October, a Celebration of Pharmacists

The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy (DKICP) is celebrating the vital role of pharmacists during the month of October, American Pharmacists Month. This year’s theme is “Caring for our Communities!”

Did you know:

• nearly 90% of Americans live within 5-miles of a pharmacy and a pharmacist?
• pharmacies and pharmacists are more accessible than physician practices with 15.1% more pharmacy locations in low-income communities?
• pharmacies offer 95.7% more operating hours than physician practices?
• patients visit their pharmacy and their pharmacists twice as often as they visit their physician’s office and their primary care provider?

Pharmacists are reaching out to and caring for our communities in a variety of settings and can leverage special skills in clinical care, technology, business management, information technology, education, research, and public health. Pharmacists are trained as medication experts and can specialize in different clinical areas including oncology, psychiatry, pediatrics, critical care, cardiology, diabetes, and geriatrics. Considered among the most accessible and trusted health care professionals, pharmacists touch the lives of communities across the world.

Specific days in October are also designated to recognize student pharmacists, women pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians:

• National Student Pharmacists Day – October 3
• Women Pharmacists Day – October 12
• National Pharmacy Technician Day – October 15

In addition, the third week in October is National Pharmacy Week. Thank you to all pharmacists for serving our communities!

If you are interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy, you may email pharmacy@hawaii.edu, call 808-932-7704 or visit Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Program Admissions.