Which program would you choose?

[Jabberwocky12]

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Hi guys,

I know this seems like a pre-pharm question but I'd like the feedback of people already in the field. Reading up on forums and looking at advice from people including Its Z, obviously there are different programs to take for a degree in conjunction with a PharmD.

So far I am looking at a couple and would like some feedback. I would like to either work in a hospital or possibly in a military branch like Navy or Air Force, or most notably the Indian Health Service with the Health Corp. But hospital or research isn't out of the question either.

So far here are the different options I am stuck with given those paths.

-3 year program (i.e. LECOM). Get out while I can and start practicing

-PharmD/PA like in Kentucky. That looks more interesting if working in an underserved area like for IHS since I'm going to be more clinical there anyway, a PA degree seems like it would be best.

-PharmD MBA or MHA. Z mentioned that this would be the best way to go in order to get into a hospital and then have chances of moving up. MBA would also be beneficial for the off chance I go into retail so I have possible chances of moving up in the field.

I know there are more like PharmD/PhD, PharmD/MPH, PharmD/MS, etc. but those two don't seem to fit into what I want to do as much. They are more auxillary if I find a specific niche in research I want to do.

One of the things I like about those 3 degrees is that they also tie into a little passion I have for learning about different roles and functions in the healthcare system. I want to understand why our healthcare system operates they way it does and having different exposure outside of a PharmD or the retail/hospital setting might be beneficial for me in that aspect. I plan to go to Europe hopefully senior year and finish up courses while trying to study their healthcare system.

So, yeah, not trying to get a decision made for me but I'd really like to hear what some people say. Maybe my intentions and reasoning behind the degrees suck 🙄

I'm more than happy to help clarify anything you might want to know.

thanks for the help and any feedback is deeply appreciated!

 

[nnguyenc]

just curious...what does your screen name mean?

 

[Jabberwocky12]

Jabberwocky was a code word with a bunch of my friends. 12 is the year I graduate undergrad with a dual major.

 

[rxforlife2004]

just curious...what does your screen name mean?

what kinda question is this? Wtf is "nnguyenc"?

To the OP: Get a Pharm.D/PA. That looks pretty cool...If you have money and time, do a Pharm.D, then do an MD....👍

 

[Jabberwocky12]

what kinda question is this? Wtf is "nnguyenc"?

To the OP: Get a Pharm.D/PA. That looks pretty cool...If you have money and time, do a Pharm.D, then do an MD....👍

nguyen is typically an oriental last name, particularly with Vietnamese backgrounds.

RX I appreciate the feedback. Aside from it sounding cool is there any other reason you would suggest doing that? The only issue I saw with the program in Kentucky and in general is that most of the rotations you do as a pharmacist are replaced with rotations for the PA to fulfill part of the year you skip doing both. As for doing an MD, if you're an MD then you aren't really a PharmD anymore, right? I know you keep both degrees but by the time you get an MD and everything you won't really be using much MD anymore. That and like 8 years of professional school...>_<

Again, thanks for the feedback, a little advice towards PharmD/PA.

 

[Cloud 9]

nguyen is typically an oriental last name, particularly with Vietnamese backgrounds.

RX I appreciate the feedback. Aside from it sounding cool is there any other reason you would suggest doing that? The only issue I saw with the program in Kentucky and in general is that most of the rotations you do as a pharmacist are replaced with rotations for the PA to fulfill part of the year you skip doing both. As for doing an MD, if you're an MD then you aren't really a PharmD anymore, right? I know you keep both degrees but by the time you get an MD and everything you won't really be using much MD anymore. That and like 8 years of professional school...>_<

Again, thanks for the feedback, a little advice towards PharmD/PA.

Just my (limited) opinion but what would you do with a PA degree besides be a PA? You can't really work as both PA and Pharmacist at the same time, it's not really like they complement each other, except I guess if you're not feeling one career suddenly you can switch trains and do something else for a while...?

 

[Jabberwocky12]

Just my (limited) opinion but what would you do with a PA degree besides be a PA? You can't really work as both PA and Pharmacist at the same time, it's not really like they complement each other, except I guess if you're not feeling one career suddenly you can switch trains and do something else for a while...?

The only reason I was considering that dual degree was working in an underprivileged area, i.e IHS or smaller, poor counties. The benefit there would be since I'd be in a more triage/clinical position working with patients it would allow me more ways to treat a patient. But I'm not 100% sure on that, but I figured there was a benefit similar to the one I had in mind somewhere or why would there be a dual degree?

 

[Cloud 9]

The only reason I was considering that dual degree was working in an underprivileged area, i.e IHS or smaller, poor counties. The benefit there would be since I'd be in a more triage/clinical position working with patients it would allow me more ways to treat a patient. But I'm not 100% sure on that, but I figured there was a benefit similar to the one I had in mind somewhere or why would there be a dual degree?

I don't know...to make money? lol..we live in an underserved area and have problems attracting PAs as well but at the same time I don't think you're allowed to work as both a PA and pharmacist at the same time. I guess this would only work if you wanted to for sure work as a PA and have the extra knowledge pharmacy gives you to be more sure of your drug prescribing, but you'd still have to run it (the prescriptions) by the physician anyway, so not sure how that would help...

