EP022: How to Become a Pharmacist w. Fazleabbas Poonawala

04/08/18 • 45 min

Mentors 4 Teens: College, Scholarship, and Career Guidance Podcast

Episode 21: How to Become a Pharmacist w. Fazleabbas Poonawala Featuring: Fazleabbas Poonawala, Pharmacist Mentor Bio:

Fazleabbas Poonawala is a board certified pharmacist with licenses for NJ and NY. I practiced retail pharmacy for about a year and then transitioned to work in the pharmaceutical industry, working in the field of drug safety for about 7 years. Now I help create and support the processes that ensure adverse event reports reach the company and are reported to worldwide health authorities on time.

Industry Overview: What do Pharmacists do?

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer expertise in the safe use of prescriptions. They also may conduct health and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, oversee the medications given to patients, and provide advice on healthy lifestyles.

What does their work environment look like?

Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in drug, general merchandise, and grocery stores. They also work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

How do you become a Pharmacist?

All pharmacists must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from an accredited school in order to practice. Postsecondary courses in your studies will include chemistry, biology and anatomy. Most students have three years of college experience or a bachelor’s degree upon entering pharmacy school. They must also be licensed, which requires passing two exams.

Keep in mind In 2012, graduates entering the workforce had an average student loan debt of$123,063.

What additional skills that they typically don’t teach in school do you need?

Following graduation from a Pharm.D. program, pharmacists seeking an advanced position, such as a clinical pharmacy or research job, may need to complete a 1- to 2-year residency. Pharmacists who choose to complete the 2-year residency option receive additional training in a specialty area such as internal medicine or geriatric care.

All states license pharmacists. After they finish the Pharm.D. program, prospective pharmacists must pass two exams to get a license. The North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) tests pharmacy skills and knowledge. The Multi-state Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE) or a state-specific test on pharmacy law is also required.

Applicants also must complete a number of hours as an intern, which varies by state.

What is the pay?

The median annual wage for pharmacists was $122,230 in May 2016.

Future demand in marketplace?

Employment of pharmacists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services.

Overall...

Pharmacists rank #20 in Best Paying Jobs. #23 in best healthcare jobs, and #45 in the best 100 jobs according to US news which ranks them based on 5 categories (salary, job market, future growth, stress, and work-life balance).

With Anesthesiologist, Surgeon, and Obstetrician and Gynecologist ranking as the top 1-3 best paying jobs and dentist, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner ranking 1,2,3 in the healthcare industry.

The number of pharmacy schools has grown in recent years, creating more pharmacy school graduates and therefore more competition for jobs. Students who choose to complete a residency program gain additional experience that may improve their job prospects.

Certification from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties or as a Certified Diabetes Educator also may be viewed favorably by employers.

Todd's personal opinion...

If you are the studious type, like biology, chemistry but don’t want to go through the next level of rigor and time it takes to become a doctor... becoming a pharmacist might be right up your alley.

To be honest though... Unlike episode #21 with Stephanie where we talked about sales, #20 where we talked with current Harvard Law student, Danica, who was a past about research analyst, and #19 with Reid Simpson who is a financial advisor.... (All of which encompassed the same type of mindset to a certain degree... loving to talk to people, market yourself, listening and then providing value...

Pharmacy is not something I know too much about.... so, I'm excited to hear Fazleabbas' professional opinion!

Show Notes:

[1:55] - Todd Intro
[2:34] - Meet This Week's Guest, Abbas Poonawala!
[3:10] - Pharmacy Industry Insights.
[7:43] - Mentor Industry Insights.
[10:11] - How Abbas Got Started in Pharmacy & Drug Safety!
[19:50] - An Average Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Student.
[28:00] - A Word from The Student-Tutor Mastermind Community!
[31:32] - Abbas' #1 Piece of Actionable Advice for Teenagers
[34:45] - Episode Recap
[36:15] - Questions from The Student-Tutor Mastermind Students.
[41:30] - Nex...

Episode 21: How to Become a Pharmacist w. Fazleabbas Poonawala Featuring: Fazleabbas Poonawala, Pharmacist Mentor Bio:

Industry Overview: What do Pharmacists do?

