If dentists and doctors have a wide raqnge of specialties to choose from,

[SeekerofTruth]

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why don't pharmacists have the same options? Do you think the profession will expand?

 

[Sparda29]

Nobody tell him.

 

[charfdorn]

Nobody tell him.

Yeah, it sucks that there's only retail and hospital.

 

[SeekerofTruth]

Don't be a jerk.
I know of residencies and fellowships.
I also know that those aren't well respected on this forum.
I also know the not many people know about pharmacists outside of retail.

Why not?

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I recommend using the search function and reading old threads in this forum and in PREpharmacy to find answers to your questions. Good luck!

 

[SHC1984]

There are nuclear, long-term care, manage care, consultant pharmacist, pharmacist that work from home writing protocols, mail order pharmacist, industry, hosptial, retail, director of hospital, pharmacist that work over the phone to answer people's questions (sorry forgot the name of that LOL...), pharmaceutical sales reps can also be pharmacists, etc.

There are many fields of pharmacy however retail is most well known BECAUSE the paid is the highest and people tend to flock to that first b/c of the pay. I however, prefer to work from home and I do not care how much retail paids I will not do it period. LOL...

 

[owlegrad]

There are nuclear, long-term care, manage care, consultant pharmacist, pharmacist that work from home writing protocols, mail order pharmacist, industry, hosptial, retail, director of hospital, pharmacist that work over the phone to answer people's questions (sorry forgot the name of that LOL...), pharmaceutical sales reps can also be pharmacists, etc.
...

Did you mean that the other way around by any chance? A pharmacist can apply to be a sales rep, but a sales rep would still need to go to pharmacy school before being a pharmacist.

 

[owlegrad]

Nobody tell him.

This cracked me up.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

why don't pharmacists have the same options? Do you think the profession will expand?

I'd say pharmacists have way more opportunities than dentists. How many specialties do dentists really have? I know there's orthodontia (and maybe restorative), but what else is there? I thought oral surgeons have dental training but basically have medical training above that. Not to be insulting to dentists, which do very important work, and I'm sure there's more than I know of. But I'm kind of curious what the OP thinks...

 

[Passion4Sci]

The PharmD is incredibly flexible...

 

[SouthernBelle10]

why don't pharmacists have the same options? Do you think the profession will expand?

I think my practice will expand to the lucrative street corner pharmaceutical distribution market. I mean, what more could I want? Set your own hours, work in the great outdoors, all cash business so no pesky IRS to worry with. Golden.🙄

 

[SHC1984]

Did you mean that the other way around by any chance? A pharmacist can apply to be a sales rep, but a sales rep would still need to go to pharmacy school before being a pharmacist.

That's what I mean...my bad. 😳

 

[SHC1984]

I'd say pharmacists have way more opportunities than dentists. How many specialties do dentists really have? I know there's orthodontia (and maybe restorative), but what else is there? I thought oral surgeons have dental training but basically have medical training above that. Not to be insulting to dentists, which do very important work, and I'm sure there's more than I know of. But I'm kind of curious what the OP thinks...

The American Dental Association recognizes nine dental specialties: Public Health Dentistry, Endodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (Oral Surgeon), Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, and General Dentistry.

Dentists are in a great demand unlike pharmacists. There are only 52 dental schools in the country. And of course dentists make a lot more money (especially if you are a orthodontics or oral surgeon).

With all that being said, it still wasn't enough for me to stay in dental school.

 

[SHC1984]

I think the better question for the OP is why isn't pharmacists paid as much as doctors and dentists. Man, I sure wish they were too, then I would have gone straight into pharmacy in the first place! 😉

 

[Passion4Sci]

The American Dental Association recognizes nine dental specialties: Public Health Dentistry, Endodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (Oral Surgeon), Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, and General Dentistry.

Dentists are in a great demand unlike pharmacists. There are only 52 dental schools in the country. And of course dentists make a lot more money (especially if you are a orthodontics or oral surgeon).

With all that being said, it still wasn't enough for me to stay in dental school.

IMO, dentists have far fewer places to work than do physicians or pharmacists.

Can you change my opinion on that?

 

[SHC1984]

IMO, dentists have far fewer places to work than do physicians or pharmacists.

Can you change my opinion on that?

hmmm....r you saying that it is harder for dentists to find a job than pharmacists and physicians? or r you saying that dentists only can work in dental offices working in people's mouths, while pharmacists and physicans have many more different fields open to them?

I agree with the second part. A dentist can pretty much only work in people's mouths. LOL...I heard of saturations of general dentists in certain cities too, but overall I think dentistry is in demand and the amount of dental schools opened are much better regulated. I also think that if you can get into a ortho or oral surgery residenices then you don't ever have to worry about saturation b/c there are sooooo FEW spots available for ortho/oral surgery that VERY FEW people are even able to get into those specalities that a saturation of those jobs will never happen and therefore those two jobs will always be in high demand b/c they are so well regulated!!!

