New Practitioners Forum
New Practitioners Forum Pursuing a training experience abroad
T
he past five years have seen a decrease in work force demand for pharmacists,1 and recent increases in the number of pharmacy graduates in the United States have raised concern about impending market saturation.2 This reality has left graduates and new practitioners with the need to diversify themselves in a newly emerging job market. Accordingly, the number of students and new practitioners applying for postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 pharmacy residencies continues to grow each year. However, the process is increasingly competitive; results from the 2014
ASHP Resident Matching Program (the “Match”) indicated that 35.7% of applicants did not match with a residency.3 The implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will likely require the increased presence and leadership of pharmacists in a variety of roles.4 With a tightened and changing job market, it has become necessary for new practitioners to seek nontraditional opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills. Even with numerous opportunities available in the United States, students and new practitioners might consider pursuing training experiences abroad. Professional opportunities. The choice of experience abroad is dependent on your individual career goals and the amount of time you want to dedicate. It is also important to consider the legal limitations of the country you choose, as transferring a pharmacy license internationally is complicated, limiting your options in direct patient care without significant administrative burden. As such, popular opportunities abroad for pharmacists include medical mission trips, postgraduate degree training, research fellowships, and jobs in industry. Designing an experience abroad can be challenging. For those seeking a postgraduate degree, a common choice is either a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in a relevant area. The international student office of
The New Practitioners Forum column features articles that address the special professional needs of pharmacists early in their careers as they transition from students to practitioners. Authors include new practitioners or others with expertise in a topic of interest to new practitioners. AJHP readers are invited to submit topics or articles for this column to the New Practitioners Forum, c/o Jill Haug, 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814 (301-664-8821 or [email protected]).
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Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
your target university is the first point of contact regarding entry requirements and fees. Many universities offer scholarships, and others will allow you to use loans administered through the U.S. Department of Education Direct Loan Program even though you are studying abroad. If you are looking to pursue an independent fellowship, you may have to rely on a network of contacts to find someone to host you. It is important when tapping into your network that you have well researched where you want to go and have clearly identified the desired goals of your experience. While most advertised positions are salaried, creating your own individual experience may require you to be self-funded with external grant support. While the cost burden has been shown to affect students’ interest in studying abroad,5 new practitioners generally are more financially stable and eligible for salaried positions. Study-abroad offices at U.S. universities can also provide a great deal of information regarding available external grants; even if you are no longer associated with a university, you can usually get information through your alma mater. While a significant degree of planning is required, an experience abroad opens up a number of opportunities for future employment when you return to the United States. Conducting research abroad is a highly sought-after experience for job applicants within industry, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The Institute of Medicine recently identified knowledge investment in global partnerships as an important area for action from both public and private sectors.6 With an estimated investment of $12 billion in global health research and development by the U.S. government since 2000,7 pharmacists with the combination of an international network of colleagues and research experience are uniquely situated to contribContinued on page 906
New Practitioners Forum Continued from page 904
ute to this growing field. International experience of any kind is also beneficial for new practitioners wishing to pursue a career in academic pharmacy. Global health care education and research have been identified as areas of interest and importance by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, with the vast majority of pharmacy schools either actively providing experiences with an international focus or looking to pursue them.8 Prospective candidates with dedicated time abroad have a demonstrated interest in internationalization and are well suited to help foster opportunities for student pharmacists as academics. Other beneficial skills. New practitioners are responsible for continuing their professional development beyond pharmacy school. For many, this involves pursuing involvement in leadership, advocacy, or further credentialing. Beyond increasing employability, training abroad provides a variety of other important benefits to consider: • Knowledge exchange. Experiencing and learning about a completely different model of health care provide incredible insight into alternative ways of providing patient care, on both population and personal levels. Colleagues in your host country will be eager to learn about practices in the United States and how you can work together to mutually improve your practice. • Transferable skills. Securing a placement abroad can be extremely competitive, often requiring an extensive grant application and interview process, requiring you to “sell” yourself within an international realm. The components of the experience are often varied, involving producing deliverables for stakeholders in your research, chasing entrepreneurial pursuits, and developing collaborations in business and industry. Navigating these types of processes outside of your normal realm of pharmacy improves your communication and organizational skills and gives you invaluable management experience. • Increasing your network. Institutions are always looking for opportunities to build
906
their profile across the world. Recruiting applicants with contacts in other countries fosters this goal. And you never know when your seemingly unconnected networks may collide in a positive way; the field of pharmacy is exceedingly small, even internationally. • Learning to adapt. Moving to a new country immediately forces you outside of your comfort zone and teaches you how to interact with the environment around you, such as learning different treatment guidelines, using medications unavailable in the United States, and navigating variations in culture and language. • Different training schemes. Pursuing a postgraduate research degree abroad can be significantly different in terms of course structure. Outside of the United States, a master’s degree can often be completed in as little as 12 months and a Ph.D. in 36 months, due to an intensive focus on independent research from the start of the program. The shorter courses tend to be more rigorous but may be attractive to new practitioners after completion of their Pharm.D. program.
