The School of Pharmacy at Saint Joseph University organized yesterday its first forum on professions at the Medical Campus in Beirut with the participation of 14 pharmaceutical companies. USJ President, Salim Dakkash, stated in his opening address that the function of the pharmacist is no longer limited to drug fabrication at his facility but has become a vital provider and trained expert on the rational use of medicine aided with precautionary advice. The pharmacist he added has also become a leading researcher at big pharmaceutical factories working for the advancement of science and for the combination of most effective medicinal drugs. For her part, the Dean of the Pharmacy School, Marianne Abi Fadel, pointed out that sub specialties such as medical, industrial and hospital pharmacy, pharmaceutical marketing as well as scientific research in pharmacy, are becoming more in tune with the constant development of the profession and hence are opening broader careers on the national, regional and international levels. (Al Mustaqbal, 2 July 2015)