What does their work environment look like?

Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in drug, general merchandise, and grocery stores. They also work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

How do you become a Pharmacist?

Keep in mind In 2012, graduates entering the workforce had an average student loan debt of$123,063.

What additional skills that they typically don’t teach in school do you need?

Applicants also must complete a number of hours as an intern, which varies by state.

What is the pay?

The median annual wage for pharmacists was $122,230 in May 2016.

Future demand in marketplace?

Overall...

Certification from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties or as a Certified Diabetes Educator also may be viewed favorably by employers.

Todd's personal opinion...

Pharmacy is not something I know too much about.... so, I'm excited to hear Fazleabbas' professional opinion!

Show Notes:

[1:55] - Todd Intro
[2:34] - Meet This Week's Guest, Abbas Poonawala!
[3:10] - Pharmacy Industry Insights.
[7:43] - Mentor Industry Insights.
[10:11] - How Abbas Got Started in Pharmacy & Drug Safety!
[19:50] - An Average Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Student.
[28:00] - A Word from The Student-Tutor Mastermind Community!
[31:32] - Abbas' #1 Piece of Actionable Advice for Teenagers
[34:45] - Episode Recap
[36:15] - Questions from The Student-Tutor Mastermind Students.
[41:30] - Nex...

Previous Episode

EP021: Commercial Sales, Advertising, and Music Festivals w. Stephanie Rosa

Episode 21: Commercial Sales, Advertising, and Music Festivals w. Stephanie Rosa Featuring: Stephanie Rosa, Commercial Sales & Advertising Mentor Bio:

Stephanie Rosa has been in medical device sales since graduating college from the University of Illinois. She quickly rose to be the #2 device representative in her company. Stephanie has worked in various sales roles within the medical world. After a year sabbatical to travel the world alone, Stephanie returned back into medical sales and began to pursue her passion within the festival and music industry. Stephanie now works full time in a corporate sales role, while also running a 40 person media team dedicated to music festivals.

Industry Overview: What do Commercial Sales Professionals do?

Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They contact customers, explain the features of the products they are selling, negotiate prices, and answer any questions that their customers may have about the products.

What does their work environment look like?

Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives work under pressure because their income and job security depend on the amount of merchandise they sell. Some sales representatives travel frequently.

How do you become a Sales Professional?

Educational requirements vary for sales representatives and depend on the type of products sold. If the products are not scientific or technical, a high school diploma is generally sufficient for entry into the occupation. If the products are scientific or technical, sales representatives typically need at least a bachelor's degree.

What additional skills that they typically don’t teach in school do you need?

New employees may be trained by going along with experienced workers on their sales calls. As they gain familiarity with the firm’s products and clients, the new workers gain more responsibility until they eventually get their own territory. Strong social skills, understanding how to persuade, network, and get people to like you play a crucial role.

What is the pay?

The median annual wage for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products was $57,140 in May 2016.

The median annual wage for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products was $78,980 in May 2016.

Future demand in marketplace?

Overall employment of wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives is projected to grow 5 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment opportunities should be best in independent agencies, which operate on a fee basis and represent several manufacturers, instead of buying and holding the product they are selling.

Overall...

Job opportunities should be best for those with previous sales experience. Although the large size of the occupations creates many job openings, the relatively high pay will also likely attract a large number of applicants.

US news rates a sales representative as # 4 in best marketing jobs which ranks them based on 5 categories ( salary, job market, future growth, stress, and work-life balance); with marketing manager, sales manager, insurance sales agent coming in 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Todd's personal opinion...

If you love to talk to people, are personable, like to travel, are up for a little bit of a cut throat industry where the potential to make good money right out of College this could be right up your alley.

I know the medium numbers is $78K for technical, BUT, I have quite a few friends that make well over 7-figures selling products only a couple years out of college. In fact, a good friend of mine in the bay area sells carpet and makes 160K per year... and he isn’t even on the top! It requires charisma, high energy, and you need to be good and persuading people to take action.

