Pharmapreneurship: Creating Your Career As a Pharmacist-Entrepreneur

Last Updated on January 16, 2025 by Laura Turner

Magaly Rodriguez de Bittner, PharmD, MS, FAPhA, FNAP is the Gyi Endowed Memorial Professor of Pharmapreneurship and Associate Dean for Clinical Services and Practice Transformation at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. She spoke with the Student Doctor Network about the University of Maryland Pharmapreneurship® pathway. The unique pathway is designed for students interested in competing successfully in the pharmaceutical, pharmacy, clinical, and business fields and developing their skills to possibly start their own businesses.

Many students have an idea of what a typical retail pharmacist does, but have not heard about “Pharmapreneurs.” Tell us more about this career trajectory. 

Pharmapreneurship is the intersection of entrepreneurship and pharmacy education, practice, and research. It is an initiative exclusive to the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. As one of the oldest pharmacy schools in the US, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy has graduated many of the founders and innovators throughout the storied history of American entrepreneurship, particularly in the health and biotech industries. In recognition of the constant changes to the field of pharmacy, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy instituted its Pharmapreneurship program to disrupt health care with solutions as designed by our students, faculty, alumni, and staff. To be sure, community pharmacy will always serve as an element of this program, as will social Pharmapreneurship, and all forms of remedies and solutions to existing problems frequently resulting in new products, businesses, and intellectual property (IP) rights.

A “Pharmapreneur” is someone who goes beyond traditional roles to create new products, services, or businesses that improve health care. At the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, we foster this entrepreneurial mindset through our exclusive Pharmapreneurship program, which combines education, practice, research, and entrepreneurship.

Pharmapreneurs like George Avery Bunting (founder of Noxzema) and Victoria Hale (founder of Medicines360) demonstrate how pharmacy expertise can drive meaningful innovation. The Pharmapreneurship program empowers students to develop solutions that disrupt health care and create new opportunities, from biotech startups to social entrepreneurship. 

Students across our 10 academic programs (Doctor of Pharmacy, PhD, and MS) are encouraged to explore diverse career paths, shaping the future of pharmacy and health care. Our students see challenges as an opportunity to innovate and change the world. They apply concepts of innovation and problem-solving to solve patients’ needs and help them achieve their health goals.

In a previous article, I discussed the Grand Challenges of Engineering in the 21st century. Three of the 14 include “Engineer better medicines,” “Advance health informatics,” and “Engineer the tools of scientific discovery.” Other goals also relate to sustainability. How do pharmacy students learn about these challenges while handling the traditional curriculum? 

Our students are exposed to pharmacy practice issues and challenges throughout our curriculum. We incorporate courses and electives where we address the economic challenges in pharmacy practice, particularly in community pharmacy. They learn what programs and mitigation strategies they can implement to keep their practice sustainable. 

We invite alumni and practitioners to share with them their approaches and how they overcome challenges. 

Is it possible to pursue an MBA, or similar graduate degree, while in or after graduating from pharmacy school? Is your Center for Interprofessional Education involved? Describe your collaborations within or outside the University of Maryland health professional programs (dentistry, medicine, nursing, graduate studies, law, business). How do these collaborations manifest in student projects, mentoring, or coaching? What challenges and opportunities made this theme viable at the University of Maryland that other pharmacy programs may not be able to achieve?

The University of Maryland, Baltimore’s CIPE is not involved in the dual PharmD/MBA degrees the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy offers. CIPE serves as a resource for best practices for innovation and assessment in interprofessional education for health, law, and human services students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Interestingly, its director is a pharmacist who is a faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. 

The University of Maryland, Baltimore does not offer a business degree. PharmD students can take advantage of the School’s elective pathways, certificates, master’s programs, and dual degrees. 

Collaborative student projects go beyond the formal programs previously mentioned; there are innumerable opportunities through school and campus activities and professional organizations.

