What is a Pharmacologist and what exactly do they do? These highly trained and educated health professionals work to develop and study the effects of new drugs to ensure both effectiveness and safety. Pharmacologists perform a crucial part in the safety of patients.
Pharmacologists can hold a Ph.D., M.D., or Pharm.D. degree, with their primary goal being to perform research to see how medications and therapies work and interact with humans, on a molecular level and a systemic level. Pharmacologists are medical scientists working to develop new drugs. They may work in a lab, testing medications by studying tissue and cell samples. They may work in clinical trials, conducting research on voluntary patients. The research done by a clinical pharmacologist is used to determine safe and effective dosages, adverse effects, side effects, benefits, and safety. Pharmacologists working in toxicology research and advise pharmaceutical companies on safe labeling and handling of medications.
There are different types of pharmacologists that work in different settings and perform different tasks. Read on to learn what you may do in this role and decide if this is the right career for you.
Pharmacologists in a Clinical Setting
Pharmacologists working in a clinical setting are qualified practitioners with specialized knowledge in medicine and the effects of drugs used in the treatment of diseases and conditions in people. In the clinical setting, they will work directly with patients with the goal of diagnosing them and determining the right drug therapy to provide the best patient outcomes. In the important and challenging setting of clinical pharmacology, pharmacologists may also be involved in the supervision of clinical trials, using volunteer participants to identify possible adverse effects, side effects, or complications that may occur as a result of drug administration.
A pharmacologist in the clinical setting may also focus on developing medications that affect a specific part of the body, such as the respiratory system or cardiovascular system.
Duties as a pharmacologist in a clinical setting may include things such as planning and carrying out clinical trials or pharmacology studies, standardizing drug doses and plans for treatment, preparing and writing research grants, developing and following safety procedures, and performing actual research on human participants.
Pharmacologists in an Experimental Setting
Many pharmacologists work in the experimental setting, and they are involved in every step of the experimentation process to develop new therapies and improve upon therapies currently in use. These healthcare professionals study and develop the design and structure of a drug in a laboratory setting. They work with drug mechanisms on the molecular level to develop and identify substances that could possibly prove successful in the treatment of diseases and conditions. In this capacity, the pharmacologist also has the ability to modify structures in drugs to lessen the risk of adverse effects, side effects, and complications without losing the effectiveness of the treatment.
In addition to the development of important medications and therapies, the pharmacologist in the experimental setting may also study the medication’s effects when it is administered to help determine safety. If there are adverse effects, side effects, and complications found when the medication is administered, the drug may be determined to be unsafe.
Pharmacologists are trained to work in every stage of experimentation, so a pharmacologist in the experimental setting may be responsible for any specific part of the experimentation. Pharmacologists collaborate with other clinical professionals in this setting to discuss the research projects and plans for continued research and experimentation.
How to Become a Pharmacologist
Becoming a pharmacologist requires extensive education and training. Courses in biology, metabolism, toxicology, and many more topics are part of the training, as are certifications and pursuing a fellowship. Pharmacologists require specific education in order to practice as a pharmacologist. They undergo educational training, earn certifications, and develop specialized skills in order to excel in this exciting career.
The first step to becoming a pharmacologist is to earn an undergraduate degree. A bachelor’s degree in a field such as biology or chemistry is excellent preparation for the further education that will be required. Some graduate programs accept partial undergraduate work and allow for early entry, so check out your desired program to see if this is possible.
The next step is to earn an M.D., Ph.D., or Pharm.D. from a medical school to become a pharmacologist. Take time to research each type of program to help determine the best program to suit your interests, for example, whether you prefer to practice applied or clinical pharmacology.
Each state has different requirements for licensure, but each requires a passing score on the exam administered by the American Board of Clinical Pharmacologists (ABCP). Once obtained, the license will need renewal through the state board’s guidelines.
Pursuing a fellowship prepares pharmacologists to work in a specialization. Fellowships typically take two to three years to complete. Find information for available fellowships here through ABCP. During a fellowship, pharmacologists can expect to be immersed in advanced information related to working with subjects and assessing and evaluating the medications and treatments used. The pharmacology fellowship may also give training in specific types of medicine, such as pediatrics, oncology, or endocrinology.
Earning certifications in an area of specialization can boost a pharmacologist’s resume. The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) has information on specialty certifications available and the qualifications for each. Employers are seeking pharmacologists with certifications, so having certifications may help to expand your employment opportunities and earning potential. BPS offers certifications for specializations within the field of pharmacology, including emergency care, cardiology, infectious diseases, nuclear pharmacy, and more. Pharmacologists need to renew any of their certifications every seven years through proof of continuing education and passing an exam. Continuing education may be completed through online courses, seminars, and other BPS-approved education programs.
