A career for the courageous and caring.
Oncology pharmacists are experts in the medications used to treat cancer, as well as those used to manage the side effects from cancer treatments.
Oncology pharmacists support all aspects of cancer care, including chemotherapy dosing and mixing, patient counseling, and new drug research.
They work with other health care professionals to maximize the benefits of cancer drugs while minimizing their side effects, such as pain and nausea. And, they also help to identify patients who are candidates for new cancer drug research or suffering from emotional issues that may arise during the cancer treatment.
Practice Setting: Oncology pharmacists work in many different settings, such as clinics, hospitals, and cancer centers.
Educational Requirements: They generally complete 1-2 years in a residency and/or pass a board certification exam after earning a PharmD degree.
Patients: Oncology pharmacists work and build relationships with patients who have cancer. Because of this, they are comfortable with the idea of working with seriously ill patients.
Traits: You want to work and build relationships with patients who have cancer, are comfortable with the idea of working with seriously ill patients, and enjoy working as part of a team.