become a Medical Doctor (M.D) after becoming a Pharmacist (Pharm. D)...?

[AcceleratedPharmacist]

Hi guys. I am about to attend an accelerated pharmacy program next semester and am a fairly young guy, meaning I'll have a pharm. D quicker. I'm thinking about becoming a doctor afterwords. So my question is... If I become a Medical Doctor (M.D) after becoming a Pharmacist (Pharm. D), would I be able to both prescribe medications (as a medical doctor) and fill them (as a pharmacist)?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[confettiflyer]

Why would you waste time dispensing as a pharmacist when you can make more $$$ by seeing patients in that same span of time?

The two pharmacists turned physicians I know don't do any pharmacy work period, they just use their pharmacy knowledge to enhance their physician work (one an anesthesiologist, the other a geriatrician).

 

[AcceleratedPharmacist]

Why would you waste time dispensing as a pharmacist when you can make more $$$ by seeing patients in that same span of time?

The two pharmacists turned physicians I know don't do any pharmacy work period, they just use their pharmacy knowledge to enhance their physician work (one an anesthesiologist, the other a geriatrician).

Because, I'm still a very young guy (currently 18) and don't know if I am ready to handle medical school. For the last 4 years I've been working my *** off to get into pharmacy, and now I'll be one in a few short years. I've already picked the school and am moving for it, so there's no going back now. But I wonder if I ever decide to have two specialties, could I become a doctor and fill my prescriptions. I would be making 2X the money. It's not that that's all I care about, but I do plan for my future, you know. So it's just a thought, any other opinions?

 

[lane one]

Unless someone else is paying for your schooling then this is a ridiculous plan. School is an investment, and obtaining a pharmd before MD will not net you ANY additional money.

 

[AcceleratedPharmacist]

Unless someone else is paying for your schooling then this is a ridiculous plan. School is an investment, and obtaining a pharmd before MD will not net you ANY additional money.

Though I appreciate the different perspectives on becoming a doctor after becoming a pharmacist, my main question was kind of the legality of prescribing a medication as a doctor and then dispensing the medication as a pharmacist. If I had both degrees, would I be able to do that? I understand this is also a question of ethics, but to avoid an un-needed debate, I just want to know if it's allowed (legal).

 

[awval999]

The legality will depend on state laws.

It's not ethical though. The whole point of a pharmacist is to be the 2nd check-- ie: a 2nd set of eyes on a prescription.

 

[gwarm01]

This is the most elaborate plan to obtain narcotics that I have ever seen.

 

[ChalupaBatman86]

Physicians and veterinarians can dispense in most states, you don't need to be a pharmacist. Check your state laws.

 

[Chalupa_Batman86]

You're wasting your time and energy pursuing two degrees.

Just get the MD (or DO).

 

[confettiflyer]

Because, I'm still a very young guy (currently 18) and don't know if I am ready to handle medical school. For the last 4 years I've been working my *** off to get into pharmacy, and now I'll be one in a few short years. I've already picked the school and am moving for it, so there's no going back now. But I wonder if I ever decide to have two specialties, could I become a doctor and fill my prescriptions. I would be making 2X the money. It's not that that's all I care about, but I do plan for my future, you know. So it's just a thought, any other opinions?

No it's not about handling medical school, it's why would you, as a physician who makes $X per patient seen, magically transfer yourself to a physical pharmacy to dispense said prescription you just wrote for the equivalent of $(X-Y) while for the same amount of time and effort you can see 2 or 3 more $X patients instead of transferring them to your colleagues?

Legality aside, how does this make any logical sense? Like are you really going to work as a fairly autonomous physician M-Thursday and pop into your neighborhood sh*thole CVS and take it from behind from corporate overlords to crank out numbers Friday-Sunday? You wouldn't be making 2x the money, in fact, it's a really crappy way to make money. If you want to make money as a physician, go pick up some locum positions at a hospital. Guarantee you'll make WAY more money doing that than being a pharmacist.

