PROMOTION OF THE PHARMACY PROFESSION

To promote the professional image of the pharmacy workforce and collaborate with stakeholders to enhance public understanding of the pharmacy profession’s important roles in patient care and its many professional and personal rewards; further,

To promote diverse careers in pharmacy to attract applicants with skills and attributes aligned with the needs and demands of the pharmacy workforce and professional identity formation; further,

To develop and disseminate resources that provide insight into the diverse career opportunities within the pharmacy profession; further,

To encourage educators and counselors in primary and secondary education or trade schools to make students aware of the benefits of careers in the pharmacy workforce.

Rationale

The success of ASHP’s advocacy efforts relies on public perception of the pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians we represent. Promoting the image of pharmacy, which consistently ranks among the most trusted professions, to the general public, public policymakers, payers, other healthcare professionals, and healthcare organization decision-makers is an ongoing priority for ASHP. As stated in the ASHP Statement on Professionalism, one of the fundamental services of a professional is recruiting, nurturing, and securing new practitioners to that profession’s ideals and mission. Moreover, professional identity formation is defined as the process of internalizing a profession’s core values and beliefs. The recruitment of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians is essential to meet current and future healthcare demands and needs to begin in high school or even earlier, when students are exploring potential careers. ASHP is committed to highlighting opportunities for pharmacy careers in all health-system settings to maintain a pool of quality candidates for those careers.