What Is a Pediatric Pharmacist?

A pediatric pharmacist is a professional with a doctoral degree who focuses on the medicine administered to children. Pediatric pharmacists can be found working in pharmacies, hospitals and doctors' offices.

Responsibilities

A pediatric pharmacist must monitor medication therapy in their patients to determine effectiveness. They must evaluate which new medications are safe for patients with certain conditions. Pediatric pharmacists talk with parents about how best to follow medication guidelines with their children.

Education

A pediatric pharmacist usually completes his training within five years at a specialized pharmacy school. Once completed, the degree that he obtains is called a doctoral degree in pharmacy (a Pharm.D.). This degree is typically followed up by enrolling in a post-graduate residency program.

Skills

Pediatric pharmacists must be strong communicators, and they must work well with children. Through their education they must become well-versed at many different medications and how they affect the human body. As in any other health care profession, pediatric pharmacy candidates must care about helping people and improving the health of their families.

Statistics

The job of pediatric pharmacist is expected to grow 22 percent through 2018, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics study. The median annual salary for pharmacists is around $95,000 as of September 2010.

References

• Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group: What is a Pediatric Pharmacist?
• Education Portal: Pediatric Pharmacists