The only value a pharmacy degree has to a medical professional is the knowledge base you bring to it, but a specialist in a field will run circles around the pharmacy knowledge any day. This is why I don't discuss surgeries with our trauma surgeon, but if he somehow finds himself needing to dose diabetes and hypertension agents because he's discharging the patient without the medical service assisting, he comes to me.

If you're working your ass off to go to pharmacy school, it's pretty much the same prerequisites, so you can matriculate into medical school assuming you meet GPA/MCAT requirements.

Even if you become a trauma surgeon, you'll then be 11 years removed (4 school, 7 residency) from your pharamacy schooling with no recent experience. Goodluck with being a pharmacist at that point.

 

[AcceleratedPharmacist]

No it's not about handling medical school, it's why would you, as a physician who makes $X per patient seen, magically transfer yourself to a physical pharmacy to dispense said prescription you just wrote for the equivalent of $(X-Y) while for the same amount of time and effort you can see 2 or 3 more $X patients instead of transferring them to your colleagues?

Legality aside, how does this make any logical sense? Like are you really going to work as a fairly autonomous physician M-Thursday and pop into your neighborhood sh*thole CVS and take it from behind from corporate overlords to crank out numbers Friday-Sunday? You wouldn't be making 2x the money, in fact, it's a really crappy way to make money. If you want to make money as a physician, go pick up some locum positions at a hospital. Guarantee you'll make WAY more money doing that than being a pharmacist.

The only value a pharmacy degree has to a medical professional is the knowledge base you bring to it, but a specialist in a field will run circles around the pharmacy knowledge any day. This is why I don't discuss surgeries with our trauma surgeon, but if he somehow finds himself needing to dose diabetes and hypertension agents because he's discharging the patient without the medical service assisting, he comes to me.

If you're working your ass off to go to pharmacy school, it's pretty much the same prerequisites, so you can matriculate into medical school assuming you meet GPA/MCAT requirements.

Even if you become a trauma surgeon, you'll then be 11 years removed (4 school, 7 residency) from your pharamacy schooling with no recent experience. Goodluck with being a pharmacist at that point.

I get what you mean, but I never really wanted to become a doctor. It's just in case I ever decide to. And by making extra money, I meant in the sense that I would open up my own pharmacy and gain profits by both seeing the patient as a doctor and filling the script as a pharmacist. Though a pharmacist is a second set of eyes and is the barrier from drug overdoses and the like, considering i would have expertise in both fields I can be sure what I prescribe is what the patient needs.

 

[alwayspharming]

So you want to go to pharmacy school then medical school only to open up your own independent? Where are you going to get all this $$$ and time?

I doubt the board is going to allow you to write and dispense your own Rx's at your own pharmacy. Lololol

 

[Chalupa_Batman86]

So you want to go to pharmacy school then medical school only to open up your own independent? Where are you going to get all this $$$ and time?

I doubt the board is going to allow you to write and dispense your own Rx's at your own pharmacy. Lololol

The OP is in Lala land.

 

[alwayspharming]

Hi guys. I am about to attend an accelerated pharmacy program next semester and am a fairly young guy, meaning I'll have a pharm. D quicker. I'm thinking about becoming a doctor afterwords. So my question is... If I become a Medical Doctor (M.D) after becoming a Pharmacist (Pharm. D), would I be able to both prescribe medications (as a medical doctor) and fill them (as a pharmacist)?

Because, I'm still a very young guy (currently 18) and don't know if I am ready to handle medical school. For the last 4 years I've been working my *** off to get into pharmacy, and now I'll be one in a few short years. I've already picked the school and am moving for it, so there's no going back now. But I wonder if I ever decide to have two specialties, could I become a doctor and fill my prescriptions. I would be making 2X the money. It's not that that's all I care about, but I do plan for my future, you know. So it's just a thought, any other opinions?

