8 thoughts on “藥劑師的另類選擇 – 攻讀藥劑博士 (Ph.D)”

1. But it seems pharmacist with a PhD degree may not have any advantage over those who don’t? (Unlike medical doctors who has an attractive and well-paved career path in academic upon completing their PhD training…)

   1. Hi Fate,
      I would say the knowledge that I acquired in my Ph.D is really not directly linked to my current job. However, a Ph.D degree is not only provide you knowledge, but also some soft skills (e.g. critical thinking, time management, network expanding….). Frankly speaking, if you start your career in Hong Kong , a Ph.D degree is somehow “overqualified” initially, but it really helps you to resolve a problem in both “knowledge (academic)” and “practical (industry)” perspectives. This could be very beneifcal to pharmaceutical companies. Also, a employer with academic background also is helpful as a middle man for handling collaboration between company and research institution.

      My advice is ” Don’t think Ph.D is a “tool” but an “asset” to yourself. In this dymanic world, a Ph.D could mean nothing if you are completely lack of skills.

      1. Hi Aviva,

         I cannot agree more that PhD is more than a tool. I am a PhD holder myself and I am in academia now. I guess it depends on what one wants to achieve with a PhD really…I was mainly comparing the career paths of a medical doctor with a PhD degree and a non-medical doctor with a PhD degree.

         Anyway, I am not trying to put off any pharmacist who is keen to pursue a higher degree, just that you need to think carefully on what you would like to do AFTER you obtained your PhD title. If you are interested in clinical , you might as well go for a PharmD, which you would earn a “Dr” title in the end but in a much shorter time frame. Or if you simply want to get a “Dr” title, then there are also Doctor of Health Sciences or equivalence that you can opt for.

         🙂

2. Hi Faye,
   Thanks for your kind sharing. I particularly like one of your comments, viz., “what you would like to do AFTER you obtained your PhD title”. I think undergraduate students (not only for pharm student) really need to consider this question prior to applying a Ph.D degree.

3. Hi Aviva,

   Thanks for your post. I know it is quite common for physician in HK to pursue research/academia (PhD/MD) while continuing clinical practice. It seems quite common for many physicians to achieve both clinical specialist training and academic research training. Is this pathway possible in Hong Kong.

   Best wishes
   Hugo

   1. Sorry to my belated reply, Hugo. Simply, the answer is Yes. Many professors in faculty of medicine virtually is also a physician who works in a hospital (but in this case you need to have a Ph.D/MD in addition to MBChB/MBBS). If you are a physican without a Ph.D/MD but also want to gain teaching experiences, I think HKU/CUHK will also recruit some adjunct (assistant) professors/clinical (assistant) professors to assist part of teaching works or for knowledge sharing. However, such post usually is on honorary and non-remunerative basis.

      1. Thanks for your reply. It is good to know there is such a way for physician. However, my apology for they careless mistake, indeed I missed ONE word in my final sentence: Is this pathway possible for PHARMACIST in Hong Kong.

         I was actually wondering if it is possible for pharmacist now in Hong Kong follow a similar pathway: earning academic experience at the same time not having to completely satisfy clinical practice?

         Best wishes and merry christmas

         Hugo

4. Thanks Aviva,

   Thanks for your reply. It is good to know this option is open for physician. However, indeed I missed ONE WORD in my final sentene of my question:
   Is this pathway possible for PHARMACIST in Hong Kong.

   Apologise for the mistake as this word changes the whole question.

   Yes, I was actually wondering if pharmacist can do the same as well.

   Merry Christmas

   Hugo

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