How did Benjamin Franklin help separate pharmacy from medicine in America?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Benjamin Franklin played a pivotal role in the professionalization of pharmacy in America by helping to establish a clear distinction between the roles of the physician and the pharmacist.

He took a significant step toward this separation by appointing an apothecary to the Pennsylvania Hospital, an institution he helped found. By formalizing the role of a dedicated individual responsible for the preparation and supply of medicines, Franklin supported the trend toward specialization that eventually led to the independent practice of pharmacy in the United States.1