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Lipscomb, Belmont and Union universities will all graduate their first classes of pharmacists this month. (Kristi Jones/Lipscomb)

There was a time when getting a pharmacy degree paved the way to permanent employment. But a projected shortage has evaporated since universities – particularly in Tennessee – rushed to meet the demand for druggists.

Pharmacy schools have popped up all over the country in the last decade, but nowhere quite like Tennessee. Until 2006, the state had only one school of pharmacy. Now there are half a dozen.

Belmont University’s facilities are state-of-the-art and helped attract students to a brand new program. So did the stories of signing bonuses and six-figure jobs.

“There aren’t many jobs out there like just popping out at us,” says Benson Chiong. “You know, I really wanted to go back home to Chicago, however, I’ve heard that people are driving two to three hours out from Chicago, and I don’t know that I want to exactly do that. So I’m just hoping.”

Urban areas are more flush with pharmacists than rural regions.

Tennessee, which ranks high nationally on prescription drug use, is one of the top three states still in need of pharmacists, according to a recent survey. But even here students report difficultly finding openings.

Universities blame the profession’s recent crowding on baby boomers who were expected to retire en mass. Many held on to their jobs during the recession instead. Colleges, however, didn’t abandon plans to educate the next generation of druggists.

“Even the accreditors were concerned,” says Phil Johnston, Belmont’s Dean of Pharmacy.

Pharmacists Ask Why

Johnston says the governing bodies worried there weren’t enough drug stores and hospitals for students to train in. Pharmacists themselves have been leery of what an oversupply could do to salaries.

“I’ve been approached by the practitioners, friends, colleagues,” he says. “They said, ‘why are you starting this new program?’”

Pharmacy schools bring prestige and revenue. Tennessee’s newest program is run by a for-profit school in Knoxville. Johnston says Belmont just saw a need and wanted to fill it with Belmont grads.

Two miles down the street, Lipscomb University acted too. Now fourth-year students are prepping for professional board exams.

Lipscomb pharmacy students to begin a new tradition. The inaugural class of 71 leaves a “bench mark” inside the pharmacy building.

Many in Lipscomb’s inaugural class have found jobs as the quintessential community pharmacist. But Kayleen Daly looked all over the southeast and opted for another year of training – residency.

“Because of all the pharmacists that are coming out, it’s best to have that year of clinical experience under your belt,” she says.

John Deason says he has some leads, but will be relieved when one becomes an offer. Students often have a couple hundred thousand dollars in loans. Deason says if push comes to shove, he could put them off.

“Differed payments, or if you have to get on an income-based repayment, you can do that too,” he says. “So it’s not like they’re going to throw me in prison, or something like that.”

Industry Asks for Yellow Light

Deason cuts his school some slack for not anticipating that a pharmacist shortage might be short-lived. But professional organizations say universities should do more homework.

Douglas Scheckelhoff is a vice president with the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.

“There really needs to be a better analysis of what the future needs are going to be,” he says.

The ASHSP recently co-authored a report with the American Pharmacists Association titled – “Expansion of Pharmacy Education: Time for Reconsideration.”

Lipscomb has reconsidered expanding its new pharmacy school. But Dean Roger Davis remains optimistic that everyone in the first graduating class will find a job,” even if it’s not exactly what they were hoping for.

“The positions are out there,” he says. “They’re just going to have to approach finding them in a slightly different fashion.”