Pharmacy schools involve one of the oldest existing educational programs that has transformed humankind over the years.  Without the addition of medical supplements and aids, mankind would certainly not have made it past the Black Plague and other major epidemics.  In modern time, pharmacy schools have been able to research deeper into medical issues, and are now responsible for helping us live longer and fight off major illnesses.  The transformation of pharmacy school to online education has been a slow process, but is slowly gaining speed as educators realize how beneficial these programs are, considering the past history of pharmacy.  

Pharmaceutical programs have been around for thousands of years, although not in the same way we now consider pharmacy.  Prehistoric man used medicinal plants to fight off ailments, much like pharmacists use now, although in a more compacted form.  These were the original pharmacists, many times known as the shaman of the tribe who was able to cure ailments.  Pharmacological knowledge was first recorded during Ancient Egypt as long ago as 1550 BCE!  After this point, the knowledge spread throughout the growing modern world, although the next instance of recorded pharmacy did not occur until the 1st century CE in China, after which it was well recorded throughout the Islamic Golden Age and other Near Asian artifacts.

The advances in the Middle East in chemistry and botany led to the first instances of what we consider to be modern pharmacy – scientists discovered the medical uses of chemical compounds and how to prepare medicine through distillation.  These are very important concepts in the pharmacy world, and without these original scientists, pharmacy schools would not exist the way they do today.  Europe began to pick up on these studies after the Dark Ages and opened up apothecaries, many of which are still in existence today.  They were able to take the early studies of the Middle Eastern scientists and apply them to their benefit, much like we continue to do today.

The history of pharmacy is fascinating to think about, since it involved the mixture of many different chemical compounds, as well as the belief that these compounds will be able to fight off illness.  Many ancient scientists took risks that modern scientists would be unwilling to take in order to provide future generations with the ability to survive outbreaks of disease.  Online pharmacy schools are only the next logical step in pharmacological studies – one which will undoubtedly lead to even more great discoveries within the pharmacy world. 

It’s an all too familiar scenario: a student deciding what schools to apply to, eager to take the next step in life.  Many students are anxious to leave their home state, while others are too hesitant to make a cross-country move.  However, for future pharmacy students, California has proven to be at the top of the list even when making a cross-country move.  Whether this is due to the many pharmacy schools the state offers, its stellar pharmacy-research reputation, or just the state itself, pharmacy students flock to the state on the Pacific and rarely ever look back. 

Some of the first pharmacy schools in the nation were founded in California, such as the University of California in San Francisco’s School of Pharmacy and the University of Southern California’s School of Pharmacy (first Pharm.D. Program in the nation!).  The California Pharmaceutical Society was founded in 1868, and only four years later founded the California College of Pharmacy (later to become the School of Pharmacy at the University of California in San Francisco).  The school was the first pharmacy school in the West and only the tenth in the United States.  This was a major step in pharmacy circles and began California’s foray into the pharmacological industry.  The original Society founded the pharmacy school in order to advance pharmaceutical knowledge in the west and “elevate the professional level of apothecaries in California”. 

It only took a year for the California College of Pharmacy to affiliate with the University of California, adding much more credibility to the program.  A new curriculum was established in 1934 that replaced the previous vocational training and instead added a bachelor’s degree to the program, heightening the attention the school received from around the country.  The Doctor of Pharmacy program was established in 1955, only five years after USC’s School of Pharmacy offered it as the first school in the nation to do so.  The University of California currently remains popular with its students because of the many options its Pharmacy program presents them with – they can receive a dual PhD and PharmD at the same time or choose a specific discipline within the pharmaceutical industry to focus on during the course of their studies.  USC still considers itself the first pharmacy school in California, since it was properly established in 1905 (whereas the University of California’s school was not considered a school until 1955 – it was previously a ‘college’).  USC, however, still manages to attract 50% of the pharmacists in the region and remains a highly-ranked research institution. 

Pharmacy students have a lot to think about when comparing these two schools, but no matter which pharmacy school they decide on in California, both will lead to a promising future. 