Potential employers look favorably on the general contribution of experiences abroad. A national study of 352 firms across a variety of industries found that studying abroad was one of the most important educational experiences an applicant could have and that the personal qualities employers sought in candidates were greatly enhanced by this type of experience.9 Qualities of particular interest to employers included flexibility, curiosity, willingness to take risks, and an improved world view. Personal perspective. During my final year of pharmacy school, I completed an advanced pharmacy practice experience with the National Health Service, or NHS, in Scotland, working for four weeks with pharmacists involved in the management of national clinical data warehouses. At the time, I was applying to PGY1 residency programs and thought that the pursuit of pharmacy abroad would be beneficial and, of course, fun. Little did I know how much I would learn from the experience. Every residency program I interviewed with asked me about my time in Scotland. I
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
spent nearly half of one interview with a director of pharmacy discussing the benefits of world travel and the perspective it provides. Interestingly enough, this was the director of the same hospital with which I eventually matched for a residency. The skills, professional contacts, and friendships I developed during my residency are unparalleled. I eventually decided to pursue a different path, and after a great deal of consideration and with the unwavering support of my colleagues, I applied for and subsequently received a Fulbright grant10 to move to Scotland to pursue a Ph.D. in health services research. My current research involves analysis of administrative and clinical data with the goal of quality improvement in the treatment of respiratory diseases. The unique experience of conducting this type of research within a publicly funded health care system has been incredibly valuable. I am nearly finished with my program and have enjoyed training abroad so much that I am often asked by my colleagues if I will be returning to the United States when I complete my degree or if I’ll remain an international pharmacist. The honest answer is that moving abroad is only half of what makes the experience worthwhile. For me, the prospect of coming home with new knowledge and experiences and completing the circle of international exchange is what will make pursuing this unusual path particularly meaningful. It is my ultimate goal to enter academic pharmacy, use my unique experience to increase and expand student understanding and participation in global health, and develop clinical practice and research that incorporates my newfound perspective. Conclusion. New practitioners today are confronted with a changing job market and the challenge to develop unique skills to set themselves apart from the crowd. Pursuing training abroad is a unique experience that is often overlooked but one that can make all the difference in your pharmacy career. 1. Knapp KK. Aggregate demand index, 2013. www.pharmacymanpower.com/ (accessed 2013 May 23). 2. American Pharmacists Association, American Society of Health-System
New Practitioners Forum
Pharmacists. Concerns about the accelerating expansion of pharmacy education: time for reconsideration. www.ashp.org/ D o cLibr ar y/News/Acceler at ingExpansion-of-Pharmacy-Education.aspx (accessed 2013 Apr 11). 3. National Matching Services. Summary results of the match for positions beginning in 2014. www.natmatch.com/ ashpr mp/stats/2014applstats.html (accessed 2014 Mar 24). 4. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Leg islative summary: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (House of Representatives). www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/ AboutUs/Legislative-SummaryFinalReform-Bill.aspx (accessed 2013 Apr 12). 5. Owen C, Breheny P, Ingram R et al. Factors associated with pharmacy student interest in international study. Am J Pharm Educ. 2013; 77:54.
6. Institute of Medicine. The US Commitment to global health: recommendations for the public and private sectors.www.iom.edu/Reports/2009/TheUS-Commitment-to-Global-HealthRecommendations-for-the-Publicand-Private-Sectors.aspx (accessed 2013 May 21). 7. Research!America. Global health: budget overview. www.researchamerica.org/ gh_budget_overview (accessed 2014 Mar 24). 8. Audus KL, Moreton JE, Normann SA et al. Going global: the report of the 2009– 2010 research and graduate affairs committee. Am J Pharm Educ. 2010; 74:article S8. 9. Tro o b o f f S , B e r g M V, R ay m a n J. Employer attitudes toward study abroad. www.frontiersjournal.com/ documents/TrooboffVandebergRaymonFRONTIERSJOURNALXVWinter200708-pdf.pdf (accessed 2014 Mar 7).
10. Institute of International Education. Fulbright U.S. student program. http:// us.fulbrightonline.org/ (accessed 2013 Apr 12).