But fewer places to work as in an Orthodontists can only do braces and nothing else? OF COURSE! lol...they only do that job, but will they ever have to worry about saturation OR having too many people competing against them? NO b/c there are so few ortho spots in the country and therefore very few orthodontists can graduate every year. Hence why it is near impossible to become one. 🙁

Pharmacist can do many more things and work in many more DIFFERENT areas (not just retail of course) BUT they aren't regulated nearly as well and therefore it is very easy to obtain a PharmD so there are waaaaaay too many people graduating with PharmDs then there are jobs available, so we will have to worry about the saturation. 🙄

That's how I see the jobs.

 

[Sparda29]

IMO, dentists have far fewer places to work than do physicians or pharmacists.

Can you change my opinion on that?

Private practice, hospitals, nursing homes, jails (maybe).

 

[owlegrad]

Private practice, hospitals, nursing homes, jails (maybe).

Health Dept.

 

[Sparda29]

Health Dept.

Yeah, I forgot about that one.

I was gonna apply for a NYC Parking Permit to let me park in No-Parking zones after my knee surgery (ACL reconstruction), but the rule to get one of those blue handicap placards is that the injury has to be permanent and a severely limiting mobility.

I was gonna have my doctor just sign the form but then I read that they require a NYC DOH physician to do a medical exam as well.

 

[DocJL]

The American Dental Association recognizes nine dental specialties: Public Health Dentistry, Endodontics, Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (Oral Surgeon), Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, and General Dentistry.

Dentists are in a great demand unlike pharmacists. There are only 52 dental schools in the country. And of course dentists make a lot more money (especially if you are a orthodontics or oral surgeon).

With all that being said, it still wasn't enough for me to stay in dental school.

Just bored and surfing the different discussions.

SHC you are spot on, and seem to know quite a bit about dentistry! any family members in the dental profession (or dental school)?

and dentists are in pretty high demand, but like everything else it's supply and demand, if you go to a large city in California and work for somebody else you may only make 100k doing high volume busting your butt. if you are willing to go to a smaller town in an area where the economy is doing better (like Texas), open your own practice, and work hard to build it for a few years you can make 3-5 times that amount.

 

[DocJL]

Private practice, hospitals, nursing homes, jails (maybe).

Military (start as an 03 Captain in the Army or Lieutenant in the Navy)
Private solo practice, partnership or group practice.
Associate.
Employee for corporate office.

(I've done everything listed above)

 

[SHC1984]

Just bored and surfing the different discussions.

SHC you are spot on, and seem to know quite a bit about dentistry! any family members in the dental profession (or dental school)?

and dentists are in pretty high demand, but like everything else it's supply and demand, if you go to a large city in California and work for somebody else you may only make 100k doing high volume busting your butt. if you are willing to go to a smaller town in an area where the economy is doing better (like Texas), open your own practice, and work hard to build it for a few years you can make 3-5 times that amount.

I was in dental school. I was a dental student, but dropped out of dental school because dentistry wasn't for me. I originally went into dentistry because I wanted to become an orthodontist (who doesn't?). However, I lack the handskills and I don't really like the direct patient contact. (Plus I was at a top Ivy League dental school and the competition was keen...I wasn't even sure if I can LAND a ortho residency...that made me very insecure!) The amount of loans I would have to take out to finish dental school and open up my own practice was also scarying me. I wanted a job with less or no patient contact, so I decided it was best that I leave dental school.

I always thought dentistry was a great profession. I think the price of some of the dental schools are a RIP off though! I would never take out that much money for anything.

Later, when I choose pharmacy I was not aware of the bad job market and saturation. That is very unfortunate. However, job description wise pharmacy is a better fit for me.

 

[DocJL]

I was in dental school. I was a dental student, but dropped out of dental school because dentistry wasn't for me. I originally went into dentistry because I wanted to become an orthodontist (who doesn't?). However, I lack the handskills and I don't really like the direct patient contact. (Plus I was at a top Ivy League dental school and the competition was keen...I wasn't even sure if I can LAND a ortho residency...that made me very insecure!) The amount of loans I would have to take out to finish dental school and open up my own practice was also scarying me. I wanted a job with less or no patient contact, so I decided it was best that I leave dental school.

I always thought dentistry was a great profession. I think the price of some of the dental schools are a RIP off though! I would never take out that much money for anything.

Later, when I choose pharmacy I was not aware of the bad job market and saturation. That is very unfortunate. However, job description wise pharmacy is a better fit for me.

Interesting! can I ask which school? I hope you figured out it wasn't for you in the first semester, as is sure as heck IS expensive.

Reminds me of an assistant I had a few years back. Guy in his last year of undergrad college, tall, good looking, clean-cut (he "looked like a doctor" lol), was applying to dental school. So he came to work at my office as a low level beginning assistant, to learn a few things and get some recommendations. I really liked him and would always try to include him on anything "cool", like impacted wisdom teeth, periodontal surgeries, etc. (I had just gotten out of the Navy and had lots of extra training in these areas). Anyways after a couple of months he comes up to me and says, "Doctor I wanted to thank you for showing me so much about dentistry, I have actually withdrawn my applications to dental school so I wanted you to know"

I was flabbergasted! I thought, "OMG I did something to ruin this guys ambitions!" I asked him why and he told me, "Ya know, I guess I never really realized I was going to have to work with sharp instruments and blood all day"

go figure! at least he sorted it out for himself before suffering through the cost and hard work of starting dental school!

