From Strength to Struggle: Stakeholder Insights into the Readiness of Tomorrow's Pharmacists

The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify convergent and divergent themes across stakeholder groups regarding the perceived strengths and weaknesses of student pharmacists; and (2) evaluate the alignment of these perceptions with established national and international competency frameworks.

This study used a qualitative, multistakeholder research design informed by grounded theory and pragmatic epistemological foundations to identify convergent strengths and weaknesses along with gaps. Heatmap and sentiment analyses were also used to demonstrate the strengths of stakeholders' perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses. Lastly, strengths and weaknesses were compared to national and international competency frameworks.

Drawing from 27 focus groups with 139 participants across multiple stakeholder categories, the study identified convergent student pharmacist strengths (eg, clinical knowledge, patient-centered care, collaboration) and weaknesses (eg, critical thinking, systems awareness, professional assertiveness). A thematic analysis revealed strong alignment with foundational competencies but significant gaps in leadership, public health engagement, and real-world application of knowledge. Heatmap and sentiment analyses underscored the intensity of stakeholder concerns, particularly regarding students' adaptability in complex clinical settings. A comparative gap analysis with national and international competency frameworks highlighted discrepancies between curricular intentions and experiential realities.

These findings signal a pressing need for curricular redesign that strengthens systems thinking, decision-making under uncertainty, and professional identity formation. The study offers actionable insights to align pharmacy education with the expectations of contemporary and future health care practice.