Every day, the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) harnesses the power of scholarship, research, and collaboration in the search for solutions to complex problems impacting individuals, families, and communities. UMB enrolls nearly 6,700 students in six nationally ranked professional schools — dentistry, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work — and an interdisciplinary School of Graduate Studies. The University offers 97 doctoral, master’s, baccalaureate, and certificate programs, and confers most of the professional practice doctoral degrees awarded in Maryland. UMB is a thriving academic health center combining cutting-edge biomedical research and exceptional patient care. Students, faculty, and staff at UMB contribute over two million hours of service annually to citizens throughout Maryland, providing programming that improves health and wellness, advances justice, promotes economic development, and strengthens families and communities. 

For more than 180 years, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy has pioneered innovation in pharmacy. We drive the future by creating new roles for pharmacists in advanced clinical practice and disease management and by conducting cutting-edge research in drug discovery and development. The University of Maryland, Baltimore is at the center of a fast-growing biomedical region, surrounded by top hospitals, healthcare institutions, and federal agencies including the University of Maryland Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Montgomery County General, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The School of Pharmacy provides clinical service to about 50,000 patients annually in more than 24 practice settings in specialties such as community pharmacy, cardiology, oncology, pediatrics, HIV/AIDS, mental health, diabetes, geriatrics, and palliative care. Pharmacy is a well-rounded interdisciplinary profession, blending life sciences, math, health care, direct patient contact, computer technology, and business. Graduates are prepared to work in many settings, including the community, hospitals, home health care, pharmaceutical research companies, nursing homes, government health agencies, higher education, and more. Pharmacists are medication experts who play a vital role in improving patient care through the medicine and information they provide. One of our strengths is our diversity – both in our students, staff, and faculty, as well as the opportunities that exist here. From the more than 20 student organizations that allow our students to gain leadership experience to the customized education options, there is something for everyone at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Many medical schools are also touting themselves as incubators for future physician entrepreneurs. How similar is the Pharmapreneurship model to these programs?

The Pharmapreneurship program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is unique from medical school entrepreneurship programs as we serve to provide our students (PharmD, MS, PhD) with training, and experiential and mentor opportunities to think critically and envision solutions to the problems of society. As medication experts, pharmacy school graduates increasingly serve in the central position of healthcare delivery. As such, Pharmapreneurship invites interdisciplinary teams from the University’s other schools including medicine, dental, nursing, social work, and law, as well as other universities such as Johns Hopkins University, Arizona State University, and University of Maryland, College Park.   

We might be like these programs in the sense that we recognize the need to incorporate an entrepreneurial mindset in health professions education. It is imperative that we prepare healthcare professionals that have this mindset and can combine their healthcare knowledge and skills with entrepreneurial skills. The great complexities in the healthcare system demand a new type of healthcare provider that possesses the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to innovate and be a problem-solver. 

Describe the Pharmapreneur’s Market. What are some examples of student projects, and have they been successfully funded/marketed? Do they present at your Interprofessional Education Day?

Several student projects have been successfully displayed as innovative solutions to a variety of healthcare challenges as part of our Pharmapreneurship Dolphin Tank Event and the Natalie D. Eddington Venture Fund Competition. These projects, developed by student entrepreneurs, address real-world needs and have demonstrated strong potential for success:

• One group pitched an AI-based patient counseling training program designed to help health education students improve their patient communication skills. The program aims to enhance patient education by using artificial intelligence to simulate real-life counseling scenarios.
• Another project introduced a kit for survivors of sexual violence, providing crucial resources, information, and next steps to support individuals through their recovery. This initiative is aimed at empowering victims with the knowledge and tools they need during a difficult time.
• A third student group developed an app for parents to help with children’s medication dosing. This app aims to reduce medication errors by offering an easy-to-use platform that helps parents ensure proper dosages and adherence to prescribed regimens for their children.