Show Notes:

[1:55] - Intro.
[2:35] - Meet This Week's Guest... Stephanie Rosa!
[3:38] - Commercial Sales Industry Overview.
[8:03] - Stephanie's Industry Insights.
[9:48] - How It All Started for Stephanie.
[13:53] - Everyone Is a Sales Person.
[15:21] - Climbing the Medical Sales / Corporate Ladder.
[18:55] - Festival Squad & Stephanie's Crazy Average Day!
[24:55] - A Word From the Mastermind Community!
[26:52] - Value Beyond Dollars and Cents.
[27:38] - Would You Do It Again?
[28:40] - Stephanie's #1 Piece of Actionable Advice for Teens!
[32:30] - Episode 21 Recap / Key Points.
[33:40] - Questions From the Teenage Mastermind Students!
[45 :00] - Outro.

Mentor's Key Points: EVERYONE is a Sales Person.

Even if you don't find yourself working in a "Sales" position, you most definitely w...

Next Episode

EP023: Special Parent's Edition Ft. Mentors from MIT / NYU Stern

Episode 23: Special Parent's Edition Ft. Mentors from MIT / NYU Stern Featuring: Danielle Espinosa (MIT) & Gabriel Mejia Ruiz (NYU Stern) Mentor Bios:

In this special episode, the PARENTS of the Student-Tutor Mastermind members get to ask their burning questions and get advice from tutors with ELITE college experience!

Danielle is a prior MIT student, as well as one of one of Student-Tutor's elite academic & SAT/ACT prep tutors! A mentor with worldly experience, Danielle recently returned from an extended visit to India! With tutoring success dating back to her high school years, Danielle knows what it takes to get the job done... and how to go about getting into TOP schools like MIT (#5 Nationally)!

Gabriel is one of Student-Tutor's elite academic & SAT/ACT prep tutors, and is currently attending New York University's Stern Business School - one of the finest in the nation (#13 Business School, Nationally)! In addition to attending class and tutoring, he's also a member of the NYU fencing team and the Colombian national fencing team! Gabriel brings a lot of energy and excitement to his work! He’s passionate, and always goes above and beyond when it comes to helping his community!!

Show Notes:

[1:55] - Todd Intro.
[3:00] - Meet This Week's Guests!
[3:20] - What They Wish They Knew BEFORE Going to College!
[10:55] - What FALSE or Misleading Advice Did They Receive Leading up to College?
[18:22] - College, Scholarship, and Career Tips for 8th-Grade Students!
[26:05] - A Word From the Mastermind Community!
[28:00] - Questions From the Mastermind Parents!
[43:50] - Todd's Highlight From This Episode!
[45:05] - Outro.

Mentor's Key Points: Get Started EARLY!

As early as 8th grade, start exploring careers, internships, and other opportunities to learn more about yourself and the potential path you'd like to pursue! Understand the different factors that play a part in your college, scholarship, and career success, then execute a strategy based on your unique goals!

Choose Your Classes and Extracurriculars WISELY!

Instead of doing as many different things as you can, do one or two things EXCEPTIONALLY! Find a club you love and help take it to the next level, be the captain of your sports team and lead your team to a championship victory, get an internship at a reputable company, or, try embarking on your own entrepreneurial venture!

Parents and Students Should BOTH Be Prepared for the College Transition!

After students leave for college, a lot of their actions will be their own responsibility! Parents can still provide love, support, and the occasional care-package, but it's important for students to get exposure to being apart and holding themselves accountable. Traveling sports teams / clubs / etc. is a great way to do this!

Resources: Are you interested in learning more and joining our community of proactive teens and parents for FREE? Step 1: Join our FREE college prep, scholarship, and career guidance Facebook group!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN!

Step 2: Register for our next FREE webinar to learn how to save thousands + set your teenager up career, college, and scholarship success!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN!

-- The Mentors 4 Teens: College, Scholarship, and Career Guidance Podcast Copyright © 2018 by Student Tutor Produced by: Todd VanDuzer & Cody Mack Recording by: Todd VanDuzer Music & Editing: Cody Mack Sponsorship & Interview Requests: [email protected]