There is a need for education about and development of advocacy skills within student pharmacists. Pharmacy literature describes experiences incorporating advocacy education within curricula; however, these are often singular, limited experiences. To increase student pharmacists’ awareness, knowledge, and skills, effective advocacy curricular threads are necessary within curricula. This paper provides rationale for the need for a greater emphasis on development of these skills within student pharmacists, evidence of curricular experiences surrounding advocacy from the literature, initial observations from a piloted curricular thread at one school, and implications for the academy.

The intent of this work is to emphasize that the concept of clinical pharmacy is no longer an innovation or an educational experiment, but rather is a reality which requires national recognition, professional as well as legislative support, and clearly planned educational preparation.