Pharmacist thinking about Medical School, and i completly crazy?

[RxDoc06]

I'm a 27 year 2006 graduate of pharmacy school. I received my PharmD and even completed a pharmacy practice residency. I'm currently in a clinical position, and have been considering attending medical school. Most of my classmates have all commented both during and after school that I should attend medical school, but i usually just brushed it off. During my 2 years post pharmacy school, i've experienced retail, staff and clinical pharmacy, and still find myself unfulfilled. I am just more interested in the disease states than the medications and wondering why i didn't attend medical school I think i'm crazy for even considering it, but don't want another 10 or 15 years to go by, and still regret never have done it. i've read a few threads on here about a similar subject, and it seems like it's harder to be accepted in medical school, since i already have a pharmacy degree. I graduated with a 3.4, and thought that was pretty good, until i saw a thread that stated is not very good. Considering how late in the year it is, I will have to wait to apply for the fall '10 term, since the last mcat exam is in 2 weeks, and i doubt i'd be able to study for that test in 2 week. anyone have any advice about this? anyone else do this? i feel completly insane for even wanting to do this.

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[K90]

I'm a 27 year 2006 graduate of pharmacy school. I received my PharmD and even completed a pharmacy practice residency. I'm currently in a clinical position, and have been considering attending medical school. Most of my classmates have all commented both during and after school that I should attend medical school, but i usually just brushed it off. During my 2 years post pharmacy school, i've experienced retail, staff and clinical pharmacy, and still find myself unfulfilled. I am just more interested in the disease states than the medications and wondering why i didn't attend medical school I think i'm crazy for even considering it, but don't want another 10 or 15 years to go by, and still regret never have done it. i've read a few threads on here about a similar subject, and it seems like it's harder to be accepted in medical school, since i already have a pharmacy degree. I graduated with a 3.4, and thought that was pretty good, until i saw a thread that stated is not very good. Considering how late in the year it is, I will have to wait to apply for the fall '10 term, since the last mcat exam is in 2 weeks, and i doubt i'd be able to study for that test in 2 week. anyone have any advice about this? anyone else do this? i feel completly insane for even wanting to do this.

Think about it, do you want to spend 6+ more years and get into more debt than you can imagine? My advice is to save up some money and buy a sucessful pharmacy or two. You'll earn more than many doctors and work way less, if that's what you're really after. Besides, studying for the MCAT in two weeks is ridiculous if it's anything like the Dental Admissions Test, and I heard that was nothing compared to the MCAT.

 

[J ROD]

I'm a 27 year 2006 graduate of pharmacy school. I received my PharmD and even completed a pharmacy practice residency. I'm currently in a clinical position, and have been considering attending medical school. Most of my classmates have all commented both during and after school that I should attend medical school, but i usually just brushed it off. During my 2 years post pharmacy school, i've experienced retail, staff and clinical pharmacy, and still find myself unfulfilled. I am just more interested in the disease states than the medications and wondering why i didn't attend medical school I think i'm crazy for even considering it, but don't want another 10 or 15 years to go by, and still regret never have done it. i've read a few threads on here about a similar subject, and it seems like it's harder to be accepted in medical school, since i already have a pharmacy degree. I graduated with a 3.4, and thought that was pretty good, until i saw a thread that stated is not very good. Considering how late in the year it is, I will have to wait to apply for the fall '10 term, since the last mcat exam is in 2 weeks, and i doubt i'd be able to study for that test in 2 week. anyone have any advice about this? anyone else do this? i feel completly insane for even wanting to do this.

Crazy, no!

I am in my 3rd year of pharm school and I planned to attend medical school from the beginning. I just want both knowledge sets.

I know many pharmacist that went back to med school. Just study for the MCAT over the next year, do well, and apply next year.

If you truly want it, go for it. One day you will be 40. One day you could be 40 and a doctor. Either way you will be 40.

It is your life and only you can decide how you want to live it!

Get to living!!

 

[calimed214]

How long have you thought about going into medicine now? You mentioned that you used to "brush off" comments about medical school both during & after pharmacy school. This suggests that your desire to go from pharmacy --> medicine is a fairly recent development. What suddenly triggered this desire? Since you've only been working as a clinical pharmacist for a couple years, be sure that you're being motivated by the right reasons (ie: genuine unfulfillment at your job), rather than a sort of "culture shock" that a lot of people go through when they stop being a student and start working at a real job with real responsibilities.

