An aging population, the changing role of pharmacists as health systems rely more heavily on newer, sophisticated drug therapies to cure ills, and a proliferation of corner drug stores is driving a growing demand for pharmacists in this country, a challenge the higher education sector is having a tough time meeting. There are more students applying to pharmacy schools than available slots; but even as a record number of pharmacy schools are being built, deans are having problems finding people to teach in them. Academia is in stiff competition with the private sector, but often lands on the losing side, as schools can't compete when it comes to compensation.