Anyone getting a PharmD to work in biotech/pharma or health care administration?

[pharmerted]

I'm thinking about getting a pharmD to jumpstart a career in biotechnology, a pharmaceutical company, health care administration or HMO.

Anyone else doing this? Anyone else not see themselves working at CVS for the next 40 years?

You may ask why not simply get a a PhD in biochemistry, genetics or pharmacology? Well, I don't want to simply do research. And i've heard that a lot of PhD's these days are either unemployed or have difficulty finding a job.

I've heard that a PharmD gives you many options. The only other health degree that is as benefical is perhaps an MD working in pharma/biotech.

I've heard that many senior-level executives at biotech/pharma companies and even hospital administration are pharmD's.
One can also work as a medical liason, in pharmacology etc.

Anyone know firsthand information regarding this? Thanks mucho.

PharmerTed

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[Brill]

My mom works for a biotech company. Their medical director is a PharmD, and they employ PharmD's in sales, marketing, medical liason positions, etc.

 

[kren]

i worked in pharma in outcomes research as an associate and both of my managers had PharmDs. there were also plenty of senior level [medical] marketing and sales people with PharmDs at the company. while i was there, i was told that the demand for clinically trained professionals was high in the pharma industry. this is esp so in outcomes research since the role requires clinical/economic evaluation of drugs and management of health services research. i also worked at an MCO in pharmacy benefits management and there were several PharmDs, each with a slightly different function - managing pharmacy benefits and drug formularies, developing medical policies, negotiating drug rebates and contracts with pharmacies...lots of other stuff too. i think a pharmd is a great way to jumpstart or advance a career in pharma, managed care or health admin.

 

[Hirlemad]

Thanks for the info, It's good to hear that you guys know PharmDs in the industry. I was beginning to wonder if it was one of those abstract "all the things you could do" without many actually doing it.

This is definitely one of the main reasons I got interested in Pharmacy, and I have a degree in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology, so I hope there are that many oppurtunities when I get out. Also I agree with Pharmted that who wants to do basic research that probably will never have a direct (or even indirect) benefit to the human race.

 

[pharmerted]

i worked in pharma in outcomes research as an associate and both of my managers had PharmDs. there were also plenty of senior level [medical] marketing and sales people with PharmDs at the company. while i was there, i was told that the demand for clinically trained professionals was high in the pharma industry. this is esp so in outcomes research since the role requires clinical/economic evaluation of drugs and management of health services research. i also worked at an MCO in pharmacy benefits management and there were several PharmDs, each with a slightly different function - managing pharmacy benefits and drug formularies, developing medical policies, negotiating drug rebates and contracts with pharmacies...lots of other stuff too. i think a pharmd is a great way to jumpstart or advance a career in pharma, managed care or health admin.

Did they need additional degrees/ experience beyond the pharmD?

I want to join a 5 year PharmD/MBA program. But I don't want to have to be trained for an additional 4 years getting a PhD in pharmacology to work in a Pharma company.

Do you know how they made the transition to the corporate side?

Thanks mucho.

PharmerTed

 

[kren]

it depends what area of pharma you want to go into. an mba definitely helps if you want to go into sales/marketing or product management. i don't think add'l degrees beyond a pharmD are necessary for clinical, medical marketing/medical research specialists or outcomes research. a phD is likely required if you want to go into r&d or the like.

i know of several people who transitioned to corporate pharma through internships. all the big pharmas and mco's have internships specifically for pharmD students-- www.amcp.org lists some of them or www.ispor.org lists fellowships in outcomes research as well. one of my managers worked in retail for a couple years, hated it and was able to get her 'in' through networking.

all the pharmacists that i worked w/ in health insurance started out as retail or hospital pharmacists. in fact, i think they typically look for people who have had some experience actually working in a pharmacy.

personally, i started out working for a small pharma/biotech consulting firm. the perks and the prestige weren't as great, but it made it a pretty easy transition to big pharma and managed care. i start pharmacy school this fall.

 

[Oneday_9]

This is definitely why I am going to pharmacy school, the pharma and health management. I'm doing a 5 year pharmD/MBA program. I hear that the MBA is essential, so you might want to get that as well as the pharmD. A Joint PhD program is probably best to specifically do research. Either way, good luck!

 

[pharmerted]

bump

anyone, anyone?

 

[jdpharmd?]

bump

anyone, anyone?

I think it's really interesting, but sometimes I think that I would have to sell my soul to work for a PBM, drug company, health management, etc. I see people come in with prescriptions that they struggle to afford (or cannot afford) every single day. Copays constantly go up, insurance costs a fortune, drugs cost a fortune, insurance companies only pay for one specific drug in a class, or FORCE their participants to go mail-order only. Sales reps are constantly touting the latest snake oil in order to get their free trips. I just don't see how any of that actually contributes to people's well-being.

Now there is "Paxil CR"? Give me a break. Just because paxil went generic, they devise an "extended release" version?? Paxil has a half life of almost 24 hours and is taken once daily. Now you can take Paxil CR one time daily.. oh wait, that's the same as before because it's total marketing BS! "Hey, I know.. let's make a double secret extended release version when this patent expires!!"

I would expect research to be a little more fulfilling, but somebody had to develop the latest scam medication, and I guess it was a researcher at a pharm company. Even if you're working on a legitimate project, I would expect funds to be a huge driving force. One of the important rules of life is "don't get a rare disease" because nobody is going to see any value in developing/marketing drugs for it. They won't make enough ca$h.

Even companies that appear altruistic are NOT acting on good morals alone. The medicare cards are coming out and there are THIRTY THREE different ones. Everyone is chomping at the bit to sell overpriced drugs to seniors who didn't get them before, or to pull them into the stores for front end items. It's not "helping the disadvantaged", it's "recruiting new patients because they are going to bring big business". We just received a new "promotional packet" at work. It's for some scam medicare card that costs $30/year and invariably gives kickbacks to someone high-up. They sent a HUGE banner, posters, signs and even stick-on name tags that said "we are your medicare savings discount center". Needless to say, the banner didn't go up, and the sticky tags went right into the drawer where they belong. Don't look at the patients, look at the $. 🙁

/rant

 

[dontworry]

Good post JD. I agree that its pretty sad to see so many people unable to afford their medications. I see lots of people say, hey whats this one for, I can only afford one. I dont think I could work for a drug company, knowing that so many ppl cant afford to pay for that companies medication.

 

[mikeyboy]

My friend who wants to apply soon is interested in working in Biotech/pharma industry. She is actually considering some PharmD/MBA programs as well.

For anyone who already applied, did you make this point evident, and do you think it helped? Would getting a research job at a biotech firm in, say, drug discovery, or a production development/QC job be useful? It seems that it might set one apart from those who simply volunteer at a pharmacy, but maybe it's not what Pharm programs are looking for.