Prof. Aleth Therese Dacanay

Professor Dr. Aleth Dacanay is a respected pharmacy educator and leader advancing professional standards, training, and national pharmacist development.

From Classroom to Connected Care: Digital Transformation of Pharmacy Education and Practice

The rapid advancement of digital technologies is transforming healthcare delivery, research, and professional education, creating unprecedented opportunities to enhance wellness, promote healthy longevity, and optimize therapeutic outcomes. As healthcare systems evolve toward connected, patient-centered models of care, pharmacy education must likewise undergo a fundamental transformation to prepare graduates who are digitally competent, innovative, and collaborative. This presentation explores how digital transformation in pharmacy education serves as the critical foundation for advancing connected care and shaping the future of pharmacy practice. The presentation examines the integration of emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, health informatics, telepharmacy, virtual simulation, digital therapeutics, wearable technologies, electronic health records, and pharmacogenomics—into pharmacy curricula and professional practice. It highlights how these innovations are reshaping teaching and learning strategies, enhancing experiential education, supporting data-driven clinical decision-making, and expanding pharmacists' roles within interdisciplinary healthcare teams. Beyond technological adoption, the presentation emphasizes the importance of cultivating future-ready competencies, including digital literacy, data analytics, critical thinking, ethical leadership, adaptability, and lifelong learning. It also discusses the growing convergence among academia, research, industry, and healthcare systems to foster connected innovation that translates scientific discoveries into meaningful patient outcomes. Drawing on global trends and institutional experiences, the presentation proposes a framework for aligning pharmacy education with the evolving demands of digital health ecosystems. It underscores the need for collaborative partnerships, curriculum innovation, faculty development, and policy support to ensure that pharmacy graduates are equipped to lead digital transformation across diverse practice settings. Ultimately, the presentation explores that the journey toward connected care begins in the classroom. By embracing digital transformation in pharmacy education, institutions can empower future pharmacists to become leaders in innovation, improve access to high-quality healthcare, advance wellness and healthy longevity, and deliver personalized therapies that respond to the evolving needs of patients and society.