Any PharmD's on here?

Hunter44

Hunter44

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
Location
Lexington
Need, at minimum, 3 recommendations for upcoming Doctorate School of Pharmacy. If anyone has a family friend or family member that will allow me to work with them/shadow them during the summer months please let me know. I'm live in Asheboro so closer the better. God bless!
 
I really doubt you'll get much feed back on here...

I went to Palm Beach Atlantic University SOP. Two other recommendations are University of FL SOP, or Nova Southeastern University SOP. (Yeah I'm from FL) I'd recommend a state university over a private school due to tuition cost. Are you absolutely sure you want to pursue that degree? If I had to do it all over again I would have done something different. I know people who are graduating with their degree and can't find jobs. I also know new grads who did post residencies and can't find jobs. When I say 'can't find jobs' I mean find jobs in their preferred areas to live such as near family or great cities. If/when you get into the program and graduate be prepared to go where the needs are or have a way in at some place where you want to live.

One thing I wish I would have done is probably gone straight into the military after graduation. They have great programs (residency or non), and offer tuition reimbursement.

When I worked at Mission Hospital we had a lot of students who wanted to get in pharmacy school so they would volunteer in the core pharmacy doing anything. I would do something like that... Most likely, it will be hard to shadow pharmacist as they have pharmacy students with them.

Anyways, good luck...
 
Jobs are there you just have to be patient. I don't plan on staying here locally in or near asheboro I plan to move down to charleston sc where I know it's much easier to find a job in the medical field. Also I'm absolutely sure I want to pursue this degree, I've worked with pharmacists before and have some in the family and I've already spent nearly all 4 years of my undergrad schooling towards my pharmacy major. All that's left is take the PCAT and apply to Campbell, UNC Chapel Hill, and Wingate again.
 
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My sister is a PharmD.
She graduated in 2012 average to slightly above average grades. She had her choice of 5 job offers in the giant metropolii that are York and Rock Hill SC.
I would never discourage anyone from Pharm school. Incredible initial earning potential.
 
Good luck and great opportunities. Just remember the doc is the doc and the NP is the NP and the pharmacist is the pharmacist. Keep an eye on the outliner scripts but let the physicians do their thing and limit your involvement
 
I say go for it. My wifes best friend is a pharmacist as well as her husband. They each make over $100k/year. I can't imagine. But I will say they work a lot. Like a whole lot!
 
Hunter44 said:
Jobs are there you just have to be patient. I don't plan on staying here locally in or near asheboro I plan to move down to charleston sc where I know it's much easier to find a job in the medical field. Also I'm absolutely sure I want to pursue this degree, I've worked with pharmacists before and have some in the family and I've already spent nearly all 4 years of my undergrad schooling towards my pharmacy major. All that's left is take the PCAT and apply to Campbell, UNC Chapel Hill, and Wingate again.
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If this is your dream, go for it.
Something to consider: http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119634/pharmacy-school-crisis-why-good-jobs-are-drying
Just be cautious, and aware, so you can plan accordingly.
 
According to a lot people in the med field I've talked to that live in or near charleston seem to be confident that I can find a full time job. But like I said patience is the key. Good things come in time. As for being in debt, I've been fortunate enough to graduate HS with a 4.4 GPA and that earned me the presidential scholarship worth 54k over 4 years of my undergrad. Hopefully my 3.2 GPA in college can earn me the same thing for graduate school. Being a full time job now and full time schooling I work my ass off because I know it's going to pay off in the end.
 
Hunter44 said:
Jobs are there you just have to be patient. I don't plan on staying here locally in or near asheboro I plan to move down to charleston sc where I know it's much easier to find a job in the medical field. Also I'm absolutely sure I want to pursue this degree, I've worked with pharmacists before and have some in the family and I've already spent nearly all 4 years of my undergrad schooling towards my pharmacy major. All that's left is take the PCAT and apply to Campbell, UNC Chapel Hill, and Wingate again.
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You are right, there are a lot of medical jobs in Charleston. There are also a lot of students who come here for medical school and never want to leave which creates a lot of competition in my opinion. I think its a great degree to pursue though. If you plan is to move here, then I would suggest applying to MUSC. That way you can get internships in the area and get to know the people who would be hiring you after school.

My sister-in-law was a Target floater pharmacist here in Charleston for a couple of years, but now she works for DHEC as a pharmacy inspector. Pretty cool job...instead of having to smile and politely decline all the people coming in to scam the pharmacies out of controlled substances, now she just gets to arrest them..as well as doctors, nurses, etc.
 
