Dual M.D./PharmD. Programs?

[badgerpharm09]

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Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had any information on any schools in the U.S. that offer a dual Pharm D. and M.D. (if such a thing exists)? I see there are Pharm D./ J.D. and Pharm D. /M.B.A. combinations (among others), but does anyone have any info on specifically an Pharm D./ M.D. program?

Thanks

 

[witness23]

hey man,


i may be more confused than the average person on this topic, but i (again, maybe ignorantly) find a dual md/pharmD degree to be pointless.

 

[rx515]

As far as I know, no dual degree programs exist for MD/PharmD. I also agree that for most specialties it is not necessary. Perhaps it may be useful if you wanted to do research with pharmaceuticals, but even then I would think a PhD in pharmacology/ceutics would be better. I have met a couple of people that have both degrees, but they were pharmacists that had went back to school and don't really utilize most pharmacy knowledge anymore.

 

[badgerpharm09]

Thanks for the replies;

I'm debating between pursuing an M.D. or Pharm. D, but before turning it into a "Which should I do- M.D. or Pharm.D. ?" posts, I wanted to see if a dual degree program exists. My dad (an emergency med D.O.) said that when he was in med school, there were a small amount of pharmacists and biochemists who were pursuing their D.O. or M.D., but I geuss there has been a larger seperation between the branches of allied health since the 1970's.

I'm starting my junior year of undergrad, and was really fascinated w/pharm after taking Organic Chem my sophmore year. . .I geuss I'll pray and think about which branch (if either) to pursue 🙂

Thanks again!

 

[DoctorDeMan]

The reason there were people doing both pharmacy and MDs in the 1970's, is the PharmD is a newer degree and pharmacists had bachelors degrees. People who were dual pharmacy and MD did not have two doctorates, rather an undergraduate degree in pharmacy and a graduate degree in medicine (MD).


Nowadays, it would make very little sense to pursue a PharmD (a doctorate of pharmacy) in addition to an MD all on top of a bachelor's degree.

 

[pietachok]

I believe that what you are looking for is to become an M.D. who does a fellowship in "Clinical Pharmacology."

These individuals may do residency in many fields, from internal medicine to psychiatry to anesthesiology, but after residency, they do a fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology to become a specialist in drug interactions, medication management, medication related problems, drug overdose, drug metabolism, etc.

They can help patients with multiple illnesses who require many medications and thus a specialist who can, to a certain extent coordinate/adjust the treatments prescribed by their other specialists. Some work in addiction. Others really specialize in aspects of clinical trials regarding drug research.

Here's the American Board of Clinical Pharmacology's recognized programs:
www.abcp.net/training.html

 

[badgerpharm09]

Hey all

Thanks for the responses; Pietachok, I did not know that such a fellowship in clinical pharmacology existed. Hmm, that might be something I'll consider- I wish there was focus in allied health that was heavy on pharmacy, but had more patient interaction that conseling/advising that community pharmacists do.

I really want to do some hands on, physical activites; compounding, though less common, kinda interests me; and as for medicine, endocrinology or anesthesiology (pain managament) with clinical pharmacology might be interesting. On top of that, teaching is appealing to me too. . . Hmm . . .I got more fields to consider now 🙂


Thanks again; have a blessed day

 

[DeadCactus]

It seems a bit silly to base your career decision based on the specific nuances of some fellowship or rare career path you may or may not take a decade later. The question is simple: are you more interested in diagnosing patients or managing medicines? The specifics of the career can be altered to your specific desires, but there is a core truth behind the reality of what your career in both fields is most likely to entail.

I will say it seems far more likely to be a physician involved in pharmaceuticals than a pharmacist involved in patient diagnosis/treatment. Pharmacy is a bit safer for the uncertain though.

 

[Quadratic]

Hey all

Thanks for the responses; Pietachok, I did not know that such a fellowship in clinical pharmacology existed. Hmm, that might be something I'll consider- I wish there was focus in allied health that was heavy on pharmacy, but had more patient interaction that conseling/advising that community pharmacists do.

I really want to do some hands on, physical activites; compounding, though less common, kinda interests me; and as for medicine, endocrinology or anesthesiology (pain managament) with clinical pharmacology might be interesting. On top of that, teaching is appealing to me too. . . Hmm . . .I got more fields to consider now 🙂


Thanks again; have a blessed day

Just go ahead and sample every specialty. It's the only way you'll be complete. Of course you'll also be broke...

 

[badgerpharm09]

Dead Cactus, thanks for that clear cut question 🙂 I tend to look at specific areas of different fields that I like and build the field around that, rather than looking at the field in general, and they specializing (yeah, I know; I do things differently). Well, I have some time ahead to discern. . .