Other notable projects include:

• Sustainable Laboratory Equipment Disposal Initiative, which focuses on creating environmentally friendly solutions for handling unneeded lab equipment. The company promotes recycling, donation, and resale of electronic waste, providing an eco-conscious alternative to traditional disposal methods.
• Cannadelic Medical Training, a program designed to educate patients about the potential benefits and history of cannabis-based and psychedelic-assisted therapies. This initiative provides essential information to help patients make informed decisions about these emerging treatment options.
• PharMed Consultants, a telehealth network of medical cannabis professionals offering consultations nationwide, that helps patients access expert advice about medical cannabis use.
• PillTok, a mobile app designed to improve medication adherence by offering reminders and tracking medication schedules.

How do you identify potential students for this pathway (admissions and/or post-matriculation)? What are the minimum qualifications (presuming PharmD good standing with solid GPA, but any other performance metrics)? Do you have any suggested activities or advice to give inquiring students a taste of this career trajectory? Do you have insight given the students’ backgrounds you selected for this track?

Information on the Pathway can be found on our website.

Our main requirement is that students have a desire and passion to pursue entrepreneurial activities. 

How helpful would having a more computational/engineering education be to succeeding in this track? How about basic science, computational, or clinical research experience? 

Having a more rigorous undergraduate experience such as an engineering major would certainly help prepare students for a career in pharmacy. Much of the first year of the curriculum in the Doctor of Pharmacy program is focused on foundational science content such as principles of drug action and medicinal chemistry. Having an engineering degree can be helpful in covering a lot of those foundational sciences in the typical Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. Also, by pursuing a more rigorous degree, you are expected to have a full credit load each semester. Having a full-time credit load prepares a student well for the demands of the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

In addition, research experience in either a laboratory or clinical setting is beneficial for students pursuing a career in pharmacy. An important skill for pharmacists is being able to conduct literature searches and interpreting data to make an informed recommendation for treatment. Conducting research and understanding how to interpret a study published in a medical journal helps students to develop this skill. This is a crucial skill that is needed to provide evidence-based treatment and optimize patient care.

What recruiting strategies have you taken to identify and attract potential students (middle/high school through college age, maybe career transitions) to think about becoming innovators in pharmacy? How well-received is “Pharmapreneurship” among applicants representing marginalized or historically underserved populations? How diverse have your student cohorts been (including women/females or gender non-conforming), and in what ways are these students fulfilling the need for more representation among healthcare professionals, innovators, and entrepreneurs? Is this track appealing to males to become interested in pharmacy? 

Faculty, staff, and student ambassadors routinely participate in recruiting events at high schools and undergraduate universities, participate in STEM events at middle schools, interact with pre-pharmacy clubs on undergraduate campuses, and host open houses for those who want to learn more about our program and facilities. Students at high school and college events say that they want to work in health care (but may not have a specific role in mind) and that they want to give back to their community. For these students, our School’s focus on Pharmapreneurship, innovation, and finding creative solutions to healthcare problems is a unique and exciting opportunity. Additionally, because we do not require students to have a four-year degree before being admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy program, we are able to recruit a diverse pharmacy student body that brings myriad life experiences and career goals to enrich our program.

Do “Pharmapreneurs” want to become physicians? Does this training help position such students to consider a medical school or other professional school education? Can medical school/dental school graduates become “Pharmapreneurs”? 

Pharmapreneurs do not want to become physicians. Our program is for students at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, which includes students in our Doctor of Pharmacy program, and in our three PhD and six MS programs. We focus on the intersection of pharmacy and entrepreneurship, not medicine.

What advice can you give to career counselors, science teachers/professors (K-12, community college, or higher education) to encourage students to pursue a career in pharmacy that leads to entrepreneurship?

A career in pharmacy is practical, challenging, and flexible, allowing students to attain the highest level of education (Doctor of Pharmacy) in just six years after high school. Pharmacists play an important role in the community by ensuring access to life-saving medications, educating patients and caregivers, advising other healthcare professionals, and influencing the larger sphere of healthcare by conducting research, participating in regulatory affairs, and innovating new solutions to health-related problems.