pharmacy and business

[Insomniac12]

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after making a couple threads on here and asking questions, I am still a bit doubtful about becoming a pharmacist.

before pharmacy entered my mind, I wanted to major in business.

now, my question, with a pharmacy degree, could I..lets say...work in a pharmaceutical company?

 

[Insomniac12]

I sense an enormous amount of hostility coming towards people who are thinking about business on here *thinks*

 

[genesis09]

I know of a number of people who are planning to get MBAs and then work for some of the pharmaceutical companies. It is a valid career path.

 

[eelo]

I sense an enormous amount of hostility coming towards people who are thinking about business on here *thinks*

Actually, there's probably a lot more hostility toward people who think they have posted the Most Important Question o the board and are entitled to immediate responses.

Sure, go into pharmaceutical business. Why not?

 

[collegegirl247]

I am planning on going to pharmacy school and getting my mba. I got my bachelors in business. Even if you don't end up going directly into a "business job" you can always use the information that you learned. I think that a business background gives a bit of an advantage when it comes to working in the real world. Plus... it expands your opportunities as a pharmacist.

 

[wannabePharmD11]

I know of a number of people who are planning to get MBAs and then work for some of the pharmaceutical companies. It is a valid career path.

Do you think an MBA is a must for a career in pharma? Would a person be limited within the company with a pharm.d only?

Thanks.

 

[Insomniac12]

Actually, there's probably a lot more hostility toward people who think they have posted the Most Important Question o the board and are entitled to immediate responses.

Sure, go into pharmaceutical business. Why not?

dude, that comment served for hilarity purposes, and apparently it has backfired, I am only in high school, call me ignorant if you wish, I am only looking for decent answers from people who know this stuff.

your post is not a decent answer.

 

[Insomniac12]

I am glad to hear that it is a valid career path, I wish to do pharmacy then, and probably minor in business, and I also heard some schools, like uni. of florida have joint pharmd/mba degrees.

that sounds awesome.

 

[eelo]

dude, that comment served for hilarity purposes, and apparently it has backfired, I am only in high school, call me ignorant if you wish, I am only looking for decent answers from people who know this stuff.

your post is not a decent answer.

Ah. Well then, I can only suggest that you pose a decent question.

GIGO, you know.

 

[Farmercyst]

I sense an enormous amount of hostility coming towards people who are thinking about business on here *thinks*

hilarity must have been lost in translation. Unable to catch voice tone/inflection over the internet.

In anwer to the question re: the dead end possibility w/Pharm D only. I'd say your corporate ladder is more likely to be shorter without than with, but it all depends on the person: networking, personality, etc. If you want the ladder to go all the way to the ceiling I'd say best bet is the PharmD/MBA.

 

[Insomniac12]

Ah. Well then, I can only suggest that you pose a decent question.

GIGO, you know.

wow just wow.

 

[Insomniac12]

hilarity must have been lost in translation. Unable to catch voice tone/inflection over the internet.

In anwer to the question re: the dead end possibility w/Pharm D only. I'd say your corporate ladder is more likely to be shorter without than with, but it all depends on the person: networking, personality, etc. If you want the ladder to go all the way to the ceiling I'd say best bet is the PharmD/MBA.

like I said about doing above with my pharmd, would doing a business minor be advisable?

 

[Dr.Biassi]

after making a couple threads on here and asking questions, I am still a bit doubtful about becoming a pharmacist.

before pharmacy entered my mind, I wanted to major in business.

now, my question, with a pharmacy degree, could I..lets say...work in a pharmaceutical company?

Are your motivation going into pharmacy only because of the money? Parents point of view? If this is the case I think you choose the wrong path. If you want to go into business why don't you go straight into business and get an MBA?
You can a PharmD and an MBA it will help you neing pharmacy manager or drug representant or may be in drugs sales. It's all depend on your interest.

 

[sdn1977]

after making a couple threads on here and asking questions, I am still a bit doubtful about becoming a pharmacist.

before pharmacy entered my mind, I wanted to major in business.

now, my question, with a pharmacy degree, could I..lets say...work in a pharmaceutical company?

Aside all the negative comments, as a high school senior, what would make you even think of this career path?

What kind of work do you want to do in a pharmaceutical company?

Sales does not require a PharmD - in fact, you'd be overtrained.

Marketing/finance will require more than a minor in business.

There's lots and lots of alternative paths regarding business - not just pharmacy. The PharmD is a pretty narrow field within the pharmaceutical industry.

You might be interested in the Pfizer guide. I'd also say....go into college with an open mind. There are lots and lots of choice out there. If you still want to pursue pharmacy and business within a pharmaceutical company, you might want to look into the career center at your college. Most pharmaceutical companies have intern positions, but you need to apply early.

Good luck!

 

[Farmercyst]

like I said about doing above with my pharmd, would doing a business minor be advisable?

I think it would be hard to top SDN's response. I'll leave it at that for now.

 

[pharmacyanalyst]

To the OP- there are alot of options in the business world for someone with a PharmD. I work for Humana and we have PharmD's in various rolls. Some work on contracting with the pharma companies, others set the formularies, some are directors of the pharmacies and do high level planning. I worked for Kindred Pharmacy Services as well. They operate long term care pharmacies. The VP of Operations was a pharmacist. There were a couple other PharmD's who did formulary work and some business functions.

If you want to PM me, I can try to answer any questions you might have. 🙂

Jen

 

[genesis09]

Do you think an MBA is a must for a career in pharma? Would a person be limited within the company with a pharm.d only?

Thanks.

Having the MBA is not required. I know of a pharmacist at Abbott who started with just a PharmD and then got the MBA. The MBA just opens up more doors.

There are many different areas a PharmD can work in. We have received lectures about the job opportunities in industry. The college has several business oriented electives like pharmacy marketing.
If interested, try and contact pharmacists in industry, and see what they have to say.

 

[gsinccom]

good info.

Thanks🙂

 

[GoldenPharmD]

like I said about doing above with my pharmd, would doing a business minor be advisable?

You should keep an open mind consider a dual degree program where you can get both PharmD and MBA at the same time usually in 5 years total.

 

[Jack555]

Do you think an MBA is a must for a career in pharma? Would a person be limited within the company with a pharm.d only?

Thanks.

Far Far Far from a must. Most people already get multiple job offers with a pharm d. A MBA just gets you further up the ladder.

 

[nerv12345]

I know of a number of people who are planning to get MBAs and then work for some of the pharmaceutical companies. It is a valid career path.

^yup

university of southern california school of pharmacy offers a dual degree (pharmD + MBA).

it's a five year program and i think it's totally worth it. if i get into USC and decide to go there i am going to persue that degree