pharmacy versus med science versus med (1 Viewer)

[lala2]

Hey all,

I've just come back from a 10 day holiday (woopee!) but during that time, I dreamt I was doing med science instead of pharmacy, and was very happy in it. Now it could just be a product of an idle imagination, but I'm taking this very seriously because before doing pharmacy I wanted to do med science, but changed my mind because of the lack of job prospects (or so I heard). I'm not sure what to do now, but basically I have 2 options:

- Continue with pharmacy (bear in mind I'm going into 2nd year and I know that much of the 'real' stuff comes in) until the end of 2nd year and decide.
- Finish pharmacy and do med science (my parents said)

It has not only been this dream that has made me seriously question my choice of degree, but because I dragged my feet, basically, getting a job in a pharmacy and justified this as saying I needed to study for my exams (yes, I did but I didn't recognise the fear until now), AND because I got a Distinction in Human Biology and I know I like biology.

I'm just so confused and I'm not sure what to do. And now, a third degree comes to mind--MEDICINE. Because it combines biolgoy with pharmacology, biochemistry and basically all the human sciences (which I'm interested in). But the problem is, I'm really scared because if I change courses and find I don't like it (assuming this is in a world where I could actually get into med)....basically, I'm scared to commit myself to a job for the rest of my life. I feel that accelerating was not a good choice for me, though it was at the time (I'm still 17, for anyone who wants to know) because of my lack of maturity. I just don't want to spend the rest of my life as a boring pharmacist, a scientist in a lab (med science), or a doctor (medicine). So help me out here--I'm really muddled and reading back over my words I'm not even sure that I make sense, but hey. So in addition to advising me as to which option would be the best to undertake, please provide any info on:

- The structure of the medicine course
- What else can you do with a med science course?
- Will I do any more human biology in pharmacy, because I really do like it
- Is research really that boring? I was traumatised by the CSIRO Research Scheme because the guy made me do quantum physics where you tried to measure the attraction between a gold bar and an electric current or something, but someone who's equally as passionate about bio said that it was just the wrong kind of subject for me (agreed) and it wouldn't be so bad playing around with DNA and restriction enzymes, or anything else (and I don't mind that!). But I just want to double check, preferably with someone who's done a bit of biological research (one girl I asked was doing the brain, but I'm not interested in that--I'm just interested in the general career options for med science graduates)
- Are there any other courses that would unite my interest in pharmaceuticals, human biology, and even psychology? (besides med)

Basically, I want to study for the interest, but I don't want to anchor myself to any one job or profession for the next how many years of my life, but I do want to know that, if I graduated with anything, that it would provide me with good career prospects. And I'm not sure if this is relevant, but I did pharmacy because the subjects sounded quite tolerable (biology and chemistry--I can handle that) and it had good career prospects.

Haha, this is it for now--THANKS for reading through my ramble--I much appreciate it. And if there's anything else you think I should know, please let me know too.

 

[+Po1ntDeXt3r+]

hi,

I have just had my 1st day of clinical school =).. and its like interesting..

Medicine would prolly be grad-entry for you. so i cant answer that atm.

I can however do the research in medicine question.. im up to my 3rd block.. so far im on almost on 0.5 yrs worth.. both clinical and lab research..

basically its doing a literature review.. (pubmed it, textbooks.. etc..).. then design it.... then ethics approval.. (this is very long depending on the project).. and then do the research.. (usually it can be quite short).. then u write up the findings..

this is long and tedious and hard ... but research forms the basis of evidence based medicine.. so its very important to either understand and/or do it..

I find clinical research more broad and interesting.. and a degree in medical allows u to make diagnosis and intepretations in theory..u realise that there are alot of subjectivity in a sense but the kewl part is that u can review files read xrays, ECGs, EMGs etc.. ..lab research is painful but more clear and organised..

