Pgy1: VA or Kaiser?

[hopeful1994]

Need last minute advice...
Va or Kaiser? Which one should I rank higher? (These are my #2 and #3)
I know it depends on each program, but what has better prestige overall? More opportunities for growth/development? What if I have an interest in academia or am considering a Pgy-2?

My top choice would fulfill all of the above, hence why it’s my top choice..but I need help with ranking these 2. Thank you!

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[Rockinacoustic]

I've never met a Kaiser pharmacist with an academic affiliation. VA tends to allow these "dual appointment" roles.

 

[azmiyu]

I've never met a Kaiser pharmacist with an academic affiliation. VA tends to allow these "dual appointment" roles.

My research advisor runs a Hep C clinic with Kaiser and teaches a few classes at the pharmacy school throughout the year. She has a PhD in addition to her PharmD, so don't know if that has to do with anything. Most of the residency programs in my area have the option to obtain a teaching certificate through the 2 pharmacy schools which is their gateway to academia.

 

[Seriously Serious]

What kind of PGY-2 would you want to pursue? If Ambcare, go the VA route.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

My research advisor runs a Hep C clinic with Kaiser and teaches a few classes at the pharmacy school throughout the year. She has a PhD in addition to her PharmD, so don't know if that has to do with anything. Most of the residency programs in my area have the option to obtain a teaching certificate through the 2 pharmacy schools which is their gateway to academia.

Unless you want to teach at the school you'll be earning the certificate from, a teaching certificate is more of a checkbox than a "gateway" into academia.

 

[rxrhino]

Kaiser = many projects, very amb care focused, heavy on metrics, hourly pay (40 hrs/week on the clock), get foot in the door for potential Kaiser job after residency (if you do well), higher pay as pharmacist than VA, diverse patient population, where I worked only Monday-Friday as a resident no weekends required
VA = salary (potential to work >40 hrs/week), likely have to work weekends, more inpatient experience, lower pay as a pharmacist, many amb care clinics as well, more holidays, not sure if they have metrics/many projects as kaiser residency does, much less diverse patient population
Please correct me if I messed up on anything or have anything more to add
=)
Good luck!

 

[bacillus1]

Kaiser = many projects, very amb care focused, heavy on metrics, hourly pay (40 hrs/week on the clock), get foot in the door for potential Kaiser job after residency (if you do well), higher pay as pharmacist than VA, diverse patient population, where I worked only Monday-Friday as a resident no weekends required
VA = salary (potential to work >40 hrs/week), likely have to work weekends, more inpatient experience, lower pay as a pharmacist, many amb care clinics as well, more holidays, not sure if they have metrics/many projects as kaiser residency does, much less diverse patient population
Please correct me if I messed up on anything or have anything more to add
=)
Good luck!

Not all VAs have dual appointment. Only some pay extra for staffing as a resident. As a pharmacist, schedule depends on the particular VA. I don't work weekends now (but sometimes pick up an extra shift here and there), while my last VA job I had to work every 2nd-3rd weekend.

One very nice thing abot the VA is that you don't need a license for every state you work in, so that opens you up to more opportunities as long as you are willing to move. Kaiser, on the other hand, typically has higher salaries than VA for its pharmacists.