Considerations for Offering an Extended Online Doctor of Pharmacy Program.

An extended online Doctor of Pharmacy pathway with immersion experiences for laboratory skills and experiential learning was launched to address the existing and emerging challenges in pharmacy education and practice. This pathway is responsive to the changing demographics of students pursuing higher education, with an increased focus on adult learners who balance life and school responsibilities. This pathway is also responsive to enrollment and workforce shortages by engaging a different population of pharmacy students and providing an option for them to continue living and working in their communities while pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Significant trends in pharmacy education and practice, along with the key advantages and disadvantages of the extended online Doctor of Pharmacy pathway, are summarized and warrant consideration as pharmacy programs align with workforce needs and consumer demand to maintain relevance and growth.