Clinical (practical) medicine is different its talking to patients (80% of all diagnoses is made here).. and then examining them (about 10%) and then blood test and investigations lik xrays, CTs MRI.. then u plan and treat.

how hard is it?... well its almost never textbook and there is usually about 3 to 20 things wrong with a person.. if ure a lil slow.. u might want to reconsider on this career.. its hard if u dun pick up on subtle things..

we do pharmacology/pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics..pharmacy type work is beneficial compared to medsc stuff cos honestly when i interact with patients in a similar way.. and a pharmacist's knowledge is very useful.. esp cos they learn the same way... they memorize and use the information on the job.. no real referring to textbooks much and alot of algorithms..

I have research interest in pharmacology and pathology .. so yeah i could tell u about them.. but about which to choose..

i think Pharm. .cos 1 ure in it.. 2 its patient orientated.. 3 gives u a good basis for medicine..4..lets u own a pharmacy under australian laws

ummm mabbe vetsc if u like the whole diagnosis thing and interactions but hate ppl and its shorter.. after all the yrs of medicine u tend to be a bit old ..

hope that helps..

 

[lala2]

Aha, okay, thanks for your opinion. I will definitely consider that very seriously--sounds reasonable to me. About the research--to clarify--there's literature-based (which is like evidence-based medicine, is that right?) and clinical/lab orientated?

And could you just clarify the point about textbooks?

 

[+Po1ntDeXt3r+]

yes there is just plain.. "dun do any work" in the field and just review.. (literature based) and the lab/clinical one.. which is like go out and collate data..

evidence based medicine is like lit review then apply it practically for the person in front of u in clinic..

i mean textbook as..
im assuming u understand basic medical stuff here..

so ure patient is male.. about 50..
he comes in with difficulty breathing after walking..

so u go.. well wat caused his difficulty breathing
.. then say its due to a failing heart and high blood pressure...
but why is his lung reserve gone?..
he also happens to be a smoker with emphysema and asthma as a kid... ..
oh so then this is easy right?..
just exercise and eat right..quit smoking and use the puffer.... strengten that heart right?.
..difficulty he is also overweight/obese and a diabetic.. btw he happens to have high cholesterol too..
so u just medicate him right? well no he cant tolerate 3 of the medicine u just gave him.. its causing ankle swelling and a dry cough and he is confused about dosing times.. and he refuses to see a dietician.. "because he thinks they dun understand him"

also its usually longer problems and they have more issues

ok now tell me if u can find a patient lik this in a book?.. no.. u need to use evidence based medicine.. and not just solve one thing at a time.. its using information.. and then applying it.. and using commonsense

cos like drugs in the book are like 20mg of XYZ but then is this man the right ethnic group, the right person... cos the book/guidelines were in otherwise healthy individuals with just one disease..

then u have to consider the psychological health of this man..
he will prolly come back with kidney problems.. and mabbe gastro problems too.. .. so far i think i ran up 10 problems.. is this common yes yes it is.. especially in GP..

this is wat i mean about not textbook.. they are individuals and medicine tries to make generalisation.. its up to the individual medical practitioner to apply the statistical principles and hope that their decisions work
its very overwhelming when it doesnt work.. but lucky med school+ training is step by step.. so its no means impossible.. but it isnt if u just want a 9-5 boring job..even in uni i have to goto weekend shifts and "on-call" shifts.. unpaid..

 

[lala2]

Ah I see--medicine is just like learning a set of principles--general guidelines--and then applying it to the individual patient. And yes, patients with multiple morbidities--polypharmacy, polytherapy, etc.

Does med go into a lot about human biology--as in, physiology, anatomy, all that? Because I'm quite interested in that. And what else does medicine cover? The reason why med popped into my head is because it seems to be the only degree around that would unite my interests in pharmacology, biochemistry and human biology (but I would like to know what else it covers too)

 

[+Po1ntDeXt3r+]

well u dun.. u learn the skills to learn it yourself..

I spend hours reading dale pharm.. guyton physiology... moore anatomy..

there are lil lectures given.. and tutorials are student directed at many unis

I do get awesome lectures and tutorials on anatomy.. but this is after i learn it myself.. only because u need to learn wat is relevant.. im on orthopedic surgy atm.. and learning all the bones/muscles/nerves would be impossible in 3.5 yrs.. tho learning about the main relevant things are important.. like how do i know sumfing is wrong.. wats the points about learning something that does not get effected or you will see?... ull never stop learning