Beyond the PharmD
Few pharmacy programs in the United States confer students a pharmacy and physician assistant (PharmD-PA) dual degree after graduation. The objective of this study is to determine students’ perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree as an alternative method for career advancement. A cross-sectional st...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Community College of Baltimore County
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Teaching and Learning Excellence through Scholarship |
| Online Access: | https://tales.journals.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/tales/article/view/2887 |
| _version_ | 1827784652047253504 |
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| author | Yen Dang Gregory Shaeffer |
| author_facet | Yen Dang Gregory Shaeffer |
| author_sort | Yen Dang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Few pharmacy programs in the United States confer students a pharmacy and physician assistant (PharmD-PA) dual degree after graduation. The objective of this study is to determine students’ perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree as an alternative method for career advancement. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a 3-year pharmacy program in a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Students were asked about their familiarity with the PharmD-PA dual degree and its associated benefits and limitations. Students’ perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree on their career outlook, quality of life, salary, and its ramifications on the healthcare sector were assessed. Descriptive and chi-square analysis were conducted. Seventy-two students completed the survey from all 3 years of pharmacy school, and only 35 students (48.6%) were familiar with the PharmD-PA dual degree program. Students noted the benefits of pursuing the PharmD-PA dual degree to be acquiring prescriptive authority (44.4%), improved clinical knowledge (29.2%), and better career opportunities (18.0%). The main limitations included the additional time in school (40.3%), financial barriers of the program (26.4%), and increased school workload (16.7%). Most students believed that the PharmD-PA dual degree had positive effects on their job prospects, salary, career satisfaction, and allowed for overall improvements in patient care. Overall, pharmacy students had positive perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree program. Schools of Pharmacy should look into the development of PharmD-PA dual degree programs as a unique marketing opportunity for admissions and as a nontraditional method of career advancement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:07:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d0277e77a004676bedffdae6ee5d18e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2766-8991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T16:07:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Community College of Baltimore County |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Teaching and Learning Excellence through Scholarship |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d0277e77a004676bedffdae6ee5d18e2023-10-24T18:13:44ZengCommunity College of Baltimore CountyTeaching and Learning Excellence through Scholarship2766-89912023-08-013110.52938/tales.v3i1.28872900Beyond the PharmDYen DangGregory ShaefferFew pharmacy programs in the United States confer students a pharmacy and physician assistant (PharmD-PA) dual degree after graduation. The objective of this study is to determine students’ perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree as an alternative method for career advancement. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a 3-year pharmacy program in a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Students were asked about their familiarity with the PharmD-PA dual degree and its associated benefits and limitations. Students’ perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree on their career outlook, quality of life, salary, and its ramifications on the healthcare sector were assessed. Descriptive and chi-square analysis were conducted. Seventy-two students completed the survey from all 3 years of pharmacy school, and only 35 students (48.6%) were familiar with the PharmD-PA dual degree program. Students noted the benefits of pursuing the PharmD-PA dual degree to be acquiring prescriptive authority (44.4%), improved clinical knowledge (29.2%), and better career opportunities (18.0%). The main limitations included the additional time in school (40.3%), financial barriers of the program (26.4%), and increased school workload (16.7%). Most students believed that the PharmD-PA dual degree had positive effects on their job prospects, salary, career satisfaction, and allowed for overall improvements in patient care. Overall, pharmacy students had positive perceptions of the PharmD-PA dual degree program. Schools of Pharmacy should look into the development of PharmD-PA dual degree programs as a unique marketing opportunity for admissions and as a nontraditional method of career advancement.https://tales.journals.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/tales/article/view/2887 |
| spellingShingle | Yen Dang Gregory Shaeffer Beyond the PharmD Teaching and Learning Excellence through Scholarship |
| title | Beyond the PharmD |
| title_full | Beyond the PharmD |
| title_fullStr | Beyond the PharmD |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond the PharmD |
| title_short | Beyond the PharmD |
| title_sort | beyond the pharmd |
| url | https://tales.journals.publicknowledgeproject.org/index.php/tales/article/view/2887 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yendang beyondthepharmd AT gregoryshaeffer beyondthepharmd |