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Pharmacist
How I reached this decision:
Both sides have pros and cons. But that two pros that meant the most to me were:
-Less stress/good life in Pharm
-More prestige for Med
I see that having a good life (less stress)> Prestige
Many doctors, rich and all, are miserable people because it's a very hectic life. I can't see myself being that. I'll be a very sad man. That's the truth, and many admit it after they become old 50 or so.
That's not my problem though, and I appreciate people who become doctors because any society needs its share of doctors!
What pushed the bucket for me though was what my Quant teacher told me today when I asked her Doctor or pharm?
Pharmacists could work in LABS and may switch to w/e branch they want with a pharmD. Bingo! I always loved lab work as it leads to discoveries and whatnot...open place for me to get a Nobel Prize LOL...so that's where it got decided. I didn't know that pharmacists could do lab work if they want since the painted picture of them is always "guy in a white coat counting pills". That is very untrue BTW. I have gathered some parts of info that Marwa might like to read
(There goes the prestige question that I used to worry about..and Marwa undermined lol).
http://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-education-guide/health-medical/pharmacy-major.htm
There goes "Saving lives" Marwa
Sorry if it seems like Im picking on you BTW. Im not. It's just that you were the one that brought up the points.
Furthermore:
I like socializing with people...but I love that option
Pharmacy....the guy who studied for 6 years and ended up giving pills huh...
Branches of pharm:
Finally wages of pharmacies are increasing: in According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for pharmacists is $98,960, based on 2007 data. Now it's $120k...it's a great field.
---------------------End------------------------
In a couple of years Inshallah I shall be known as "Dr. E"
How I reached this decision:
Both sides have pros and cons. But that two pros that meant the most to me were:
-Less stress/good life in Pharm
-More prestige for Med
I see that having a good life (less stress)> Prestige
Many doctors, rich and all, are miserable people because it's a very hectic life. I can't see myself being that. I'll be a very sad man. That's the truth, and many admit it after they become old 50 or so.
That's not my problem though, and I appreciate people who become doctors because any society needs its share of doctors!
What pushed the bucket for me though was what my Quant teacher told me today when I asked her Doctor or pharm?
Pharmacists could work in LABS and may switch to w/e branch they want with a pharmD. Bingo! I always loved lab work as it leads to discoveries and whatnot...open place for me to get a Nobel Prize LOL...so that's where it got decided. I didn't know that pharmacists could do lab work if they want since the painted picture of them is always "guy in a white coat counting pills". That is very untrue BTW. I have gathered some parts of info that Marwa might like to read
Ask someone to describe a pharmacist and he'll probably conjure the image of a person in a white coat standing behind the counter of the local drug store filling prescriptions. While this image might somewhat still hold true, the job of the pharmacist has evolved just as much as the prescriptions she dispenses. The pharmacist is now a vital collaborator in the entire healthcare process.
As newer and more complicated drugs enter the marketplace, pharmacists are the ones who fill patient prescriptions for these drugs and explain how to use them. Consumers today are more educated about health products and have more questions about the treatments physicians prescribe for them. As a result, it falls upon the neighborhood pharmacist to provide more personal attention to the needs of the medical consumer.
In institutional settings, pharmacists are an integral part of the total healthcare team. No longer do they occupy the basement office, filling prescriptions and answering the occasional question from the physician. The expertise of the pharmacist is needed to advise physicians and establish policies as drug therapies get more and more complicated.
As the profession becomes more complicated, the education of pharmacists has followed suit. Pharmacy training more closely resembles medical school, which can include additional years of study as well as residencies and fellowships in a variety of specialties. Students who want a career that provides substantial earnings and is virtually recession-proof should consider the pharmacy industry. With a growing elderly population and tremendous advances being made in the development of pharmaceuticals, it is a profession that will only grow in importance and opportunity in the coming decades.
Studies have shown that consumers interact with pharmacists at an average of 12 to 15 times each year. They might see doctors only three or four times a year. Because of the frequency of visits, a pharmacist is often in a better position to monitor the progress of patients and their responses to medications. It may also be a reason that pharmacists are continually ranked in polls as THE most trustworthy of professionals.
(There goes the prestige question that I used to worry about..and Marwa undermined lol).
The most common association with pharmacists is as a dispenser of drugs and medications. However, a pharmacist's work neither begins nor ends with filling prescriptions. The mixing of the ingredients to create the prescriptions (a practice called compounding) is really a small part of a pharmacist's responsibilities. Pharmacists often work with physicians and other medical professionals to provide information about drug dosages, side effects, and interactions with other medications.
Decisions made by pharmacists can sometimes mean the difference between life and death for a patient. If a pharmacist is not familiar with the composition of drugs and their clinical effects, or if he does not have enough familiarity with a patient, the patient can suffer serious reactions as a consequence. Pharmacists must not only know and understand this information, but must always counsel their patients as to the effects and possible consequences of the medications.
Pharmacists provide similar advice to physicians and other healthcare professionals. As experts on the effects of medications, they can assist doctors in providing proper prescriptions for their patients. They can also advise physicians about the possible side effects of a particular type of medication or its potential for interaction with other medications.
http://www.worldwidelearn.com/online-education-guide/health-medical/pharmacy-major.htm
There goes "Saving lives" Marwa
Sorry if it seems like Im picking on you BTW. Im not. It's just that you were the one that brought up the points.
