Why Pharmacy Schools Are Urged to Partner with Community Pharmacies

As community pharmacies across the US shutter at an alarming rate, researchers are calling on pharmacy schools to step up and assist in supporting and advancing community practice transformation efforts, according to a study published in Pharmacy (Basel).¹

“Neighborhood pharmacies are rapidly shuttering,” according to the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy.² “Not long ago, Walgreens, one of the nation’s biggest pharmacy chains, announced plans to close 1200 stores over the next 3 years. That’s part of a larger trend that has seen nearly 7000 pharmacy locations close since 2019, with more expected in the coming years.”

This crisis is fueled by a volatile business model where revenue is primarily tied to declining third-party reimbursement for medication dispensing. The elimination of retroactive direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees has created a financial cliff that reduces available revenue and limits the immediate funds pharmacies have for operations or investments.¹

These pressures disproportionately affect independent pharmacies, which are twice as likely to close as chain stores and often serve as the sole health care provider in marginalized neighborhoods. In rural areas, the situation is even more dire, as independent pharmacies face unique challenges, including a higher disease burden and a lack of workforce replacement.^1,3

READ MORE: Q&A: Hybrid Pharmacist Roles Modernize Pharmacy Workforce and Career Paths

Despite these mounting challenges, researchers suggest that pharmacy schools are uniquely positioned to intervene by partnering with their community sites. Current educational standards often focus heavily on dispensing skills, but there is a critical need to integrate business, management, and entrepreneurial knowledge into student rotations.¹

By partnering with community rotation sites, academic institutions can intentionally help pharmacies develop innovative, revenue-generating services. Academic experts can bridge the gap between progressive pharmacy laws and actual practice by providing standardized training and developing template protocols for clinical services.^1,4

For instance, schools have successfully helped pharmacies launch point-of-care testing services for infectious diseases by conducting time-motion studies to evaluate workflow feasibility.⁴

Such collaborations allow pharmacies to act as health hubs that provide vaccinations, chronic disease management, and testing for infectious diseases. This evolution is necessary because, while state laws may permit expanded roles, market pressures like pharmacist comfort and workflow considerations often prevent implementation.^2,4,5

Encouraging student pharmacists to embrace leadership roles early in their education is another vital component of this transformation. Leadership experience helps students move beyond being merely “okay” pharmacists to becoming effective stewards who can navigate a stressful workplace environment marked by fatigue and burnout.^2,5,6

The demand for these highly trained professionals remains high, with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimating a national shortage of at least 5000 pharmacists.⁵

“For all Americans, particularly those in rural and other underserved communities, pharmacists are the most accessible health care professional,” wrote the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. “According to the US BLS, there is less than 1 pharmacist for every 1000 Americans in practice today. Pharmacy schools prepare future pharmacists to provide essential care in rural and urban areas with innovative programs, ensuring that all populations have access.”

However, the profession faces significant headwinds, including a decline in pharmacy school admissions and the closure of programs. If colleges of pharmacy do not act to support the profession, the resulting pharmacy deserts will further exacerbate health disparities for the millions of Americans who live more than 5 miles from a health care professional.^2,5

Schools must move beyond preparing students for unsustainable practice models that prioritize immediate operational efficiency over clinical growth. By fostering a culture of pharmapreneurship, academic pharmacy can ensure that the next generation of graduates is equipped to lead and sustain the essential care provided by community pharmacies.^1,3

“The continual reimbursement challenges community pharmacies in the US face and the rate of pharmacy closures in this country call for immediate action from US colleges and schools of pharmacy,” concluded authors of the current study.¹ “If colleges and schools of pharmacy are concerned about the advancement of community pharmacy practice and its sustainability, they should partner with willing community pharmacy experiential rotation sites to help support and advance their practice transformation efforts.”

READ MORE: Hiring and Retaining a Great Workforce

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REFERENCES

1. Hess KM, Lim P. Community pharmacies face critical sustainability challenges in the United States: academic pharmacy can help. Pharmacy (Basel). 2026 Mar 29;14(2):54. doi: 10.3390/pharmacy14020054.

2. Berenbrok LA, Murphy EM, Herbert S. Why community pharmacies are closing – and what to do if your neighborhood location shutters. The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. February 21, 2025. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://pharmacy.osu.edu/news/why-community-pharmacies-are-closing-and-what-do-if-your-neighborhood-location-shutters

3. Dugani S, Choudhary V, Williams BG. Rural independent pharmacies sustainability strategy. National Rural Health Association. December 2024. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.ruralhealth.us/nationalruralhealth/media/documents/advocacy/policy%20brief/nrha-policy-brief-independent-retail-pharmacy-final.pdf

4. Adams AJ, Dering-Anderson A, Klepser ME, Klepser D. The roles of pharmacy schools in bridging the gap between law and practice. Am J Pharm Educ. 2018 May;82(4):6577. doi: 10.5688/ajpe6577.

5. Pharmacy schools are essential to meeting growing demand for pharmacists’ services. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.aacp.org/article/pharmacy-schools-are-essential-meeting-growing-demand-pharmacists-services

6. The value of leadership in pharmacy school and beyond. American Pharmacists Association. May 19, 2021. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.pharmacist.com/Blogs/CEO-Blog/Article/the-value-of-leadership-in-pharmacy-school-and-beyond