Mark E Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Just a bit of a blah-blah about what's happening in my end of the world. I got accepted yesterday as a resident with the pharmacy department in an Ottawa hospital, so come June/July I will be spending a year there working on perfecting my skills as a clinical pharmacist! I'm absolutely thrilled with the news, as I'm considering going on and getting my PharmD, and the residency is a good first step towards the doctorate programs. Now I just have to graduate in May . But this is big news for myself, I had a ton of interviews over Christmas break and this was my first choice. I'll be getting a small wage to live on, but it looks to be enough to get an X-Box and some nice broadband :green:. Of course, from what they tell me I may not have time to play it, but the thought will be there . Big changes for me, as I haven't been to Ontario in well over fifteen years and I've never been to any of the bigger cities there. Felt the need to challenge myself I guess. Oh, yeah, and it's my birthday, but that just makes me feel crazy-old :green: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamsappel Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Congratulations! Oh, and happy birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry the Clown Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Terrific birthday present. Congratulations! Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlucci Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Congrats! We got CVS/Eckerd's/Walgreens popping up on just about every corner here in Houston. Is there a corresponding shortage of pharmacists right now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Daisy Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Congrats. I wish you all the best at your new job, and Happy Birthday! Glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTello Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Congratulations,... we'll miss you around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Monkey Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Congrats, Mark! -j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel P Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Great news Mark. Congrats and Happy Birthday ol' timer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secretvampire Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Congratulations! You'll make it through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reeldeal Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Congratulations Mark, my brother and his girlfriend are both pharmacists here in Alberta and straight out of University they're making crazy coin. Looks like you guys made a good choice 5 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackcalx Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Remember that if you ever get tired of working at a pharmacy you can still continue working as a pharmacist for an insurance company. I work with quite a few pharmacists and pharmacy techs that all say the money is better here. I was never a pharmacist, but I staffed a software support desk for pharmacies for many years. I still work in a pharmacy department, but I'm more on the IT side of it these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyjaw Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Awesome mark, congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam P Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 Great news Marko! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark E Posted January 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Thanks for the well-wishes gang! Is there a corresponding shortage of pharmacists right now? Huge, huge shortage. Right now pharmacy is one of the hottest job markets going. I have people in my class who signed on with major retailers who got $20,000 signing bonuses. Since I'm going into public health care I'm not going to haul down the big coin like others, but my interests are in that particular type of practice so I'm taking a cash hit to get the job satisfaction. A lot of places like Wal-Mart are adding in pharmacies just for the foot traffic they generate. Wal-Mart in particular takes a very, very minimal amount of copay on prescriptions just because they make it up in front store purchases. You wouldn't believe the recruitment nights we've had last term. They're insane. Wined and dined everywhere. Hell, I have my PalmPilot because I won it at a casino night . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reeldeal Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 my brother took a job from wal-mart, he signed a contract for 2 years and made enough from the signing bonus to buy a new corolla sport. he's looking at a mercedes benz now that his original contract is about to conclude. you're a bigger man than me mark, i woulda jumped for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark E Posted January 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 you're a bigger man than me mark, i woulda jumped for the money. All a matter of taste. I've done a number of rotations in retail, and still have one coming up actually, and I know I hate it . Endless twelve hour days with no lunches stuck on your feet while trying to show senior citizens how to take blood pressure meds while insuring people bother taking the cap off their asthma inhaler before using it. Some people are able to stand that. I'm one of the few people who can't and is just heading for the hospitals. If you ever talk to hospital pharmacists, you'll find that actually a LOT of them are ex-patriates from the retail sector who couldn't stand the demands on them. I feel I'm just hastening along the process . Besides, it's not as bad as I make it sound money wise. I'm going to lose a few thousand, but the hospital system is becoming more competitive with retail just because so few people want to do hospital right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starhawk Posted January 28, 2004 Report Share Posted January 28, 2004 Congrats Mark! I'm also glad to hear you are in a great line of work and that you also enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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