Pharmacy school has become an integral part of our higher education system and continues to attract more students every year, despite urban legends about the “suicide rate of pharmacists” (and dentists).  While pharmacy is a demanding subject and career choice (including a thorough understanding of chemistry, biology, and more than likely working on weekends), many students of pharmacy school enjoy the process and can’t wait to begin their careers.  Pharmacy school requires more than just a diploma, but also includes an array of exams that must be passed in order to become a pharmacist.

Pharmacists are in charge of the distribution of prescription drugs to their many patients, as well as consulting with patients on the proper dosage.  Despite popular belief, pharmacists are not as involved with “compounding” the medications as many of us think we are.  I know I envision my pharmacists behind their office doors mixing together medications with beakers and other cylindrical devices.  However, with the influx of pharmaceutical companies, most medicines are now produced in standard dosages without the additional requirement of a pharmacist’s degree.  While pharmacy students typically go through years of grueling science-related courses throughout their degree programs, many pharmacists now are more well-versed in health insurance policies than chemical formulas because of the drastic changes pharmacy programs have made over the years. 

This is not to say that true pharmacy programs no longer involve actual pharmacy – many pharmacists now choose specialty careers such as oncology or nutrition, and are thus able to advise their patients on the best prescription drugs to take for each related illness.  The Board of Labor Statistics reports that pharmacists hold around 300,000 jobs throughout the nation, with 65% of them working in retail settings.  The other 35% are typically able to practice pharmacy in a setting that is more relaxed and set apart from the “tyrannical force” of pharmaceutical companies, away from the Walgreens and CVSes.  In the end, one of the main goals of pharmacy school is of course to end up as a pharmacist, a future career which is one of the best in the country at the moment.  In a country that is currently witnessing the highest unemployment rates in its existence, pharmacy school presents a more than suitable alternative career choice.  The projected job prospects have been statistically viewed to rise at an exponential rate in the next decade – a marked sign that despite the reign of pharmaceutical companies, pharmacists will continue to play a vital role within the economy. 

It has recently come to our attention how prevalent prescription drug habits have become around the nation.  This is especially frightening because most of the time they lead to further drug dependencies, the greatest of which is heroin, an addiction which claims the lives of so many young people every year.  While we remain aware of this problem, it is difficult to fight against it, since many teenagers continuously steal prescription drugs out of their parent’s medicine cabinets or make up ailments they do not have in order to receive painkillers.  How do PharmDs fit into all this? 

A PharmD is someone who can mix together this medication and hand it out to everyone with a prescription.  While this seems like a relatively easy task, it does require years of schooling and many times, a knack to know when a patient is not a true sufferer.  Most PharmDs go to school in order to work for a pharmacy company, and enjoy the day-to-day interactions with patients.  However, PharmDs are the last people an addict will see on their way home from getting a prescription.  It has therefore fallen on a PharmD graduate’s shoulders to be aware of what patients should be taken note of and which patients are simply chronic pain sufferers. 

There are many sad stories that have infiltrated many news stories and documentaries – tales of young adults who began a dependency on dangerous pain killers at a young age, only to have their parents find them after a drug overdose.  There are other stories of older adults who have become dependent on pain killers and have found doctors/pharmacists who will continue to prescribe this medication to them, despite the illegality of the situation.  Amidst all these stories, the pharmaceutical industry remains a highly profitable area, and pharmacists take credit for much of this success in putting together each specific prescription.   

However, despite the gloomy outlook many of these stories paint, there is always the optimistic hope that researchers with a pharmD will develop medication that does not have an addictive persona.  These prescription drugs will be able to be delivered without any fear of a dependency occurring and without any side effects.  We are nearing a stage in our societal development where this type of research is not unheard of, but will hopefully become routine.  There have been too many news stories about the dangers of prescription drugs for us to sit around and do nothing.  Pharmacists do not enroll in pharmD programs to help aid teenagers toward dependent drugs, but instead go to school to help cure people of their ailments.  This type of illness is only the most recent in our modern society that we need to work together to combat. 