My mom, stepdad, and brother actually only live about 10 minutes from MUSC and my mom works at the hospital that's connected to it/very near it I believe( Can't remember the name of her hospital). Anyways the only reason I don't move down there right now is due to my girlfriend of 4 years, she's at UNCG and it'd devastate the both of us to be 5 hours away from eachother and never get to see one another.
 
Yes I have strongly considered Med school, either a radiologist or a anesthesiologist. Schooling will take at minimum 13 years including your residencies. My plan was to specialize in oncology with my PharmD major. I lost my grandfather to cancer and I've seen how it tears families apart therefore I see myself putting in an effort to do all I can towards cancer patients and cancer research.
 
rockcity said:
Good luck and great opportunities. Just remember the doc is the doc and the NP is the NP and the pharmacist is the pharmacist. Keep an eye on the outliner scripts but let the physicians do their thing and limit your involvement
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Spoken like the husband of an NP ;)

Hearing the other side, as a Pharm...it's amazing some of the things that get scribed.
Oh and it's illegal to "let them do their thing and limit your involvement"
 
Ron said:
Spoken like the husband of an NP ;)

Hearing the other side, as a Pharm...it's amazing some of the things that get scribed.
Oh and it's illegal to "let them do their thing and limit your involvement"
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Ah. The response of the brother of a pharmacist. ;)

And yes, there are all kinds of crazy scripts given; many are off label attempts to help but there are many that are just crazy. Believe me, I've heard plenty of craziness with scripts! LOL

Most (MOST) Pharmacists are great but there are a couple that are out there that, while they know the pharmacology side of things, have an idea that they are the ones treating the patients and constantly make nonsense recommendations continuously that can and would be physically or mentally detrimental to a patient's wellbeing. I constantly hear how "stupid" some are and if the recommendations were actually followed could likely cause, in some cases, very serious or terminal results :(

Basically, limit your involvement to the point that a service is provided and not overstep. Basically, know your role. Making overzealous recommendations beyond the role of a pharmacists can do more harm than good and open up all kinds of liability issues for the pharmacist and, if the physician isn't completely competent and adheres to a poor recommendation, possibly injure a patient.
 
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Im not disparaging either side.
But just a few thoughts for ya.
Pharms without exception know the meds better than the best of MDs. They have to. MD/NP without exception know the patient better than Pharms they have to.

I dont think this is as big of an issue yet in Greenville but as corporate healthcare has invaded the greater Charlotte area and Novant has bought out EVERY SINGLE family practice. MDs are now told by corporate what brand of X they can prescribe. By law drug companies can not call on, influence, entertain, or otherwise coerce pharmacists. They can and do MDs.

Case in point. My 11 year old daughter got a sinus infection went to DR. Dr prescribes a nasal spray and some antibiotic. This particular nasal spray has no generic alternative and was developed specifically by a pharm company for patients who had a reaction or resistance to another of their older products that had generic alternatives. My daughter had no known allergy or reactionary history yet she was prescribed this newness. Cost? $325. The generic of the other? $14. Pharm (not my sis I dont patronize Walmart even if she works there we go to a small independent local pharmacy) calls doc and suggests changing script. Doc says I understand but unfortunately I cant. If they prefer they can go to Dr X I know he can still prescribe it. Now I have insurance so no big deal $20 co-pay and on we went with the new drug.

BTW if a doc prescribes the wrong med and kills a patient because of a reaction malpractice insurance covers him. And he can not be criminally charged with negligence in all 50 states. A PharmD can not get malpractice insurance and will be charged criminally if they fill the script in all but 2 states. So thats why I say a PharmD cant just mind their place.
 
Agreed.


Bri gets tired of all the drug reps that call her to the point that she has nearly gone to the point of blocking their numbers! :lol:
 
i'd stay in your field. With changing healthcare, Pharm D's are being used differently. I've been in healthcare for almost 20 years, and I'm currently in Grad school with Pharmacy students. (Wingate). They tell me the jobs are there.- The roles are expanding..
Also, for NP- just wait- that role is expanding two-fold in next few years...Since enrollment is down for Med schools, ( and most MD's want to specialize, read: $$), there is a huge gap in rural healthcare....that is where the needs are for the future....

good luck!

brian
 
I spent my first few years at Wingate starting in Fall of 2012 but transferred out. Plans for graduate school are pointed towards Campbell. Anyhow thank you guys for the input in my thread, most I've received on NC4x4 lol.
 
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