Libby Olson checks a prescription at Sutter Memorial, where she started work last spring. A University of the Pacific graduate, Olson said she chose a job in a hospital pharmacy so she could more closely interact with patients and medical staff. Olson received a signing bonus and was able to arrange a flexible schedule to spend more time with her children.

Libby Olson, left, a pharmacist at Sutter Health, reviews a prescription on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at the pharmacy in the basement as one of her newer co-workers Andrea Erizee, second from left, a graduate of Washington State University sorts thru labels. Pharmacists remain in short supply across the country, and competition is fierce. To get young pharmacists behind their counters, one retailer resorted to putting recruits behind the wheel of a BMW, a practice that was later stopped. At Sutter Health, signing bonuses aren't unusual either. It has four pharmacy positions currently open in its four area hospitals, one of which has remained vacant for the past six months. Libby Olson received her pharmacy degree from the University of the Pacific in May and knows her profession is in demand. "That's why I went into the profession," said Olson, who left a career as a training specialist in biotechnology to enter pharmacy school. She started work at Sutter Memorial in May. "There were lots of companies offering incentives at the time, some of them offer large sign-on bonuses," mainly retail pharmacies, she said. She wanted a job in a hospital - which offered her the closer interaction among patients, nurses and doctors she sought.

David Hawkins, professor and dean at California Northstate College of Pharmacy, stands in one of the labs at the college were students learn how to handle medication.

California Northstate College of Pharmacy students from left to right Ravinder Kaur, San Quach, Mike Westlake, and Tatyana Leschinski, work on an assignment as a group on Health Care Reform on Tuesday, October 28, 2008. The college is one of newest in the area to offer a degree to students in the field of Pharmacy which is in high demand.

Students, 2007: 3,956, full-time, enrolled nationwide.

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