Integration of business courses into the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) curriculum

The healthcare industry continues to grow at a rapid pace with annual healthcare expenditures reaching approximately $3.0 trillion up from $2.6 trillion in 2010 (Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2014), thus, creating greater job opportunities in the healthcare industry for Doctor of Pharmacy graduates (Pharm.D.s). Job openings for pharmacy graduates in institutional practice settings, the pharmaceutical industry, pharmacy benefit management organisations, etc . are increasing. The integration of business courses ( e.g. Pharmaeconomics, Marketing, Business Statistics) into the Pharm.D. curriculum was to explore the potential benefit of incorporating business courses ( e.g . Pharmoeconomics, Marketing, Business Statistics) for Pharm.D. students. The purpose of this quantitative study was to learn how Schools of Pharmacy in the U.S. are addressing this need and to provide a springboard for discussion on possible benefit of incorporating business courses into the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.