What is there to do after you become a pharmacist?

[WTTL]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Say you get your Pharm D. and work as a pharmacist for 5 years.

Then you feel like going back to school for 2-4 more years in order to increase your salary (still staying in the pharmacy field). Can this be done?

 

[PharmGrrlJax]

You could do residencies and specialize in certain areas of pharmacy (Oncology, critical care, pediatrics), but it is not going to increase your salary exponentially.

(Husband has done residency, is a clinical specialist, makes more than your average hospital pharmacist but not a lot more).

 

[By3Times1Minus1]

Say you get your Pharm D. and work as a pharmacist for 5 years.

Then you feel like going back to school for 2-4 more years in order to increase your salary (still staying in the pharmacy field). Can this be done?

personally, i'm aspiring to finish a joint pharmd/phd program to keep as many options open as possible. at UT, it's supposedly only 6.5 years to get both degrees. that will open up a lot more career paths.

 

[lauradiddle]

You can get your MBA and work into management.

 

[ShadowRX]

personally, i'm aspiring to finish a joint pharmd/phd program to keep as many options open as possible. at UT, it's supposedly only 6.5 years to get both degrees. that will open up a lot more career paths.

Ditto... if I get into UT.

 

[wes011]

You can get your MBA and work into management.

What about administration specialized residencies?

 

[Utterdevotion]

What about administration specialized residencies?

Are you thinking of hospital administration? There is also an executive residency which is preparing you for national or state pharmacy association or other health-related organization.

You can get information on residencies through ACCP, APhA (searching community residency), and ASHP (health system pharmacy)

http://www.accp.com/resandfel/search.aspx
http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Residencies_Advanced_Training
http://www.ashp.org/

 

[PharmEXP]

You can get your MBA and work into management.

What exactly could I do with joint PharmD/MBA degrees? I was contemplating this pathway but wasn't quite sure about it. Would that help me in opening up my own pharmacy?

 

[Passion4Sci]

What exactly could I do with joint PharmD/MBA degrees? I was contemplating this pathway but wasn't quite sure about it. Would that help me in opening up my own pharmacy?

I suspect that or vying for a position in pharmacy leadership, perhaps, like Director positions? The more alphabet soup you've got, the better.

 

[Utterdevotion]

What exactly could I do with joint PharmD/MBA degrees? I was contemplating this pathway but wasn't quite sure about it. Would that help me in opening up my own pharmacy?

An MBA can help you understand more of the in and outs of owning your own pharmacy, but you could always learn from a good pharmacist mentor who owns an independent as well (EPIC independent pharmacies are known for easing in pharmacist that are interested in owning an independent)

MBA is used more for rising more quickly and higher up the ranks in hospital administration and community chain management. They say that w/o an MBA you will go high, but never as high as someone with an MBA.

 

[weetzie00]

What exactly could I do with joint PharmD/MBA degrees? I was contemplating this pathway but wasn't quite sure about it. Would that help me in opening up my own pharmacy?

Most of the people I know who are interested in pursuing this dual degree do so because they plan on opening an independent pharmacy. I'd say it'd also be beneficial in the pharmaceutical industry.

 

[JEW UNIT]

I might apply to medical school...I want to become a psychiatrist.

 

[PharmEXP]

Thanks for the feedback

 

[rx2010]

You could do residencies and specialize in certain areas of pharmacy (Oncology, critical care, pediatrics), but it is not going to increase your salary exponentially.

(Husband has done residency, is a clinical specialist, makes more than your average hospital pharmacist but not a lot more).

Do clinical pharmacists make more than retail or close to retail?

 

[cheeseboy2]

typically retail pharmacists will make more than clinical pharmacists. do a search in the Pharmacy (not pre-pharmacy) threads and you'll come up with some long discussions

@OP. this may seem out of the blue but multiple pharmacists have told me to do something on the side non-health field related. collect and resell beanie babies or hard rock cafe pins. it may not bump up the income too much, but it will keep you sane.

 

[PharmGrrlJax]

Do clinical pharmacists make more than retail or close to retail?

Somwhat closer, but still falls somewhat short, though I do find his work much more interesting than what I saw in retail.

 

[rx2010]

Somwhat closer, but still falls somewhat short, though I do find his work much more interesting than what I saw in retail.

Thanks for the response! I'm about to graduate in a month, and I'm starting a job in retail, but I do find that clinical pharmacy is more interesting than retail because you get to use a lot of your knowledge from pharmacy school. However, one of the things I like about retail is you get to interact with patients and counsel them, whereas clinical pharmacy (e.g. internal medicine) doesn't involve much patient interaction, you just work with the medical team.

I may decide to apply for a residency next year depending on how my experience is after working retail as a pharmacist.

 

[PharmGrrlJax]

Thanks for the response! I'm about to graduate in a month, and I'm starting a job in retail, but I do find that clinical pharmacy is more interesting than retail because you get to use a lot of your knowledge from pharmacy school. However, one of the things I like about retail is you get to interact with patients and counsel them, whereas clinical pharmacy (e.g. internal medicine) doesn't involve much patient interaction, you just work with the medical team.

