Nuclear pharmacy, Part I: Emergence of the specialty of nuclear pharmacy.

OBJECTIVE: Nuclear pharmacy was the first formally recognized area in pharmacy designated as a specialty practice. The events leading to nuclear pharmacy specialty recognition are described in this article. After reading this article the nuclear medicine technologist or nuclear pharmacist should be able to: (a) describe the status of nuclear pharmacy before recognition as a specialty practice; (b) describe the events that stimulated pharmacists to organize a professional unit to meet the needs of nuclear pharmacists; and (c) identify the steps by which nuclear pharmacists become board certified in nuclear pharmacy.