Pharmacists Arise as Resource for AI Implementation | APhA 2026

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape health care, pharmacists are emerging as critical players in the adoption and implementation of AI tools—specifically within electronic medical record (EHR) workflows, among many other tasks.

“One of the things that we focus in on is being sure we have those relationships with our leadership so they know, ‘Hey, a vendor came to us with a solution; what are your thoughts on it?’” Darren Mensch, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, clinical ambulatory care pharmacist of population health at Jefferson Health, told Drug Topics at the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition 2026. “On the other token, [it’s] developing those relationships with our vendors as well. How do we work together to improve patient care and improve the lives of our patients?”

One of the biggest barriers to AI adoption is the sheer volume of available solutions, making standardized evaluation essential. As Mensch explains, pharmacists can bridge the gap between information technology (IT) teams, institutional leadership, and vendors by building relationships across all 3 groups, and ensuring everyone is aligned toward the same goals.

Bias and health disparities remain a pressing concern as well. Pharmacists serve as a vital “human in the loop,” helping validate AI outputs rather than accepting them blindly and contributing to the proper training of models to mitigate risks tied with social determinants of health.

As AI absorbs more administrative and documentation tasks, pharmacists are freer to practice at the top of their license—but only if implementation is done well. The technology itself isn't the secret sauce; execution is.

Perhaps most importantly, however, Mensch raises a deeper question: Rather than using AI to patch systemic problems, why not fix the root causes first? AI should be a tool for proactive improvement, not just a work-around for self-made health care inefficiencies.

READ MORE: APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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