How are you able to get into an accelerated pharmacy program at 18? Programs generally require you to finish your pre-reqs (2+4 or 0-6) or require you to have a bachelors (4 yrs) for the accelerated (3 yrs) program.

 

[AcceleratedPharmacist]

How are you able to get into an accelerated pharmacy program at 18? Programs generally require you to finish your pre-reqs (2+4 or 0-6) or require you to have a bachelors (4 yrs) for the accelerated (3 yrs) program.

I skipped senior year of high school and graduated at 16, took 2 years of pre-reqs and the PCAT, applied to a few colleges and decided to go with the accelerated program. But hey, "The OP is in Lala land." As the saying goes, I may be a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I didn't ask this question to get roasted, just want some constructive advice.

 

[Pharmd = Phake Doctor]

I skipped senior year of high school and graduated at 16, took 2 years of pre-reqs and the PCAT, applied to a few colleges and decided to go with the accelerated program. But hey, "The OP is in Lala land." As the saying goes, I may be a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I didn't ask this question to get roasted, just want some constructive advice.

THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION: HAVE YOU EVER WORKED IN A PHARMACY?

Another important question: how much debt will you go into for this PharmD degree? If you go over 220K, then you're ineligible for federal student loans for grad/pharm/med school.

This document has your name on it:
EMERGING PARADIGMS: PHYSICIAN DISPENSING

Also this website might be insightful:
If Law Graduates Had It To Do Over Again, They Wouldn’t Be So Stupid

Gotta love the below passage:

"Prospective law students wouldn’t even listen to themselves if they came back from the future to try to talk some sense into themselves. They seem unable to accurately assess the cost of the education weighed against the likelihood of employment until it is too late.

And they’re so freaking sure of themselves as they throw themselves into the abyss. As we mentioned last week from our own survey, the “certainty score” of new law students is through the roof. "

 

[sosoreal]

Dude once u start pharmacy you will realize their are various career path with a phamD . U don't need an MD to run an independent pharmacy. Even if u earn an MD you are still going to need other professionals to run a practice.

If u have the money and the time go for it

Great plan though . Will make a great Walter white in the future. U might have the FDA looking more closely at your every move but on the bright side u might feature in the next breaking bad


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[gwarm01]

I skipped senior year of high school and graduated at 16, took 2 years of pre-reqs and the PCAT, applied to a few colleges and decided to go with the accelerated program. But hey, "The OP is in Lala land." As the saying goes, I may be a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I didn't ask this question to get roasted, just want some constructive advice.

Congratulations on the early progress! If you play it smart, you will be ahead of most of your peers. However, you would we well to listen to the advice of those still ahead of you. You are in "Lala land." The idea you have presented really just doesn't make much sense. No one becomes a PharmD, then an MD, only to practice as a physician by day and a pharmacist by night.

If you want constructive advice, then I'd recommended you choose one profession and go for it. Pharmacy has a lower time and education commitment, but lower financial prospects afterwards. You will make more money as a physician, but will require more education through mandatory residencies. Not to mention the longer hours and increased liability.

There are plenty of people that have obtained their PharmD then gone on to get an MD, but they usually do it because they realize they will only be happy as a physician. The jobs are very different and pharmacy practice is generally misrepresented to students, so it's not uncommon for new pharmacists to feel unsatisfied and desire a change in career. That would be a valid reason to pursue an MD.

 

[rph3664]

The OP is in Lala land.

And in case you missed it, he's also 18 years old.

If he still wants to be a pharmacist after working in a pharmacy for a while AND taking o-chem, I guess he should still pursue it, or just go the MD route in the first place.

 

[thecoolpharmboi]

Hi guys. I am about to attend an accelerated pharmacy program next semester and am a fairly young guy, meaning I'll have a pharm. D quicker. I'm thinking about becoming a doctor afterwords. So my question is... If I become a Medical Doctor (M.D) after becoming a Pharmacist (Pharm. D), would I be able to both prescribe medications (as a medical doctor) and fill them (as a pharmacist)?

