Pharmacy to MD/DO program?

[nev]

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Hi,
I just thought about this.....wont it be really cool if there were Pharm.D to MD/DO bridging programs?

Nev

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Nah, not really.

 

[nev]

mmmmmmmmmmm ok

 

[DrPharm]

how about a MD/DO to PharmD program? 😉

 

[nev]

also a good idea...

 

[OoShimmeroO]

Okay, spend 4 years in undegrad, 4 years in pharmacy school and 5+ years in medical school OR spend 4 years in undegrad, and 4 years in medical school. Sure, you might know more about medications and drug therapy with a PharmD./M.D. as opposed to just an M.D., but is it really worth the 4 extra years? There are plenty of M.D.s that haven't attended pharmacy school and I doubt they're flaling around helpless and lost. If an M.D. really had a strong desire to learn more about drugs they could always read pharmacology texts in their free time instead of spending four years in pharmacy school. Your post doesn't make a lot of sense, maybe you should join the real world pal.

 

[cheesygal]

Okay, spend 4 years in undegrad, 4 years in pharmacy school and 5+ years in medical school OR spend 4 years in undegrad, and 4 years in pharmacy school. Sure, you might know more about medications and drug therapy with a PharmD./M.D. as opposed to just an M.D., but is it really worth the 4 extra years? There are plenty of M.D.s that haven't attended pharmacy school and I doubt they're flaling around helpless and lost. If an M.D. really had a strong desire to learn more about drugs they could always read pharmacology texts in their free time instead of spending four years in pharmacy school. Your post doesn't make a lot of sense, maybe you should join the real world pal.

Hey OoShimmeroO, that's not too nice. 🙁 I actually know someone who did that - PharmD and MD. They're both differents aspects of medicine and putting them together would probably provide a patient with better and more accurate treatment. I would definitely trust someone who had a PharmD and a MD more than someone with just one of the degrees. But I do understand where you're coming from. Why spend so many more years of school when you can just read up on info on your own, right? I personally would not want to go through another 5 years of schooling just because I will probably have a family to worry about and support. But if someone is enthusiastic about pursuing the dual degrees, then so be it because I'm sure with all the education and knowledge they would have gained, they would make one superb pharmacist/doctor. 😉

 

[OoShimmeroO]

So are you guys trying to say that a dual PharmD/M.D. program should be introduced just like PharmD/Ph.D and PharmD/MBA programs?

 

[tupac_don]

Okay, spend 4 years in undegrad, 4 years in pharmacy school and 5+ years in medical school OR spend 4 years in undegrad, and 4 years in medical school. Sure, you might know more about medications and drug therapy with a PharmD./M.D. as opposed to just an M.D., but is it really worth the 4 extra years? There are plenty of M.D.s that haven't attended pharmacy school and I doubt they're flaling around helpless and lost. If an M.D. really had a strong desire to learn more about drugs they could always read pharmacology texts in their free time instead of spending four years in pharmacy school. Your post doesn't make a lot of sense, maybe you should join the real world pal.

What you say is absolutely correct, however I think you are taking it out of context a bit. Yea it doesn't make sense to do both, but I think a lot of people to do both is usually b/c they started Pharm D and then realized that they really wanted to be a doctor, so they went on to MD. As far as having a school with a fast track, would be good, if you could have some sort of accelerated program. I think having a Pharm D and then going MD would defiently give you an edge and maturity, oppose to just going to MD from undergrad. I also think that dual schools would be great for people who are unsure about medicine, and then decide that they do want to do it, then they could just cont on to med without the hassle of going thru lenghty application process. Just my two cents.

 

[DownonthePharm]

Actually I think PharmD/PA would be a better idea. PA school is usually only 2-3 years and then you can use those people to staff rural clinics or for aid work overseas.

 

[tupac_don]

Actually I think PharmD/PA would be a better idea. PA school is usually only 2-3 years and then you can use those people to staff rural clinics or for aid work overseas.

The problem with that combo is that you will either work in capacity of a pharmacist or capacity of a PA. And you will have worse hours than a pharmacist yet smaller or at very best equal pay. I say if you want to diagnose and treat pts go all the way be a DO/MD.

 

[bananaface]

Frankly, I think it'd be harder to study for the MCAT while in pharmacy school.

 

[luckyPharmD.stu]

interesting topic...if the pharmd/md program ever existed, then I believe that it will be almost impossible to get accepted; you have to be in the top 1 percent of your class, perfect gpa,etc. It'll be time-consuming as well.

 

[DrFeelgoodDO]

I have heard in the past about PharmD/PA programs that actually did exist, but that's neither here nor there.

I am an RPh w/ a BS Pharm and I did it in four years. I then went to DO school and I have to say that my pharm background helped tremendously for a few reasons: 1) I can easily say that I NEVER EVER studied for pharm in med school 2) I knew a crapload about autonomic physio and physio in general before I hit the door at med school and 3) I had a KICK ASS part time job. No one else made 45 bucks an hour working part time!

Since you MUST have a PharmD now-a-days to practice, and considering that it is at least a six year program combined, I would pick one or the other. It helped to be an RPh, but it didn't make or break my med school education. I think what the OP was getting at was a deal like the one I had - or should I say the one I created for myself. Yeah, you wouldn't get a PharmD, you'd get another doctorate instead. But so what? I think it would be cool to get a BS pharm even w/o being eligible to be an RPh, w/ the promise of med school. It would make you a much better physician, none-the-less.

 

[drdrtoledo]

I agree with feelgood. I can think of few, if any premedical majors that prepare you for med school like pharmacy. I was tutoring MS IV's for the boards as an MS I. And forget the whole, brand/generic thing... it is not strongly taught in med school. You will have an edge up till graduation. As was mentioned above, it adds an extra 2 years to your education. But, I am surely not the oldest person in my class. Anyway, I am not sure having a combined program would draw too many people. I was one of those that was gung ho pharmd. till my clinicals and realized it wasn't what I wanted to do. I didn't have that much foresight when I was 17 and had to pick a college major.

PS. I am broke and in debt 😛