Research skills are important for the pharmacologist to have. They have the ability to gather, analyze, and understand complex medical information. They then use their research and analytical skills to determine what information is most important to get the needed outcomes.
Communication skills is another much-needed quality in a pharmacologist’s workplace. Pharmacologists often work in collaboration with other medical professionals, and communication skills are needed for people to work effectively together. Pharmacologists need to communicate findings and results to a variety of other people, in both technical and non-technical terms.
Pharmacologist research can take days to complete, and the skill of time management is vital. Managing time while keeping organized during multiple research tests happening at the same time can help ensure that pharmacologists get the results needed in a timely and accurate manner.
It goes without saying that the pharmacologist must have strong mathematical and scientific skills to analyze medical data. The things they work with involve using statistics and other information to determine findings.
What kind of work environment may a pharmacologist work in?
Pharmacologists typically work as full-time employees, with hours during normal business hours. They may work nights and weekends at times when working on time-sensitive experiments or when facing an imminent deadline.
Employment for a pharmacologist may be found in a variety of workplaces, such as hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, universities, clinics, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.
The work environment for a pharmacologist may include sitting for periods of time while working on a computer or machine, performing tests on subjects, or preparing research findings, documents, and research grant requests. Because they often work with hazardous materials, pharmacologists are often required to wear protective gear, including gloves, masks, goggles, and laboratory coats.
How much money does a pharmacologist make?
As with other professions, pharmacologist salaries vary according to experience, geographical location, and the type of organization they work for. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage for this profession is $91,510 per year, with half of pharmacologists making more and half making less than this wage. According to Zip Recruiter, the average salary is $118,291, with top earners making $180,000 per year.
How is the current job outlook for pharmacologists?
The job outlook in healthcare is excellent, and pharmacologists can expect a 17% increase in jobs from 2020 to 2030. This is much better than the average expected job growth of eight percent for all jobs. This growth takes into account the need to replace people leaving the profession, due to retirement or other reasons.
What are the professional organizations for pharmacologists?
The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) is a 4,000-member scientific society whose members work to conduct basic and clinical pharmacological research for academia, government, pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, and non-profit organizations. ASPET members work in a variety of fields, including positions as neuroscientists, toxicologists, chemical biologists, pharmacists, cardiovascular scientists, and others. Members’ research helps develop new medicines and therapeutic agents to fight existing and emerging diseases. This professional organization serves educators, students, researchers, healthcare practitioners, and others working to advance pharmacology research, exchange knowledge, and increase the impact and influence of this important discipline.
The American Society for Clinical Pharmacologists and Therapeutics (ASCPT) was founded in 1900, and it has over 2,300 professionals whose goal is to “advance the science and practice of clinical pharmacology and translational science for the therapeutic benefit of patients and society”. ASCPT is the largest professional and scientific organization serving the profession of clinical pharmacology and translational science with the focus on improving the understanding and use of current drug therapies and developing safer and more effective treatments for the future.
The American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP) is a non-profit organization that is devoted to improving global health through the advancement of clinical pharmacology and optimization of therapeutics. ACCP provides leadership and education to enable scientific knowledge to be generated, integrated, and translated in a way to optimize research and development. ACCP is a premier educational and scientific network of clinical pharmacology professionals in all stages of career development and practice areas.
The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) serves members who primarily come from the pharmaceutics, biopharmaceutics, or pharmacy fields of study. AAPS members also represent scientists from complementary disciplines, including chemistry, biology, engineering, and medicine, all of whom are involved in the discovery, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical products and therapies.
The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) exists to advance
pharmacy education, research, scholarship, and practice, and to improve population health in partnership with members and stakeholders.
Pharmacology can be a satisfying career using a high level of knowledge, and pharmacologists can enjoy the knowledge that they are involved in improving important medical treatments, all while making a good living. If you’re looking to join the ranks of pharmacologists and play an important role in the treatment and health of individuals, be sure to do your homework on what a pharmacologist does, choose the right program, and get started on a career in this important and satisfying field.
By Carol Dolan BS RN BSN CDCES
October 2021
Carol graduated with her BS in Nutrition from Montclair State University and her BSN in Nursing from Rowan University. She is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) currently working with adults and children living with diabetes in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
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