The transition to more clinically oriented pharmacy education and the clinical practice of pharmacy

Major changes have occurred in the practice of pharmacy and the practice opportunities for pharmacists during the past 20-25 years. As a consequence, the advances in pharmacy practice have necessitated significant changes in pharmaceutical education and the basic courses which constitute the curriculum. The recent changes which have occurred in pharmaceutical education have been more dramatic than curricular changes at any time in the history of pharmacy. Furthermore, many faculty members have found these changes to be very traumatic, particularly with respect to recommendations involving the deletion of all or part of a required course in the curriculum which an individual may have taught for many years. The advent of the clinical practice of pharmacy has had a significant impact on pharmaceutical education, and will be the central focus of this paper.