<p>Are there any people who have received their PharmD that will go for a PhD? I am considering a 6 year PharmD program at a nearby school but also saw some PhD programs at the school that seemed interesting (Industrial Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology) No, I am not deciding my future now.. just some thoughts.</p>
<p>For those PhD programs, is a BS in Chemistry a good undergrad major</p>
<p>My friend is intending to do PharmD and PhD, I am unsure of how common the practice is though.</p>
<p>Sure an undergrad degree in chemistry is sufficient for application to PharmD, Phd or PharmD/Phd degree programs. I am a Phd student in the biomedical sciences and have been working in the field for close to a decade without ever meeting somebody who earned a PharmD and then a Phd. I met several people doing PharmD/Phd dual degree programs. I also knew one individual on faculty at a research hospital nearby who had just a PharmD and no Phd.</p>
<p>If I were interested in a career in drug development, I would highly consider a dual degree. It carries all the same benefits as Phd programs eg. stipend, free tuition, health insurance etc but provides you with clinical training that would enhance your research goals and make you more competitive in your career for grants and positions. Another possibility you may want to consider is to do a Phd in Pharmacology or Toxicology or whatever area you like and then gain clinical training as postdoc. You won’t be a licensed pharmacist (in that you cannot work for walgreens and dispense pills for a living) but you would be working at the cusp of clinical and research developments in pharmaceuticals.</p>