Specializing in Pharmacy?

[samuraix]

1. What does it mean? Is being a consultant pharmacist considered specialized? Is it similar to specializing with an MD like being a anesthesiologist? Is there a specialized field of pharmacy that deals with drug synthesis?
2. I want to get my PharmD but I do not want to work in retail settings. What are the requirements outside of a PharmD in order to get into a specialized field of pharmacy?
3. Can one teach with merely a PharmD at any university or professional school? What's the catch to this because it's counterintuitive to me that professional schools will hire someone with just a PharmD to teach?

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[nerv12345]

moved to the pharmacy section..

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

1. What does it mean? Is being a consultant pharmacist considered specialized? Is it similar to specializing with an MD like being a anesthesiologist? Is there a specialized field of pharmacy that deals with drug synthesis?
2. I want to get my PharmD but I do not want to work in retail settings. What are the requirements outside of a PharmD in order to get into a specialized field of pharmacy?
3. Can one teach with merely a PharmD at any university or professional school? What's the catch to this because it's counterintuitive to me that professional schools will hire someone with just a PharmD to teach?

1. To be specialized, you have to familiarize yourself in a certain field like oncology, drug info, and so on. It is almost similiar to specializing like MDs. The only difference is that sometimes, being specialized will not get you a better pay check. While there might not be a a special field that deals with drug synthesis, your PharmD certainly allows you to be qualified for such a position. Just keep in mind that pharmD is more clinical (dealing with patients) as opposed to a Phd (dealing more with research).

2 You can get your PharmD and don't work in a retail setting. The requirements to specializing is 2 years of residency. The first year is a generalize residency with the 2nd year allowing you to specialize in a certain field.

3. One cannot usually just teach with A PharmD as facualty, but there are certainly exceptions. It really depends on what you specialize in, how many years have you work, how experienced you are, and what you have to offer.

 

[samuraix]

Is there resources or classes within a pharmacy school that allows you to specialize in a field during completion of the PharmD degree.

 

[PharmD2MD]

Is there resources or classes within a pharmacy school that allows you to specialize in a field during completion of the PharmD degree.

Not really. Your best shot at nailing a specialist position would be to do the applicable residency program and get board certified in that area. Some pharmacists skip one or more of these steps, and thats ok, but I am telling you what I think is the best way to guarantee yourself a specialist position.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

Not really. Your best shot at nailing a specialist position would be to do the applicable residency program and get board certified in that area. Some pharmacists skip one or more of these steps, and thats ok, but I am telling you what I think is the best way to guarantee yourself a specialist position.

Well, there are some specialty areas you can start working on while you're in school (i.e. nuclear). A handful of schools have programs that will allow you to graduate as an "authorized user".

However PharmD2MD's right...most "specialized" training will come as post-PharmD grad training in the form of residiencies/fellowships. Don't limit yourself to this though. While you're in school, take advantage of your pharmacy practice experience rotations...select various sites that will give you a good taste for what's out there. And do the same with your electives...consultant pharmacy, nutrition, psych, management, pharmacoeconomics, pediatrics, advanced oncology...so many to choose from! Good luck!

 

[Hels2007]

1. What does it mean? Is being a consultant pharmacist considered specialized? Is it similar to specializing with an MD like being a anesthesiologist? Is there a specialized field of pharmacy that deals with drug synthesis?

This was covered well by others, so I will just tackle the last one, since it wasn't really touched. Drug synthesis - what exactly do you mean by this? Computer programs are usually the ones running different molecules against certain receptors to find potential targets, and then chemists are the ones who are synthesizing those molecules, and then pharmaceutical scientists formulate them. Pharmacists usually come in once you have a workable molecule... roles and additional training requirements may vary.

2. I want to get my PharmD but I do not want to work in retail settings. What are the requirements outside of a PharmD in order to get into a specialized field of pharmacy?

Depends on what exactly you want to specialize in. Some things offer residencies/fellowships, for some it's several years of experience + board certification. Some don't really require anything else but some experience. Also depends on the setting and the location - some places are desperate enough to lower their requirements (that's how a classmate landed a clinical position straight out of school - apparently, few people want to go to the Wyoming-Montana border )

3. Can one teach with merely a PharmD at any university or professional school? What's the catch to this because it's counterintuitive to me that professional schools will hire someone with just a PharmD to teach?

Depends on what you want to teach. Pharmacy practice faculty - the ones who teach therapeutics, pharmacy practice, etc. are usually just Pharm.D., some may have residency training (depends on how old they are , younger ones are much more likely to have it than the older ones). Med chem, pharmaceutics, etc. - are usually PhD.

 

[mike36]

3. Can one teach with merely a PharmD at any university or professional school? What's the catch to this because it's counterintuitive to me that professional schools will hire someone with just a PharmD to teach?

You can also be a preceptor and teach pharmacy students on rotations with a PharmD.

 

[samuraix]

Thanks everyone for your inputs. There are three main paths I want to do with PharmD:
1. Clinical work in a hospital
2. Drug development/synthesis in a pharmaceutical company
3. Teaching at university settings
I was trying to learn about the qualifications I needed in order to pursue these objectives. If I happen to be certified for a specialist field in pharmacy, will I be receiving a specialist degree like the MD specialists? Thanks.

 

[Hels2007]

Thanks everyone for your inputs. There are three main paths I want to do with PharmD:
1. Clinical work in a hospital
2. Drug development/synthesis in a pharmaceutical company
3. Teaching at university settings
I was trying to learn about the qualifications I needed in order to pursue these objectives. If I happen to be certified for a specialist field in pharmacy, will I be receiving a specialist degree like the MD specialists? Thanks.

I would advise you not to worry about it until you actually have started pharmacy school and have worked/done early practical experience if your school has one in a couple different settings. Try to get an internship over the summer in your area of interest and explore it further. Then you will be well prepared to make the decision and map out the path to your goals during the final year of pharmacy school.

For now, your list is all over the board, and these things generally require different experiences and different personality, even. Though you can combine #1 and #3, #2 doesn't fit into that scheme. Besides, most people who come into pharmacy school thinking they want a certain type of job/career change their mind at least once. I don't think anyone can make a really good choice during pre-pharmacy years simply because you a) don't have enough information about different opportunities; b) don't have the tools to properly evaluate those opportunities. Take your time and explore some 90+ career paths pharmacy degree offers.

 

[samuraix]

Thanks. I generally wanted to have an idea of these career paths to include in my personal statement when applying. Any other inputs would be appreciated.