What to do?

[Medme22]

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I'm currently pursuing a PhD in pharmacology. My dream would be to work in industry. However pharmacy is my first love. I'm debating on whether I should attend pharmacy school after I finish my PhD or go to med school. I would like to utilize the dual degrees by doing clinical research and also having the flexibility to practice and also teach. I know that pharmacy job outlook isn't looking good especially retail. However I have heard that the job outlook for PhDs isn't good either. My school does have a dual degree but I don't know how that would work since I was accepted into the PhD program first and I'm already in my 2nd year. I'm already 25 years old. What should I do?

 

[gwarm01]

You said pharmacy is your first love, what do you mean by that? Hard to know if you truly love the field without first being a pharmacist.

 

[BidingMyTime]

A dual degree with either pharmacy or medicine would certainly give you more job options. I'd look at it this way, if by some remote chance you got your dual degree and couldn't work in research, would you be happier working as a pharmacist or a doctor? That is probably the degree you should go with (that's assuming you have the grades to get into medical school, if your GPA is on the low side by medical school standards, then realistically you would want to go the pharmacy route.) You should talk to your school and see if they would consider you for the dual degree program.

 

[TheBlaah]

You're unlikely to find a job where you get to perform clinical research, practice, and teach all at once. Professors can teach and research or they can teach and practice. At a certain point, performing all three means you're not really a specialist in anything.

With your phd dual degree, you'd most likely find academia the most appropriate career path.

 

[Medme22]

You said pharmacy is your first love, what do you mean by that? Hard to know if you truly love the field without first being a pharmacist.

I can agree with that. I think I should of said initially I wanted to go to pharmacy school but changed my mind.

 

[Medme22]

A dual degree with either pharmacy or medicine would certainly give you more job options. I'd look at it this way, if by some remote chance you got your dual degree and couldn't work in research, would you be happier working as a pharmacist or a doctor? That is probably the degree you should go with (that's assuming you have the grades to get into medical school, if your GPA is on the low side by medical school standards, then realistically you would want to go the pharmacy route.) You should talk to your school and see if they would consider you for the dual degree program.

I'm already 25 so I'll probably be in school until my early 30s which doesn't bother me as long as I like my career choice and its stable. I love research but I don't know if I would be ok doing it for the rest of my life. I guess I can see how my school does the dual degree since I wasn't accepted into pharmacy school first. I want the flexibility of being able to do research but also practice and/ or teach. Not all at the same time but if I want to change it up I have that option.

 

[Medme22]

You're unlikely to find a job where you get to perform clinical research, practice, and teach all at once. Professors can teach and research or they can teach and practice. At a certain point, performing all three means you're not really a specialist in anything.

With your phd dual degree, you'd most likely find academia the most appropriate career path.

See I want the flexibility of being able to do all of the above but not at the same time.