APPROACHES TO EDUCATION IN NUCLEAR PHARMACY

Nuclear pharmacy has been recognized as a specialty practice for over 20 years. The field has changed from a few innovative pharmacists with advanced degrees located in larger hospitals to a network of centrali zed commercial nuclear pharmacies located in cities across the USA. Va rious educational approaches have been developed to provide the knowle dge base required to work in a nuclear pharmacy. Educational approache s, advantages and disadvantages, are examined in this article. In addi tion, the concept of a generalist Doctor of Pharmacy first professiona l degree is examined in relation to current academic programs in nucle ar pharmacy. The potential impact of the philosophy of the first profe ssional degree upon the provision of nuclear pharmacy personnel is add ressed.