Pharmacy Career Pharmacy Career WorkshopWorkshop

February 12February 12thth, 2008, 2008

Pre-pharmacy Informational Pre-pharmacy Informational Learning and Leadership Learning and Leadership

Society Society

Where Do Pharmacists Where Do Pharmacists Work?Work?

Community PharmacyCommunity Pharmacy Hospitals and Other Institutional Hospitals and Other Institutional

SettingsSettings Managed Care PharmacyManaged Care Pharmacy The Pharmaceutical IndustryThe Pharmaceutical Industry Academic PharmacyAcademic Pharmacy Other Fields in PharmacyOther Fields in Pharmacy

http://www.pharmacy.purdue.edu/students/prospective/CareerOpts.php#OtherFieldshttp://www.pharmacy.purdue.edu/students/prospective/CareerOpts.php#OtherFields

Specialty Fields in Specialty Fields in PharmacyPharmacy Critical CareCritical Care Home CareHome Care

SportsSports NuclearNuclear

Nutritional SupportNutritional Support PsychiatryPsychiatry

Clinical TrialsClinical Trials

Critical Care PharmacistCritical Care Pharmacist ICU setting

Work directly with doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and other healthcare professionals

recommend patient medications

Monitor dosages & make adjustments

Clinical research opportunities

Teach incoming residents

Every day is a unique day

Example: Dr. O’Shea of Highland Hospital

Home Care PharmacistHome Care PharmacistWorks in nursing facilities, group homes, assisted living facilities and/or private homes

Oversees infusion therapies (ie. IV), administration and delivery of medication, and medication therapy management

Works closely with pharmacy technicians, dieticians, and patients’ family members

Requires tremendous communications skills for leading a team that treats medical and psychosocial needs outside of a controlled setting

Most patients require long-term care and provides pharmacists with stability and flexibility

Wide variety of patients since long-term illnesses may occur to a person of any age

Allows for close bonds, and affords a competitive salary

Sports PharmacistSports Pharmacist Pharmacokinetics background – Drug Screens

National Collegiate Athlete Association (NCAA)

Influence in Policy

Drug testing at games

World Anti-Doping Code (http://www.wada-ama.org)

Annually updated

Rx, OTC, complementary therapy, and nutritional supplements

Nuclear PharmacistNuclear Pharmacist

Focus on diagnostic drugs

Laboratory setting

Limited contact with patients

Possible night shifts

Extensive safety protocols

Training provided by certain pharmacy schools or by employers

PILLS offers a shadowing program in a nuclear pharmacy

Nutritional Support Nutritional Support PharmacistPharmacist

Treat patients that just had bowel surgery, Chrohn's disease, digestive organ failure, etc

Create patient specific nutritional formulas for people who are malnourished/unable to eat food

Take into account patient age, organ function, potential medication interactions

Provide long and short term care

Mostly work inpatient with other health care professionals, but also can work in outpatient too

Need to be certified: done via residency, fellowship, and/or passing an exam

Psychiatric PharmacistPsychiatric Pharmacist For people interested in psychology and

mental illness.

Address the pharmaceutical care of patients with psychiatric disorders.

Responsible for optimizing drug treatment and patient care by evaluating patient assessments, recommending appropriate treatments, monitoring patient response, and recognizing drug-induced problems.

Note when an individual is not responding to a particular medication and then evaluate other possible medications the patient can take.

Be patient and always have the patient's best interest in mind. Many patients many be difficult to work with and refuse to take their medications, are unable to take them correctly, or intentionally overdose to commit suicide.

Clinical Trials Clinical Trials PharmacistPharmacist

Clinical Trials are the fastest and safest way to find new treatment and ways to improve health

Pathway within Pharmaceutical Industry

Less patient interaction, more research based

Job Responsibilities: monitor the studies that involve patients, analyze and evaluate clinical data, ensure compliance with protocol and overall clinical objectives

Work settings: research universities, hospitals, biotech companies

Resources Resources

http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/uclaprepharm/career.hhttp://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/uclaprepharm/career.htmltml

http://www.pharmacy.purdue.edu/students/prospective/Cahttp://www.pharmacy.purdue.edu/students/prospective/CareerOpts.php#OtherFieldsreerOpts.php#OtherFields

http://www.bpsweb.org/03_Specialties_Current_Nutrition_http://www.bpsweb.org/03_Specialties_Current_Nutrition_Requirements.htmlRequirements.html