question: Why do pharmacists complete 4 years of post-grad schooling learning about drugs but physicians actually pick the drugs to use.
comment: Pharmacists are the last line of defense against a patient taking a drug or combination of drug that may be harmful, especially if that patient is taking over the counter drugs/supplements or filling prescriptions from multiple doctors. Because of this, knowledge of the function of many drugs and potential drug interactions can be critical here.
passages: BULLET::::- Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (4 years) - Pharmacy is the art and science of biological agents used as drugs for the prevention, diagnosis, cure, and treatment of diseases of man and animals. The study of pharmacy is founded on the identification, discovery, isolation, synthesis, and formulation of biologically active compounds for clinical use. However, the increasing complexity of pathological processes and health care delivery systems has expanded the role of pharmacists from the usual orientation to drugs to competencies in ensuring appropriate use of such agents by health care providers and patients. Pharmacists are not just experts on drug information but also authorities on drug use.
   Pharmacist
  
  Pharmacists, also known as chemists (Commonwealth English) or druggists (North American and, archaically, Commonwealth English), are health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use. Pharmacists undergo university-level education to understand the biochemical mechanisms and actions of drugs, drug uses, therapeutic roles, side effects, potential drug interactions, and monitoring parameters. This is mated to anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. Pharmacists interpret and communicate this specialized knowledge to patients, physicians, and other health care providers.
   There are different requirements of schooling based on the area of pharmaceuticals a student is seeking. In the United States, the general pharmacist will attain a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (Pharm.D.). The Pharm.D. can be completed in a minimum of six years, which includes two years of pre-pharmacy classes, and four years of professional studies. After graduating pharmacy school, it is highly suggested that the student go on to complete a one or two year residency, which provides valuable experience for the student before going out independently to be a generalized or specialized pharmacist. 
   Sharing a multiplicity of different Educational systems all over Europe and feeling gaps to bridge within our education, EPSA believes that this issue is important and an active attitude towards it is needed. The pharmacist, the health professional expert on drugs, has to be conveniently prepared to meet the needs of patients and act as an added value to the healthcare system.
   b. States that these experiences must provide the student with a wide variety of experiences in different practice settings, and must include collaboration with other health care professionals.
  
  c. Required settings for these rotation experiences must include community pharmacy, hospital or health-system pharmacy, ambulatory care, and inpatient/acute care general medicine.
  
  d. There must also be elective experiences in a variety of other settings
  
  "7. Assessment and evaluation of student learning and curricular effectiveness"
   In addition, the application of genetic, biochemical, or virotherapeutic techniques has led to a clear appreciation of the mechanisms involved in drug action.
  
  A bachelor's degree, in a clinical, health science or bioscience related field is typically required for enrollment on a master's degree level course in pharmacology. Institutions may also hold specific coursework and credit requirements for enrollment on advanced degrees in pharmacology. 
  
  Section::::Branches.
  
  Clinical Pharmacology consists of multiple branches listed below:
   Upon graduation, pharmacists are licensed, either nationally or regionally, to dispense medication of various types in the areas they have trained for. Some may undergo further specialized training, such as in cardiology or oncology.
  
  Section::::Nature of work.:Practice specialization.
  
  Specialties include:
  
  BULLET::::- Academic pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Clinical pharmacy specialist
  
  BULLET::::- Community pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Compounding pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Consultant pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Drug information pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Home health pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Hospital pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Industrial pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Informatics pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Locum pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Managed care pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Military pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Nuclear pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Oncology pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Regulatory-affairs pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Veterinary pharmacist
  
  BULLET::::- Pharmacist clinical pathologist
   Section::::Careers.:Government.
  
  In the United States, clinical pharmaceutical scientists can work as researchers for governmental agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Health.
  
  Section::::Careers.:Private sector.
  
  Clinical pharmaceutical scientists working in the community setting face unique challenges. The private sector is focused on individual profitability, rather than performing academic research and disseminating knowledge for the profession itself. This applies to both (non-academic affiliated) hospital and community/retail pharmacy practice, where time and funding constraints limit opportunities for individual research.
  
  Section::::Research scope.
   Some programs offer combined PharmD-PhD training. While praised as convenient, time saving, and for growing clinical pharmaceutical science, there has also been concern that the intense requirements of graduate research may take precedence over the clinical curriculum and internship/clerkship opportunities of PharmD training. As one candidate wrote in "Pharmacy Times", the duration of combined PharmD-PhD programs can vary, usually lasting 7–8 years in total.
   Whereas Bachelor of Pharmacy takes a minimum of 4 years, the Pharmacist-Biochemist degree is completed by 4 and 1/2 years of full-time studies with at least 720 hours of internship. The student can opt to get the degree during evening and it takes 6 years with Saturday classes (full day) and also at least 720 hrs of internship.
  
  Although many universities grant a degree of Doctor in Pharmaceutical Sciences or Doctor in Pharmacy after completion of original research dissertation, those are not professional but a post-graduate course and do not grant permission to work as a pharmacist.
  
  Section::::South America.:Chile.
   The purpose of the Professional Further Education in Clinical Pharmacy and Public Health is to qualify each pharmaconomist (expert in pharmaceuticals) to practice clinical pharmacy at a higher and more professional level. The education consists of five modules:
  
  BULLET::::- Module 1: Anatomy, physiology and biochemistry — "4 ECTS credits"
  
  BULLET::::- Module 2: Pathology and microbiology — "4 ECTS credits"
  
  BULLET::::- Module 3: Pharmacology — "4 ECTS credits"
  
  BULLET::::- Module 4: Public health and Communication Studies — "9 ECTS credits"
  
  BULLET::::- Module 5: Clinical pharmacy and pharmacotherapy — "9 ECTS credits"
   The customary review cycle for established accredited programs is six years, whereas for programs achieving their initial accreditation this cycle is two years. These are comprehensive on-site evaluations of the programs. Additional evaluations may be conducted at the discretion of ACPE in the interim between comprehensive evaluations.
  
