A survey conducted by The National Community Pharmacists Association found more than 70% of pharmacies were experiencing staff shortages. For rural communities, where pharmacists are the only outpost of health care in the town, these shortages can lead to clinics closing up, leaving towns to have no pharmacy within reach, known as pharmacy deserts.

We focused the conversation on analyzing the big picture data of why pharmacy shortages matter, We heard about how a college program in Rockford is training pharmacy students to be equipped to work in rural towns, and we spoke with a local pharmacist-owner who serves her community of 700 people as their go-to health care expert.