I've spent the last 6 years in retail (after 20 in hospital/home care/home IV therapy/teaching, etc...) and my experience is that in these last 6 years, I have had more meaningful interaction with patients (and physicians/dentists) than I did when I worked retail at the beginning of my career. Perhaps some specific examples will illustrate more: in the 70's, when I first began, pharmacists still did not have to label the name of the medication if the physician so directed (that is what the "label" box means on old Rx forms). Can you imagine educating a patient on a medication when you cannot even tell them its name or what it does? That is the ultimate in belief in "magic" or just do what the Dr says - currently we empower patients to be a part of their own healthcare. Often, I will fill an Rx for HCTZ then 2 months later for lisinopril for the same pt then a month later that same pt will be asking me my opinion about BP monitors (same situation occurs with diabetics). Now....a just ok pharmacist will say "we have this one or this one, but this one is on special...". A great pharmacist will take the time to educate the patient not just on monitors, but other lifestyle changes which will improve the disease. Examples go on and on. You can fall back on no time, the clerks do all the interacting, whatever excuses....But, I work in a very urban part of Northern California - busy, busy, busy - but, I make time and train my ancillary staff to give me all those potentially clinical questions - believe me - this is not that hard to do! No - I am not the manager of my pharmacy, but my manager knows the style of practice I have - he graduated from my own school, but 10 years ahead of me, so we have the same mindset. The area I work in has a wide demographic of economics, education and language. The uniform situation among all of them is how difficult it is to get an appt to see a physician. They often come to me to ask/show me their rash, symptom, history, and want to know if they really need to keep their appointment or can I offer something over the counter. I have sent 3 folks to the ER for MI's in progress and 1 for a stroke in progress - all recovered! I like to think it was because I told them to go NOW, not wait until their appt next Monday. I'm currently encouraging a middle-age man who asks me weekly about his BP which is running consistently high to see his Dr - there is no herbal treatment which will reduce it - will he go before he has a stroke? hopefully....with continued encouragement from me and those who care about him. So...I disagree - I feel the public's perception of pharmacists is high - and higher than it was 30 years ago because we are yet another independent voice for continued patient involvement in their own health. You may not hear it as such - but the fact they come to you for advice is the practical outcome of that respect. Now....have corporations diminished your perception of yourself professionally? Perhaps - yes...I hate those coupons - but, you will develop the ability to laugh amongst your pharmacist community with which you work. You get to know those coupons transferrers and each time one of you has to call the other for a copy, you know it will be a small set of names who do that all the time. As for drug manufacturers, I do not see what you see. Yes - they offer deals to insurance companies, but do I care? NO - in most circumstances, lisinopril will work just like benazepril and simvastatin works like atorvastatin. That is business and my role is to make the switch as easy as possible. I NEVER get flak from physicians when I request a change due to insurance coverage changes - we are all used to it. When awful things happen, like the hurricanes last year or 9/11 - drug manufacturers and corporate pharmacies stepped up and actually gave away millions of dollars of drugs to cover the short term losses of patients. I don't work for Walgreens, but they opened up their Rx records on a secure website to the rest of the country so we could access Rx records to transfer to patients who have relocated. That was a big deal when we needed to get transfers from Louisana to CA. So...I guess it is in how jaded you want to feel. Yeah - you can complain about anything and keep looking - you'll always find something. But, pharmacy has continued to progress in a very real and definable way for the better, IMO. I have always made the decision of what lines I would not cross professionally - no - I would not work at a pharmacy with a drive-thru window, but I won't criticize those who do. Not everyone wants or is good at face to face interactions. But, decide for yourself what you want professionally, then be out there being a good, positive, role model for that. My patients respect me, my colleagues respect me and mostly - I am proud of my 29 (oh gosh....that sounds so long) years of being part of this great profession! (I apologize again for the rant! I sound like an interview candidate......)