Americans love our drugs.  Pharmaceutical companies are well aware of this love affair with drugs and have been able to market many of their new innovations on this fact.  Most pharmacy students, however, are not as accustomed to this association with their patients as customers, and are forced to learn this throughout their time in pharmacy school.  No state is more wrapped up in its pharmaceutical companies than California, a state that has many top-ranked pharmacy programs and produces thousands of pharmacy graduates a year. 

Ironically enough, over the past year, both prescription and pharmaceutical sales have risen to astronomical amounts – pharmaceutical sales reached over $250 billion while prescription costs nearly doubled for the average consumer.  Some could even make the argument that pharmaceutical companies have turned our population into a disease-obsessed country, one which assumes that every phobia needs to be treated with some type of prescription drug.  This is not too far from the truth – my doctor seems to always have a different prescription for each type of ailment, although I have understood for years that most illnesses clear up on their own. 

Where does pharmacy school fit into all these allegations?  Students are virtually unaware of this large monopoly pharmaceutical companies have over the whole of our existence.  Pharmacists themselves typically have little contact with the true meat behind pharmaceutical companies, and are instead worried about their various drug concoctions and their patients.  Most pharmacy students go to pharmacy schools to interact with their patients, not to become a member of a large pharmaceutical company.  A majority of our population is now aware of the truth behind most pharmaceutical companies thanks to the recent look into our health care bill as well as modern documentaries that have exposed the ways pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies work together.  It does not paint a pretty picture for pharmacy students of any state.

However, pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies also play an important role in our society.  Severe conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer cannot be combated without the use of prescription drugs, and thus far they have saved thousands of lives.  Most pharmacy students are attracted to their programs because of this opportunity to help hundreds of people every day through the prescription drugs they put together.  In the end, it is difficult to make the argument that we are too reliant on prescription drugs when we need them to ensure our population stays healthy; pharmaceutical companies are not always the evil entity political pundits make them out to be, but can instead be viewed as a beacon of hope for many people who suffer from chronic conditions every day. 
 

Pharmacy school involves a long time commitment both before and after school, although most pharmacy students look forward to the day they can have a different type of “work”.  With prescription drugs on the rise and new drugs concocted yearly, it is no wonder how we as a society have become so accustomed to pharmacists and pharmacies around the country.  Pharmacy schools now sprout out of nowhere, even through the internet.  However, most pharmacy students remain greatly interested in the subject, regardless of its use in the real world because of the science behind the drugs.

FDA studies are being released all the time, condemning this drug, praising that drug – it’s difficult for even pharmacists to keep track of this type of barrage of news, although patients now have the opportunity to check whether their prescription is considered legal by the FDA.  This lightens the load considerably on pharmacists who may not have been informed that a specific drug has been banned from production.  It’s difficult to always receive this type of information, even in such a highly specialized industry.  A recent article in The New York Times chronicles this new method of receiving information about drugs, allowing patients to log into the FDA’s website to check their drugs on an online database.   Pharmacists did not have to worry about problems like this only a few years ago!

While it is true that times are changing for every industry, few are as profound of changes as pharmacy.  Almost every year a new prescription drug hits the market that can help with cancer-treatment, help abate anxiety, or help even the common cold.  Pharmacists are constantly learning new formulas and adapting to new drug compounds, a perk in the career for many who enjoy learning.  If you do not enjoy this constant barrage of information, then pharmacy school and the inevitable career may not be for you.  However, many students of pharmacy love the prospect of learning new chemical compounds on a daily basis – a light at the end of the tunnel for many of them.  While a life in pharmacy may seem like a “dead-end” type of job (it’s been rated close to dentists on job lists), pharmacy is such a changing industry that it seems ridiculous that it would come close to be called “boring”.  

Pharmacists always have new hurdles to jump through, battles to pick with the FDA, and research to conduct on new chemical compounds.  It is hard to believe that any student of pharmacy would not enjoy their career in the industry after completing their degree program.  
 