Jordan R. Covvey, Pharm.D., BCPS, Ph.D. Student Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences University of Strathclyde Glasgow, Scotland [email protected]
The author has declared no potential conflicts of interest. DOI 10.2146/ajhp130223
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
907
New Practitioners Forum Pursuing a training experience abroad
T
he past five years have seen a decrease in work force demand for pharmacists,1 and recent increases in the number of pharmacy graduates in the United States have raised concern about impending market saturation.2 This reality has left graduates and new practitioners with the need to diversify themselves in a newly emerging job market. Accordingly, the number of students and new practitioners applying for postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) and postgraduate year 2 pharmacy residencies continues to grow each year. However, the process is increasingly competitive; results from the 2014
ASHP Resident Matching Program (the “Match”) indicated that 35.7% of applicants did not match with a residency.3 The implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will likely require the increased presence and leadership of pharmacists in a variety of roles.4 With a tightened and changing job market, it has become necessary for new practitioners to seek nontraditional opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills. Even with numerous opportunities available in the United States, students and new practitioners might consider pursuing training experiences abroad. Professional opportunities. The choice of experience abroad is dependent on your individual career goals and the amount of time you want to dedicate. It is also important to consider the legal limitations of the country you choose, as transferring a pharmacy license internationally is complicated, limiting your options in direct patient care without significant administrative burden. As such, popular opportunities abroad for pharmacists include medical mission trips, postgraduate degree training, research fellowships, and jobs in industry. Designing an experience abroad can be challenging. For those seeking a postgraduate degree, a common choice is either a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in a relevant area. The international student office of
The New Practitioners Forum column features articles that address the special professional needs of pharmacists early in their careers as they transition from students to practitioners. Authors include new practitioners or others with expertise in a topic of interest to new practitioners. AJHP readers are invited to submit topics or articles for this column to the New Practitioners Forum, c/o Jill Haug, 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814 (301-664-8821 or [email protected]).
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Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
your target university is the first point of contact regarding entry requirements and fees. Many universities offer scholarships, and others will allow you to use loans administered through the U.S. Department of Education Direct Loan Program even though you are studying abroad. If you are looking to pursue an independent fellowship, you may have to rely on a network of contacts to find someone to host you. It is important when tapping into your network that you have well researched where you want to go and have clearly identified the desired goals of your experience. While most advertised positions are salaried, creating your own individual experience may require you to be self-funded with external grant support. While the cost burden has been shown to affect students’ interest in studying abroad,5 new practitioners generally are more financially stable and eligible for salaried positions. Study-abroad offices at U.S. universities can also provide a great deal of information regarding available external grants; even if you are no longer associated with a university, you can usually get information through your alma mater. While a significant degree of planning is required, an experience abroad opens up a number of opportunities for future employment when you return to the United States. Conducting research abroad is a highly sought-after experience for job applicants within industry, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The Institute of Medicine recently identified knowledge investment in global partnerships as an important area for action from both public and private sectors.6 With an estimated investment of $12 billion in global health research and development by the U.S. government since 2000,7 pharmacists with the combination of an international network of colleagues and research experience are uniquely situated to contribContinued on page 906
New Practitioners Forum Continued from page 904
ute to this growing field. International experience of any kind is also beneficial for new practitioners wishing to pursue a career in academic pharmacy. Global health care education and research have been identified as areas of interest and importance by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, with the vast majority of pharmacy schools either actively providing experiences with an international focus or looking to pursue them.8 Prospective candidates with dedicated time abroad have a demonstrated interest in internationalization and are well suited to help foster opportunities for student pharmacists as academics. Other beneficial skills. New practitioners are responsible for continuing their professional development beyond pharmacy school. For many, this involves pursuing involvement in leadership, advocacy, or further credentialing. Beyond increasing employability, training abroad provides a variety of other important benefits to consider: • Knowledge exchange. Experiencing and learning about a completely different model of health care provide incredible insight into alternative ways of providing patient care, on both population and personal levels. Colleagues in your host country will be eager to learn about practices in the United States and how you can work together to mutually improve your practice. • Transferable skills. Securing a placement abroad can be extremely competitive, often requiring an extensive grant application and interview process, requiring you to “sell” yourself within an international realm. The components of the experience are often varied, involving producing deliverables for stakeholders in your research, chasing entrepreneurial pursuits, and developing collaborations in business and industry. Navigating these types of processes outside of your normal realm of pharmacy improves your communication and organizational skills and gives you invaluable management experience. • Increasing your network. Institutions are always looking for opportunities to build
906
their profile across the world. Recruiting applicants with contacts in other countries fosters this goal. And you never know when your seemingly unconnected networks may collide in a positive way; the field of pharmacy is exceedingly small, even internationally. • Learning to adapt. Moving to a new country immediately forces you outside of your comfort zone and teaches you how to interact with the environment around you, such as learning different treatment guidelines, using medications unavailable in the United States, and navigating variations in culture and language. • Different training schemes. Pursuing a postgraduate research degree abroad can be significantly different in terms of course structure. Outside of the United States, a master’s degree can often be completed in as little as 12 months and a Ph.D. in 36 months, due to an intensive focus on independent research from the start of the program. The shorter courses tend to be more rigorous but may be attractive to new practitioners after completion of their Pharm.D. program.
