Contributor

Julie Wilson
Essential Insights contributor; Director, Marketing and Franchise Operations,
Medicine Shoppe International, Inc., and Women in Pharmacy initiative
Featured expert

Cynthia Pigg
Vice President of Managed Care and Business Development, Cardinal Health
The rising influence of women in healthcare – and in pharmacy, specifically – is a topic that can’t be overstated.
When it comes to new entrants into the pharmacy profession, women continue to outpace men – earning 61.9% of the professional pharmacy degrees in 2017. Looking more broadly, women also comprise nearly three fourths of the overall U.S. healthcare workforce.
While women are gravitating toward healthcare (and pharmacy) careers in record numbers, they’re also taking the lead when it comes to making healthcare decisions for their families, at home.
In honor of #WomenPharmacistDay celebrated on Oct. 12, Cindy Pigg, vice president of Managed Care and Business Development for Cardinal Health, talked about why more progress still needs to be made when it comes to women’s representation in leadership positions within the field of pharmacy – especially when it comes to pharmacy ownership.
Wilson: Why is empowering women good for the future of pharmacy?
Wilson: Which pharmacy leadership roles are most in need of progress when it comes to female representation?
Wilson: What more can be done to increase the number of women-owned pharmacies?
Pigg: Simply put, more female pharmacists need to be aware of pharmacy ownership as a career option – and they need more support when it comes to pursuing that career path. It’s also important to remember that representation matters – and the truth is that pharmacy ownership has always been dominated by men. Female pharmacists also need to see, and hear from, more female pharmacy owners.
That’s why Cardinal Health launched the Women in Pharmacy initiative in 2012 to help support women pharmacists on the path to ownership, dispel the myths around ownership and partner with organizations leading change. We’re connecting female pharmacists and student pharmacists with the support, encouragement, mentoring and guidance they need to pursue leadership in pharmacy, including pharmacy ownership.
Wilson: What role does #WomenPharmacistDay play in empowering female pharmacists?
#WomenPharmacistDay
Celebrate the significant gains that women have made in pursuing careers in pharmacy.