Using your PharmD in other ways?

[nutripharma]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello,

I am currently a P1 in an accelerated program. My future has gone (almost) exactly how I planned for it to go. I'm one of those kids who was impacted by pharmacy (medication error that almost killed my parent and the career (many of my immediate relatives are pharmacists, unfortunately none of them were my parent's pharmacist at the time). Eventually I got over that fairytale. I actually want to obtain my PharmD (yes I know the job prospects and etc but I want that degree).
I don't want to do a residency because I'm actually exhausted at this point. I want to start my career and learn throughout.
Before entering school and during my first semester, I wanted to take the academia route. However, the politics of this school have left a sour taste in my mouth. I know that politics come with any academia position but I'm okay with back up plans.

Of course retail is an option, but I don't want to do retail. Not for the "I hate retail reasons" but because I've never been attracted to the setting. I know there are probably 30+ threads about this question but I also know that things change frequently.....

Q: Is there a type of job out there where I can use my PharmD without having a traditional pharmacist role, without a residency?

I know about the P&T committee - I am striving for this atm. So what else is there?

Q: Is anyone a traveling pharmacist or know one? If so, what is it like?

 

[MindGeek]

I know about the P&T committee - I am striving for this atm.

Do you mean P&T Committee at an insurance company or PBM, or P&T Committee at a hospital or health system?

P&T is not a job, but formulary design is a function of several roles. At an insurer/PBM, one would likely have to be a managed care pharmacist involved at least partly in formulary design (as in not a prior authorization pharmacist), the assistant pharmacy director, or the pharmacy director to routinely sit in on P&T. At a Hospital/HS, one would likely have to be a clinical coordinator, assistant pharmacy director, or pharmacy director to routinely sit in on P&T.

 

[ChalupaBatman86]

I think Heisenberg is looking for a new apprentice cook.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[PharmtoCS]

You can drive for Uber as a pharmacist. I got this in my email:

 

[alphabetsoup2]

Industry? I also know people who have pharmacy degrees but who now work at public or private drug plans (in advisory positions).

Then again you have plenty of time to determine what you want your practice to look like. Your summer positions/internships/rotations will no doubt also inform your choice.

 

[Lnsean]

Industry? I also know people who have pharmacy degrees but who now work at public or private drug plans (in advisory positions).

Then again you have plenty of time to determine what you want your practice to look like. Your summer positions/internships/rotations will no doubt also inform your choice.

Unless you have some deep connections or are lucky...industry requires a fellowship

 

[Jbrl]

Off the top of my head, here's some 'other' jobs a PharmD could qualify for that aren't or are less retail-esque and don't require a residency per se (moreso internships/work exp), with varying levels of pay:

Pharmacy proper:
Nuclear
PBM
Ambulatory care
Long-term care

Nonprofits/charities:
Public health NGO (WHO, Doctors Without Borders, etc)
Patient advocacy/charity org (LLS, ACS, etc.)

Governmental:
USPHS (e.g. IHS, CDC)
Military

Drug development/commercialization (industry):
Pharmacovigilance/drug safety
Med Affairs (med info, etc.)
Clinical operations
CRO

Financial services (hospital, pharma, healthcare tech/IT-based):
Investment banking (e.g. pharma M&A)
Management/strategy consulting
Equity research

 

[steveysmith54]

Seems like you have too many restrictions. You don't want to do a residency, yet don't want to do retail. I usually tell people don't go into pharmacy unless you are ok w/ retail. I'd say 70 percent of RPh are in retail in one way or another. As others stated industry would be an option, but most jobs want fellowship. Maybe medical liaison. Even basic prior auth RPh jobs want some sort of retail experience... So based on your criteria you really shouldn't have gone to pharmacy school.

 

[alphabetsoup2]

Unless you have some deep connections or are lucky...industry requires a fellowship

Haha, wellllll, it's not a residency, and it is a non-traditional pharmacy role!

