Dispensary Corner

WORKING in a pharmacy is a traditional way of getting some practical experience while studying for a lot of aspiring pharmacists.

One US student, with a passion for “participating in Revolutionary War living history events”, took the “traditional” approach to the extreme, spending her “advanced pharmacy practice elective” working in an 18th century-themed pharmacy in Colonial Williamsburg.

Throughout the rotation, fourth year pharmacy student, Chenoa Shelton, ditched the white smock modern pharmacists wear, for a bonnet, a demure blue dress and an apron, to fully embrace the history of pharmacy.

During the elective Shelton was able to study 1700s compounding practices, letters from pharmacists to their suppliers and local newspaper ads from the time.

While pharmacists’ scope of practice has evolved over the years, Shelton noted “pharmacists in the 18th century were referred to as doctors and could see patients and prescribe medications just like physicians”.