Pharmacy Studies Open Doors – Far Beyond the Pharmacy

A diverse field that is not always fully understood

At the beginning of 2026, Kuopio Health participated in a SpeedREKRYdating event organized by Fortis ry and the School of Pharmacy at the University of Eastern Finland. The event was part of the Novapolis Sessions Talents program and aimed to bring together pharmaceutical industry actors and graduating students.

One thing stood out clearly in discussions with the students: pharmacy studies are far more diverse than many people realize.

Pharmacy is often automatically associated with working in a pharmacy. According to the interviewed students, this perception is persistent—but also quite narrow.

“When you say you study pharmacy or to become a pharmacist, people automatically think of a pharmacy. In reality, the field is much broader than that.”

We first met the students at the SpeedREKRYdating event and later continued the discussion at the Kuopio Health office at Hub Panostamo.

A field where people and science meet

For many students, pharmacy was not an obvious choice at first—it was something they discovered over time.

“It was difficult to figure out what I wanted to do in life. But pharmacy combines human biology, chemistry, and how drugs actually work. That combination became really interesting,” says Elisa Vartiainen.

“I didn’t even take chemistry in my matriculation exams. My interest only developed towards the end of high school, and I completed all chemistry courses later. I wanted a field where I could explore and truly understand phenomena,” Helmi Ollila continues.

Titta Katainen, on the other hand, came across the field by chance.

“I asked a friend where they were applying. When I heard about pharmacy, I googled it and immediately felt like it suited me. It combines people and chemistry. I didn’t have any prior understanding of the field, but it turned out to be a great decision.”

In the picture from left: Helmi Ollila, Elisa Vartiainen and Titta Katainen.

Studies combine theory and practice

Pharmacy studies consist of a broad mix of different areas, and according to the students, this breadth often surprises people.

“During the Bachelor-level (pharmacist) phase, you study a lot of anatomy, pharmacology, and chemistry, but also very practical skills like patient counselling. We also practice medication reviews—looking at how a patient’s medication works as a whole. The studies include practical training, which makes the theory concrete.”

At the Master’s level (pharmacist/Proviisori), the perspective expands even further.

“At that stage, you go through the entire lifecycle of a drug—from molecule to market. You really start to understand how extensive this field is,” Elisa explains.

Helmi highlights the research-oriented side, especially in toxicology:

“In toxicology, we focus on identifying and assessing risks. We look at how chemicals affect people and the environment, and how to communicate those risks in an understandable way.”

A degree that leads to many paths

One of the key themes in the discussion is that a pharmacy degree does not lead to just one career path—it opens doors to a wide range of roles.

“A Master of Pharmacy degree isn’t a narrow box—it’s more like a way of thinking. You learn problem-solving and how to apply knowledge, and that can be done in many different environments,” Elisa says.

“I used to think the options were either a pharmacy or a hospital. But during my studies, I realized there are so many possibilities. That was a positive surprise,” Titta reflects.

Helmi chose toxicology specifically to broaden her perspective beyond medicines.

“I was more interested in research and topics like environmental impact, and in understanding more broadly how different substances affect the world.”

Developing thinking and problem-solving skills

The students emphasize that pharmacy studies are not just about acquiring knowledge—they are about developing ways of thinking.

“You learn to look at things from a broader perspective and understand that very few things are simple. That becomes especially clear at the Master’s level,” Elisa explains.

Helmi highlights the importance of risk communication:

“In toxicology, we talk a lot about how risks are assessed and how they are communicated to people. It’s an important skill, because complex information needs to be translated into something understandable.”

Work-life skills are also developed in surprisingly diverse ways during the studies, including courses related to leadership. While they don’t make anyone a ready-made manager, they provide tools and help in understanding different situations.

What companies may not yet see

According to the students, one challenge is that pharmacy expertise is not always fully recognized in the business world—despite its strong potential.

“A pharmacy degree doesn’t directly show what kind of skills a person has. It can include highly analytical, mathematical, or even engineering-type expertise, depending on the focus of studies,” Elisa explains.

At the same time, students feel that connections with companies could be stronger.

“Many students are interested in companies, but they don’t necessarily know what opportunities exist,” Helmi notes.

Master’s theses, for example, could be one way to strengthen collaboration—benefiting both students and companies, and potentially leading to longer-term employment relationships.

The future is open and full of possibilities

All interviewees share an interest in research, but their future paths are not yet fixed.

“Research interests me, and a PhD is one option,” says Titta.

“I would at least like to pursue a PhD and see where it leads,” Helmi adds.

More encounters are needed

Ultimately, it comes down to creating connections—ensuring that skills and needs meet.

“It would be important for companies to present themselves more actively, and for students to have the courage to reach out. That’s how both sides can find the right match. The field is much broader than it appears from the outside—and where it can lead is often far more than you initially imagine,” the students conclude.

 

The School of Pharmacy at the University of Eastern Finland operates in Kuopio as part of the Faculty of Health Sciences. The school educates Bachelors and Masters graduates, as well as Master’s graduates in toxicology and PhDs in pharmacy and related fields.