No. If you want an MD, just get MD. It's more worth in a long run I think. Why waste time getting PharmD as well?

 

[KatleyS]

Because, I'm still a very young guy (currently 18) and don't know if I am ready to handle medical school. For the last 4 years I've been working my *** off to get into pharmacy, and now I'll be one in a few short years. I've already picked the school and am moving for it, so there's no going back now. But I wonder if I ever decide to have two specialties, could I become a doctor and fill my prescriptions. I would be making 2X the money. It's not that that's all I care about, but I do plan for my future, you know. So it's just a thought, any other opinions?

Doesn't work that way. You will not likely be making '2x the money.' Unless you mean $1, then I guess $2 is possible.

All joking aside, like others have said, it depends on the state. The Board of Pharmacy for each state has specific laws regarding who has prescribing privileges and who has dispensing privileges. You most likely can go to the website for each BOP and find the answer there.

By the way, if I was a patient, I am not sure how I would feel about a doctor also filling my prescriptions. I would wonder if my doctor might not receive some kickbacks from said pharmaceutical companies or some kind of conflict of interest perk. Or, like any average consumer, I would tell you, the MD/RPh, 'thanks, but I can likely find drug x,y,z' cheaper somewhere else. Insurance companies think this way, as well, except they have more 'heft' and 'leverage' than the average consumer. They might limit you to as a prescribing doctor in their network, but direct their customers to other dispensing pharmacies because they have negotiated cheaper contracts with them than you.

Even though you're in pharmacy school now, you can always transfer. If you are as smart and motived as you say, it should be no issue for you to attempt med school as well.

 

[BMBiology]

I get what you mean, but I never really wanted to become a doctor. It's just in case I ever decide to. And by making extra money, I meant in the sense that I would open up my own pharmacy and gain profits by both seeing the patient as a doctor and filling the script as a pharmacist. Though a pharmacist is a second set of eyes and is the barrier from drug overdoses and the like, considering i would have expertise in both fields I can be sure what I prescribe is what the patient needs.

Here is a short cut: get an MD and buy a pharmacy. You are allow to own a pharmacy...maybe not 100% ownership.

In addition, you can't be licensed as a physician and pharmacist in states like California.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[Alby]

You are underestimating the amount of hours most physicians work. There will never be more than 24 hours in a day (unfortunately). I'm a PharmD turned MD, currently in residency (albeit one of the more demanding residencies). I worked per diem all through Med school which was great, but have since let my license lapse and work 90-100 hour weeks now with zero desire to do anything extra (also I'm not allowed to moonlight anyway). If you have the $$ for both degrees then go for it, but don't expect to be working as both.

As someone already mentioned, you can potentially run a pharmacy within your practice without obtaining a PharmD first (I know a practice that does this).

You have no experience yet, so the comment you made about not needing a separate set of eyes to double check you is not surprising, but you sure will be glad there is a pharmacist checking your orders when you are seeing 40+ patients a day.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[BenJammin]

I don't think OP understands how ridiculous his scenario is. I don't care what your GPA is or how polished your resume is, you should be rejected by the pharmacy program. My program gets 500+ applications, 100 interviews, and only 50 get in. If you want to be a doctor, that's great. Do what you want with your education. But don't ask for one of our 50 slots knowing you won't use it at all. You're taking up a spot from someone who wants to be a pharmacist. If you want to go to medical school then go to medical school. That's the bottom line.

 

[confettiflyer]

You are underestimating the amount of hours most physicians work. There will never be more than 24 hours in a day (unfortunately). I'm a PharmD turned MD, currently in residency (albeit one of the more demanding residencies). I worked per diem all through Med school which was great, but have since let my license lapse and work 90-100 hour weeks now with zero desire to do anything extra (also I'm not allowed to moonlight anyway). If you have the $$ for both degrees then go for it, but don't expect to be working as both.

As someone already mentioned, you can potentially run a pharmacy within your practice without obtaining a PharmD first (I know a practice that does this).

