are the radioman and the field medic, the two prized targets for any enemy sniper. Pharmacists have played an indispensable role in all too many wars and are an important part of the field medical team.
Pharmacists could argue for days over what has been the most significant therapeutic advancement in the past 150 years. Some might consider antibiotics to have had the biggest impact in preventing the spread of bacterial infections, while others could argue that vaccines have had a similar effect.
Pumping adrenaline as German planes roared in from behind his squadron in the skies above Anzio, Italy, the rookie pilot jettisoned his P-40 Warhawk's empty external fuel tank to gain speed. Bracing for his first dogfight, he failed to switch on the main fuel tank. A hand-me-down from the Flying Tigers, complete with Chinese writing in the cockpit, the plane's engine cut out.
As Drug Topics celebrates its 150th anniversary, we wanted to recognize some of the key figures who have influenced the practice of health-system pharmacy. Bruce Scott and Marianne Ivey have made significant contributions to the profession as leaders at ASHP, in the academic setting, and in real-world practice. Here's an overview of two very illustrious careers.
A petition filed by a group of pediatricians asked the FDA to bar drug manufacturers from marketing common cough/cold medicines to children under six.
Patients face an increased risk of harmful medication errors throughout the surgery process because of a lack of comprehensive oversight of medications.
The California Medication Errors Panel has issued a final report highlighting key sources of medication errors and a series of 12 recommendations.
Doug Long, VP of industry relations for IMS Health, told attendees of the recent GPhA annual meeting that the generic industry is riding high.
Following a Georgia woman's complaint that she was denied access to Plan B in a Kroger pharmacy located in Rome, Ga., the company is pledging the product will be carried in all its stores and that customers will not be denied service.
MediNiche, a St. Louis pharmaceutical company, has announced a free product marketing program for OcuDerma ocular skin therapy gel serum to increase awareness and patient usage.
CVS has received the 2007 ASA Business and Aging Award, presented at a joint conference held by the American Society on Aging (ASA) and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) in Chicago.
Lawmakers in 14 states are looking to enact legislation that would require public reporting of patient infections. Sixteen states already have adopted such laws.
Emergency room visits related to the nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals, including Rx and OTC drugs, increased 21% from 2004 to 2005.
CMS extends deadline for using new Medicare form
US Oncology, a cancer treatment and research network that also acts as a distributor, is implementing an electronic pedigree data management solution.
The Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Medicare Prescription Drug Claims Act of 2007 was introduced last week in the House of Representatives.
Long-term care pharmacists on the East Coast are invited to attend an upcoming senior symposium.
U.S. prescription sales grew by 8.3%, to $274.9 billion, from 2005 to 2006.
NACDS applauded 46 senators for their leadership in opposition to a proposed rule that could threaten the existence of retail pharmacies, particularly in rural areas and severely restrict the ability of millions of Medicaid beneficiaries to access prescription drugs from retail pharmacies.
Stronger warnings for the labeling for 13 sedative-hypnotics were recently requested by the FDA.
ISA247, a calcineurin inhibitor currently in phase IIb in North America for the prevention of organ rejection in kidney transplant patients and as a treatment for uveitis, has received approval from the United States Adopted Names Council to call the drug voclosporin.
The FDA has issued a public health advisory about revised product labeling for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), including darbepoetin (Aranesp, Amgen) and epoetin alfa (Epogen, Amgen; Procrit, Ortho Biotech).
The next 25 years hold promise of more clinical involvement and collaboration ? and more respect for pharmacists.
When Carl Dew was in the seventh grade, his teacher asked the class to practice filling out a job application. "I wrote the application to Lane Drug Co. in Knoxville," said Dew, owner of Corner Drug Store in Lake City, Tenn.
For 171 years a Thompson has been behind the counter at Thompson Drugs. Six generations of Heimstreets have counseled patients. The fourth generation of Seiferts recently began practice as a pharmacist, while Rupal Patel, a professor of pharmacy, is following the trail her grandfather blazed ... in India.
Generic drug industry movers and shakers believe 2007 will be the year affordable generic biopharmaceuticals will reach consumers. "We are on the verge of a new revolution in our industry, and that's the creation of a clear and effective abbreviated pathway to biogenerics," GPhA president and CEO Kathleen Jaeger told attendees at GPhA's annual meeting in Phoenix. Rep. Henry Waxman (D, Calif.) and Sen.