I have a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry.  I am thinking about getting a
Pharm D. degree and work as a Pharmacist instead, because I believe it
will be less stressful, more easier to find a job, and the working
hours are more flexible.  Am I right?  I am wondering what is the best
way to go about this, considering I am working right now.  Is there
night programs or online programs that offer Pharm D. degrees?  Or I
will have to quit work and study full time for two years.  I think
since I have a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry, perhaps there are some
classes that I can skip, is that a possibility?  And finally, I would
like to know the salary range for Pharmacist?

Greetings!  I do not know what you consider "stress" in an occupation,
but being a pharmacist in today's market can be very stressful.

An article from The Pharmacist (Vol 4  Number 4  June 2000) located at
http://www.apesma.asn.au/professions/pharmacists/june_2000/pharmacists_news_june_2000.htm#STRESS
states:

"Pharmacists are no strangers to dealing with stress in the workplace.
You know how it goes – the telephone is ringing, two customers want to
speak to you, there are five prescriptions to be finished and the
printer connected to your dispensing system has packed up!  While we
tend to accept this level of stress at work, there may be long-term
effects."

My oldest and dearest friend is a pharmacist and I have had the
opportunity to know about her occupation.  The above scenario pales in
comparison to what she has described to me about her job - she's a
Superwoman!  In addition to the above, it may be that two people are
waiting for flu shots (pushed by corporate because of the extra
revenue it brings in), a short inventory is due, a customer wants to
pay for some purchases that are in the over-the-counter section but
they aren't waiting for a prescription and, if it is the first of the
month, there can be a two-day backlog of prescriptions as many
government checks appear in customer's mailboxes at that time and they
have the money for the prescriptions.

From http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov : "Good technicians decrease
pharmacist's stress" and my friend would tell you that as well.

It is a very hectic profession and far from the "old days" when
pharmacies were self-owned.  It's a corporate business now just like
most everything.  In addition, the pharmacist is the insurance monitor
at most pharmacies so all those insurance things have to be done.  My
friend works, on average, about 55 hours a week (plus she has to go
out-of-state frequently for continuing education seminars).

Flexibility of working hours is possible.  With my friend's job, she
works for a major supermarket chain and sometimes mans other pharmacy
counters in other towns in the chain stores.  She and the other
pharmacists do switch around scheduling a lot so there is flexibility.
 And she gets overtime so she really rakes it in when she works extra
hours.

RPh on the Go (http://www.rphonthego.com/newfiles/employees.html)
states "Looking for the job of your dreams? A job where you'll get the
respect, compensation, and benefits you deserve? A job that lets you
choose when, where, and how much you want to work? A job that gives
you the flexibility you need to have a high-power career and a
fulfilling personal life? Then let RPh on the Go find it for you!

"For 22 years, RPh on the Go has placed hundreds of pharmacists in
leading pharmacies across the country. Now let us do the same for you.
We'll do everything we can to make sure you get a job that
accommodates your individual lifestyle, provides you with a
competitive salary, and offers you great benefits"

Regarding salaries, the site Allied Physicians
(http://www.allied-physicians.com/salary_surveys/pharmacy-salaries.htm)
reports salaries as follows (the first figue in each is Average base
and the second is Average Starting Base):

 Total (National Avg.)
 $68,000
 $59,000
 
 Chains
 $66,500
 $57,000
 
 Independents 
 $58,000
 $49,000
 
 Supermarkets
 $66,000
 $57,000
 
 Merchandisers
 $67,000
 $58,000
 
 HMOs
 $73,000
 $61,000
 
 Hospitals
 $65,000
 $49,500
 
There is a regional breakdown posted in the same article and they also
report:

"Salaries are most dependent on location, job description, training,
and experience of each pharmacist.  Studies show the need for
pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will continue to raise for a
minimum of 5 years.

"Studies indicate that hospital, independent, and chain store
employment growth will occur slowly.  However, admissions and
graduates in pharmacy have been decreasing over recent years.  It
appears that long-term, ambulatory, and home care settings will show
the greatest employment growth. New opportunities are also arising in
managed care organizations and, for those employed in research,
disease management."

