A comparative study of student and faculty perspectives regarding career opportunities in pharmacy academia

Objectives: There is a significant shortage of pharmacy faculty. During the next decade, academia will need at least 1200 new faculty members to staff the various pharmacy programs around the country. This survey identifies factors that influence pharmacy students in considering academia as a career option. Primary objectives were to evaluate whether students have considered academia as a career pathway, how they were exposed, their perspectives on this career path, and to compare students' and faculty's perspectives on why students choose or do not choose academia as a career path. Methods: Online surveys were developed, one for students and one for faculty, and administered at six institutions. This exploratory study used descriptive analysis and logistic regression models. Results: Almost half of the students surveyed were unaware of the shortage in pharmacy faculty members. Low patient contact was the top reason students did not intend to pursue academia. The top reasons students were interested in academia were teaching responsibilities and work-life balance. Salary was not as significant a factor for students as faculty predicted. Current school initiatives did not significantly impact a student's career decision. Conclusion: Student and faculty perspectives were significantly different in many areas. Future methods to educate students on academia as a career path need to be more effective in reaching students' interests and addressing misconceptions regarding the activities of a faculty member. Patient contact, teaching responsibilities, and a healthy work-life balance are important to our students and should be highlighted within our schools to encourage academic careers.