Pharmacy schools have become as commonplace as medical schools, and as a result, students have become extremely confused as to what school is the best suited for their future.  With the advent of online education, choosing a pharmacy school has become even more of a hassle with the added influx of schools from around the world that are easily accessible through a modem.  How can a student be expected to sift through all the paraphernalia and pharmacy school websites on their own?

The first step is to sit down and organize your goals.  Pharmacy school may give you the same degree, but different schools can lead to widely different career paths.  If you want to choose a path that is more research-oriented, your initial research into pharmacy schools should look into schools that are accredited and highly reputable in the research industry.  Most pharmacy schools have superb research facilities, but there are several that produce many research graduates every year at a higher rate than typical pharmacy schools.  These research institutions additionally offer students the added advantage of interning and working at nearby pharmaceutical companies and hospitals where they can hone in on their research skills.

Location is another factor to take into consideration when applying for pharmacy schools.  While hospitals and clinics are not as essential to the program as they are in medical school, it is still important to have a hospital nearby where you can gain valuable residency hours.  If you choose to earn your pharmacy degree online from your hometown, this is an important factor to take into consideration.  Depending on what you are going to do with your pharmacy degree, it might be wise to enroll in a traditional university if you want to practice in a large city.  If you simply want to become a pharmacist in your hometown pharmacy, then online education is the perfect solution to your schooling needs.

Other pharmacy schools boast of their accreditation and their recognition within the pharmacy world.  There are countless lists and ranking systems throughout the education industry – enough to make your head spin!  While no one list is better than the others in the long run, it is important to browse through several lists to gain an understanding of what each pharmacy school has to offer, the cost of tuition, and the course listings.  You do not have to follow or even believe the ranking systems, but each one offers more insight than the other into potential pharmacy schools.  Accreditation is of course, the most important part of the research/application process.  Determining that your future school is accredited should be step one in the process.  Most pharmacy schools are accredited by reputable institutions, but online schools are still not entirely reputable, which makes it all the more important to research into the school’s background.

Pharmacy school is a big change in your life, no matter what school you enroll in, and taking the proper steps to finding the perfect school for you will make the process less confusing and more rewarding. 

Childhood obesity has become a major problem in the U.S. today. The land of the free moves at such a fast-pace that it has become quicker and easier to give our children unhealthy kids meals from fast food restaurants than to plan healthy meals. We have such little free time that we allow our children to veg out in front of the TV or computer playing video games so we can have a smidgen of peace and quiet at home. We send our kids to school, where unhealthy food is often being served in the lunchroom. However, as parents, if we want to stave off the health and social problems associated with a child that is obese, we have to begin to fight the rising tide of childhood obesity.

First, realize that making sure your child is living a healthy and active lifestyle is a counter-cultural idea these days. After all, the most popular gifts for teens and tweens are no longer bicycles like when we were kids. Instead, the most popular gifts are gaming systems, such as the Wii, Xbox 360, or Playstation 3, all of which are very sedentary forms of entertainment. While playing age-appropriate games is harmless fun, it can contribute to dangerous inactivity and childhood obesity if not balanced out with more active fun.

If your child has become inactive, it is a good idea to meet them where they’re at. Wii has introduced a great product called Wii Fit, a fun exercise program that is helping some children get active by allowing families to exercise in their homes together. You can customize the programs to be suitable for your child’s fitness level, and monitor their progress.

Another good idea is to prioritize outdoor exercise. Take your children on a brisk walk three to five times a week. Not only is this a great opportunity to hear about their day and spend time with them, but it also gets their blood moving and contributes to their weekly physical activity needs. Find out what kinds of sports your child is interested in and make a point to play with them over the weekend, whether it’s soccer, basketball, tennis, or something with less rules, like Frisbee. If you’re not up to the task, encourage your children to play sports with their friends instead of spending all their time indoors on their cell phones, computers and gaming systems.

