A DAY IN THE LIFE: PHARMACIST Pharmacist


Name: H. Norbert Seymour Job: Pharmacist Company: Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute


Working hours: Eight, nine or 10-hour shifts that generally start at 8 or 10, depending on the establishment


Starting salary: $84,000 to $90,000


Required qualifi cations: Bachelor of Science degree and professional exam


How did you start on this career path?


I completed my freshman year at the University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy, in 1975. That same year, the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) offered medical study scholarships as part of its vision for succession planning. I applied and, in September 1975, I became one of the fi rst recipients of the newly launched BHB Scholarship Programme.


It was a partnership that provided four years of scholarship funding in exchange for four years of working at the hospital. It is now more than 30 years later and I am still working for the hospital and very much enjoy my employment.


What professional/academic qualifi cations or experience did you need to start your career?


This position requires a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from an accredited university or college, along with 600 hours of preceptorship (work experience with a registered pharmacist).


I was also required to successfully pass an exam set by the Bermuda Pharmacy Council, which at the time, included an oral exam by a local physician.


What further qualifi cations might you need for the future career progression?


I was fortunate to be promoted to several positions within the pharmacy department and was the fi rst Bermudian to be appointed chief pharmacist for both hospitals (St. Brendan’s and KEMH), a position I enjoyed for several years.


Today, a career in pharmacy often requires a PharmD, which is a Bachelor of Science degree combined with an intense clinical component and a minimum of six years of university training. There are also Master’s and PhD programmes, which prepare students for employment in researching new medications and paradigms.


Career fi elds in pharmacy can also be enhanced with supplemental degrees in human resources and business administration. There is excellent earning potential for pharmacists and often the working hours are more reasonable than those in other medical fi elds.


What is the typical starting pay of a job like yours and what earning potential does it have?


What attracted you to your chosen career?


My favourite subjects when I attended high school at the Berkeley Institute were chemistry and Latin. I wanted a career in a medical fi eld, and my parents encouraged me to become a doctor. While I felt I had the ability, I did not have the desire to study for a career as a physician.


In 1969, my guidance counsellor, the late Senator Albert Jackson, arranged visits for me to two local retail pharmacies, as well as the pharmacy at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH). These visits brought me face to face with chemists who interacted with people. Today, we refer to people in this occupation as pharmacists.


After praying one night, I received my answer—I was called to be a pharmacist. I didn’t even think about what kind of salary I would earn. My goal was to become a pharmacist and nothing else would do.


46 FAST TRACK / Careers module / 2010-2011


Starting salaries range from $84,000 to $90,000. Earning potential is very high, and pharmacists can open their own businesses and serve as both owner and operator. Under the right conditions, your ‘corner-store pharmacy’ can expand into a chain of pharmacies, providing extensive fi nancial opportunities.


Describe a typical working day.


A basic routine day includes fi lling prescriptions; liaising with doctors and nurses; reading doctors’ handwriting—a constant challenge; checking and topping up inventory levels; issuing controlled drugs to wards; counselling patients; and attending various committee meetings.


I also attend weekly Continuing Medical Education seminars, which provide me with an opportunity to keep up to date with best practices and procedures.


What is the best thing about your job?


The best thing about my job is serving others and seeing their health improve.


WWW.FASTTRACKBERMUDA.COM


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