Advice requested

[Merentha]

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[TD=class: alt1, bgcolor: #FFFFFF]I am an older applicant (40yo) and I have worked in basic research for the since getting my degree (PhD) in 2003. I have published though maybe not as much as warranted for a successful career in academia. I have never been about the publish or perish mantra. I am, and will always be, somewhat of a troubleshooter and tinkerer. I love bench work and loathe the idea that to really make it as an academic you need to constantly crunch grants for funding. No, I am not naive…I fully understand that you need to do things to keep the lights on and people under your command fed and quartered. I've just realize that while I love science, the business of science is not for me.

 

I am writing this to ask for advice. I have decided that I want to make a transition into clinical work either as a Pharmacist or a PA. For the last 2 years I have worked in a Ob/Gyn department working on basic science projects. I want to transition into a pure clinical discipline, but really am not sure of the path to take. I am currently torn between PA programs and Pharmacy. Initially, I thought Pharmacy would be the way to go…I enjoy the information. Believe it or not, I am also a certified pharm tech and have IV certification. However, from what I have gathered here (SDN) and on other sites, it seems the real world of Pharmacy is saturated and most jobs are in retail, which is a pack'em in numbers game somewhat removed from direct patent care. I was even willing to take a 55% paycut from my current employment (if that remains stable, thanks to sequester lol) to go into a tech position in order to gain prerequisite experience for applying to pharmacy school. At the interview for the position, the people basically looked at me like I lost my mind - why would I take such a hit etc…and informed me of their view of real world retail pharmacy. Hospital pharmacy may be more closer to my interest, but let's face it most jobs are retail and there is no getting away from that fact. The bottom line is: I want to have direct impact upon PTs.

 

Alternatively, I was thinking of applying to a PA program. However, I lack direct clinical experience (Pt interaction etc). I was thinking of taking some EMT classes to ensure that I like doing/can do the clinical protocols. Let's face it, basic research isn't hands on clinical work directly with people. If I screw up a operation on a mouse, well my Pt doesn't have to recover, while a human does (yes that is an attempt at humor - so please take it as such). I am leaning progressively more towards a PA program, given my statements on pharmacy. My questions are (1) Am I looking at this completely wrong? (The field of pharmacy or the PA); (2) Is is helpful or necessary to gain EMT experience for a PA program or am I just wasting time thinking about EMT experience. I have been in research a while and I do not want to make another career mistake….that is why I honestly am a bit apprehensive about how to follow through on this. I don't want to go through another long period of training only to find I have nothing but regret when I am done.

 

My basic stats: Undergrad GPA: 3.76. Major: Biochemistry/math minor. Graduate: 4.0. Specialization: Molecular Biology (PhD). Yes I am published.

 

Just a little trivia as an aside for giggles: when I actually inquired with several PharmD programs they specifically stated that NONE of my grad work is taken into account. It doesn't matter that I am as educated (and published) as some of their faculty - they would only look at my undergrad stats for evaluation.

 

I plan on posting this in the general forums to get any constructive advice anyone out there is willing to share. I'm not trying to PO the mods.

 

Thank you all in advance for your attention and advice.[/TD]

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[UGoLong]

Merentha,

 

I see from your post that you are conflicted about what to do next. You’ve gotten into a career that pays the bills but is no longer of interest to you. Like a lot of people, you are trying to reason your way out and find something better to do. You probably don’t know a lot about being a PA.

 

I was you once. I tried to reason my way out of where I was into one of the infinite possibilities of jobs out there. I eventually learned that trying something gives you a lot of new information, while just reasoning with the information you have is of limited utility. My advice: try something new – even on a small scale -- and see how it makes you feel. That way you also don’t have to jump careers as the first step.

 

I did the EMT route too and it opened up my horizons. I didn’t know what a PA was until I worked my way up to assistant chief and a guy asked me to write a letter of recommendation for PA school. I kept doing things in a small way by taking night classes and so forth until I was ready to make the big leap. I’ve been a PA now for 7 years.

 

I also sense from your story that you are unclear about what role you want in life, as opposed to what job you want. It is, for example, far different being a pharmacist reviewing a PA’s order for a drug than it is being that PA, looking at a critically ill patient and wondering what drug to give.

 

I am not trying to pimp my book, but I wrote one about the journey I took. If it can help you in yours, have at it. In the mean time, realize that, while many of your skills are transferable, few of your specific academic accomplishments may be. Don’t get hung up on that; the chance to learn something new is a blessing at any age.

 

Good luck.

http://www.amazon.com/Old-Man-Campus-middle-aged-assistant/dp/1479372099/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362789736&sr=1-1&keywords=old+man+on+campus