Speaker Name(s): Pharmacy Presenter
Description: "Americans are bombarded with messages to medicate, soothe and control their discomforts, irregularities, diseases and pains in every form of media. According to the Centers for Disease Control (2004 report), 44% of Americans are taking at least one prescription medication and nearly 17% are taking three or more. As Baby Boomers age and medicine advances, these numbers are bound to increase. The need for educated advisors and advocates to help patients make sense of the sheer volume of choices and information has never been more important. Most people will see a pharmacist three times as often as they see their physician annually. But by the year 2020, studies indicate there will be a shortage of 150,000 pharmacists. PHARMACISTS: UNSUNG HEROES explores the indispensable link between these medication use experts and the communities they serve, addressing the current shortage of pharmacists, the implications of this shortage on medical care in our communities, and the various career opportunities available." www.wliw.org