 

[SHC1984]

Interesting! can I ask which school? I hope you figured out it wasn't for you in the first semester, as is sure as heck IS expensive.

Reminds me of an assistant I had a few years back. Guy in his last year of undergrad college, tall, good looking, clean-cut (he "looked like a doctor" lol), was applying to dental school. So he came to work at my office as a low level beginning assistant, to learn a few things and get some recommendations. I really liked him and would always try to include him on anything "cool", like impacted wisdom teeth, periodontal surgeries, etc. (I had just gotten out of the Navy and had lots of extra training in these areas). Anyways after a couple of months he comes up to me and says, "Doctor I wanted to thank you for showing me so much about dentistry, I have actually withdrawn my applications to dental school so I wanted you to know"

I was flabbergasted! I thought, "OMG I did something to ruin this guys ambitions!" I asked him why and he told me, "Ya know, I guess I never really realized I was going to have to work with sharp instruments and blood all day"

go figure! at least he sorted it out for himself before suffering through the cost and hard work of starting dental school!

I was at Columbia for a semester. It was very expensive and living in NYC didn't help either! lol...After a semester I decided not to go back anymore. It was a very hard decision for me and my parents were very disappointed in me when I left...I was even MORE disappointed in myself. It felt awful...definetly was one of the worst moments of my life. 🙁

I always knew I didn't like perio or surgery...I prefer not cutting any gums either...I wanted to do ortho (braces) only. The competition was very keen of course. Plus all the loans I would have to take out for school and opening up my own practice also put a lot of pressure on me. I didn't think about all the money issue until AFTER I attended dental school though...I guess I was young and naive! lol...

 

[apteryx]

Yeah, I forgot about that one.

I was gonna apply for a NYC Parking Permit to let me park in No-Parking zones after my knee surgery (ACL reconstruction), but the rule to get one of those blue handicap placards is that the injury has to be permanent and a severely limiting mobility.

I was gonna have my doctor just sign the form but then I read that they require a NYC DOH physician to do a medical exam as well.

What about the red temporary ones? I'd imagine there's less of a hassle to get those.

 

[Sparda29]

What about the red temporary ones? I'd imagine there's less of a hassle to get those.

It's only for parking lots.

The placards that you hang on your rear view mirror are only for parking lots and other off-street parking.

NYC issues a different permit that you put on your dashboard, which is for on-street parking and it basically lets you park in No-Parking Zones, spaces designated for physicians, diplomats, officials, etc.

 

[DocJL]

I was at Columbia for a semester. It was very expensive and living in NYC didn't help either! lol...After a semester I decided not to go back anymore. It was a very hard decision for me and my parents were very disappointed in me when I left...I was even MORE disappointed in myself. It felt awful...definetly was one of the worst moments of my life. 🙁

I always knew I didn't like perio or surgery...I prefer not cutting any gums either...I wanted to do ortho (braces) only. The competition was very keen of course. Plus all the loans I would have to take out for school and opening up my own practice also put a lot of pressure on me. I didn't think about all the money issue until AFTER I attended dental school though...I guess I was young and naive! lol...

Sounds like you did what was right for you. Heck how many of us really know what we want to do for the rest of our lives when we are 21 or 22. As far as ortho, I still remember the first day of dental school, the Dean comes into the lecture hall, steps up to the podium, and says, "Well, according to your applications, about 80% of you THINK you are going to be orthodontists" That got a big laugh!

 

[pharm B]

why don't pharmacists have the same options? Do you think the profession will expand?

We already discussed this in pre-pharmacy in another of your threads (dated before this one).

 

[ucrx]

Reminds me of an assistant I had a few years back. Guy in his last year of undergrad college, tall, good looking, clean-cut (he "looked like a doctor" lol), was applying to dental school. So he came to work at my office as a low level beginning assistant, to learn a few things and get some recommendations. I really liked him and would always try to include him on anything "cool", like impacted wisdom teeth, periodontal surgeries, etc. (I had just gotten out of the Navy and had lots of extra training in these areas). Anyways after a couple of months he comes up to me and says, "Doctor I wanted to thank you for showing me so much about dentistry, I have actually withdrawn my applications to dental school so I wanted you to know"

I was flabbergasted! I thought, "OMG I did something to ruin this guys ambitions!" I asked him why and he told me, "Ya know, I guess I never really realized I was going to have to work with sharp instruments and blood all day"

go figure! at least he sorted it out for himself before suffering through the cost and hard work of starting dental school!

Just out of curiosity, how did you like being a dentist in the Navy? My fiance is a pharmacist at NNMC in Bethesda, MD so I've met several pharmacists, dentists, and doctors that work there and Walter Reed (Army). We're usually in social situations so I don't get much of a chance to ask what their jobs are like.