INTRODUCTION OF PHARM-D

Pharm-D, which stands for Doctor of Pharmacy, is a professional doctoral degree program designed to educate and train individuals to become competent and knowledgeable pharmacists. The Pharm-D program typically spans a period of five years and is pursued after completing a set of prerequisite coursework. During these years, students engage in a comprehensive curriculum that combines theoretical education, practical training, and experiential learning. The curriculum includes subjects like pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacotherapy, and more. Students learn about drug interactions, dosage calculations, medication administration, patient assessment, and the use of modern technologies in pharmacy practice.

Experiential learning is a crucial aspect of the Pharm-D program. Students undertake rotations in diverse healthcare settings, such as hospitals, community pharmacies, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. These rotations provide hands-on experience in real-world scenarios, allowing students to apply their theoretical knowledge, interact with patients, and collaborate with healthcare teams.

Pharm-D is a comprehensive educational pathway that prepares individuals to become licensed pharmacists capable of delivering safe and effective medication management, contributing to patient well-being, and actively participating in the healthcare ecosystem.

History of Pharmacy (Pharm-D)

In ancient times, the physician and the pharmacist were the same person who diagnosed the disease, selected the drug, prepared the drug product and administered it to the patients. Babylon (Iraq) provides the earliest known record of practice of pharmacy. Though Egyptian medicine dates from about 2900 B.C. The best known and most important pharmaceutical record is the collection of 800 prescriptions with the help of 700 drugs (1500 B.C.). One of the first therapeutic agent was Terra Sigillata (Sealed Earth), a clay tablet before 500 B.C.

Galen (130-200 A.D.) practiced and taught both Pharmacy and Medicine in Rome. His principles of preparing and compounding medicines ruled in the Western world for 1,500 years. His name is still associated with that class of pharmaceuticals compounded by Galenical. He was the originator of the formula for a cold cream.

Arabian culture made significant progress in the science of pharmacy. The Arabians recognized and established pharmacy as a distinct areas of practice. They modified many drug products and introduced the concept of pleasantly flavoring them. The Arabs separated the arts of apothecary and physician. They established first privately owned drug store in Baghdad late in the eighth century. They developed syrups, distilled waters and alcoholic liquids with the help of natural resources.

Ibn Sina (about 980-1037 A.D.) the Persian called Avicenna by the Western world. He was a pharmacist, poet, physician, philosopher and diplomat. He described not less than 700 preparations, their properties, mode of action and their indications. His pharmaceutical teachings were accepted as authority in the West until the 17th century.

The idea of a pharmacopoeia with official status, originated in Italy. The Nuovo Receptario, originally written in Italian, was published and became the legal standard in 1498. The first "United States Pharmacopeia" (1820) was the work of the medical profession. It was the first book of drug standards from a professional source.

The prefix "pharmacy" is derived from the Greek word "pharmakon" which means "drug" or "medicine." The term "pharmacy" is commonly used to refer to the science and practice of preparing, dispensing, and providing medication and pharmaceuticals to individuals for therapeutic purposes. It encompasses various aspects of drug discovery, development, manufacturing, distribution, and patient care. The field of pharmacy plays a crucial role in healthcare by ensuring the safe and effective use of medications.