As Part Of Our Faculty’s Career Days Events, A Conference Titled “The Future of Pharmacy Begins Today” Was Held, Featuring TPA President Pharmacist Mehmet Irfan DEGIRMENCI As The Speaker

As part of our Faculty’s Career Days events, a conference entitled “The Future of Pharmacy Starts Today” was held with the participation of Pharm. Mehmet İrfan DEĞİRMENCİ, President of the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association (TPA), as the guest speaker.

Prior to the conference, held on 21 September 2026, the Dean of our Faculty, Prof. Necmiye CANACANKATAN, and TEB President Pharm. Mehmet İrfan DEĞİRMENCİ paid a visit to Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hakan ÖZTÜRK, Vice Rector of our University, at his office. Following the visit, the conference programme commenced.

The event, held at the Nevit Kodallı Conference Hall on the Yenişehir Campus of our University, was attended by Prof. Necmiye CANACANKATAN, Dean of our Faculty; Pharm. Aliye AKGÜL AYDIN, President of the TPA 25th Regional Mersin Chamber of Pharmacists; Pharm. Cemil Oktay ASLAN, Secretary General; Pharm. Tarkan BIR, Chairman of the Board of Güney Pharmaceutical Cooperative; Vice Deans Assoc. Prof. Mahmut ÜLGER and Assist. Prof. Şerife Efsun ANTMEN; as well as academic and administrative staff and students of our Faculty.

The event began with a moment of silence followed by the Turkish National Anthem. After a brief biography of Pharm. Mehmet İrfan DEĞİRMENCİ was presented to the audience, he shared his perspectives on the current state and future of the pharmacy profession.

In his presentation, Pharm. DEĞİRMENCİ addressed the impact of the ongoing transformation in healthcare on the pharmacy profession, the growing influence of digitalisation and artificial intelligence applications, evolving healthcare services, and the current and future fields of practice and employment opportunities for pharmacists. He particularly emphasised that technological developments should not be regarded as factors that diminish the professional role of pharmacists; rather, they are reshaping the scope of pharmaceutical services and professional responsibilities. In this context, he highlighted that pharmacists of the future should be healthcare professionals who are capable of adapting to digital health applications and effectively integrating technology into their professional practice.

The presentation also focused on emerging healthcare needs associated with an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. The potential roles of pharmacists in areas such as the management and monitoring of chronic diseases and treatment processes, rational use of medicines, medication safety, patient counselling, and preventive healthcare services were discussed. Attention was also drawn to the ways in which advances in biotechnological and personalised therapies are transforming pharmacy practice, underlining the importance of pharmacists taking a more active role not only in traditional fields of practice but also in new and emerging professional areas.

Furthermore, the importance of planning the pharmacist workforce in line with the needs of the healthcare system, developing new employment opportunities, and adapting pharmacy education to changing professional requirements was emphasised. Pharm. Mehmet İrfan DEĞİRMENCİ stated that the future of pharmacy is evolving towards a professional model in which pharmacists effectively utilise technology, closely follow scientific advances, strengthen their responsibilities in patient- and community-oriented healthcare services, and adapt to changing healthcare needs.

The conference attracted considerable interest from our students, who followed the presentation attentively. At the end of the session, Pharm. Mehmet İrfan DEĞİRMENCİ answered questions from the students.

The event concluded with the presentation of a commemorative plaque to Pharm. Mehmet İrfan DEĞİRMENCİ by the Dean of our Faculty, Prof. Dr. Necmiye CANACANKATAN, followed by a group photograph.