You have no experience yet, so the comment you made about not needing a separate set of eyes to double check you is not surprising, but you sure will be glad there is a pharmacist checking your orders when you are seeing 40+ patients a day.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Finally someone in the trenches of this scenario answers the question!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[confettiflyer]

I guess PharmD (0-6 program) to MD is no different than someone completing a BS/BA + years post bacc or MPH/other master's degree.

But that wasn't the question posed, but I'm bored and wanted to state the obvious.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[PharMed2016]

I skipped senior year of high school and graduated at 16, took 2 years of pre-reqs and the PCAT, applied to a few colleges and decided to go with the accelerated program. But hey, "The OP is in Lala land." As the saying goes, I may be a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I didn't ask this question to get roasted, just want some constructive advice.

Sounds like your doing a 2+3=5 accelerated program? I probably would not recommend the MD/DO afterwards unless your looking for something more beyond the scope of pharmacy. You can have a professionally satisfying career in pharmacy without the added time and expense of additional training in medicine. In terms of finances, if a pharmacist worked as many hours as the average physician, you will start to realize that the pay really isn't too different.

Remember you can't take money with you. Enjoy your life.

 

[AcceleratedPharmacist]

I don't think OP understands how ridiculous his scenario is. I don't care what your GPA is or how polished your resume is, you should be rejected by the pharmacy program. My program gets 500+ applications, 100 interviews, and only 50 get in. If you want to be a doctor, that's great. Do what you want with your education. But don't ask for one of our 50 slots knowing you won't use it at all. You're taking up a spot from someone who wants to be a pharmacist. If you want to go to medical school then go to medical school. That's the bottom line.

I find your answer quite rude. I have been studying to become a pharmacist since I was about 14; I wasn't daydreaming about being a movie star or some other bull****. I had my mind set on it from the start and am not your typical "transfer programs" student who is unsure with himself and waits until he is 30 to actually settle on pathway (not that there is anything wrong with that, but you get my point). I know I want to be a pharmacist. I never wanted to be a doctor, but the thought came into my head in January when I was hospitalized. Thus, this question was completely theoretical. Now, don't tell me that I don't deserve to be accepted. Just because I'm "taking up a spot from someone who wants to be a pharmacist"?? Passion and effort come first, but effort is the most important. I don't care how much someone wants to become a pharmacist, if their work (grades, resume, etc.) don't match up to mine, they don't deserve the spot instead of me. YOU are what's wrong with the application process.

 

[gwarm01]

I find your answer quite rude. I have been studying to become a pharmacist since I was about 14; I wasn't daydreaming about being a movie star or some other bull****. I had my mind set on it from the start and am not your typical "transfer programs" student who is unsure with himself and waits until he is 30 to actually settle on pathway (not that there is anything wrong with that, but you get my point). I know I want to be a pharmacist. I never wanted to be a doctor, but the thought came into my head in January when I was hospitalized. Thus, this question was completely theoretical. Now, don't tell me that I don't deserve to be accepted. Just because I'm "taking up a spot from someone who wants to be a pharmacist"?? Passion and effort come first, but effort is the most important. I don't care how much someone wants to become a pharmacist, if their work (grades, resume, etc.) don't match up to mine, they don't deserve the spot instead of me. YOU are what's wrong with the application process.

What he said was perfectly reasonable. Don't apply to pharmacy school and take up a limited spot if your intention is to just go right into medical school.

 

[Chalupa_Batman86]

I find your answer quite rude. I have been studying to become a pharmacist since I was about 14; I wasn't daydreaming about being a movie star or some other bull****. I had my mind set on it from the start and am not your typical "transfer programs" student who is unsure with himself and waits until he is 30 to actually settle on pathway (not that there is anything wrong with that, but you get my point). I know I want to be a pharmacist. I never wanted to be a doctor, but the thought came into my head in January when I was hospitalized. Thus, this question was completely theoretical. Now, don't tell me that I don't deserve to be accepted. Just because I'm "taking up a spot from someone who wants to be a pharmacist"?? Passion and effort come first, but effort is the most important. I don't care how much someone wants to become a pharmacist, if their work (grades, resume, etc.) don't match up to mine, they don't deserve the spot instead of me. YOU are what's wrong with the application process.

