Preparing for a Career in Pharmacy
Pharmacy Career Paths
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Expected starting salary/salary range
The expected starting salary for individuals with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree can vary depending on factors such as location, industry, level of experience and specific job responsibilities. It is also important to note that salaries may also be influenced by factors such as additional certifications, skills, and negotiation abilities of the individual candidate.
Benefits of the MCW Doctor of Pharmacy Program
Accelerated Program
The MCW School of Pharmacy is the only pharmacy school in Wisconsin to offer an accelerated three-year PharmD at a premier academic medical center. Completing the PharmD in three years means students will start their career or enter residency training one year sooner than their peers.Academic Medical Center
Through partnerships with Froedtert Hospital, Children’s Wisconsin and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, the MCW PharmD program provides student with early, extensive exposure to a variety of clinical settings and world-class research in specialties such as precision medicine, pharmacogenomics, oncology, cardiology and psychiatry.Customizable Education
Academic concentrations give MCW PharmD graduates a competitive edge in their career interest area before entering the profession or pursuing postgraduate training. Our four academic concentration options are: Research, Population Health, Specialized Pharmacy Practice, Entrepreneurship and Leadership.Post-graduate Training
![A map of the United States shows the various states where MCW Doctor of Pharmacy graduates have been placed for postgraduate residency training.](/-/media/MCW/Education/Pharmacy-School/Programs/Pharmacy-Match-Rate-2024_Hero.jpg)
Residency Match Rate
Residencies are optional post-graduate training programs for pharmacists to continue developing skills and/or specialize in a particular career path. The MCW School of Pharmacy has had approximately 60% of its five cohorts pursue residencies and fellowships. The Class of 2024 achieved a 96% postgraduate-training match rate for post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) residency programs.
Fellowships
MCW School of Pharmacy alumni have been selected for prestigious fellowships in the pharmaceutical industry with companies such as:
- Bayer Corporation
- BD (Marketing fellowship)
- East Coast Institute for Research (Clinical Research and Pharmaceutical Industry fellowship)
- Eli Lilly (Clinical Development / Clinical Systems fellowship)
- Merck (Oncology)
- Sanofi (Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics fellowship)
MCW Alumni Spotlight
![Heather Dalton, PharmD, MS Girl in a white coat, smiling.](/-/media/MCW/Education/Pharmacy-School/Heather-Dalton-PharmD-MS.png?scale=both&w=1080&anchor=middlecenter&mode=crop&h=1080&la=en&hash=BA459614666AFB6B9867B0557075671C)
Heather Dalton, PharmD, MS - Specialty Pharmacy Manager, Froedtert Health Solutions
As a specialty pharmacy manager, Dr. Dalton works with a class of medications that are difficult to manage, are expensive, have limited distribution and require more complex care. She oversees 13 clinical pharmacists who work in the specialty pharmacy, providing longitudinal medication management to patients using specialty medications.
![Kong Choua Thao PharmD Headshot of man in a suit and tie.](/-/media/MCW/Education/Pharmacy-School/Kong-Choua-Thao-PharmD.png?scale=both&w=1080&anchor=middlecenter&mode=crop&h=1080&la=en&hash=5BAAA07B6EA61546E2A34048C71C3BD8)
Kong Choua Thao, PharmD - Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) Fellow, Sanofi
Dr. Thao is currently in a fellowship at pharmaceutical and healthcare company Sanofi in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In the drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) fellowship, Thao determines the disposition, safe starting dose and predicted efficacious dose prior to first-in-human clinical trials.
![Rachael Jaszczenski, PharmD Girl smiling in professional photo.](/-/media/MCW/Education/Pharmacy-School/Rachael-Jaszczenski-PharmD.png?scale=both&w=1080&anchor=middlecenter&mode=crop&h=1080&la=en&hash=199EF145CC40ABE72C60FDA972F348EF)
Rachael Jaszczenski, PharmD - Pediatric Pharmacist, Children's Wisconsin
As a pediatric pharmacist, Dr. Jaszczenski says she values helping families get through a potentially terrifying situation involving their child. She also enjoys utilizing her critical thinking skills, as there are not as many clinical guidelines in pediatrics compared to adult patients.
![LT Christopher Tran PharmD MBA_Landing Page_Image Card](/-/media/MCW/Education/Pharmacy-School/Headshots/LT-Christopher-Tran-PharmD-MBA_Landing-Page_Image-Card.png?scale=both&w=1080&anchor=middlecenter&mode=crop&h=648&la=en&hash=0192B88B759F612D2F54ED1CA246400F)
LCDR Christopher Tran, PharmD, MBA, BCSCP - Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health Service; Chief of Pharmacy, Defense Health Agency - Pentagon Military Treatment Facility
As the chief of pharmacy, Dr. Tran and his team oversee pharmaceutical services and operations, ensuring the safe and effective management of medications for all active-duty sponsors and their beneficiaries. They are responsible for maintaining compliance with regulations, supporting public health initiatives and coordinating with healthcare providers to strengthen the overall health and medical readiness of the active-duty community.