Considering Pharmacy

[commymommy]

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I've been browsing through the forum here for a few days because I'm contemplating switching from pre-med to pre-pharmacy...something that really surprises me.

There are many reasons that I have been wavering on the pre-med route...largest in my mind is the fact that I have 3 children and 1 on the way. My dh is an ID physician and we narrowly survived 8 years of residency and fellowship with him. I have struggled with the idea of putting myself and my family throught that.

I currently have a bachelors's degree (double major psych/german) with an overall gpa of 3.45...but 3.95 for the last two years. I did a post-bacc in Biology (3.0 🙁 ) and a Master's in Molecular Biology (3.75+). I'm currently teaching part-time at our state U as a volunteer and am slowly taking more ugrad science courses to boost my ugrad gpa.

I did take two grad pharmacy courses during my Master's and loved them: Nucleotide structure and funcition and Neuropharm.

I am concerned because my post-bacc performance was up and down depending on my husband's rotation at the time and the needs of my children.

I think that my masters might help me? (I dont' know how this is viewed in the admissions process for pharmD?)

In any case, I honestly used to think that a pharmacist 'just' filled prescriptions 🙄 I had very little insight into the other job possibilities, ie working in Academics, working in a Hospital, etc. My husand works with the pharmacists quite a bit to get drug dosages right, etc.

It sounds like it could be an interesting career with a combination of science and some patient contact.

Can anyone give me some more insight into the the different roles of a pharmacist and how they came to choose this career? Also...can you tell me the things that you like the most about working as a pharmacist and the things that you like the least?


Sorry for the long post.

kris

 

[Modnar]

Mommd2be, it sounds like your main concern in PharmD vs. med is having time to spend with your family. Pharmacy definitely has the advantage there - most pharmacists work 8 hour days with little overtime. That was one of the deciding factors for me. I want to do something science-based, but I'd also like to have a life.

With grades like yours, you should have little trouble getting into a pharmacy school as long as you do OK on the PCAT. Plus, pre-pharm classes are not too different from pre-med classes, so you've probably already taken most of what you need.

What attracted you to medicine in the first place? Do you think you could get that from pharmacy? Have you considered other options, such as PA school?

Good luck, and do let us know what you decide. 🙂

 

[Triangulation]

I bumped the 'why pharmacy' thread for you. Check it out. There are several other threads pertaining the same idea. READ THEM ALL OR ELSE 😉 Just playin' This should get you started. I'd also bite the bullet and volunteer in a pharmacy to see if it'll work for you.

 

[commymommy]

Thank you both for your feedback...I will read the why pharmacy thread...and I think the idea of volunteering in a pharmacy is AWESOME. I will get on that this week!

I'm really starting to get excited about this as I read more about the profession of pharmacy.

kris

 

[Monkeyguts]

mommd,

I PM'ed you.

 

[johnnyk]

I have to agree with everything that I have read. I can't tell you how much I love the world of Pharmacy. It is so much more than I could even imagine. I worked as a tech in high school and during my prereq's....and still was amazed at the possibilities that pharmacy brings. I am currently working as a Clinical Pharmacist at a very large teaching institution in Detroit and love being a part of the medical team, assisting in choosing appropriate medications, and teaching about meds especially to pharm and med students, interns and residents. I think this career can be very rewarding, make decent money, and go home after an 8 hour day. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[jdpharmd?]

Originally posted by johnnyk
I have to agree with everything that I have read. I can't tell you how much I love the world of Pharmacy. It is so much more than I could even imagine. I worked as a tech in high school and during my prereq's....and still was amazed at the possibilities that pharmacy brings. I am currently working as a Clinical Pharmacist at a very large teaching institution in Detroit and love being a part of the medical team, assisting in choosing appropriate medications, and teaching about meds especially to pharm and med students, interns and residents. I think this career can be very rewarding, make decent money, and go home after an 8 hour day. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Another Michigander? YEY!

By the way, "a very large teaching institution in Detroit" makes me think of Wayne State. Am I close?

Jd
(Born in Detroit at Henry Ford Hospital)

 

[johnnyk]

dead on.....Harper University Hospital, Detroit Medical Center (Wayne State University)

 

[commymommy]

jonnyk,

Can you elaborate a little bit more about what you do...kind of a "day in the life" kind of a thing?

kris

 

[johnnyk]

My position is clinical/distribution 70%/30%. I'm sure you can imagine my distribution duties. The remaining days start around 7am....head up to the floors round with med team, make any important interventions, etc.....enter some orders for my floor....then we also do dosing of tobra/gent, warfarin, heparin, argatroban, etc......as I go, I make interventions all day long. Interventions can be anything from renal dose adjustment to potentially fatal errors. I know this sounds very vague, but every day is extremely different. You never know what can happen in one day. Any specific questions?

