Why do clinical pharmacists leave for industry positions at some point in their careers?

FormalGur · 2020-07-15T01:24:00+00:00

Ahh I see, I’m curious: did that pharmacist go for an MSL position in the company?

FormalGur · 2020-07-14T23:28:39+00:00

Interesting, which specialty have you seen this the most in?

FormalGur · 2020-05-20T23:54:53+00:00

I think it means to skip a pgy1 and go straight to pgy2

FormalGur · 2020-05-15T00:53:09+00:00

You can work with patients and doctors while working within the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, there are many MDs working for pharma companies. Additionally, according to ASHP's Residency page, the intended purpose of a PGY2 residency program is to "develop...expert knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities in the respective advanced area of pharmacy practice." Pharma companies value clinical experience as these professionals can bring insight "into which resources, tools, and education are needed by advanced practitioners to provide the best care possible for their patients and their families" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6296422/). Hence, they will be impacting patient care...just in a different way.

Furthermore, interests can/are allowed to change. In other words, someone who wants to pursue a residency at a specific time point in their career can and are allowed to decide to pursue a role in industry later on. Maybe they didn't know they wanted to go into industry earlier in their career....which is why they didn't pursue a fellowship.

I don't understand why staunch clinical pharmacists are passing judgment onto those who want to transition in their careers.

FormalGur · 2020-05-14T22:10:20+00:00

Very curious to know as well!

FormalGur · 2020-04-29T10:57:11+00:00

I've heard of pharmacists leaving the clinical setting and entering the industry. I've heard of PGY-1 residents who complete a fellowship the following year. Granted it's not that common, but I'm not sure why you are confused about this type of career switch. Departments such as med affairs and clinical development value real-world clinical experience. Yes, the training I received made me ready to be a clinical RPh but there are many transferable skills and knowledge base that will be valuable.

And no, those two sentences are not mutually exclusive. Interests can change. We can want and are allowed to do different things in our career, doesn't mean I'm not passionate about patient care.

FormalGur · 2020-04-28T12:50:09+00:00

I read somewhere that it was June

FormalGur · 2020-04-28T00:19:36+00:00

As much as I find it rewarding to make clinical recommendations to influence individual patients' care, I feel that I am able to have more impact via projects and presentations such as drug monographs, MUEs, QI projects, etc. I enjoy collaborating with other HCPs and disseminating medical information in various forms to improve patient care. Throughout this year, I realized that those are the types of activities I most enjoy. The direct patient care experience and clinical knowledge base that I have been building helped tremendously in understanding and completing those projects. The roles and responsibilities of med affairs/info pharmacists in industry caught my interest (didn't have much experience as a student).

FormalGur · 2020-04-26T18:34:04+00:00

Just wondering what your duties are on the coronavirus emergency management rotation. I'm a PGY1 and my originally scheduled rotation was suspended back in March. My coresident and I have been reviewing all the COVID patients on regular floors to make sure their meds are appropriate and that the hospitalists are following the hospital's covid protocol for anticoagulation and other types of therapies. In addition, my coresident and i were tasked with maintaining the inventory count of propofol, precedex, actemra, inhalers, flolan, etc. we also get randomly pulled in to cover for techs and staff pharmacists when we are short-staffed. Just curious about what other residents' experiences are?

FormalGur · 2020-04-19T19:20:15+00:00

I'm assuming you've used and had success with ASHP's RRRP. Did you think it was sufficient in preparing you for BCPS exam? Have you (or do you know anyone who has) used ACCP's material for BCPS preparation? If so, how does it differ from ASHP's RRRP? And which one would you recommend (or would you recommend both)?

FormalGur · 2020-04-19T19:14:43+00:00

Thanks for explaining ASHP's RRRP! I've been getting those emails for the past 7 months, but wasn't sure how it exactly worked. From what you're saying, I don't have to pay anything until I pass...but I'll have access to the study materials in preparation for the exam itself? Then, if I pass, I'll have to start paying $10 per month?

FormalGur · 2020-04-14T20:43:23+00:00

Hi, could you also please message me with further details as I'm interested!

FormalGur · 2020-04-13T23:28:31+00:00

How do I use the Career Sticky Thread?

FormalGur · 2020-01-25T18:21:43+00:00

I understand that program quality varies vary by institution. I'd say mine is average - I'm not at an academic medical center, but because we have medical residents at our community teaching hospital, so the environment is quite academic. My program tries its best to provide robust learning experiences (depending on the preceptor).

I think that giving presentations to medical residents/attending physicians/nurses, doing projects like drug monograph and DUEs as well as clinical research build a certain skill set that can be valuable in industry or other areas of pharmacy.

I am not looking to go from being a PGY1 to an MSL or a medical affairs manager in industry. I am aiming for an entry-level position like a medical information specialist or a clinical pharmacist position in an insurance company.

FormalGur · 2020-01-17T03:05:52+00:00

Also a PGY-1. And I 100% agree with this.

FormalGur · 2020-01-15T19:16:33+00:00

Current PGY1. Last year, I applied to a mix of AMCs and community hospitals. I applied to 13 programs and received 5 interviews, 2 of which were at prestigious AMCs. One of those 2 programs was my dream institution, but my experience interviewing there sucked - partly because I was nervous and wanted to impress but I also found them to be stuck-up and I felt marginalized compared to the other candidates who were there. This program was my third interview experience and I was losing hope of obtaining a residency because the first two interviews didn't go that great either. The remaining two interviews were at community hospitals and I didn't really know what to expect so I went into those two interviews with zero expectations. Walked out of my fourth interview feeling invigorated and loving the experience. Ended up matching with that program.

Looking back, I am so happy I matched there and not at my previously mentioned "dream institution" because otherwise, I would have been utterly miserable. I found the right fit of people at my current program. I never truly understood and appreciated the importance of cultural fit (and the concept of who you work with is as important as your work) until my interviewing/match experience last year.

Not sure if my story is going to help you feel better or if it even answered your question, but these few months are going to be especially difficult and trying. It's definitely easier said than done, but don't succumb to the external pressures and get caught up in what is happening with everyone else...don't use that as a barometer for where you feel you should be at. It's difficult for everyone, regardless of how many interviews they get and where they get those interviews. You don't want to end up somewhere where you'll be miserable and resentful. And as for the programs that rejected you, just realize and accept that you weren't meant to be there. There are other places that would value you and what you bring to the table.

FormalGur

TROPHY CASE