Dual degree in pharmacy and physician assistant studies

[Kevin.Mero]

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What do you think of the following? Is it a good move??

Two U.S. universities are offering novel pharmacy degree programs.

The University of Rhode Island (URI) in Kingston, RI, and Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, are now offering a dual degree in pharmacy and physician assistant studies. This is the first collaboration of its type between public and private universities in the country.

http://www.drugtopics.com/small-dos...C809&elq_cid=824481&elq_mid=3836&rememberme=1

 

[297point1]

What do you think of the following? Is it a good move??

NO

 

[jblil]

It's a dumb idea, and folks who sign up for these programs are even dumber. You can't work as a PA and as a pharmacist at the same time.

 

[BC_89]

What do you think of the following? Is it a good move??

Two U.S. universities are offering novel pharmacy degree programs.

The University of Rhode Island (URI) in Kingston, RI, and Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, are now offering a dual degree in pharmacy and physician assistant studies. This is the first collaboration of its type between public and private universities in the country.

http://www.drugtopics.com/small-dos...C809&elq_cid=824481&elq_mid=3836&rememberme=1

No...

I doubt anyone would higher one individual to practice as both a PA and Pharmacist. In the end, only one degree can be used in such a way that one becomes an expert in “practice settings” while the other hits atrophy in patient care.

I don’t want to be diagnosed by a part-time PA part-time pharmacist.

Knowledge follows the unwritten law in a degree: Use it or lose it.

 

[wagrxm2000]

I think this is perfect for @PAtoPharm

 

[Kevin.Mero]

Given the way healthcare is going in the US, and just how narrow the PharmD degree is. Is this not a much better option for a dual degree than having more PharmD/MBA's? Is this not much better than Rutger's dual PharmD/MD degree??

 

[gwarm01]

Maybe we should start a PharmD/PA/Nurse practitioner program.

 

[Peterpiper1]

Just be a PA. Less years of study, less debt, better job prospects, and less saturation (for now).

 

[VictorOfHungerGames]

lol so ideally, one can write the prescription and dispense at the same time... the way pharmacy is going right now, why the hell not? lol shoot, i might actually go get a PA degree... haha

 

[VA77]

Yeap. Another brilliant idea brought to you folks by the academic white castles. I don't know of a single state that will let you be both at the same time...other MDs would have caught onto this a long time ago. I honestly don't know how people can get so far up the ladder and be so dumb. I mean its like watching a bird fly backwards. You see it but can't believe it.

 

[gwarm01]

lol so ideally, one can write the prescription and dispense at the same time... the way pharmacy is going right now, why the hell not? lol shoot, i might actually go get a PA degree... haha

Physicians can already dispense legally. I'm not sure if PAs are extended that privilege. They cannot practice independently, so I would guess not.

 

[beautifulrobot]

I can see the advantage of tagging on the PA program rather than creating a unique "Advanced pharmacist practitioner" program. There are clinical pharmacists who work in certain roles and settings that would benefit from being trained to conduct a physical evaluation and perform medical procedures beyond just administering medications (I'm thinking VA/DOD, IHS, BOP, and ICE). But those are settings that utilize pharmacists in such ways because they have a shortage of mid-level providers, and they are not profit/revenue generation-driven. The PharmD/PA would result in a mid-level provider who has more pharmacology knowledge than is truly necessary for them to do their work, and would have no real appeal in the private sector.

 

[MatCauthon]

“We worked with Johnson & Wales University to design a program in which our students would complete both degrees in a seven-year span. We are one of the only public institutions with the 0-6 PharmD degree,” Celia P MacDonnell PharmD, clinical professor of pharmacy at URI’s College of Pharmacy, tells Drug Topics. “The idea was to complete both degrees in the same timeframe as completing a PGY1 Residency training."

Honestly, this would de-risk pharmacy school quite a bit. If you could get 2 years of pre-reqs, pharmacy degree, and PA degree done in 7 years I could see some attractiveness in that. Most people that go to PA school are already going to spend 6 years (4 years undergrad plus 2 years PA) to get this degree.

What would be far more interesting is if they completed a bridge program for career-changing pharmacists to get into PA. I'm sure many of the unemployed/underemployed pharmacists would be interested in that.

 

[lord999]

And University of Washington, which Sullivan does have some private comments on.

 

[Modest_anteater]

What do you think of the following? Is it a good move??

Two U.S. universities are offering novel pharmacy degree programs.

The University of Rhode Island (URI) in Kingston, RI, and Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, are now offering a dual degree in pharmacy and physician assistant studies. This is the first collaboration of its type between public and private universities in the country.

http://www.drugtopics.com/small-dos...C809&elq_cid=824481&elq_mid=3836&rememberme=1

I think it's good. you are like guaranteed a job if you have a PA degree that's a in-demand major.

 

[Rouelle]

I’m pretty sure this dual degree has already been done (relatively unsuccessfully) at a couple places. In fact, I’m pretty sure I have seen (posted on?) threads here about it. [yes, I’m too lazy to search for those threads right now]

 

[BC_89]

What would be far more interesting is if they completed a bridge program for career-changing pharmacists to get into PA. I'm sure many of the unemployed/underemployed pharmacists would be interested in that.

This.

 

[owlegrad]

What would be far more interesting is if they completed a bridge program for career-changing pharmacists to get into PA. I'm sure many of the unemployed/underemployed pharmacists would be interested in that.

Genius! You should market that ASAP.

 

[Tommy1234]

They try to copy University of Washington PharmD/PA program. It's good dual degree. Much better than PharmD/MPH or PharmD/MBA or PharmD/MHA. You can be a dispenser and prescriber but not at same time. If anyone plan to open private office inside a independent pharmacy, the PharmD/PA will be good investment. Plus, if no jobs in pharmacy, then work as PA

 

[Seriously Serious]

PharmD/PA degree sounds like a backdoor MD/DO attempt

 

[Kevin.Mero]

See the following article, it speaks well to the benefits of incorporating the Pharmacist into a medical practice. Could also being a PA-C be the next step as this evolves?

More Pharmacists Move into Medical Practices, More Doctors See Value
http://www.drugtopics.com/career/more-pharmacists-move-medical-practices-more-doctors-see-value

 

[NicMouse64]

PharmD/PA degree sounds like a backdoor MD/DO attempt

It sounds just like the NPs with PHDs. It won't ever be the same. If you want to be a physician go to medical school. If you want to be a pharmacist go to pharmacy school. What a S***show.

 

[Seriously Serious]

It sounds just like the NPs with PHDs. It won't ever be the same. If you want to be a physician go to medical school. If you want to be a pharmacist go to pharmacy school. What a S***show.

Agreed. What a mess.

 

[NicMouse64]

Agreed. What a mess.

I've been following these forums for quite awhile as I have many friends deciding to go into pharmacy. It is the same mistake in thinking that the F***ing AAMC is trying to do with residency expansion. The profession of pharmacy has done a poor job of self policing. They think more pharmacists=good. Someone in the leadership needs to find a way to shut down 70% of these schools, after they graduate their current classes of course.