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Which do you find better when it comes to the pharmacy world, working in a research lab or a pharmacy in a drug store/hospital?

I have been accepted into a pre-pharmacy program and I am hoping to finish school with a Pharm-D. I feel that a research lab will be better for me because I want to help in finding things like the cure to cancer or the cure to Alzheimer's and I believe that the cure is in medicine. I want to know what its like from different viewpoints and which, in the long run, will be better for me. #medicine #research #pharmacy #pharmacists #pharmacist #medical-research #laboratory #pharmd

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London Doyoung’s Answer

Megan, it doesn't always have to be one way or the other. You could incorporate those two if you are going into a clinical route in hospital. After pharmacy school, you have an option to pursue residency, and this could be a chance to be involved in research. Are you currently involved in any research currently? If not, you should try to get in reach with professors who are conducting research in your interest. This would greatly help you in continuing education as a researcher and a clinician in the future.
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Bruno E.’s Answer

Both areas of pharmacy practice that you mention would help mankind. It may depend on whether you prefer to interact with people in say a retail or hospital pharmacy setting; or interact in a more compact area, such as in a research lab, with your teammates. Best wishes in whichever path you choose to follow.
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Corynne’s Answer

What's great about pharmacy is that there are many different career options and you'll get experience with different options during pharmacy school (during your rotations). After pharmacy school you could do a residency if you'd like to take a more clinical path or do a fellowship to learn more about the drug discovery process. For many people, their interests change throughout and after pharmacy school and it's easy to get a bunch of different experiences to figure out what you really like and what career path you'd like to pursue. Best of luck!
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Melida’s Answer

Megan: I agree with the previous answer as to it would be great to be accredited in both fields. However, to me, it sounds like you would be happier doing research to help find cures for people. i believe that you would be making such a difference in all the lives that you will be affecting in either profession that you choose....Best of luck to you, and remember to follow your true passion!
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Anthony’s Answer

Hello,

It truly is a matter of preference when choosing between job locations as a pharmacist. A PharmD is such a versatile degree one can find a position anywhere dealing with drugs. So ultimately, it comes down to a matter of preference. However, I think some settings suit some people better than others. For example, if you enjoy public interaction with patients (excellent and bad exchanges, to be precise), then a retail setting may be a bet for you.

Additionally, retail settings may be better for those who enjoy being on their feet and a fast-paced work environment than those who do not like typical desk jobs and enjoy moving around. This isn't to say that in hospital or research settings, pharmacists are not constantly moving; it's just to say that a retail location lends itself more to those who enjoy fast-paced work environments to help the day go by faster and are good multitaskers. With that being said, there are cons to this position, such that clinical knowledge takes a back seat much of the time. Although the complete opposite isn't true for other settings, I believe they lend themselves more to those who appreciate a lower-stressed leisurely job.

Ultimately it is essential to find one's passion and pursue them when looking for a position. During school, you should take the opportunities to put yourself out there and experience as much as possible to find your interest. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, a PharmD is incredibly versatile and can find work in many different settings.
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