Pharmacist/PA

[pharm4312]

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Anybody a Pharmacist/Physician Assistant combo, or able to comment on the kinds of job opportunities this dual degree holds? I feel like there could be good opportunities for the PA degree after pharm school down the road

 

[fauxden]

only advantage I see is being a better PA with more drug knowledge. There is a PA/PharmD at the hospital I am doing my *last* rotation at currently... but he is just a PA, no association with the pharmacy

 

[PharmDHawkeye]

Anybody a Pharmacist/Physician Assistant combo, or able to comment on the kinds of job opportunities this dual degree holds? I feel like there could be good opportunities for the PA degree after pharm school down the road

I think this is a similar route to a PharmD that went back for an MD. You won't be able to use both at once, and there's no real benefit to it. Medicine is designed to be practiced as a team, and you can't really fulfill a greater role than what a PA would normally.

That said, it would be exciting to see something you could do with both. Good luck, hope you find something good to do with both if you go that route!

 

[JohnFe]

Correct me if I'm wrong but there seems to be a conflict of interest with PA/PharmD or MD/PharmD. PA/MD can prescribe while PharmD dispenses...

 

[Lubeckd]

Correct me if I'm wrong but there seems to be a conflict of interest with PA/PharmD or MD/PharmD. PA/MD can prescribe while PharmD dispenses...

You are correct 🙂.

 

[JohnFe]

The best combinations I think is PharmD/MBA or PharmD/PhD.

 

[zelman]

The best combinations I think is PharmD/MBA or PharmD/PhD.

PhD in theology? Without a major that recommendation means nothing.

 

[JohnFe]

PhD in theology? Without a major that recommendation means nothing.

Pharmacology, Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, Regulatory Science, Toxicology or Pharmaceutical Sciences. Seems a lot of of schooling 😛

 

[eagles22]

The best combinations I think is PharmD/MBA or PharmD/PhD.

MBAs are given out like candy so without a real name (and some experience) to back it up, it's fairly useless. Want to do bench research? Get the PhD. Want to be an clinical pharmacist? PharmD + residency will do that.

As for PharmD/MD/PA, there's no benefit to the dual degree in terms of how you practice. I considered finishing my PharmD prior to med school, but saw no benefit in how much I would earn or how I would practice. The knowledge will help you to some degree, but not enough to justify getting a pharmd if you really just want to practice medicine.

 

[rxlea]

I'm rotating with a PharmD/PA my fourth year. She does both on different days/services at the clinic. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[rxlea]

Pharmacology, Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, Regulatory Science, Toxicology or Pharmaceutical Sciences. Seems a lot of of schooling 😛

A lot of schooling but more money.

 

[JohnFe]

A lot of schooling but more money.

I'm considering getting a PhD, how long does it usually take?

Also, to the PA/PharmD person, she can diagnose, prescribe and dispense drugs in different times or at the same time o.o ?

 

[awval999]

I'm considering getting a PhD, how long does it usually take?

Also, to the PA/PharmD person, she can diagnose, prescribe and dispense drugs in different times or at the same time o.o ?

If she's smart she wouldn't do that. The point of a team approach is to have someone else take a look at the order before it gets to the patient.

 

[Digsbe]

I heard of a PharmD/PA that worked in a rural setting. She never dispensed on the days she prescribed and she never prescribed on the days she dispensed. I think she alternated each day between working as a pharmacist and as a PA.

If you want a more clinical role I would advise doing a pharmacy residency after graduation.

 

[New Bee]

A lot of schooling but more money.

The ceiling is definitely much higher with a dual degree, but it is a long road to making more money than the average retail pharmacist. Job satisfaction is another story.

 

[Digsbe]

Would a PharmD that is also a PA necessarily make more money? The average salary for a PA is lower than for a PharmD. I'm not sure if having both would necessarily increase your salary since there isn't a specific market/job for a PharmD/PA.

 

[pharm4312]

Well a PA that works at a family medicine practice I would think would be pretty valuable with the PharmD knowledge as well.

 

[rxlea]

The ceiling is definitely much higher with a dual degree, but it is a long road to making more money than the average retail pharmacist. Job satisfaction is another story.

An additional 1.5 years for me. I'm going to work while finishing my dissertation, though If you do it right, you don't lose out. Opportunity cost....