 

[drift]

Just my (limited) opinion but what would you do with a PA degree besides be a PA? You can't really work as both PA and Pharmacist at the same time, it's not really like they complement each other, except I guess if you're not feeling one career suddenly you can switch trains and do something else for a while...?

To be much more marketable. Would be great if you want to do clinical pharmacy. Pharmacists generally make make ~10k more money then PAs on average, but I would say PAs have more job security. Also, with both degrees, you have 2x as many job options available for you so you're more likely to find a "tailor-made" job that is more towards your liking. Like said before, you cannot use both licenses together or dispense a drug as a pharmacist that you prescribed as a PA.

 

[Cloud 9]

To be much more marketable. Would be great if you want to do clinical pharmacy. Pharmacists generally make make ~10k more money then PAs on average, but I would say PAs have more job security. Also, with both degrees, you have 2x as many job options available for you so you're more likely to find a "tailor-made" job that is more towards your liking. Like said before, you cannot use both licenses together or dispense a drug as a pharmacist that you prescribed as a PA.

That sounds good, but it seems it'd be hard to find a tailor made job. During clinical rounds pharmacists don't diagnose other patients, they manage their med therapy. whereas PAs do diagnose.

 

[drift]

That sounds good, but it seems it'd be hard to find a tailor made job. During clinical rounds pharmacists don't diagnose other patients, they manage their med therapy. whereas PAs do diagnose.

Yup, there many things that a PA can do that pharmacists cannot; but it is also the other way around that pharmacists can do alot that PAs can't. I think it's a great option to have such a 3yr pharm + 2yr PA program dual degree 5yr program.

as per the tailor-made position, I think a PA with a PharmD would be a tremendous asset to any hospital, especially rural hospitals that couldn't afford to hire a PA and a pharmacist separately. If they have a PA who also has the med therapy/interventions knowledge that a pharmacist has, that would certainly open up your chances of a tailor-made position.

OP, not saying to disregard the other dual-degree options, but certainly give a PharmD/PA program thought.

 

[ucrx]

If you think you will join the military as a pharmacist, they do pay for further schooling. I have a friend in the Navy who is signed on for three years and plans on going for his MBA when he finishes those years to help him with a military career.

 

[R2pharmD2]

That sounds good, but it seems it'd be hard to find a tailor made job.

When I first heard about the PharmD/PA dual degree, I thought it sounded fantastic. I've done a fair amount of research though, and I haven't found any job where both degrees are useful. This has been brought up before so I'm not going to rehash the whole thing, but there are other threads where this was discussed pretty extensively and the consensus was that having both degrees isn't practically useful. It's so rare that there isn't a defined niche where you can make use of both sets of skills, at least not yet. That said, if you're willing to sacrifice a year of your time just to learn more, then I certainly think it would be interesting. But the other dual degree options (or a residency) would almost certainly be more beneficial career-wise.

 

[megandupe]

I agree with many ppl on here. I would consider doing a clinical residency afterwards instead of a PA program bc you can still learn alot of clinical applications yet keep it pharmaceutical.

Or you could skip pharm all together and do PA, they are very high in demand right now.

 

[rxlea]

The additional years of schooling is a year of income lost. Think about the opportunity cost here. IMO, general medicine (read: family practice) is headed in the direction of NPs and PAs, as there may be no real incentive for doctors, who devote years and years of their lives to schooling/residency, to pursue family medicine. The gap will be filled (and already is being filled) by midlevels. If you are truly interested in direct patient care and can see yourself in the position of a PA, at this point in time, I would encourage you to pursue that route. First, you should look at some of the other fora on SDN to learn more about PAs and NPs. Correct me if I am wrong, but PA school is shorter than PharmD school, right? The outlook for PharmDs doesn't seem that great right now and, unless someone can come in here and correct me, job security seems much better for NPs and PAs.

 

[Jabberwocky12]

The additional years of schooling is a year of income lost. Think about the opportunity cost here. IMO, general medicine (read: family practice) is headed in the direction of NPs and PAs, as there may be no real incentive for doctors, who devote years and years of their lives to schooling/residency, to pursue family medicine. The gap will be filled (and already is being filled) by midlevels. If you are truly interested in direct patient care and can see yourself in the position of a PA, at this point in time, I would encourage you to pursue that route. First, you should look at some of the other fora on SDN to learn more about PAs and NPs. Correct me if I am wrong, but PA school is shorter than PharmD school, right? The outlook for PharmDs doesn't seem that great right now and, unless someone can come in here and correct me, job security seems much better for NPs and PAs.

I totally see where you are coming from and it was a thought that occurred to me. However, first and foremost I want to be a pharmacist. Anything I take is to supplement being a pharmacist, not to replace a pharmacist. NPs and PAs have less school, this is true. But out of all the programs I looked at pharmacy is truly the one I want to do. A lot of people don't know they need a pharmacist until there isn't one to help them; doctors, patients, clinics, etc. all need the help of a pharmacist. However, my goal was to do something related to clinical work helping in underserved areas or in a hospital setting somewhere else.

I've seen numerous threads about the PharmD/PA but also seen them with rotations, the debates on MBA vs MPH vs MHA, and etc. so it's always hard to get a direct answer since not everyone has the same opinion. I'm mainly just trying to see the best way for what I want to do rather than the best overall. I think the PA might not be the best bet because the general consensus so far is that no one sees both being used properly.

Thanks for the help with that, one less option for me to consider on a logistic standpoint I suppose.