I may decide to apply for a residency next year depending on how my experience is after working retail as a pharmacist.

My husband actually has a lot of patient interaction, he has a coumadin service and counsels a lot of the inpatients on discharge about their medicines. He was once a clinical coordinator, but stepped down because he missed the patient interaction and hated paperwork.

 

[rx2010]

My husband actually has a lot of patient interaction, he has a coumadin service and counsels a lot of the inpatients on discharge about their medicines. He was once a clinical coordinator, but stepped down because he missed the patient interaction and hated paperwork.

Nice... so he is more of an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist than internal medicine, correct? Did he have to do a PGY2 or was the PGY1 good enough? Residencies are getting pretty competitive now and it seems like you might need a PGY2 to be more competitive in the job market.

 

[PharmGrrlJax]

Nice... so he is more of an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist than internal medicine, correct? Did he have to do a PGY2 or was the PGY1 good enough? Residencies are getting pretty competitive now and it seems like you might need a PGY2 to be more competitive in the job market.

My husband only did PGY1, as a General Practice residency. I think it helped that he did his internship, and his residency there, so when he stayed working in the system then he was able to work at that level because they new his ability. He does a little of everything, writes TPNs, manages warfarin, rounds, chemos...everything...

 

[Pharmd1]

Say you get your Pharm D. and work as a pharmacist for 5 years.

Then you feel like going back to school for 2-4 more years in order to increase your salary (still staying in the pharmacy field). Can this be done?

It is true that Retail pharmacist salaries are higher then hospital pharmacist. But there are advantages and dis-advantages to both sides. In retail pharmacy (if you are in the right position) then there is time for true patient interaction, while hospital is mostly filling IV orders in inpatient pharmacy or doing orders/chart followup on the floors in de-centralized settings or writing protocols, research, etc which can be a huge plus. There are specialist positions after certain types of residencies.
With new health care reform, I have a feeling most companies are going to push MTMs, which should allow for retail pharmacists to do more patient care.

In my opinion it is not how much more money you can make, but it is how happy you are with what you do counts more.

Good Luck

Pharmd1

 

[PharmEXP]

With new health care reform, I have a feeling most companies are going to push MTMs, which should allow for retail pharmacists to do more patient care.

In my opinion it is not how much more money you can make, but it is how happy you are with what you do counts more.

👍

 

[Thumper17]

He was once a clinical coordinator, but stepped down because he missed the patient interaction and hated paperwork.

Oh man I read that as "a". Funny how one little word changes that bigtime! I was like ooohh nooo!

 

[PharmGrrlJax]

Oh man I read that as "a". Funny how one little word changes that bigtime! I was like ooohh nooo!

It could also be said as he missed patient interaction, now if I had said he missed patient interactions...then we all need to be worried!

 

[Passion4Sci]

Oh man I read that as "a". Funny how one little word changes that bigtime! I was like ooohh nooo!

One character makes a HUGE difference.

One of my favorite examples:

Let's go eat, grandma!

vs.

Let's go eat grandma!

 

[phathead]

Two words: Excessive Drinking

 

[pharm B]

For those aspiring to promotions on the clinical side: do you think an MPH is more beneficial than an MBA, or at least AS beneficial?

 

[rxlea]

For those aspiring to promotions on the clinical side: do you think an MPH is more beneficial than an MBA, or at least AS beneficial?

I am actually wondering the same thing because I am seriously considering getting an MPH. I just don't know what added benefit it would have. I heard there are many opportunities but I just haven't put in the time to research it thoroughly.

 

[phathead]

For those aspiring to promotions on the clinical side: do you think an MPH is more beneficial than an MBA, or at least AS beneficial?

From my understanding, when I researched it, a MPH is better suited for the clinical side whereas a MBA is better suited for the retail side.

The other thing is when you get a MBA you have to decide on what type (there are several). I'm pretty sure there is just 1 MPH

 

[pharm4lyfe]

Yea...I was wondering about the M.S degrees as well.

Some people were talking about doing a M.S. / residency and I think that it is an interesting combination. I don't know of too many places that do this, though.

What about an M.S. in pharmacy administration? could this basically give you the "business" side of Pharmacy instead of pursuing an MBA?

But I'm leaning more towards the M.S./residency route

 

[phathead]

Yea...I was wondering about the M.S degrees as well.

Some people were talking about doing a M.S. / residency and I think that it is an interesting combination. I don't know of too many places that do this, though.

What about an M.S. in pharmacy administration? could this basically give you the "business" side of Pharmacy instead of pursuing an MBA?

But I'm leaning more towards the M.S./residency route

Does anyone do a MS in Pharmacy Administration?

I'm planning on getting a MBA in Finance. I figure one of the main problems with propagating new and innovative programs is finding ways to finance them. Plus, I like numbers so that helps lol

 

[koercive]

USC has a MS in Regulatory Science.

You can do this from off-campus via their distance learning.