Man, connections are important in any area of pharmacy. Wish I had more of them 😉

 

[nutripharma]

Seems like you have too many restrictions. You don't want to do a residency, yet don't want to do retail. I usually tell people don't go into pharmacy unless you are ok w/ retail. I'd say 70 percent of RPh are in retail in one way or another. As others stated industry would be an option, but most jobs want fellowship. Maybe medical liaison. Even basic prior auth RPh jobs want some sort of retail experience... So based on your criteria you really shouldn't have gone to pharmacy school.

I'm pretty content with my decision to go to pharmacy school and you shouldn't "have to" be okay with doing a job that you wouldn't be passionate in doing. I'm sure you were aware of the vast options that were available previously. Those were my career interests before entering pharmacy school.

 

[steveysmith54]

I'm pretty content with my decision to go to pharmacy school and you shouldn't "have to" be okay with doing a job that you wouldn't be passionate in doing. I'm sure you were aware of the vast options that were available previously. Those were my career interests before entering pharmacy school.

Doesn't sound like it. I don't know too many people who are "exhausted" being in P1, which is considered widely to the be the easiest year. I am glad that you're content entering pharmacy school, hopefully you will be as content when it comes to finding a job with that many restrictions. Your questions about being a traveling pharmacist is about a decade too old. Continue to strive to be "P&T committee" as you stated...

 

[lionheart555]

Hello,

I am currently a P1 in an accelerated program. My future has gone (almost) exactly how I planned for it to go. I'm one of those kids who was impacted by pharmacy (medication error that almost killed my parent and the career (many of my immediate relatives are pharmacists, unfortunately none of them were my parent's pharmacist at the time). Eventually I got over that fairytale. I actually want to obtain my PharmD (yes I know the job prospects and etc but I want that degree).
I don't want to do a residency because I'm actually exhausted at this point. I want to start my career and learn throughout.
Before entering school and during my first semester, I wanted to take the academia route. However, the politics of this school have left a sour taste in my mouth. I know that politics come with any academia position but I'm okay with back up plans.

Of course retail is an option, but I don't want to do retail. Not for the "I hate retail reasons" but because I've never been attracted to the setting. I know there are probably 30+ threads about this question but I also know that things change frequently.....

Q: Is there a type of job out there where I can use my PharmD without having a traditional pharmacist role, without a residency?

I know about the P&T committee - I am striving for this atm. So what else is there?

Q: Is anyone a traveling pharmacist or know one? If so, what is it like?

Just to throw this out there - Without a residency, you can be ANY kind of pharmacist. Some easier than others. I know some clinicians who got where they are thanks to connections and just happening to be in the right place at the right time. I'm not saying it's likely but it is possible. As for non traditional roles, the easiest I can think of is pharma AKA industry. You can work in managed care without a residency too. In general, it's kind of hard to land these positions without prior experience but that experience does not have to be residency or fellowship. Even rotations or internships would be helpful.

Outside of working formulary (where P&T roles are), some other roles you could do include client services, industry relations/contracting, analytics, outcomes research/HEOR, pharmacoeconomics, government/policy....and so on. Just look up managed care rotations or industry pharmacist roles.

Traveling Pharmacist - the first thing I think of would be MSLs or medical science liaisons. They travel a lot for the company to meet with pharmacists, experts, to provide information about a particular company's drug portfolio. I've spoken to a few. I'm not sure if that fits what you are thinking of by travel.

 

[nutripharma]

Doesn't sound like it. I don't know too many people who are "exhausted" being in P1, which is considered widely to the be the easiest year. I am glad that you're content entering pharmacy school, hopefully you will be as content when it comes to finding a job with that many restrictions. Your questions about being a traveling pharmacist is about a decade too old. Continue to strive to be "P&T committee" as you stated...