Concerning courses for a degree, this would depend on the course you
already have so it's an area in which you would need to make personal
inquiries.  I discovered a few possibilities for your perusal:

University of Colorado School of Pharmacy 
"The University of Colorado School of Pharmacy offers the Doctor of
Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree for working pharmacists in a part-time
format. All courses are delivered online, via the Internet. Online
courses provide maximal accessibility and flexibility to working
pharmacists, and provide opportnities for interactivity with the
faculty and with the other pharmacists in the program, and for active
participation in learning. Clerkship experiences are also very
flexible. Some clerkships can be challenged for academic credit based
on your experiences as a pharmacist. Others are available part time,
or can be performed where you work. (See "Clerkships" for more
information.)"
http://www.uchsc.edu/sp/sp/programs/ntpharmd.html

Duquesne University
"The Mylan School of Pharmacy at Duquesne University first began
offering the post-baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1968. In
its efforts to meet the needs of the pharmacy profession, in 1998 the
School initiated the non-traditional Pharm.D. to enable practicing
pharmacists to earn the degree. Innovative technologies have enabled
the Pharm.D. to be earned utilizing online learning. Practitioners can
complete the degree without extensive travel to attend on-campus
classes. "
http://www.pharmacy.duq.edu/programs/nontrad.html

Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University
"The Shenandoah University School of Pharmacy Non-traditional Doctor
of Pharmacy (NTDP) program utilizes much of the innovative information
technology that is woven throughout the traditional Doctor of Pharmacy
program to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the pharmacist
as a decision maker. The technology also serves to deliver educational
content to you, the learner, when and where he/she would like to
receive it. In addition to extensive use of the Internet, the program
provides educational support to create an information rich learning
environment. Each pharmacist is assigned a resource team consisting of
a full-time pharmacy faculty member, a computer support technician and
an information manager. In addition, learners interact weekly with
pharmacy faculty and other learners through a creative mix of
synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (threaded) computer
conferencing. The only thing missing is the inconvenience of traveling
long distances to a traditional campus."
http://204.154.86.6/PharmWeb/Hier/index.cfm

Of the above listings, the last two were from a site titled "Jonnie's
Distance Learning Page : Doctor of Pharmacy Programs in USA" located
at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Haven/2386/dlpharmd.html.  I
chose two samples that specifically stated "online" but it seems all
the listings are distance learning so I would suggest you check the
page for more information.

I suggest you also look at the site PharmJobCatalyst at
http://www.pharmjobcatalyst.com/students/studentjobs_st.pharm to learn
more about what to do when you have or are close to having your Pharm
degree.  As far as any classes you can skip, I would think this is a
distinct possibility but you would need to query the universities with
a copy of your transcript to see what would apply in each program.

I hope this information is of assistance in your quest and if you need
further clarification before rating my answer, please request it and
I'll be happy to conduct further research in this area.


SEARCH TERMS:

pharmacist salary
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=pharmacist+salary

pharmacist stress
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=pharmacist+stress
   
finding a job as pharmacist
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=finding+a+job+as+pharmacist

flexibility on the job pharmacist
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=flexibility+on+the+job+pharmacist

Pharm D online university
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Pharm+D+online+university

Dear Perplexed,

I have a PhD in Physiology & Biophysics (1979).  When I was in school,
academia was the only "acceptable" track.  I wound up bucking the
system after 2 years in academia (grant money was almost impossible to
come by) and have had an extremely rewarding career in drug
development.  I started on the preclinical discovery side and moved to
clinical (human testing programs) in 1989 and then general management
roles beginning in 1997.  I love the mix of science, medicine and
business.  My message to you is to not look so narrowly.  There are
MANY careers for someone with a PhD in Biochemistry and a lot of them
pay better than a pharmacist.  Do more homework before you sign up for
something as big as a Pharm D program.  You may end up working in
patent law, venture capital or manufacturing scale-up.  Why not get a
little experience on the industry side first so you can begin to get a
broader idea of your options?  Some companies like Genetech even offer
post-docs.  Good luck.

JCG

TO: JCG
FROM: 
Libby Ross, MA
Director of PharmCAS and Student Affairs
American Association of College of Pharmacy (AACP)

-----------
DEMAND FOR PHARMACISTS
There has never been a better time for you to consider a rewarding
career in pharmacy. The demand for trained pharmacy professionals has
grown rapidly in recent years due the rapid growth of the health care
and pharmaceutical industries, especially for the growing elderly
population. The number of pharmacists in health care services is also
increasing as pharmacists become more actively involved in drug
therapy decision-making for patients of all ages.

Two recent reports have documented the shortage of pharmacists
nationwide.

1) Pharmacy Manpower Project, NEWS RELEASE - October 7, 2002 
"Dramatic Rise in Need for Pharmacists Projected"
http://www.aacp.org/site/tertiary.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=577&DID=4638
 
2) December 2000
HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
The Pharmacy Workforce: A Study of the Supply and Demand for
Pharmacists.
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/oldhealthworkforce/pharmacist.html

Both reports conclude there is an increasing demand for pharmacists'
service that is outpacing the current and possibly future pharmacist
supply. This conclusion is based partially on the growth of vacant
positions across the entire range of pharmacy practice sites. Both
reports cite an unprecedented demand for pharmacists and for
pharmaceutical care services, which has not been met by the currently
available supply. The factors causing the shortage are not likely to
abate in the near future.