Potential employers look favorably on the general contribution of experiences abroad. A national study of 352 firms across a variety of industries found that studying abroad was one of the most important educational experiences an applicant could have and that the personal qualities employers sought in candidates were greatly enhanced by this type of experience.9 Qualities of particular interest to employers included flexibility, curiosity, willingness to take risks, and an improved world view. Personal perspective. During my final year of pharmacy school, I completed an advanced pharmacy practice experience with the National Health Service, or NHS, in Scotland, working for four weeks with pharmacists involved in the management of national clinical data warehouses. At the time, I was applying to PGY1 residency programs and thought that the pursuit of pharmacy abroad would be beneficial and, of course, fun. Little did I know how much I would learn from the experience. Every residency program I interviewed with asked me about my time in Scotland. I
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
spent nearly half of one interview with a director of pharmacy discussing the benefits of world travel and the perspective it provides. Interestingly enough, this was the director of the same hospital with which I eventually matched for a residency. The skills, professional contacts, and friendships I developed during my residency are unparalleled. I eventually decided to pursue a different path, and after a great deal of consideration and with the unwavering support of my colleagues, I applied for and subsequently received a Fulbright grant10 to move to Scotland to pursue a Ph.D. in health services research. My current research involves analysis of administrative and clinical data with the goal of quality improvement in the treatment of respiratory diseases. The unique experience of conducting this type of research within a publicly funded health care system has been incredibly valuable. I am nearly finished with my program and have enjoyed training abroad so much that I am often asked by my colleagues if I will be returning to the United States when I complete my degree or if I’ll remain an international pharmacist. The honest answer is that moving abroad is only half of what makes the experience worthwhile. For me, the prospect of coming home with new knowledge and experiences and completing the circle of international exchange is what will make pursuing this unusual path particularly meaningful. It is my ultimate goal to enter academic pharmacy, use my unique experience to increase and expand student understanding and participation in global health, and develop clinical practice and research that incorporates my newfound perspective. Conclusion. New practitioners today are confronted with a changing job market and the challenge to develop unique skills to set themselves apart from the crowd. Pursuing training abroad is a unique experience that is often overlooked but one that can make all the difference in your pharmacy career. 1. Knapp KK. Aggregate demand index, 2013. www.pharmacymanpower.com/ (accessed 2013 May 23). 2. American Pharmacists Association, American Society of Health-System
New Practitioners Forum
Pharmacists. Concerns about the accelerating expansion of pharmacy education: time for reconsideration. www.ashp.org/ D o cLibr ar y/News/Acceler at ingExpansion-of-Pharmacy-Education.aspx (accessed 2013 Apr 11). 3. National Matching Services. Summary results of the match for positions beginning in 2014. www.natmatch.com/ ashpr mp/stats/2014applstats.html (accessed 2014 Mar 24). 4. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Leg islative summary: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (House of Representatives). www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/ AboutUs/Legislative-SummaryFinalReform-Bill.aspx (accessed 2013 Apr 12). 5. Owen C, Breheny P, Ingram R et al. Factors associated with pharmacy student interest in international study. Am J Pharm Educ. 2013; 77:54.
6. Institute of Medicine. The US Commitment to global health: recommendations for the public and private sectors.www.iom.edu/Reports/2009/TheUS-Commitment-to-Global-HealthRecommendations-for-the-Publicand-Private-Sectors.aspx (accessed 2013 May 21). 7. Research!America. Global health: budget overview. www.researchamerica.org/ gh_budget_overview (accessed 2014 Mar 24). 8. Audus KL, Moreton JE, Normann SA et al. Going global: the report of the 2009– 2010 research and graduate affairs committee. Am J Pharm Educ. 2010; 74:article S8. 9. Tro o b o f f S , B e r g M V, R ay m a n J. Employer attitudes toward study abroad. www.frontiersjournal.com/ documents/TrooboffVandebergRaymonFRONTIERSJOURNALXVWinter200708-pdf.pdf (accessed 2014 Mar 7).
10. Institute of International Education. Fulbright U.S. student program. http:// us.fulbrightonline.org/ (accessed 2013 Apr 12).
Jordan R. Covvey, Pharm.D., BCPS, Ph.D. Student Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences University of Strathclyde Glasgow, Scotland [email protected]
The author has declared no potential conflicts of interest. DOI 10.2146/ajhp130223
Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 71 Jun 1, 2014
907
