There isn't one single, universally recognized pharmacy logo. Many different organizations, from individual pharmacies to colleges of pharmacy and state boards of pharmacy, use their own unique logos.
Common Pharmacy Symbols
While there isn't a single official logo, certain symbols are commonly associated with pharmacy and often appear in logos:
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The Caduceus: This symbol, depicting two snakes intertwined around a winged staff, is frequently mistaken for a pharmacy symbol. It's actually the staff of Hermes (Greek) or Mercury (Roman), the messenger of the gods and god of commerce. [Reference: The symbol of two snakes on a staff is called the Caduceus]. While visually striking, its use in pharmacy is historically inaccurate.
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The Bowl of Hygeia: This symbol, showing a bowl with a single snake coiled around it, is more accurately associated with pharmacy and healthcare. [Reference: The bowl with a snake coiled around it is called the bowl of Hygeia with the serpent of…]. It is considered a more appropriate symbol.
Many pharmacy logos incorporate variations of these symbols, along with other design elements specific to the institution or business. Examples include the Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy logo [Reference: Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy logo], the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy logo [Reference: University of Michigan College of Pharmacy logo], and the Purdue College of Pharmacy logo [Reference: Purdue College of Pharmacy logo]. These logos vary significantly in design.
Finding Specific Pharmacy Logos
To find a specific pharmacy's logo, you'll need to know the name of the pharmacy or institution. Many pharmacies and organizations have their logos displayed prominently on their websites. For example, the websites for the California State Board of Pharmacy [Reference: A website for the State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Pharmacy], Texas State Board of Pharmacy [Reference: The Texas State Board of Pharmacy is the state agency responsible for the licensing/registration…], and Amazon Pharmacy [Reference: Amazon makes your pharmacy experience easier.] all feature their respective logos. Similarly, colleges of pharmacy often feature their logos on their websites, such as the University of Illinois Chicago's Retzky College of Pharmacy [Reference: Pharmacy Practice, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Pharmacy Systems…], and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy [Reference: Choose which site to search. Current site. All of UAMS.].
