Sustaining Positivity Among Students, Professionals Critical for Pharmacy’s Future
A conversation with David Nau, PhD, professor of social and administrative pharmacy, and director of assessment at Ohio Northern University.
The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy released results from a survey in 2022 that showed a decline in how positively graduating pharmacy students viewed their career choice.1 In 2024, a new report was released from the organization that showed the trend had reserved in recent years, likely due to increased job opportunities and an enhanced view of the pharmacy profession during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.2
Although the rate—which stands at 78.9%—is trending in a better direction, it is still below the 82.1% of 2016. David Nau, PhD, professor of social and administrative pharmacy, and director of assessment at Ohio Northern University, said that continuing to foster a more positive view of the pharmacy profession among students will be key going forward.
In a recent interview, Drug Topics sat down with Nau to discuss what challenges remain in fostering a consistently positive perception of the pharmacy profession among students and what steps can be taken by educators, professional organizations, and the healthcare system to ensure sustained positivity among pharmacy students and professionals.
“I think it’s incumbent on us as educators to stay positive and continue to help our students see the bright side of health care…and all of the wonderful opportunities to take care of people, both on an individual level and on a population level,” Nau said. “I think some folks of my generation in academia have gotten a little negative. I think we have to continue to be positive and show the great things that are in pharmacy to help keep the enthusiasm up and make sure we’ve got an enthusiastic set of practitioners for the future.”