Additionally, like the poster above mentioned, there is debt to consider -- a lot of debt. Are you able to handle that burden? Keep in mind that after med school, you'll be around 33 or older before you start residency.. after which you'll be making a paltry sum while paying off pharm school & med school debts which could easily reach $300k range.

If after everything, you still have a burning desire to go into medicine and can't imagine yourself doing anything else, then I'd say go for it. It's definitely possible. I know a couple of Pharm.D./MDs and I'm actually a 4th year pharm student applying to med school this year. But I've been prepping to apply to med school since I started pharmacy. In your case, I wouldn't jump into taking the MCAT right away and applying without making sure everything is in order. Do you have medical volunteer experience? Even though you've been working as a clinical pharmacist, med schools are going to want to see that you've spent time with doctors and done all the volunteer work that everyone else has to do... otherwise, they may question your commitment to changing careers. Do you have any research experience? Did you graduate pharmacy school or undergrad with a 3.4? If it's undergrad, you may want to consider taking a couple of classes to bring that GPA up just a bit to at least a 3.5. And have you taken all the prerequisites? You'll also have to find people to write you letters of recommendation. This would likely require you going back to pharmacy professors and asking them to write something on your behalf. All in all, applying to med school is a very long annoying process. Realize you may have to take a year or two before you're ready. Don't rush into it.

Just some things to keep in mind, good luck.

 

[RxDoc06]

i've always considered medical school, but when i say i brushed it off, it was b/c i wanted to do it, but it always seemed to late to attempt it. initially when i was doing my pre-pharmacy course work, what kept me from pursuing medical school was the 3 year residency portion. as far as physician interaction, i round with my team everyday, so i have plenty of interaction, including my 1 year residency as well. I've only given it serious thought, b/c i do feel unfulfilled and want more patient interaction. i know it's a daunting task and the debt load will be substantial. i'm considering taking the mcat next year, and applying. if i'm not accepted, then so be it. but, i feel as if i've continuaslly put it off, b/c i've felt that it's too late. but, when i thought about it, it's really no different than had i received my masters or phd before attending medical school.

 

[dazed1980]

Think about it, do you want to spend 6+ more years and get into more debt than you can imagine? My advice is to save up some money and buy a sucessful pharmacy or two. You'll earn more than many doctors and work way less, if that's what you're really after. Besides, studying for the MCAT in two weeks is ridiculous if it's anything like the Dental Admissions Test, and I heard that was nothing compared to the MCAT.

If its about the money, then the above sounds like sound advice. if it is about true interest in the human condition, disease states and clinical practise, then GO FOR IT. u are not crazy. u definitely don't want to be wishing u had done this 20years down the road.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[bigpharmD]

I am a pharmacist with 2 years of residency training. I round with surgeons, publish, and teach. With all of this I still feel like going to medical school. I have known for a long time i chose the wrong career but was too affraid to do something about it. I am the exactly the same age as you and will be taking the MCAT next year. I say do it. Life is too short. My friend who is a PharmD/MD didnt add that many new loans because he worked as a pharmacist during school (and had a sugar mamma).

 

[bigpharmD]

good point about the Phd thing. Many pharmDs have and MBA, Phd, MPH, JD, etc. If I am gonna go back to school why not MD? rather than one of these others that may take as long to get. So what if I am a resident for 3-5 years. I still get paid.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

NO, you are definitely not crazy. Just think of having a PharmD and MD as a plus when you are interacting with your patients. I know others will say that you are crazy for doing it but this is your life and you have to make the best of it. Good Luck.

 

[K90]

I have a question for those of you who are doing this/considering doing this (ie Pharmacy -> Med): Are you bloody mad?

In all seriousness, why would anyone in their right mind want to do that? Sure I can see an interest, but think about how many wasted years that would amount to. You could be a cancer specialist by that time had you went directly into med school from undergraduate. I mean, what is the point of knowing you want to go to med school before you even apply to pharmacy school as one of the posters above suggested?

 

[calimed214]

.

 

[J ROD]

I have a question for those of you who are doing this/considering doing this (ie Pharmacy -> Med): Are you bloody mad?

In all seriousness, why would anyone in their right mind want to do that? Sure I can see an interest, but think about how many wasted years that would amount to. You could be a cancer specialist by that time had you went directly into med school from undergraduate. I mean, what is the point of knowing you want to go to med school before you even apply to pharmacy school as one of the posters above suggested?

