The Pharmacist Journey
Angel Heyerly, PharmD, BCIDP
Infectious Diseases Pharmacist & Antimicrobial Stewardship Coordinator
Lutheran Hospital
Luke Dotson, PharmD
PGY1 Pharmacy Resident
Lutheran Hospital
Education & Licensure
• Pre-Doctor of Pharmacy Program
• Accelerated 2-year, non-degree curriculum to prepare for pharmacy school
• Bachelor degree (often in science)
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
• 4-year professional degree
Licensure Required: NAPLEX exam + State law exam
• Residency Experience (optional)
• PGY1 Residency
• PGY2 Residency
• Fellowship (optional)
Education
• Coursework – lots of science & math!
• Fourth Professional Year – Experiential rotations
• Introductory pharmacy practice experiences – 2 months
• Community
• Hospital
• Advanced pharmacy practice experiences – 10 months
• General Medicine
• Hospital
• Ambulatory Care
• Community Practice
• Patient Care Electives
• Electives – research, drug info
Indiana Pharmacy Schools
• Manchester University
• Butler University
• Purdue University
Pharmacy Career Opportunities
• Community Pharmacists
• Retail settings such as Walgreens, Walmart, CVS
• Dispense medications and counsel patients
• Administer vaccines and perform health screenings
• Hospital Pharmacists
• Hospital settings such as Lutheran, Bluffton Regional, Parkview
• Compound and dispense medications
• Clinical Pharmacists
• Hospital or clinic settings
• Provide direct patient care, offer advice to healthcare teams, counsel patients
• Recommend medications and oversee dosage and timing of medications,
evaluate effectiveness of medications, conduct medical tests
Pharmacy Career Opportunities
• Consultant Pharmacists
• Office settings or long-term care facilities
• Advise healthcare facilities or insurance providers on patient medication use
• Pharmaceutical Industry Pharmacists
• Marketing, sales, research and development
• Design and conduct clinical trials
• Establish safety regulations and ensure quality control
• Academia
• University settings
• Educate and mentor pharmacy students
Specialization & Certification Opportunities
Specialties Certifications
• Pediatric • Anticoagulation Care
• Emergency Medicine • Diabetes
• Critical Care • Lipids
• Infectious Disease • Asthma
• Oncology • Health Information Technology
• Ambulatory Care • HIV/AIDS
• Cardiology • Toxicology
• Organ Transplant • Nutrition Support
• Others • Others
Pharmacist Pros and Cons
✔ Competitive Salary × Extended schooling
✔ Variety of career options × High-pressure work
✔ Nonphysical work × Underappreciated work
✔ Flexible schedule × Physical/mental fatigue
✔ Remote working opportunities × Limited career advancement
✔ Travel opportunities × Competitive field
✔ Independent Practice × Schedules
✔ Healthy/clean work environment
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/pros-and-cons-of-being-pharmacist
2022 median pay = $132,750/year per Bureau of Labor Statistics
A day in the life of a pharmacist…
• What education path did you take and why?
• What does a typical work day look like?
• What is your favorite thing about being a pharmacist?
• What is your least favorite thing about being a pharmacist?
• What advice would you give to someone considering a career in
pharmacy?
Questions?