Uhhhhh, BenJammin has been a pharmacist for a while now.... how is he supposed to be "what's wrong with the application process?" Still in la la land?

 

[Caffeine QAM]

If it's a question of legality, no. It is a conflict of interest. You can not prescribe medications and refer your patients to fill it at a specific pharmacy, especially one that you are a stakeholder of. At least in CA.

And if your intention is to go to medical school, then skip pharmacy school altogether. If you really have no interest in becoming a physician as you say, then medical school is really not for you. You need to figure out what you really want.

Sent from my XT1045 using SDN mobile

 

[Dalteparin]

The legality will depend on state laws.

It's not ethical though. The whole point of a pharmacist is to be the 2nd check-- ie: a 2nd set of eyes on a prescription.

I agree- might not be illegal, but definitely a bad idea.

OP, you could wind up with $200K of student loan debt from just one of these degrees. If you do both, you could be half a million in the hole by the time you're 30, and that's going to make it very difficult for you to do things like buy a house or save for retirement. Bear in mind that student loans never go away, even if you declare bankruptcy. You'll have them until you either pay them off or die. I strongly encourage you to pick just one of the two.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Humble Sloth]

I find your answer quite rude. I have been studying to become a pharmacist since I was about 14; I wasn't daydreaming about being a movie star or some other bull****. I had my mind set on it from the start and am not your typical "transfer programs" student who is unsure with himself and waits until he is 30 to actually settle on pathway (not that there is anything wrong with that, but you get my point). I know I want to be a pharmacist. I never wanted to be a doctor, but the thought came into my head in January when I was hospitalized. Thus, this question was completely theoretical. Now, don't tell me that I don't deserve to be accepted. Just because I'm "taking up a spot from someone who wants to be a pharmacist"?? Passion and effort come first, but effort is the most important. I don't care how much someone wants to become a pharmacist, if their work (grades, resume, etc.) don't match up to mine, they don't deserve the spot instead of me. YOU are what's wrong with the application process.

"I wasn't daydreaming about being a movie star or some other bull****"
Becoming a successful movie star is much more difficult than becoming a pharmD or MD so I wouldn't rip on them. I see nothing wrong with getting a pharmD and then MD. IMO the more education one has the more empowered they are and there are plenty of spots at all the new pharmD schools for even a modestly motivated prepharm student so i wouldn't say you are 'wasting' a seat.

" I would be making 2X the money. "
It seems you are at least partially motivated by money. If that is the case you should go directly into a MD program and pick a competitive specialty (surgery, uro, derm,rad) that has high remuneration. MDs make a lot more money than pharmDs for a little bit more schooling. Getting a pharmD would be a lot of debt (100K+) to be added to an MD (200k+). If you get a full ride for both degrees I would get both degrees as the knowledge may outweigh the productivity cost of lost wages in the context of your narrative.

 

[Humble Sloth]

I agree- might not be illegal, but definitely a bad idea.

OP, you could wind up with $200K of student loan debt from just one of these degrees. If you do both, you could be half a million in the hole by the time you're 30, and that's going to make it very difficult for you to do things like buy a house or save for retirement. Bear in mind that student loans never go away, even if you declare bankruptcy. You'll have them until you either pay them off or die. I strongly encourage you to pick just one of the two.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

With income based repayment they do eventually go away, a few decades before one is expected to die.

