Professional Pharmacy Associations

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Professional pharmacy associations are experiencing a dramatic shift in member behaviors and expectations. Old methods of recruitment and retention are failing to resonate with the rising number of Millennials currently entering the pharmacy workforce. As the influx of new pharmacy graduates continues to outpace the supply of available post-graduate residencies and other entry-level positions (The ASHP Research and Education Foundation's Center for Health-System Pharmacy Leadership, 2014, p. 27; Brown, 2013, Trends in the pharmacy workforce, para. 4), it is imperative that professional pharmacy associations update their communication strategies to effectively engage this core membership group. In particular, professional pharmacy associations …show more content…
Furthermore, any generational differences that do occur are often considered “modest at best” (Deal, Altman & Rogelberg, 2010, p. 196). A comparison study of students’ preferences and needs versus those of current practitioners by Sidaway, De Lange, Bouilheres, and Sangster (2013, p. 612) found a clear distinction between the items these two groups value, particularly in relation to career opportunities, professional recognition, and membership costs. Additionally, as the age gap increased, these differences became more evident (Sidaway et al., 2013, p. 612). Therefore, it may be necessary to view Millennials less as a generational cohort and more in terms of their current life stage: young professionals who are just beginning their careers and are ripe for guidance, support, and direction. By understanding the current life-cycle, or more specifically career-cycle, needs of Millennials, professional pharmacy associations are better able to tailor their recruitment and retention strategies for this target …show more content…
3-6; Smith, 2012, p. 87; Ng et al., 2010, p. 289; Slack & Murphy, 1995, p. 129; Wright & Wright, 1987, p. 207), it is expected that modeling and word-of-mouth will play a significant role in recruiting these individuals as members. Recognizing the important role faculty members play in motivating student participation in professional pharmacy associations, Slack et al. (1995, p. 129) attempted to quantify the extent of their influence. Their findings showed a lack of self-efficacy to be the primary reason students are not involved in these associations. Since faculty play a key role in developing the confidence of students through modeling, mentoring, persuasion, and other educational techniques, it follows that they are essential to promoting professional membership among this cohort. Additionally, lack of involvement is not necessarily due a lack of desire but rather a lack of knowledge and awareness (Desmond et al., 1997, p. 179). By belonging to professional pharmacy associations themselves and sharing their personal experiences, faculty can increase visibility of these associations and further encourage student involvement (Desmond et al., 1997, p. 177-178; Slack et al., 1995, p. 129). Observing the evident influence faculty exert on students’ joining decisions, it can then be assumed that other individuals, including residency program directors,