PHARMACIST An excellent career choice Dr Cheri Briggs
PHARMACIST: An excellent career choice Dr. Cheri Briggs, RPh, Pharm. D, MBA Director of Pharmacy – Saint Francis Hospital
So Much More Than Counting Pills! • Pill counting = an aspect of pharmacy, but done by technicians, not pharmacists • Med preparation = a very small aspect, nowadays • Pharmacists = The most visible medical professional for patients
One of the Most Trusted Professions (Gallop Poll, 2016) • 2 nd in the Gallup Poll for Honesty and Ethical standards in Professions • Nurses, Grade School teachers, Physicians – also ranked highly • Lower end of the spectrum were members of Congress and car salesmen
Job Duties • SUMMARY: Preventing medical errors resulting from prescribing • Check whether prescriptions will interact negatively with other drugs that a patient is taking or any medical condition • Teach , counsel, and provide medication information– to patients and to other medical professionals , including physicians • Medication Therapy Management • Supervise and check pharmacy technicians
Places of Employment • Retail/ community pharmacy • Hospital • Ambulatory clinics/ Physician practices • Pharmaceutical Industry – Research & Development, Clinical Trials • Poison Control Center • Consultant – to healthcare facilities and insurance companies
Education Requirements • At least 2 years of undergraduate course study. More than 2 increases acceptance rate • Successful PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) • 4 years additional Pharmacy School study to obtain Doctorate of Pharmacy – Pharm. D • Pharmacy Internship required • Pharmacy Residency – not required, but suggest by many employers • Successful Board Examination completion
High School Course Selection • 4 years of English • 4 years of Math – Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, choice of Pre-calculus, Calculus, Statistics, or Trigonometry • 4 years of Science – Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, choice of Physics or other science course • 3 years of History • 1 year of Social Science
Career Progression • Pharmacy Student/ Intern - $14 – 20/ hour • Staff Pharmacist - $87, 120 to $157, 950/ year (lowest to highest deciles) • Average salary (median): $122, 230 • Specialty areas: e. g. Residency trained clinical pharmacist • Board Certification • Critical Care Pharmacy • • Geriatric Pharmacy Nuclear Pharmacy Nutrition Support Pharmacy Oncology Pharmacy Pediatric Pharmacy Pharmacotherapy Psychiatric Pharmacy • Pharmacy Management (Supervisor, Assistant Director, Director) • Corporate, Regional, or National Director
Successful Personality Attributes • Excellent Memory • Dedication to studying and lifelong learning • No Procrastination • Comfortable with dealing with people – both patients and other medical professionals
Don’t Allow Current Adversity to Prevent Your Dream • If you can dream it, you can achieve it • Discipline is the key • You are responsible for the choices you make and the path you take. Start NOW! • $$$ should never stop you, your salary is high enough to pay back any student loan – with some discipline
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