Radiopharmacist |
Career OverviewA radiopharmacist is responsible for compounding and working with the various radiopharmaceuticals used in therapies for cancer and other malignant conditions. Since a radiopharmacist works with radioactive medicines they are required to follow very strict policies and procedures when working with the compounds.
Radioactive chemicals are used in many different types of treatments ranging from radiation therapy for cancers and tumors to radioactive materials that are used to diagnose. Since radioactive material will show on various test using radioactive materials to outline and expose various types of soft tissues helps in diagnosis and early detection of various diseases and conditions.
A radiopharmacist must be effective at determining which radioactive markers are most appropriate for diagnosis or treatment of different conditions. A strong chemistry and microbiology background is considered an asset for radiopharmacists.
A significant amount of time must be spend by the radiopharmacist to explain the various chemicals and diagnosis methods to patients that are often very concerned about the use of radioactive materials in their bodies. The radiopharmacist must have excellent communication skills as well as a calm and professional demeanour to help patients understand the safe use of radiopharmaceuticals.
Accurate and effective monitoring and tracking of all radiopharmaceuticals used in the laboratory or pharmacy is also critically important for a radiopharmacist.
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Career RequirementsA radiopharmacist must have a Pharm-D which compromises of 2-year pre-program education and then a 4-year Doctor in Pharmacy. This means that each radiopharmacist has at least six years of experience in the field. In addition they must complete all state required licensing exams as well as any specialized certification.
Some radiopharmacist may also have completed a residency training of one or two years, depending on where they received their education. Most radiopharmacists work with an already experienced radiopharmacist initially when they begin working for a pharmacy or laboratory.
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Job OutlookThe demand for radiopharmacists will continue to increase at a steady rate. This is largely due to the demand for qualified pharmacists in all areas of the field. Highly specialized careers like radiopharmacy require extra coursework and training which leads to a greater demand for trained and experienced individuals.
Greater emphasis on early detection and preventative treatments have also increased the need for pharmacists that can work with radiopharmaceuticals.
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Career TrackA radiopharmacist is often moved into laboratory or pharmacy management once they have experience. Some radiopharmacist may move into research careers or may become involved in ongoing projects or new medicine development with pharmaceutical companies.
Radiopharmacists may also be in high demand in training positions at the various colleges and schools of pharmacy in and around the United States.
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CompensationThe average salary for a radiopharmacist is between $85,000 and $93,000. Those radiopharmacist with more lab experience or supervisory experience may have a higher salary depending on the size of the facility that they are employed by. Radiopharmacists in research of working for pharmaceutical companies will have a slightly higher salary usually averaging $110,000.
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