Prof. Dr. Neşe Buket Aksu: “Pharmacy should be a profession that produces value, not just information”

As healthcare systems around the world transform, the pharmacy profession is moving towards a new vision. Pharmacists who not only prepare medicines, but also think, manage, feel and transform are coming to the forefront. One of the models that embody this change is the “10 Star Pharmacist” approach developed under the leadership of the World Health Organization.

Prof. Dr. Neşe Buket Aksu, one of the first people in Türkiye to embrace this model at the academic level, draws attention to the necessity of this transformation at both professional and social levels. Prof. Aksu states that she has completed her “9-Star Pharmacy” trainings, which she has been pursuing for years, with the “10-Star” approach and that this model has an impact not only on individual development but also on many areas from health literacy to social peace. 

“10-Star Pharmacy is not a definition of a profession, it is an approach to humanity”

"As pharmacists, we need to have not only knowledge but also the ability to connect. It is now easy to access information, but it is difficult to build trust. The 10 Star Pharmacist model puts all the social-emotional skills that build this trust into a systematic framework." According to Prof. Dr. Aksu, the importance of this model lies not only in expanding the boundaries of the profession, but also in making healthcare professionals more empathetic, open to communication and aware individuals.

Aksu also said, "It is not just giving the right medicine to a patient, but being able to see his/her anxiety, sense his/her helplessness and make him/her feel understood... This is where we need to put emotional intelligence alongside scientific knowledge. The 10-star model is the guide to this combination" and underlined the importance of the model for the pharmacy profession. 

Model Details: 10 Star Pharmacist roles

Aksu listed the 10-star pharmacist model, which defines both the professional and social roles of the pharmacist, as follows

Care Giver: Cares for the patient not only during the diagnosis and treatment process but also on an emotional level. It stands by the individual on their health journey.

Decision Maker: Makes effective decisions in complex cases by evaluating ethical, scientific and human dimensions together.

Good Communicator: Communicates effectively, openly and with understanding with patients, the healthcare team and colleagues.

Leader: A figure who inspires, guides and encourages development in the work environment.

Manager: Demonstrates organizational skills to effectively plan resources, processes and time management.

Lifelong Learner: An individual who follows professional innovations and is open to development and transformation.

Teacher: Shares learning in order to disseminate knowledge, raise public awareness and inspire colleagues.

Researcher: Proceeds with an approach that contributes to academic knowledge, questions and analyzes.

Entrepreneur: Develops new areas, forms of service or technologies in pharmacy through innovative ideas.

Positive Change Agent: Aims to make a difference in society and be a pioneer of positive transformation. 

Why should it be included in the curriculum?

Prof. Dr. Neşe Buket Aksu stated that this model should not only be a seminar topic but also a fundamental learning axis in pharmacy faculties and said, "Pharmacy education is still largely based on technical knowledge. However, when they step into the profession, graduates encounter not only medicines but also people. The patient's voice, look, silence... In order to train a pharmacist who can read these, we must include social-emotional competencies in the curriculum."

According to Aksu, the “10-Star Pharmacy” model not only meets this need, but also contributes to students' self-awareness, internalization of their professional identity, and human-centered thinking. 

Impact on the health system and society

Emphasizing that the humanitarian aspect of healthcare services has been questioned more in the post-pandemic period, Aksu stated that this model will increase patient satisfaction, health literacy and in-house cooperation in the long term:  "A good pharmacist is not only someone who knows the right medicine, but also someone who prevents misunderstanding, calms fear and reinforces trust. Health systems become sustainable not with technical tools, but with such human factors."

Aksu also stated that these skills are critical in the social context and continued his words as follows:

"Respect for those who think differently, culture of co-production, empathy, dialog... These are the cornerstones of not only social life but also health environments. Individuals with developed emotional intelligence produce less conflict and more cooperation in society. Pharmacists can therefore be the pioneers of this transformation."

Final word: Not just a profession, but a mission

Prof. Dr. Neşe Buket Aksu emphasized that the “10 Star Pharmacy” model offers a vision of humanity rather than a professional development tool and concluded her words as follows

"Do not see this model only as a career plan. This is a choice about what kind of person, what kind of society and what kind of health system we want. We need a pharmacy where knowledge touches human values and the profession is practiced with spirit. These stars illuminate that path." 

 

s this need, but also contributes to students' self-awareness, internalization of their professional identity, and human-centered thinking.