 

[Lnsean]

I find your answer quite rude. I have been studying to become a pharmacist since I was about 14; I wasn't daydreaming about being a movie star or some other bull****. I had my mind set on it from the start and am not your typical "transfer programs" student who is unsure with himself and waits until he is 30 to actually settle on pathway (not that there is anything wrong with that, but you get my point). I know I want to be a pharmacist. I never wanted to be a doctor, but the thought came into my head in January when I was hospitalized. Thus, this question was completely theoretical. Now, don't tell me that I don't deserve to be accepted. Just because I'm "taking up a spot from someone who wants to be a pharmacist"?? Passion and effort come first, but effort is the most important. I don't care how much someone wants to become a pharmacist, if their work (grades, resume, etc.) don't match up to mine, they don't deserve the spot instead of me. YOU are what's wrong with the application process.

He's not rude. He's telling you that if your desire isn't pharmacy then you shouldn't take it from a student who wants to be one. That's what all schools are/should be screening for. If you get butt hurt everytime some one tells you something you don't like then you obviously don't have the maturity for either degree. Best bet is to stay away from healthcare altogether.

 

[gwarm01]

He's not rude. He's telling you that if your desire isn't pharmacy then you shouldn't take it from a student who wants to be one. That's what all schools are/should be screening for. If you get butt hurt everytime some one tells you something you don't like then you obviously don't have the maturity for either degree. Best bet is to stay away from healthcare altogether.

 

[AcceleratedPharmacist]

He's not rude. He's telling you that if your desire isn't pharmacy then you shouldn't take it from a student who wants to be one. That's what all schools are/should be screening for. If you get butt hurt everytime some one tells you something you don't like then you obviously don't have the maturity for either degree. Best bet is to stay away from healthcare altogether.

Not getting butt hurt, just wondering why somebody who I don't know and who doesn't know me is telling me I don't deserve something that I've worked hard for. As I mentioned, I had no intention of being a doctor. Sure I thought about, but I also thought about other professions, who hasn't. Point is, I decided on pharmacy and will be attending pharmacy school. The entire question is based of the hypothetical situation that I do decide to do both degrees, and whether or not it's actually possible to prescribe as a doctor and fill as a pharmacist. In fact, this thread has sort of spiraled off topic. I was purely asking the legality of doing this. I was merely interested in the answer and keeping my options open. BenJammin, instead of answering the question at hand, begins to basically derail off topic and fill in the blank with assumptions. For some reason he seems to be under the impression that pharmacy is not my desire...without even meeting me. If I wanted to be a doctor, I would'nt have applied to pharmacy. Plus who is he to say its wrong of me to do both? It's my life, I'll do as I see fit. Please read the question, please answer appropriately. I simply asked if it was ALLOWED. I didn't ask whether I should do it, whether pharmacy is right for me, or anything else. Sheesh, everybody's a critic.

 

[confettiflyer]

Please read the question, please answer appropriately.

Sir, yes sir!

 

[confettiflyer]

Please read the question, please answer appropriately. I simply asked if it was ALLOWED. I didn't ask whether I should do it, whether pharmacy is right for me, or anything else. Sheesh, everybody's a critic.

You clearly haven't been on these forums....ever. That's the whole point we exist, to go off topic, question motives, dive into the hypothetical, and criticize each other.

God help you when a physician does that to you on ICU rounds in front of the team, hopefully your school & training will enable you to grow a backbone and dish it right back instead of complaining that we're not being nice and not following rules that don't exist.

 

[AcceleratedPharmacist]

You clearly haven't been on these forums....ever. That's the whole point we exist, to go off topic, question motives, dive into the hypothetical, and criticize each other.

God help you when a physician does that to you on ICU rounds in front of the team, hopefully your school & training will enable you to grow a backbone and dish it right back instead of complaining that we're not being nice and not following rules that don't exist.

Umm... You do realize the fundamental laws of (civilized) society revolve around rules that don't actually "exist"

Nonetheless, I think I've learned a lot from this post. For those of you who actually answered the question, or even went off topic but gave an interesting and enlightening response, thanks for the help!