 

[New Bee]

I hate to break it to you, but even after you get your PhD you aren't going to make near what a retail pharmacist makes. Positions in industry start around 100k. Academic jobs are probably lower than that depending on location. I have both degrees and I'm commenting from experience. The more important question is whether you can even find a job after graduate school.

 

[New Bee]

What's your PhD in? Our students are getting offers in the 150 range without the dual degree...


One colleague got an academic offer starting at 115ish plus a generous start up funding for research.

There are plenty of jobs for my field.

So pessimistic..... 🙄

Clinical pharmacology

 

[New Bee]

What's your PhD in? Our students are getting offers in the 150 range without the dual degree...


One colleague got an academic offer starting at 115ish plus a generous start up funding for research.

There are plenty of jobs for my field.

So pessimistic..... 🙄

Realistic is a better word. I felt the same as you when I was 2-3 years into phd training.

 

[rxlea]

Realistic is a better word. I felt the same as you when I was 2-3 years into phd training.

I'm not in clinical pharmacology...or toxicology...or drug design 🙂

 

[Guitarmacy]

Would a PharmD that is also a PA necessarily make more money? The average salary for a PA is lower than for a PharmD. I'm not sure if having both would necessarily increase your salary since there isn't a specific market/job for a PharmD/PA.

I can see an advantage to having a PharmD/PA. If you want a saturation proof combo and are already on the route to becoming a pharmacist, not a bad idea. Definitely something worth considering.

I wonder how difficult it would be to get accepted to PA school after pharmacy school? Typically they like to accept people who are only interested in being a PA.

 

[Guitarmacy]

What's your PhD in? Our students are getting offers in the 150 range without the dual degree...


One colleague got an academic offer starting at 115ish plus a generous start up funding for research.

There are plenty of jobs for my field.

So pessimistic..... 🙄

I just wanted to borrow some wisdom from you if you don't mind. I've heard that a PharmD vs. a PhD applicant going for an academia job are on a fairly level playing field (with some preference to the PhD).

Most of the teachers at my prospective pharmacy school (CU Skaggs) do research and only hold a PharmD. How difficult is it to get into research without the PhD and are they probably funding their own research?

Lastly, what other positions or places can you use a PharmD to teach pharmacy other at than the ~130 pharmacy schools? Would teaching hospitals hire a PharmD? Where else?

Thanks!

 

[kwakster928]

I never understood any logical reason why two professionals in two different disciplines (prescribing and dispensing) need to be combined as one.

PA/Pharm.D. puzzles me. But, I am not an expert in this topic. I am ready to be schooled.

 

[JohnFe]

I'm not in clinical pharmacology...or toxicology...or drug design 🙂

What discipline are you pursuing?

 

[eagles22]

I can see an advantage to having a PharmD/PA. If you want a saturation proof combo and are already on the route to becoming a pharmacist, not a bad idea. Definitely something worth considering.

I wonder how difficult it would be to get accepted to PA school after pharmacy school? Typically they like to accept people who are only interested in being a PA.

By that logic, you could also get an engineering degree, etc. The bottom line here is, if you want to be the drug expert go to pharmacy school. If you want to diagnose and treat, go to medical/pa school. Very little benefit to doing both unless you're an ascetic and want to be rid of all of your money.

 

[New Bee]

I just wanted to borrow some wisdom from you if you don't mind. I've heard that a PharmD vs. a PhD applicant going for an academia job are on a fairly level playing field (with some preference to the PhD).

Most of the teachers at my prospective pharmacy school (CU Skaggs) do research and only hold a PharmD. How difficult is it to get into research without the PhD and are they probably funding their own research?

Lastly, what other positions or places can you use a PharmD to teach pharmacy other at than the ~130 pharmacy schools? Would teaching hospitals hire a PharmD? Where else?

Thanks!

Most PharmDs in academia are clinical faculty, which is much different from the typical PhD research-based tenure track position. You shouldn't compare the two.

It is not difficult for PharmDs to get into research. You can study almost anything, and probably even find a journal to publish it. Take a look at AJHP or AJPE sometime. The point is that although PharmD faculty are involved in research, it is mostly garbage. What is difficult is to develop an extramurally funded research program (i.e. NIH funding, etc). To do this with only a PharmD is tough, but not impossible if you have high-quality fellowship training.