The U.S. population is more racially and ethnically diverse today than it was 20 years ago. Pharmacy profession diversity follows the same trend.
We created the CSHP DEI committee to advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in pharmacy professional work environment as well as to support underserved community and advocate to improve patient access to pharmacist care.
One of our focus areas is advocating for and supporting internationally trained pharmacists based upon our membership feedback. The process of foreign pharmacy degree evaluation and licensure in the US is quite a challenging experience. It takes on average from 3 to 5 years to accomplish and include multiple exams and about a year of full-time internship (here you can reference the Foreign Pharmacist Path. PDF). Foreign trained pharmacists often come with a diverse background and different levels of experience where they can bring new perspectives and innovation in organizations’ practice. Inclusivity in health systems encourages their employees to bring their whole selves to work to drive happier, more engaged employees, which in turn contributes to organizational success.
As a result of this and membership feedback, we created resources and mentorship opportunities to support this professional minority group.
CSHP DEI task force identified the following goals to support foreign-trained pharmacists:
- Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion for internationally trained pharmacists by ensuring access, opportunity, and advancement for all pharmacists in every stage of education and career development.
- Provide guidance on the degree transfer process and US licensure for internationally trained pharmacy professionals.
- Mentorship to internationally trained pharmacy professionals pursuing heath system career opportunities
Resources for Foreign Pharmacists