----------------
NON-TRADITIONAL (DISTANCE) PHARMACY PROGRAMS

The individual who first responded to your inquiry provided some very
valuable information regarding pharmacy education and careers.
Unfortunately, the information regarding non-traditional pharmacy
degree programs was misleading.

The Pharm.D. degree program requires at least 2-years of specific
pre-professional (undergraduate) coursework followed by 4-academic
years (or 3-calendar years) of professional study. The majority of
students enter a pharmacy program with 3 or more years of college
experience.

College graduates who enroll in a pharmacy program must complete the
full 4-academic years (or 3-calendar) years of professional study to
earn the Pharm.D. degree. Pharmacy schools do not typically offer
accelerated programs of study for individuals with a baccalaureate or
advanced degree in a related health career or science field.

Currently, most non-traditional (distance-learning) pharmacy programs
are designed for B.S. of pharmacy graduates (practicing pharmacists)
who wish to return to school to earn a Pharm.D. degree so they may
enhance their skills. The web-based programs listed in the first
response to your question are intended for such pharmacists.  For
entry-level Pharm.D. degree candidates such as yourself, colleges and
schools of pharmacy usually require 4 years of full-time/in-class
professional study (or three years of year-round study without summer
term breaks).

Creighton University is the only institution to offer an on-line
program for entry level candidates. For more information about the
program, please visit the Creighton web site at
http://pharmacy.creighton.edu/spahp/non_traditional/rx/async_overview.asp

For a list of colleges and schools of pharmacy by state, please visit
the AACP web site at www.aacp.org

---------------
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Although you have previously completed an advanced degree, you may
need to complete some additional coursework to be eligible for
admission to a Pharm.D degree program. Some pharmacy colleges and
schools may require prerequisite courses that you did not complete as
an undergraduate or graduate student. Pharmacy admissions offices
often require that science and math course work must be less than 3-10
years old, depending on institutional policy. Institutions may also
require you to submit scores for the Pharmacy College Admission Test
(PCAT). Approximately half of all pharmacy degree programs require the
PCAT for admission.

The classes required for admission into a pharmacy program vary
significantly from one institution to the next. Due to the variations
in admission requirements and procedures among the colleges and
schools of pharmacy, it is advisable to research different pharmacy
programs. The pharmacy programs will be pleased to supply details
concerning admission procedures or curriculum. School specific
information is also available in the AACP publication, "Pharmacy
School Admission Requirements" (PSAR). The on-line version of the PSAR
is available for free on the AACP web site. Copy and past the link
below -
http://www.aacp.org/site/page.asp?TRACKID=&VID=1&CID=130&DID=3140

----------------------
ROLE OF A PHARMACIST

Pharmacy is a licensed health profession in which pharmacists provide
information regarding medication to consumers and health care
professionals. Pharmacists are "medication experts", concerned with
disease state management and safe guarding the public's health in
matters relating to medication distribution and use.
 
Pharmacists play a vital role in the health care system through the
medicine and information they provide.
 
While responsibilities vary among the different areas of pharmacy
practice, the bottom line is that pharmacists help patients get well.
Pharmacist responsibilities include a range of care for patients, from
dispensing medications to monitoring patient health and progress to
maximize their response to the medication. Pharmacists also educate
consumers and patients on the use of prescriptions and
over-the-counter medications, and advise physicians, nurses, and other
health professionals on drug decisions. Pharmacists also provide
expertise about the composition of drugs, including their chemical,
biological, and physical properties and their manufacture and use.
They ensure drug purity and strength and make sure that drugs do not
interact in a harmful way. Pharmacists are drug experts ultimately
concerned about their patients' health and wellness.
 
The principal goal of pharmaceutical care is to achieve positive
outcomes from the use of medication which improves patients' quality
of life with minimum risk. Pharmacists strive to
- Cure disease
- Eliminate or reduce symptoms 
- Arrest or slow a disease process 
- Prevent disease; 
- Diagnose disease; and 
- Alter physiological processes for desirable result in the patient's
health.
 
Pharmacists are professionals, uniquely prepared and available,
committed to public service and to the achievement of this goal.

--------------

Best wishes in your educational and professional endeavors.

----------------------------
Elisabeth J. "Libby" Ross, M.A.
Director, PharmCAS and Student Affairs
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
1426 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA  22314
lross@aacp.org
www.aacp.org
www.pharmcas.org