I'm not exhausted with my P1 year 😀. I think it's safe to say you're content with negative remarks. I'm literally looking for back ups. I have retail at my hand due to connections I already have but I didn't want to do something that I didn't feel like I would give my all to. I believe that my profession should benefit from me in some way. I should be able to give something to my profession and not be unhappy. I didn't say I wanted to be P&T committee...... I said "I know about the P&T committee - I am striving for this atm". I'm not on here saying I demand a miracle job. I was just curious at the options that are out there. Why does it hurt to ask on this forum? Stop being bitter.

 

[nutripharma]

You can drive for Uber as a pharmacist. I got this in my email:

View attachment 216943

My cousin did this after work every day and she paid off her loans last month.

 

[croquemonsieur]

There is a new thread on this topic at least every other week.

If you don't want to be a pharmacist, don't go to pharmacy school.

 

[nutripharma]

There is a new thread on this topic at least every other week.

If you don't want to be a pharmacist, don't go to pharmacy school.

Wish I had found it. Have the link by any chance?
Really I never said I didn't want to be a pharmacist.

 

[steveysmith54]

Wish I had found it. Have the link by any chance?
Really I never said I didn't want to be a pharmacist.

Are you too "exhausted" to look it up yourself?

 

[Rockinacoustic]

....I know there are probably 30+ threads about this question but I also know that things change frequently.....

They haven't changed. If you don't want to work retail, hospital, or obtain a residency/post-grad training... you're ruling out what 95-99% of what graduates do these days, and for the foreseeable future.

If you like "P&T" then check out the managed care route... although to have a real impact on clinical decision making at a PBM or health plan you need prior experience or residency.

 

[nutripharma]

Are you too "exhausted" to look it up yourself?

Hey man if you're looking for one of those petty childish fights, you have the wrong person. I'm not asking these questions for just myself by the way. Many of my classmates have the same question. One of our professors actually recommended we ask on SDN for input. Since I had the account, I chose to post the question. I did look, several times, and thought that using information from 2012-2014 wouldn't be the greatest idea. I think I just want to be at least more helpful than you are.

 

[nutripharma]

Off the top of my head, here's some 'other' jobs a PharmD could qualify for that aren't or are less retail-esque and don't require a residency per se (moreso internships/work exp), with varying levels of pay:

Pharmacy proper:
Nuclear
PBM
Ambulatory care
Long-term care

Nonprofits/charities:
Public health NGO (WHO, Doctors Without Borders, etc)
Patient advocacy/charity org (LLS, ACS, etc.)

Governmental:
USPHS (e.g. IHS, CDC)
Military

Drug development/commercialization (industry):
Pharmacovigilance/drug safety
Med Affairs (med info, etc.)
Clinical operations
CRO

Financial services (hospital, pharma, healthcare tech/IT-based):
Investment banking (e.g. pharma M&A)
Management/strategy consulting
Equity research

Do you work/have interest in any of these fields?

 

[steveysmith54]

Hey man if you're looking for one of those petty childish fights, you have the wrong person. I'm not asking these questions for just myself by the way. Many of my classmates have the same question. One of our professors actually recommended we ask on SDN for input. Since I had the account, I chose to post the question. I did look, several times, and thought that using information from 2012-2014 wouldn't be the greatest idea. I think I just want to be at least more helpful than you are.

So your professor refers his students to SDN..... Does he/she also recommend wikipedia for questions on therapeutics? Sorry couldn't resist... But, this topic does get asked at least every other week.

 

[Chriskahn]

You can work for poison control with a PharmD

 

[MindGeek]

Do you work/have interest in any of these fields?

I'm a management consultant to the pharmaceutical industry.

I recommend you look at this link for non-traditional pharmacy ideas.

 

[Jbrl]

I'm a management consultant to the pharmaceutical industry.

I recommend you look at this for non-traditional pharmacy ideas.

This is an AWESOME reference. Wow.

Do you work/have interest in any of these fields?

Some experience in each category. It's all possible without further education or fellowship/residency but you need work exp. In addition there are always healthcare med comm and ad agencies hiring.

 

[PharmtoCS]

I'm not on here saying I demand a miracle job.

But you would need a miracle to attain the jobs of interest you described especially without a residency.