Learn more about the duties, practice settings, typical workdays, required education, and educational opportunities, as well as personal advice from pharmacists in this practice area.
What is academic pharmacy?
Academic pharmacy is a pharmacy practice area in which pharmacists educate student pharmacists, postgraduate trainees, pharmacists, and other members of the interprofessional healthcare team. Academic pharmacy requires faculty members to balance expectations in teaching, scholarship/research, and service. Responsibilities may include providing didactic and experiential education, conducting original research, authoring review articles and textbooks, practicing as a pharmacist at a health-system or another clinical site, advising students and student organizations, contributing as a member of college or university committees, and serving professional organizations. The distribution of effort in teaching, scholarship/research, and service varies depending on one’s position in academic pharmacy.
Many pharmacists joining the academic career path become clinical faculty. Different from non-clinical faculty they generally maintain an active pharmacy license and, in most institutions, have a practice site where they provide traditional clinical pharmacy services.
Where does an academic pharmacist member work?
Academic pharmacists work at colleges or schools of pharmacy. Clinical faculty members can work in almost any setting that a traditional clinical pharmacist works, but are most commonly based in health-systems and typically have patient care responsibilities, allowing them to integrate education and clinical practice. In many cases, clinical faculty members’ research ideas are derived from questions or observations that arise at their practice site.
What does a typical workday look like?
For an academic pharmacist, there is no typical workday. The variety brings new challenges and satisfaction each day. In the course of one day, an academic pharmacist may round with the interprofessional team and learners in the medical/surgical intensive care unit at the academic medical center, facilitate high-fidelity mannequin simulations in a critical care therapeutics course on campus, participate in an editorial board conference call, and attend a student networking event.
The day may start with meeting with APPE students around 7 A.M. and then rounding with the medical team until lunchtime. They may also tend to catch up on anything from the morning that needs attention and work in the afternoons on ongoing projects, developing classroom materials and debriefing with APPE students.
What educational opportunities are available for pharmacists in this area?
- Many pharmacists in this field complete work toward being BCPS certified. To find out more about board certification, you can visit the Board of Pharmacy Specialties Board Certification webpage.
- There are a number of certificate programs individuals can complete. ASHP has a number of certificate programs available online.
- Many will pursue additional training programs. This may include additional degrees in public health or epidemiology, certificate programs in teaching or research, training fellowships in leadership, teaching, or research.
- Other organizations may have additional certificate and learning programs you could explore, or formal degrees to pursue relating to academia.
How can I learn more about this career path?
- Join ASHP’s Section on Pharmacy Educators for more information about academia and residency training, as well as the unique needs and practices of this specialty area.
- Read publications discussing faculty appointments, such as AJHP’s journal article on “Pursuing Faculty a Position.”
- Develop your skills and explore teaching opportunities with ASHP’s Teaching Certificate for Pharmacists.
Member Career Profiles
Angela Bingham, PharmD, BCPS, BCNSP, BCCCP, FASPEN
Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Interim Vice Chair
PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences
What interested you in pharmacy and this career path?
“I grew up in a family that valued education with my mom being a high school Spanish teacher, so perhaps I was destined to teach. When I arrived at the South Carolina College of Pharmacy- University of South Carolina Campus, I was fortunate to find Mary Hess, PharmD, FASHP, FCCM, FCCP, BCCCP as a mentor who inspired me to become a critical care academician. I was attracted to this career path for the opportunity to positively impact the lives of students/residents, critically ill patients, and the profession. At South Carolina, Dr. Hess and Joseph DiPiro, PharmD, FCCP served as my honors thesis readers for my first educational research that set me on a path for future scholarship. Dr. Hess also served as my mentor for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Walmart Scholar Program which strengthened my commitment to a career in academia. During my PGY1 and PGY2 experiences at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), I was able to complete teaching and learning programs which provided teaching experiences in a variety of settings and insight regarding educational theory and best practices. Being mentored by preceptors who were full time faculty members at UTHSC further inspired my academic pharmacy pursuit.
As an academic pharmacist, it is rewarding to prepare the next generation of pharmacists. My learners continue to push and inspire me to become a better educator.”
What advice do you have for someone interested in this career field?
“I encourage student pharmacists and postgraduate trainees with interest in academic pharmacy to seek teaching and scholarship/research opportunities. These foundational experiences will assist with your transition into a faculty role. Also, identify mentors in academic pharmacy to assist as you develop your career goals and aspirations. Mentors will remain important throughout your career.”
Nathan A. Pinner, Pharm.D., BCPS
Associate Clinical Professor
Department of Pharmacy Practice
Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacist
Princeton Baptist Medical Center – Birmingham, AL
What interested you in pharmacy and this career path?
“My interest in pharmacy came quite late in my education (senior year undergraduate education) when I took a pathogenic microbiology class and got very interested in antibiotics and microorganisms. I then spoke to some people and learned more about clinical pharmacists that worked in hospitals with patients and that became my goal. I became most interested in becoming a faculty member during residency when I was on rotation with faculty members. I enjoyed their mix of research, teaching, and clinical practice. I am energized through the discovery of new things through research and I had an interest in teaching from an early age. So, this career path filled many goals of mine. “
What advice do you have for someone interested in this career field?
“Talk with people that are in this career. I believe many students see the faculty members at the practice site and think they understand what their job is like. They come to the hospital and round, but there is much more. Talk with several and find out what their other obligations include. It is generally much more than rounding and precepting students. If you think this is the right career for you then find a faculty mentor that you can talk with as you begin your post-graduate training and job search as they will be invaluable to you. I had many excellent mentors and was well-prepared to begin my academic career.”
Member Spotlights
Dale English
Credentials: Pharm.D., RPh, FASHP
Position/Title: Director, Instructional Labs and Professional Relations; Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice; Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy
Primary Specialty: Academia
Other Specialties: Inpatient Care
Charles Ponte
Credentials: PharmD, BCPS, RPh, CDE, CPE, BC-ADM, DPNAP
Position/Title: Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Family Medicine
Organization: West Virginia University Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine
Primary Specialty: Academia
Other Specialties: Inpatient Care, Pain Management, Pharmacotherapy