Furthermore:
Do you enjoy sitting at a desk? If so, pharmacy might not be the right career choice. Pharmacists must meet with patients, physicians, sales reps, and others. Often this means getting out of the office or traveling.
Do you enjoy working with people? Most pharmacy jobs require considerable interaction with patients who have serious questions about their health and treatment. If you are not a "people person," there are also opportunities in lab research.
I like socializing with people...but I love that option
Pharmacy....the guy who studied for 6 years and ended up giving pills huh...
Branches of pharm:
- Spoiler:
- Community pharmacist
The largest segment of practicing pharmacists by far, the community pharmacist role requires people skills in addition to all of the other qualifications. These pharmacists are often a patient's primary source of health information. Community pharmacists do everything from discussing treatments for simple aches and pains to comforting people with serious afflictions. Community pharmacists have recently taken a more active role in healthcare by becoming certified to vaccinate patients against influenza and pneumonia.
Because the majority of community pharmacies are chain-owned, pharmacists have the opportunity to move into management positions at the regional and district levels. They may even move into corporate-level positions. Here the pharmacist combines professional expertise with business skills to create policies and programs that govern how other pharmacists operate within the chain.
Independent community pharmacist
The image of the friendly neighborhood pharmacist seen in old black-and-white movies lives on, at least in part. Many pharmacists own their own businesses, which can become the heart and soul of small communities. Recent figures show that there are more than 24,000 independently owned pharmacies in the United States. For the pharmacist, this presents the opportunity to call the shots in how the entire business operates and to become an essential part of the community.
Hospital and institutional pharmacist
In this capacity, pharmacists are physically much more a part of the healthcare team. They work with physicians, nurses, and other professionals to create a pharmaceutical plan for the institution as a whole and for the patient as an individual. They also design the system for dispensing the appropriate medications and oversee the record-keeping system for each patient. Depending on their size, some institutions might have pharmacists who specialize in areas such nuclear pharmacy, drug and poison information, and intravenous therapy.
Managed-care pharmacist
Health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and other managed care systems have taken on greater roles in the health system during the past quarter-century. This means more opportunities for pharmacists to have input in the design and delivery of pharmaceutical programs. HMO pharmacists participate in research efforts, disease management, drug utilization review, cost analysis, and more. This allows the pharmacist to participate in a comprehensive program to determine the best pharmaceutical treatment for patients.
Consulting pharmacist
This professional cohort primarily serves nursing homes and other long-term care facilities such as adult day care, correctional facilities, and individuals confined to their homes. The elderly are an important focus of this pharmacy practice. Pharmacists must be knowledgeable about this segment of the population and the effects of long-term drug therapies, interactions with other medications, and excessive use of medications. Consulting pharmacists might also employ other healthcare professionals such as nurses, dietitians, lab personnel, and others.
Academic pharmacist
More than 3,000 pharmacists work in the nation's colleges and universities. While their primary function is to instruct an upcoming generation of pharmacists, faculty members can also be engaged in research, publishing, consulting, and public service activities. Colleges report an extreme shortage of people trained to serve in these academic functions.
Pharmaceutical researcher
Large corporations that create and distribute pharmaceuticals need pharmacists for a variety of functions. These can be divided into four broad categories: sales and marketing; research and development; production and quality control; and management and administration. Sales and marketing might be the simplest means to a pharmacy career, especially for the non-science oriented. These representatives are asked to take the product to the public, presenting demonstrations and developing sales plans.
Researchers work in the laboratory, conducting projects to develop new drug treatments or to improve existing ones. Production and quality control follow next in the process, to determine the most effective means of producing a new medication so that it adheres to strict safety standards. Pharmacists involved in administration usually work their way up or prepare themselves by receiving additional training in business or law.
Government agencies
While the vast majority of pharmacists work in the private sector, a great many opportunities exist in government work as well. Federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Institutes of Health, the armed services, and others need pharmacists for both research and patient treatment functions. Nearly every state has an agency that employs pharmacists as executive officers.
Other opportunities
Pharmacists can apply their expertise in other full or part-time opportunities. Some may research and write for scientific and trade journals, some may become part of professional organizations or drug information centers, and some may become involved with the marketing and advertising of pharmaceuticals. Here are some areas of specialty for pharmacists:
Compounding Pharmacist
Drug Information Specialist
Hospice Pharmacist
Infectious Disease Pharmacist
Nuclear Pharmacist
Nutrition Support Pharmacist
Oncology Pharmacist
Operating Room Pharmacist
Pediatric Pharmacist
Poison Control Pharmacist
Psychiatric Pharmacist
Veterinary Pharmacist
The emerging field of pharmogenomics is providing another career option for pharmacists. This field is involved in the study of how a patient's genetic variations may account for differences in reaction to drug treatments. Developments in this area should mean improvements in how medications are prescribed in the future, as well as providing new research opportunities for pharmacists.
Finally wages of pharmacies are increasing: in According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for pharmacists is $98,960, based on 2007 data. Now it's $120k...it's a great field.
---------------------End------------------------
In a couple of years Inshallah I shall be known as "Dr. E"