Maybe the person is referring to me!

Simple: I want to.

 

[calimed214]

Maybe the person is referring to me!

Simple: I want to.

 

[mletter]

yes crazy, but it's your life.

 

[J ROD]

yes crazy, but it's your life.

crazy as a crazy does!

 

[sindadel]

You only get one life. If you have a large amount of debt right now, I suppose it might be a good idea to work for a few years, live frugally and pay it off before embarking on a whole new debt load plan.

But I think it would be awesome to have an MD with such an in-depth knowledge of pharma. And if you'll regret not doing it in 10 years, then you should definitely at least apply and see how you feel with an acceptance letter in your hand.

 

[PharmDoc03]

I too am a pharmacist who is considering going back to med school (graduated 2003). I've heard differing opinions on whether or not I should do it (due to length of time, expenses, etc...) I've worked in retail for 5 years now and it just bores me. You are often treated as an overpaid clerk. However, I have a family, the house and the pharmacy student loan as well and these play a major part in whether or not I get an MD. Any other PharmDs who went to med school? Did you work part-time or at all? How did you handle your other obligations? Sell the house? What about previous loans? Thanks for your help

 

[sindadel]

I'm not a pharmacist, but I'm a self-employed software engineer, so I could work as many hours a week during med school as I could swing. I've heard that some people are able to work 10-15 hours; however, they didn't have a family at the time. Personally I plan to spend that free time with my kids and my husband because I think that for me, the biggest risk of med school is damaging those relationships.

Whether to take equity out of your house is a location-specific question - depends on housing values, future housing values, loan size, rental market. I'd explore the possibility of housemates, especially if you live near the university you'll go to med school at. If you do happen to have a chunk of equity which seems pretty low risk to take out (due significant appreciation a few years ago) then you'll get a good interest rate on it, long term, but unlike med school loans, you'll be in repayment the whole time.

Probably you should make an appt with a financial aid advisor, either from med school or pharm school because they know the answers to consolidation and so on. Personally, I'd lean towards working extra shifts and living in "austerity mode" in order to get the pharm school debt/consumer debt paid down/off before starting med school. You've got at least two years before you can start med school (if you haven't already taken the MCAT) so why not plan to use those years to improve your financial situation?

Best of luck.

 

[PharmDoc03]

Hi Sinadel

Thanks for the info. Pharm school loans weren't a priority to pay off early since the interest rate for that loan is 1.6% right now (yes, not a typo). I've worked 6 to 7 days a week since I've graduated and saved up quite a bit of money with no other debt besides house/cars. I live in Socal so the cost of living is quite a bit here and we may have to consider a move to a cheaper state. I think meeting with a financial aid advisor is a great suggestion and I think I will have to do that.

 

[RxMD]

I am currently a clinical pharmacist x 2 years (ICU, critical), also did one year residency training. I have taken the MCAT, completed AMCAS and am fully into the application process to matriculate in '09. At that time I will be 29 years old. My reason is the same as most above, I crave more knowledge and do not want to further pursue a career that will not be intellectually satisfying. I also want more patient interaction and the ability to / responsibility for directing the entire patient care plan. To those that say we're mad, maybe. But as med students, who else do you know that will be able to work part-time for $50+ / hour? Don't harp on the debt, its not like that hasn't been considered. I, myself, have already taken care of a majority of my debt from all of pharmacy school and its not an issue.

I work with physicians daily (side by side) and have consulted them. My father-in-law is also a physician and is one my biggest supporters and helped me get over the hump to apply, knowing full-well what kind of debt there may be. There will be no financial assistance from him as he knows it will not be needed. I've also shadowed, volunteered, etc. I've discussed this at length with a large number of people (family, friends, colleagues, adcom members, etc.) and have never heard one word of discouragement until I found this site.

To those thinking about going Pharm.D ---> MD, if you're in it for the right reasons (and you'll know), go for it.

 

[simpleman]

i didnt read through these threads, but no buddy, u r not nuts.

my med school has two pharmacists in my current class! and they are kicking ass on pharm right now!! they really know their stuff....one aspires to be a surgeon and the other a cardiologist!!!

go for it buddy...and you can always work as a pharmacist part time during med school just to keep your license current....my friends are doing it...

keep ur chin up!

 

[DrJosephKim]

I know a few PharmD/MD or RPh/MDs. These individuals really wanted to get more involved in patient interaction and they wanted to make the time and financial investment.