I am getting interested in clinical pharmacy professor position. If anyone interested in this field, can we discuss the pros/cons in this field?

I am interested in this field primarily because it is very stable after I am tenured and the workload totally depends on myself. At the same time, if I want to earn some extra money, I can be a consultant or handle a second job, such as a floater.

The bad side is the salary is not good as other pharmacists, especially to the community. I don't know if I count the extra money, can I compete to the community? :p

other than that, the location is not as flexible as others. there are only around 100 pharmacy schools in the U.S. :thumbdown

Does anyone know where can I find the position openings of pharmacy professor?

I am getting interested in clinical pharmacy professor position. If anyone interested in this field, can we discuss the pros/cons in this field?

Pro's flexibility in scheduling and good benefits (lots of vacation and time off). If you like teaching than that is an even better selling point.

Con's salary is typically 10-20k less than avg pharmacy counterpart in hospital or retail. Unless of course you have a clinical-track appointment that some places offer where you are really getting paid to precept students, maintain a practice site, and teaching lectures. A clinical track appointment may pay you a comparable salary to retail or hospital, but these positions often don't have tenure options so your contract is renewed on an annual basis so no security there (at least no more than the avg pharmacy job).

People in academia often don't get raises on an annual basis (whether it be on merit or annual cost of living).

I am interested in this field primarily because it is very stable after I am tenured and the workload totally depends on myself. At the same time, if I want to earn some extra money, I can be a consultant or handle a second job, such as a floater.

The bad side is the salary is not good as other pharmacists, especially to the community. I don't know if I count the extra money, can I compete to the community? :p

"Workload totally depending on myself"...Well that really isn't the case. Once you get tenured maybe, but tenureship typically goes to those that bring in research money so typically more training is required (i.e. 1-2yrs of residency training and/or fellowship training). In addition it takes at least 6 yrs to even get reviewed for a faculty appointment (i.e. assistant professor-->associate professor). Whether you get tenured at that time or not is variable so it may take more than 6 yrs (range: 6-12yrs) to get that guaranteed stabilty you are looking for.

The ability to work on the side outside of academia depends on your contract w/ the school. Many schools say you can't work part time until after 6 or 7pm Mon-Thurs or 5-6 pm on Friday as it is considered "double dipping". Consulting is a whole lot easier said than done. The money doesn't come in regularly and you have to do a lot of networking to open doors. So this may take some time to evolve so I wouldn't necessarily bank on it as guaranteed secondary income.

other than that, the location is not as flexible as others. there are only around 100 pharmacy schools in the U.S. :thumbdown

Does anyone know where can I find the position openings of pharmacy professor?

Location is an issue, but depending on where you live new pharmacy schools are opening annually.

See www.accp.com or www.aphanet.org and go to the various career search engines.

Although one thing you haven't really emphasized is whether you really want to work in academia outside of the various auxillary benefits. Academia is hard work and can be quite competitive. If flexible scheduling is what you are looking for, have you considered consultant pharmacy or just working somewhere (hospital/retail) doing 10-12hrs shifts minimizing the # of days in the work week thus increasing flexibility.

Let me add some cons:

1. Work three jobs for the price of one:
Ever thought you could do it all? Well now you can! Have all of the stress starting your own practice as well as face up to 300 demanding (and rightfully so) students in need of practice knowledge. Plus, you can't be a jerk while doing it.

I don't know how the clinical faculty are supposed to pull it off. They have to maintain a practice, teach two classes, and write that next practice paper. BTW, we wish you all the best in starting a family while this 3-ring circus is going on. Particularly at research universities, I'm appalled at the lack of support given to the clinical faculty to do their jobs (see points 2 and 3 below). I used to have a very low opinion of clinical profs abilities, but its substantially improved in light of the fact that they honestly don't have the time to be good teachers even if they wanted to.

This doesn't excuse clinical faculty from absolute incompetence/capriciousness (i.e. University of Florida) or from places that do not ask much of your research ability, but I feel their pain in not being able to be their best due to structural problems in the field.

2. Don't worry about the stresses of leadership, there's no way in **** that we'll promote you:
In many universities, clinical faculty is a no-promote job. You don't get tenure, you don't (usually) get promoted beyond Associate Professor (the midrank position), you do get saddled up with the depressing/onerous service and committee assignments (in addition to the above problems). Watch as your research colleagues pass you by for promotions, tenure, and salary determinations.


3. You are a unique and relevant practitioner, just like the rest of the 2000+ graduates of the Pharm.D. each year and the ~400+ residents/fellows trained this year (i.e. you are expendable):
Year-to-year at many pharmacy schools, clinical faculty realized that they cannot be their best at everything that we ask them to do, and they reduce their duty or leave. Fine, we can hire another bright-eyed victim.

Sorry about my cynicism. I'm actually on the research side of things and want to look for a professorial position as the traditional researcher/teacher. Universities know how to deal with my sort of faculty, it's publish or perish for me (long nights/dossier pressure/competitiveness). Colleges of pharmacy traditionally do not treat their clinical faculty very well. I believe that the "shortage" is not due to the willingness of some of the very best to contribute, but to the impossible circumstances to which the university expects performance.

If you really want to do it, go right ahead. Just know that this is for idealism, but the ivory tower is no sanctuary for clinicians.

Oh, to reinterate a point, clinical faculty rarely are promoted, and if so, even more rarely are tenured faculty. They are not protected on issues of academic freedom since there is not a large expectation of publication.

Try ACPE or AACP to start. Also, go to the APhA or ACPE meetings for that sort of networking for jobs. Best of luck...