INSIDE INFORMATION

Click on the questions below to view comments from clinicians.

Clinical pharmacology is a diverse area and different specialists have quite different work patterns, so it is advisable that you should talk to more than one clinical pharmacologist to find out about the specialty.

Why did you choose this specialty, and what do you most like about it?

 

	Clinical pharmacology bridges the disciplines of medicine, science and research. The work is concerned with the scientific method and with evidence-based medicine, and almost always involves a teaching component. It also enables contact with other disciplines such as pure pharmacology, medicinal chemistry and pharmacy, allowing a broader perspective than is afforded in many areas of specialty.

 

	Those who are interested in pursuing an academic career must be prepared to teach and mentor, and to follow the scientific method. It is also useful to possess good writing skills.

 

	Work in this specialty is extremely varied. For an academic a typical day might involve replying to emails, convening group teaching sessions, attending formal meetings, dealing with issues of drug information quality control, spending time with trainees (registrars, MSc students, PhD students), writing reports (including minutes of meetings or legal reports) and completing administrative duties and editorial work, with the remaining time devoted to writing papers or books.

 

	Challenges for clinical pharmacology include convincing others of its value and continuing to attract good trainees.

 

	The specialty is very rewarding as a theoretical subject and offers considerable opportunities for teaching and research. Academic salaries are not vast but there is potential for reasonable earnings within the pharmaceutical industry through employment with drug companies.

 

	Employment opportunities within New Zealand are said to be reasonable. It is becoming widely recognised that there is increasing need for clinical pharmacologists, not only for teaching in universities but also for the increasing number of government committees concerned with drug legislation. Overall, however, the specialty will never be enormous in a small country like New Zealand.

 

	It is relatively easy to secure training posts overseas, and opportunities for travel once you have qualified are at least as good as for the majority of other specialties. Taking time out to have children is probably easier than in many specialties because there is not much on-call work (unless your role combines clinical pharmacology with work as a physician in another specialty).

 

	One contributor commented that work in this field has caused no real problems with regard to family life.

 

	There are relatively few jobs in clinical pharmacology in New Zealand, and those that do exist are restricted to the main centres. The specialty is not as widely recognised and understood as many others.

 

	Good experience in general medicine is considered to be essential. It is common for trainees to commence training under the supervision of another SAC before opting to undertake training in clinical pharmacology as well.