 

[confettiflyer]

Umm... You do realize the fundamental laws of (civilized) society revolve around rules that don't actually "exist"

Nonetheless, I think I've learned a lot from this post. For those of you who actually answered the question, or even went off topic but gave an interesting and enlightening response, thanks for the help!

Passive aggressive response. Classic.

 

[zelman]

If I get a job designing cars for Ferrari, can I work at a valvoline instant oil change?

 

[confettiflyer]

If I get a job designing cars for Ferrari, can I work at a valvoline instant oil change?

That's a trick question, because no Ferrari owner would take their car to some place with "instant oil change" in its name!

 

[zelman]

That's a trick question, because no Ferrari owner would take their car to some place with "instant oil change" in its name!

Come on! I'm guaranteed to double my monies as long as people don't use too many coupons.

 

[confettiflyer]

Come on! I'm guaranteed to double my monies as long as people don't use too many coupons.

You, sir, just don't know the extreme joys that extreme couponing bestows upon me.

 

[Sine Cura]

Because you work hard, it follows that you deserve it? Right

Going off topic and trolling. How do Internet forums work again?

 

[BenJammin]

I find your answer quite rude. I have been studying to become a pharmacist since I was about 14; I wasn't daydreaming about being a movie star or some other bull****. I had my mind set on it from the start and am not your typical "transfer programs" student who is unsure with himself and waits until he is 30 to actually settle on pathway (not that there is anything wrong with that, but you get my point). I know I want to be a pharmacist. I never wanted to be a doctor, but the thought came into my head in January when I was hospitalized. Thus, this question was completely theoretical. Now, don't tell me that I don't deserve to be accepted. Just because I'm "taking up a spot from someone who wants to be a pharmacist"?? Passion and effort come first, but effort is the most important. I don't care how much someone wants to become a pharmacist, if their work (grades, resume, etc.) don't match up to mine, they don't deserve the spot instead of me. YOU are what's wrong with the application process.

All of that rambling and you still haven't made a coherent point. Do you want to be a pharmacist or a physician? Pick one.

 

[gwarm01]

Not getting butt hurt, just wondering why somebody who I don't know and who doesn't know me is telling me I don't deserve something that I've worked hard for. As I mentioned, I had no intention of being a doctor. Sure I thought about, but I also thought about other professions, who hasn't. Point is, I decided on pharmacy and will be attending pharmacy school. The entire question is based of the hypothetical situation that I do decide to do both degrees, and whether or not it's actually possible to prescribe as a doctor and fill as a pharmacist. In fact, this thread has sort of spiraled off topic. I was purely asking the legality of doing this. I was merely interested in the answer and keeping my options open. BenJammin, instead of answering the question at hand, begins to basically derail off topic and fill in the blank with assumptions. For some reason he seems to be under the impression that pharmacy is not my desire...without even meeting me. If I wanted to be a doctor, I would'nt have applied to pharmacy. Plus who is he to say its wrong of me to do both? It's my life, I'll do as I see fit. Please read the question, please answer appropriately. I simply asked if it was ALLOWED. I didn't ask whether I should do it, whether pharmacy is right for me, or anything else. Sheesh, everybody's a critic.

Oh my sweet summer child..

 

[PikminOC]

Hi guys. I am about to attend an accelerated pharmacy program next semester and am a fairly young guy, meaning I'll have a pharm. D quicker. I'm thinking about becoming a doctor afterwords. So my question is... If I become a Medical Doctor (M.D) after becoming a Pharmacist (Pharm. D), would I be able to both prescribe medications (as a medical doctor) and fill them (as a pharmacist)?

You can do both without the pharmd. More and more physicians are dispensing their own meds.
This is a machine that can be used but you don't need one.
http://www.pharmacist.com/pharmacy-vending-machine
...
I know of dentists, vets, physicians who dispense their own meds.
At the vet, the give out the painkillers and antibiotics after surgery.

 

[PikminOC]

And good for you original poster, I knew of many pharmds who went on to become mds in my class.