Women in Health Care: Pharmacy vs Medicine

<p>I am really into pharmacy and medications, but I am a senior in high school (technically not until September I guess, but still), and I want to be a pharmacist. Is this career family friendly for a young woman? In comparison to medicine? I've already looked at careers such as PA, nurse, NP, Physician, all kinds of technicians, ect. Do you think there's any reason for me to look back to medicine? Any pros in comparison to pharmacy? There's a 6 year pharmacy program at a local college, and I just wanted to know before applying. (I'm filing out my applications over the summer, due to the guidance office at my school requesting all rising seniors to do so). Thanks for all help. :)</p>

<p>Yes, pharmacy is a good profession if you want to have a family. You may have to work off shifts but the schooling for medicine is much more difficult and many more years. Doctors must take on many more hours of call, meaning, availability to go in if needed. You really have to have passion to go into medicine.</p>

<p>Pharmacy requires a lot of schooling, too. A Pharm.D. program is 4 years after college, and many graduates do a year or two of residency after that.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, I do think that as a career, pharmacy is much more family-friendly than medicine. And my wife, a physician who left the practice of medicine, thinks so too.</p>