 

[chitowngyrl]

Johnnyk,
You are just the person I needed to talk too! I am very interested in going into Clinical. And would very much appreciate any info you have!
On a typical day, what kind of hours do you put in? What time do you typically come in and what time do you leave? Also I know you have to do a residency. How long was yours and what were your hours like? I recently made the switch from pre-med to pre-pharm. So I really haven't heard much about what the pharmacy residency is like? Can you please feel me in!

 

[johnnyk]

Okay....get this.....I didn't do a residency! There are clinical positions that do not require a residency, but hospital experience would definitely be an asset here. My position is not 100% clinical (those typically require a residency). Residencies can be very demanding.....the last year of my Pharm.D. program mimics a residency in that you get placed at one institution and have core rotations, etc, and I can tell you that the students were often there as long as or longer than the residents. Thinking back my absolute worst day was 0630 to 2200. I know that sounds crazy, and it is, but it happened once in the entire year. My position is mostly days.....0700-1530, but I also work about one afternoon per week 1500-2300 (sounds ****ty, but I actually like having the day to get stuff done during the week when stuff is closed on the weekend). Then i usually work 1 out of 4 weekends. Any other questions?

Oh and one thing I forgot.....typically the 100% clinical positions are salaried (not hourly)....make about the $ (or a little less), often work more than 8hrs a day, and have other responsibilities as well (committees, etc)....their day is typically 0700-1700 (for normal people, some people NEVER go home)

 

[commymommy]

Thanks for the info about your clinical responsibilities...I am not sure that I know enough yet to ask a more specific question....though I am curious as to whether you are involved in any research at all?

So residency was very demanding time-wise for the time that you did it? Does it depend on the type of residency program or the location?

How difficult is it to get a clinical position without the residency/fellowship?

kris

 

[johnnyk]

I have really just started working.....no research yet...but I have some small plans.

I hope I didn't mislead you, I did not complete or even start a residency. Residencies are definitely demanding time-wise, some more than others....but it would be hard to find one that isn't.

Getting a job? That is a hard one. I think a lot depends on the area where you plan to practice. Some areas have a very strong clinical practice (such as Detroit, who thought they were strong at anything?? LOL)....other cities have less opportunities. You will get a feel for the market in your area as you go through school. It is not necessary to decide now about a residency. You will change your mind at least a dozen times before you come to the end (that I can guarantee you).

 

[commymommy]

Johnnyk,

I did understand that you had started residency but left because you were offered your current position...it seems that it was worth it for you!!!! Your job sounds like exactly what I would be looking for 😀

Thanks for all of the feedback and info.

kris

 

[rutpharm]

Johnnyk

Which state do you practice in? I was planning to move to CA since clinical pharmacy tends to be more progressive in CA than the east coast.

 

[johnnyk]

Kris -- I did NOT start a residency. I was very close to entering the match when I received the position I had wanted.

RutPharm -- MI!

 

[jdpharmd?]

Michigan represent. 😀

 

[johnnyk]

yeah, Eminem and I be representin'

 

[jdpharmd?]

..and Kid Rock, and Bob Segar. 😀

 

[LVPharm]

...and Dr. Jack Kevorkian, and RoboCop! 😀 😱

 

[Suey]

Originally posted by johnnyk
I worked as a tech in high school and during my prereq's....and still was amazed at the possibilities that pharmacy brings.

johnnyk,

I'm a new prepharm and a sophomore in college and I'm interested in becoming a tech. I'm not too familiar with the whole process but was it hard for you to be a tech and take a load of classes at the same time? Do techs have a certain number of hours they have to work? I would only want to work 10 hrs/week during the school year. Is that possible?

And if anyone is able to answer this for me but how do you go about becoming a tech? Do you take a course and then pass an exam after? How much does the course cost and how long is it?

Thanks!

 

[chitowngyrl]

Suey,

Where do you live? Because the type of training needed to become a tech depends on the state that you live in. Some states require that you take some kind of course. However, here in IL, they give you on-the-job training.

You should find this link below helpful

http://www.allalliedhealthschools.com/featured/pharmacy_tech.php?src=goo3

 

[pmpharmtech]

Suey,

I have been training on the job to be a pharmacy tech for the past year. I am a pre-med junior undergrad who works about 20 hours a week. I am hoping to take the certification examination in November. Everything I know has been on the job but I will probably get some of the written review material to go over. I work at an independent chain that does traditional drug dispensing as well as pharmacutical compounding. The pharmacist has a "clean room" where he does his sterile preparations. I really enjoy my job and have considered pharmacy if the medical road doesn't work out. If you have any questions feel free to ask away.