Symposium on roles of and cooperation between academic- and practice-based pharmacy clinicians

The findings of an academic symposium as they relate to the history and role of the academic pharmacy clinician, the strengths and limitations of the academic pharmacy clinician model, and the framework for future synergistic work relations among clinical pharmacy practitioners are summarized.

On April 23, 2008, a symposium was convened to bring key thought leaders together to discuss the relationship of the academic-based pharmacy clinician and the practice-based pharmacy clinician. Participants included clinical faculty and administrators from two colleges of pharmacy, practice-based clinical pharmacists and pharmacy managers from seven health care institutions, and representatives from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Symposium participants discussed the roles and expectations of clinical pharmacists based on primary affiliation within the contemporary practice model for academic- and practice-based pharmacy clinicians and identified sources of conflict for academic- and practice-based pharmacy clinicians. Symposium participants agreed that in order to succeed, the academic-based and the practice-based pharmacy clinicians must function in a true partnership as each individual has strengths, resources, and benefits to bring to the relationship. Furthermore, knowledge, consideration, and an understanding of the potentially different goals and objectives of each institution are critical.

A symposium attended by clinical faculty members and administrators from two colleges of pharmacy, practice-based clinical pharmacists and pharmacy managers from seven health care institutions, and representatives from three national pharmacy organizations was conducted to discuss the roles of and cooperation between academic- and practice-based pharmacy clinicians.