When expertise is no longer enough: Power, leadership, and the future of Pharmacy in the age of AI

Overview
In this thought-provoking episode, Johnathan sits down with Professor Zubin Austin to explore how the traditional foundations of pharmacy — knowledge and expertise — are being disrupted by artificial intelligence, misinformation, and changing societal values. Together, they unpack what this means for pharmacists’ professional identity, leadership, and the evolving power dynamics within healthcare.

Key Themes & Discussion Points:

• The Myth of the “Expert in Medicines”

  • Pharmacy’s historical reliance on expert power as defined by French & Raven’s classic social power model.

  • The self-anointed nature of expertise — and why it may no longer be enough.

• AI and the Erosion of Informational Power

  • How AI democratises knowledge and challenges professional authority.

  • The rise of “health influencers” and the collapse of shared truth in the post-expert era.

• Leadership and the Power Gap in Pharmacy

  • Insights from research showing pharmacists’ discomfort with using power explicitly.

  • Why leadership education must evolve beyond charisma toward genuine influence and accountability.

• Learning from Nursing: The Power of Care

  • Nursing’s success in defining itself through care rather than knowledge.

  • The origins of pharmaceutical care in the 1990s — and how it can be reimagined today.

  • Can pharmacists redefine their identity around care, empathy, and patient outcomes?

• Pharmaceutical Care 2.0 — The Five Pillars

  1. Put patients first

  2. Define clear, reproducible standards of care

  3. Integrate fully across health professions

  4. Deliver measurable outcomes through innovation

  5. Align payment with system-wide value

• The Central Question:

  • When expertise is no longer enough, is the power of care enough?

Looking Ahead:
This conversation sets the stage for the 2026 Pharmacy in Practice Conference, themed around “Power, Leadership, and the Future of Pharmacy.”
📅 Date: March 25th, 2026
📍 Location: Novotel Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh
🎟️ Registration: Now open at [Pharmacy in Practice website]

Credits:
Hosted by Johnathan Laird
Guest: Professor Zubin Austin
Produced by Pharmacy in Practice