Pharmacy is rapidly evolving, as are the types of students who may wish to join the profession. The future of pharmacy could include traditional college graduates, pharmacy technicians, career changers, parents, rural students, military spouses, and healthcare workers who are unable to relocate for a traditional campus-based program. With concerns about pharmacist shortages, low student interest and barriers to access to pharmacy education, there is talk of online and hybrid models of pharmacy education as a part of the student recruitment strategy.
A PharmD degree online can make pharmacy education more accessible to candidates who need it, but it doesn’t replace traditional training. The question is not whether online education can be substituted for professional training. It is whether a carefully crafted online or blended PharmD program can increase the number of well-prepared students without compromising academic or clinical learning experiences or success on licensure exams.
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Why Pharmacy Needs a Broader Recruitment Strategy
Pharmacy schools have had to be more strategic in their recruitment. There are many career options within the profession, including community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, ambulatory care, managed care, industry, public health, informatics, research, and specialty pharmacy. But some prospective students may still think of only community pharmacy.
This can deter interest. Those who are unaware of the broad possibilities of pharmacy may not consider the career. Some may want to but be put off by geography, family, work, cost, or the need to take time away from earning a living for a few years.
Hybrid and online PharmD programs can help overcome some of these challenges. They open the door for schools to engage students beyond the geographic limits of their campus and to address the needs of those who need a more flexible path to professional careers. This may be particularly important in rural or remote locations with obvious local needs for health-care professionals.
What Online PharmD Programs Actually Offer
An “online” PharmD program is not necessarily fully remote. Pharmacy programs provide scientific education, patient care skills, laboratories, and practical, experiential rotations. Typically, “online” means much of the classroom work is done online, and labs, skills sessions, simulations and clinical rotations may be conducted in person.
Online students may attend lectures, participate in discussions, take tests, complete case studies and projects in groups. They may also participate in live online classes or complete asynchronous learning on a weekly basis. Good programs will still require engagement, professionalism in communication, and regular interaction with instructors and peers.
The advantage of this type of program is flexibility. A student may be able to stay home for some of the program. An adult student might have more agency over study time. A pharmacy technician may be able to advance without leaving their job right away. For employers, this can make pharmacy school an attractive option for people who previously thought it was out of reach.
Expanding Access Without Reducing Standards
The key issue with online degrees in the professional fields is quality. For pharmacists, this is an issue because they work with patients. Pharmacist responsibilities include medication safety, dose calculations, drug interactions, disease management, communication, ethics and clinical decision-making.
Online PharmD programs can help with recruitment only if they are of quality. Accreditation, faculty supervision, experiential learning, test preparation, and examination must be of high quality. That said, flexibility should not equate with less. It should mean a different path to the same end result.
This is where program design comes in. Students need access to an instructor, academic advisor, tutors, IT support, peers and career support. They also need to know expectations of in-person attendance. If a program is advertised as online but offers no explanation of rotations, labs, travel, or state licensure, this can lead to disappointment.
Reaching Rural and Underserved Communities
Hybrid and online PharmD programs may be particularly beneficial in attracting students from rural and underserved areas. Students are more likely to practice in geographic areas where they have family. If the pharmacy program requires a long-distance relocation, some might not apply.
Flexible delivery can help address that. They could complete some coursework in their home communities and then undertake placements in regional health-care facilities, if available. This can enhance the link between education and the workforce.
In rural health care settings, pharmacists can be valuable for medication management, chronic disease care, immunizations, health education, and coordination. Attracting students to these communities can ensure a workforce that is responsive to access issues.
Supporting Pharmacy Technicians and Career Changers
Online PharmD recruitment should target pharmacy technicians. They already have a grasp of pharmacy processes, patient care, medication management, insurance challenges and the speed of pharmacy practice. They may be interested in becoming pharmacists but are struggling with time off and/or relocation.
A flexible PharmD program can help make that become a reality. It can also help retain experienced employees. Many people looking to change careers from nursing, biology, chemistry, public health, business, or other healthcare fields may also be drawn to online programs that allow a more gradual transition into graduate study for a professional career.
These students may be mature and experienced workers. They may be motivated, but they require information on prerequisites, time, rotations, and licensure.
The Recruitment Potential Is Real
Online PharmD programs can help to recruit the next generation of pharmacists by increasing the visibility, flexibility and accessibility of the profession. They can engage students who do not live near pharmacy schools, help working adults, and open doors to pharmacy technicians and career changers.
But online is no silver bullet. It’s successful when courses are clear, accredited, supported, and well-linked to in-person experience. The future of pharmacy will require professionals who are clinically competent, technologically literate, and equipped to perform a wide range of patient-care roles.
A carefully designed online or hybrid PharmD pathway can help get us there. It can help bring more students into the fold who might not otherwise choose a career in pharmacy, without compromising the high standards of pharmacy practice.