  Section::::Training and practice by country.:United States.:Education.
   Unlike Europe, the United States has never produced practicing pharmacist-scientists of the caliber of Carl Scheele or Joseph Pierre Pelletier, who made important discoveries in the laboratories associated with their pharmacies. It should be noted, however, that the sciences were becoming increasingly specialized by the second half of the 19th century, and the tradition of the apothecary-scientist was on the wane even in Europe by this time.
  
  Section::::Education and training.
  
  Section::::Education and training.:Requirements.
   During his or her education programme at Pharmakon—Danish College of Pharmacy Practice, the pharmaconomist student studies human and animal anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, pharmaconomy, pharmacy practice, pharmaceutics, toxicology, pharmacognosy, clinical pharmacy, pharmacotherapy, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, cytology, medicine, veterinary medicine, zoology, diagnosis, medical prescription, pharmacy law, medical sociology, patient safety, health care, psychology, psychiatry, pedagogy, communication, information technology (IT), bioethics, medical ethics, safety, leadership, organization, logistics, economy, quality assurance (QA), sales and marketing.
  
  Section::::What is the difference between a "pharmaconomist" and a "pharmacist"?
   The basics of pharmaceutical medicine are founded in clinical pharmacology. In addition to expertise in basic research, drug development, and the structure and function of clinical trials, pharmaceutical physicians must possess a thorough understanding of pharmacoeconomics, medical aspects of the marketing pharmaceuticals, and business administration, and public health
  
  Entry level jobs with this qualification are often clinical research-related. At the entry level, PMST specialists often place into clinical research associate, clinical research analyst, pharmacodynamic data observer, clinical research project manager, drugs and pharmaceutical control manager in clinical research project, etc.
  
  Section::::External links.
  
  BULLET::::- International Federation of Associations of Pharmaceutical Physicians
   Fellowship training can also last 2–3 years, though the training is thought to place more emphasis on independence. Because fellowship training can occur in non-academic environments, fellowships can also prepare individuals to begin careers in the pharmaceutical industry or with federal regulators. Fellowships do not have a didactic curriculum, and can involve additional clinical responsibilities.
   In order to obtain an initial license, or license by examination, a candidate must have graduated from an AACP accredited school or college of pharmacy, satisfy requirements for internship, write and pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), in some states write and pass the Multi-state Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE) and sometimes an additional state exam. Upon licensure, one may then be designated "Pharmacist" or "Registered Pharmacist" ("R.Ph."), as usage of these titles are generally regulated by state governments.
   The role of pharmacy education, pharmacist licensing, and continuing education vary from country to country and between regions/localities within countries. In most countries, pharmacists must obtain a university degree at a pharmacy school or related institution, and/or satisfy other national/local credentialing requirements. In many contexts, students must first complete pre-professional (undergraduate) coursework, followed by about four years of professional academic studies to obtain a degree in pharmacy (such as Doctorate of Pharmacy). Pharmacists are educated in pharmacology, pharmacognosy, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, microbiology, pharmacy practice (including drug interactions, medicine monitoring, medication management), pharmaceutics, pharmacy law, physiology, anatomy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug delivery, pharmaceutical care, nephrology, hepatology, and compounding of medications. Additional curriculum may cover diagnosis with emphasis on laboratory tests, disease state management, therapeutics and prescribing (selecting the most appropriate medication for a given patient).
   To achieve this expertise, clinical pharmaceutical scientists typically pursue education after their professional pharmacy degrees (in the United States, a PharmD is generally a prerequisite). This can involve a 2–3 year postdoctoral fellowship or pursuing graduate degrees (e.g. MS, PhD). Postdoctoral programs tend to emphasize a specific area of pharmaceutical science for the scientist to specialize in, such as pharmacoepidemiology or pharmacogenetics.
  
  Postdoctoral residency training is generally recommended, though is not a prerequisite, for most fellowship programs.
   While most schools teach the core science courses separately, some schools take a systems-based approach, teaching all of the material from physiology to therapeutics for a particular body system before moving on to another. Augmenting the pharmaceutical sciences, courses in ethics, management, pharmacy law, communications, public health and advocacy are taught throughout the professional program.
   The shortest program is a graduate certificate in clinical pharmaceutical research, which tend to last one year. These programs provide graduates with the ability to conduct clinical research, though not necessarily design it as principal investigators. Due to the short duration of these programs, there is less time to develop independent research skills.
  
  Master's degree programs in clinical pharmaceutical research typically last 2–3 years, placing more emphasis on designing clinical trials.
   a. Ensures that schools have in place a method for assessing and improving the curriculum based upon the desired outcomes for their students. Places an emphasis on continuous quality improvement of the curriculum.
   In Australia, a pharmacist must complete an undergraduate four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy course followed by an internship and independent examinations set by respective state registration boards. In addition, graduates are required to complete an approved graduate training course. There is the option of a postgraduate two-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) course for those with undergraduate science degree background.
   Finally, there is the option of students taking a graduate two-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) course of study for those with Bachelor of Pharmacy or equivalent degrees. This advanced PharmD program can be pursued in Canada at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto and at several pharmacy schools in the United States (as the "non-traditional" PharmD). The advanced PharmD programs in the United States were phased out by the introduction of the entry-level PharmD programs, which despite being identical in their names, differ from the advanced level PharmD programs in terms of the depth and scope of the teaching.
   Among other licensing requirements, different countries require pharmacists to hold either a Bachelor of Pharmacy, Master of Pharmacy, or Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
  