Aspiring pharmacists deluge colleges

DETROIT, MI, United States (UPI) -- Swarms of aspiring pharmacists, lured by high pay and a nationwide shortage, have created a new problem in the United States: Where to put them all.
People responded to the nationwide shortage five years ago that left nearly 7,000 unfilled pharmacist jobs and boosted salaries beyond $80,000 a year by applying in droves to colleges.
Michigan`s three pharmacy schools -- Wayne State, Ferris State and the University of Michigan -- have increased class sizes and added courses but still are turning prospects away, the Detroit News reported.
Wayne State said it is working with Kroger grocery stores to train some of its students.
"If every school graduated every applicant, we`d have more pharmacists than we need," said Franz Neubrecht, director of pharmacy resources for the Michigan Pharmacists Association.
Even so, Sami Shimoon, owner of Collie Drug Inc. in St. Clair Shores, Mich., wants schools to churn out as many druggists as possible since he has had an open job for nearly a year.

Source: www.news.monstersandcritics.com