Pharmacists- The pills experts
By: Alberto Maciel
Pharmacist
Career research
Daily Tasks and Responsibilities
Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or healthcare supplies.
Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
Complete records and do other administrative tasks.
Work Environment
Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in grocery and drug stores. They also work in hospitals and clinics. Some pharmacists work for the government and the military. In most settings, they spend much of the workday on their feet.
Education and Training
Future pharmacists are required to have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, a postgraduate professional degree. Almost all Doctor of Pharmacy programs require applicants to take postsecondary courses such as chemistry, biology, and anatomy. Most programs require at least 2 years of undergraduate study, although some require a bachelor’s degree. Most programs also demand for applicants to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).
Preferred Job Skills
Oral Comprehension- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Expression- The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Job Outlook
14%- as fast as average.
Salary
$116,670 annually.
High School Preparation
Courses
Some required and recommended classes for future pharmacists are;
Chemistry
Biology
English
Anatomy
In addition to those core classes, it's highly recommended taking Medical Careers since this class offers an extensive perspective what to expect in the different medical careers, including pharmacy.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Principia- After School Club that helps students deepen their understanding of science.
Key Club- Community service will help me develop and improve soft skills and communicate better with strangers.
Work/Volunteer Experience
Luckily for future pharmacists, there is a Walgreen's or a CVS in almost every corner. Anyone who's interested in this field can find a job in one of these stores to have an idea of what being a pharmacists is like. However, some of these jobs require the applicant to be age 18 or more.
Walgreen's Job.
Clinic volunteer.
CVS job.
References
Bill Mitchell- Counselor and Theater director at East Leyden High school.
Lauren Dabek- Librarian at Northlake Public Library
Post Secondary Plan
As mentioned before, pharmacists deal with lots of science in their job. Taking courses that expand the knowledge in these subjects is always a good idea. My post-secondary plan includes taking 4 yrs. of college in either Purdue University or Illinois Institute of Technology to major in Pharmacy, or in Pharmacy Administration & Pharmacy Policies.