Finally, talk with your child about healthy eating and keep healthy snacks around the house, like yogurt, string cheese or fresh fruit. Explain to them the consequences of drinking sodas and eating fast food. And most importantly, be the one to demonstrate a healthy lifestyle. After all, it’s hard to tell your kids the right thing to do if they see you sitting on the couch eating junk food too!

A relatively new field, online pharmacy schools have taken over the online education industry because of the large demand for pharmacists throughout the recession.  From California to Texas, online pharmacy schools have spread throughout the nation, stemming from the states where the pharmacy programs are already well known throughout the nation.  Due to the high amount of pharmacists that are emerging from these schools, the drug industry has also boomed thanks to the research that has developed simultaneously. 

One of the least known jobs of pharmacists involves the research they participate in, in developing new drugs and medications for patients of a variety of illnesses.  We mostly assume that pharmacists end up behind counters in Walgreens and CVS, but a large majority of them wind up in research institutions and other pharmaceutical industries.  Many students of online pharmacy schools are particularly adept at research and the processes involved because of the years they spend without direct instruction through online classes.  While some critics maintain that this produces students who are less likely to succeed and more reliant on instruction, many others maintain that online classes produce students who are more independent and therefore better able to excel at research on their own.

This has been a proven theory throughout online pharmacy schools because of the vast research many students perform during their clinical trials.  The drug industry has benefited greatly from this new influx of research students, especially compared to the past decades in which students have been pressured to join top pharmaceutical firms outside of the research sector.  Research is not a realm that most students are keen to jump into, although online education has fostered this new sense of working independently on projects and assignments, and as a whole has produced a new generation of researchers. 

While pharmacy schools may seem to be one of those entities that are ill-equipped to produce online classes, the schools themselves have attracted many students and have produced many adept pharmacists.  Most online pharmacy schools come from traditional schools that have sought to simply attract new students and therefore have a strong background in education and pharmacy studies in general.  As the next years unfold, they will undoubtedly reveal a newfound interest in drug companies and pharmaceutical industries and a slow move away from remaining behind the Walgreens counters. 

The decision to attend pharmacy school is not one which can be made overnight, but requires many months of research and deliberation before making an informed decision.  California has many of the oldest and most esteemed pharmacy schools in the nation, and most students start their research focused on this area of the country.  While there are many highly-ranked pharmacy schools around the nation, California continues to attract a large portion of students due to its research programs, top staff, and successful graduates.

University of California at San Francisco – School of Pharmacy
One of the oldest schools in the nation, the School of Pharmacy of the University of California in San Francisco was founded in 1872 as the California College of Pharmacy, the first pharmacy school in the West and only the 10th in the nation.  One of the primary reasons for the school’s success is its clinical program which became a requirement for its students in the 1960s.  The location of the school in the historical district of San Francisco is also a huge incentive for many students to enroll in its program.

University of Southern California – School of Pharmacy
USC was not far behind the University of California in creating its pharmacy school, opening its doors in 1905.  The school now boasts a large population of pharmacists in the area who graduated from the school and currently enrolls upwards of 750 students in its graduate program.  USC continues to be innovative throughout its educational programs and promotes dual degrees for pharmacy students in areas as diverse as law and public health.  The school remains a model for other pharmacy schools around the nation and is widely recognized for its stellar reputation within the pharmacy community.

California has also implemented many online pharmacy schools through the past several years which have attracted many students from around the country.  This allows students from small towns around the nation to earn their degree in pharmacy without the hassle of moving across the country or leaving their friends, family, and career.  Students in California also have the luxury of completing their clinical studies through top-rated hospitals in the area while still maintaining a manageable school schedule because of the ease of online classes.  Some of the more popular schools that offer online pharmacy programs in the area include Loma Linda University, Touro University, and the University of California in San Diego.  The small size of many of these online classes encourages students to enroll in the programs despite the distance.  The reputation of Californian schools alone attracts thousands of students every year to pharmacy schools within the state, whether they are online or traditional.