 

[crazybob]

Say you get your Pharm D. and work as a pharmacist for 5 years.

Then you feel like going back to school for 2-4 more years in order to increase your salary (still staying in the pharmacy field). Can this be done?

1) Switch to retail if you have not done so already.

2) Take over an independent pharmacy

3) Start a business with some partners.

 

[pharm B]

Short and sweet Bob. And no mention of girls. 😀

 

[phathead]

Short and sweet Bob. And no mention of girls. 😀

What? Pharmacists can't be pimps? Damn 🙁

 

[crazybob]

Short and sweet Bob. And no mention of girls. 😀

You do not want to know how much I've been daydreaming about someone all day

And no, she's not in pharmacy school. I wish she was sometimes

 

[crazybob]

What? Pharmacists can't be pimps? Damn 🙁

It costs money to get it started, and then when your money isn't coming in, you have to deal with all of the issues and the drama 😆

 

[rxlea]

Man oh man, every thread involves girls 🙂

 

[PharmEXP]

From my understanding, when I researched it, a MPH is better suited for the clinical side whereas a MBA is better suited for the retail side.

The other thing is when you get a MBA you have to decide on what type (there are several). I'm pretty sure there is just 1 MPH

From what I've read, MBA was better suited for hospital administration (or something along those lines) and not so much retail. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I was also trying to decide between the MPH and MBA, seeing as I would like to pursue a career in retail and one day own an independent.

1) Switch to retail if you have not done so already.

2) Take over an independent pharmacy

3) Start a business with some partners.

👍

 

[phathead]

From what I've read, MBA was better suited for hospital administration (or something along those lines) and not so much retail. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I was also trying to decide between the MPH and MBA, seeing as I would like to pursue a career in retail and one day own an independent.



👍

I cannot see how that would be true. An MBA prepares you for the business world, which is where retail exists. A MPH prepares you for medical administration, which is where clinical exists.

 

[PharmEXP]

I cannot see how that would be true. An MBA prepares you for the business world, which is where retail exists. A MPH prepares you for medical administration, which is where clinical exists.

That's what I thought too, and that makes the most sense. I would like to own an independent in the future and feel like PharmD/MBA degrees would complement each other well when trying to own/operate a successful (profitable) store.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

typically retail pharmacists will make more than clinical pharmacists. do a search in the Pharmacy (not pre-pharmacy) threads and you'll come up with some long discussions

@OP. this may seem out of the blue but multiple pharmacists have told me to do something on the side non-health field related. collect and resell beanie babies or hard rock cafe pins. it may not bump up the income too much, but it will keep you sane.

I still have like 200 beanie babies... They're all retired by now (mid-late 1990's?). I didn't think they were worth anything anymore. Lol

 

[pharm B]

I personally plan to open up an Irish pub. Beanie babies, Irish pubs, it's all the same. 😀

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Niiice I love the local Irish pub down here... Suchhh delicious food... I wouldn't mind investing in an enjoyable but profitable hobby. I have a few things in mind but we will see how much time I have. The pharmacist I work with does photography...

 

[crazybob]

As long as you don't get wasted or anything.

But a pub sounds nice... even though I don't think I've ever been to one.

 

[phathead]

That's what I thought too, and that makes the most sense. I would like to own an independent in the future and feel like PharmD/MBA degrees would complement each other well when trying to own/operate a success (profitable) store.

Depends on what MBA you decide to get

 

[PharmEXP]

I still have like 200 beanie babies... They're all retired by now (mid-late 1990's?). I didn't think they were worth anything anymore. Lol

If you don't care for them anymore, you should put them on ebay... you'd be amazed at the value those things retain 🙂

Niiice I love the local Irish pub down here... Suchhh delicious food... I wouldn't mind investing in an enjoyable but profitable hobby. I have a few things in mind but we will see how much time I have. The pharmacist I work with does photography...

Nothing beats an Irish pub... in Ireland! I back-packed around all of western Europe a few years back and Ireland was surprisingly one of my favorites. The atmosphere was so laid back and the pubs were obviously one of many highlights of that trip.

Depends on what MBA you decide to get

What do you recommend? I was thinking either entrepreneurship or finance.

 

[PharmEXP]

I personally plan to open up an Irish pub. Beanie babies, Irish pubs, it's all the same. 😀

That sounds like an awesome idea btw. I was thinking maybe open up a restaurant but owning a pub would be sooo much more fun. Sorry, but I'm officially stealing your idea 😀

 

[pharm B]

We can always do a chain! I'm up for creating a brand. 🙂

 

[MustLoveDrugs]

Does anyone do a MS in Pharmacy Administration?

I'm planning on getting a MBA in Finance. I figure one of the main problems with propagating new and innovative programs is finding ways to finance them. Plus, I like numbers so that helps lol

Follow Utterdevotion's link to the ASHP website, find the residency directory and search under PGY-2 programs... Health System Pharmacy Practice/M.S. are the 24-month programs that incorporate PGY-1, PGY-2 and a masters degree in pharmacy administration or a related field.